Nighthawks avenge loss to Cougs behind Roberts’ one-hitter

By Adam Paul
Updated: June 15, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

CIF DIVISION II PLAYOFFS

DEL NORTE 5, STEELE CANYON 0

By Adam Paul

SPRING VALLEY – Sophomore Sophia Roberts got the starting nod for the Del Norte Nighthawks in their third-round elimination game against Steele Canyon on Tuesday (June 15) and didn’t disappoint as she fanned nine on the day while only allowing one hit on the day as the Nighthawks won 5-0 and avenged an earlier 3-2 loss in the first round of the playoffs.

Del Norte tallied three runs in the top of the first inning which included an RBI single by Emma Giaime, an RBI single by Jessica Phelps, and a two-out RBI single by Charlie Johnson.

Later in the top of the third inning, the Nighthawks would add another run courtesy of a sacrifice bunt to extend their lead to 4-0. They would add on their final run in the top of the fifth inning.

Roberts for the Nighthawks was cruising along as she was unhittable having not allowed a single hit until the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs thanks to Breanna Lakin who laced a single up the middle to center field.

On the day, the Nighthawks pounded out twelve hits.

Taking the loss for the Cougars was Emma Shellstrom who allowed five runs of which two were earned while walking two over seven innings of work.

With the loss, the Steele Canyon Cougars finish the season at 17-12 and are officially eliminated from the playoffs while Del Norte improves to 17-13 and will move onto the semi-finals on Thursday (June 17th) where they will take on the Helix Highlanders and will have to beat them twice in order to move onto the championship game on Saturday.