Lady Dragons claim Ukiah consolation

Wrapping up a busy and challenging nonleague preseason on a triumphant note while gearing up for the Sonoma County League season, the Sonoma Valley High School varsity softball girls shook off an opening-round loss with back-to-back wins and claimed Ukiah’s annual Wildcat Tournament’s consolation championship.

After senior pitching ace Hannah Herrick was stung by two homers and a six-run fifth inning in Friday’s 12-4 loss to St. Vincent’s (Petaluma) in the tourney opener, she returned to the pitching circle Saturday morning and fired a two-hitter as the Lady Dragons posted a 3-2 win over Clear Lake.

Then in Saturday afternoon’s consolation title game, freshman Jenna Ebert got the pitching nod from head coach Dean Merrill and turned in a solid five-inning effort as the Sonoma girls surged past Fort Bragg for a 15-3 victory, with sophomore Kasey Richards earning all-tourney honors for her all-around play.

Leading the Lady Dragons past Fort Bragg were winning pitcher Ebert yielding just three hits and one earned run, while striking out three and walking none, and offensively going one-for-four with three RBIs and two runs scored; sophomore Hayden Pearce’s four-for-four, including two doubles, three RBIs and a run; sophomore Bella Fanucchi’s two-for three with five RBIs and two runs; sophomore Beverly Harris’ two-for-three with two RBIs and a run; sophomore Veronica Love’s two-for-three, two runs and an RBI; sophomore Isabel Hernandez’s two-for-three with three runs; Richard’s two-for-four with an RBI; sophomore Erin Atkinson’s one-for-three with two runs and an RBI; and frosh Molly Brown’s two runs and Herrick’s one.

Sonoma was led past Clear Lake by winning pitcher Herrick’s two-hitter, yielding two earned runs, striking out nine and walking one, while singling and scoring two runs; Hernandez’s triple and two RBIs; Atkinson’s single and run; and Ebert’s single.

In their loss to St. Vincent’s, the Lady Dragons were paced by Richards’s two-for-three with a double and run; Hernandez’s two-for-two and two RBIs; Pearce’s two-for-two with an RBI; Love’s one-for-three; Herrick’s RBI; and a run each by Atkinson, Fanucchi and senior Shauny McVeigh.

Rounding out Sonoma’s varsity girls’ softball team – directed by Merrill and assistant coach Michael Hall – are senior Nicole Reed; and sophomores Malena Mackey, Maddie Lentini, Lena Mallet and Yolaisy Prieto.

The Lady Dragons host longtime rival Analy in their SCL opener at 4 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1, on the high school field.