MENDEZ, SULTANS CRUSH; COUGARS CONTINUE MOMENTUM

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 15, 2018

EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

SANTANA 9, PATRICK HENRY 5

It was quite the day for the Sultans power wise as they used it to pull away in the later innings against the Patriots.

However it was the Patriots who would do the early damage thanks to one-out Jessica Dewitt (2-4, 2R) single, a couple batters with two outs Lili Pena (1-2, 2R) singled and the next batter Andrea Wright (2-3, R, 3 RBI, HR) on an 0-2 count took the offering and hit a fly ball to left which looked like it would hook foul but stayed within the foul pole and went over the fence for the three-run bomb to make it 3-0 Patriots early on.

Things looked good for the Patriots early but Santana was able to get right back into the contest when leadoff hitter Madison Mendez (3-4, 3R, 4 RBI, 3 HR) jacked a high fly ball over the left field fence for a solo homerun pulling the Sultans within 3-1. The following batter Mackenzie Bennett (2-4, R, RBI, HR) roped a single, Desiree Lynch (RUN) into run, Krysten Service (2-4, R) followed with a single, a couple batters later with one out Ashley Madrigal (1-3, R, RBI) walked to load the bases. Santana would eventually tie the game with two outs and Lakaila Aquiningoc-David stepping to the plate, she would hit a line drive to center that was misplayed which allowed Lynch, Service and Madrigal to score and give the Sultans the 4-3 lead.

Patrick Henry threatened in the top of the third when Dewitt led off with a single, Lauren Nett hit into a fielder’s choice in which Dewitt was thrown out, Ari Rios into run for Nett, Pena walked to put runners at first and second with one out. However, Mendez was able to get out of the inning on a lined ball that was caught and Rios was out at second for the double play.

However, Mendez was able to get out of the inning on a lined ball that was caught and Rios was out at second for the double play.

Still clinging to the slim 4-3 lead the Sultans in the bottom of the third would extend their lead on a solo blast by Nicole Madrigal (1-3, R, HR) over the left field fence making it 5-3. After getting out of the top of the fourth inning, Mendez would again help her cause with her second jack of the day high and deep over the center field fence making it 6-3.

Despite trailing by three runs in the top of the fifth inning the Patriots knew they were not out of it as they had the power to get back into the game. With one out, Dewitt would reach on a miscue, a couple batters later with two outs Pena would be hit by a pitch, Wright would also be hit by a pitch to load the bases. The next batter Rios on a 1-0 count took the Mendez offering and roped it to left field all the way to the wall which allowed both Dewitt and Pena to score and Wright advanced to third and Rios would get into second for the double, the two out two-run double brought the Patriots within 6-5. However, the next batter would be retired on a ground ball for the third out.

Santana would add three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out Mendez crushed the Laila Spracklen offering high and deep over the center field fence and in fact would actually crush a truck out in center for the two-run bomb.

Bennett would follow with a deep jack over the center field fence.

With two outs in the top of the seventh inning the Patriots needed something and Wright extended the inning off Mendez as she singled. However, Mendez would retire Rios on a grounder to end the game.

Taking the loss for the Patriots was Spracklen who went 6 innings, giving up 9 runs of which 5 were earned on 10 hits, walked 2 and struck out 6.

Garnering the victory for the Sultans was Mendez who tossed 7 innings, giving up 5 runs of which 3 were earned on 7 hits, walked 2 and struck out 2.

NOTABLES: For the Sultans, Mendez with her 3 home runs tied the CIF San Diego Section record for the most in a game. She also tied the school record for most in a game which was held by Jesse Owens who accomplished the feat back in 2008 against EC Southwest. Team-wise the Sultans with their 5 home runs on the day placed themselves in a tie for third all-time in section history and also second in school history behind the 6 that was accomplished back in 2008 against EC Southwest.

STEELE CANYON 6, OLYMPIAN 5 (FALCON FIESTA)

The Cougars looked to continue their success from their Platinum Bracket appearance in the Cougar Classic and they didn’t disappoint as they continued the momentum.

Steele Canyon in the bottom of the first would take advantage of their opportunities as lead hitter Tayler Thomas (2-3) singled, however, she would be forced out at second as Audrey Bagge hit into a fielder’s choice. Bagge would be replaced with Masen Pearlstein (2R) as a courtesy runner. With one down and Pearlstein at first, up stepped JJ Venzor (2-4, 2R) who laced a single, both she and Pearlstein would advance to second and third on the throw. With runners at second and third and only one out up came Maggie Carpenter (3-3, R, 2 RBI) looking to do some damage and she did as she roped a single that scored Pearlstein and Venzor would come in on the throw to make it 2-0. Steele was in business and looked for more as Bianca Morales (2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) came to the plate. She would smash a double which advanced Carpenter to third. Unfortunately, the next two batters would be retired to end the inning.

The Mustangs would take advantage of multiple two-out hits to cut into the Cougars lead with a run to make it 2-1. Still trailing by a run in the top of the third inning the Mustangs would again string together multiple hits and would take a 3-2 lead thanks to a sacrifice fly.

The Cougars didn’t fret as they knew they had the firepower to push runs across and would get off to a good start in the bottom of the third as Venzor led with a single, Carpenter followed with another single which advanced Venzor to second, she would advance to third on a wild pitch. A couple batters later with one out Jazmin Alvarado walked to load the bases, Amanda Whipple the next batter would take four straight balls to walk which scored Venzor to tie the game 3-3, Danelle Directo (1-1, RBI) came into hit and she would lace a single to score Carpenter to give the Cougars a 4-3 lead.

Still leading 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth after ending an Olympian threat in the top of the inning the Cougars needed to put some insurance on the board. Leading off the inning was Carpenter who smashed a single to center, Pearlstein into run for Carpenter, the next batter Morales would take the offering and crushed it high and deep and far over the center field fence for her fourth on the season to bring the Cougar fans to their feet and also give the Cougars a 6-3 lead thanks to the 2-run home run. Her RBIs on the day now give her 10 on the season.

The Cougars knew they couldn’t rest despite having a three-run lead as the Mustangs were a dangerous team. They would have an opportunity in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit as Grace Richter would give up a pair of one-out singles but she settled and retired the next two batters to end the threat.

However, in the top of the seventh, the Mustangs would again break through with a lead hit, a couple of batters later with one out another single. The next batter would retire for the second out of the inning. Otay Ranch would pull within 6-5 thanks to back to back two out singles but Richter would get the next batter to fly out to end the game.

Richter would toss 7 innings for the Cougars to garner the victory. She gave up 5 runs which were all earned on 13 hits, walked 1 and struck out 2.