Sutter senior pitcher Olivia Bauer (5) laces a double down the leftfield line in the Huskies’ 5-0 win against Wheatland on Tuesday, April 16. Photo by Steven Bryla

SUTTER, CA (MPG) - The Sutter Union girls softball team swept their Pioneer Valley League games last week as they shut out Wheatland and Colfax and had the opportunity this week to clinch their second consecutive league title.

Sutter stayed unbeaten on the season and there is no question where this team’s focus is at. After the 12-0 shutout against Colfax on Thursday, April 18, the Huskies recorded their 10th league victory of the season and fourth consecutive in PVL play.

In the Tuesday, April 16, game against Wheatland, Sutter put up runs on the board in the first inning as Head Coach Stefanie Danna has told the Dispatch throughout the season the goal is to jump out ahead of their opponents early. 

Sutter senior second baseman Nai Garcia (7) tags out Wheatland senior outfielder Briseis Botonis (21) to end the game and the Huskies’ 5-0 victory on Tuesday, April 16. Photo by Steven Bryla

Huskies senior second baseman/Northwest Nazarene University signee Nai Garcia got the scoring party started on the scoreboard with a two-run-batted-in (RBI) single to right field. 

Sutter hitters continuously make it difficult at the plate for opposing pitchers with great approaches at the plate, and hit the ball hard and in the right places. Garcia told the Dispatch that her and her teammates take the simple approach of seeing the ball and hitting it.

“You can’t think too much when you’re in the box or you’ll overthink it and not be able to hit it the way you want,” Garcia said. 

The Huskies had six hits in the game, and they all came from six different individuals.

Following Garcia’s single, Sutter senior/Dominican signee Morgan Heggstrom lined an RBI double to center for an early 3-0 lead. 

Sutter senior outfielder Rylee Gillespie (3) catches a fly ball during the Huskies’ 5-0 victory over Wheatland on Tuesday, April 16. Photo by Steven Bryla

The Huskies’ other two runs came courtesy of senior outfielder Rylee Gillespie as she hit an RBI single in the second and added her second RBI of the day with a sacrifice flyout in the fourth inning. 

Sutter senior pitcher/Boise State signee Olivia Bauer continued to own the circle as she struck out seven Wheatland hitters and threw 85% of her 62 pitches for strikes.

In the victory over Colfax, she earned her 44th career victory in the circle for the Huskies’ program. 

Bauer also got the Huskies started in the hits department against Wheatland as she led the bottom half of the first inning with a double down the leftfield line.

Danna and multiple Sutter players have expressed the collective mindset of the team this season being all about the team, and it continued to grace its presence against Wheatland with the loud roars of cheering and consistent chatter of encouragement coming from the Huskies’ dugout.

Sutter senior Olivia Bauer (5) throws one of her 62 pitches in the Huskies’ 5-0 win against Wheatland on Tuesday, April 16. Photo by Steven Bryla

Heggstrom told the Dispatch that the team worked on coming out confident in games. She added that Sutter also had as one of their many goals of the season to be in control of the PVL.

On top of the tremendous season the Huskies are currently having on the field, the 2024 senior class currently has six of the nine seniors signed to play softball at the next level.

On top of Bauer, Heggstrom and Garcia playing at the next level, there are senior infielders Alexa Carino (Sac State) and Madison Schamanski (University of Mary), and 2024 outfielder Megan O’Neal signed to play at Bethany College on Wednesday, April 17.

As much as we can appreciate the greatness and accolades from the field, the groundwork begins in the classroom, and the Dispatch is proud of every athlete looking to grow and excel at the next level. 

Sutter was scheduled to host Bear River this past Tuesday and Lindhurst yesterday, April 25.