ROUNDUP: East teams end solid week on high note

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 24, 2017

Don De Mars Photography

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

SPRING VALLEY – The bats of the Steele Canyon Cougars came alive to claw the Otay Ranch Mustangs as they pounded out 13 hits and limited Otay to 3 hits on the day in a 10-0 win.

The Cougars scored first as they pushed a run on the board in the bottom of the second inning when MAKAYLA MCCARTHY (2-3, R, 3 RBI, HR) started off with a single and would score on an error to lead 1-0.

McCarthy struck again in the bottom of the third as she bombed a 3-run homer to center that scored JJ VENZOR (1-2, R, 2B), and MAKAYLA STROMENGER (1-3, 2 R) to extend the lead to 4-0. AUDREY BAGGE (1-4, 2 R, 3B) in the bottom of the fourth roped a triple and scored on a single by GENTRY HOFFMAN (3-3, R, 2 RBI) to push it to 5-0.

McCarthy who also was in the circle was very overpowering as she didn’t allow a hit after the second inning and also induced many ground balls.

Steele Canyon added their 5 runs to finish things off in the bottom of the fifth as Bagge reached on an error and scored, Stromenger singled and would score, MACKENSIE PEARLSTEIN would single and score and both MARIANNA MARTINEZ (1-1, R, RBI) and EMMA DODSON (1-2, R) singled and would score.

McCarthy limited the Mustangs to only 2 hits on the day in her 5 innings of work while walking 1 and fanning 3 for her third victory.

VALHALLA 8, OUR LADY OF PEACE 3 – The visiting Norsemen score seven runs over the final couple of innings to claim the Jaguar Classic contest.

The Pilots took an early lead as they were able to put a run on the board in the bottom of the first to lead 1-0. However, that lead would be erased as Valhalla matched it with a run in the top of the fourth when KENNEDY LABSHERE reached on an error and would come around to score to tie it at 1-1.

However, that lead would be erased as Valhalla matched it with a run in the top of the fourth when KENNEDY LABSHERE reached on an error and would come around to score to tie it at 1-1.

OLP retook the lead in the bottom half as they scored two runs to make it 3-1. However again that didn’t last as for the third lead change the Norsemen were able to retake the lead in the top of the fifth inning.

DELANEY STETTLER led off with a single, LEXI SCHMEHR came into run, she would come into score, JADE HILL also singled and would score and Labshere would single in a run, as Valhalla led 4-3.

They added four more runs which all came with two outs in the top of the sixth to lead 8-3. Hill singled, RACHEL SHELSTROM singled, Labshere drove in both Hill and Shelstrom on a single, VICTORIA VILLEGAS singled and ALEXIS INGRASSIA finished off with a booming two-run double.

Stettler tossed a complete game victory giving up the 3 runs on 8 hits.

HELIX 10, MONTGOMERY 2 (6 innings) – The Highlanders rolled the Aztecs in a Duds by dudes pool play contest.

Helix jumped out 3-0 as EMILY COALE singled, FRANKIE MARTINEZ reached on an error as she attempted a sacrifice bunt and MCKENZIE FLORES (2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB) drove in a run with a single and GABBY OLIVARRIA (3-4, R, 4 RBI, 3 2B) finished it up with a booming 2-run double.

Olivarria in the key fifth inning boomed another double, KASEY CASTRO followed that with an RBI single, and SHAREENA LACHANCE had an RBI single in the inning as well. These runs allowed the Highlanders to put the contest away for good.

Coale on the day finished 3-4 with a double, a stolen base and scored 3 runs.

In the circle for Helix, ALLISON LUPSHA garnered her first varsity victory as she tossed 3 innings, giving up the 3 runs, walked 3 and struck out 1. LaChance came in and tossed 3 innings, gave up 2 hits and struck out 2.

PATRICK HENRY 8, VALLEY CENTER 4 – The Pattraveledvelled all the way up to the North County and were able to declaw the Jaguars in a Jaguar Classic contest.

Both teams in the first inning would push across a run to have a tie ball game but in the top of the second the Patriots bats would break out and score 5 runs to take a 6-1 lead. Valley Center would score in the bottom of the second to make it 6-3.

Patrick Henry would score again in the top of the third and fourth innings to lead 8-3. The Jaguars would add their final run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

DEL NORTE 7, CHRISTIAN 1 – The Nighthawks were able to keep the potent Patriot offense quiet as they limited them to 5 hits on the day in a Jaguar Classic contest.

Things were looking good for the Patriots in the top of the first as SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (1-2, R, SB) led off with a walk, stole second and would score on a double by SHANNON MCMAHON (1-3, RBI, 2B) to give Christian the early 1-0 lead.

Christian pitching led by ASHLEY CARTER was rolling along as she was able to keep the Nighthawks in check including a couple of strikeouts but in the bottom of the fourth they broke through with a run to tie the game 1-1.

A one out single and an error would lead to the run for the Nighthawks. Multiple errors by Christian in the bottom of the fifth led to five runs and pretty much put the game away as Christian just couldn’t get any offense going.

Carter took the loss for Christian as she tossed 7 innings, giving up 7 runs of which 4 were earned on 9 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2 on the day.