S.H.E.’s the difference for Granite softball

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 4, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

ESCONDIDO –Granite Hills gained a series of run-scoring hits from by Audrey Smale, Makenna Hines and Kamryn Flath –just call them a “S.H.E.: line — in the third inning would be all the Eagles would need in downing the Bonita Vista Barons, 5-3 in five innings, in Cougar Classic tournament action on Friday (Mar 3) at Kit Carson Park..

Granite Hills early on would start things off with a bang as UCLA-bound junior Sofia Mujica (2-3, R, RBI, 2B, HR) would lead off the inning on a 1-2 count with a deep blast over the center field fence for her first home run of the season to make it 1-0.

The Barons would take the lead in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by Danica Aboytes and on the same play an error that would score another run to make it 2-1.

The Eagles though wouldn’t be deterred as they had been waiting quite a while to play their first game of the season due to all the rain that had hit San Diego over the past week.

Starting things off in the inning was the lead leadoff hitter Mujica who would again strike as she lined a double to left field. Marilynn Lewis (RUN) would come in as a courtesy runner, she would later score on Smale’s single which tied the game at 2-2. The next batter Kailey Baugher would hit a ball that would be misplayed which would allow Kailey Sandoval (1-2, R) to come in and score on the error to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead. They would tack on another pair of runs as Smale would score and also Esther Cerda (RUN) would score as well in the inning.

Historical Note – Sofia Mujicas’ home run in the top of the first inning was the thirty-third of her prep career. She now only trails both Olivia Gigante of Patrick Henry who missed parts of and an entire season due to injuries and also the COVID season and is now at the University of Florida after finishing up her prep career last season and also Kayti Grable (2010-13) of Santana who would go onto star at Northern Illinois for the All-Time East County lead of thirty-four home runs for a career. The thirty-four hit in a career by Grable is also the Grossmont Conference all-time record as well.

Mujica with the thirty-third home run of her prep career is also only nine home runs shy of the all-time career San Diego CIF Section record of forty-one held by both Oceanside’s Trina Harrison and Mira Mesa’s Katiyana Mauga.

Patrick Henry 3, Mt. Carmel 3

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning Mt. Carmel Sun Devils would rally with the tying run when Allie Landry hit a ball that was misplayed allowing Sabrina Oakley to score and the contest with the Patrick Henry Patriots would end in a 3-3 tie in Cougar Classic action as time expired to continue the contest o Friday (Mar 3).

Early on things looked like the Sun Devils would prevail as they would score a pair of runs on RBI singles by both Landry and Reagan Barger.

An RBI single by Jenna Mallari to bring home Brooke Taylor would cut the deficit 2-1 and later in the top of the fifth inning they would tie up the game and take their first lead when Izzy Ervin drove in McKenna Geiger to make it 3-2.

Zoe Rutherford would go five full innings in which she allowed three runs on three hits while striking out eight on the day.

Elsewhere

CLAIREMONT – Three runs scored in the bottom of the second inning by the West Hills Wolf Pack was the deciding difference as they would hold on to beat the Mar Vista Mariners 4-3 in five innings in tournament action played at Clairemont High on Friday (Mar 3) afternoon.

The Wolf Pack would score the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Gianna Burgin hit a ball with two outs that was misplayed allowing Katy Spargo (2-3, R, RBI, 2B) who had doubled in the inning to come around and score.

Mar Vista though would answer back and actually take a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning behind multiple base hits and a catcher’s interference call that allowed the second run to score.

However, the Pack wouldn’t go away as Ava Goodman (1-1, 2B) led off the inning with a double to center field, Addi Vela (RUN) would come into run as a courtesy runner and would advance to third on a single by Amaya Angeli (1-2, R, SB) which was followed by a game-tying RBI single by Kristina Deal (1-3, R, RBI, 2 SB) and Angeli would move to third base.

With the score tied at 2-2, Angeli would on a 1-0 count steal home successfully and Deal would also be safe at third on the double steal. The next hitter Spargo would drive in Deal with a lined base hit to make it 4-2.

The Mariners would mount a small rally in the top of the fifth inning starting with a walk to lead off the inning which was followed by another catcher’s interference call. Later with two outs, the Mariners would score to pull within one on an error but Goodman would get out of the inning retiring the next batter.

West Hills in the bottom of the fifth inning would receive singles by both Samiya Wright (2-3) and Maddie Aylesbury (1-3).

Goodman would get the complete game victory as she went all five innings, giving up three runs on two hits while striking out three on the day.

The win moves the Wolf Pack to 4-1-1 on the season.

El Capitan 9, Sage Creek 1 (4 inn.)

In other tournament action played at Point Loma the El Capitan Vaqueros pounded out thirteen hits while Shelby Vars fired a two-hitter and struck out three in the victory.

The Vaqueros would get started in the bottom of the second inning thanks to four runs which included a two-run single by Dominique Garcia (2-3, R, 2 RBI) that scored both Makenna Burton (1- 3, R, 2 RBI) and Kylie Frazier (RUN). The other runs would come on a Burton single and a ground out by Alyssa Fierro (RBI) that scored Reese Danzak (3-3, R).

The lone run by the Bobcats came in the top of the third inning on a fielder’s choice by Emily Ritter.

El Capitan again would add another run in the bottom of the inning and in the fourth inning tack on four more runs.

Ava Gall (2-3, RBI, 2 2B) would drive in Garcia on a double to left field, Alana Christians 1-3, R, RBI) would drive in Quinnley Morehouse (RUN) who came into run for Gall, Addison Leone 2-3, R, RBI) would drive in Christians and finally Burton on a sacrifice fly would score Leone who tagged up from third.

Grossmont 7, University City 4 (5 inn.)

Grossmont almost fumbled away an early 5-0 lead when University City tallied four runs in the fourth inning while leaving the bases loaded. However, the Foothillers responded with a pair of runs in the fifth then the clock ran out in this 5-inning Cougar Classic battle.

Hillers senior Iryana Oliver knocked in a pair of runs, whilefour others — Ashley Beard (3-for-5), Carleigh Wenck, Katelynne Parent and freshman Alexis Holman — recorded one RBI each.

Beard, a sophomore, also stole a base, then survived her one poor pitching inning to earn the victory, allowing just four hits and striking out 1 Centurions batter.

ECS senior writer Nick Pellegrino contributed to this report.

Scoreboard

Grossmont 7, University City 4 (5 inn., time limit)
Granite Hills 5,Bonita Vista 3
West Hills 4, Mar Vista 3 (5 inn., time limit)
Patrick Henry 3, Mt. Carmel 3, tie (5 inn., time limit)
El Capitan 9, Sage Creek 1 (4 inn.)