Cougar Classic: Sultans win; Eagles, get scoreless tie

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 2, 2021

2021 Granite Hills Eagles at Kit Carson Park this week. / ghhs.softball

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

ESCONDIDO (4-1-21) – In the Cougar Classic, a four-run barrage by the Santana Sultans really bolstered their ease to 7-1 victory on Thursday against the Brawley Wildcats at Kit Carson Park.

Santana is unbeaten in three starts; Brawley falls to 0-2.

Santana would start things off in the top of the first inning with a walk by Taylin Warren followed by a base hit by Hailey Phillips.

The next batter Isabella Cyman grounded into a fielder’s choice in which Warren would be thrown out.

So, with one out, Joey Barkhimer came up to bat and promptly smashed a three-run homer over the center-field fence to make it 3-0.

Moving to the bottom of the third with the score still 3-0 in favor of the Sultans the Wildcats would manage to scratch a run across to pull within 3-1.

Both teams would go back and forth until the Sultans scored four runs starting with an RBI double by Natalie Sims to score Kylee Ruiz.

A couple of batters later Sims would score on a fielder’s choice by Jordyn Beatty and the final run came on an error by the catcher which allowed Gilliane Johnston to score.

The rest of the way Barkhimer cruised in the circle as she didn’t allow any baserunners the rest of the way.

Barkhimer in her complete seven-inning victory only allowed one run on four hits while walking one and striking out eight on the day.

GRANITE HILLS 0 (1-3-1), RAMONA 0 (1-3-1)
ESCONDIDO – Both teams combined for a total of eight hits on the day but couldn’t push anything across which resulted in a tie.

The Eagles had an opportunity in the top of the second inning with Paige Baird leading off with a walk, she would advance to second base on a sacrifice. Unfortunately, the next couple of batters would be retired to end the threat.

Another opportunity presented itself in the top of the third inning as Ashley Yeargain and Kiki Sandoval each had a base hit. The following batter Taylor Rose would ground into a fielder’s choice that advanced Yeargain to third base. However, the next batter would be retired to end the inning.

Later in the contest in the top of the sixth inning Sofia Mujica with two outs would triple to left field but once again the Eagles couldn’t capitalize.

The Eagles pitching and defense was just as up to the task as Ramona was as they would also squash any potential threats that the Bulldogs would present.

For the Eagles Rose went 4 1/3 innings in which she gave up zero runs on four hits while walking three and striking out four, Chloe Knepp tossed 2 2.3 innings in which she gave up zero runs on one hit while walking one and striking out one.

HILLTO 6 (2-0-1), VALHALLA 0 (0-2)
ESCONDIDO – Pitching and big hits were the keys to the Hilltop Lancers victory over Valhalla on Thursday.

The Lancers jumped on the Norsemen in the bottom of the first inning starting with Sarah Vega reaching on an error, a couple of batters later Sofia Vega would blast a bomb over the center-field fence for a two-run home run to make it 2-0.

Later in the top of the third inning, Valhalla would put a runner on when Maryn Jordan doubled to center field. However, Alexyia Reyes would get out of the inning thanks to retiring the next batter.

Leading 2-0 the Lancers were looking for more and would do so in the bottom of the third inning as Vega with one out would lace a single to center field.

The next batter, Lily Hermosillo would single to left field but the ball would be misplayed allowing Vega to race around to score and Hermosillo to end up at third base.

Later in the inning, Hilltop would tack on another run courtesy of a Tati Milo fielder’s choice that would bring home Isabella Estrada to make it 4-0.

After only allowing a single by Aubrielle McKee in the top of the fourth the Lancers in the bottom of the inning would tack on another pair of runs.

With two outs Vega roped a double to left field and Elizabeth Olguin followed with another two-run blast to center field which made it 6-0.

Reyes on the day for the Lancers in her five innings of work garnered the victory only allowed three hits as she shut out Valhalla. She also only walked two and fanned six on the day.

Taking the loss for the Norsemen was McKayla Fish who allowed six runs on five hits while only walking one and striking out five in her four innings of work.

EL CAMINO 8 (2-1), PATRICK HENRY 7 (4-2)
ESCONDIDO – Trailing the entire time, the Patrick Henry Patriots tried their darndest to make a furious comeback but unfortunately fell short on Thursday.

The Wildcats would strike first against the Patriots in the top first inning with a couple of runs courtesy of multiple run-scoring doubles in the inning to take a 2-0 lead early on.

They would add another pair of runs in the top of the third inning starting with a leadoff triple who came into score on a one-out base hit and later on a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-0.

In an unfamiliar position, the Patriots trailed but in the bottom of the third inning, a combination of errors and base hits allowed them to climb back into the game.

Leading off the bottom of the third inning Sydney Newton hit a ball to the pitcher that was misplayed allowing her to reach on the error, next up Kaiah Altmeyer promptly roped a ball to right field that rolled around allowing Newton to score and Altmeyer to race around the bases for the inside the park two-run homerun.

Patrick Henry would do more damage in the inning with two outs that would start with a base hit by Jessica DeWitt to bring in Alexis Hampton who came in as a courtesy runner for Olivia Gigante who had walked.

The next batter McKenna Gieger would hit a ball to third base that was misplayed that allowed DeWitt to round third and come in to score. With the last run, the Patriots now pulled within 5-4.

The momentum that the Patriots had grabbed back was short-lived as the Wildcats thanks to multiple doubles and an error would extend their lead to 8-4 in the top of the fourth inning.

Despite trailing the Patriots didn’t lay down and roll over as their bats came alive again in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Sydney Newton started things with a one out single to left field. Altmeyer would drive her in with a roped double to center field, and she would advance to third on a single by Jenel Mallari.

A couple of batters later with two outs, Dezianna Patmon drew a walk to load the bases.

The next batter, Dewitt, laced a single to right field that brought both Altmeyer and Mallari into score making it 8-7. On the base hit, Patmon would advance to third base and Dewitt advanced to second on the throw.

So with runners on second and third, the Patriots had the tying and go-ahead runners on but it wasn’t meant to be as the next batter was retired.