JACOBS’ THREE-RUN BLAST PROPELS CHIEFTAINS

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 8, 2018

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

NON-LEAGUE

#6 CLAIREMONT 4, #10 SANTANA 3

The Chieftains behind a late three-run blast by Maddy Jacobs comeback and hold on to beat the Sultans in an important CIF Division II playoff implication game.

Both teams came into the contest needing to win to boost their playoff position as Santana was number three and Clairemont came into the contest the number one team. With the top three spots within percentage points of each other, the winner would make a huge claim come playoff seeding.

Clairemont in the top of the top of the second would have a runner on courtesy of a one-out knock by Kianna Knoll but she would advance no further in the inning.

The Sultans, however, changed the momentum a little in the bottom of the third inning with one out as Emma Leggett walked which was followed by a roped double by Natalie Sims which advanced Leggett to third, the next batter Krysten Service singled which brought home Leggett to give Santana a 1-0 lead and still only one out. Unfortunately, the next two batters would be retired to end the inning.

Moving along to the bottom of the sixth as both teams held each other and the Sultans still clinging to a 1-0 lead. However, that changed as the Sultans extended their lead as Joey Barkhimer smashed a solo homer over the right-field fence to put the score at 2-0.

Looking like they would return the favor of a 2-0 victory as the Chieftains had claimed earlier in the season at the Cougar Classic the Sultans were able to get the first out in the top of the seventh inning.

However the next batter Emma Huffman drew a walk, Elyssa Garcia followed with a base knock and Jacobs came up and crushed the Mendez offering deep over the center field fence for the three-run blast where it nailed a parked vehicle and gave the Chieftains a 3-2 lead. They would add another run to make it 4-2 on an Erika Anders base hit which scored Ari Salazar.

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Now trailing by a run the Sultans were down to their final three outs. With two outs as the first two were retired up came Sims who walked, she would be advanced to second as Service laced a single and came around to score on a single by Mendez to bring the Sultans within 4-3. Unfortunately, that would be the closest they would get as Mackenzie Bennett popped up.

For the Chieftains Jenee Brodeur went all 7 innings for a complete game victory giving up 3 runs on 7 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4.

On the other side for the Sultans Mendez took the loss as she went 7 innings giving up 4 runs on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3.

“We play each team as they come and we play our best. The girls play hard and that is all I can ask of them.” Said Chieftains coach Lori Schmersal when asked about the victory over the Sultans and also about being the number one team in Division II power rankings.

With the win, the Chieftains have now won three games in a row and five of their last seven including when they clinched their side of the City League this past Friday.

For their Sultans they have now lost six of their last seven games including four games in a row and today’s loss was only their second at home this season.