ETNA – It was the double-header that Etna Lady Lion fans had been pointing to all season—two games against perennial Shasta Cascade League powerhouse, the Fall River Lady Bulldogs. Some observers said that it would be the end of the Lady Lions championship run. They were wrong.

In game one, both teams scored a run in the first inning, and the game remained tied, 1-1, until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Etna took the lead 2-1. The Lady Lions added an insurance run in the sixth inning, to make it 3-1. As it turned out, insurance was a good investment. Fall River scored a run in the top of the seventh to make the final Etna 3 – Fall River 2.

For the Lady Lions, Beth Langford didn’t have a hit, but scored two runs, took a walk, and had three steals. Nicole Luiz had Etna’s other run, and went 1-4, with a steal. Eli Pynes and Paige Finley each went 1-2. Pynes had a steal. Finley went the distance and was dominating at times, taking a no-hitter into the final frame (7IP, ER, 2H, 2BB, 9K).

Game-two was a slugfest. Both squads opened up with a pair of runs in the first inning. Etna took the lead in the bottom of the second 3-2. Fall River, however, put up four runs in the top of the third inning to take the lead, 6-3, and chase Etna’s starting pitcher.

The Lady Bulldogs added three more runs in the top of the fourth to lead 9-3. Etna responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half, making it 9-6. Fall River scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning, but the Lady Lions again answered with two runs, to make the score 11-8, after five innings. Etna held Fall River scoreless in the sixth inning. Then, the Lady Lions exploded for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead and eventually the game 13-11.

Lady Lion Eli Pynes had an inside-the-park home run, scored three runs, knocked in two, and had a pair of steals, while going 2-4. Finley was 3-4, with two runs, an RBI, a double, and two steals. Kacey Munson went 2-4, with a run, three RBI, and a double. Langford was 3-4, with two runs scored, and a double. Finley started and had no decision (2IP, 6ER, 8H, 0BB, K). Ashley Page relieved Finley in the third inning and picked up the win (5IP, 5ER, 7H, 3BB, 4K).

Etna Coach Barb Thackeray was excited about the way her squad handled the pressure of a big double-header, and the way they responded to adversity in game-two.

“The team showed maturity in handling the pressure of a big game even while we were struggling somewhat offensively, and had a couple of defensive miscues (game-one). The key was timely hits with runners in scoring position. We have a lot of respect for Fall River and every opponent in our league. As coaches, we felt that it was probably going to be a one run game, and so our game plan was to go out and get one run at a time,” said Thackeray. “Although the first game was a better played softball game, for me the satisfaction of battling through the adversity to come back and win the second game, gave me the most satisfaction as a coach. Sweeping Fall River fulfilled just one of our team goals for the year. Now, we have to go out and execute in four more league games against very tough opponents. I think the lessons learned in this game will serve us well as we continue to battle for the league championship.”

The Lady Lions are 8-0 in the SCL (18-7), and lead Modoc (4-2) and Burney (3-3). Etna’s remaining SCL games are at Burney on Friday, April 18, and at home against Modoc on Friday, May 2. The numbers are simple: two wins guarantee at least a co-championship; three wins guarantees them an outright championship; and four wins gives Etna an undefeated SCL season.