YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - A battle of young rosters was showcased on Friday, March 31 as the River Valley Lady Falcons beat the Yuba City Lady Honkers 14-2 in a Capital Valley Conference matchup on Friday, March 31.

This was the second game on the season Yuba City was able to get played through the last month as they got slammed by the unfortunate weather situation of having the worst break to get games in.

Lady Honkers head coach Amy Olchefske told the Dispatch her team came out with game energy.

“They were loud in warmups,” Olchefske said. “We were excited to be able to play today.”

River Valley (4-1, 2-1 CVC) has been able to squeeze in a few more games, but with the hope of clear skies in everyone’s future, we can continue the best time of the year.

Yuba City (1-1, 0-1 CVC) was able to put a couple of runs up in the first inning as junior shortstop Drew McDonald hit an RBI double that scored junior catcher Lexi Dell.

Lady Honkers sophomore first baseman Lauren Renzullo brought McDonald in immediately as she singled with an RBI.

Yuba City freshman pitcher Chloe Gonzales started her first varsity game in the circle as sophomore pitcher Tori Hernandez was out sick.

Olchefske said that Gonzales did a great job for her first career start.

“She (Gonzales) was up for the challenge and never showed any doubt,” Olchefske said.

On the other side of the fence, the Lady Falcons were ready for the game out the jump.

They scored seven runs in the first inning off Gonzales including a three-run home run by sophomore first baseman Claudia Dudek.

In the circle for River Valley was sophomore pitcher Payton Smith.

Smith had limited experience last season as a freshman and Lady Falcons head Tom Almond told the Dispatch Smith is going to be seeing a lot of work inside the pitching circle this season.

Smith pitched five innings, gave up six hits and had seven strikeouts in the game.

Smith told the Dispatch she likes the competition and joked that it’s a good feeling when her pitches actually work and go where they are supposed to go.

Almond expressed the rivalry and competitiveness level between Yuba City and River Valley is big no matter what sport it is.

“We had a league game Thursday (at Roseville) and I told them we have YC on Friday and if you ain’t ready for that then I don’t know what we’re doing out here,” Almond chuckled.

Both schools are in the competitive CVC which includes historical programs such as Woodcreek of Roseville and Inderkum of Sacramento.

“It’s a competitive league, and we’re going to do our best in every aspect we can,” Almond said.

Although this roster is primarily young, the three seniors on the Lady Falcons bring lots of experience and Almond looks to his captains to lead this young squad.

“I want them to show this team the culture we built the last few years and what the expectations are,” Almond told the Dispatch.

River Valley senior second baseman Natalie Buzzini mentioned that she helps bring the energy to the team the best she can.

Buzzini added that the rainy weather helped her and her teammates focus more on having fun with one another.

Buzzini went two-for-three in the game with two RBIs. Her two hits were both extra base hits including a triple in the six-run fourth inning the Lady Falcons had.

River Valley was scheduled to play at Inderkum on Wednesday while Yuba City hosted Marysville Monday and were set to travel to Chico.