Eagles win; Patriots dominate

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 5, 2017

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

Falcon Fiesta Tournament

Granite Hills 4, Westview 0 – Dominant pitching and timely hitting in the latter innings pave the way for victory for the Eagles over the Wolverines.

Both teams struggled at the plate as the pitching was doing the job in shutting down the offenses for both squads. The Eagles best shot to break the 0-0 tie early on came in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Leadoff hitter HALLE KYLER (2-3) hit a hard hit grounder to short for a single, CASSIDY SHEW advanced Kyler to second on a sacrifice, HALEY JOHNSON (1-2) drew a walk to give the Eagles runners at first and second with one out. MORGAN KELLY (RUN) came into run for Johnson. Next batter KAYLA MACK (RUN) unfortunately struck out and KAREN CREECH (1-3, R, RBI) was retired on a pop out to end the inning.

Westview threatened in the top of the fifth as they got a leadoff double. The next batter sacrificed the runner at second to third and the next batter hit a fielders choice to Karen Creech who was able to get the runner out at the plate for the second out of the inning on a nice tag. The next batter struck out and the Eagles were out of the inning with no harm done.

Back to back singles by BRIELLE TYSELING (1-3, R, RBI) and KARA BLANCHARD (2-3, RBI) put the Eagles in business in the bottom of the fifth. A couple of batters later with one out BAILY WALLACE (1-4, RBI) laced a single to right that scored Tyseling to make it 1-0 and Blanchard advanced to third on the throw. That would be all the Eagles would push across but they now led.

CATIE DOBBS was able to retire the Wolverines in order in the top of the sixth including ending the inning on a strikeout.

Still clinging to the 1-0 lead, the Eagles looked for more. With one out up stepped Johnson who on an 0-1 count hit a shot to right field for a single, Kelly came into run, the enxt batter Mack drew a walk, Creech came to the plate and hit a liner to center and Kelly was waved around from second and scored on the throw, Mack advanced to third, Tyseling knocked in Mack on a fielders choice to extend the lead to 3-0 and Blanchard knocked in Creech with a looper to center to make it 4-0.

The four run lead would be all Dobbs needed as she got the first batter to lineout to Kyler at short who made a great leaping grab for the first out, the next batter struck out and the third batter hit a grounder to Kyler who easily fielded it and threw it to Creech at first for the final out of the ball game.

Dobbs for the Eagles had her way with the Wolverines as she limited them to 2 hits, walked 0 and fanned 10 on the day.

The win now gives Granite a two game winning streak and some momentum heading into their road league showdown with Steele Canyon who like the Eagles are undefeated in league at 3-0 and both now have identical records overall.

Non-League

Otay Ranch 5, El Capitan 4 – A late rally by the Mustangs in the bottom of the fifth stuns the Vaqueros in non-league action.

Things looked good for the Vaqueros in the top of the first as MADISYN WIEHER (2 R) led off with a walk, ZANNDRA RAGOLE sacrificed her to second, AMANDA VASQUEZ (3-4, 3 RBI, R, 2 2B) roped a ball to left that went for a double that scored Wieher to give El Capitan a 1-0 lead. ALEXA WILLIAMS (1-4, RBI, 2B) followed that with a lined double that scored Vasquez to make it 2-0 Vaqueros. That would be all the Vaqueros would garner in the first.

However the lead didn’t last long as the Mustangs were able to take advantage of a fielding error, a stolen base and a passed ball that scored a run. They would score another run on a base hit. With the hit the game was now tied 2-2.

More opportunities for the Vaqueros in the second as with one down, BAILEY OLAVESON (2-3, R) singled, a couple of batters later with 2 outs Wieher draws the walk to put runners at first and second, Ragole hit into a fielders choice, Vasquez nailed a liner to right center that scored both Olaveson and Wieher to give the Vaqueros a 4-2 lead.

