ROUNDUP: East teams split; Christian downs Red Devils

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 19, 2017

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

CHULA VISTA – The bats of the Steele Canyon Cougars came alive as they downed the Clairemont Chieftains in the second game of Hilltop Tournament pool play, 7-3, on Saturday.

Steele Canyon in the bottom of the first got things clicking as AUDREY BAGGE (3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, 3B, 2B) rocketed a triple to center field, a couple of batters later JJ VENZOR (1-2, R) walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, MAKAYLA STROMENGER (1-3, 2 R, RBI, HR) followed with a walk of her own to load the bases and MAKAYLA MCCARTHY (1-3, RBI) singled scoring Bagge to lead 1-0, MACKENZIE PEARLSTEIN ripped a shot to left center and reached on an error which allows both Stromenger and McCarthy to score to push the score to 3-0.

The Chieftains would make things a little interesting in the top of the second as they scored a couple of runs to make it a one-run ball game at 3-2.

However the Cougars added another run in the bottom of the second inning as leadoff hitter MARIANA MARTINEZ (3-3) singled to center, a pinch-runner would replace her on the basepaths and score when Bagge followed with a ripped double to make it 4-2.

Steele Canyon rounded out their scoring with a solo blast by Stromenger and a two-run jack by Bagge. She would miss hitting for the cycle by only a single.

Garnering the pitching win was SAMANTHA MILLER, who tossed 5 innings of 4 hit ball, giving up 3 runs of which 2 were earned, walked 1 and struck out 1.

BONITA VISTA 5, STEELE CANYON 0 – The Barons used an early inning home run to start their offense and the pitching did the rest as they defeated the Steele Canyon Cougars in the first game of the day in the Hilltop Tournament.

A solo blast in the top of the second inning put the Barons up 1-0. They went on score three more in the top of the third to extend the lead to 4-0.

Unfortunately, the offense for the Cougars couldn’t get anything going as they were limited to one hit a triple by JJ VENZOR.

VALHALLA 7, SERRA 6 – It was a roller coaster of a day for the Norsemen, who wereable to come back and rally with flair for the victory over the Conquistadors.

The Conquistadors got on the board first as they put up a 5-spot in the top of the first to lead 5-0 early. However, the Norsemen were able to cut into the deficit as they scored three runs.

However, the Norsemen were able to cut into the deficit as they scored three runs.

JADE HILL (2-3) smashed a leadoff single, RACHEL SHELSTROM (2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B) singled and KENNEDY LABSHERE (3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, 3B) roped a double scoring both Hill and Shelstrom. Up stepped VICTORIA VILLEGAS who tied the game with her single that scored Labshere.

Valhalla had an opportunity in the bottom of the third to put more on the board as Labshere led off with a double but it was for nothing.

Both teams kept each other scoreless until the top of the seventh when Serra was able to break through and extend their lead to 6-3 with a run, taking advantage of errors.

So down to their final at-bat, Valhalla sent up RYLE MCMILLAN who led off by reaching on an error, Hill followed with a walk. The Norsemen were in business as the heart of the lineup was coming to bat.

With runners on first and second up came Shelstrom, who smashed a double that scored McMillan to make the score 6-4, Labshere, who just missed hitting for the cycle by a home run, followed with an RBI single to pull within 6-5 and up came ALEXIS INGRASSIA (1-3, 2 RBI), who was looking for her first hit on the day. Ingrassia took the offering and with a swing of the bat roped a single that scored both Shelstrom and Labshere for the

Ingrassia took the offering and with a swing of the bat roped a single that scored both Shelstrom and Labshere for the game-winning run and give the Norsemen a come from behind victory.

DELANEY STETTLER pitched the victory for Valhalla as she came in for relief.

HILLTOP 5, VALHALLA 4 – The Norsemen looked to have things in control but unfortunately, a late error doomed Valhalla in the seventh.

Valhalla went right back to work as they carried some momentum over from their victory by scoring three runs in the top of the first to lead 3-0.

Leadoff hitter JADE HILL drew a full-count walk, RACHEL SHELSTROM (3-3, R) singled and KENNEDY LABSHERE (2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 2B) ripped a double that scored both Hill and Shelstrom, Labshere would advance to third on an error, she came into score on a sacrifice bunt by ALEXIS INGRASSIA.

The Lancers would push across a run in the bottom of the third to make the score 3-1. Valhalla would answer with a run in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 4-1 thanks to a

Valhalla would answer with a run in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 4-1 thanks to a two-out RBI double by Labshere that scored Shelstrom.

