Softball: Pats, Norse, Sultans, Lions All Win

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 2, 2023

Photo courtesy of Valhalla Softball

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

ECS staff report

ESCONDIDO –Seven strong innings for Patrick Henry’s Sophia Sanchez as she struck out six while allowing only a single hit on the day as the Patriots defeated the Escondido Charter White Tigers 1-0 in Cougar Classic at Kit Carson Park action on Thursday (Mar 2).

The strong pitching was needed as the offense for the Patriots was sluggish at best as they were limited to three hits on the day

But one of those hits was never bigger than what sophomore Izzy Ervin (1-2, R, RBI, HR) would provide in the bottom of the fifth inning when she took a 1-1 pitch and belted a leadoff solo home run over the left-field fence. The home run was Irvin’s first of her varsity career.

Both Brooke Taylor (1-3, SB) and Jenel Mallari (1-3) were the only other Patriots to have hits in the contest.

With the victory, the Patriots improve to 1-1 and will continue in the Cougar Classic against Mt. Carmel on Friday for a slated 5 p.m. start.

Santana 6, Mission Bay 4

Late runs scored by the Santana Sultans in the bottom of the fifth inning were all the difference as the Sultans would rally twice to beat the Mission Bay Buccaneers in Cougar Classic action on Thursday evening.

The Buccaneers would strike first as they would push across three runs in the top of the first inning but the Sultans would strike back and match those three runs to knot the score.

McKenna Miller’s triple started the scoring as she would drive in Sara Spry which was followed by Anabelle Heguy doubling in Miller and later Carissa Ruiz tripling in Heguy.

Mission Bay once again in the top of the third inning would regain the lead with a run to lead 4-3 but once again the Sultans would strike back as Faith Francisco would drive in Emma Schneider.

With the score still tied in the bottom of the fifth inning Schneider would lead off with a single followed by a double by Marley Ridgels. The following batter Ruiz would hit a fly ball that was deep enough for Schneider to tag up and score and a couple of batters later Freshman Kaitlyn Ruckle would double to left field allowing Ridgels to come into score.

Starting pitcher Aurelia Dawson would pick up the win as she went all five innings in which she allowed four runs on eight hits while striking out six on the evening.

The Sultans after a couple of false starts due to rain finally pick up their first win of the season and will next play on Saturday morning against an opponent yet to be determined.

Valhalla 7, Ramona 2

Valhalla’s Freshman Preslee Fink’s RBI single in the top of the fourth inning with two outs broke a 2-2 tie and also gave all the momentum as the Norsemen never looked back and would breakout offensively in their victory over the Ramona Bulldogs on Thursday (Mar 2) evening in Cougar Classic action.

Early on the Bulldogs would push across a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to lead 2-0 but the Norsemen in the top of the fourth would even the score on an error that allowed Cadyn Ruffer to score and Allison Piscopo was hit by a pitch that would score Brooke Tucci.

Leading 3-2 the Norsemen in the top of the fifth inning would add more when Ruffer doubled in Naomi Villalva and Devyn Mack hitting a ball that was misplayed that brought home Ruffer to make it 5-2.

Villalva’s two-run double in the sixth inning would round out their scoring. Scoring on the double were Isabella Moscoso and Fink.

Mack would also pick up the victory for the Norsemen as she worked four innings in which she allowed two runs on two hits and struck out three, Mckayla Fish came in and tossed two innings allowing a single hit and striking out three.

Elsewhere

Liberty Charter 20, Guajome Park 2 (5 inn.)

ALPINE – Liberty Charter sophomore Leah Urias collected a home run and four RBI, while three other Lions also collected a pair of RBI each, taking down visiting Guajome Park, 20-2 in five innings, Thursday (Mar. 2) at MacQueen Middle School.

Urias completed a perfect day at the plate, batting 3-for-3 plus a walk, scoring all four times.

Driving in two runs each was a single member from the next four graduating classes: senior Susan Bennett, junior Kylie Pruett, sophomore Julia Peterson (triple), and freshman Kaiya McKay.

Pruett also pitched four innings of no-hit ball to collect the victory. The contest was called after five innings due to the run rule,’

Liberty Charter (2-0 overall) has now out-scored the opposition, 36-3, in both contests. The lions next meet travel to Chula Vista to battle the San Diego Academy Cavaliers on Monday at 3:45 p.m

Southwest El Centro 6, West Hills (6 inn.)
Southwest El Centro 7, Helix 2

EL CENTRO – A late RBI single by Eagles Emilie Marquez with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning would be the difference as Southwest El Centro would hold off a late rally for the victory over the West Hills Wolf Pack on Thursday (Mar 1) afternoon.

Early on the Wolf Pack would push across three runs over the first couple of innings to lead 3-0 which was started when Katy Spargo drove in Sophia Martinez and Amaya Angeli would score on a groundball out by Gianna Burgin in the first inning. Their other run came in the second inning when Kristina Deal drove in Ava Goodman.

But the Eagles having already scored a run in the bottom of the second inning would take the lead when Kaydence Wiewel belted a three-run blast to make it 4-3.

The Wolf Pack would later regain the lead in the top of the fourth inning as Angeli scored on a passed ball and Martinez again would hit a groundball out that would allow Maddie Aylesbury to plate giving the Pack a 5-4 lead.

Despite trailing the Pack in the top of the sixth would try and rally with two outs as Martinez tripled and Samiya Wright followed with a walk but unfortunately both would be stranded as Spargo would ground out for the third and final out.

In another action, EC-Southwest also tackled Helix, 7-2. A report from Helix.

Brawley 9, Grossmont 1 (5 inn.)

BRAWLEY – The Brawley Wildcats tallied four times in the fifth to invoke the run rule and take down visiting Grossmont on Thursday (<ar. 2).

Foothillers sophomore Nakhia Lee collected half of the team’s four base hits. But half of them were erased on double plays turned by the defense of Brawley (1-1 overall). Grossmont is winless after two starts; they meet University City on Friday at 5 p.m.

Adam Paul and Nick Pellegrino contributed to this report.

Scoreboard

Patrick Henry 1, Escondido Charter 0
Santana 6, Mission Bay 4
Liberty Charter 20, Guajome Park 2 (5 inn.)
Valhalla 7, Ramona 2
EC-Southwest 7, Helix 2
EC-Southwest 6, West Hills 5 (6 inn.)
Chula Vista 19, ECVHS 4
Brawley 9, Grossmont 1 (5 inn.)
Oceanside at Steele Canyon
Mountain Empire at St. Joseph
Fallbrook at Mount Miguel, ppd., wet grounds