COUGAR CLASSIC ROUNDUP (3-7-18)

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 8, 2018

Granite Hills at the plate against Chaparral on Wednesday night at Kit Carson Park.

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

PATRICK HENRY 8, MISSION HILLS 6

ESCONDIDO (3-7-18) – In early action at the Cougar Classic the Patriots were looking for their first win on the season as they took on the Grizzlies.

However, things didn’t go the Patriots way in the top of the first inning as the Grizzlies were able to push across 3 runs to take an early 3-0 lead.

The Patriots shook off the deficit and went to work in the bottom of the second inning and cut into the Grizzlies lead as they scored 4 runs to take a 4-3 lead. Leading by the one run the Patriots in the bottom of the third added to their lead with two more runs to extend the score 6-3.

Mission Hills didn’t go down quietly and in the top of the fourth were able to get to the Patriots pitching as they pushed across 3 runs to knot the score at 6-6.

Despite having given up the lead the Patriots didn’t fret as again they went to work in the bottom of the fourth. Their offense again came alive and was able to knock the Grizzlies around and score two runs to retake the lead 8-6 which would stand up as H. Jenks shut down the Grizzlies in the top of the fifth to end the game.

Patrick Henry offensively was aided on the day by a couple jacks by Dez Patman (1-3, R, 3 RBI, HR) who blasted a 3-run homer and Jenks (2-2, R, 2 RBI, HR) who hammered a dinger. Also, Lili Pena who went 2-2 with a double in the bottom of the fourth which drove in a run and scored 2 runs, Savanah Chapman scored a run, Maddie Simmons who went 1-3 while driving in a run and also scoring a run, Lauren Nett also scored twice and Ari Rios drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.

The win was the first for the Patriots on the season and also the first for new coach Forrest Levinson who took over this year for Veteran Coach Steve Miner who retired after last season.

CHAPARRAL 2, GRANITE HILLS 1

The Eagles came into the contest on a roll as they had scored 15 runs in their previous victory while Chaparral knew they had to limit the Eagles offense or else they would be in for a long night.

Granite was able to strike early in the bottom of the first inning when Haley Johnson who led off reached on an error, she advanced to second on the sacrifice, Baily Wallace singled, Amaya Esparza hit into a fielders choice that scored Johnson to make it 1-0.

The one run scored in the bottom of the first would be the only run as both teams held each other. Catie Dobbs who was in the circle for the Eagles was on target even though she got into a jam in the top of the third inning but got out of it.

The Eagles had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the fourth to do something when McKenzie Boehm led off with a double, Dobbs walked giving the Eagles runners at first and second and no outs. However, the Pumas were able to get out of it as the Eagles couldn’t get the timely hit.

Johnson singled for the Eagles in the bottom of the fifth and again would be stranded.

Things in the top of the sixth got dicey for the Eagles as Chaparral was able to take advantage of their opportunities including an Eagles miscue that led to two runs for the Pumas ad a 2-1 lead.

Once again Granite Hills had their opportunity in the bottom of the sixth with one out as Boehm walked, a couple batters later with two outs Sydney Huse singled putting runners at first and second. Unfortunately, Staci Chambers would hit a hard liner to second base which was caught for the final out of the game.

On the day the Eagles stranded 5 runners on base and only had 4 hits.

Dobbs would take the hard-luck loss as she tossed 6 innings, giving up 2 runs of which 0 were earned on 3 hits, walked 1 and fanned 13 on the night.

CLAIREMONT 2, SANTANA 0

It wasn’t the Sultans evening as they were limited to only 2 hits in their shutout loss.

The Chieftains took advantage in the bottom of the second with a one out single, another single to put runners at first and second and the next batter with 2 outs and a 3-2 count the batter took the offering and lined a double that scored both runners to make it 2-0.

Santana thought they would get it going in the top of the third as Lakaila Aquininoc-David led off with a single, a couple batters later with one out Erica Reid singled putting runners on at first and second. Unfortunately for the Sultans the batters they wanted up were both retired and the threat was also.

Madison Mendez for Santana took the loss as she went 6 innings giving up the 2 runs which were not earned on 7 hits, walked 1 and struck out 2.

RANCHO BUENA VISTA 16, VALHALLA 3

The Longhorns got on the Norsemen early in the top of the first inning thanks to a three-run blast to make it 3-0.

But Valhalla didn’t panic as Jade Hill led off with a single, a couple batters later Kennedy Labshere walked, and Delaney Stettler tied up the game at 3-3 with a three-run bomb over the fence.

RBV went back to business in the top of the second inning in which they exploded for 7 runs which included another home run.

Now leading 10-3, the Longhorns were in control as they shut down Valhalla until the top of the fifth when the Norsemen tried to put something together. With two outs, Samantha Green smashed a triple to center, Kelly Olson followed with a walk but both would be stranded as the next batter was retired to end the inning.

Rancho Buena Vista would score more runs in the top of the third and also four more to round out their scoring in the top of the fifth inning to end the game.