A celebratory sendoff

Jessica Moore posed for picture after picture. Eye black streaked down her cheeks, a smile shone across her face and a very special softball lay firmly clutched in the grip of her right hand.

Since stepping into the circle as a freshman, Moore has grown accustomed to success, been showered with praise and described using superlatives. But on Saturday, even she was taken back by what she and her teammates on the Sutter high softball team had accomplished.

For Moore — 500 strikeouts in a season. For the Huskies — perfection.

Playing in the final game of her prep career, Moore fired a complete-game one hitter with 14 strikeouts, went 4-for-4 with four RBIs and the No. 1 Huskies captured the Northern Section Division IV title with a 11-1 victory over No. 3 Mt. Shasta at Belza field.

The mercy-rule shortened win capped an undefeated season for the Huskies (34-0) and was the team's third section championship in the last four years.

"This year, that was a big deal for me, I really wanted 500," said Moore, whose arm also led the Huskies to titles in 2008 and 2006. "These last four years at Sutter were really special."

Making it through the season unscathed was the goal all year for the Huskies, whose previous best finish was 35-2 in 2008.

"We were going to ride the wave all the way through and go undefeated this year," Sutter coach Raoul Singh said. "It's been a great run. We have talent and we can hit."

The Huskies showed off their bats early by plating four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jacki Sizemore stared things off with a single and Moore and Jolene Graham both added RBI hits that gave the Huskies the lead after falling down by a run to start the game.

"It immediately relieves the tension," Singh said. "I told them that if you want me to relax I need four runs." In the bottom of the first, Moore struck out the first two batters she faced before issuing a walk to Cynthia Laiacona, who scored on a fielding error. After Laiacona crossed the plate, Moore got out of the inning with a 4-3 putout and proceeded to strike out the side in the next four frames.

"It irritates her, so she just bares down even more," Singh said of Moore's demeanor when the opposing team actually scores a run off her.

The only other baserunner for the Bears would come in the fifth inning when Mt. Shasta pitcher Kayla Spini roped a single into left field. As the visiting team cheered at the freshman's accomplishment, Moore simply gave her a friendly nod before fanning the next three batters.

The Huskies batted around the order and plated five runs in the second inning and added runs in the third and fifth to end the game by virtue of the 10-run rule. Graham was 3-for-3 with four RBIs and Sizemore was 2-for-4 for the Huskies, who tallied 11 hits.

After Sizemore flew out to left, Moore belted a triple and was immediately brought in by Graham, whose sharply hit single up the middle was the walk-off hit the Huskies needed to end the game and start the second celebration of the afternoon.

The first came in the fourth inning, when Moore stuck out Laiacona to notch strikeout No. 500 (she finished with 504). Play was stopped, every fan in attendance rose to their feet to voice their approval and the Huskies players and coaches came out to give their pitcher a quick hug. But most importantly, the ball was immediately given to the Moore as a souvenir.

"It's been amazing journey through it all," said Graham, who has played behind Moore for years and was the first to congratulate her. "Just to be known as her catcher is great. We do it together and its great to be part of a team."

A team that has now come to a bittersweet, albeit perfect, ending.

"It's nice, it's a great moment and a sad moment," Singh said of Moore, who will take her skills to the University of Oregon next year. "There are no words that I could say. She just a special kid. It's going to be sad not having her around."