Griffins knock off ranked Santiago Canyon, move to 4-0

2016 GROSSMONT  COLLEGE SOFTBALL

 

By Chris Davis
© East County Sports.com

 

EL CAJON (2-4-16) — A week into the 2016 season and coach DOUG HARTUNG is very happy with his pitching staff. “Our pitchers have been hitting their spots,” Hartung said after the Griffins defeated pre-season sixth best team in the State (third in Southern California) Santiago Canyon 3-2 in eight innings at Grossmont on Wednesday (Feb. 3).

 

Grossmont (4-0) is among 17 teams state-wide that are undefeated.  Of those teams, 14 have played one or two games (there are two teams that tied each other in Northern California).

 

SIERRA SALAZAR (Helix) was the hitting star against the Hawks (5-1) as she went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in.

 

RACHEL EVERETT (2-0, Bonita Vista) got the win in relief for the Griffins.

 

Santiago Canyon got on the board first.  Jordaen Hicks led the game off with a single.  She stole second to move herself into scoring position.  Jessica Daniel worked a walk out of Griffin starter ASHLEY MADARA (Valhalla), which would be her only walk issued on the day.  After getting a double play Madara looked like she might get out of the jam without allowing a run.  Unfortunately, for the Griffins that wasn’t the case as Manoa Weijgertse singled to right field to drive in Hicks and give SCC a 1-0 lead.

 

In the bottom of the first, AMANDA IZZO (Hemet) walked to get things going.  Everett sacrificed her to second.  After a ground out pushed Izzo to third, Salazar would single to the shortstop allowing Izzo to cross the plate, tying the game up at 1.

 

The Griffins saw DIAMOND MEJIA (West Ranch, Stevenson Ranch, CA) coax a walk out of SCC’s starting pitcher Shannon Thorton for the second consecutive inning.  After back-to-back passed balls, Mejia was standing on third.  That triggered a pitching change.  MACKENZIE REYNOLDS welcomed Riley Nahrwold (2-1) with a ground ball to first.  SCC tried to come home to get Mejia, but the throw was to the first base dugout side of the plate.  In the time that it took the catcher to swipe over to the third base side she was safe to give the Griffins a 2-1 lead.

 

That score would hold up until the top of the sixth.  Emili Olaque led the inning off with a solo shot to left field that was a no doubter.  The blast tied the game up 2-all.

 

With no other scoring in the regulation seven innings, the game proceeded to an International tie-breaker.

 

With Santiago Canyon failing to score in the top of the eighth inning, the Griffins just needed one run.

 

Everett was placed at second as per the International tie-breaker rules.  KATIE SCHMIDT (Valhalla) laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to put Everett on third with only one out.  Needing only a sacrifice fly, Salazar instead lined a single to left field for the game winning run batted in.

 

The Griffins will travel to El Camino for a three-way match-up between the Warriors, Griffins and College of the Desert on Friday.  First pitch between Grossmont and El Camino will be at 10:00 a.m.  The Griffins will be the “home team” against the Roadrunners at Noon.

 

The Green and Gold will return home on Saturday (Feb. 6) when Los Angeles Harbor comes to the East County.

 

 

 

 

 

Santiago Canyon  2

Grossmont  3

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