ELK GROVE, Calif. – Left fielder Haley Kim's double was one of just five Troubadour hits as St. Francis fell by a 9-0 final against Sheldon in a matchup of the top two Delta League varsity softball programs Thursday afternoon.
The Troubies slip to 20-3 for the year and 8-2 in league play. The Huskies improve to 20-5 overall and retain sole possession of the Delta League top spot at 10-0.
Kim had the lone extra-base hit for St. Francis as SHS senior and Delaware State commit Brenna Romero fired a five-hit shutout with seven strikeouts against just two walks. Francesca Guerrera and Olivia McFarland each singled in the second, Hope Jenkins did likewise in the third, with Grace Jenkins following suit in the fifth.
Sheldon crafted a 2-0 lead in its second inning, then blew the game open with a three-run third when D'Auna Johnson homered after two walks to start the frame. Dakota Kennedy added a two-run blast of her own as part of a three-run sixth. The Huskies had runners at second and third with only one out in that inning, threatening to invoke the 10-run rule. However, Hope Jenkins got Beija Allen to fly to McFarland, who in turn kept the runners holding their respective bases. Sheldon junior Jaylee Marshall bounced out to Kayla Garber to end the rally.
Kim slashed a double straight away to lead off the seventh, but she was stranded at the keystone as the Huskies recorded three straight infield outs to seal the win.
The Troubies entered Thursday's game ranked No. 2 in the Sac-Joaquin Section, with the Huskies right behind at No. 3, according to MaxPreps.
St. Francis varsity returns to action on Saturday for another trip outside the Sacramento area, this time visiting Vintage for a noon contest. Both Troubie varsity and JV will host Pleasant Grove for the regular-season home finale and Senior Day on Tuesday.
That May 10 date also features the team's annual Booster-Q barbecue, and a "shout for swimming" event in which SFHS students will create elevated noise levels to help launch a project for an on-campus aquatics center.
NOTE: St. Francis junior varsity had its game at Sheldon postponed to Monday, May 9.
