DII: Déjà vu for Sultans as they go down in desert

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 20, 2018

Photo courtesy of Imperial Valley Press

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

CIF DIVISION II PLAYOFFS

#2 BRAWLEY (24-9) 3, #3 SANTANA (20-10) 2

It was deja vu all over again as the Brawley Wildcats were able to rally with three runs late to stun the Santana Sultans down in the valley by the same score as the previous contest.

Santana started off in the top of the first as Madison Mendez (RBI) with one out was hit by a pitch, Marilyn Downing (RUN) came into run, she would come into score a couple batters later when Lakaila Aquiningoc-David (1-3, RBI, 2B) roped a ball to center that went for a double to make it 1-0.

Brawley had a shot to answer in the bottom of the inning with one out as Savannah Contreras (RUN) reached on an error, Jalyn Ayala (1-2, RBI) walked, Lilliana Martinez (1-2) walked to load the bases. However, Madison Mendez was able to retire the next two batters to get out of the jam and the inning.

The Sultans would go on to add their second run in the top of the third inning as Krysten Service (RUN) lined a ball to left that was misplayed which allowed Service to go all the way to third, she came into score on a sacrifice fly by Mendez which gave the Sultans a 2-0 lead.

More trouble for the Sultans in the bottom of the third inning as Haylee Garcia was hit by a pitch, a couple batters later with one out Ayala walked, Martinez singled. But trouble would be adverted as Mendez once again retired the next of couple batters to get out of the bases loaded jam.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Sultans had an opportunity to tack on some insurance with one out as Mendez reached on an error which was followed by a Mackenzie Bennett (1-4, 2B) ripped double. Unfortunately, the next couple batters would go down swinging to end the inning.

The Wildcats in the bottom of the fifth finally broke through with a lead hit by a pitch by Contreras who came into score a few batters later on a Sultans miscue to make it 2-1.

Brawley once again in the bottom of the sixth inning took advantage of their opportunities as Dana Alvarado (1-3, R, 2B) led off with a double, Garcia Walked, a couple batters later with one out Ayala roped a double to score Alvarado to tie the game and advanced Garcia to third base, a couple batters later Garcia came into score the go-ahead run on a walk by Mikalyn Emanuelli (1-3, RBI) to make it 3-2.

That would be all the Wildcats would need as the Sultans went down in order to end the game in the top of the seventh inning.

With the loss, the Sultans will come back home to take on the Mount Carmel Sundevils for the third time on the season on Tuesday at 3:30 PM.

The Wildcats, on the other hand, will advance to the Semi-Finals on Thursday at the Santee Sportsplex.