ROUNDUP: Patriots, Foothillers, Eagles get victories

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 1, 2021

Olivia Gigante heads home to be greeted following a home run. / phhs.softball

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

ESCONDIDO – Another day, another offensive barrage for the Patrick Henry Patriots, as they quickly dispatched the Ramona Bulldogs on Wednesday (Mar. 31) afternoon, 11-0, in just three innings (Cougar Classic time limit)

Leading the charge for the Patriots was Olivia Gigante (2-2, 2R, 3 RBI, HR) who led the day as she drove in three runs and also blasted a home run for the Patriots (4-1) Ramona fell to 1-3.

Gigante would blast a two-run home run in the bottom of the first that also scored Kaiah Altmeyer (2-3, 2R) to give them an early 2-0 lead.

Patrick Henry added more in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a two-run double by Dezianna Patmon (2-2, 2R, 2 RBI, 2B) and an RBI double by Jessica DeWitt (2-3, 2 RBI). Also, contributing in the inning were Sydney Newton (1-2, R) who led off with a single, Altmeyer, and Jenel Mallari (1-2, 2R, RBI) who drove in a run.

Back-to-back errors with two outs opened the door for the Patriots in the bottom of the third inning as they scored four more runs.

Facing two outs Altmeyer started things by reaching on an error, she would advance to third as Mallari followed by reaching on an error. The next batter Gigante singled to center which brought Altmeyer home to make it 8-0. Later in the inning, DeWitt would hit a fly ball to center field that would allow Mallari, Alina Hernandez (RUN), and Patmon to score.

For Ramona, it just wasn’t Nevaeh Haywood’s day in the circle as the Patriots roughed her up for 11 runs on 10 hits.

On the other side for Patrick Henry Sophia Sanchez was just about flawless as she only allowed 1 hit while walking 1 and striking out 3 in her 3 innings to pick up the win in the shortened contest.

With the win, the Patriots have now won four games in a row.

GROSSMONT 8 (1-1), CLAIREMONT 2 (0-5)
ESCONDIDO – Strong pitching and seven runs scored over the middle innings was the formula for success for the Foothillers on Wednesday evening.

Grossmont got started in the first inning with a leadoff single by Natalie Emery (3-3, 3R), she would later score when Jade Daley (2-4, 2R, 2 RBI, 2B) roped a double to left field.

Moving to the third inning Emery again led off with a base hit, Kimmy Bond (3-4, 2R) followed with a single advancing Emery to second. A couple of batters later after Daley reached on an error that loaded the bases Isabel Cervantes (1-3, 2 RBI) singled in Emery and Bond scored on the throw.

Grossmont would add two more runs on multiple wild pitches by Clairemont in the inning. Scoring on those were Natalie Maxwell (RUN) who came into run for Cervantes and Daley.

Moving to the top of the fourth inning the Foothillers took advantage once again as both Emery and Bond reached base. Scoring on the base hit by Bond was Emery who raced home. The next batter Daley would drive in Bond with a base hit to center field which made it 7-0. The final run for Grossmont would come on a two-out triple by Alyssa Bolden (1-3, RBI) that allowed Bond to score.

In the bottom of the inning, the Chieftains finally scratched a run to make it 8-1. They would add another run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Picking up the win for Grossmont was Sunny Miller who went four innings in which she gave up one run on one hit while walking one and striking out two, Caitlyn Potts who came in to relieve Miller tossed worked an inning in which she gave up one run on two hits.

GRANITE HILLS 4 (1-3), SAN MARCOS 2 (2-2)
ESCONDIDO – On Wednesday evening the Granite Hills Eagles doubled up the San Marcos Knights to pick up their first win of the season.

The Knights would strike first in the top of the second inning when Mariah Diaz would score on a double steal to make it 1-0.

The early one-run lead by the Knights would be wiped out in the bottom half of the inning as they would answer with a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. The first run would come courtesy of a Taylor Rose (RBI) ground ball out that allowed Chloe Knepp (1-3, R) to race home to tie the game, Makenna Hines (RUN) who was safe earlier on a fielder’s choice would score on a wild pitch.

San Marcos would take the momentum back in the top of the third inning with a lead-off hit by Kelsey Tadlock who would later score on a ball hit by Caylene Nguyen that was misplayed.

With the score tied and the momentum back in the favor of San Marcos, the Eagles went back to business in the bottom of the third inning. With one out Paige Baird (1-2, R) would single to left field, she would come all the way around to score when Kayla Fox (1-3, RBI, 2B) ripped a ball to center field for a double.

Now having taken the momentum back the Eagles didn’t look back as Knepp shut down the Knights the rest of the way.

Granite Hills would tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a one-out solo home run by Sofia Mujica (1-3, R, RBI, HR).

Taking the loss for the Knights was Nguyen who only lasted 2 1/3 innings in which she gave up 3 runs on 3 hits while walking 2, Kelsey Tadlock who came in relief went 2 2/3 innings in which she gave up 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 6.

Knepp for the Eagles went all five innings to pick up the complete-game victory. On the day she gave up 2 runs on 2 hits while walking 1 and fanning 4.