COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Seeded No. 1 in the Northern Section CIF Division IV playoff bracket and riding a five game win streak heading into last Thursday’s Super Regional, the RedHawks seemed to have a clear pathway to the championship, but unfortunately things didn’t go their way as they fell 5-8 to No. 3 U-Prep, then in a second game came up short to No. 2 Durham by a 7-10 score.
Starting off last week on May 19, Colusa took care of business in the first round coming from behind to defeat No. 4 Winters 9-2 in the third meeting between the two Sacramento Valley League rivals this season.
Braelyn Santana and Peyton Miller each had three hits in the contest, while Natalee Stegall finished the day with two as the RedHawks capitalized on four Warrior errors.
In the circle, Bella Romero went the distance, scattering eight hits and striking out four without issuing a walk.
However, facing the Panthers in the afternoon two days later, despite garnering 10 hits, Colusa left seven on base and was unable to get the timely hit it needed.
Still, the RedHawks did draw first blood in the contest, when in the third, Miller drove in Stegall with a single.
They followed up with another run in the home half of the fourth as Cindel Oliver came into score after a knock off the bat of Caeden Agnew.
Yet, U-Prep made critical adjustments at the plate and as a result put five on the board in the fifth, another in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
Credit goes to the RedHawks for battling in the home half of the final frame after Stegall smashed a leadoff double and came around to score on a triple by Miller who then raced home on the errant throw, but they got no closer as the Panthers ultimately slammed the door shut.
Still, Colusa had one more chance to reach the championship as they faced Durham in an elimination game later that afternoon, but six miscues in the field doomed their cause.
Stegall, Romero, Marlie Berry and Zaylah Ramirez each collected a pair of hits as the RedHawks’ season came to an end at the hands of the eventual champion Trojans.
Despite being disappointed with the result, Coach Perry Taylor expressed optimism for the future saying, “Even though it wasn’t the outcome we were looking for, it ended up being a successful season. I couldn’t be prouder of the girls this year. After losing a handful of seniors from last year they were still the number one seed and made it to one win away from the championship game. This team will lose only one senior and considering we had four underclassmen starting, I know we will be a strong contender next season.”
Colusa ended the year with an overall record of 17-13-1.