Senior Day home field advantage

By ECS Staff
Updated: May 12, 2017

West Hills Seniors/Photo by W. Ruiz

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

Grossmont Hills League

West Hills 3, Granite Hills 2: The Wolf Pack rally to become streak busters with their Senior Day victory.

The Eagles came into the contest on a 7 game winning streak and a 13 league game winning streak dating back to last year including 9-0 this year and looked to finish undefeated and early on they were in the right direction.

Leadoff hitter KAREN CREECH (1-4) laced a single to center field, HALLE KYLER (1-4, R) hit into a fielders choice and Creech was out at second, she advanced to second on a wild pitch, KAYLA MACK (1-2, R) walked, HALEY JOHNSON (3-4, RBI) hit a ground ball to right field that got through which brought Kyler around third to score to make it 1-0, and advance Mack to third, MORGAN KELLY into run, she stole second base, BAILEY WALLACE (3-4, RBI) singled to score Mack to make it 2-0 and Kelly advanced to third. Still with one out the Eagles looked to do more damage but Wolf Pack pitcher RYLEIGH DOBYNS (1-3) was able to strike out CASSIDY SHEW and get BRIELLE TYSELING to groundout to end the inning.

So now it was the Packs turn to bat, leadoff hitter SIERRA SCHLICHTING walked, MELISSA CASTILLO (1-3, R) hit into a fielders choice in which Schlichting was out at second base, Dobyns followed with a single to left and advanced to Castillo to second, STAR GAYLORD (RUN) into run for Dobyns, ALEX GUAY (2-3, RBI) followed with a hard hit grounder to left field that scored Castillo on the throw and Gaylord was able to advance to second base, ASHLEIGH HARTWIG (1-2) singled which advanced Gaylord to third and Guay to second, a couple batters later ALYSSA BUBAR (1-3) hit a ball to short but the throw wasn’t good and was misplayed which allowed both Gaylord and Guay to score to give the Pack a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the third West Hills had another opportunity to put runs on the board as MAKAYLA CRISTINII walked to leadoff, she would move up to second on a passed ball, a couple of batters later CASTILLO singled and Cristinii moved to third, Dobyns followed with a lined shot that was caught by Mack in left field who threw a perfect throw home to Johnson who tagged Cristinii out at the plate.

Granite Hills still trailing looked to knot the game in the top of the third inning. However the first two batters would be retired but Johnson would smash a double to left field, Kelly into run, Wallace would single and move Kelly to third, Shew walked to load the bases but Tyseling would groundout to end the inning.

West Hills was chugging along but Granite would have another opportunity in the top of the fifth as Kyler led off with a single, unfortunately she would be wiped out as Mack who tried to bunt did so but first baseman SAVANNAH HENDERSON fielded it after getting the out at first threw it to third where on a close play was able to get Kyler out at third base. The next batter Johnson singled, Kelly into run, Wallace followed with another single but Dobyns who was dealing was able to get shew on a swinging strikeout to end the inning and threat.

West Hills had their opportunity in the bottom of the sixth to put up some insurance as Guay led off with a single, she moved to second on a sacrifice by Hartwig, a couple of batters later with two outs Bubar singled and Guay advanced to third but both would be stranded as Henderson grounded out to end the inning.

So now only needing to get the last three outs to get the victory the Pack went out for the top of the seventh and Granite looked to spoil.

However Dobyns would get both Creech and Kyler out for the first two outs of the inning but things looked to go the Eagles way as Mack singled and Johnson walked to put runners at first and second. However Dobyns on an 0-1 count was able to get Wallace to lineout to left in foul territory where it was caught for the final out of the game.

CATIE DOBBS started for the Eagles took the loss, going 2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits, walked 2 and striking out 1. STACI CHAMBERS went 4 innings of relief, giving up 0 runs on 2 hits, walked 0 and fanned 6.

“It felt good to get the win today because we needed it. To go out on the high note for us seniors was awesome.” Dobyns said, “The energy was different today as it was super high and we didn’t get down when trailing early, we picked each other up.”

Dobyns garnered the victory as she tossed 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 8 hits, walked 3 and fanned 6.

Steele Canyon 5, Santana 4: Cougars momentum sparks rally and leads to walk off.

