Cougars roll Henry in Fiesta Tilt

By Adam Paul
Updated: February 18, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

FALCON FIESTA

STEELE CANYON 13, PATRICK HENRY 4

By Adam Paul

DEL CERRO (2-18-22) – In a battle of teams with high expectations on the season, the Steele Canyon Cougars and their bats really came alive as they exploded for 16 hits and a convincing win on the road against the Patrick Henry Patriots, 13-4, on Friday afternoon.

Steele Canyon would strike with four runs in the top of the first inning that included a one-out bases-loaded three-run double by Kamea Seunarine (1-4, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2B) and an RBI single by Mariah Mata (3-4, 2 R, RBI). Setting up the four runs for the Cougars were hits by Jazmin Williams (3-5, 2 R, RBI, SB), Allyson Haessly (4-4, R, RBI), and Abby Curran (1-2, R) to start the inning off and late a base hit by Isabella Smith (1-1).

Leading 4-0 the Cougars were looking good but the Patriots would take advantage of errors made by the Cougars with two outs. Starting the two-out rally was McKenna Gieger (1-2, RBI, 2B) who walked, Josie Alvarado (RUN) came in as a courtesy runner, she would advance to second when Savannah Sutton (RUN) hit a ball that was misplayed. Now with runners on first and second and two outs, Maura Evans (RUN) would hit a ball to left field that was misplayed allowing Alvarado to come around and score to make it 4-1, the next batter Lily Glenn would knock in both Sutton and Evans when the ball she hit was misplayed allowing the Patriots to pull within 4-3.

Steele Canyon would break away from the Patriots in the top of the third inning when they pushed across three runs on an error and a groundout. Scoring in the inning was both Janea Wilson and Seunarine.

RBI singles by both Williams and Haessly in the top of the fifth inning would extend the Cougars’ lead to 9-3. Patrick Henry would score their only other run in the bottom of the inning when with two outs Malia Savage (1-3, R, 2B) doubled and she would come around to score when Geiger followed with another double to make it 9-4.

Later in the top of the sixth inning, Freshman Hailey Trujillo hit a ball that was misplayed allowing Seunarine to score which was followed by another hit ball by Emma Shellstrom that was misplayed allowing Mata who singled in the inning to come around and score to make it 12-4.

Geiger for the Patriots took the loss as she only lasted 2 2/3 innings in which she allowed seven runs on twelve hits and struck out two on the day.

Shellstrom tossed six innings in which she gave up four runs of which only one was earned on three hits while striking out five to pick up the win.

With the loss, the Patriots are 0-1 while the Cougars move to 2-0. Both teams will now compete next week in the Cougar Classic up in Escondido at Kit Carson Park.