Santana, Serra, Henry, Monte Vista in win column

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 22, 2016

Mackenzie Bennett (2 run HR), Sydney Vates (5 for 5, two HR, 5 RBI) and Maddy Mendez (grand slam) led the Lady Sultans on Monday.

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

SANTEE (3-22-16) — Santana, led by a power surge, came back to beat the visiting Christian Patriots 14-4 in Monarch Classic action on Monday (Mar. 21^st).

The first inning was a run fest as both teams combined for seven runs. The Patriots would score four runs in the top of the first to lead 4-0 early on. Leadoff hitter SILENT RAIN ESPONOSA (1-3, R) drew a walk, stole second base, ANNA SHERBURNE (1-2, R) reached on an error, the next batter SHANNON MCMAHON struck out for the second out, now with two outs, the next batter ELLE LINDBLAD (RUN) reached on an error to load the bases and Espinosa scored. Sherburne scored on an error by CELINE MENARD to make it 2-0, Lindblad would also come into score as well as LAUREN SHERBURNE (2-3, R) to make it 4-0. The Sultans finally got out of the inning as MALLORY STEELE struck out.

Trailing heading into the bottom of the fourth did phase the Sultans as they went to business right away. MADDY MENDEZ (3-5, 4 RBI, R, HR) who also was pitching, helped her cause as she laced a hard single up the middle to centerfield, ERICA REID came in as a courtesy runner, MACKENZIE BENNETT (3-4, RBI, 2 R, HR) singled to center advancing Reid to third, ASHLEY MADRIGAL came in as a courtesy runner, she stole second base. Now with runners at second and third, up came SYDNEY VATES (5-5, 5 RBI, 4 R, 2 HR, 3 2B) who came in with a three game hitting streak. So with the count in her favor 2-0 she took the very next pitch and just absolutely hammered it over the left field fence and over the basketball court fence for a 3-run jack. The Sultans were back in business as they pulled within 4-3.

“I was just looking for a pitch and got one that I liked,” said Vates when asked about the 3-run homer.

Santana would trail until the bottom of the third when leading off the inning, Mackenzie took the first pitch she saw and matched Vates as she crushed it over into the basketball courts to tie the score 4-4. The Sultans continued their momentum as Vates lined a double to left field, RACHEL WILSON (2-3, 3 RBI) singled to left which allowed Vates to score to make it 5-4 which was all the Sultans would score in the inning.

More runs would be scored by the Sultans in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a Vates double and a Wilson single to make it 7-5. The big blow by the Sultans came in the bottom of the fifth as the first couple of batters got on base, ALEXIS BARRY sacrificed the runners over and Madrigal reached on a fielder’s choice. Mendez stepped to the plate and saw a pitch she liked and slammed it deep and over the centerfield fence for the grandslam jack. It was her first high school career slam. The Sultans now led 11-4. They would tack on a couple more runs courtesy of a 2-run homer by Vates for her second dinger of the day. With the homer, Vates now had 6 RBI for the game. Santana would score their final run in the bottom of the sixth to end the game.

“I knew a pitch I liked was going to come, which ended up being a high pitch and when it did I just hit it,” said Mendez when asked about her grandslam.

“I was looking for a changeup and got a fastball and just got a hold of it,” said Vates about her second homer of the day.

One of the key components for the Sultans and their offensively charged comeback on the day was the fact that the 1-4 hitters combined for 13 of the 16 hits.

For the Sultans, Mendez besides helping herself at the plate, tossed 6 innings in the victory, giving up 4 runs of which none were earned on 6 hits, walked 4 while striking out 7.

SERRA 12, MADISON 10 – In an offensive slugfest the Serra Conquistadors were able to outlast the host Madison Warhawks in a non-conference contest 12-10, Monday (Mar.21).

Serra came into the contest riding an 11-game winning streak and they didn’t waste time getting things going in the top of the first inning. Leading off, DARBY TIBBETTS (2-4, R) was hit by a pitch, VIVIAN TOMOVICH (2 R) was able to reach on a fielder’s choice but Tibbetts would be out at second, so with one down up stepped AMBER WOZNIAK (2-3, 3 RBI, 3 R, HR, 3B) who came into the game riding an 11 game hitting streak and on a complete terror the last week. On the very first pitch she pounced and bam it was clubbed deep over the centerfield fence for the 2-run bomb to give Serra the 2-0 lead. They would tack on a couple more runs as AMANDA BORTNER and SELA FALLON both scored to make it 4-0.

The Conquistadors bats came alive in the top of the second inning as they plated six more runs to lead 10-0. Tibbetts singled, advanced to second on an error by the first baseman, Tomovich would than reach on an error by the leftfielder on a fly ball. Tibbetts would score and Tomovich advanced to second, Wozniak again did some damage as she rifled a line drive triple into right field that scored Tomovich to make it 6-0. TAYLOR CURLY (3-4, RBI, 2 R, 2B) proceeded to double to right field scoring Wozniak, MEGAN POOLE (1-4, 2 RBI, R) laced a single to center that scored Curly to make it 8-0. Serra scored two more times in the inning.