The Sultans looked to wrap up second place all by themselves and in the first innings things went their way as MADISON MENDEZ (2-3, 2 R, 2B) led off with a walk, MACKENZIE BENNETT (1-3, RBI, 2B) followed with another walk, DESIREE LYNCH (RUN) into run for Bennett, both Mendez and Lynch advanced up on a passed ball, CASSIDY MATTHIE (2-4, 2 RBI) hit a fly ball to left for the out but Mendez tagged up and scored to make it 1-0, a couple batters later Lynch stole third and scored on a single by NICOLE MADRIGAL (1-2, RBI) to make it 2-0.

Steele Canyon had their opportunity in the bottom of the first inning as GENTRY HOFFMAN (1-4) led off with single, JJ VENZOR (1-2, R) hit into a fielders choice in which Hoffman was out at second, MAKAYLA MCCARTHY (2-2, R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) walked, MASEN PEARLSTEIN (RUN) into run, MAKAYLA STROMENGER grounded into a fielders choice and RACHEL WILSON threw to second to get Pearlstein out but Venzor had advanced to third, MARIANA MARTINEZ (1-2, 2 RBI) walked to load the bases, however MACKENSIE PEARLSTEIN (1-3, RBI) struck out to end the inning.

Santana would get a couple runners on in the top of the third inning thanks to a Mendez single and a Matthie single but both would be stranded.

Things went the Cougars way in the bottom of the third inning as Venzor led off with a single and McCarthy on a 2-2 count took the Mendez offering and hit a fly ball over the center field fence for the 2-run jack to knot the score 2-2.

Again the Sultans had another opportunity in the top of the fifth as Mendez doubled with one out but McCarthy would retire the next couple of batters to end the inning.

Up to the bottom of the fifth the Sultans had been able to get outs of each jam faced but the Cougars knew they would garner some luck. Leading off for the Cougars in the bottom of the fifth, AUDREY BAGGE (2-2, 2 R) singled, McCarthy banged a double to put runners at second and third, Pearlstein into run for McCarthy, STROMENGER is hit by a pitch to load the bases, Martinez knocked in Bagge on a sacrifice fly to left to give the Cougars a 3-2 lead. Mendez was able to get out of the jam by retiring the next two batters.

Heading to the top of the seventh and down to their last at bat the Sultans looked to stay alive. Leadoff hitter LAKAILA AQUININQOC (1-3) singled to center, Reid bunted for a single, Mendez hit into a fielders choice in which Aquininqoc was out advancing to third based, however Bennett came up and smashed a double to center that scored Reid (1-3, R) to tie it at 3-3 and Matthie followed with a single to score Mendez to retake the lead 4-3.

Steele Canyon didn’t fret as they had been in this spot before and knew they had the batters to do something. They went back to business as Bagge led off with a ripped double to left, McCarthy walked, Pearlstein into run, Stromenger popped out. So with one out up stepped Martinez who singled to left to score Bagge to knot the score 4-4, ELIZABETH BOTT into run for Martinez, Pearlstein advanced to second, Pearlstein came up and on a 2-1 count lined to center for a single that scored Pearlstein for the walk off win 5-4.

For the Sultans, Mendez in the loss went 6 1/3 innings, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits, walked 5 and struck out 3.

On the Cougars side, McCarthy garnered the victory tossing 7 innings, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits, walked 2 and fanned 5.

Grossmont Valley League

Helix 4, El Capitan 2: The Highlanders take advantage of their opportunities to procure a share of the league title for the second straight year.

After retiring the Vaqueros in order in the top of the first inning the Highlanders had the first opportunity to strike first as they were able to load the bases but couldn’t push anything across.

Helix seniors on Senior Day.

However that changed in the bottom of the second as Helix was able to break through with two outs as FAITH KING (3-3, R) singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She came into score when AVERY PEREZ (1-4, R) reached on an error, she stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She would also score when EMILY COALE (1-4, R) reached on a dropped third strike and Coale would come into score on a passed ball to make it 3-0.

The Vaqueros finally broke through and cut into the Highlander lead in the top of the fourth inning as with one out ALEXA WILLIAMS (0-2, R) walked, KAITLYN COLLIER (RUN) into run, GRACE BURKETT (1-2) bunted for a single advancing Collier to second, BAILEY OLAVESON (2-3, RBI) singled on a grounder to center that scored Collier to make it 3-1.

