ROUNDUP: Lions in first; Dons beat Henry

CHULA VISTA (4-19-2019) – Meet the newest first-place softball club from the East County: the Liberty Charter Lions.

On Thursday (Apr. 18), the Lions posted seven consecutive runs then staved off a late Bayfront Charter rally, taking over sole possession of first place in the Summit League with a 9-7 triumph.

Bayfront Charter is the defending champion of the Patriot League but was bumped up in the offseason.

Liberty Charter second baseman Sarah Johnston batted 4-for-5, including a school record-tying three doubles.

The Lions scoring spree included a leadoff home run by  Faith Via in the fifth, then the Lions tallied four more times in the 6th for a 9-3 advantage. It was the third homer of the season for the shortstop.

The Sharks answered with four runs to get close, bringing the potential game-winning run to the plate. However, the Lions were able to turn a baseball-like, around-the-horn double play, as third baseman Lily Schallock grabbed the ball and fired to Johnston, who completed the relay to Aliyah Arroyo at first for the game-ending out.

Johnston also posted two RBI and scored a pair of runs. Via also doubled for Liberty Charters (6-9 overall, 2-0 Summit).

Bayfront Charter (4-10, 0-1 league) is now coached by Angela Uy, a three-time all-Grossmont South League pitcher for Valhalla (2007-09).

CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 9, PATRICK HENRY 7:  At Carmel Valley, the Patriots’ plans to sweep the Western League title went sideways after the Lady Dons tallied six unearned runs on two early errors in the 6th inning to win Thursday (Apr. 18). Patrick Henry was leading 6-3 before the defense imploded.

The decision leaves Patrick Henry, Cathedral Catholic and Scripps Ranch all with one league loss, but the Lady Dons have played one additional game giving them a half-game lead.

The Patriots took a 3-2 lead on Lauren Nett home run in the 3rd. Her blast immediately followed a leadoff single by Kaiah Altmeyer.

Two innings later, the margin went to 5-2 when Olivia Giganti slugged a home run, also scoring Nett. For Giganti, it was her eighth homer of the season, matching the total by East County and CIF San Diego Section leader Staci Chambers of Granite Hills.

For Patrick Henry (2-1 Western), Altmeyer went 3-for-4 and scored twice, while Dez Patman contributed two base hits.

Cathedral Catholic (7-12, 3-1 league) saw Sara Rusconi (3-for-4) hit an early solo homer.

SAN BENITO (Hollister) 9, CHRISTIAN 0: In Las Vegas, the Haybalers (16-2-1) made short-order of the Patriots behind a 2-hit shutout by Sephra Loza, who struck out nine batters in the 5-inning game.

The lone hits for Christian (2-11) were by Devyn Krystek and Rachel Stephens.

Amber Rodriguez homered for San Benito, which has won four straight and is 4-0-1 in its last five starts,