ROUNDUP: Eagles’ Dobbs has no-hitter; Sultans get Hills win

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 19, 2016

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

LA MESA (4-19-16) — A mixture of complete domination in the circle and offensive barrage made up the formula of success in the 11-0 victory for the Granite Hills Eagles over the host Helix Highlanders in 6 innings in a Grossmont Valley/Hills crossover contest, Monday (Apr. 18).

The Eagles managed to push across a run in the top of the second with two outs as RILEY AGERBEEK (2-3, 2 RBI, SB) reached on an error after hitting the ball to leftfield, SYDNEY HUSE (2-2, R) drew a walk and CATIE DOBBS (2-4, RBI, R) helped her own cause as she ripped a single to center scoring Agerbeek to give them a 1-0 lead.

Besides driving in the first run, Dobbs was in the circle and just dominated the Highlanders as she was able to retire the side in the bottom of the inning by striking out all three batters. This gave her 5 punch outs through the first two innings. The offense fed off of the pitching performance from Dobbs as they scored 2 more runs in the top of the third inning. Leadoff hitter CASSIDY SHEW (2-4, R, RBI) lined a single to center and a couple of batters later would advance to third as KAYLA MACK (1-3, 2 RBI, R, HR) reached on an error by the third basemen. The next batter JESSIE LAPIERRE (1-3, 2 RBI, 2B) would rip the offering to right field for a double that would score both Shew and Mack to extend the lead to 3-0.

Heading into the bottom of the third, Eagles pitcher Dobbs was tossing a perfect game and she would continue that as she got out of the inning including striking out a batter to give her 6. More of the same for the Eagles in the bottom of the fourth as Dobbs fanned two and got out of the inning to preserve the perfect game. In the top of the fifth, Granite Hills did more damage on offense as they were able tack on two more runs. Coming into hit for the Eagles, HALEY BUDVARSON (2-2, RBI, 2 R) led off with a single to left and a couple of batters later came into score with two outs as RACHEL RILEY (2-4) hit a single to right field where the fielder misplayed the ball allowing Budvarson to advance to third and Riley move up to second. The next batter Agerbeek hit the ball in between the shortstop and third basemen in which the shortstop stopped the ball but Agerbeek was already at first base. This allowed Budvarson to score and Riley would score as well to make it 5-0.

Everything was going the Eagles way as Dobbs took the circle in the bottom of the fifth looking to extend her perfect game. However the perfect game would end as she walked two Highlanders both would reach 3-2 counts and it was close both times. She still had the no hitter in tact which was preserved as the Eagles got out of the inning. Granite Hills put their biggest offensive output in the top of the sixth when they were able to push across six runs to lead 11-0.

Starting things off in the top of the sixth, Huse laced a single to left field, advanced to second on the bunt single by Dobbs, KAREN CREECH (1-3, SB) put down a sacrifice that advanced both Huse to third and Dobbs to second, so with one out Shew singled to left field knocking in Huse but the fielder misplayed the ball allowing Dobbs to come in and score and Shew to move all the way to third base. Next up for the Eagles was Budvarson who hit an infield single that scored Shew, Mack stepped to the plate and promptly bombed the offering over the left field wall for the 2-run jack, BRENDA RUSHING (1-1, R) singled to left and advanced to second and would score when Agerbeek hit a single down the left field line. The Highlanders were finally able to get out of the inning but not before the damage had been done.

So now facing their possible last ups the Highlanders needed to score two runs to stay alive but Dobbs wouldn’t have it as she retired the side including striking out the last batter to end the game. On the day Dobbs completely had her way with the Highlanders in which she tossed a complete game 6 inning shutout, gave up no hits while walking 2 and fanning 10 on the day.

“I felt really confident and it was way up today. I just felt it as I was pitching which really showed as they couldn’t touch anything and also my teammates really came through making the plays when necessary and on offense as well,” said Dobbs when asked about the feeling of tossing the no-hitter which was her first career varsity no-no.

SANTANA 6, VALHALLA 3 – The Santana Sultans made the plays when it counted in their Grossmont Hills contest against the host Valhalla Norsemen as they pulled out the 6-3 victory, Monday (Apr. 18).

Both teams held each other in check the first couple of innings but it would be the Sultans to break through first in the top of the third inning as they pushed across three runs to lead 3-0. Leading off was MADISON MENDEZ (3-4, RBI, R, HR) who singled, moved to second on the single by SYDNEY VATES (3-4, 2 R) both would advance as CASSIDY MATTHIE (1-2, R, 2B) drew the two out walk to load the bases, up stepped JORDAN TEEGARDEN (1-3, 2 RBI, 2B) who smoked a double that scored both Mendez and Vates to make the score 2-0 and Teegarden would come around to score when ASHLEY MADRIGAL doubled to left field. Valhalla would answer with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning as KENNEDY LABSHERE singled, KELLY OLSON (run) would come in as a courtesy runner and she would come around to score when VICTORIA VILLEGAS (2B, RBI) ripped the Mendez offering for a double to left to make the score 3-1.

Santana would tack on their final three runs in the top of the sixth with a bang as Mendez would lead off and on the 0-1 count take the offering and blast it over the left center fence for the dinger to make it 4-1. A couple of batters later Vates would single and RACHEL WILSON (1-4, 2 RBI, R, HR) would work the count to 2-1 before jacking the next offering over the left field fence for the 2-run bomb to make it 6-1. Valhalla would tack on a couple more runs to pull within 6-3 but that was as close as they would get as Santana was able to squash the threat and end the game.

Taking the loss was LILY METSCH who went the whole way giving up 6 runs on 12 hits, walking 4 and striking out 1. For the Sultans in the victory Mendez went the whole way while striking out 4 and only giving up 3 hits.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

UNIVERSITY CITY 8, STEELE CANYON 7 – A big fourth inning by the host University City dooms the visiting Steele Canyon Cougars in their 8-7 non-league loss, Monday (Apr. 18).

The Cougars would strike first in the top of the first inning as they pushed across a couple of runs to lead 2-0. Leadoff hitter AUDREY BAGGE (3-4, 2 R, 2B) drew a walk, moved up on a passed ball, GENTRY HOFFMAN (1-4, 2B) sacrificed Bagge to third, MAKAYLA STROMENGER (2 R) would also walk and steal second and on the throw Bagge would come into score on an error by the second baseman to make it 1-0. MAKAYLA MCCARTHY (RBI) walked, Stromenger advanced to third on a passed ball and would score on the sacrifice fly by JJ VENZOR (3-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B).

The Cougars would add to their lead in the top of the second as they were able to push across four runs to extend their lead to 6-0. EMMA DODSON (run) drew a leadoff walk, Bagge singled to center advancing Dodson to second, Stromenger with one out walked to load the bases, McCarthy was hit by a pitch that scored Dodson, Venzor singled scoring Bagge, SAMANTHA MILLER reached on a fielder’s choice allowing Stromenger to score but McCarthy was out at third base, the score now 5-0 up stepped MARIANA MARTINEZ, Miller stole second, Martinez singled which scored Venzor to make it 6-0. It would be all the Cougars would get as University City got out of the inning.

So leading by six runs it looked like the Cougars would get the victory behind the pitching of McCarthy but she would give up a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The score was now 6-2. The big blow to the Cougars occurred in the bottom of the fifth as the Centurions scored 6 runs to lead 8-6. Steele Canyon would get within a run in the top of the sixth as Venzor led off with a double and she would score on a groundout to make it 8-7.

Unfortunately this would be the closest the Cougars would get as they would be retired 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh inning to end the game.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com