Patriots clip Falcons with five-run fourth

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 11, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

DEL CERRO – A five-run fourth inning rally by the Patrick Henry Patriots (11-4, 2-0 CWL) leads to a 9-5 victory over Scripps Ranch (5-12, 0-2 CWL) in Western League action on Tuesday (May 11).

Early on the Patriots would take a 2-0 lead thanks to a sacrifice fly by Dezianna Patmon (2-3, RBI) and an RBI single by Olivia Gigante (2-3, RBI). Both runs were set up by consecutive doubles by Kaiah Altmeyer (1-3, 2 R, 2B) and Jessica DeWitt (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B).

But the two-run lead would be erased as Scripps Ranch was able to behind an RBI single by Miranda Murphy, an RBI double by Tori Denosta and a run scored on a ground ball out by Katie Rains take a 3-2 lead.

After both teams went back and forth the Patriots started the bottom of the fourth inning with a walk by Savannah Sutton (RUN), she would advance to second on a passed ball and score on a dropped third strike to Sydney Newton (RUN) who was able to reach safely. With the game now tied at 3-3, Newton would give the Patriots a runner in scoring position when she advanced on another passed ball.

With Newton on second base, all the Patriots needed was a base hit but instead, McKenna Gieger (1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR) would blast a two-run homer over the right-field fence to give them a 5-3 lead. Later in the inning, DeWitt would drive in Malia Savage (1-3, R) and Lily Glenn (R, SB) would successfully steal home to make it 7-3.

Scripps Ranch would answer with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning to pull within 7-5. In the inning, with two outs Becca Lynn Boskin had an RBI double and Ellie Osbourne followed with an RBI single.

The two runs would be the closes the Falcons would get as Patrick Henry would score a pair to extend their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Doing the damage in the inning was Dewitt who doubled to left field allowing Altmeyer to score and later Macy McGee (RBI) would drive in the other run on a ground ball out.

Despite trailing the Falcons had one more push in the top of the seventh inning as they tried to rally with two outs. A two-out base hit followed by an error would give them runners on first and third, the next batter would walk to load the bases.

With the bases full and two outs, Gieger who was in the circle for the Patriots was able to retire the next batter as she lined out to DeWitt at second base.

Madelyn Carniglia took the loss for the Falcons, she allowed five runs on five hits over an inning and a third while striking out one.

Gieger not only contributed at the plate but also picked up the win allowing five runs on ten hits over seven innings of work. She also struck out four.

Elsewhere

Foothills Christian 18, Escondido Adventist 3

SANTEE —- Foothills Christian posted a season-best 13 runs in the first inning, storming through Escondido Adventist, 18-3, in Tuesday’s (May 11) Pacific League ballgame held at the Santee ASA fields at Town Center Community Park.

Carly Robbins fuels the Knights offense by driving in five runs on 2-for-3 hitting, consisting of a triple and a double. Robbins also scored three times, as did junior Abby Curran, sophomore Jillian Cabral, and leadoff batter Hannah Mroz, a freshman.

Curran topped the Knights with three base hits, while Sierra Leonard, Robbins, and Cabral added two each.

Foothills Christian also stole seven bases, including a pair by Sierra Leonard, before settling into station-to-station before the run-rule concluded the contest early and making a winner of pitcher Oceanea Berndes, who tossed a complete-game 3-hitter at the Hawks.

The Knights (2-3 overall, 2-2 league) moved into a 3-way deadlock for third place with Orange Glen and Guajome Park in their bid for a CIF playoff berth. Escondido Adventist remains winless in five starts.