Dual threat Mendez spins Sultans past San Diego

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 29, 2016

Santana's Maddy Mendez with her home run ball after she led off Monday's game with a solo shot.

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

SAN DIEGO (3-29-16) — A dual threat of MADDY MENDEZ (2-3, RBI, R, HR) helped lead the Santana Sultans to a 7-3 Monarch Classic tournament victory over the host San Diego Cavers, Monday (Mar. 28).

Santana got on the board early thanks to a solo blast by Mendez to give Santana a 1-0 early on. They tacked on a couple more runs in the top of the third innings on a single by Mendez, ERICA REID (RUN) came in as a courtesy runner and advanced on a passed ball, SYDNEY VATES (RUN) walked and RACHEL WILSON (2-4, 3 RBI, 2B) knocked both Reid and Vates in on a single to extend the lead to 3-0.

However the lead would be cut as the Cavers pushed across a couple of runs in the bottom of the third to make it 3-2. Santana went back to business in the top of the fourth as they scored four runs to now lead 7-2. JORDAN TEEGARDEN (1-4, R) singled, advanced to third on consecutive passed balls, NICOLE PENTON MARCH (1-2, R) walked, ASHLEY MADRIGAL (1-3, R) singled scoring Teegarden who came in on an error and advancing Penton March to third, Madrigal stole second, Penton March would score on an error by the third basemen which would also advance Madrigal, Mendez walked and Reid came in to run. She would be caught stealing second while Madrigal successfully stole home.

Bennett, the next batter, singled, SYDNEY BENJAMIN (RUN) came into run, Vates drew a walk and Benjamin advanced to second. This brought up Wilson who took the 1-1 count and blasted a double that scored Benjamin and sent Vates to third. This would be all the runs the Sultans would get as the next batter CASSIDY MATTHIE was retired.

Mendez and the Sultans kept the Cavers in check pretty much the whole time as the Cavers scored their only other run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

On the day, Mendez went the full 7 innings, giving up the 3 runs of which all were earned on 5 hits while walking one and fanning 3 on the day.

Granite Hills 7, Westview 4 – The Granite Hills Eagles traveled up north to take on the Westview Wolverines in the Falcon Fiesta tournament, Monday (Mar. 28). The Eagles banged out 8 hits in their 7-4 victory to snap their 5 game losing streak.

Leadoff hitter CASSIDY SHEW (0-2, 2 R) started it off as she reached on an error. She would advance to second on the single by KAREN CREECH (1-2, 3 R), HALLE KYLER (4-4, RBI, 2 R) singled advancing the runners up, KAYLA MACK (2-4, 2 RBI, R) hit into a fielder’s choice where Shew was out coming home. BRENDA RUSHING (0-2, RBI) grounded out but this allowed Creech to score to make it 1-0 Eagles. That would be all they would garner as JESSIE LAPIERRE (0-3, RBI) would be retired. Granite scratched another run in the top of the third as Shew walked, Creech reached on a fielder’s choice, Kyler singled with one down, with runners at first and second Mack ripped a single that scored Creech.

The Eagles scored a couple more runs in the top of the fifth as Kyler would knock in Shew with a single and LaPierre would drive in Kyler. Granite in the sixth scored three more times all with two outs thanks to Creech reaching on an error. Kyler singled, Mack singled driving in Creech, both Kyler and Mack would score as well.

Kyler on the day in the circle got the victory went 7 innings, gave up 4 runs of which 3 were earned on 6 hits while walking 3 and hitting double digits in strikeouts with 10.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

Serra 7, La Jolla 4 – The Serra Conquistadors rallied late to beat the host La Jolla Vikings 7-4 in Monarch Classic action, Monday (Mar. 28).

The Conquistadors struck first with a run in the top of the first to lead 1-0 thanks to SELA FALLON (1-3, RBI, R) reaching on a called third strike. She would steal second and come around to score. They would tack on another run in the second inning as KRISTA RASK (1-3, 2 RBI, R) reached on an error and would score later on a single by Fallon to make it 2-0.

However the lead wouldn’t last as the Vikings would push across three runs to take a 3-2 lead thanks to a leadoff solo homer and three consecutive singles. They tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Things looked grim for the Conquistadors as the Vikings went through the lineup each inning.

However the momentum swung in favor of Serra in the top of the sixth inning as MEGAN POOLE (2-4, RBI, 2 R) led off with a double. She would come in to score on a single by Rask, ABIGAIL WARDEN (RUN) also scored in the inning which would knot the score at 4-4.

Serra would take the lead for good in the top of the seventh as they pushed across three runs to lead 7-4. AMBER WOZNIAK (1-4, RBI, R) led off with a single. She would steal second, TAYLOR CURLY (1-3, RBI, R) drove her in with a single, Poole doubled which scored Curly and she would come in to score as well on the single by JACQUELINE KAMERY (1-2, R).

Serra started VIVIAN TOMOVICH who tossed 4 innings, gave up 4 runs of which 3 were earned on 8 hits, walked 1 and struck out 1. Poole would come in to relieve her in the fifth and garner the victory as she tossed 3 innings giving up 1 hit.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

Ramona 10, Patrick Henry 0 (5 innings) – The Ramona Bulldogs hosted the Patrick Henry Patriots in Jaguar Classic action and in a very surprising result came away with the 10-0 victory in 5 innings, Monday (Mar. 28).

Bulldog pitching shut down the Patriot offense one by one and limited them to a measly single by DANI ROMERO in the top of the fourth inning.

Offense wasn’t the only problem for Patrick Henry as it just wasn’t the Patriots MADISON JAMES day as she gave up 9 runs of which 8 were earned on 9 hits while walking 5 and only striking out 3 on the day in the loss.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

EC-Southwest EC 12, Christian 2 (5 innings) – The Eagles of El Centro Southwest hosted the Christian Patriots in Monarch Classic action and won easily 12-2 in five innings, Monday (Mar 28).

The Patriots got on the board first as they scored two runs in the top of the first inning to lead 2-0 early on thanks to a double by SILENT RAIN ESPINOSA and a booming 2-run blast by ANNA SHERBURNE. The Eagles scored three runs of their own in the bottom of the first and never looked back.

On the day the Eagles limited the Patriots to the two hits in the first inning while pounding out 11 themselves.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com