The Vaqueros had an opportunity in the top of the fifth to extend their lead as Vasquez led off with a double, OLIVIA MARTINEZ came into run, GRACE BURKETT (3-3) singled which Martinez went to third, she would be picked off at third for the second out and MARIA LOTTA popped out to end the inning.

Things were looking good for the Vaqueros heading into the bottom of the fifth but the Mustangs didn’t go down as they hit back to back singles, the next batter doubled which scored a couple of runs to tie the game at 4-4. The final run would score on a passed ball which gave the Mustangs a 5-4 lead.

El Capitan would only get a single in the sixth by Olaveson and in the top of the seventh they would be retired in order to end the game.

Williams took the hard luck loss as she tossed 6 innings, giving up 5 runs of which 3 were earned on 5 hits, walked 3 and struck out 2.

Patrick Henry 15, Bonita Vista 4 – Big fourth inning leads to a run rule road victory for the Patriots over Bonita Vista in non-league action.

The Patriots wasted little time getting on the board as leadoff hitter HANNAH MCEWEN (3-3, 3 R, 2B) singled, she scored on a roped double by CASSIE VAN TIL (3-3, 3 R, RBI, 2 2B, 2 SB) and ANDREA WRIGHT (2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR) had the big smash with the two run jack to give Henry a 3-0 lead.

Bonita Vista in the bottom of the first cut into the Patriot lead thanks to back to back doubles with one out, the second run would score when they singled a couple of batters later to make it 3-2.

The Barons would actually tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third on a solo shot. Now with the score tied it was a brand new game for both teams.

Leading off for the Patriots in the top of the fourth, SAVANNAH CHAPMAN (2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B) singled, LAILA SPRACKLEN (2-3, R, 3 RBI, 3B, SB) smoked a triple that scored Chapman which allowed the Patriots to retake the lead 4-3. The next two batters were retired, so it looked like the one run would be all the Patriots would get.

However the bats for Patrick Henry came alive as McEwen singled, Van Til doubled which put runners on second and third with LAUREN NETT (2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3B) stepping to the plate. She took the offering and raked a triple that scored both McEwen and Van Til to make it 6-3, Wright followed with a run scoring double to make it 7-3, MADISON JAMES (1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR) walked, again Chapman came up and this time she doubled in a run and Spracklen followed with another run scoring double. When it was all said and done in the inning the Patriots had blown the game wide open as they led 11-3.

Patrick Henry added four more runs in the top of the fifth including a two run homer by James. With the four runs the Patriots extended their lead to 15-3. Bonita Vista added a run in the bottom of the fifth before they would retired for the final out and the game ending on a run rule.

Spracklen started for the Patriots, she went 3 innings, giving up 4 runs of which 3 were earned on 5 hits, walked 2 and struck out 3. Earning the victory for the Patriots, was Jenks who tossed 2 innings of relief and gave up 1 hit and struck out 1.

Helix 9, Olympian 3 – Runs early and great pitching lead to the home non-league victory for the Highlanders.

Helix jumped early in the bottom of the first as AVERY PEREZ was hit by a pitch, a couple of batters later MCKENZIE FLORES singled and they would move up as GABBY OLVARRIA reached on an error, FRANKIE MARTINEZ did her things when she cleared the bases on a single with two down and would score on another error by Olympian which allowed SHAREENA LACHANCE to reach.

A leadoff banged triple by EMILY COALE who scored on an RBI single by Perez, she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by FAITH KING and moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a ball hit up the middle by Flores.

Both teams matched each other until the bottom of the fifth when the Highlander bats came alive again as back to back walks, ALOFA COLLINS drove in a run on a single and Martinez drove in the other on a single as well.

Olympian finally got on the board in the sixth and seventh with a run in each inning. However Kuhlken was able to finally get the final out and end the contest.

ZOE KUHLKEN for the Highlanders went the distance and garnered her second victory of the week. On the day she gave up 3 runs on 7 hits while fanning 5.