Eagles’ Mujica equals home run record

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 20, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

SANTEE – Thanks to a big sixth inning by the visiting Granite Hills Eagles (5-14-1, 1-4 GHL) they were able to pull away from the West Hills Wolf Pack (4-7, 0-5 GHL) 11-2 in Grossmont Hills League action on Wednesday (May 19).

An RBI single by Lily Youngdale (1-4, RBI) to score Alyssa Thornton (1-3, R) in the bottom of the first inning would give the Wolf Pack an early 1-0 lead.

But the Eagles in the top of the second inning would take advantage of a ball that was hit by Alexis Bauers that was misplayed allowing both Chloe Knepp (3-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B) and Makenna Hines (2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B) to score to make it 2-1.

Hines in the top of the third inning would give the Eagles a 3-1 lead when she hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Paige Baird (3-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 2 SB) to come home and score.

Moving to the top of the sixth inning and still leading 3-1 the Eagles would add another run on a double by Jenna Haynal (2-3, R, RBI, 2B, SB) that scored Hines, a couple of batters later Sofia Mujica (2-5, R, 2 RBI, HR) would drive in Haynal to make it 5-1, Kayla Fox (2-4, 2 RBI) followed with a groundball out that scored both Alexis Bauers (R, 3 RBI) and Kiki Sandoval (1-4, R).

Leading 7-1 with two outs the Eagles added more runs when Baird singled to left field to bring in Brooke LaFalce (RUN) which was followed by a double to left field by Knepp allowing Baird to come into score to make it 9-1. Granite Hills would finish their scoring when Bauers came up to bat again and was hit by a pitch that would bring home Knepp.

After a 1-2-3 inning, the Eagles would tack on their final run as Sofia Mujica on a 1-0 count would blast a solo home run over the center-field fence for her thirteenth of the season.

“I feel accomplished but not yet satisfied. I couldn’t have done it without the love of my teammates and coaches. Not bad for a freshman,” Mujica said when asked about tying the East County record for most home runs in a season.

West Hills would put runners on in the bottom of the seventh inning when both Sabrina Brown and Thornton reached on errors. With runners on Naomi Kai lined a base hit to left field bringing in Brown to make it 11-2.

Both Amaya Angeli and Maddie Edwards also had hits for the Wolf Pack.

Edwards took the loss for the Wolf Pack, on the day she allowed seven runs over five innings of work while walking one and striking out four, Thornton came in and tossed two innings of relief in which she allowed four runs while walking one and striking out one.

Picking up the win for the Eagles was Knepp who allowed two runs over six innings of work while walking one and striking out seven on the day.

Historical Note
The home run by Mujica in the top of the seventh inning was her 13th of the season. With that home run, she now has tied the all-time single record for most home runs in both East County and Grossmont Conference history. She is now tied with Carlee Wallace who first set the record back in 2013 for Valhalla and Madison Mendez who tied the record in 2018.