COUGAR CLASSIC: Patriots, Dons, Crusaders win

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 31, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

ESCONDIDO – It was a big day at the plate for Jessica DeWitt (2-4, 3R, 4 RBI, 2 2B) as the Patrick Henry Patriots used a seven-run second inning to propel them to victory, 12-6, over the Granite Hills Eagles on Tuesday (Mar. 30) at Kit Carson Park.

Patriots leadoff hitter Kaiah Altmeyer (1-4, R, 3B) who is always a threat to do some damage struck right away as she led off with a triple to right field, she scored on the very next play as
Jenel Mallari (2-3, R, RBI) hit a ground ball allowing Altmeyer to race home for a 1-0 lead.

A couple of batters later Dezianna Patmon (2-3, 2R) roped a base hit to right field, DeWitt followed with an RBI double to left field and would advance to third on the throw, she scored when McKenna Gieger (1-3, R, RBI) reached on an error.

Trailing 3-0 early the Eagles tried to mount some offense as Taylor Rose (2-3, R) singled with one out and was followed by Sofia Mujica (2-2, 2R) being hit by a pitch. Later in the inning with two outs Chloe Knepp (1-2, R) would walk to load the bases.

However, nothing would come of the threat as Alina Hernandez was able to retire the very next batter to get out of the inning.
Patrick Henry (3-1) would really come alive in the top of the second inning as they would really take advantage of their at-bats.

Things started with Sydney Newton (1-2, R, RBI, 2B) leading off with a walk, Malia Savage (2-3, R) followed with a single to center, a couple of batters later Mallari singled to load the bases.

The next batter Olivia Gigante (1-3, R, RBI) hit a fly ball out to left field allowing Newton to tag up and race home for the score, Patmon next would reach on an error which allowed Savage to score to make it 5-0.

Leading 5-0, Dewitt stepped to the plate and promptly doubled to left field bringing in both Mallari and Patmon. Geiger followed with an RBI single, Savannah Sutton (1-3, R, RBI, 2B) would add an RBI double and Newton would come up again and this time double to center bringing in Newton.

The Patriots would add their final runs courtesy of a fielder’s choice and an error by the Eagles.

Things didn’t look good for the Granite Hills Eagles but something sparked them in the bottom of the third inning. Leading off Rose would single to left field, Mujica followed with another
single, and Paige Baird (2-3, 2R, 2 RBI, 2B) drove in Rose with a double to center field which also allowed Mujica to advance to third base.

Finally getting on the board the Eagles (0-3) continued their momentum as Jenna Haynal (1-3, 2 RBI) would reach on an error allowing Mujica to score to make it 12-2, the next batter Kayla Fox
would single to load the bases.

With the bases loaded Breanna Diaz came into pinch hit. She would hit a ground ball to short who threw to first and in the process allowed Baird to score making it 12-3.

Granite Hills would in the bottom of the fourth inning score three more runs to cut the Patriots lead in half 12-6 but the game would be halted due to the time limit.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Baird would drive in Mujica, Haynal would drive in the last two runs for the Eagles.

CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 1 (3-0), STEELE CANYON 0 (2-1)
ESCONDIDO – A late run by the Cathedral Catholic Dons was the difference in the game as the pitching was tough on both sides.

Neither team really did much on offense as there were seven total hits combined by both teams but the Dons in the top of the fifth inning took advantage of a double Julia Walsh and a base hit by Mallory Axline. With runners on second and third and only one out, Belle LaQua laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Walsh to race home for what would be the difference in the game.

Steele Canyon tried to make a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning Janea Wilson led off with a single, a couple of batters later with one out Kamea Seunanne laced a single to give
the Cougars runners at first and second base.

Things were looking good for the Cougars with only one out and runners on first and second base but Anna Herrmann had other ideas as she struck out the next two batters to end the game.
For the Cougars, both Jazmin Williams and Breanna Lakin each had a base hit.

Pitching wise Herrmann for the Dons spun a four-hit shutout going all seven innings as she walked zero and fanned twelve on the day to garner the win.

On the other side for the Cougars, Shellstrom went toe to toe allowing just one run on three hits in seven innings while walking two and striking out a pair in the hard-luck loss.

MATER DEI CATHOLIC 5 (1-0), GROSSMONT 0 (0-1)
ESCONDIDO (3-30-21) – The Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders scattered seven hits on the day in their shutout victory on Monday evening.

Early it looked like the Grossmont Foothillers would garner the momentum as both Natalie Emery and Jade Daley singled. However, Giselle Garcia of the Crusaders would get out of the
inning as she retired the next two batters to end the threat and the inning.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Crusaders scored a run after taking advantage of a leadoff hit, stolen base, and an error by the Foothillers.

Grossmont in the top of the second started off well as Isabel Cervantes smashed a leadoff double. Unfortunately, she would be stranded as the next three batters all was retired.

Again the Foothillers started off well in the top of the third inning when Natalie Emery led off with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice, Daley would follow with a walk giving them
runners at the corners and only one out. Both would be stranded as Garcia retired the next two batters.

Mater Dei would push across three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend their lead to 4-0 and in the fifth inning on a solo home run by Brianna Escalante round out their scoring.
In the loss, Caitlyn Potts for Grossmont tossed 4 1/3 innings in which she gave up 5 runs on 7 hits while walking 2 and striking out 1.

On the other side for the Crusaders, Garcia went 5 innings in which she gave up 0 runs on 4 hits while walking 2 and fanning 12 on the day.