Momentum leads to big upsets in East

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 22, 2017

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

SAN DIEGO – A rally in the middle and a big defensive play in the bottom of the fifth sparked the Santana Sultans to an 8-5 victory over the host No. 8 ranked Patrick Henry Patriots in Jaguar Classic pool play.

Early on the Patriots were able to put a couple runs on the board as they pushed across a couple in the bottom of the first to lead 2-0.

Leadoff batter HANNAH MCEWEN (1-3, 3 RBI, 2 R, SB, HR) walked, stole second base, CASSIE VAN TIL (1-4, R) followed with a single to left advancing McEwen to third, CRISTIONA CACCAMISE advanced Van Til to second on a ground ball, ANDREA WRIGHT (1-2, RBI) laced a single to left center scoring McEwen and MADISON JAMES (1-3, RBI) knocked in Van Til with a single of her own.

A couple of innings later in the top of the second the Sultans came to bat and looked to go down as SYDNEY BENJAMIN and MADISON MENDEZ were both retired.

However with two outs MACKENZIE BENNETT (3-5, RBI, 2 2B) roped a single to left, ERICA REID (2 R) comes into run, KRYSTEN SERVICE (2-4, 2 R) lines a single to right advancing Reid to third, RACHEL WILSON (2-5, R, 2 RBI) stepped to the plate and hit what looked like the third out a pop fly buy the second baseman and right fielder almost collide for the Patriots and the ball is misplayed allowing both Reid and Service to score tying the score at 2-2. The next batter CASSIDY

The next batter CASSIDY MATTHIE (2-5, R, RBI) kept the inning going with a hard hit single to short and Wilson is held at second but NICOLE MADRIGAL would be retired.

Both teams would hold each other in check as the pitching and defense did the job. With the game still tied heading into the top of the fifth the game was getting intense.

Leading things off for the Sultans in the top of the fifth, Service hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop which she was able to beat. The next batter Wilson was retired for the first out,

The next batter Wilson was retired for the first out, Matthie than hits a ball to short where she flipped the ball to second to wipe out Service for the second out. Matthie steals second. Santana once again was facing two down and a runner on in scoring position when Madrigal came up and drew a walk, ASHLEY MADRIGAL came up and followed with a walk to load the bases and two outs.

Santana once again was facing two down and a runner on in scoring position when Madrigal came up and drew a walk, ASHLEY MADRIGAL came up and followed with a walk to load the bases and two outs.

Santana now had an opportunity blow the game open with any type of hit or they could have come away with nothing. Up stepped SHELBY HOLMQUIST (RUN) to face James who was looking to get out of the inning. What happened next favored the Sultans as James gave the pitch and unfortunately it went behind the Caccamise who was catching and this allowed

Up stepped SHELBY HOLMQUIST (RUN) to face James who was looking to get out of the inning. What happened next favored the Sultans as James gave the pitch and unfortunately it went behind the Caccamise who was catching and this allowed

What happened next favored the Sultans as James gave the pitch and unfortunately it went behind the Caccamise who was catching and this allowed Matthie to score to give the Sultans their first lead and make the score 3-2. That would be all the Sultans would get but the momentum was now in their favor.

That would be all the Sultans would get but the momentum was now in their favor.

Now with the lead, Mendez went to work for Santana as she was able to get Van Til to ground out to Benjamin who threw the ball to first for the first out, the next batter Caccamise hit a hard hit ground ball to Wilson at third but a miscue occurred which allowed her to reach first. So with one out and Caccamise at first, up stepped Wright looking to do some damage and on the 0-1

So with one out and Caccamise at first, up stepped Wright looking to do some damage and on the 0-1 count, she hit a hard hit high fly ball to right-center that looked like it was going to be trouble as it was headed for the gap to the fence.

However Sultan centerfielder Matthie had other ideas as she ran as fast as she could and made a diving attempt sticking out her glove and as she was in the air caught the ball for the spectacular and quite possibly one of the best plays that will be made all season long in the county, she had come up with the ball even after hitting the ground hard. She proceeded to throw the ball

She proceeded to throw the ball into first base to get Caccamise out for the double play to end the inning and thus preserving the one run lead.

Having survived the scare in the bottom of the fifth, Santana held onto the 3-2 lead and was looking to get anything as they needed to add to the lead. Leadoff hitter Mendez hit a hard hit liner to left which Van Til was able to track down for the first out, Bennett came up and on an 0-2 count smashed a double to right, Reid came into run, Service proceeded to walk. With runners on first and second, they both would advance on a wild pitch, Wilson was able to single in Reid on a ground ball hit to left to extend the lead to 4-2 and Service advanced to second.

Leadoff hitter Mendez hit a hard hit liner to left which Van Til was able to track down for the first out, Bennett came up and on an 0-2 count smashed a double to right, Reid came into run, Service proceeded to walk.

With runners on first and second, they both would advance on a wild pitch, Wilson was able to single in Reid on a ground ball hit to left to extend the lead to 4-2 and Service advanced to second.

That would be all James would pitch as LAILA SPRACKLEN (2-2, R) was brought in to relieve, however it wouldn’t go very good as Matthie singled in Service who had advanced to third on a wild pitch and Wilson advanced to third. Wilson was able to score on an error by Caccamise to make the score 6-2.

Santana added a couple more runs in the top of the seventh to round out their scoring and lead 8-2. Things were looking good for the Sultans as they just needed to get the final three outs to end the game.

Things were looking good for the Sultans as they just needed to get the final three outs to end the game.

