A pair of three-run innings proved too much to overcome as the Piedmont High School softball team fell at No. 4 Fortuna on May 18, 7-1 in the North Coast Section Division 4 quarterfinals.
The Highlanders finished the season 10-8.
Piedmont was seeded fifth in the bracket and both teams received first round byes. The game was scoreless through 2 ½ innings. In the bottom of the third, a pair of errors brought home two runs for Fortuna. The Huskies got a third run on a dropped third strike when the Highlanders were throwing the runner out at first. Fortuna got three more runs in the fourth. Another run came home on an error. Then, Kadence Mace knocked in two on a single to make it 6-0.
Samantha Ronen led off the top of the sixth for Piedmont with a walk. She advanced to third on a ground out, then tagged up on Caitlin Boothby’s line out to first and scored. A Highlanders error allowed the Huskies to get that run back in the bottom of the inning.
Olivia Hayes went 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead Fortuna. Isabel Sanchez went 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Mace was 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Sanchez went the distance on the mound to get the win, allowing just two hits and striking out 13 while walking five.
Maya Fujimoto went the distance for Piedmont, taking the loss. She allowed one earned run on seven hits with seven strikeouts and a walk.
Sa’mara Levi and Sophena Tuli had the hits for the Highlanders.
Fortuna advanced to the semifinals to face top-seeded St. Helena on May 21 at St. Helena.