Faraimo out-duels Eagles in classic

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 22, 2018

Megan Faraimo / photo by Don Demars Photography

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

CATHEDRAL 2, GRANITE HILLS 1 (11 INNINGS)

In a contest between two of the top programs in San Diego County the No. 1 Cathedral Catholic Dons traveled to Granite Hills and were able to pull out an extra innings affair.

Knowing runs and hits would be a premium both teams went at each other as the Dons sent out Megan Faraimo while the Eagles pitched Staci Chambers.

For some reason the Dons were made the home squad so the Eagles had the first crack and they almost pulled through as Haley Johnson and Bailey Wallace singled but the Eagles wouldn’t capitalize as Faraimo shut down the offense.

For the next couple of innings, the pitching took over as each shut the other down until the bottom of the third when Patricia Niu reached on an error and would come around to score when Jayden Cunningham grounded out to score Niu to make it 1-0.

Granite was able to get the run back in the top of the fifth inning as Kara Blanchard led off by reaching on an error, she would come into score a couple batters later when Johnson roped a ball that was misplayed by the Dons which tied the game at 1-1.

The Dons threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning as Sara Rusconi reached on an error with two outs, Abby Tanuma singled and Rusconi advanced to third on a wild pitch but Chambers would get out of the inning with a ground ball out.

Moving along to the bottom of the ninth inning and extra innings as both Faraimo and Chambers went toe to toe. Rusconi again roped a double, she advanced to third on a caught foul ball. Up stepped Kaelene Walter who looked to put the game away and she almost did as she laid down a sacrifice that was fielded by Sydney Huse who flipped it Johnson who tagged Rusconi who was coming home out to end the inning.

Again as the pitching took over as both teams were stymied things would move to the bottom of the eleventh inning. Leading off for the Dons was Rusconi who laced a single, she advanced to second on a sacrifice by Tanuma and then to third on another ground ball. So with two outs up stepped Jenna Mello who on a 1-1 count slapped it into left field for a single that scored Rusconi to give the Dons the victory.

On the day for the Eagles, Chambers went 10 2/3 in taking the loss in which she gave up 2 runs of which 1 was earned while walking 0 and striking out 6.

Garnering the victory was Faraimo who tossed 11 innings, giving up the 1 run while walking 0 and striking out 19.