Patrick Henry was down to their last at bat and didn’t go down quietly as back-to-back singles by Spracklen and HAILEY JENKS (1-3, R) to give the Patriots runners at first and second and no outs and the top of the order now coming up.

With the top of the lineup the Patriots looked to get back into the contest. Up stepped McEwen whose only hit was in the first inning, this time however she took the Mendez 1-0 offering and hit a deep fly ball to center that was no doubt about it gone for the 3-run jack and pull the Patriots within 8-5.

Up stepped McEwen whose only hit was in the first inning, this time, however, she took the Mendez 1-0 offering and hit a deep fly ball to center that was no doubt about it gone for the 3-run jack and pull the Patriots within 8-5.

However that would be all the Patriots would get as Mendez settled and retired the next batter Van Til on a line drive, she retired Caccamise on a grounder to third and a couple of batters later she retired James on a pop fly to Nicole Madrigal in right who caught it for the final out of the game.

Taking the loss was James who tossed 5 1/3 innings, giving up 6 runs of which 3 were earned on 6 hits, walked 6 and struck out 3. Spracklen in relief tossed 1 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits, walked 1 and struck out 3.

Spracklen in relief tossed 1 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits, walked 1 and struck out 3.

Garnering the victory, Mendez tossed all 7 innings giving up 5 runs of which all were earned on 8 hits while walking 4 and striking out 1 on the day.

BISHOP’S 3, No. 1 GRANITE HILLS 2 – A late rally by the Knights spoiled the brilliant pitching of Granite as they downed the newly-ranked No. 1 Eagles in Jaguar Classic play.

The Eagles got on the board first with one out as BAILEY WALLACE (2-4, 2 R, 2 2B) ripped a double to right field, a couple batters later with two outs HAILEY JOHNSON laced a single advancing Wallace to third, CASSIDY SHEW (2-4, 2 RBI) hit a ball to left center which was misplayed allowing Wallace to score to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

In the circle for the Eagles, CATIE DOBBS walked the leadoff hitter LIVY SCHIELE, the next batter HALLE COLEMAN grounded to short where HALLEY KYLER (1-4) flipped to BRIELLE TYSELING who threw to KAREN CREECH (1-4) to complete the double play. Dobbs retired the next batter by striking her out swinging to end the inning.

Leading off the top of the third for Granite Hills was Wallace who on an 0-2 count smashed a double to center, a couple of batters with two outs Shew drove in Wallace on a liner to right to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

Bishops finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as they scored on a 2 out single to make the score 2-1.

Granite Hills had an opportunity to put more on the board in the top of the fifth with one out as Kyler singled and Johnson followed with a single and a couple of batters later with two outs Tyseling walked to load the bases. However they couldn’t get the hit as KARA BLANCHARD was retired to end the inning.

Both teams would hold each other in the sixth inning to keep the score still in favor of the Eagles 2-1.

Granite was only able to get a hit by Johnson in the top of the seventh before the next two batters were retired to end the inning.

Pitching for Granite was STACI CHAMBERS who had come into the game a couple of innings prior.

Chambers was able to retire ALEX-ROSE MOLINAR on three pitches swinging for the strikeout, the next batter HAILEE SILVA drew a walk, she stole second on a 0-2 count to SOPHIA PELLETIER, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Chambers was able to strike out Pelletier for the second out of the inning and get one out away from the victory.

Chambers was able to strike out Pelletier for the second out of the inning and get one out away from the victory.

However always looking to advantage of something he sees, Knights coach ART SCHIELE saw something and he decided to send Silva. Silva took the sign and led off and took off on the 1-2 count for home in which she beat the tag and was called safe for the tying run.

With the score now tied at 2-2 and the momentum shift now clearly in the Knights favor the game went into extra innings in which it would be played under international tie-breaker rules where a runner would be at second base automatically.

The Eagles had the first crack and with Tyseling at second, Blanchard grounded out advancing Tyseling to third, the next batter RYLEE OMAHEN struck out for the second out and MORGAN KELLY lined out to end the inning.

Bishops was able to put things away as ROBYN KAZEMAINI stole third and she would score the game winning run on the single by Schiele.

For the Eagles, Dobbs tossed 4 innings of 2 hit ball giving up the 1 run while walking 3 and striking out 6. Taking the hard luck loss was Chambers who went 3 1/3 innings, giving up the 1 run on 1 hit while walking 1 and fanning 7 on the day.

VALLEY CENTER 11, VALHALLA 4 – The Jaguars take advantage of their opportunities late to put things away in a Jaguar Classic contest.

The Norsemen took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a single by VICTORIA VILLEGAS, a single by ALEXIS INGRASSIA, DELANEY STETTLER (2-3, 2B, R) singled scoring Villegas and KELLY OLSON (2-3, R, 3 RBI, HR) singled scoring Ingrassia.

However a couple of innings later Valley Center would push across three runs to take a 3-2 lead but Valhalla would retake the lead in the bottom of the inning.

With one out Stettler ripped a double and the following batter Olson would belt a 2-run blast which was her first homerun on the season. The homerun allowed Valhalla to retake the lead and give them a 4-3 lead.

The visiting Jaguars tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the fifth inning. A couple of innings later they would really put the game away as they busted out for seven runs to give them a 11-4 lead which they would keep as they retired the Norsemen in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

A couple of innings later they would really put the game away as they busted out for seven runs to give them a 11-4 lead which they would keep as they retired the Norsemen in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

Continuing her hot streak for Valhalla, RACHEL SHELSTROM went 2-4 on the day.

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