SAN MARCOSSAN MARCOS — They’re having a blast at Del Norte High School. And the softball team is whooping it up.
Ranked No. 1 in San Diego County, the Nighthawks edged No. 11 Mission Hills 3-2 on Tuesday in a Palomar League game at Mission Hills.
“We’re the epitome of work hard and have fun … because we do have fun,” coach Amanda Nelson said. “We play music at practice and have fun every day. But we work hard.”
Del Norte overcame a two-run home run by Mission Hills sophomore Oloa Motas by scoring single runs in the first, third and fifth innings.
The Nighthawks (14-1, 2-0) have never won a CIF San Diego Section championship, but they’re on top of the Open Division right now.
“It’s the best feeling,” said senior Alexa Brunetti, who was 2-for-3 with a walk and the only RBI for Del Norte. “I think we’re coming for that ring this year. We’re really confident and comfortable, and it’s a super fun environment.”
Lainey Llamas walked in the first inning and scored on a two-out error on a fly ball hit by Brunetti. Sophomore leadoff hitter Alexis Kyles doubled in the third and scored on a two-out error on a ground ball hit by Jessica Phelps.
The Grizzlies (10-5-2, 1-2) tied it in the fourth. Emma Umemura singled sharply to center and Motas blasted a ball that bounced off and then over the yellow tubing of the fence in left-center. It was the first home run of Motas’ season and the second in her young career.
The homer was only the second allowed by Phelps (8-1, 1.07 ERA) in 46 innings.
“It’s definitely been a fun season,” said Phelps, a right-hander who will play at Princeton next year. “But we have to take it humbly. Take it day by day and keep our heads in the game.”
The decisive run came in the fifth. Kyles singled and Phelps walked before Brunetti lined a single that landed on the right-field foul line to score Kyles.
“It’s really fun, every day at practice and in the dugout,” said Kyles, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and increased her average to .435. “We always find a way to play together and have fun.”
Earlier this season, Del Norte defeated Mission Hills 5-2 in a tournament game. The Grizzlies outhit Del Norte 8-4 on Tuesday, but the two unearned runs cost them.
“We need to tidy up a few things,” Mission Hills coach Chad Franks said. “We have all the talent in the world. I just need them to jell and play as a team 100 percent of the time.”
Mission Hills got solid pitching from Abby Huhn (0-1), but she was snakebit by the errors. After transferring from Carlsbad and sitting out the first 12 games, Huhn allowed only four hits and struck out nine. She is committed to Iowa State.
Lindgren is a freelance writer.
