Hills: Eagles in first; Hillers, Pack win position battles

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 11, 2019

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

East County Sports staff report

SANTEE (4-11-2019) – The Grossmont Hills League softball race may have been decided with just one round of pool play after Granite Hills deeply unlocked its tie for first with Santana by delivering a 13-0 thumping on the Sultans.

Granite Hills pitcher Staci Chambers uncorked her third 1-hitter of the season, raising her record to 11-3 (11-1 vs. CIF San Diego Section opponents).

She struck out eight batters, moving to within one strike of her second no-hitter until Hailey Justice looped a two-out single to left field in the 6th (and final) inning (run rule).

Meanwhile, the Eagles offense scored in five of their six trips to the plate in the one-sided decision.

Again, Chambers was at the forefront with her East County-leading 8th home run of the season. It was a 2-run liner to center for a 5-0 lead in the 2nd.

However, Erica Simon belted a pair of homers for Granite Hills, accounting for seven RBI. Her liner to left in the third scored three for an 8-0 lead, then Simon hit a grand slam in the 6th to cap the scoring.

Simon, a senior who gained the rare start at shortstop, entered the contest with no homers and just a single RBI.

For Granite Hills (15-7 overall, 5-0 GHL), Morgan Kelly also collected two RBI. Santana fell to 8-5 (4-1 GHL).

GROSSMONT 6, STEELE CANYON 5: At El Cajon, with the ballgame level at 3-all Wednesday (Apr. 10), the visiting Cougars scored twice in the 5th inning, only to watch the Foothillers answer with three runs in the home-half of the frame to grab third place in the Grossmont Hills League.

Hillers pitcher Samaria Roope belted a 3-run homer for the game-winning margin, also scoring Natalie Emery (single) and Kati Contreras (walk) with one out.

Roope’s bomb to left field countered consecutive doubles by Steele Canyon’s Audrey Bagge and Bianca Morales to grab the late lead.

Contreras, the Hillers first baseman, also homered, matching Roope with seven for the season, one behind Chambers of Granite Hills.

For Grossmont (12-8 overall, 3-2 GHL), Roope was also the winning pitcher with eight strikeouts.

Steele Canyon (8-9, 2-3 GHL) saw Morales, the third baseman bat 2-for-4 with 4 RBI, including a 2-run homer for a brief 3-2 lead in the 3rd.

WEST HILLS 6, VALHALLA 3: At Leto Field in Rancho San Diego, the visiting Wolf Pack snapped an 8-game losing skid in another GHL position round battle.

A 4-run rally in the 5th inning overcame a 3-1 deficit for the triumph.

A trio of singles — by Emma Bentley, Shannon Kim and Sabrina Brown — produced a run. Then doubles from Star Gaylord and Lily Youngdale gave the Pack the lead. However, in between the doubled was a ground out by Alyssa Borbolla allowed Gaylord to come home with the go-ahead run

AFor West Hills (7-15 overall, 1-4 GHL), Youngdale also tripled in a 2-for-4 outing.lyssa Borbolla allowed Gaylord to come home with the go-ahead run.

Valhalla (4-11, 0-5 GHL) scored its runs in the 3rd on an error, then run-scoring hits by (single) and Yanely Gonzalez (double). Samantha Green registered a pair of base hits.For West Hills (7-15 overall, 1-4 GHL), Youngdale also tripled in a 2-for-4 outing.

Valhalla (4-11, 0-5 GHL) scored its runs in the 3rd on an error, then run-scoring hits by (single) and Yanely Gonzalez (double). Samantha Green registered a pair of base hits.

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