Patriots down Vaqueros; Wolf Pack score huge victory

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

DEL CERRO – In a battle of two of the top teams in the area and also a measuring stick it would take a  big second inning by the Patrick Henry Patriots in which they took advantage of every opportunity which led to a path of victory as Patriots pitcher Olivia Gigante (1-4, 2 RBI, 2B) didn’t allow the El Capitan Vaqueros to answer on the day in a 9-0 victory Wednesday (Apr. 7),

Patrick Henry moves to 4-1 overall; El Cap suffered its first setback in four starts.

Despite singles by Hailey Mulligan (2-4) and Ava Gall (2-3) in the top of the first inning the Vaqueros, unfortunately, couldn’t capitalize.

Patrick Henry would strike first in the bottom of the first inning as Dezianna Patmon (2-2, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B, SB) doubled in Kaiah Altmeyer (2-3, 2R, 2B) to take a 1-0 lead.

In the second inning for the Patriots, McKenna Gieger (2-3, 2R, 3 RBI, HR) would drive in Savannah Sutton (1-3, R, RBI, SB) to give them a 2-0 lead, the next batter Sydney Newton (1-2, R) singled which was followed by a walk to Altmeyer to load the bases.

The next batter Jenel Mallari (2-3, R, RBI) would bloop a base hit to center field to score Gieger, Gigante came to the plate and ripped a ball to the center-field gap for a double that scored both Newton and Altmeyer. The final run of the inning for the Patriots came courtesy of a sacrifice fly to right field by Patmon that allowed Mallari to come home.

Trailing 6-0 in the top of the fourth inning the Vaqueros would threaten as Katy Hicks (1-3) led off with a base hit and Brooke Horn (2-3) followed with a single. Unfortunately, the Vaqueros couldn’t capitalize and Henry was able to get out of the inning unscathed.

El Capitan again would put a runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth as Mulligan roped a one-out double but she would be stranded.

Patrick Henry in the bottom of the fifth inning would push across a couple of runs to take a 9-0 lead. In the inning Patmon led off with a double, she would come into score a couple of batters later on a Sutton sacrifice fly.

Later in the inning, Gieger would take a 1-1 pitch and crush it over the right-field fence for a two-run blast that scored Malia Savage.

Another opportunity for the Vaqueros presented itself in the top of the seventh inning as leadoff hitter Maddie Taylor reached on an error, the next batter Hicks would hit into a fielder’s choice in which Taylor was thrown out at second base, Horn followed with a liner to center field for a base hit to put runners at first and second with one out. Unfortunately, Siana San Vicente grounded into a double play to end things.

In the loss, Horn went all six innings in which she gave up nine runs on eleven hits while walking three and striking out two.

For the Patriots, Gigante spun a seven-inning complete-game gem as she gave up zero runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out eight on the day.

FALCON FIESTA TOURNAMENT

WEST HILLS 3 (1-0), BONITA VISTA 2 (4-1), 8 INNINGS

SANTEE (4-7-21) – If you are going to beat one of the top teams in San Diego you might as well do it with some flair which is what the Wolf Pack did on Wednesday afternoon as they won in true walk-off fashion.

The Barons would get on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning courtesy of Alexa Jimenz who drove in Nicole Hill to make it 1-0 early on. After giving up the one run Wolf Pack pitcher Alyssa Thornton settled down and retired the next three batters including striking out consecutive hitters.

West Hills despite trailing went to work in the bottom of the first inning starting with a single by Shannon Kim (2-4, R, SB), Callia Rooks (2-2, R, SB) followed with a walk. Later in the inning with two outs Naomi Kai (1-3, 2 RBI) would drive in both Rooks and Ava Trenkle (RUN) who came in as a courtesy runner to give the Wolf Pack a 2-1 lead.

Bonita Vista would tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the second inning when Isabella Beccera hit a solo home run over the right-field fence.

The Barons would load the bases in the top of the third inning courtesy of multiple hits and a hit by pitch but Thornton was able to get out of the inning.

Neither team was able to score the rest of the way so the contest went into extra innings.

Starting off the top of the eighth inning the Barons put a runner on when Irie Lapala reached on an error. Later in the inning, Lapala would be out on a fielder’s choice which was followed by a groundball out by Becerra.

With the score still tied the Wolf Pack knew they had to get something and right away things went their way. Leading off Kim would single, Rooks followed with a base hit and Alyssa Thornton (1-4) helped her own cause with a base hit to load the bases.

Coming to the plate and in a situation that is dreamed of was Brown. On a 1-0 count, Brown would execute what all ball players dream of and that is coming up with the clutch bases-loaded hit. Her single-to-left would bring in Kim for the game-winning run and send everyone into a frenzy.

For the Barons, Giulianna Claver got the starting nod but wouldn’t factor in the decision. She only lasted three innings in which she gave up two runs (both earned) on three hits in which she walked one and struck out four, coming into relief was Guevara who took the loss as she worked four innings in which she gave up one run which was earned on four hits while walking one and striking out eight.

Thornton for the Pack went all eight innings to pick up the complete-game victory in which she only gave up two runs of which both were earned on seven hits while walking two and striking out four on the day.

FALCON FIESTA TOURNAMENT

MATER DEI CATHOLIC 6 (5-0), STEELE CANYON 2 (3-3)

SPRING VALLEY (4-7-21) – Big fifth inning for the visiting Crusaders as they pushed across four runs which propelled them to victory on Wednesday afternoon.

Mater Dei scored first with a run in the top of the second inning as Sami Gutierrez hit a solo blast over the center-field fence to make it 1-0.

