Long ball gives Marysville GEL title

Playoff brackets to be released Thursday

SACRAMENTO – Hannah Clavelle let her bat and arm speak loudly.

The Marysville High softball player’s teammates followed her footsteps in Monday’s huge Golden Empire League game against West Campus on the Warriors’ field.

A combined four home runs – two coming off Clavelle’s bat – helped Marysville post a 12-8 win over the Warriors to clinch an outright league crown. This is the Indians’ second consecutive title after taking second place the previous two seasons.

“We knew coming into the game they were a tough team,” said Clavelle, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIS. “What we were talking about was staying intense throughout the whole game.”

In the top of the first inning for Marysville (13-6, 9-2), Clavelle clubbed a solo shot over the left field fence for a 1-0 lead. But West Campus (8-3 in the GEL, 13-6) responded in its first at-bat when Jordyn Amberson clubbed a solo shot over the center field fence to tie the game at 1-1.

Both teams’ offense went quiet, thanks to pitching, in the second and third innings. Marysville’s Birdie Galaviz, only a freshman and West Campus’ Sydney Bruce combined to give up three hits and struck out two.

“I’ve been using her a lot this year,” said Marysville coach Maurice Clavelle of Galaviz. “Birdie has kind of taken control.”

Aiding in the Indians’ outs in the third inning was an unassisted out by Clavelle, who plays shortstop. Then the vocal leader threw to first base to complete a double play.

“She’s the team leader,” said Maurice Clavelle, who is also Hannah’s father. “She’s always talking.”

Hallie Roper (2-for-4) and Rebekka Montgomery (3-for-4, home run) had back-to-back singles with two outs in the top of the fourth for the Indians. Then Hannah Clavelle clubbed a threerun homer over the right field fence for a 4-1 score.

“That’s been Hannah all year,” Maurice Clavelle said. “That (second) home run was really big, get that momentum going.”

After another silent inning for the Indians and Warriors in the fifth, the bats came alive again for Marysville in the top of the sixth. That included eight runs off eight hits for a 12-2 lead.

Two of the Indians’ hits came

ROUNDUP / 10

Marysville High batter Hannah Clavelle gets ready to club the softball, which winded up being her second home run in the top of the fourth inning in Monday’s GEL game at West Campus. Clavelle had two dingers in the Indians’ 12-8 victory over the Cougars.