However Helix would answer in the bottom of the fifth as GABBY OLIVARRIA (RUN) led off with a walk, the next couple of batters would be retired by Williams, ERIN BROWN (1-3, RBI, 3B) followed with a triple that scored Olivarria to make it 4-1.

Leading off for the Vaqueros in the top of the sixth inning, AMANDA VASQUEZ (2-4, 2B) roped a double down the line and when she tried to stretch it into a triple she would be gunned down on a 9-4-5 relay fort he out. Williams followed with a walk, Burkett walked, Olaveson singled to load the bases. So with only one out El Capitan was in prime position to do some damage and MARIA LOTTA (1-3, RBI) did that as she singled to score Williams to cut the deficit in half 4-2. Still in business to cut the lead down some more up stepped ALLYSON VON YOKES (1-3) but unfortunately she would hit a groundball to first which saw KASEY CASTRO throw home to get Burkett out after stepping on first base.

Helix would load the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning but Williams and the Vaqueros would get out of the jam.

The Vaqueros down to their final at bat looked to stay alive in the top of the seventh inning. However freshman pitcher ZOE KUHLKEN had other ideas as she was able to retire the first couple batters on a grounder to third and a strike out. Next up was Vasquez who would single to center field, unfortunately Williams would groundout to second who would flip to the shortstop who stepped on second base for the final out of the game and give Helix the victory and also a share of the league crown.

For El Capitan, Williams took the loss going 6 innings, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits, walked 2 and struck out 5.

Kuhlken tossed a 7 inning complete game victory, giving up 2 runs on 8 hits, walked 3 and struck out 1.

Western League – City

Patrick Henry 3, Point Loma 0: Henry pitching dominates the Pointers on Senior Day.

The Patriots pushed across a run in the bottom of the second inning as ANDREA WRIGHT (2-3, 2 RBI) led off with a single, LAUREN NETT (2-3, R) singled, LAILA SPRACKLEN hit into a fielders choice in which Wright was thrown out at third base, LILI PENA reached on an error after hitting the ball to third which allowed Nett to come into score to make it 1-0.

Patrick Henry had another opportunity to score in the bottom of the third when with one out CRISTIONA CACCAMISE (3-3, R, 3B) roped a triple but she would be stranded as the next two batters would be retired.

It wouldn’t be until the bottom of the fifth inning that the Patriots were able to round out their scoring as CASSIE VAN TIL (1-4, R) led off with a single, Caccamise singled, MADISON JAMES advanced both runners on a grounder and Wright would knock both Van Til and Caccamise in with a laced single to extend the lead to 3-0.

The three runs would be all James would need as she had her way with the Pointers. The closest threat was a couple of runners getting on via walk with two outs in the top of the seventh inning but James would retire Sullivan on a called third strike looking to end the game.

James on the day went 7 innings for the complete game victory, giving up 0 runs on 1 hit, walked 3 and fanned 8 for her sixteenth victory on the season.

Eastern League City

La Jolla 3, Christian 2: A late run by the Vikings downs the Patriots.

La Jolla struck first in the bottom of the first inning on a leadoff single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, however ASHLEY CARTER (1-3, R) was able to retire the next two batters but unfortunately the next couple batters hit back-to-back singles to score the run to lead 1-0.

The Vikings added another run in the bottom of the second inning to push their lead to 2-0. Christian finally answered in the top of the fourth inning with one down as Carter singled, stole second, MALLORY STEELE (2-3) singled and SHANNON MCMAHON grounded into a fielders choice to score Carter to cut the lead 2-1. They would knot the score 2-2 in the top of the fifth when with one out ALEXA HENDERSON (1-2, R, RBI, HR) smoked a shot over the fence for the solo-shot.

Christian had an opportunity to break the tie in the top of the seventh inning as ELLE LINDBLAD (1-3) singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, Henderson walked but both would be stranded.

It was the Vikings turn to break the tie in the bottom of the seventh inning and they were able to push across the game winning run on a lead single that would come around to score.

Taking the loss for the Patriots, Carter tossed 6 1/3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits, walked 1 and struck out 6 on the day.