ROUNDUP: Eagles remind Henry they are strong program

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 6, 2016

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

ALLIED GARDENS (4-6-16) — In any sport there has always been the role of the underdog where according to experts they don’t stand a chance and are expected to lose. That all changed today as the underdog rose to the top as the Granite Hills Eagles clawed to the comeback 6-5 victory over the host No. 3 Patrick Henry Patriots in non-league action.

The game went according to script at first when in the bottom of the second inning the Patriots struck first with three runs to lead 3-0. Leadoff hitter JOSIE GONZALEZ (2-4, RBI, R) banged out a single and SAVANNAH CHAPMAN (1-4, R) singled. A couple of batters later HANNAH MCEWEN (2-4, 2 RBI, R, 2 SB) would drive in both Gonzalez and Chapman as she laced a single, ANYA VANDERSIP (SB) proceeded to hit into a fielders choice advancing McEwen to third, Vandersip proceeded to steal second and McEwen stole home for the third run.

Patrick Henry sent out RUBY GONZALEZ to the circle in place of Henry ace MADISON JAMES who was injured. Gonzalez proceeded to shut down the Eagles offense for the first three innings as she held them hitless. However that all changed in the top of the fourth when the Eagles scored their blows in as they pulled within a run at 3-2. It all started with HALLE KYLER (3-3, RBI, 2 2B) ripping a double and moving to third on an error, JESSIE LAPIERRE (2-4, 2B) laced a single, MORGAN KELLY (2 R) came in as a courtesy runner and she would score on the MADISON CALDWELL (2 RBI) sacrifice fly as did Kyler.

The momentum in the game had changed as the Eagles knew they were back in business. Kyler the Eagles ace shut down the potent Patriot offense in the bottom of the fourth despite giving up the hit and stolen base to McEwen. Kyler was able to get out the inning as she got Vandersip to fly out for th third out. More momentum for the Eagles in the top of the fifth as they scratched and overtook the Patriots with two runs to take the 4-3 lead. SYDNEY HUSE (1-2, R) got things rolling as she singled, HAYLEY BUDVARSON (1-2, R) singled, KAREN CREECH flied out, things got very interesting on the next play as CASSIDY SHEW (1-3, RBI) grounded to short which scored Huse and Kyler would knock in Budvarson.

The Eagles in the bottom of the fifth behind Kyler again retired the Patriots in order 1-2-3 as Kyler struck out ANDREA WRIGHT and retired DANI ROMERO (2-4, R) and CRISTIONA CACCAMISE via groundout. Granite struck another blow as they pushed across another run in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 5-3 as LaPierre smashed a double, Kelly in as courtesy runner, she stole third base and came in on the sacrifice fly to left field by Caldwell. They would tack on another insurance run which ended up being of importance in the top of the seventh as Kyler doubled and scored on a laced single by KAYLA MACK (1-4, RBI, SB) to make it 6-3.

Just like a true favorite the Patriots didn’t go away quietly as in the bottom of the seventh things got really interesting. Patrick Henry who had not scored a run since the second inning finally came alive offensively. CAMRYN DEMKO (Run) came in for Caccamise and proceeded to draw the one out walk, Romero singled advancing Demko to second. Next up for the Patriots was the big bopper of the lineup in Wright who had smashed a grandslam in the championship of the Falcon Fiesta tournament. Looking to get something going she ripped the 0-1 count for a single that scored Demko, Romero advanced to third, she would score on a groundout to first by Josie Gonzalez to make it 6-5. So with two outs and the tying run at second up stepped Chapman. Kyler knew it was down to one out which is always the hardest to get, she was able to get the first pitch strike, the very next pitch Chapman swung and hit a high fly that looked like it was going out in foul territory which Shew ran after and with little room near the fence put up her glove and squeezed it making the catch for the final out of the game.

The Eagles had overcome adversity in the beginning and held on to slay the favorite in the end and garner the upset. Kyler got the victory as she gave up 5 runs of which only a couple were earned on 10 hits and walked 3 while fanning 3. Taking the loss was Ruby Gonzalez like Kyler went the whole way, giving up 6 runs of which 5 were earned on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 1.

With the win, Granite Hills was able to extend their winning streak to 3 games with the last two coming against top ranked teams in the county which will help later on for playoff purposes in the power rankings system.

Mount Carmel 7, Helix 1 — The Helix Highlanders traveled up to the North County, Tuesday (Apr.5^th) and unfortunately crucial mistakes and being held to five hits didn’t help in their 7-1 loss against the Mount Carmel Sun Devils.

The Sun Devils would jump out right away with four runs in the bottom of the first inning to lead 4-0 early on. The Highlanders would get on the board with a run in the top of the third inning to make the score 4-1 but the Sun Devils would add to their lead with three in the bottom of the fifth inning to round out the scoring.

For Helix, MCKENZIE FLORES knocked in the only run as she went 1-3 on the day. BRIANA REED also had a couple of hits as she went 2-2.

Taking the circle and also the loss for the Highlanders was SHAREENA LACHANCE who went 5 innings, giving up 7 runs of which 5 were earned on 9 hits, she also struck out 2 on the day.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

Olympian 13, Serra 0 — It was all Olympian Eagles all the time in their 13-0 blowout of the host Serra Conquistadors in a shortened 5 inning non-league contest, Tuesday (Apr. 5^th).

The Eagles who traveled up from the South Bay proceeded to hold the Conquistadors to a measly 2 hits on the day. They proceeded to score 3 runs in the second inning on three singles and never looked back from that point. Serra’s hits on the day came courtesy of DARBY TIBBETS and SELA FALLON.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com