Mulligan powers Vaqueros; Santana sinks Mariners

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 13, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

LAKESIDE (4-12-21) – In a battle of two of a pair of top teams in the East County it was the El Capitan Vaqueros who came out on top as they capitalized early on and never looked back, 9-2, over Steele Canyon in Hilltop Monday (Apr. 12)p Tournament play

Steele Canyon (5-5) had an opportunity in the top of the first inning as Jazmin Williams led off with a double, after a one-out walk by Tayler Thomas the next batter Iryana Oliver singled to load the bases. Despite the threat, Dayla McAuliffe was able to get out of the inning as she retired the next two batters.

The Vaqueros (6-1)added a run right away in the bottom of the inning as Hailey Mulligan (2-2, 2R, 3 RBI, 2 HR) blasted a solo home run over the right-field fence for a 1-0 lead.

El Capitan would load the bases thanks to a single by Siana San Vicente (1-3, R), a walk to Ava Gall (1-3) and Brooklyn Fukushima (2-3, 2R, 2B) being hit by a pitch. Coming in to run for Gall would be previous games hero Dom Garcia (2R).

El Capitan would push across a couple of more runs on a fielder’s choice by Maddie Taylor (1-4, R, RBI) and a ground ball out by Brandy Taylor (RBI).

In the bottom of the second inning, Mulligan would strike again as she homered with two outs to give the Vaqueros a 4-0 lead.

Another opportunity presented itself to the Cougars in the top of the fourth inning as both Breanna Lakin (1-4) and Marley Rimoldi (2-3, RBI) each singled. Unfortunately, both would be stranded as Williams hit a hard liner that was caught by Mulligan at short to end the inning.

Moving to the bottom of the fifth inning and still leading 4-0 the Vaqueros would take advantage of their opportunities and push across three more runs.

Kylie Mead (1-3, RBI) would drive in a run and a walk by Mulligan would bring in Taylor.

Finally in the top of the sixth inning the Cougars would get on the board as Allyson Haessly (3-4, R, RBI, 2B) with one out doubled and a couple of batters later would race around third and score on a base hit by Rimoldi to make it 7-1. Steele Canyon would put runners on first and second as Williams followed with a walk but McAuliffe again would get out of the inning.

El Capitan would score its final run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Katy Hicks (2-4, RBI, 2B) roped a double to left field that allowed Fukushima to race around third base and score making it 8-1.

Moving to the top of the seventh inning, the Cougars behind a one-out double by Oliver, a single by Isabella Smith, and a two-out single by Haesslly to bring in Oliver would make it 8-2.

Mulligan for the Vaqueros on the day with her two home runs would put her name in the San Diego CIF Section record book as she is now tied with a long list of players for second all-time. The record for the section is three home runs in a game also tied by quite a few players.

Emma Shellstrom for the Cougars went six innings in the loss as she gave up 8 runs on 10 hits while walking 5 and striking out 5.

Her counterpart McAuliffe tossed 7 innings for the win in which she gave up 2 runs on 12 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3 on the day.

SANTANA 14 (6-3), MAR VISTA 0 (5-1)

CHULA VISTA (4-12-21) – A recipe made up of pitching and big bats were the flavor of the day for the Sultans as they won convincingly going away over the Mariners on Monday.

Santana scored their first run of the day when Kassidy Harper (1-4, 2 RBI) reached on an error that brought home Sammi Sullivan to make (2-4, 2R, 3 RBI) it 1-0, Joey Barkhimer (2-4, 2 RBI) followed with a two-run single that scored both Taylin Warren (3-3, 2R, 3 RBI, 2B) and Gilliane Johnston (1-1, 2R, RBI).

Leading 3-0 the Sultans added more on a double by Natalie Sims (2-3, R, RBI, 2 2B), a single by Kylee Ruiz (2-4, R, RBI) that scored Madison Jordan (1-1, R) followed by a base hit by Sullivan to score Haley Oceguera (2-2, 2R, RBI) to make it 6-0. Once again Warren would do more damage as she drove in a pair of runs with a double which was followed by RBI singles by Johnston and Harper.

An RBI single by Oceguera in the top of the second extended the Sultans lead to 11-0. Later in the inning, Sullivan would drive in a run on a sacrifice fly and Warren had an RBI single.

Joey Barkhmer who took the circle for the Sultans would only allow one base hit on the day a single in the bottom of the first inning. She would also strike out 8 on the day in the shortened five-inning complete-game victory.

VALHALLA 9 (4-4), SAN DIEGO 1 (3-5)

RANCHO SAN DIEGO (4-12-21) – A five spot for the Norsemen in the bottom of the fifth inning really did the trick as they would pull away on Monday afternoon.

Valhalla pushed across the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Abby Johnston reached on an error that allowed Cadyn Ruffer to come in and cross home for the 1-0 lead, later in the inning Aubrey Baker would drive in Johnston to give them a 2-0 lead.

Things would keep going the way of the Norsemen in the bottom of the second inning as Ruffer drove in Aubrielle McKee, Johnston would drive in Emly Van Der Zalm and McKayla Fish would drive in Naomi Villalva.

Later in the inning and leading 5-0 the Norsemen added two more runs courtesy of a walk by Marissa Lupo and a single by Allie Piscopo.

Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning and Bailey Lenz would drive in Fish on a ground ball out to give Valhalla an 8-0 lead.

San Diego would finally get on the board with their only run of the day in the top of the sixth inning when Valhalla misplayed a ground ball.

Fish on the day for the Norsemen went 3 innings and picked up the win as she only allowed 1 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6, in relief Van Der Zalm got the save as she went 4 innings in which she only allowed a run on 4 hits.

MISSION BAY 16 (6-0), CHRISTIAN 1 (1-6)

EL CAJON (4-12-21) – The visiting Buccaneers on the day scattered 11 hits along with scoring 10 runs in the top of the fifth to pull away on Monday afternoon.

Early on the Patriots looked like they would swing momentum their way as Kate Manes led off with a double in the bottom of the first inning, Devyn Krystek followed by reaching on an error that advanced Manes to third base, she would come into score when Allyson Moody (RBI) hit a ground ball out.

Giselle Comenero (1-2) would follow with a base hit and Dawnelle Mcleod would walk to load the bases with two outs. Unfortunately, the Patriots couldn’t capitalize as Mission Bay was able to get out of the inning.

Mission Bay trailing 1-0 in the top of the second inning would accrue multiple hits along with taking advantage of an error to take a 4-1 lead.

On the day Manes for the Patriots would go 1-3 with a double and score a run.