Gridley senior Avery Mendenhall gets bombarded after hitting a walk-off home run on March 13 in the Bulldogs' win over Paradise. Photo by Steven Bryla

COLUSA, CA (YSBC) - The Gridley Bulldogs softball team completed their first tournament of the season and went 2-2 in the Colusa Tournament last weekend.

The defending Northern Section CIF Division III champions picked up victories over Paradise and Winters from the Sacramento Valley League on March 13.

Gridley senior Avery Mendenhall walked off the Bulldogs opening game of the tournament for Bulldogs as she hit a solo shot to left.

Mendenhall recorded a hit in every game of the tournament and locked down the hot corner of third base.

Gridley sophomore catcher Malayna Ceballos (10) connects for a base hit on March 13. Photo by Steven Bryla

Gridley ended the first day of the tournament with a 6-4 victory over Winters as junior pitcher Kaydenze Pruitt had a great final game on the first day of the tournament.

Pruitt knocked in three runs off a triple and pitched 2.2 innings from the circle.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs ran into familiar and fierce competitors as they faced off with two heavies from the Northern League in Yreka and Lassen.

Gridley knocked off Lassen last season for the NSCIF D-III Section title last year.

The Bulldogs were up 8-3 on the Miners, but Yreka put up six runs in the fourth to hold on for the lead and give Gridley their first defeat of the year.

In the tournament finale, the Bulldogs faced off with Lassen, and they came up just short as the three runs in the fifth weren’t enough to extend the game.

Gridley junior Kaydenze Pruitt (00) tosses a pitch on March 13 against Paradise in the Bulldogs’ victory. Photo by Steven Bryla

Bulldogs’ sophomore Delanie Cloyd collected five hits over the two-day tournament, and they were all extra-base hits.

Gridley traveled back to Colusa on Monday and took on the RedHawks in a non-league matchup.

The Bulldogs are hosting their annual tournament this weekend as they have a couple of weeks to get ready for Westside League play.

For more sports coverage on local schools, visit ysbcsports.com.

Gridley sophomore shortstop Delanie Cloyd (6) turns a double play on March 13. Photo by Steven Bryla