Valhalla, Henry, Santana, Steele Canyon win

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 17, 2017

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

RANCHO SAN DIEGO (3-16-17) – The Valhalla Norsemen offense really kicked into high gear in their non-league contest against the Montgomery Aztecs as they scored in just about every inning and put things away early in their 11-5 victory.

Valhalla trailed early on after giving up 3 runs in the top of the first inning but pulled within a run as they scored twice in the bottom of the first to make the score 3-2. Montgomery tacked on a run in the top of the second to lead 4-2.

However just like in the first, the offense for Valhalla came alive, this time they plated 4 runs to take a 6-4 lead. They would score three runs over the third and fourth innings to lead 9-4.

Multiple players for Valhalla had more than one hit including VICTORIA VILLEGAS who jacked a three run homerun in the bottom of the second in her 3-for-3 day drove in 3 runs and scored twice, RACHEL SHELSTROM went 3-for-4 including a double and scored 3 runs, KENNEDY LABSHERE was 2-for-4 and drove in 2 runs and scored 2 runs and KELLY OLSON went 2-for-4. SAMMY GREEN also had a multi-hit day as she went 2-for-4.

Defensively the Norsemen received great plays from ALEXIS INGRASSIA who drove in 2 runs also threw out runners attempting to steal second and also to end the game RYLEE MCMILLIAN threw a perfect throw home and Ingrassia fielded it while blocking the plate and got the runner.

Tossing the victory was TORI BASSETTE in relief for LILY METSCH who went 4 innings giving up no hits and striking out 2 Aztecs on the day.

PATRICK HENRY 14, SAN DIEGUITO 0 – For the second straight day the Patrick henry offense put up double digit runs on their way to a convincing win over the Mustangs in the Falcon Fiesta Tournament.

In the bottom of the first the Patriots sent eight batters and score 4 runs which included leadoff hitter HANNAH MCEWEN (3-4, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB, 2B) starting off with a single and stealing second base, CASSIE VAN TIL (1-3, RBI, 2 R, 3B) ripped a triple which scored McEwen, CRISTIONA CACCAMISE (2-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B) drove in Van Til on a groundout, ANDREA WRIGHT (1-2, 2 R) singled, MADISON JAMES (1-2, 2 RBI, R, 2B) was hit by a pitch, both her and Wright advanced via a wild pitch, SAVANNAH CHAPMAN walked, LAUREN NETT (2-3, 4 RBI, R, 2B, HR) drove in both Wright and James to make it 4-0.

Same as the first, McEwen led off with a single, stole second base, Van Til this time walked, Caccamise knocked in McEwen as she roped a double and Van Til advanced to third, she would score on the sacrifice fly by James. Both Nett and Jenks would get on via fielder’s choice, Jenks’ hit actually caused the Mustangs to commit an error and allowed 2 runs to score. The Patriots scored 7 runs to push the score to 11-0.

In the bottom of the third inning Nett would jack a two-run blast over the fence and Caccamise who singled prior would come in on the double by James.

Pitching wise LAILA SPRACKLEN spun a 1 hit gem in which she struck out 7 Mustangs in the victory.

SANTANA 6, UNIVERSITY CITY 5 – It wasn’t easy for the Santana Sultans as they won with a flair for the dramatics in the bottom of the seventh in their home Jaguar Classic contest.

Early on the Centurions showed they were the better team as they plated 3 runs in the top of the first including a very close call at home plate in which a Centurions runner just beat the throw home.

However, the Sultans bats came alive in the bottom of the second inning as leadoff hitter SHELBY HOLMQUIST (1-3, 2R, 2B) and SOPHIA MARTORANA (RUN) each drew walks. Santana looked like it was in business but the next two batters would be retired and it looked like they would be

Santana looked like it was in business but the next two batters would be retired and it looked like they would be shutdown.

