ROUNDUP: Up, down day for East teams

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 24, 2017

Photo by Linda Guay

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON – A late rally by the Granite Hills Eagles allowed them to claim victory over the Point Loma Pointers in a Jaguar Classic contest.

The game would be scoreless until the top of the fourth when the Pointers took advantage of an Eagles’ error giving them a 1-0 lead.

Up to that point, Eagle starter STACI CHAMBERS had only allowed one hit and only 2 baserunners. She would continue her dominance over the Pointers but unfortunately wouldn’t factor in the decision.

The Eagles who couldn’t get the timely hit and would remain inept until the bats finally woke up in the bottom of the sixth.

Leading off the bottom of the sixth, HALLE KYLER (1-3, R) saw six pitches before she would single, BAILEY WALLACE advanced Kyler to third on a sacrifice bunt, CASSIDY SHEW (1-3) singled, MORGAN KELLY (RUN) came into run, HALEY JOHNSON (1-3) bunted and was able to reach on an error which advanced Kelly to second.

The Eagles now were in business as they had the bases loaded and only one out.

The next batter KAYLA MACK (1-3, 3 RBI, 3B) on an 0-1 count took the offering and ripped a fly ball to right field which went all the way to the wall and cleared the bases for 3-run triple.

Granite Hills who had struggled offensively finally was able to take a 3-1 lead into the top of the seventh.

Now in the circle for the Eagles was CATIE DOBBS, who like Chambers, was dealing. Dobbs only allowed a single before getting the final out to end the game.

For the Eagles, Chambers went 5 innings, giving up the 1 run which was unearned on 3 hits, walked 3 and fanned 7.

Dobbs tossed 2 innings to get the victory, 1 hit and struck out 1.

HELIX 16, FRANCIS PARKER 3 (5 innings) – The visiting Highlanders traveled up the freeway to take on the Lancers of Francis Parker and were able to make short work in the victory in the Duds by Dudes tournament.

The Highlanders scored first as EMILY COALE smashed a double to center, she advanced to third on a grounder and would score on a wild pitch. A 2-run dinger in the bottom of the first by the Lancers gave them the lead 2-1.

Helix retook the lead in the top of the second as they pushed across three runs thanks to KASEY CASTRO reaching on an error, both ERIN BROWN (3-3, 3B) and FRANKIE MARTINEZ hit back-to-back singles and ALOFA COLLINS (2-3, HR) knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly.

The game would be put away by the Highlanders in the top of the third when they scored 5 runs and never looked back as they added more in the fourth and fifth innings to end the game.

For the Highlanders, it was the freshman who really shined in the victory including Collins’ first-ever varsity home run.

Castro garnered the pitching victory for the Highlanders.

CHRISTIAN 14, SAN DIEGO – The home team Patriots offense was busy early and often in their lopsided Eastern League contest against the visiting Cavers.

Right away things went in favor of the Patriots as SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (4-4, 4 R, 3 RBI, 2 2B, 3B, HR) led off with a triple, she scored on single by LAUREN SHERBURNE (4-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, SB) to make it 1-0, ASHLEY CARTER reached on an error, SHANNON MCMAHON (2-3, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2B) followed with a double that scored both Sherburne and Carter, ASHLEY SHEBLOSKI (1-3, R, RBI) laced another double that scored McMahon to make it 4-0. The Patriots added a couple more to lead 6-0 after the first inning.

The Patriots added a couple more to lead 6-0 after the first inning.

Christian extended their lead in the bottom of the second with three more runs to make it 9-0. The Cavers finally got on the board in the top of the third as they scored to make it 9-1.

More runs for Christian in the bottom of the third inning courtesy of a 3-run bomb by Espinoza that scored TENAY BANEGAS (1-3, R, RBI, 2B) who led off with a double, and MALLORY STEELE who singled. The other run came courtesy of McMahon who drove in Sherburne on a ground out to push the score to 13-1.

The other run came courtesy of McMahon who drove in Sherburne on a ground out to push the score to 13-1.

Carter tossed 4 innings giving up the 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 2 in the victory.

SCRIPPS RANCH 7, WEST HILLS 4 – A back and forth non-league affair went in the favor of the Falcons, as they hit 3 home runs on the day.

The Falcons in the top of the first pushed across three runs including a two-run blast by ALISSA VILKE to lead 3-0.

West Hills answered in the bottom of the first when SIERRA SCHLICTING (2-3, 2 R, RBI) led off with a walk, HALEY VALES hit the ball back to the pitcher who threw it over the first baseman’s head and into right field, a couple batters later ALEX GUAY (2-4, 2 2B, RBI) smashed a double to put the Pack on the board 3-1.

West Hills would tie the game in the bottom of the second at 3-3.

Leadoff hitter ALYSSA BUBAR (0-2, R) walked, stole second, MAKAYLA CRISTINI (2-3, R) singled and Bubar advanced to third, Cristini stole second, MELISSA CASTILLO singled in Bubar and Schlichting singled which scored Cristini.

Back-to-back solo home runs by Scripps Ranch gave them the lead 5-3. The Falcons would tack on a couple more runs in the sixth to push the lead to 7-3.

Leading off for the Pack in the bottom of the seventh, Schlichting on a 2-2 count roped a double and she would later score when Guay knocked her in to make it 7-4. However, that would be all the Wolf Pack would garner as the Falcons got the next batter to end the game.

Taking the loss for the Pack, RYLEIGH DOBYNS who went 6 innings, giving up 7 runs on 10 hits, walked 2 and struck out 3 on the day.

RAMONA 10, GROSSMONT 8 – In a wild one, the visiting Bulldogs made the trip inland and were able to withstand a furious late rally by the Foothillers to preserve the victory.

Ramona was quick to score as they pushed across 5 runs over the first couple of innings to lead 5-0.

Grossmont would push across a run in the bottom of the second inning.

Leadoff hitter TAYLOR BAEZ (1-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR) is hit by a pitch, she steals second and advances to third on the grounder by CANDACE HENDERSON, SAMARIA ROOPE (3-3, R, 2 RBI, HR) follows with a single to center which scored Baez to make it 5-1.

The Bulldogs scored a five more runs in the top of the third which included a two-run home run to push the score to 10-5.

For the Hillers in the bottom of the third, JESSICA WILSON drew a leadoff walk, CHLOE CAMARERO (2-3, R, RBI, 2B) banged a double to center which advanced Wilson to third, ALY ALLMAN (1-3, R, RBI) grounded out which scored Wilson to make it 10-2.

Bottom of the fourth the Foothillers inched even closer on a leadoff solo home run by Roope to make it 10-3. They pushed across another run as AMBER ALLMAN (1-4, R) followed with a single and DESTINY BACON (1-4, 3B, RBI) slapped a shot over the left

They pushed across another run as AMBER ALLMAN (1-4, R) followed with a single and DESTINY BACON (1-4, 3B, RBI) slapped a shot over the left fielder’s head for a triple that scored Allman to make it 10-4 and Camarero followed with an RBI groundout to make it 10-5.

Grossmont would make things interesting despite trailing 10-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh and down to their final at-bat.

Camarero led off with a single, Allman singled and a couple of batters later, up stepped Baez and on the first pitch a ball Camarero stole third, the very next pitch a strike Allman steals second, so with runners on second and third and the count 1-1 Baez took the next offering and hammered it over the center field fence for the 3-run jack to pull within 10-8.

Unfortunately, that would be the closest they would get despite a single by Roope as the final out would be a fly out.