Revenge of Vaqueros leads to co-champions of Valley

By Adam Paul
Updated: June 5, 2021

PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL HICKS

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

LAKESIDE – The last day of the regular season has been a memorable one for the El Capitan Vaqueros over the past few years and this season was no exception as they got their revenge with a 7-5 victory over the Santana Sultans (20-8, 7-1 GVL) on Friday (June 4) who had beaten them earlier in Santee by a score of 8-0. Also, making it memorable was the fact that it was Senior Day for the Vaqueros.

El Capitan (16-6, 7-1 GVL) early on looked like they were going to roll the Sultans as they would jump out to a lead of 7-0 starting with Hailey Mulligan (2-3, 3 R, RBI, 2B) scoring on an error in the bottom of the first inning to make it 1-0.

Still leading 1-0 the Vaqueros would go on to add more in the bottom of the second inning with one out as Alexis McDaniel (R, SB) walked, Dom Garcia (1-3, 2 R, 2B) followed with a double advancing McDaniel to third base.

With only one out and runners on second and third the Vaqueros knew they had to put runs on the board so they would use their speed as Mc Daniel would take off from third base and successfully steal home to make it 2-0, Garcia would advance to third base on a wild pitch.

The batter Mulligan would add to the lead as she laced a ball that got thru for an RBI single to make it 3-0.

Santana would finally threaten in the top of the fourth inning starting with a leadoff walk by Hailey Phillips (1-3, 2 R) followed by a base hit by Joey Barkhimer (2-4). A couple of batters later with one out Isabella Cyman (2-4, R, 2 RBI) would drive in Phillips to make it 3-1.

Now with some momentum, the Sultans knew they were in business but the Vaqueros would squash that as Garcia led off safely reaching on an error, Mulligan followed by reaching on a fielder’s choice which advanced Garcia to second, Alyssa Fierro (1-2, R, SB) would hit a ball that was misplayed allowing everyone to reach safely and load the bases.

El Capitan had the Sultans right where they wanted them with the bases loaded and no outs and two of their best hitters coming to the plate. Unfortunately, other ideas came to mind as Barkhimer retired both Ava Gall and Maddie Taylor. Not to fear though as Brooklyn Fukushima (1-3, 3 RBI, 3B) would come thru and rope a ball to center field that would roll around allowing both Garcia and Mulligan to score and Fukushima to end up on third with a two-run triple.

Now with some breathing room, the Vaqueros were in business and keeping the Sultans in check.

That would change though as Santana in the top of the sixth inning got the bats going as Phillips led off with a base hit, a couple of batters later Kassidy Harper (2-4, RBI) singled to left field putting runners at first and second with only one out.

The next batter Cyman would hit into a fielder’s choice in which Dayla McAuliffe would field the ball and promptly throw it to Katy Hicks (SB) at third base to get Phillips out for the second out of the inning. Things were looking good for the Vaqueros as they only needed one more out to get out the inning but unfortunately, on a ball hit by Natalie Sims to right field, a mishap would occur allowing both Anyssa Mazon (RUN) and Cyman to both score and cut the deficit in half by a score of 6-3. The other runner Sims would eventually wind up on third base on the error but she would be stranded as McAuliffe would get out of the inning.

Despite losing some of their momentum the Vaqueros would answer back with a leadoff double by Mulligan, the next batter Fierro singled center field moving Mulligan over to third base, she would score on an error to give them a 7-3 lead.

Santana down to their final at-bat in the top of the seventh inning started with a lead double by Jordyn Beatty, the next batter Sammi Sullivan would ground out and Beatty who was at first base would win up at third base only because her run didn’t matter.

The next batter Phillips would hit a ball to Mulligan at short who promptly threw the ball home to Garcia who tagged out Beatty who was running on contact for the second out. The Sultans didn’t go down though as Barkhimer singled to left field advancing Phillips to second base, Madison Jordan came into run. Up next was Harper who doubled to center field scoring Phillips to make it 7-4, Cyman followed with another base hit bringing in Jordan to make it 7-5 but that would be all the Sultans would score as Sims would hit a ball that was caught by Mulligan to end the game.

Barkhimer for the Sultans took the loss as she allowed seven runs on five hits over six innings of work while walking four and striking out seven on the day.

For the Vaqueros, McAuliffe went the distance allowing five runs on nine hits while walking three.

With the win, the Vaqueros avenged the earlier loss and claimed a Co-Championship in the Valley league. The championship of any kind is the first for the Sultans since they claimed the Valley League outright with a 9-0 record in 2013.

For the Vaqueros, the championship is their fifth since 2014 and third Co-Championship since 2016 and 2017 when they split both times with Helix in the Valley league.

Serra 7, Christian 4
EL CAJON – With the score tied at 3-3 in the top of the sixth inning Conquistadors hitter Kyla Gary came thru in the clutch as she drove in a pair of runs that would prove to be the difference on Friday (June 4) afternoon.

Serra (18-4, 7-1 CL) came into the contest needing the win so they would stay tied atop of the City league with OLP and right away would score a run in the top of the first inning to lead 1-0.

Christian (4-17, 4-4 CL) though would threaten in the bottom of the inning as Rachel Stephens (3-3, R, 2B) led off with a single followed by a base hit by Devyn Krystek (3-4, R, RBI) but the Patriots wouldn’t capitalize as Serra was able to get out of the jam.

A solo shot by Alissa Thomas in the top of the third inning gave the Conquistadors a 2-0 lead.

However, the Patriots behind multiple base hits would storm back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 2-2.

Again, Stephens would lead the inning off with a hit this time a double to center field, Krystek followed with another base hit which brought in Stephens to make it 2-1, a couple of batters later Allyson Moody (3-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B) would get a base hit to score Krystek to tie the game. The next batter Dawnelle Mcleod (1-3) would line a base hit to center field to advance Moody to second base. Unfortunately, both would be stranded.

Serra would retake the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2.

But Christian wouldn’t go away as Moody led off the bottom of the inning with a double and would later score with two outs on a base hit by Giola Giorgi (2-4, RBI) that plated Moody to tie the game at 3-3.

Another answer by the Conquistadors in the top of the sixth inning with one out that started with a pair of walks would lead to a two-run single by Gary that again gave Serra the lead 5-3.

The Conquistadors would score another pair of runs to extend their lead to 7-3.

The Patriots would add a run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Moody who led off the inning with a base hit would score on a ground ball out by Chloe Hessom to make it 7-4.