The River Valley Falcons celebrate after their 1-0 shutout victory over Colusa on March 19.

COLUSA, CA (MPG) – It has been a strong start to the season thus far for the River Valley High School softball team, who with victories over Colusa and Twelve Bridges last week are now 8-1 overall and have already exceeded its number of wins from last year.

Falcons’ coach Taylor Pack knows a thing or two about winning, given her experience at Sutter High School and then later as part of UCLA’s national championship team, a pedigree that is proving effective in her second year at the helm as her team is taking flight.

River Valley’s Payton Smith stands on second base after doubling in the second inning of the Falcon’s game on March 19 in Colusa.

Playing in Colusa on March 19, River Valley’s lone run came in the second after Payton Smith doubled and came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Alexandria Ward.

Yet the run was enough given that River Valley’s freshman pitcher, Apple Ward, needed just 84 pitches to earn the complete game shutout win.

Showing poise and confidence in the circle, Ward struck out six, scattered three hits and did not issue a walk.

Falcon first baseman Claudia Dudek records the putout in River Valley’s win over Colusa on March 19.

On the road in Lincoln the following day, the Falcons edged Twelve Bridges 3-1 after pounding out 12 hits and taking advantage of four Rhino errors.

Three Falcons finished the day with three hits, including Kaitlyn Garcia, Claudia Dudek and Apple Ward.

River Valley freshman pitcher Apple Ward shutout Colusa in the Falcon’s 1-0 victory over the RedHawks on March 19.

Smith went the distance in the circle, yielding six hits and striking out three.

This week is busy for the River Valley team, which is scheduled to host Roseville and Yuba City on March 25 and 27 respectively, before heading to Reno for a tournament running March 28 and 29.