The Cougars would have an opportunity in the bottom of the second inning as Kamea Seunanne (2-2, R, 2B) doubled to center field with one out. Unfortunately, she would be stranded as the next two batters would be retired to end the inning.

Another run for Mater Dei Catholic in the top of the fourth inning would extend the lead to 2-0.

In the fifth inning for the Crusaders, Brianna Escalante had an RBI single, Gutierrez who previously homered drove in another run to round out the scoring in the inning.

Not wanting to be shut out the Cougars would finally get on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning. Leading off for the Cougars, Madi Villaescusa (1-1, R) who would single, she would advance to second on an error, the next batter Jazmin Williams (1-4, RBI, 2B) would knock her in with a double to left field to make it 6-1. Despite Williams at second and no outs Giselle Garcia for Mater Dei would retire the next three batters to end the threat.

Steele Canyon would score again in the bottom of the seventh inning thanks to Seunanne who led off with a base hit to center field, Iryana Oliver (1-3, RBI, 2B) followed with a double to center field which allowed Seunanne to advance to third base, she would score on a ground ball out by Allyson Haessly (RBI) which made it 6-2. That would be all the Cougars would muster in the inning.

Garcia would garner the complete-game victory in which she only allowed two runs on five hits while walking one and striking out ten.

On the other side for the Cougars, Emma Shellstrom took the loss as she went seven innings in which she gave up six runs on fourteen hits while walking one and striking out three.

 

TOURNAMENT

BRAWLEY 9 (1-4), SANTANA 8 (3-3)

SANTEE (4-7-21) – Leading the entire contest the Brawley Wildcats looked to win convincingly but would have to withstand a wild and frenzied comeback attempt by the Sultans to preserve the victory on Wednesday.

Brawley would get on the board first with a two-run home run by Tamara Carranza to make it 2-0.

Audrey Lopez would give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead with an RBI double in the top of the second inning.

Santana would cut into the deficit with a run of their own in the bottom half of the second inning. Leadoff hitter Kassidy Harper March (3-3, 2 RBI) singled to left field, Madison Jordan (2R) came in to run, she would come around to score on a base hit to center field by Haley Oceguera.(2-4, RBI).

Still trailing 4-1 the Sultans would cut the deficit in half thanks to a run set up by Taylin Warren (1-4, 2R, SB) who would steal second base, she would later score on a sacrifice fly by Harper March which made it 4-2.

The Wildcats would answer right back in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run home run, scoring on a Santana error and a double.

Brawley would tack on another run in the fifth inning to take a 9-2 lead. ‘

With their opportunities dwindling the Sultans needed to do something and in the bottom of the sixth inning started off right as Joey Barkhimer (2-4, R, RBI, 2B) led off with a double, she would come into score on a base hit by Harper March, Jordan again came in as a courtesy runner for Harper March.

Still no outs and Jordan at first base the Sultans still needed runs and on the next play Natalie Sims (1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR) would provide the boost as she blasted a two-run home run over the center-field fence to make it 9-5.

Moving to the bottom of the seventh inning and now only trailing by four runs the Sultans were down to their last at-bat.

Leadoff hitter Lainie Brown (1-1, R, 2B, SB) would double to left field, Sammi Sullivan (2-4, R, SB) followed with a base hit which advanced Brown to third base, she would score on a double steal as she was safe at home and Sullivan was safe at second base, Warren followed with a base hit which advanced Sullivan to third base, she would score on a ground ball out by Barkhimer which pulled the Sultans within a run.

Despite allowing another base hit to Harper March the Wildcats would pull things out by retiring the final two batters.

For the Sultans, Barkhimer would take the loss as she allowed eight runs on eight hits in her 3 1/3 innings of work, she also walked two and struck out one.

Garnering the win for the Wildcats was Dylann Baker who gave up five runs on nine hits in her five innings of work, she also struck out two.

 

 

 

 

NON-LEAGUE

CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 9 (4-1), GRANITE HILLS 6 (1-5-1)

EL CAJON (4-7-21) – A late scoring fest by both teams but in the end the Dons would thwart the comeback effort of the eagles to preserve the victory on Wednesday.

Early on the Eagles would strike first thanks to Kayla Fox who would drive in Sofia Mujica (2-3, 3R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

But the momentum for the Eagles would only last a short time as the Dons would score three runs which included a two-run triple by Sereniti Trice and an RBI triple by Mallory Axline.

Granite Hills would knot the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the third inning courtesy of Mujica who blasted a two-run home run over the left-field fence.

Cathedral Catholic would break the tie in the top of the fifth inning with a run to take a 4-3 lead.

The Eagles would put runners on in the bottom of the sixth inning to threaten. With one out Chloe Knepp after a thirteen-pitch at-bat drew a walk, she would be thrown out on a fielder’s choice by Jenna Haynal (1-3, 2B) who would advance to second on a base hit by Breanna Diaz (2-2). Both would unfortunately be stranded to end the inning.

Insurance runs would be the Dons friend in the top of the seventh inning as they were able to add them with back-to-back home runs of which one was a two un blast, later they would add another run to take a 9-3 lead.

Down to their final at-bat, the Eagles didn’t go down without a fight as Kiki Sandoval (3-3, 2R, SB) led off with a single, she would advance to second base as Mujica drew a walk, both runners would advance on a passed ball.

Now with runners on second and third base up stepped Taylor Rose (1-3, R, RBI) who would drive in Sandoval with a base hit and move up Mujica to third base, Mujica would come into score on a passed ball which made it 9-5, the next batter Paige Baird would drive in Rose for what would be the final run of the inning for the Eagles.

 

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