Eagles out-duel Dons

By ECS Staff
Updated: May 18, 2017

Granite Hills' BAILEY WALLACE awaits the pitch Wednesday.

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

(7) Granite Hills 3, (2) Cathedral Catholic 2: The Eagles rally and steal the momentum on the road.

Both the Eagles and Dons having met twice already this season with both coming in the Cougar Classic up at Kit Carson Park in early March both knew when the playoff match ups were announced this would be a grinder of a game. The first game between the two ended in a 3-3 tie and the second contest which was a Semi-Final in the Platinum Bracket went the Eagles way 10-3. The team to claim the third installment was going to have to take advantage of their opportunities and also work their magic to get the edge for the victory.

Both teams matched each other with their pitching as Granite Hills sent STACI CHAMBERS (1-3, RBI) to the circle and Cathedral Catholic sent MEGAN FARAIMO to the circle and each matched other inning for inning. For the Dons, Faraimo was mowing the Eagles down one by one as over the first couple of innings she struck out 5. Chambers was up to the task as she set down the Don offense as well.

It wouldn’t be until the bottom of the fifth until the Dons broke through as they were able to take advantage of a leadoff error who would come around to score to give the Dons a 1-0 lead. Chambers was able to get out of the inning without any further damage.

The Eagles knew they had to get something going and it was their magic inning the sixth. Leadoff hitter KARA BLANCHARD (1-2, R) laced a single, KAREN CREECH advanced Blanchard to second on a sacrifice bunt, HALLE KYLER (1-3, R) advanced Blanchard to third on a sacrifice, KAYLA MACK came to the plate and hit a pop fly that should have been caught by the first baseman but it was dropped which allowed Blanchard to come in and score to knot the game at 1-1.

The Eagles would hold the Dons in the bottom of the sixth and take their momentum into the seventh inning. Just like the first time they faced Faraimo and the Dons the later the game went they were able to hit and it happened again as leadoff hitter BAILY WALLACE (2-3, R, RBI, 2B) roped a double to center, CASSIDY SHEW advanced Wallace to third with a sacrifice, and Chambers looped a pop fly that landed in for a single which allowed Wallace to come around to score to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

So only needing three outs to get the victory the Eagles went to business and got two quick outs but Cathedral hitter ETRADA hit a ball to third that was misplayed and was safe, BOURGEOIS rocked a ball that went for a double that scored Etrada to tie the game 2-2, Faraimo walked but Chambers was able to retire the next batter to end the threat and inning.

With the score tied and the game now heading to extra innings the Eagles went calmly back to business because they knew they could win the game as they had been in the situation before. With one out Kyler singled, a couple batters later with two outs, HALEY JOHNSON (3-4) hit a ground ball and was able to beat it out for a single to put runners at first and second, Wallace followed with a looped ball to left that fell in for a single and around third raced Kyler who was safe at home which put the Eagles in front 3-2 and took back the momentum and brought their fans to their feet loudly.

Now with the crowd and the momentum the Eagles took the field for the bottom of the eighth inning and Chambers went right to business. The Dons knew they had to do something or they were done. Leadoff hitter WALTER singled, the next batter K. WALTER grounded out to Chambers who threw to Creech for the first out but Walter was able to move up to second, TANUMA grounded to third where Shew fielded it and threw to first fort he out and Walter advanced to third, CUNNINGHAM is hit by the pitch which puts runners at first and third but Chambers was able to shake it off as she was able to strike out LAQUA to end the game and give the Eagles the victory.

Faraimo for the Dons went 8 innings, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits, walking 0 and fanning 11 on the day.

For the Eagles, Chambers went all 8 innings, giving up 2 runs on 7 hits, walking 2 and striking out 5.

Another crazy tidbit to the game was the fact that the score was reported wrong to Max Preps in which it was reported that the Dons had won 6-2 which had coaches etc making phone calls and texting to find out the correct score. However after much confusion the score was confirmed by Granite Head Coach Barnes which put an end to the craziness and confusion.