The Warhawks would finally get on the board in the bottom of the second as they scored two runs to make it 10-2. They then cut the lead to three runs as they plated 5 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 10-7.

Now only leading by three runs, the Conquistadors put a couple of insurance runs on the board as they scored two more in the top of the sixth to lead 12-7. Madison would make it a game and threaten in the bottom of the seventh as they pushed across three runs to make it 12-10 but Poole would finally retire the Warhawks and end the game.

The Conquistadors were able to overcome defensive miscues as they committed six errors on the day thanks to a massive offensive production. Also getting the win was Poole despite giving up 10 runs of which only 4 were earned in the complete game victory.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

PATRICK HENRY 5, SAN DIEGUITO ACADEMY 4 – In an almost upset in the Falcon Fiesta tournament the Patrick Henry Patriots came back and held on to beat the visiting San Dieguito Academy Mustangs 5-4, Monday (Mar.21).

In the top of the first the Mustangs took the early 2-0 lead as they were able to take advantage of the opportunities. The Mustangs would retire Henry despite leadoff hitter HANNAH McEWEN (1-2, 2 SB) doing her thing by getting on base and stealing second. Unfortunately she would be stranded at third base.

The Mustangs would go down in order in the top of the second inning. Trailing 2-0, the Patriots finally got things going as JOSIE GONZALEZ (2-3 2 R, 2B) led off with a single, next up was MADISON JAMES (1-3, 2 RBI, R, HR) who on the 0-1 count blasted the very next pitch over the wall for the 2-run dinger and knot the score at 2-2. San Dieguito Academy would take a 3-2 lead in the top of the third inning thanks to the leadoff hitter reaching on an error, she would come around to score.

However again the lead wouldn’t last as the Patriots in the bottom of the third would regain the lead. CRISTIONA CACCAMISE (RUN) would lead things off with a walk, she would advance to second on a wild pitch, DANI ROMERO (RUN) would draw the walk, so with runners at first and second and no outs the runners would advance to second and third on a passed ball. The next two batters would fly out. So with two outs in the inning, ANDREA WRIGHT (1-2, RBI, 2B) was able to draw a walk to load the bases. The next batter SAVANNAH CHAPMAN would hit the ball to the third basemen who proceed to throw it away, which would allow both Caccamise and Romero to score to take the 4-3 lead.

Unfortunately the Patriots wouldn’t hold the lead long as in the top of the fifth inning the Mustangs were able to push across a run to tie the score 4-4. A single and a triple did the trick for the Mustangs.

However in the bottom of the fifth the Patriots again retook the lead as leadoff hitter Josie Gonzalez smacked a double, she would advance to third on a sacrifice fly by James. So with one out and Gonzalez at third, up came Wright who on the first pitch grounded to the shortstop and would reach on the bad throw which allowed Gonzalez to score and once again give Patrick Henry the lead at 5-4.

So now clinging to the one run lead Henry ace James, who had helped her own cause offensively, went to work in the top of the sixth. One by one the Mustangs went down in order to end the inning. The Patriots wouldn’t score in their half of the sixth. Once again James in the top of the seventh dominated as she struck out the side 1-2-3 to end the game and get the victory.

James got the victory as she hurled the complete game going 7 innings, giving up 4 runs of which 3 were earned on 8 hits while walking 1 and fanning 9 on the day.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

MONTE VISTA 11, HOOVER 1 – In Monte Vista Classic action the Monte Vista Monarchs shut down the visiting Hoover Cardinals 11-1 in 5 innings, Monday (Mar. 21).

The Monarchs pitching duo of GENNA HENDERSON who tossed an inning and EMILY BODTKE who hurled 4 innings combined for a no-hitter to go with the 11 run output by the offense.

Monte Vista would score a run in the bottom of the first and also a run in the second inning. Offensively in the bottom of the third the Monarchs put up an eight spot to lead 10-0 and score another in the fourth to lead 11-0. Hoover would score their only run in the top of the fifth to make it 11-1.

The Monarchs came within an eyelash of pitching a perfect game and would have if not for a couple of walks.

Getting the victory for Monte Vista would be Bodtke who came into the game in the second inning and tossed the 4 innings giving up no hits, no runs and walking none while striking out 4. Henderson, who started, tossed an inning giving up no runs and no hits while walking 2 and striking out 3 on the day.

Offensively for the Monarchs, CYNTHIA VALENCIA went 2-3 and scored 2 runs and knocked in 2 RBI, IONNA UPHAM went 1-3 and scored a run while also knocking 2 RBI. Henderson helped the cause as she went 2-3 and scored a run and knocked in a run and MARIAH WHITEHEAD went 1-2, scored a run and drove in 2 RBI.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com