Foothillers finish off Henry; Bulldogs out-slug Christian

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 17, 2018

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

GROSSMONT 5, PATRICK HENRY 3

A couple of late runs by the Foothillers propel them to victory over the Patriots in the non-league contest.

The Patriots would garner the first run of the game in the top of the third inning as Laila Spraklen (1-1, 2R) led off with a single, she advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on a ball that was popped out into foul territory which was caught on the first base side. With two outs Lauren Nett would reach on an error which scored Spracklen to make it 1-0.

However, the lead was short-lived as the Foothillers struck back in the bottom of the inning. With one out Kimmy Bond reached on an error, K Contreras (1-2, R) singled and Samaria Roope (1-1, RBI, 2B) doubled which scored Bond to tie the game 1-1, Jamie Medlin (2R) in to run for Roope, Jordan Brown hit a sacrifice fly that scored Contreras and Jessica Medlin (1-3, RBI) singled which scored Medlin to make it 3-1.

However, in the top of the fifth, the Patriots scratched together a couple of runs to tie the game at 3-3 starting with the leadoff walk by Spracklen. The next batter Savanah Chapman (2-3, R, RBI, 2 2B) roped a double that scored Spracklen, Chapman advanced to third on the throw, she came into score on the sacrifice by Ari Rios which tied the game.

Grossmont retook the lead in the bottom half of the fifth on a Patriots miscue which led to the run and a 4-3 lead.

They added another run in the bottom of the sixth starting with a one-out double by Rainee Foster (2-3, R, 2B), Katie Appenzeller (2-4) singled and Foster came into score on a steal of home to make it 5-3.

Patrick Henry threatened in the top of the seventh inning with two outs when Chapman roped a double but Roope was able to retire the next batter to end the game.

For the Patriots, H Jenks went 6 innings giving up 5 runs of which 1 was earned on 7 hits, walked 2 and struck out 6 in the loss.

On the other side in the victory Roope tossed 7 innings, giving up 3 runs of which 2 were earned on 4 hits, walked 3 and fanning 7.

RAMONA 10, CHRISTIAN 7

The Patriots traveled up the road to take on the Bulldogs and unfortunately, the Bulldogs took advantage late to pull away for the victory.

Christian would start right away in the top of the first when Silent Rain Espinoza (3-4, 3R, 2 2B) singled, went to second on an error on a ball hit by Ashley Carter (3-4, 3R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR) which scored Espinoza to make it 1-0. Carter would advance to third on the play. The next batter Audrey Shebloski (1-4, 3 RBI) drove in Carter on a grounder to give the Patriots a 2-0 lead, Shannon McMahon (2-4, 2B) singled but she would be left stranded.

However, the 2-0 lead for the Patriots wouldn’t last as the Bulldogs took advantage of multiple base hits in the bottom of the first to push across three runs to take the lead 3-2.

Another run for Ramona in the bottom of the second on a solo home to push the score to 4-2.

Christian in the top of the third inning started off with a single by Isabelle Stephens (1-3) but she would be thrown out at second on the Espinoza fielder’s choice, Carter doubled and Shebloski singled which scored both Espinoza and Carter to tie the game at 4-4.

Both teams would hold until the bottom of the fifth when the Bulldogs scored three runs to retake the lead 7-4. They added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead 10-4.

In the top of the seventh inning the Patriots tried to make a comeback as Elle Lindblad (1-3, R) led off with a single, a couple batters later with one out Espinoza roped a double, the next batter Carter followed with a crushing 3-run home run to pull the Patriots within 10-7. A couple batters later with 2 out McMahon smashed a double but she would be stranded when the next batter would be retired which ended the contest.