YERINGTON - Offense was the emphasis when the Dayton High School softball team opened practice two weeks ago.
The work paid off this weekend, when the Dust Devils beat four straight opponents during the season-opening Yerington Tournament, including a 7-1 win against Fernley and a 10-1 win over Tahoe-Truckee's J.V. squad on Saturday.
"I was really pleased with our offense," Dayton coach Jeanne Utterback said. "Since the first day of practice we've said that was going to be a focal point this year and the kids seem to have responded well, because we had a lot of kids hit the ball hard all weekend."
Cayla Reese and Carrie Kordonowy tripled, while Trista Julian doubled, in Dayton's win over Fernley. Reese also doubled twice and Kordonowy doubled for the Dust Devils against Truckee.
Jennifer Dillie pitched the five-inning distance, struck out nine and walked four, to earn credit for the win against Fernley. Dillie pitched two innings, struck out six and walked one, before giving way to freshman Ashley Reese, who pitched the third and final inning.
The Dust Devils are led with an ample supply of returnees from a team that went 20-13 and qualified for the 3A state tournament last year.
The highlight is seniors Dillie and Kordonowy, who are in their third season as Dayton's starting pitcher-catcher combo. Both were all-division performers last season.
Junior Cayla Reese returns at shortstop, along with senior outfielder Maggie Fluharty and Julian in the outfield.
Three freshmen are currently in the starting lineup, including Ashley Reese at second base, Lacy Taylor at third base and Rachel Hurt in the outfield.
Dayton hosts Coleville in a non-conference game on Tuesday and then visits Fernley on Wednesday.
BASEBALL
Tom Sceirine's timely hitting helped Yerington get past Battle Mountain and Incline during tournament action on Saturday.
Sceirine delivered a two-run double in the first inning to put the Lions on track to a 7-2 win against Battle Mountain. Later in the day, Sceirine's RBI triple broke a tie score as Yerington rallied for a 3-1 win against Incline.
Joe Goffinet picked up the first-game win as he pitched three-hit ball, struck out four and walked two over four innings (games had a 75-minute time limit).
Matt Farler hit 3-for-3 with three RBIs, Steve Compston and Andy Melarchik both went 2-for-2, Adam Carter was 1-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt and Alex Tapia was 1-for-2 for the Lions.
In the afternoon game against Incline, the Lions trailed 1-0 in the third inning before Farler stroked an RBI double to tie the score, then later scored on Sceirine's triple. Josh Hurt also tripled in the game for Yerington.
Steve Compston pitched one-hit ball to go with two walks and four strikeouts in four innings to pick up the win. David Walker pitched the distance for Incline, allowed five hits and struck out seven.