ARCATA — Delaying the start of its California Collegiate Athletic Association season because of last week's weather, the Humboldt State softball team hopes to open league play at home against Sonoma State on Friday and Saturday. Friday's doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. and Saturday's starts at noon. The Jacks then travel to Chico State for Monday's and Tuesday's make-up competition. Monday's first game will start at 1 p.m. and Tuesday's will begin at noon.

Weather Report: You can't play outdoor sports in this part of the country this time of the year without glancing at the sky. Friday the weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a high of 58 degrees and low of 42. Saturday's forecast doesn't look too promising, calling for showers. “I believe we can get our games in on Friday and then Saturday will just be a hit or miss,” Humboldt State's head softball coach Frank Cheek said.

Live Stats: All home games this year will feature LiveStats provided online. Play-by-play and boxscore statistics will available in real time on the hsujacks.com web site. Visit the softball page and click on the LiveStats link in the right menu to access the service free of charge.
 
Lumberjacks Notes: With a week off from competition due to inclement weather at Chico State, the Jacks continued to practice and scrimmage to further prepare for a long stretch of games. When asked about opening with a competition and then having to postpone last weekend's games and practice instead, Cheek said, “It's always better to play. Scrimmage is nice but it doesn't give the same pressure as a game does. I try to put pressure on the team and get their adrenaline going, but it's just not the same. I get on the girls and try to make practice the same as a real game would be. I know we can handle our next week and a half.” …Marissa Slattery leads the team with .636 batting average (7-for-11), with one double and two RBIs. Francesca West and Geneva Perrine tie for second on the team with a .500 BA. West (5-for-10) has two doubles and leads the team with five RBIs. Perrine has one double and three RBIs. Nikki Ketteringham posts a .385 BA (5-for-13) and Felicia Vivieros holds a .375 BA (3-for-8), while Lindsay Warren follows with a .364 BA (4-for-11) and is second on the team with four RBIs. Natalie Galletly leads the team with 30 putouts and Slattery follows with 21. The Lumberjacks are batting .387 as a team, while their opponents have a .127 batting average. Gracie Perez and Jenna Anderson both enter this weekend's competition with a 2-0 record. Perez posts a 0.00 earned run average, while recording 16 strikes in 12 innings pitched. Anderson has a 0.82 ERA, striking out seven batters in 11 innings. HSU has a 0.38 ERA, while its opponents are posting an 8.44 ERA.

Opponents' Notes: Sonoma State holds a 3-6 overall record and is 1-3 in league play. Last weekend the Seawolves hosted a four-game series with Cal State Dominguez Hills, taking one game from the Toros. Earlier this season, SSU defeated CSUDH at the Best of the West Invitational, 1-0, on Feb. 8. SSU registered its third win of the season against Davis & Elkins, 8-0, Feb. 8. …Simone Brandalise posts a .375 BA, with two RBIs, one double and triple. Nicole Cordova has a .273 BA, with one home run and six RBIs. Sonoma State is hitting .207 as a team. …Brittany Reynolds is 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA. Reynolds has struck out 18 batters and walked six in 18.1 innings pitched. Lindsay Emmel has a 3.43 ERA with a 1-2 record, with 12 strikeouts and nine walks in 16.1 innings. …Chico State resumes play this weekend, hosting Cal State San Bernardino Friday and Saturday.

Head-to-Head: HSU holds a 90-16 all-time series mark with Sonoma State. Last year the Jacks swept the Seawolves, taking the final game of the series, 7-3 on April 19. HSU shut SSU out 8-0 to open the 2009 season at the Best of West Invitational on Feb. 7. …Humboldt State leads Chico State, 79-35-2 in the all-time series. Last season the Jacks defeated the Wildcats four out of the teams' five meetings.

Cheek's Thoughts: “I'm actually quite elated that we didn't travel this past weekend because driving 299 in bad weather is something I'd rather stay away from,” Cheek said. “I've been in an accident on 299 and seven of my wrestlers were out the rest of the season due to that accident. I think we could of got in a game or two but we can wait, and waiting was the best choice.” … “We'll do well this week,” Cheek said. “Sonoma is more than capable of beating us but I don't think it'll happen, especially on our own field. They have their ace back this year after sitting out last year. We know her strengths and we know her faults.” … “We're capable of losing but we have an experienced, veteran team, that helped us win nationals.”