Spartans earn key SVL win

Taking advantage of a few Colusa miscues, the East Nicolaus High softball team edged the visiting Redskins, 4-1, in a Sacramento Valley League contest Friday.

"You can't give up four unearned runs and expect to beat a good team like that," Colusa coach Randy Watt said.

Compounding the Redskins' problem was that three of their regulars were either out sick or playing hurt.

"We had to move everybody around," Watt said. "Hopefully we'll get another crack at them May 17."

That's the day the Northern Section Div. V championship will be decided, and Watt is hoping his Redskins and the Spartans will meet for the title.

East Nicolaus is on pace to return to the championship game, after losing last spring to Liberty Christian, 5-3, in eight innings.

"They are the No. 1 team in D-5 in the Northern Section," Watt said of the Spartans.

East Nicolaus (18-3, 5-0) also is ranked second in the state in Div. V by CalHi Sports. The Spartans looked the part by methodically taking apart the Redskins (16-7-1, 2-2).

Colusa actually scored first when Ashley Lambert and Kiley Herrick stroked doubles in the first inning.

The Spartans came back to tie the game in the second inning. Heidi Goss led off with a single to right field. Two outs and an error later, Nikki Bingaman laced a base hit to left to score Kiana Limary, who came in to run for Goss.

East Nicolaus upped its lead to 3-1 with two runs in the third. Alex Ortiz led off the inning with a double to right and after Lydia White walked, both base runners came home on Goss' double into the gap in right-center.

Goss finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

The Spartans capped their scoring with one run in the fourth. Bingaman got aboard on an error and scored on Ortiz's double up the middle.

It was one of four hits in the game, as she went 4-for-4 with two doubles.

"Alex has been on a tear recently," Spartans coach Richard Quick said.

"I've hit four consecutive home runs, one in each of our last four games," Ortiz said.

Ortiz also played a solid game at shortstop, making several putouts, including one on a bloop popup behind the pitcher that looked like it might be a base hit. Ortiz charged the ball and came up throwing, just nipping the runner at first base.

"We work on those types of plays in practice," Ortiz said.

East Nicolaus starter Lydia White and reliever Heidi Bingaman combined to hold the Redskins to just three hits. White gave up one run on two hits and four walks in four innings, striking out seven to get the win. Bingaman pitched three innings of shutout ball, allowing one hit and one walk, while fanning five to pick up the save.

Contact sports reporter Richard Myers at 749-4714 or rmyers@appeal-democrat.com.