Hilltop in the bottom of the sixth inning would push across a couple more runs to pull within 4-3 thanks to Valhalla mistakes.

The crushing blow by the Lancers came in the bottom of the seventh as they were able to – with one out – get back-to-back singles and the runners would advance on a miscue by Valhalla. The tying run would score on a Valhalla miscue and the game winning run would score on a sacrifice fly.

EL CAPITAN 7, CALEXICO 5 – The Vaqueros held onto win the Hilltop Tournament pool play contest despite a late and furious rally by the Bulldogs.

Calexico started with the scoring as they pushed across a run in the top of the first to lead 1-0. The Vaqueros took the lead as they were able to score two runs all with two outs. With two outs, AMANDA VASQUEZ (1-2, 2 R) drew a

The Vaqueros took the lead as they were able to score two runs all with two outs. With two outs, AMANDA VASQUEZ (1-2, 2 R) drew a

With two outs, AMANDA VASQUEZ (1-2, 2 R) drew a four-pitch walk, BAILEY OLAVESON (2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B) followed with a full count walk, ZANDRA RAGOLE (1-4) singled and MARIA LOTTA (2-3, 2 RBI) singled which scored Vasquez, ALLYSON VON YOKES singled which scored Olaveson to give El Capitan the 2-1 lead.

El Capitan in the bottom of the second inning extended their lead thanks to KIM GARCIA (RUN) drawing a leadoff walk, MADISYN WIEHER (2-4, R) singled advancing Garcia to second, a couple of batters later with one down Vasquez drew another walk to load the bases. Next happened a play you don’t see to often, Garcia took off from third and was able to successfully steal home to push the score to 3-1. Olaveson than roped a double that scored both Wieher and Vasquez, a couple of batters later with two outs Lotta singled which scored Olaveson to push the score to 6-1.

The Bulldogs in the top of the third took advantage of a couple of opportunities to cut the Vaquero lead in half as they scored two runs to pull within 6-3.

Heading to the bottom of the fifth inning with the Vaqueros still leading, leadoff hitter OLIVIA (1-2, R) MARTINEZ drew the walk, Garcia sacrifices Martinez to second, Wieher lays down a bunt and is able to beat it out as Martinez advanced to third, for the second time in the game the Vaqueros took a chance and for the second time it worked as Martinez took off down the line and was able to successfully steal home to make the score 7-3.

With the Vaqueros leading 7-3 the Bulldogs down to their last at bat in the top of the seventh looked to make it interesting and they did their best as they took advantage with a one out single, followed by a double which put runners at second and third and one out. The next batter was able to reach on an error but the runner at third scored to make the score 7-4.

The next batter hit into a fielders choice which scored another run to put the score at 7-5 still in favor of the Vaqueros. El Capitan was finally able to end the ball game as Vasquez was able to get the next batter to fly out for the final out to end the game.

Vasquez tossed the 7 inning victory in which she gave up 5 runs of which 2 were earned on 6 hits while striking out 1.

OTAY RANCH 6, EL CAPITAN 2 – The Mustangs were able to take advantage of their opportunities as they were able to limit the Vaqueros on the day in a Hilltop Tournament pool play contest.

CHRISTIAN 14, SWEETWATER 4 – The Patriots rolled the Red Devils in a non-league contest out in El Cajon.

Leadoff hitter for the Patriots, SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (2-4, 3 R, RBI, 2B) hit a ball to right field but the outfielder made an error which allowed Espinoza to reach third base, she would score on a passed ball.

A couple of batters later with one out, ASHLEY CARTER (2-3, 3 R, 2B) ripped a double, SHANNON MCMAHON (2-4, 3 R, 3RBI, 2 2B) followed with her own double that scored Carter, next batter AUDREY SHEBLOSKI (2-3, R, 3 RBI) would be hit by a pitch, ALEXA HENDERSON (1-4, RBI) would drive in McMahon on a fielder’s choice to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead.

Sweetwater got on the board with a run in the top of the second to make to score 3-1 but Christian would add two more runs in the bottom of the second as Espinoza would double and score and MALLORY STEELE (1-2, R) would also single and score.

The Red Devils pushed across a couple more runs in the top of the fifth inning but Christian matched that with a big inning in the bottom half as they scored 5 runs.

TENAY BANEGAS (1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR) had a crushing 2-run homerun, McMahon had an RBI double, Shebloski drive in a run with a single, ELLE LINDBLAD (2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B) also had an RBI double.

Sweetwater would score another run in the top of the sixth inning and again Christian would put up another big inning with four more runs to round out their scoring.

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