Uh-Oh! wins three games

At the halfway point of its season, Huntington Beach Girls’

Softball’s 8-and-under division has instituted a major new rule: no

more coaches pitching.

Until this season, league rules stated that batters could not get

on base by drawing a walk. When the count reaches ball four, the

coach comes in to pitch to his team. This season, in order to improve

play, the league abolished the rule and the girls are now able to

reach bases via walks.

The first week with the new rule in place was a success with many

thrilling games.

Uh-Oh! 5, Chix with Stix 1

Uh-Oh! 4, Surf City Sluggers 2

Uh-Oh! came away with two big wins and rode the pitching of Dana

Rutkin to defeat Chix with Stix and the Surf City Sluggers.

In the 5-1 win over Chix with Stix, Rutkin struck out seven,

walked three and didn’t allow a hit.

Uh-Oh! took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Jane Reynolds

scored on Stephanie Lakso’s RBI ground out, and Rutkin scored on a

ground out by Jane Marshall.

In the second inning, a walk by Katherine Evans and hits by Emma

Silvestri, Illana Zago and Morgan Renaud led to two more runs. In the

third inning, a walk to Kacie Myers and Reynolds’ second hit led to

the final run.

In the 4-2 win over the Surf City Sluggers, Lakso drove in a pair

of runs and Renaud and Rutkin each had an RBI.

The Sluggers mounted a scoring threat in the fourth inning with

runners at second and third base and no outs, when Rutkin came to the

mound. She proceeded to strike out the side, and went on to allow one

hit and strike out nine the remainder of the game.

In other games:

Uh-Oh! 4, Bratz with Batz 2

A four-run third inning broke open a scoreless game as Uh-Oh! beat

Bratz with Batz.

Kathryn Evans and Savannah Vukelich began the inning with singles,

and Kacie Myers and Jane Reynolds drew consecutive walks to force

home a run. Stephanie Lakso delivered the big hit, a three-run double

to give Uh-Oh! a 4-0 lead.

Uh-Oh! pitcher Dana Rutkin struck out seven, walked one and

allowed just one hit without a run. Lakso also helped the team by

striking out the side in the fourth inning and closing out the game.

Brianna Zwonitzer struck out eight and had a triple and Alex

Dipina had an RBI for Bratz with Batz.

Sluggers 5, Pink Punks 2

Rebecca Swartz had an RBI double, Ali Andrew drove in a run and

Avery Ahumada had a key hit for the Surf City Sluggers.

In South Huntington Beach Girls’ Softball action:

10-and-Under Division

Green Lightning 8, Black Magic 2

Pitchers Lauren Deats and Dana Kerins combined to throw a

three-hitter against the explosive Black Magic.

The duo was backed by the defensive play of Krystal Keenan, Alex

Quenneville, Logan Vournas and catcher Breanna McCaa.

Shannon Wolf had a two-run double and scored twice, and Chanel

Luis drove in a pair of runs for the Green Lightning.

The Black Magic had big hits from Emma Fitzsimmons, Sam Santopaolo

and Emily Stoner. Fitzsimmons and Alison Jahansouz scored runs.

Green Lightning 10, Funky Monkeys 5

The Lightning exploded for five runs in the fourth and fifth

innings to pull away to victory.

Lauren Deats drove in four runs, highlighted by a three-run triple

in the fifth inning, to lead the Green Lightning attack.

Nikki Watkins had two hits, two RBIs and scored twice; Breanna

McCaa and Amanda Sneed each had two RBIs; Carolina Luque scored two

runs for the Green Lightning.

Melanie Coyne and Madi Moore had hits; Coyne, Kelsey Bartlett,

Chaye Telander, Amber Cazares and Risa Burke each scored, and Colbee

Rojas threw two scoreless innings for the Funky Monkeys.