WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis softball team lost to Christian Brothers on Saturday 4-3 in the annual Albie Aware games at River City High School.

“We have been playing much better the last few games and we started off well,” said Head Coach Kevin Warren. “We opened the door on a couple of plays defensively. They capitalized and scored four run off it.”

Sophomore Sydney Littles went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to pace the Troubadours offense.

“She is a super athletic kid and quick,” said Warren. “She is all over the field and did a really good job making some nice plays.”

The Falcons scored the go ahead in in the seventh to take the lead and provide the final margin. The Troubadours had tied the game at 3 with an RBI single by Kennedy Hornbuckle in the sixth.

St. Francis (5-6) took the lead in the first on a RBI single by Lauren Washburn that scored Littles. Littles tripled in the third and scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 2-0.

CB scored three in the top of the fourth, knocking out starter Arden Hatch, who allowed three unearned runs on four hits. The Falcons Cecilia Sidley got the win, allowing three runs on six hits.

St. Francis plays its Delta League home opener on Tuesday against Grant.

“We have learned some things in non-league and we are looking forward to the league schedule,” said Warren. “We got a lot out of the non-league and hopefully we will be ready to go on Tuesday.”

Albie Aware was created in 2002 in the memory of Albie Ciucci Carson, St. Francis Class of ‘65, who lost her battle with breast cancer. Despite Albie’s vigilance and post treatment follow-ups, she was not referred for additional, available screening modalities that would have shown that her cancer had spread. Albie’s husband, Doug Carson, created the foundation to help save the lives of other women and men by assisting with education and testing: things he felt were missing from Albie’s treatments.

Albie Aware is dedicated to the early detection and treatment of breast cancer through education, awareness, and testing. The Foundation provides support services to those diagnosed with breast cancer.

The JV team lost to the Falcons 8-7 in the other game. Pioneer, Liberty Ranch, Lindhurst and River City also participated in games on Saturday in the ninth annual event.

Dotty Brandenburger, the SF score keeper for 35 years and Breast cancer survivor threw out the first pitch at the Albie Aware game.