Williams drives in 7 in Cougs’ 8-inning win

By Adam Paul
Updated: June 4, 2021

Emma Shellstrom of Steele Canyon delivers a pitch.

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

LA MESA – For the second straight day the Steele Canyon Cougars (16-10, 8-2 GHL) would nab the lead late and claim an extra-innings victory as they outslugged the Grossmont Foothillers (8-16, 4-6 GHL) 13-11 thanks to Jazmin Williams (4-5, R, 7 RBI, 2 2B, SB, HR) driving in seven runs in eight innings on Thursday afternoon (June 3).

Steele Canyon would lead 1-0 early on thanks to a walk by Kamea Seunanne (3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI) that brought home Mariah Mata (2-6, R).

However, the momentum would be short-lived as Grossmont would score a pair of runs when Jade Daley (2-3, R, 4 RBI, HR) hit a ball that was misplayed allowing Natalie Emery (1-3, RRBI, SB) to score and Alyssa Bolden hitting a ground ball out to score Kimmy Bond (3 R, RBI) to give them a 2-1 lead.

Grossmont would add three more runs in the bottom of the second inning to extend their lead to 5-1.

The first run came on a fielder’s choice by Bond that would score Caitlyn Potts (3 R), the next batter Katelynn Parent (2-5, R, RBI, 2B) would rope a double to center field which brought in Lauren Becker (3-5, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B) and Daley would drive in Bond for the last run.

But the Cougars were not done as they would rally for six runs in the top of the third inning to retake the lead 7-5.

An RBI single by Seaunanne that brought home Breanna Lakin (1-5, R, RBI) would make it 5-2, the next batter Iryana Oliver (2-5, 2 R, RBI) would drive in Marley Rimoldi (1-3, R) and later with two outs, Jazmin Williams jacked a grand slam home run over the center-field fence that scored Seaunanne, Oliver and Isabella Smith.

Grossmont would answer back with a run in the bottom of the inning when Natalie Emery drove in Sunny Miller to make it 7-6.

Steele Canyon would answer with another run in the top of the fourth inning as Janea Wilson scored on an error by the Foothillers to give them an 8-6 lead.

Once again the Foothillers would answer back as Daley belted a two-run homer over the center-field fence that also scored Parent to tie the game at 8-8. Later in the inning, the Hillers would retake the lead when Becker doubled to center field bringing in Potts to make it 9-8.

Another run for the Foothillers came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Daley hit a sacrifice fly that brought in Bond to make it 10-8.

Steele Canyon with two outs in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a base hit by Seunanne would bring home Janea Wilson to make it 10-9.

Now only leading by a run in the bottom of the sixth inning the Foothillers would add what they thought would be an insurance run when Becker hit a ground ball out that allowed Potts to score which gave them a 11-9 lead.

Trailing again by a couple of runs the Cougars were down to their last at-bat but both Allyson Haessly and Emma Shellstrom would hit back-to-back singles to start the inning off and Haessly on Shellstrom’s hit would advance to third base.

Now in business with runners at the corners, the Cougars were in prime position to rally and started with a sacrifice fly by Jazmin Williams to right field which was deep enough for Haessly to tag up and race home to pull them within 11-10. The next batter Mata came to the plate with Shellstrom at second in scoring position as she advanced on the sacrifice fly.

Mata on the first offering lined a base hit to center field moving Shellstrom to third base and Lakin would hit a ground ball out in which Shellstrom would race home and tie the score at 11-11.

Grossmont was unable to take advantage of a base hit by Parent and a walk by Daley so the game went into extra innings.

Steele Canyon knew they had new life and took full advantage as Seunanne led off with a single followed by another base hit by Oliver.

Later in the inning, the Cougars would mount a two-out rally thanks to Williams who roped a ball to center field that rolled allowing for both Seunanne and Oliver to score to give them a 13-11 lead and Williams to end up on second base.

That was all Shellstrom needed as she struck out two of the three batters she faced in the bottom of the eighth inning to end the game and preserve the victory.

Both teams are now finished regular season-wise and await the seedings on Saturday. Steele Canyon has played one of the toughest schedules this season as they have played close to ten of the top ten teams in San Diego County looks to use that to bolster their position for Division II while the Grossmont Foothillers who are in Division I will likely be on the road and play in one of the early games.