Helix wins with early runs; Foothillers out-slug Wolf Pack

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 14, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EL CAJON – Seven runs scored over the first couple of innings really set the tone for the game as Helix was able to claim a 9-4 victory over the Granite Hills Eagles (4-14-1, 0-4 GHL) on Friday (May 14).

Helix (17-4, 4-0 GHL) in the first inning would get an RBI single by Nicole Hernandez, and Ashton Isbelle would score on a fielder’s choice by Lilly White.

Leading 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning the Highlanders would extend their lead when Bella Bordine lined a single to center that scored both Jolene Giles and Jio Nuanez to make it 4-0. They would make it 5-0 when Kori Jonilonis tagged and scored on a sacrifice fly by Angel Riggins.

With two outs Hernandez would add to the scoring when she belted a two-run blast over the center-field fence to make it 7-0.

The Eagles would answer with a run in the bottom of the third inning when Paige Baird drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to make it 7-1.

Sofia Mujica in the bottom of the fourth inning continued her monster season as she jacked a three-run home run over the center-field fence to bring Granite Hills within 7-4. Also, scoring on the home run was Kiki Sandoval and Mackenna Hines. Mujica’s home run was her twelfth of the season and ninth in the last ten contests.

However, the Highlanders would respond in the top of the fifth inning with RBI singles by both Audrey Kull and Bordine to round out their scoring.

After giving up the three-run home run, Sophia Ramuno settled down and only allowed a pair of hits the rest of the way. One of which was to Breanna Diaz in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Picking up the win for the Highlanders was Jio Nuanez who started the game and went three and two-thirds of an inning, giving up three runs on four hits while walking two and striking out three, Ramuno came in for relief and tossed three and a one-thirds of an inning allowing one run on three hits while walking one and striking out seven.

On the other side for the Eagles, Ashley Yeargain took the loss as she tossed two innings allowing seven runs on five hits while walking two and striking out one, Chloe Knepp came in for relief and tossed five innings allowing two runs on five hits while walking three and striking out four.

Historical Note: With her twelfth home run of the season Sofia Mujica passed former Steele Canyon Cougar Audrey Bagge who hit eleven in 2019. She now sits tied for second in East County history with Amber Schisler of Santana who hit twelve back in 2012. The all-time mark of thirteen is held by both Carlee Wallace of Valhalla who set the mark back in 2014 and Madison Mendez of Santana back in 2018.

Grossmont 12, West Hills 11
EL CAJON – With the score tied 11-11 in the bottom of the seventh inning the Grossmont Foothillers (5-11, 2-2 GHL) would take advantage of a miscue to take the walk-off win on Friday.

The fireworks would start in the first inning when Naomi Kai drove in both Sabrina Brown and Alyssa Thornton to give West Hills (4-6, 0-4 GHL) an early 2-0 lead, they would add another run when Callia Rooks hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Thornton to score to make it 3-0.

With two outs in the inning, Brynn Snyder drove in a pair of runs to extend the Pack lead to 5-0.

But Grossmont would come right back thanks to a three-run home run by Katelynn Parent that brought home Natalie Emery and Kimmy Bond to make it 5-3, later in the inning, Sunny Miller would drive in Jade Daley and Lauren Becker would drive in Alison Murphy to tie the game.

West Hills would retake the lead 6-5 in the top of the second inning on a double by Kai that scored Thornton. The Foothillers answered right back on a base hit by Bolden that plated Daley to tie the score at 6-6.

Another lead change in the bottom of the fourth inning occurred when Daley singled to center field to bring home Emery who led the inning off with a triple.

Once again the Wolf Pack would retake the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Amaya Angeli hit a two-run triple scoring both Emily Byrd and Snyder to make it 8-7, a couple of batters later Brown would drive in Angeli to extend the lead to 9-7.

Grossmont though would answer in the bottom of the inning as Emery would hit a triple to left field that brought home Alexis Fleischer to pull within 9-8, the next batter Bond would follow with a base hit to score Emery to tie the game at 9-9 and later in the inning Bolden hit into a fielder’s choice but Bond would race home and score to give them a 10-9 lead.

An RBI double by Lily Youndale for the Pack in the top of the sixth inning that scored Kai would tie the game at 10-10.

Grossmont would retake the lead 11-10 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a fielder’s choice by Bond.

However, the Wolf Pack would tie the game on a base hit by Kai that scored Brown.

Moving to the bottom of the seventh inning the Foothillers looked to do something and with one out Bolden was able to reach base on a base hit, the next batter Isabel Cervantes singled but Bolden would be thrown out trying to advance to third base. So with two outs Miller came up and lined a base hit to left field that allowed Cervantes to reach third base. With runners at the corners and two outs, Fleischer hit a ball to left field that was misplayed allowing Cervantes to come home safely for the game-winning run.