Cougars rally past Sultans at Hilltop tourney

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 27, 2016

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

CHULA VISTA (3-28-16) — A late inning rally helps the Steele Canyon Cougars in their 7-4 victory over the Santana Sultans in the Hilltop Tournament at Hilltop High, Saturday (Mar. 26).

The Cougars got things going early thanks to lead off hit by a pitch for AUDREY BAGGE (1-3, 2 R), she would be advanced by back to back singles by JJ VENZOR (1-3, R) and MACKAYLA McCARTHY (2-3, 2 RBI, R). Bagge would come in to score on the throw to make it 1-0.

The Cougars’ lead would be short as the Sultans were able to tie the game in the bottom of the first as MACKENZIE BENNETT (2-3) singled, ERICA REID (RUN) came in as a courtesy runner, SYDNEY VATES (1-2) walked which advanced Reid, Reid stole third base, and she would score on an error.

The teams wouldn’t stay tied for long as Santana in their half of the second inning took a 3-1 lead thanks to a double by JORDAN TEEGARDEN (1-3, R, 2B) and she would come in two batters later as SHELBY HOLMQUIST (1-2, 2 RBI, R, HR) took the pitch and just crushed a high fly ball to left for the 2-run homerun jack. The homerun was the first high school varsity homerun for Holmquist.

Both teams would hold each other until the top of the fourth inning when the Cougars’ McCarthy singled and would score later on a passed ball. MACKENSIE PEARLSTEIN (RUN) would reach on an error and would score on a long triple by HANNAH DUDLEY (1-2, RBI, 3B) to tie the score at 3-3.

Things would go the Cougars way in the top of the fifth as they were able to push across four runs to lead 7-3 as they banged out four hits. Leadoff hitter Bagge singled, she would be sacrificed to second base, Venzor would draw a walk, McCarthy laced a two run single, EMMA DODSON singled and SAMANTHA MILLER (1-3, RBI, 2B) boomed a double to center to score McCarthy, and the final run came in on a walk.

Santana would try and get back into the contest but they could only push a single run across as SOPHIA MARTORANA (1-1) singled, ASHLEY MADRIGAL (RUN) came in as a courtesy runner, Bennett would single to left advancing Madrigal to second. The next batter Vates reached on an error which would advance the runners, RACHEL WILSON (RBI) would also reach on an error which allowed Madrigal to score. The Sultans cut the lead to 7-4. However the Sultans couldn’t do anything more as the Cougars would squash the threat and get out of the inning.

The Sultans had one last shot in the bottom of the sixth but NIKKI DEPAOLA who came on in relief for the Cougars would shut the Sultans down to end the game.

Getting the victory for the Cougars was McCarthy who went 4 innings, giving up 3 runs of which 2 were earned on 4 hits. She walked 1 while striking out 3 on the day.

With the win the Cougars would take on the Bonita Vista Barons for a place in the championship game of the Hilltop tournament.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

BONITA VISTA 10, STEELE CANYON 2 – The Steele Canyon Cougars in the second game of the day came back to take on the Barons of Bonita Vista. Unfortunately they ran out of steam and dropped the 10-2 decision, Saturday (Mar. 26).

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

GROSSMONT 4, ESCONDIDO 1 – The host Grossmont Foothillers pounded out 15 hits in their Falcon Fiesta contest against the Escondido Cougars, which allowed them to get the 4-1 victory, Saturday (Mar 26).

The Foothillers allowed the Cougars to get two hits in the top of the first but they wouldn’t amount to anything as Grossmont was able to get out of the inning.

The Foothillers set the tone early as CHLOE CAMARERO (4-4, R) singled, DESTINY BACON (3-4, 2 R) singled and CARLY PEARSON (2-2, R) singled to load the bases. Things didn’t look good for the Hillers as MEGAN MALWITZ (2-4) hit into a double play but ALEXIS COLLINS (3-3, 4 RBI) laced a single down the third base line which scored both Camarero and Bacon to make it 2-0.

The Cougars would cut the lead to 2-1 with a run in the top of the second as they were able to score on a wild pitch. However the Foothillers would answer in the bottom of the third inning as Bacon singled, Pearson sacrificed Bacon to second base, Malwitz singled and Collins ripped a single to left that scored Bacon to make it 3-1.

Grossmont again in the fifth inning extended their lead to 4-1 as Pearson led off getting hit by a pitch, Malwitz blasted a double to short centerfield which advanced Pearson to third where she would be held, and again Collins came up and again would drive in a run as she nailed a single down the left field line that scored Pearson.

This would be all the runs needed for SAMARIA ROOPE who garnered the complete game victory going 7 innings, giving up the 1 run which was unearned while walking none and fanning 3 on the day.

One of the big reasons for the Foothillers success was the fact that the first five batters collected 14 of the 15 total team hits on the day.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

PATRICK HENRY 6, POINT LOMA 1 – In Jaguar Classic tournament action, the Patrick Henry Patriots traveled inland to take on the Point Loma Pointers and used a balanced offense and strong pitching to garner the 6-1 victory, Saturday (Mar. 26).

The Patriots broke through with a run in the top of the first inning as speedster HANNAH McEWEN (2-4, 3 R, RBI, HR) did her best RICKEY HENDERSON impression by working the count before she would jack a bomb over the wall for the leadoff homer to lead 1-0.

Two innings later in the top of the third, Patrick Henry struck again with a couple of runs to extend their lead to 3-0. CRISTIONA CACCAMISE (2-3, R, RBI) reached on a fielder’s choice, she would score on a blasted triple by DANI ROMERO (3-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B, 3B) and she came into score on a single by JOSIE GONZALEZ (1-4, RBI, 2B). They would score again in the top of the fourth as McEwen led off with a single, she would be advanced to second on a single by ANYA VANDERSIP (3-3), she would be out on a 9-2 play after the single by Caccamise which advanced McEwen to third. She would come in to score on the single by Romero to make it 4-0.

More offense in the top of the sixth for the Patriots allowed them to tack on two more runs to lead 6-0. Leadoff hitter SAVANNAH CHAPMAN (1-2, R) singled, she would advance to second on the McEwen hit by pitch. Vandersip would single to load the bases, Caccamise laced a single scoring Chapman and Romero followed with a single to score McEwen.

This would be all the run support that Henry ace MADISON JAMES would need as she pretty much breezed through the Pointer lineup in her five innings of work. RUBY GONZALEZ would come in to relieve James in the sixth inning. The Pointers would break through with a run in the bottom of the seventh but that’s all they would get on the day.

CASSIE VAN TIL also contributed for the Patriots as she went 2-4 and stole a base.

James who garnered the victory with her 5 innings, gave up no runs on 1 hit and fanned 5 on the day. Gonzales who came on in relief tossed 2 innings, giving up the one run which was earned on 3 hits while striking out 1 on the day.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com