Wolves open up GEL play with loss

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

Woodland High continues shaky season with 11-5 loss to El Camino

Woodland High School junior Emily Rathjen playing at first base during a Golden Empire League game against El Camino on Tuesday.

Woodland High School senior Taylin Gill watching a pitch during a Golden Empire League game against El Camino on Tuesday. PHOTOS BY CARLOS GUERRERO — DAILY DEMOCRAT

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By Carlos Guerrero

cguerrero@dailydemocrat.com

A rough fifth inning ultimately doomed the Woodland High School varsity softball team during their Golden Empire League opener Tuesday afternoon, as they fell 11-5 to El Camino.

The Wolves (2-6, 0-1 GEL) came into their league showdown with mixed results in the early portion of the season.

While the Wolves boast an impressive 11-1 win over Yolo County Rivals Winters on March 3 and a 10-3 victory over Lincoln on Feb. 28, they have also suffered through a 15-0 loss to Wood, a 16-0 loss to Churchill County and a 12-5 loss to River City. They had a more competitive effort in their previous game, losing to Bradshaw Christian 10-8 on March 6.

Seniors, Izzy Loesch and Addy Tetreault are leading the way at the plate for the Wolves in the early part of the season, with 11 and 8 hits and 7 and 5 runs, respectively. Senior Taylin Gill has picked up 6 hits, 5 RBI and 5 runs scored.

Freshman Presley Pinegar, who recently earned the girl’s basketball team MVP award for her efforts over the winter, came in third on the team in hits with 7 to go with 5 RBI, 3 doubles, and a triple.

Fellow freshman Bria Arrellano led the team with 8 RBI to go with her 6 hits and 5 runs. Emily Rathjen had 7 RBI, 7 runs, and 6 hits coming into the game.

El Camino (2-4, 2-0 GEL) came into the matchup in a similarly weird situation with a 1-4 record, but the one win being a 15-0 dismantling of Natomas in their GEL opener.

The Wolves enjoyed a dream start, scoring four runs in the first inning. Rathjen singled to bring in Loesch and Gill, making it 2-0, before junior Emma Rubio knocked in Presley and Rathjen to make it 4-0.

In the top of the fourth inning, El Camino made some noise at the plate and turned it into three runs thanks to a runner scoring from third base on a fielder’s choice and then a deep shot to center that ended up being an inside-the-park home run to cut the lead to 4-3. Luckily for Tetreault, a pop-up got the Wolves out of the inning.

The Wolves wouldn’t have the same luck in the top of the fifth inning as El Camino collected a long list of singles and doubles, adding up to five runs to go up 8-4. The Wolves responded right away in the bottom of the fifth inning after Presley knocked in Loesch on a double to make it 8-5.

However, two runs in the top of the sixth and another one for good measure in the top of the seventh made the night’s final score 11-5.

Up next for the Wolves will be a trip to Sutter (5-3, 1-1 GEL) this Thursday, with the first pitch set for 4 p.m. So far this league season, Sutter has picked up a 21-2 win over Natomas and a 10-5 road loss to Dixon.