Roundup: Valhalla sweeps; Hillers win; Christian is champ

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 9, 2017

Christian with the tournament championship trophy.

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

Non-League

Game One

Valhalla 14, San Diego 8 – In a slugfest the Norsemen came out on top in the end over the Cavers.

The Norsemen were the visiting team despite playing the contest on their field so they had first crack in the top of the first. Leadoff hitter RACHEL SHELSTROM (4-6, 2R, HR) singled but would later be thrown out at third, KELLY OLSON (2-2, 3R, 2 RBI, HR) walked and would later score on a passed ball to make it 1-0 early on. However the lead didn’t last as the Cavers were able to push across a couple of runs to take a 2-1 lead.

A couple of innings later is when the offensive fireworks started as Valhalla and their bats came alive. Things started off in the top of the third as leadoff batter Olsen singled, ALEXIS INGRASSIA (3-5, 2R) singled and VICTORIA VILLEGAS (2-6, 2R, 3 RBI, HR) knocked in Olsen to tie the score 2-2, a couple of batters later SARAH BOTTE (2-3, 2R, RBI) knocked in a run to retake the lead 3-2, DELANEY STETTLER (2-5, R, 2 RBI) singled, Botte would also score in the inning to make it 4-2.

Valhalla added four more runs in the top of the fourth to push their lead to 8-2 courtesy of a lead single by Shelstrom, Olsen who could barely stand as she had a hurt ankle smashed a 2-run bomb, Ingrassia singled and Villegas jacked a 2-run dinger.

However the six run lead by Valhalla would be wiped out in the bottom of the fourth as the Cavers used multiple base hits including a 2-run homer to get back into the game and knot the score 8-8.

So with the score all tied up Valhalla in the top of the fifth went back to work. They retook the lead 9-8 on a leadoff solo shot by Shelstrom, KENNEDY LABSHERE (RUN) walked and would later score, Villegas singled and would score, SAMMY GREEN (1-3, R) was hit by a pitch and would come into score, Botte hit into a fielders choice and come into score and Stettler would drive in a couple of runs on a single. Valhalla after all their offense extended the score to 14-8.

The Cavers would be pretty much shut down the rest of the way by Stettler including the seventh as they were retired in order to end the contest.

Stettler would garner the win as she tossed 7 innings, giving up 8 runs on 11 hits, walked 1 and striking out 1.

Valhalla 8, OLP 7 – In a roller coaster of a contest the Norsemen win in dramatic fashion on a walk off in the bottom of the seventh.

The Pilots in the top of the first pushed across a run on a solo homerun to lead 1-0 early on. A couple of innings later in the bottom of the third the Norsemen offense came alive as they garnered multiple hits to take the lead.

RACHEL SHELSTROM with one out singled, EMILY QUESSADA singled, KENNEDY LABSHERE singled in a run to tie the score 1-1, ALEXIS INGRASSIA singled in a run, VICTORIA VILLEGAS singled in a run, DELANEY STETTLER reached on an error, SAMMY GREEN singled, RYLEE MCMILLAN singled, SARAH BOTTE walked. Scoring in the inning was Stettler, Green, Villegas, Labshere, Ingrassia to give Valhalla a 5-1 lead.

Valhalla would tack on a couple more runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 7-1 as Stettler and Green singled and both would score on passed balls.

However the six run lead wasn’t safe as the Pilots in the top of the seventh pushed across six runs to tie the score 7-7 on multiple walks and basehits before the inning ended.

So heading into the bottom of the seventh, Valhalla looked to either win the game with a run or the game go into extra innings. Leading things off for the Norsemen was Stettler, she worked the count to 2-2 and on the very next pitch she was able to get a hold of it and launch it over the left field fence by the scoreboard for the game winning and walk off homerun. It was a moment that was made for the day as Valhalla had lost the close contests previously but this time fate etc was on their side.

Falcon Fiesta

Patrick Henry 11, Eastlake 3 – The offense for Henry scored at will thus giving them the revenge victory over the Titans.

The Titans had previously beaten the Patriots earlier in the Cougar Classic 3-0 so it was the Patriots turn to return the favor. Patrick Henry even though the contest was being played at their field was the designated visiting team.

Leading off for Henry in the top of the first, HANNAH MCCEWEN (3-4, 3R, 3 RBI, 2 SB, 2B, HR) reached on an error by the Titans first baseman, she stole second and scored a couple of batters later on the single by ANDREA WRIGHT (2-2, 2 RBI) to make it 1-0.

However Eastlake erased that lead as they were able to push across a couple of runs in the bottom of the first take a 2-1 lead.

