ROUNDUP: Helix, El Cap, Serra win; Cougars fall

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 4, 2016

Helix (white) at Madison on Thursday afternoon in the season-opener.

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

SAN DIEGO (3-4-16) — Opening their season on the road, the Helix Highlanders traveled to Madison High to take on the Warhawks in a non-league tilt and came away with the 19-8 victory in 6 innings.

The Highlanders put a 5 spot on the board in the first inning and never looked back as DESTINI BULLOCK (2-3, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB) belted a 2-run bomb over the centerfield fence to give Helix a 2-0 early lead. They would add a run in the top of the second while Madison would add a couple in the bottom half to make the score 6-3.

The Highlanders plated four more runs in the top of the 3^rd inning thanks to three straight singles and an RBI bases loaded walk by GABBY OLIVARRIA (3-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB). They added another run in the fourth while Madison tacked on a run in the bottom part to make the score 11-4. Helix rolled an 8 spot in the top of the 6^th to round out their scoring while Madison tried to make a comeback with a 4 spot in their half of the sixth to make it 19-8.

The other outstanding offensive effort for the Highlanders was KENDI SWINTON (4-5, 4 RBI, SB) who on the day plated 4 RBI.

In the circle gaining the victory was SHAREENA LACHANCE who gave up 2 earned runs while striking out 2.

SERRA 7, FALLBROOK 6 – The Serra Conquistadors hosted the Warriors of Fallbrook in a Monte Vista Classic contest and were able to rebound for the 7-6 victory.

Serra on the day was led by SELA FALLON (3-4, 2 RBI, 3B) who had the winning triple in the bottom of the seventh inning. Fallbrook jumped out to the early lead with a run in the top of the first, Serra was able to tie at with a run of their own in the bottom half thanks to an RBI double by AMBER WOZNIAK (2-3, 2 R, RBI).

The Conquistadors took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to a three run effort. Fallbrook thanks to 2 runs in the top of the 4^th inning knotted the score at 4-4 but that wouldn’t last as Serra plated a couple of runs in the bottom half to take a 6-4 lead on a bases loaded walk by VALERIE VALADEZ which scored Wozniak, and TAYLOR CURLY (1-3, 2 R) scored on a sacrifice fly by ABIGAIL WARDEN. The Warriors pulled within 6-5 on a lined double in the top of the 6^th inning and they would end up tying the score 6-6 in the top of the 7^th on a single to right field.

Despite the shaky start in the circle for the Conquistadors, VIVIAN TOMOVICH gained the victory as she was able to overcome allowing 9 hits on the day.

El Cap’s Baily Olavson hits an RBI double during the Vaqueros’ win on Thursday.

EL CAPITAN 5, OCEANSIDE 3 – The El Capitan Vaqueros in their opener in the Gold Bracket of the Monte Vista Monarch Classic were able to outlast the Oceanside Pirates 5-3, Thursday (Mar. 3^rd).

Things would go in the favor of the Vaqueros early on as they took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a double by BAILY OLAVESON (1-2, R, BB) who scored on a single by GRACE BURKETT (2-3, R, RBI). The Pirates tied things up at 1-1 in the top of the third inning but that wouldn’t last as El Capitan broke the tie with 2 runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-1. An RBI single by MADISYN WIEHER (2-3, RBI) would bring home Burkett.

It would get interesting in the top of the fifth as the Pirates plated a couple of runs to knot the score at 3-3. The Vaqueros in the bottom of the sixth ended up taking the lead for good on a couple of runs which included the game winning RBI double by ALLYSON VON YOKES (1-2, R, RBI, 2B, 2 BB). That effort scored HANNAH HARVEY (R, 2 BB, SB).

The Vaqueros were able to overcome some adversity in the top of the seventh to get the win.

Stellar pitching by ELENA LADDON made the difference. She was the workhorse, going the distance while giving up no earned runs on 7 hits while striking out 1 and walking 1 behind some great defense.

VALLEY CENTER 4, STEELE CANYON 2 – Steele Canyon opened their season on the road against the Jaguars of Valley Center in the Falcon Fiesta tournament and came out on the short end 4-2.

The Cougars started off on the right foot as they were able to take the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. However it wouldn’t last as the Jaguars knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom half of the inning.

Valley Center would take the lead for good as they plated 3 runs in the bottom of the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. The Cougars tried to make a late rally as they would score in the top of the sixth inning to cut the lead in half at 4-2.

Unfortunately it would be the closest the Cougars would get as they were shut out in the seventh inning.