Vaqueros, Sultans on collision course for Valley crown

By Adam Paul
Updated: June 3, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

SPRING VALLEY – In what could have been a trap game prior to the showdown with Santana on Friday the El Capitan Vaqueros (15-6, 6-1 GVL) took care of business on Wednesday (June 2) as they easily defeated the Monte Vista Monarchs (5-17, 2-6 GVL) 15-1 in five innings in Grossmont Valley League action.

The Vaqueros didn’t waste any time as Ava Gall (1-2, R, 2 RBI) drove in Hailey Mulligan (1-2, R, 2 RBI, SB) to make it 1-0, Brooklyn Fukushima (2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI) would drive in Gall to make it 2-0, Katy Hicks (3 R) would come into score on a walk by Brandy Taylor (3 R, 2 RBI), Kylie Mead (3-4, R, 4 RBI) would drive in Alyssa Fierro (RUN) and Mulligan would come up again and drive in Taylor to give the Vaqueros a 6-0 lead.

El Capitan would continue the run-scoring in the top of the second inning starting with Taylor walking that plated Hicks, Mead followed with an RBI single scoring Fierro, Mulligan drove in Fukushima on a sacrifice fly, a couple of batters later Gall walked which allowed Taylor to score and Maddie Taylor (3-3, RBI, 3B) followed with a base hit that brought home Mead to make it 11-0.

RBI singles by Fukushima, Mead and Alex Burrough in the top of the third inning extended the lead to 14-0.

Monte Vista would finally get on the board in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single.

Later in the top of the fifth inning, the Vaqueros would round out their scoring when Alexis Mc Daniel (2-2, RBI) drove in Jojo Christiaens (RUN) to make it 15-1.

Fierro would come into the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and strike out two batters and get the other to fly out to end the game.

Three Vaquero pitchers combined on a three-hitter starting with Brooke Horn who got the win as she went two innings in which she gave up one hit while striking out four, Dayla McAuliffe came in and allowed the lone run on two hits over two innings of work and struck out one, Fierro finished things off with an inning of work in which she struck out two.

Santana 21, Mount Miguel 1 – The Santana Sultans tallied eighteen hits to go with their twenty-one runs to win going away over the Mount Miguel Matadors on Wednesday (June 2).

Joey Barkhimer would lead the Sultans as she doubled twice and drove in five runs while going 4-5 on the day at the plate.

Both Kassidy Harper and Isabella Cyman each had three hits on the day. Cyman would double twice and match Barkhimer’s five RBIs.

Natalie Sims would score and drive in a run as she had a pair of hits.

Multiple Sultans would score a pair of runs including Taylin Warren, Madison Jordan, Sammi Sullivan, Gilliane Johnston, and Haley Oceguera.

Hailey Phillips scored three runs for the Sultans.

Lainie Brown who got the start struck out seven while only allowing a lone run and one hit over five innings of work to get the win.

City League

Christian 5, San Diego 1 – The three runs scored by the Christian Patriots in the bottom of the fifth inning would help propel them a victory over the visiting San Diego Cavers on Wednesday (June 2).

The Patriots would get on the board first with a run in the bottom of the third inning courtesy of a Devyn Krystek sacrifice fly that allowed Giselle Comenero to tag up and score to make it 1-0.

Another run for the Patriots in the bottom of the fourth inning courtesy of a base hit by Allison Van Der Zalm that brought home Dawnelle Mcleod would make it 2-0.

Still leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning the Patriots would add more runs when Rachel Stephens and Krystek drew consecutive walks which was followed by a Kate Manes three-run homer over the center-field fence to extend the lead to 5-0.

Moody who also got the starting nod was cruising along when with two outs in the top of the seventh inning allowed a double by Atiana Barroso which advanced Daija Rocha to third who would score on a wild pitch before the next batter would be retired to end the game.

In the win, Moody went all seven innings allowing one run on three hits while striking out three on the day.

“We wanted to win because it was our senior night and I think that had a lot to do with our attitude and motivation during the game,” Moody said.