Despite trailing Henry went to business and retook the lead for good in the top of the second inning. With one out LAILA SPRACKLEN (2-3, 2R, 2B) doubled, LILI PENA singled and Spracklen advanced to third, McEwen with 2 outs roped a double that scored both Spracklen and Pena to retake the lead 3-2.

Patrick Henry added another run in the top of the third as MADISON JAMES (RUN) reached on a fielders choice, LAUREN NETT (3-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) drove her in on a double to make it 4-2. More runs scored by the Patriots in the top of the fourth extended their lead.

Pena led off by being hit by a pitch, she advanced to second on a grounder, moved to third on the McEwen single which extended her hitting streak to 9 games, McEwen stole second, CASSIE VAN TIL (1-4, R) singled to load the bases, SAVANNAH CHAPMAN (1-4, 2 RBI) singled which scored both Pena and McEwen, Wright would drive in Van Til for the final run of the inning to give Henry a 7-1 lead.

More offensive fireworks for the Patriots in the top of the fifth led to them extending their lead more. A leadoff solo blast by Nett, Spracklen singled, advanced to second on a passed ball, she scored on the roped triple by H JENKS (1-3, R, RBI), Jenks came into score on an error, McEwen followed that with another solo moon shot. When it was all said and done the lead was now 11-2. The Titans managed to push across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to make it 11-3 which where the score would end.

Garnering the victory for the Patriots was James who went 4 1/3 innings, giving up 3 runs of which all were earned on 7 hits, walked 3 and struck out 1 on the day.

The win pushes the Patriots streak to four games in a row.

Poway 4, Granite Hills 2 – The Titans took advantage of their opportunities and were able to hold the Granite offense in check late.

Poway looked like it would strike first in the top of the second as they were able to get a leadoff hit and back to back walks but CATIE DOBBS was able to get a grounder for the inning ending double play to end the threat.

The Eagles had a chance to score first in the bottom of the inning as KAREN CREECH (1-4) led off with a single, a couple of batters later CASSIDY SHEW (1-2, R) is hit by a pitch but STACI CHAMBERS (1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR) hits into the inning ending double play.

Again another opportunity for the Eagles in the bottom of the second as back to back singles by KAYLA MACK (1-2) and BAILEY WALLACE (1-3), HALEY JOHNSON grounded into a fielders choice which advanced Mack to third, Wallace was out at second for the first out, however the next couple batters were retired to end the inning.

The Titans broke through and broke the 0-0 tie in the top of the third as they were able to get multiple hits and an error that led to a couple of runs to give them a 2-0 lead.

However the lead would be short lived as in the bottom of the inning with two outs Shew singled, Chambers came to plate and clubbed a shot over the right field fence for the 2-run jack to tie the score 2-2.

Unfortunately the momentum went back to Poway as they broke the tie in the top of the fourth on a solo homerun. They would add an insurance run in the top of the sixth extend their lead to 4-2.

Granite Hills in the last couple of innings couldn’t muster any type of offense and unfortunately the two run lead held up.

Taking the loss for the Eagles, Dobbs tossed 3 1/3 innings, giving up 3 runs of which 2 were earned on 4 hits, walked 3 and fanned 4 on the day. Chambers who came in relief tossed 3 2/3 innings, giving up 1 run which was earned on 5 hits, walked 2 and struck out 2.

Torrey Pines 5, Steele Canyon 4 – Despite scoring a run late, the Cougars came up short in their efforts and on the short end of the stick in the one run loss to the Falcons.

The Falcons took advantage of their opportunities in the bottom of the first inning which allowed them to push across four runs to lead 4-0.

In the top of the second inning MAKAYLA MCCARTHY (1-2, RBI, R, HR) led off and hammered a solo shot to cut into the Falcon lead 4-1. A couple of batters later BIANCA MORALES (1-3, R, RBI, HR) cut into the lead as she jacked a solo homerun to make it 4-2, EMMA DODSON (1-3, R) singled and MACKENSIE PEARLSTEIN (3-3, 3B, RBI) knocked her in on a roped triple to make it a one run game 4-3. Torrey took some of the momentum in the bottom of the second as they added to their lead on a solo homerun to make it 5-3.

The lead for the Falcons would shrink in the top of the fifth when JJ VENZOR (1-4, RBI, R, HR) led off and slammed a solo homerun to again make it a one run ballgame at 5-4.

However that would be the closest the Cougars would get within as the Falcons silenced the bats of the Cougars over the final couple of innings.

