Romeka’s no-hitter lifts D-5 top-seed Foothills Christian

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: May 18, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

ECS staff report

SANTEE — Foothills Christian freshman pitcher Emma Romeka opened her CIF playoffs career by firing a no-hitter, as the top-seeded Knights bounded past visiting Borrego Springs, 10-0, in the San Diego Section Division first-round contest.

Emma Romeka

Romeka registered 12 strikeouts in the 5-inning ballgame, registered the remaining three outs on a soft infield liner and a pair of ground balls. In all, Romeka faced 16 batters — one above the minimum — die to an early error, running her record to a stellar 15-1.

It’s the second straight outing that Romeka struck out 12 batters,equaling a career-high set against Maranatha Christian last week.

At the plate, Romeka also batted 2-for-2, scoring both times, and was hit by a Rams pitch.

With the victory, Foothills Christian continues to own the best overall record of any CIFSDS softball team at 17-1 overall.

The contest ended in walk-off fashion in the fifth inning on a double by second baseman Reece Winchester, with Gabby Wolford racing home with the 10th run in invoke the run rule.

FCHS senior catcher Carly Robbins / Photos by Jeni Bernatz, FCHS Yearbook Advisor

Winchester, a freshman second baseman, batted 2-for-4 to raise her batting average to .481 this season.

Foothills Christian advances to the winner’s bracket second round, hosting Calipatria of the Imperial Valley on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The Hornets advanced after posting a mild upset of host Mount Miguel, 3-0.

Calipatria 3, Mount Miguel 0
SPRING VALLEY — The fourth-seeded Mount Miguel Matadors were stopped in their postseason opener after the Calipatria pitcher tossed a shutout in a 3-0 victory in Wednesday’s (Nay 18) opener ofthr CIFSDS Division V playoffs. The Hornets did not supply a roster.

It was a nice turnaround for Calipatria (14-9), which went winless in 14 contests last season.

The lone hit for the Matadors (11-8) was recorded by shortstop Alex Schneider with a single to open the fourth inning.

Meanwhile, third baseman Elizabeth Rhodes started an inning-ending double play in the third to keep Mount Miguel in the contest. Pitcher Kylee Perkins fired a 6-hitter with three strike outs.

Calipatria returns to East County on Saturday morning to meet Foothills Christian at 10:30 a.m.

Mount Miguel will host Borrego Springs in an elimination contest in the school’s first-ever meeting against the Rams.

— Compiled by Nick Pellegrino