Cougars claim pool, gain Platinum berth

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 1, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

COUGAR CLASSIC

ESCONDIDO —- With the games that were called earlier in the week having to be made up on Saturday, the normal format was changed from a possibility of two games on Monday to just one game. Also, not sure who was which bracket championship as the brackets were never updated on the website for the tournament.

Steele Canyon 2, Westview 0

Escondido (2-28-22) – Another strong outing for Cougars ace Emma Shellstrom as she only allowed three hits in her seven-inning shutout performance in which she didn’t walk anyone and also struck out one on Monday.

The bats of the Cougars were able to score a pair of runs early which included a first-inning RBI double by Abby Curran to left field that allowed Allyson Haessly to come into score to open the scoring.

Steele Canyon would score another run in the top of the second inning when Hailey Trujillo hit a ball that was misplayed allowing Isabella Azevedo to come into score to extend the lead to 2-0.

The two runs scored early on as Shellstrom pretty much shut down the Westview offense and when there were threats by the Wolverines she was able to get out the jams as the defense played very well and gobbled up everything that was hit.

Haessly on the day for the Cougars would have a pair of hits including a double and a run scored, Curran would also have a pair of hits including the run-scoring double and Azevedo would have the other hit on the day also a double.

With the win the Cougars improve to 6-2 and now have won three games in a row and will go into Hilltop tournament action.

Mission Hills 5, Valhalla 4

In a game that saw the Valhalla Norsemen lead the Mission Hills Grizzlies late in the contest, the Grizzlies would eventually tie the game and in the bottom of the seventh inning win on a two-out walk-off solo home run by Cameron Ray Zytcewicz.

Earlier in the game, the Norsemen would strike first when Nayeli Chapa doubled in both Marissa Lupo and Cadyn Ruffer to give them an early 2-0 lead. They would extend their lead even further in the top of the second inning when Lupo knocked in both Breanna Tucci and Maryn Jordan on a double to left field to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Grizzlies would get on the board in the bottom of the inning when Lizzy Olivas scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-1. They would eventually pull within 4-3 in the bottom of the third inning as they scored on a bases-loaded walk and a fielders’ choice.

Moving to the bottom of the fifth inning the Grizzlies still trailed and had runners on when Valerie Mendoza was called out for batters interference. Now with two outs and runners at the corners, the Grizzlies took a chance and allowed Leanna Garcia who saw something to take off and race home for the successful theft of home to tie the game at 4-4.

McKayla Fish in her six and two-thirds of an inning of work allowed five runs of which four were earned on five hits while walking four and striking out four in the hard-luck loss. , Garcia picked up the win as she went all seven innings in which she allowed four runs of

On the other side for the Grizzlies, Garcia who went all seven innings in which she allowed four runs of which all were earned on five hits while walking one and striking out two picked up the win on the day.

The loss snaps Valhalla’s five-game winning streak as they are now 5-1 while the Mission Hills Grizzlies remain undefeated and improve to 6-0 and will surely move up in the polls.