THUNDERBIRDS HELD FROM TAKEOFF BY KING

Posted March 5, 2026

March 5, 2026

Written by Lana Carlone

RIVERSIDE: It’s always a good battle when the Wolves and the Yucaipa Thunderbirds meet up on the dirt. Wednesday’s game at the den was no different. King secured the win thanks to another solid performance on the mound by the combined effort of Kenzie Carlone and Ryder Bishop.

Carlone started in the circle for the Wolves giving up 2 hits and striking out 5 in four innings of work while allowing three runs. Bishop earned the win surrendering two hits and zero runs while striking out four in two and two thirds innings of work.

Offensively, leadoff batter Brooke Lebsock had another great day at the plate going 3-4 with a towering home run to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning. Secondbaseman Addison Christensen provided some punch in the two-spot finishing 2-4 on the day with a double. Junior catcher Jace Margaritis added a double of her own and freshman Dakota Hyler had a  pinch hit clutch triple down the right field line to give the Wolves the lead late in the game. The Wolves lineup produced a total of nine hits giving their pitchers the run support and breathing room they needed to defend the den once again.

We are seeing lots of good things from this squad early in the season. All 16 players are contributing to the success of the team. They are competing for time and opportunities but they are celebrating each other in big ways and that is the part that makes them so dangerous. This crew is really enjoying playing good softball together. They are causing chaos on the basepaths for opposing teams. They are paying attention to pitcher patterns and sharing information with each other during the game. They are making amazing plays on defense for their pitchers. And the pitchers are doing a fantastic job keeping us in every game.

Holding this Yucaipa lineup to just four hits with a tough strike zone was quite a feat. At the plate, our wolf pup freshman, Dakota Hyler, came off the bench late in the game and delivered a clutch triple. Pinch hitting is not easy to do but she was ready and waiting for her opportunity. All of these things are working together to make this group a force to be reckoned with.

We are excited to take our show on the road next week as we travel to Fresno to compete in the Central Valley Showcase.