HILLS: Foothillers, Sultans get wins

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 28, 2018

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

GROSSMONT HILLS LEAGUE

GROSSMONT 5, STEELE CANYON 4

The Foothillers take advantage of some late opportunities to push across three runs in the top of the sixth and hold on to claim the road victory.

Steele Canyon had an early opportunity to put something on the board in the bottom of the first inning as Audrey Bagge (2-4, R, 2B) led off with a double and would advance on a passed ball. However Samaria Roope would retire the next two batters, she would walk the next two batters to load the bases and would get out of the jam as she induced the ground ball out.

Another opportunity came for the Cougars in the bottom of the second on a leadoff double by Tayler Thomas (1-4, 2B) but she would be stranded as Roope retired the next three batters in a row.

With the game scoreless in the bottom of the third the Cougars finally broke through as JJ Venzor (1-4, R, RBI, HR) connected off of Roope and jacked a solo home run to center to give them a 1-0 lead, a couple batters later with one out Maggie Carpenter (2-3, R, RBI) singled, Amanda Whipple walked, Danelle Directo into run for Whipple. With runners on first and second Jazmin Alvarado (1-4, R) hit a ground ball that was misplayed which allowed Carpenter to score, with two outs Alvarado moved to third on another error and Elizabeth Bott laid down a bunt that was misplayed allowing Alvarado to come in and score to give Steele Canyon a 3-0 lead.

Trailing by three runs, Grossmont was able to pull within a run in the top of the fourth as Candace Henderson (1-2, 2 RBI, 2B) roped a two-run double that scored both Kati Contreras (2-3, 2R) and Alyssa Box-Agustin (RUN).

After getting out of the jam in the bottom of the fifth inning that saw multiple hits by the Cougars the Foothillers knew they had dodged a bullet and needed to do something.

Grossmont would tie the game at 3-3 on a single by Roope to score Contreras, Aly Allmann (1-3, RBI) followed with an RBI single to score Jordan Brown (1-3, R, 2B) which gave the Hillers their first lead 4-3, a couple batters later Box-Agustin scored on a sacrifice fly by Jessica Medlin (RBI) to make it 5-3.

Steele Canyon would make a threat as Bagge led off with a single, a couple batters later Bianca Morales reached on an error and Bagge advanced to third base, she came into score on a Carpenter groundout to make it 5-4. The Hillers got out of the inning as Roope retired Whipple to end the inning.

Despite threatening for more runs in the top of the seventh the Foothillers came up empty. Trailing by a run in the bottom of the seventh the Cougars knew it now or nothing. Unfortunately, Roope had other ideas as she was able to retire Steele Canyon in order to end the game.

For the Cougars in the loss, Grace Richter went all 7 innings giving up 5 runs on 7 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3.

Roope for the Foothillers went all 7 innings for the victory in which she gave up 4 runs on 9 hits while walking 5 and striking out 7.

SANTANA 8, WEST HILLS 3

Late runs in the fifth and sixth innings by the Sultans procured the home victory against city rival West Hills.

Santana struck the first blow in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single to center by Emma Leggett which scored Joey Barkhimer (1-2, R, RBI) to make it 1-0.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Sultans would extend their lead on a two-run jack by Mackenzie Bennett (3-4, R, 2 RBI, HR) that scored Nicole Madrigal who came into run for Madison Mendez.

West Hills, however, was able to get back into the game in the top of the fourth inning as Ashleigh Hartwig (RUN) led off with a walk, Gabby Clippinger (1-3, R) singled advancing Hartwig to second, she came around to score on a Star Gaylord (1-2, R, RBI, 2B) smash double to make it 3-1, with runners on second and third Savanah Henderson (RBI) grounded out which brought in Clippinger to cut the deficit 3-2, with two outs Dakotta Mershon (1-3, RBI) tied the game at 3-3 with a single to left field.

A brand new ball game with the game now tied. Both teams were able to hold each other until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Sultans took advantage of opportunities. Santana started the inning off with three consecutive hits, Joey Barkhimer would push across a run as she singled to score Ashley Madrigal (1-3, 2R), a couple batters later Lakaila Aquiningnoc-David (RBI) walked which scored Brittany Mundy (RUN) who came into run to make it 5-3 and Nicole Madrigal (R, RBI) is hit by a pitch which brought home Mackenzie Sims (2R) to make it 6-3.

Despite walking Gaylord in the top of the sixth inning Madison Mendez retired the next two batters to end the inning.

Santana really broke the game open as they scored a couple more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Things started with a walk by Ashley Madrigal, a couple batters later Bennett laced a single to center, both her and Madrigal would advance on a Wolf Pack miscue in the outfield. Coming in to run for Bennett was Mackenzie Sims. Both Madrigal and Sims would come around to score on a single to center by Shelby Holmquist which brought the score to 8-3.

Leading by five runs in the top of the seventh inning the Sultans put the game away as Mendez retired the Wolf Pack in order.

Taking the loss for the Pack, Carly Bursch who pitched 4 innings, giving up 6 runs on 6 hits while walking 4 and striking out 3.

Mendez went all 7 innings to get the complete-game victory in which she gave up 3 runs on 3 hits while walking 4 and striking out 6.