This year’s Hart Hawks are a young team, says head coach Steve Calendo.
But in the Foothill League softball opener against the Canyon, the Hawks looked like a team with seniority as Hart defeated the Cowboys 10-0 on Thursday with sophomore Hannah Cook delivering the walk-off home run.
“Canyon came out pretty hard. They have some good hitters on their team, but our kids adjusted,” Calendo said. “Gabriella Kobliska started to put it together and pitch at the right time and of course, Hannah Cook ends up at the end of the game doing what Hannah does best.”
As the Hawks (4-4, 1-0) entered the bottom of the fifth inning, the team held a 6-0 lead.
After freshman Kailyn Dodson drove in two runs to extend the Hawks’ lead to 8-0, Cook hit a two-run home run and ended the game to complete the walk-off win over Canyon (3-7, 0-1)
Cook ended the day 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs. In the bottom of the third inning, freshman Naima Melendez hit a leadoff home run and finished 2-for-3 at the plate.
In the circle, junior right-hander Gabriella Kobliska tossed five innings and ended the day allowing two hits, three walks and struck out six.
Calendo is excited to start the league season off with a victory, and added that he believes the win will help provide momentum as the Hawks look toward their next matchup against the Valencia Vikings on Tuesday.
“Every league win is important, and every league game is important,” he said. “It’s nice to get a fresh start, especially with a young team and it gives them some confidence going forward.”
The matchup between the Hawks and Vikings is scheduled 3:15 p.m. Tuesday at Valencia High School.
Cowboys will look to bounce back on the road Tuesday against the Centurions at Saugus High School, with first pitch scheduled for 3:15 p.m.
After Thursday night’s games, here are scores from around the Foothill League:
Saugus 3, Castaic 1: The Saugus Centurions (6-6, 1-0) began their league title defense with a road win over the Castaic Coyotes (4-2, 0-1).
Junior Olivia Frias led the Centurions as she went 3-for-3 at the plate, drove in three runs and hit two doubles.
The Coyotes were led by sophomore Samantha Farrell, who recorded two hits and scored a run.
In the circle, the Centurions’ Riley Nelson threw a complete game and struck out nine across seven innings and allowed two hits and one run.
The Centurions will look to build upon their momentum in their next league game at home on Tuesday against the visiting Canyon Cowboys.
Castaic will look to bounce back on Tuesday at home against the visiting West Ranch Wildcats.
Both games are set to begin at 3:15 p.m.
West Ranch 20, Golden Valley 0: The West Ranch Wildcats (7-1, 1-0) opened the league season with a big home win over the Golden Valley Grizzlies (2-5, 0-1).
For the Wildcats, junior Naomi Stoll drove in four runs and went 3-for-4 at the plate. Junior Paige Arrington and freshman Juliette Merrilees each drove in three runs in the win.
The Wildcats play their next league game on Tuesday at Castaic High School for a matchup against the Coyotes with first pitch scheduled for 3:15 p.m.
The Grizzlies will look to bounce back on Thursday at home against the visiting Castaic Coyotes with first pitch scheduled for 3:15 p.m.
Kailyn Dodson (7) during Thursday’s game against Canyon at Hart High School on March 12, 2026. Habeba Mostafa/ The Signal
