Pair of Patriots drop league openers

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 7, 2018

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

CITY – EASTERN LEAGUE

MIRA MESA 10, CHRISTIAN 9

The Marauders push across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to pullout the back and forth league affair.

Christian drew first with an RBI double by Shannon McMahon (3-5, 2 2B, 4 RBI) that scored Silent Rain Espinoza (2-4, R) to make it 1-0. However, Mira Mesa tied it in the bottom of the inning.

Moving along to the top of the third with the scored tied the Patriots again had opportunities and took full advantage. Leadoff hitter Lauren Sherburne (3-5, R) singled, stole second, Ashley Carter (3R, SB) was hit by a pitch, Sherburne scored on an error, Carter moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a ground ball by Espinoza, McMahon roped another double to score a run and Audrey Shebloski (1-4, RBI) singled and would score on a hit by Alexa Henderson (2-4, 2B, R).

Leading 4-1 in the bottom of the third inning things were looking good for Christian but multiple hits by the Marauders tied the game at 4-4. They would push across another run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 5-4 lead.

However, in the top of the fifth, the Patriots behind hits by Espinoza and a two-run scoring single by McMahon that scored both Carter and Espinoza they were able to retake the lead 7-5.

Once again Mira Mesa pushed across runs in the bottom of the fifth with 4 to retake the lead 9-5.

Christian got a run back in the top of the sixth as Carter who was hit by a pitch and stole second would come in to score to make it 9-8. They would scratch another run in the top of the seventh inning when Devyn Krystek (2-4, R) singled and came around to score to tie the game at 9-9.

Mira Mesa, however, had other ideas to not send the game into extra innings with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Taking the loss for the Patriots was Carter who went 4 2/3 innings, giving up 6 runs on 14 hits.

CITY – WESTERN LEAGUE

UNIVERSITY CITY 10, PATRICK HENRY 0

The Centurions took care of business in the middle innings to put the game away as they limited the Patriots on the offensive side.

University City got things rolling in the top of the first inning as they were able to push across a run to lead 1-0.

Patrick Henry thought they had it going in the bottom of the second as Maddie Simmons (3-3) led off with a single but she would be erased on a double play.

Again for the Patriots in the bottom of the third as Dezianna Patman (1-3) led off with a single and would advance all the way to third before being stranded.

Still only leading 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning the Centurions were able to put together a string of hits to push across four runs to push the score 5-1.

Patrick Henry thought they were going to be able to get something in the bottom of the fourth with two outs. They would get back-to-back hits by Simmons and Jessica Dewitt (1-3) but Andrea Wright would ground out to end the inning.

Trailing 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning Patrick Henry knew they were running out of chances. Leadoff hitter Lauren Nett would reach on an error but she would be erased on a double play. So with two outs, H Jenks (1-3) singled to center and Simmons singled to right field. Unfortunately, both would be stranded as Dewitt grounded out.

University City pushed across three more runs in the top of the seventh inning to round out their scoring.

Taking the loss for the Patriots was H. Jenks who went 7 innings, giving up 10 runs on 10 hits while walking 7 and striking out 7.