The official box score indicates an ordinary home run.

But the hit off the bat of Auburn Mountainview freshman center fielder Adriana Lomeli-Smith, which produced three runs in the Lions’ 10-1, rain-shortened six-inning victory Tuesday afternoon in a South Puget Sound League 3A fastpitch contest, was anything but normal.

“I didn’t think it was going to happen because I kind of have noodle arms,” Lomeli-Smith said with a laugh. “Usually, I’m not a big hitter – I’m a bunter.”

The inside-the-park homer, which capped a four-run, fourth inning for Auburn Mountainview, bounced off the fence in right-center field. That gave the Lions a 7-0 lead.

“It was exciting because we needed those runs,” said Lomeli-Smith, who finished 2 for 3 with a run and five RBI.

That offensive production enabled coach Alicia Thompson to make a rare adjustment on the mound as her top starter, junior left-hander Zoe Collins, worked just two innings. Sophomores Caitlyn Rhoades and Brianna Azevedo worked the final three innings of the game. That duo allowed three hits in as many innings, while allowing one run and striking out three.

“As my sophomore pitchers improve, I love that I can get them more time,” Thompson said. “I’m getting them in games like these now, so that when we’re in tough games they’re not as nervous. I also want to be able to utilize them in the postseason because we’re going to have two or three games in a row.”

That does not mean Thompson plans to reduce Collins’ workload in the near future, though. After all, Auburn Mountainview (6-2 overall, 5-0 league) is in contention for the SPSL 3A title.

“I mostly go with Zoe because she’s so solid and so competitive,” Thompson said. “She really does a good job of adjusting and keeps us in games.”

That might include a first-place showdown at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Enumclaw (6-1, 5-0).

“That’s the game,” Thompson said. “We’re excited.”

After the game against the Hornets, Auburn Mountainview begins the second half of league play. While Thompson liked her offense’s production Tuesday – sophomore first baseman Megan Perius also went 2 for 3 and scored three runs – she would like to see more of it as the season progresses.

“I just think consistency throughout the lineup,” said Thompson, when asked about what improvements she would like to see. “Defensively, we’re very solid.”

But for the most part, Thompson said she likes what she has seen from a squad that only graduated two players off last year’s state team. Lomeli-Smith is one of the few newcomers, but she said that has not been an issue.

“They’re really welcoming, so it was easy to come in,” she said.

Thompson shared similar sentiments.

“They’re just such a committed group to each other and the program,” she said. “I think that’s why we’re having so much success.”

The Trojans (3-7, 0-5) remained winless in league play with the setback. But Thompson, a 1998 Auburn graduate, was excited to see the new baseball and fastpitch complexes at the high school.

“This facility is amazing,” she said. “I’m proud of the district for giving the girls this field because they’ve been walking over to Fulmer (Park) since I played at Auburn. I love seeing this for these girls. It’s good for them.”