However, MADISON MENDEZ (1-4, 2 RBI, 2B) helped her own cause as she ripped a double over the center fielder’s head that scored both Holmquist and Martorana to pull within 3-2. ASHLEY MADRIGAL, who came in to run, would get to third as both MACKENZIE BENNETT (1-2) and KRYSTEN SERVICE (1-3, RBI) walked to load the bases, up stepped CASSIDY

ASHLEY MADRIGAL, who came in to run, would get to third as both MACKENZIE BENNETT (1-2) and KRYSTEN SERVICE (1-3, RBI) walked to load the bases, up stepped CASSIDY MATTHIE (1-2, RBI) who drew the bases loaded walk to score Mendez to tie the score 3-3.

The Sultans in the bottom of the fourth were able to break through again as SYDNEY BENJAMIN (1-3, R, 2B) led off with a double, Mendez reached on an error, Madrigal came into run, Bennett singled to center and both Benjamin and Madrigal advance, DESIREE LYNCH come into run for Bennett, Service than singles on a pop fly to left field scoring Benjamin.

Madrigal would come into score on a hard hit ball by Holmquist to short which the fielder bobbled and Holmquist was safe on the error. Santana now led 5-3.

However, University City didn’t go down easy.

They led off with a walk, the next batter struck out, the following batter doubled, which scored the runner to make the score 5-4.

Another leadoff single in the top of the sixth, then they sacrificed to advance the runner to second, then a groundout advanced runner to third so with two outs the next batter is facing a possible strikeout. However on the pitch that she swung and missed the ball got by Bennett allowing the runner from third to come in and score to tie the game at 5-5.

In the bottom of the seventh after a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, Santana started off with Holmquist booming a double to center field, the next two batters struck out, and it looked like the game could go into extras.

Up stepped Benjamin, who had reached on an error in her previous at-bat, looking to end the game with a hit.

On a 2-2 count, she took the next offering and hit a pop fly that looked like it was going to be caught but was dropped and Holmquist, who had advanced to third on a dropped third strike, was able to score the game-winning run.

STEELE CANYON 3, EC SOUTHWEST 0 – Cougar pitching tossed a shutout of the Eagles in Hilltop tournament contest.

The Cougars pushed across a run in the bottom of the first to lead 1-0 early on thanks to a leadoff single by AUDREY BAGGE (2-4, R), GENTRY HOFFMAN (3-4, R, 3B) followed with a single, JJ VENZOR (1-2, RBI, R, HR) would walk. A couple of batters later MAKAYLA MCCARTHY (1-3, RBI) would hit a fly ball to left field and Bagge would tag up and score.

A couple of batters later MAKAYLA MCCARTHY (1-3, RBI) would hit a fly ball to left field and Bagge would tag up and score.

Steele Canyon pushed across another run in the bottom of the second thanks to a one-out single by EMMA DODSON (1-3, R), JASMIN ALVARADO walked advancing Venzor to second, a couple batters later Hoffman lined a single to center that scored Dodson to push the score to 2-0.

McCarthy who was in the circle for the Cougars pretty much was retiring the Eagles one by one including the top of the third where she retired the side.

Another run by the Cougars in the bottom of the third extended their lead to 3-0, this time it was a leadoff solo bomb by Venzor over the right field fence.

That would be all the run support that McCarthy would need as she garnered the victory in which she scattered 4 hits, gave up no runs and struck out 6 Eagles on the day.

MATER DEI 3, EL CAPITAN 0 – The Vaqueros were limited to a single hit on the day and unfortunately, couldn’t overcome numerous errors and the Crusaders took advantage.

The Crusaders took and early 1-0 lead on a one-out single, flowed by another single and a stolen base and the run came in on an error by the Vaqueros.

El Capitan got its only hit on the day in the bottom of the second inning when GRACE BURKETT roped a single to left field.

Both teams would go back and forth until the Crusaders who were clinging to the 1-0 lead finally put up a couple of runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 3-0.

For the Vaqueros in the hard-luck loss, ALEXA WILLIAMS went 7 innings, giving up 3 runs of which 2 were earned on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1 as well.

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