LAS VEGAS JAMBOREE: Christian knocks off IE No. 9 Etiwanda

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 30, 2018

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

LAS VEGAS SPRING JAMBOREE

CHRISTIAN 7, #9 ETIWANDA 6

The Christian Patriots did all their damage early on and held on to beat the Etiwanda Eagles who came into the contest ranked No. 9 in the Inland Empire by SoCalSidelines.

The Patriots in the top of the first started off hot as Silent Rain Espinoza (1-3, R) led off with a walk, Ashley Carter (2-3, 2B, SB, 2R) followed with a single, Mallory Steele (1-4, R) singled to load the bases. The first run for the Patriots came when Espinoza scored on a wild pitch, Shannon McMahon (2-3, R, 3 RBI) would drive in both Carter and Steele to put the Patriots up 3-0. The next batter, Audrey Shebloski (R, SB) walked, stole second, Alexa Henderson (1-3, R, RBI, SB) singled which scored McMahon, Elle Lindblad (RBI) grounded out which scored Shebloski and Lauren Sherburne (2-3, RBI) singled to score Henderson to round out the scoring 6-0.

The Eagles in the bottom of the second inning came back to score four runs to pull within 6-4.

However, in the top of the fourth, the Patriots answered with an insurance run as McMahon singled to score Carter to put the Patriots up 7-4.

The insurance run was needed because the Eagles would score two runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a game at 7-6.

But Steele who came in to relieve Carter who started in the third inning buckled down in the final couple of innings allowing only a hit in the bottom of the sixth before shutting the door on the Eagles.

Carter started for the Patriots tossing 2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits while striking out 1.

“It was a great team win, where everyone took place in the win. We knew they were going to be really good after taking a look at the stats. Carter took the hill in the first after scoring six runs in the first inning. She shut them down 1,2, 3 which really helped our confidence. Then Steele came in, in the fourth inning to start the inning got the win and shut them down pretty much. I hope it continues and it also helped that we beat UC before we left.” said Patriots Coach George Gentry on the teams big win.

SHADOW RIDGE 10, VALHALLA 4

Late runs by the Mustangs stun the Norsemen on Thursday out in Las Vegas in the Spring Jamboree opener.

Kennedy Labshere (1-2, R, 2B) for the Norsemen in the top of the first inning doubled with two outs, she came into score on a double by Samantha Green (2-3, 2R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) to make it 1-0. Valhalla would add to their lead on a Victoria Villegas (2-3, R, 2 RBI, HR) two-run blast over the center field fence.

Leading 3-0 early on things were looking good for the Norsemen but the Mustangs scored a run in the bottom of the first and second to pull within 3-2.

The Mustangs would add on eight runs over the fourth and fifth innings to lead 10-3.

Valhalla added on a run with a Green leadoff solo homer in the top of the sixth but couldn’t add any more on the day.

For the Norsemen in the loss, Lexi Schmehr, went 5 innings giving up 10 runs of which all were earned on 16 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1.

VALHALLA 10, FERNLEY 6

The Norsemen rally to tie the game and win it with four runs in the top of the eighth inning to prevail.

However, things didn’t start off right for the Norsemen as Fernley scored five runs over the first couple of innings to lead 5-0.

In the top of the fourth the bats for Valhalla finally awoke starting with a Victoria Villegas (3-5, 3R, 2 RBI, HR) single, Delaney Stettler (3-5, 2R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR) roped a double and Kelly Olson (R, RBI) grounded out which allowed Villegas to score. The next batter Rylee McMillan (2-3, SB, R, RBI) followed with a single to score Stettler to bring the score to 5-2, she would eventually successfully steal home to make it 5-3.

Valhalla tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the fifth as Villegas blasted a solo home run and they would take a 6-5 lead on a double by Jade Hill that scored Olson.

The Norsemen in the top of the sixth had an opportunity to add as Rachel Shellstrom (1-3, SB, 2B) doubled to lead off but she would be stranded.

Fernley tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run.

Neither team did anything in the seventh inning which meant extra innings would be played under International tiebreaker rules.

With Jade Hill (1-4, R, 2 RBI, SB, 2B) automatically put on second base, she steals third and Shellstrom walked, Green is hit by a pitch, Villegas singled which scored Hill to make it 7-6.

With 2 outs, Stettler came to the plate and crushed the offering over the center field fence to round out the scoring.

Stettler tossed a complete game victory going 7 innings, giving up 6 runs of which all were earned on 9 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4.

FALCON FIESTA TOURNAMENT

MT. CARMEL 13, HELIX 0

It just wasn’t the Helix Highlanders night as they ran into a buzz saw in the Sundevils offense as they scored in every inning to put the game away.

Helix would get their only two hits of the contest in the bottom of the fifth inning on back-to-back singles by Kasey Castro and Isabella Bordine. Unfortunately, that would be all they would get in the inning.