D-2: Granite Hills holds off Valhalla

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 19, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EL CAJON (5-19-22) – The Granite Hills Eagles (15-11-1) would jump out to a six-run lead late in the game and hold onto beat the visiting Valhalla Norsemen (19-8) 7-6 on Thursday in Division 2 play of the CIFSDS tournament..

The Eagles who had the home-field advantage due to being seeded fourth would get on the board first in the bottom of the second inning when they pushed across three runs to take an early 3-0 lead.

With one out Taylor Rose would single which was followed by another base hit by Breanna Diaz. Now with runners on first and second and only one out the next batter, Makenna Hines on an 0-1 count would take the offering and blast it over the right-field fence for her first home run of the season.

Granite Hills would tack on another pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning starting with an RBI single by Rose that scored Kailey Sandoval and a fielders choice by Diaz that plated Sofia Mujica to extend the lead to 5-0.

Valhalla though despite trailing wouldn’t be deterred as they had the offense capable of getting back into the contest and they would start chipping away in the top of the fourth inning.

Leadoff batter Nayeli Chapa would hit a solo home run over the center-field fence for her third of the season and bring the Norsemen within 5-1.

The Eagles would threaten to put more runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning as Rose, Diaz, and Hines all singled to load the bases but Norsemen starter Naomi Villava would get out of the jam via a double-play ball.

However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Eagles wouldn’t be denied as Chloe Knepp drove in Kayla Fox and Rose would hit a ball to right field that would allow Kailey Sandoval to tag up and race home to make it 7-1.

Down to their final at-bat, things weren’t looking so good for the Norsemen but that didn’t phase them as Marissa Lupo led off with a single, and Brooke Tucci followed with another base hit. Now with some momentum, the Norsemen looked to cash in but Rose would get the next two batters out. Still, with runners on and two outs the next batter Maryn Jordan would hit a hard hit ball for a single that brought home Lupo, the next batter Avery Voth would drive in Bella Moscoso, and Cadyn Ruffer would follow with a double to left field that scored both Jodan and Voth which brought the Norsemen within 7-5.

Still trailing the Norsemen would push across another run to pull within one before Knepp was brought in to pitch and she was able to get the last out of the game to end the threat and preserve the victory.

Maryn Jordan (above) was named Valhalla’s Athlete of the Month for April.

Villava took the loss for the Norsemen, she allowed seven runs of which four were earned on eleven hits while walking four and striking out three on the day.

Rose who would get the win went six and two-thirds of an inning in which she allowed six runs of which four were earned on nine hits while striking out one.

With the loss, the Norsemen will host Mission Bay on Saturday while Granite Hills will advance to take on league foe Helix who they beat 1-0 a couple of weeks ago.

Poway 4, Grossmont 1
POWAY – Early runs scored by the Poway Titans (18-10-1) would be the difference as they would go onto down the Grossmont Foothillers (13-16) despite being outhit on Thursday afternoon.

Grossmont despite outhitting the Titans 9-8 on the day could only manage to push across one run which came in the top of the third inning.

They would threaten in the top of the first as Na’Khia Lee singled and Jade Daley followed with a walk. Unfortunately, the threat would be squashed when Katelynne Parent hit into a double play to end the inning.

Poway would manage to push across a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning when Hailey Milgazo singled in two runs.

Trailing 2-0 the Foothillers would manage to push across a run in the top of the third inning to pull within 2-1. Natalie Emery with one out laced a single, she would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt and move over to third base when Daley lined a base hit to right field. With runners at the corners, Emery would race home on a wild pitch.

Grossmont would put together some momentum in the top of the fourth as Jenna Ennis singled with one out and a couple of batters later Lauren Becker roped a two-out double but the Titans would get out of the inning without any harm done.

Poway would push across their final two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Hillers would mount a small rally in the top of the seventh inning as Becker and Emery would get on base but the final two batters would be retired to end the game.

With the loss, the Foothillers will take on league foe El Capitan in the challenger’s bracket on Saturday.