Falcon Fiesta Saturday no picnic for Easterners

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 1, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

Falcon Fiesta Tournament

EL CAJON – It was a struggle to get anything going for the Granite Hills Eagles (4-10-1) on Saturday (May 1) as the Mira Mesa Marauders (8-6) easily won, 12-6.

Mira Mesa would score four runs in the top of the second inning behind Destiny Garcia, Jadine LaValle, and Amae Moots.

Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning the Eagles finally broke through when Sofia Mojica drove in Kiki Sandoval to make it 4-1.

Later in the top of the fifth inning, the Marauders really broke things open when they were able to extend their lead to 9-1 courtesy of five runs scored.

Granite Hills would score another pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning when Sofia Mujica jacked the offering over the center-field fence for a two-run blast scoring Paige Baird to make it 9-3. The home-run by Mujica is her ninth of the season and also the fifth consecutive game that she has homered in and six homers in the last five games.

For the Eagles, Ashley Yeargain took the loss as she allowed six runs on seven hits in her four innings of work.

Garcia picked up the win for Mira Mesa as she fanned eleven in her six innings of work in which she allowed three runs on six hits.

Rancho Buena Vista 8, Steele Canyon 2

SPRING VALLEY – Three runs scored by the visiting Rancho Buena Vista Longhorns (14-3) in the third inning proved to be the difference as the Cougars couldn’t continue the momentum.

Right off the bat the Longhorns got going thanks to a leadoff home run to give them the 1-0 lead early on.

Steele Canyon (8-7) would tie things right up with a bases-loaded walk by Carlie Williams (1-3, R) that allowed Tayler Thomas (2-4, 2 R) to score making it 1-1.

They would take the lead in the bottom of the second inning with two outs thanks to an RBI double by Iryana Oliver (2-4, RBI, 2B) that brought Thomas home.

But the Longhorns would tie things up in the top of the third inning with an RBI double and later a retake the lead on a two-run home run to give them a 4-2 lead.

Despite trailing by two runs the Cougars had a great opportunity in the bottom of the third as Breanna Lakin led off with a walk, a couple of batters later Williams singled to advance Lakin to second base, the next batter Mariah Mata (2-4) singled to load the bases.

Despite having all the momentum in their favor the Cougars wouldn’t get anything as the Broncos managed to retire the next two batters to end the inning.

Rancho Buena Vista would go onto score a run in the top of the fifth inning and three in the sixth to round out their scoring.

Ava Bradford picked up the win for the Longhorns, she allowed two runs on five hits in her three innings of work and struck out five.

For the Cougars, Emma Shellstrom allowed eight runs on ten hits in the loss while also striking out four on the day.

Rancho Bernardo 9, Helix 0

LA MESA – Six early runs scored over the first three innings by the visiting Rancho Bernardo Broncos (10-6) along with limiting the Helix Highlanders (12-4) to a single hit was the recipe for success for the Broncos.

The only hit of the game for the Highlanders came in the bottom of the third on a ground ball to center field.

Isabella Burdenski of the Broncos did most of the damage on the day as she drove in three runs including a two-run double in the top of the first inning.

Poway 7, Grossmont 2

POWAY – Despite a late comeback attempt by the visiting Grossmont Foothillers (3-8), the runs scored early on by the Poway Titans (3-15) managed to stand as they came away with the victory on Saturday.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the third inning the Foothillers would manage to push a run across courtesy of a ground ball out to first by Alyssa Bolden to score Isabel Cervantes who had come in to run for Katelynn Parent who led off with a double.

Poway would add a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to push their lead to 4-1.

However, Grossmont would cut the deficit in half starting with Parent leading off by being hit. After Cervantes came in to run, the next batter, Jade Daley, roped a double to left field advancing Cervantes to third base.

With runners on second and third and no outs, Bolden would again ground out allowing Cervantes to score to make it 4-2.

The Titans would score three more times in the bottom of the fifth inning to push their lead to 7-2.

Grossmont would manage to push across two more runs in the top of the sixth inning. The first run came when Kimmy Bond hit a ball that was misplayed by the Titans allowing Natalie Maxwell to score and Natalie Emery who singled in the inning would successfully steal home.

In the loss, Sunny Miller allowed seven runs on ten hits in six innings and struck out two.

Allie Reese of the Titans would get the win as she only allowed one run on four hits in three innings of work and struck out one.

Mission Hills 9, Santana 3

SAN MARCOS – Three home runs on the day in total by the Mission Hills Grizzlies helped to spark their offense to an easy win over the visiting Santana Sultans on Saturday.

Santana would take an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Joey Barkhimer singled to bring in Taylin Warren.

However, the momentum changed in the bottom of the inning when Leeanna Garcia blasted a two-run home run and Savanna Arce would hit a three-run home run to give the Grizzlies a 7-1 lead.

Later in the top of the third, the Sultans had a great opportunity to score runs when Hailey Phillips, Isabella Cyman, and Kassidy Harper drew consecutive walks to start things. Unfortunately, the Sultans wouldn’t have any luck as the Grizzlies would get out of the inning on a tag of Phillips who tried to advance home on a dropped third strike.

They would however score a run in the top of the fourth inning on a bunt single by Gilliane Johnston that allowed Haley Oceguera who led off with a walk to score making it 7-2.

Another home run by the Grizzlies in the bottom of the fourth inning by Ariel Lopez Fifita would give them an 8-2 lead.

Santana would score their final run in the top of the seventh inning when Oceguera walked allowed Anyssa Mazon to come in to score to make it 9-3.

In the loss for the Sultans, Barkhimer went five innings in which she allowed nine runs on eight hits while striking out seven.

On the other side for the Grizzlies, Garcia who hit a home run also picked up the win as she worked all seven innings allowing three runs on seven hits while walking nine and striking out twelve.