ROUNDUP: Cougars, Sultans garner wins

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 10, 2021

Steele Canyon following the victory on Friday. / steelecanyonsoftball

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

BY ADAM PAUL

HILLTOP TOURNAMENT

STEELE CANYON 8, OLYMPIAN 4

SPRING VALLEY (4-9-21) – In quite an exciting contest the Steele Canyon Cougars (4-4) would make a frenzied comeback as they scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to propel themselves to victory over the visiting Olympian Eagles (4-3) in Hilltop Tournament action on Friday.

The Eagles would take an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning courtesy of a roped double by Itzell De Los Rios (1-4, RBI, 2B).

The early momentum for the Eagles would be short lived as the Cougars went to business in the bottom half of the inning. Leadoff hitter Jazmin Williams (1-3, R) started things off with a walk, she would advance to second on an error, the next batter Tayler Thomas (3-3, 2R) singled to right field which moved Williams to third.

Steele Canyon tied the game as the very next batter Iryana Oliver (1-4, 2R, 2 RBI) hit into a fielder’s choice which allowed Williams to race home, later in the inning Allyson Haessly (1-2, 2 RBI) drove in Thomas to give them a 2-1 lead.

Olympian would eventually tie the game on an error by the Cougars that allowed Bella Hurtado (2-4, R) to score, the next batter Aimee Alvarado (2-3, R, RBI) laced a base hit to bring home Mariely Duran (RUN). Leading 3-2 the Eagles added another run on a base hit by Arianna Kumar that brought in Rachel Sarmiento.

Later in the game after both teams had multiple opportunities to score runs the Cougars would finally breakthrough in the bottom of the fifth inning. Starting things off the Cougars drew back-to-back walks by leadoff hitter Kamea Seunanne and Thomas, Oliver followed with a base hit to load the bases.

The very next batter for the Cougars Breanna Lakin (2-2, R, 2 RBI) was able to tie the game with a base hit to right field to score Seunanne, on the next play Oliver would come into score on an error by the Eagles to give them the lead 5-4. The next batter Mariah Mata would extend the lead with a base hit to bring in Mata which made it 6-4.

Another couple of runs for the Cougars in the bottom of the sixth inning made it 8-4.

A single by Arisa Tovar in the top of the seventh inning would be the only runner allowed in the inning before the next three batters were retired to end the game.

Viri Rodriguez took the loss for the Eagles. She gave up 8 runs on 9 hits in her 6 innings of work in which she walked 6 and struck out 3 on the day.

For the Cougars, Emma Shellstrom worked all 7 innings to garner the complete game victory. On the day she gave up 4 runs on 9 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4.

SANTANA 7, CORONADO 4

CORONADO (4-9-21) – The Sultans on the day banged out 15 hits and held of a late comeback attempt by the Coronado Islanders on Friday afternoon.

Santana would strike first with a run in the top of the first inning when Taylin Warren would come into score making it 1-0.

Both Lainie Brown and Gilliane Johnston would drive in runs in the top of the second inning to extend the lead to 3-0.

Those runs were set up when Hailey Oceguera doubled and Madison Jordan came into run.

The Sultans would score another pair of runs in the top of the second inning on an RBI double by Joey Barkhimer and she would later steal home to score the other run.

Moving to the top of the fifth inning and leading 5-0 the Sultans looked for more and got it when Oceguera tripled in Natalie Sims and Kylee Ruiz followed with a base hit to score Oceguera.

Coronado would finally get on the board with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning and in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs push across three more runs.

Brown for the Sultans picked up the win and in doing so struck out 6 in her 7 innings of work in which she also gave up 4 runs on 10 hits.