Sultans collar Bulldogs; Foothillers top Mustangs

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 25, 2017

Photo by Tammi Ryan

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

Santana 2, Ramona 1: Dominant pitching was the name of game on the day as the Sultans (15-5-1) collared the Bulldogs of Ramona (21-4) to snap their 13-game winning streak in nonleague action.

The Bulldogs who came into the contest ranked No. 2 in San Diego and No. 10 in So Cal had the first crack at setting the tempo as leadoff batter ALEXA NEIL walked, the next batter JORDYN FICK did the same, Curo would follow by popping up for the first out, LAUREN MEITZLER reached on an error to load the bases with one out, ELLE ROBERTS grounded to right field where ASHLEY MADRIGAL threw to RACHEL WILSON (1-3) at third who tagged the runner out and proceeded to throw to SYDNEY BENJAMIN at second who applied the tag of the runner advancing to second to end the inning.

After the craziness of the top of the first inning the Sultans ranked No. 13 in San Diego by So-Cal Sidelines went to business as MADISON MENDEZ (1-3, R) led off with a laced a pop single to left field, up stepped MACKENZIE BENNETT (2-3, R, 2 RBI, HR) who on a 1-0 count connected on the Neil offering smashing a high fly ball to left over the fence for the 2-run mack shot, giving the Sultans a 2-0 lead and bringing the Sultan faithful to their feet. A couple of batters later Wilson singled but a double play ball would end the inning.

Mendez after getting out of the jam in the first inning went back to business in the top of the second and just threw gas as she was able to strike out two of the batters along with a fly ball out.

The Sultans looked like they would add to their lead in the bottom of the second as leadoff hitter KRYSTEN SERVICE (2-2, 2B) roped a double off new pitcher HANAH BOWEN. Unfortunately she would be stranded as Bowen set down the Sultans 1-2-3.

The high powered offense of the Bulldogs in the top of the third broke through as Neil led off with a laced single to center, Fick walked to give Ramona runners at first and second. Next up was SENECA CURO who squared down a sacrifice bunt and advanced the runners in which everyone was safe, Meitzler hit a fly ball to left in which ERICA REID catches it for the out and Neil tags and scores to make it 2-1, Reid throws the ball to SHELBY HOLMQUIST at first who threw it to Wilson at third who tagged Fick out for the second out allowing Curo to advance to second. However that would be it for the Bulldogs as Mendez fanned Roberts on three pitches for the third out of the inning.

Another opportunity in the top of the fourth for Ramona as SIERRA SPIKER laced a double but Mendez would get Bowen to fly out to left for the third out.

Mendez really showed the Bulldogs who was in charge as she mowed them down one by one in the fifth and sixth innings 1-2-3 each inning. In the top of the seventh Mendez retired leadoff hitter Spiker via fly ball. The Bulldogs best chance to get anything going was coming to plate in Bowen who is always a tough out, however Mendez was up to the challenge as she was able to get the count to 1-2 before setting Bowen down on an easy popup that was caught by Service at short for the second out. Down to the final out the Bulldogs sent Neil to the plate who looked to keep things going.

Mendez looked in for the call and offered up a first pitch strike, the next pitch would be a whiff and a miss by Neil for the second strike, on the very next pitch Neil hit a grounder to Wilson at third who fielded it and promptly threw to Holmquist at first for the third and final out of the game.

Ramona had scored double-digit runs in 6 of their previous 8 games and had scored 109 runs and 8 runs a contest during their 13-game winning streak.

Mendez who picked up her fifthteenth victory on the season, shut down the high-powered Bulldog offense with her gritty complete game three hitter in which she only allowed one run, walked four and fanned four.

The win for Sultans also extended their winning streak to five games.

Grossmont 2, Otay Ranch 1: The Foothillers use a dominant pitching performance to procure the close victory in nonleague action over the Mustangs (9-10-1).

Grossmont (8-10) in the top of the second took advantage of an opportunity as ALLY ALLMAN led off with a single, DESTINY BACON reached on an error which advanced Allman to second, a couple batters later SAMARIA ROOPE was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Back to the top of the lineup for the Hillers and CHLOE CAMARERO who popped up but the ball was misplayed and the Mustangs fielder attempted to get Bacon out at second but the ball hit her in the helmet which allowed Allman to score to make it 1-0.

Grossmont clung to the one run lead until the bottom of the sixth when they were able to push across an insurance run with two outs. With two outs, Bacon singled, CANDACE HENDERSON singled and ROOPE laced a ball to right center for a single that scored Bacon to make it 2-0.

The Mustangs who had no luck offensively finally broke through in the top of the seventh inning. Foothillers pitcher Roope was throwing a no-hitter got the first two outs and was one out away from completing the shutout. However with two outs Roope threw a pitch and the Mustang batter connected for a solo-homerun to cut the lead 2-1. But that would be it as Roope retired the next batter for the third and final out.

On the day Roope spun a one hit shutout, walking one and striking out four on the day.

Bonita Vista 9, Steele Canyon 0: A big second inning for the Barons doomed the Cougars as they were limited offensively on the day.

A single by GENTRY HOFFMAN (1-2) in the top of the first was all the Cougars could muster as MIA MARINAKIS retired the next three batters in order to end the inning. Bonita Vista came into the contest No. 7 in San Diego and No. 5 in So Cal was able to take advantage of a couple of Cougar errors which led to a run scoring giving the Barons a 1-0 lead.

EMMA DODSON (1-2) for the Cougars in the top of the second would single with two outs but would be stranded as Marinakis retired the next batter.

Things got worse for the Cougars in the bottom of the second as the Barons received back-to-back-to-back hits off Cougars starter SAMANTHA MILLER. So with the bases full, LANI GRAFT took the offering and roped a double that scored a couple of runs to make it 3-0. MADISON PACINI would tack on more runs for Bonita Vista as she blasted a 3-run shot to make it 6-0.

Again the Cougars had an opportunity to put something on the board but again had two outs when JJ VENZOR walked, she moved to second on a passed ball, MAKAYLA MCCARTHY walked but MAKAYLA STROMENGER flew out to center to end the inning.

Steele Canyon received a single by MARIANA MARTINEZ (1-2) in the top of the fourth inning but she would be stranded.

Bonita would add a couple more runs in the bottom of the fourth as Pacini again would connect this time for a 2-run homerun to make it 8-0. They pushed across their final run a couple of batters later to make it 9-0.

Taking the loss for the Cougars, Miller went 4 innings, giving up 9 runs on 9 hits, walked 2 and struck out 0.

Garnering the victory for the Barons, Marinakis went 5 innings, giving up 0 runs on 3 hits, walked 2 and fanned 8.