ROUNDUP: Scotties score 18 runs in Falcon Fiesta win

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 26, 2019

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

East County Sports staff report

LA MESA (3-26-2019) – Helix High junior pitcher Zoe Kuhlken registered a season-high 10 strikeouts, supported by a Highlanders offensive output of 18 runs in defeating visiting San Dieguito Academy, 18-0, Monday (Mar. 25) in a Falcon Fiesta Tournament contest.

Kuhlken finished with a 1-hit shutout in a game called after five innings.

Helix rang up 18 hits, as well.

Ironically, 11 years ago, the Scotties also pounded the Mustangs by scoring 18 runs. More importantly, the win lifted Helix (6-5) above the .500 plateau.

Helix recently scored 18 runs just last year in a 18-0 over El Cajon Valley last May.

The offense was supported by Nicole Hernandez, wh batted 2-for-4 with a home run and a double, good for a pair of RBI.

Meanwhile, leadoff batterAvery Perez went 3-for-4 and scored all thtree times, while Kuhlken (3 RBI) and Casey Castro also posted three hime.

Erin Brown, and Kori Jonilonis also contributed two hits each before the bench was cleared early, s a 9-run rally in the 2nd mountea 14-0 cushion.

The lone hit for San Dieguito (1-10) was recorded by No. 9 hitter Heather Phares. who registered a one-out sinle in the 5th to ruin Z.K.’s bid for a no-hitter.

MAR VISTA 6, SANTANA 1: At Imperial Beach, the Sultans pounded out 9 hits yet managed just a single run in falling to the host Mariners, which scored four times in the 2nd inning then escaped jam after jam as Santana stranded 10 baserunners.

The lone Sultans run came in the 3rd, when Lakaila Aquiningoc-David slapped a leadoff single. eventually scoring ona two-out, line single to center field by Isabella Cyman.

For Santana (4-3),leadoff batter Madison Mendez went 3-for-4, while Cyman added two hits.

Mar Vista (6-2) leadoff batter Lexy Tubman batted 2-for-3, with 3 RBI, including a 2-run double.

BRAWLEY 9, VALHALLA 8: At Brawley, the host Wildcats tallied two runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to walk-off as winners over the visiting Norsemen.

Wildcats Late-inning substitute Caryn Aguilar batted 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI, including a grounder single through the left side, bringing home Lilliana Martinez (3-for-4, 2 runs) to break an 8-8 deadlock.

Valhalla held leads of 3-0 and 8-1, but Brawley came back, mostly thanks to a 5-run rally in the 6th to set-up the come-from-behind win with seven unanswered runs.

For the Norsemen (5-9), Samantha Green smacked another home run — a 2-run shot to left field in the 1st. The blast drove in Maryn Jordan, who had just singled home Jade Hill for the quick 3-0 advantage.

Green finished batting 3-for-4 with 4 RBI and scoring twice. Jordan and Bailey Munch each added two base hits among the team’s 11 hits.

RANCHO BERNARDO 2, STEELE CANYON 1: At Rancho Bernardo, the visiting Cougars needed six batters before finally registering the game-tying run in the 6th inning, courtesy of a two-out, bases-loaded single by Lexi Hutchinson.

However, the Broncos immediately answered to re-claim the lead to capture Monday’s (Mar. 25) contest.

Rancho Bernardo pitcher Allison Boaz carried a 4-hit shutout into the 6th, but Cougars leadoff hitters J,J, Veznor and Audrey Bagge opened with singles, then Amanda Whipple reached on an error with no one out.

Boaz followed with a strikeout, then the Broncos defense gained a force out at the plate. However, Hutchinson deliveredwith a liner to center field to score Bagge.

The Broncos, however, countered on an RBI double, withBoaz smacking the game-winning hit.

For Steele Canyon (5-6),Venzoer=or, Bagge and Hutchison each recorded two hits among the seven allowed by Boaz.who struck out five batters without issuing a walk.

No. 2 EASTLAKE 11, WEST HILLS 0: At Santee, ever since West Hills opened its doors some 30-plus years ago, it’s rare to see a Wolf Pack softball team treated as roughly as they were Monday’s (Mar. 25).

But when you have national-level talent like the 2nd-ranked Titans, it really wasn’t that much of a surprise.

Eastlake (9-2) powered out four home runs and demonstrated superior defense, blanking the Pack in a Falcon Fiesta pool play contest.

The most impressive of the homers was a bomb by senior catcher Sharlize Palacios, who showed both bat speed and strength to take a pitch right on her hands and sending it out to right-center field. Little wonder why she’s earned a scholarship to play for NCAA national power Arizona.

Meanwhile, senior second baseman McKaila Harrington added another of the blasts, while also demonstrating glove work to maintain the shutout of Titans pitcher Sierra Tuffs, who tossed a 3-hitter.

Harrington was able to dived to knock down a hard grounder ticketed for tight field, fielding the ball and throwing to first base for the third, stranding a Wolf Pack runner at second base in the 3rd.

An inning later, West Hills loaded the bases, but Harrington raced behind first base into shallow right field to make a shoestring grab to again rob the Pack. Harrington owns a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton.

Meanwhile, sophomore designated player Hannah Slike and senior Taylor Tropp also homered.

Tufts, a junior, struck out six and walked three in her shutout.

For West Hills (4-5), Sabrian Brown posted a line double and walked twice in three plate appearances.

The Wolf Pack schedule doesn’t get any easier, meeting No. 3 Granite Hills on Wednesday.

MADISON 19, LIBERTY CHARTER 9: At Lemon Grove, one thing is sure, the Liberty Lions are not afraid to play front-runners. On Monday (Mar. 25), the host were run-ruled by the Warhawks, the No. 2 team in Division IV, which is the point.

Last season, a difficult, early-season schedule helped the Lions in postseason play. But they’re also winning against similar low-enrollment schools, so their 3-4 overall record doesn’t bother them as long as the long-term goal remains in sight.

On offense, Lions leadoff hitter Sarah Johnston, a senior, batted 3-for-4 with a triple, plus a 2-run homer in the 2nd to move the Lions to within 9-7. She scored three times.

Meanwhile, cleanup hitter Katie Peet went 3-for-3 with an RBI triple and scored three times.

In addition, Lauren Tarpy, a junior, slugged a 2-run double, part of a 4 RBI outing.

Madison (6-2), which captured the first two Class 3A championships in 1982-83, saw senior Emily Ponce batted 3-for-4 with 3 RBI.

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