McCarthy on the day in the loss went 6 innings, giving up 5 runs of which all were earned on 5 hits, walked 2 and struck out 3.

Grossmont 7, Westview 0 – The Foothillers scored early on and never looked back as their pitching shut down the Wolverine offense.

Grossmont score in the third inning as MOANA PISIA doubled and ALEXIS COLLINS racked a triple which scored Pisia to make it 1-0.

They added to their lead in the fourth with a couple of more runs thanks to DESTINY BACON reaching on an error and SAMARIA ROOPE crushing a 2-run blast over the left field fence to make it 3-0.

Another run for Grossmont in the fifth as TAYLOR BAEZ singled and scored on an overthrow to push the score to 4-0. The Foothillers rounded out their scoring in the sixth inning with three more runs to make it 7-0.

A leadoff double by Roope, CHLOE CAMARERO drove her in on a single, KATIE APPENZELLER singled, Pisia hit into a fielders choice and Baez double them both in.

Roope tossed 7 innings and fanned 6 Wolverines on the day in the complete game victory.

MONTE VISTA SPRING CLASSIC TOURNAMENT

Semi-Finals

Christian 12, Monte Vista 2 – A big fourth inning for the Patriots really did the trick as they shut down the Monarchs.

The Patriots got on the board quickly as they pushed across a couple of runs to lead 2-0 thanks to a couple of errors by the Monarchs. Leadoff hitter SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (1-3, 2R, RBI, 2B, SB) reached on an error and stole third, she would score on an AUDREY SHEBLOSKI (0-1, R, 2 RBI) sacrifice bunt. Also MALLORY STEELE (1-1, 3R, RBI) would single and come around to score as well on an error on a ball hit by SHANNON MCMAHON (1-3, 2 RBI) hit to center field.

Multiple base hits and errors would lead to the Patriots extending their lead to 7-0 in the top of the second inning. Leadoff hitter KATIE LEPETRIE (R, RBI) walked, ALLISON MCMAHON (1-3, R) followed with a single, both her and Lepetrie advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, LAUREN SHERBURNE (2-3, R, 3 RBI) singled which scored Lepetrie, Espinoza hit a sacrifice fly that scored McMahon, Shebloski would groundout but a run would score, ASHLEY CARTER (1-2, 2R, SB) singled which scored a run, she would steal second, Steele walked and McMahon drove them both in on a single.

Monte Vista would finally break through and get on the board in the bottom of the third inning with a couple of runs to make it 7-2.

A lead double by Espinoza, Shebloski walked, Carter walked to load the bases, Steele walked in which scored a run, ALEXA HENDERSON (RUN) walked which scored another run, Lepetri walked and another run scored, Sherburne drove in a couple of runs as she singled. When it was all said and done the Patriots pushed their lead even larger to 12-2.

Steele garnered the victory which put the Patriots into the championship game. She tossed 5 innings, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits, walked 5 and struck out 2.

Championship Game

Christian 5, Serra 4 – The Patriots held onto their lead despite the Conquistadors making a late push to clinch the Championship of the Monte Vista Spring Classic.

The patriots struck the first blow in the top of the second inning as SHANNON MCMAHON (1-2, R, RBI) walked, she would advance to second on a passed ball and would advance to third on a wild pitch, ALEXA HENDERSON (1-2) walked, KATIE LEPETRIE (0-2, RBI) grounded out which scored McMahon to give them an early 1-0 lead.

Christian tacked on three more runs in the top of the third to lead 4-0 thanks to SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (0-1, R) walking to leadoff, AUDREY SHEBLOSKI (2-4, R, RBI) singled, ASHLEY CARTER (1-2, R) singled, a couple of batters later McMahon singled which scored Espinoza, Henderson singled in a run, Carter would also score in the inning.

Serra would push across a run in the bottom of third as JORDAN GRAVES doubled and she would come around to score to make it 4-1. They would cut more into the Patriot lead as they scored another run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead in half 4-2. HANNAH INNES singled and would come into score on a double by ALYSSA-FIGUEROA GONZALEZ.

Christian pushed across another run in the top of the sixth thanks to a single by LAUREN SHERBURNE (2-3, R, SB), she stole second base and would come in on the single by Shebloski to make it 5-2.

Serra would fight back and pull within 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning as Innes and ABBY WARDEN would both score. However that would be the closest the Conquistadors would get as they would be retired in order 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh by Carter to claim the Championship.

Carter on the day tossed 7 innings for the complete game victory, giving up 4 runs of which 2 were earned on 7 hits, walking 1 and striking out 2.