In thriller, Granite wins Cougar Classic silver Division

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 8, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

ESCONDIDO – Sophomore Kayleigh Baugher’s double in the bottom of the sixth that would be misplayed by the Lancers would result in the only run of the contest allowing the Granite Hills Eagles to claim a thrilling 1-0 victory and give them the Silver Bracket Division championship in the Cougar Classic on Tuesday (Mar 7) evening.

The Lancers in the contest would not allow Eagles superstar Sofia Mujica to beat them as they walked her three times in the contest.

Granite Hills had multiple opportunities to put some runs on the board early on including in the bottom of the third inning as Audrey Smale (2-2, 2B) with one out singled which was followed by Mujica walking but Yasmine Clark would get out of the inning without any further damage as she retired the next two batters.

Another opportunity presented itself to the Eagles in the bottom of the fourth as Baugher (2-2, 2B) and Peyton Wells (1-3) hit back-to-back singles with one out. Yet once again the Eagles couldn’t capitalize as Clark would retire the next two batters to end the threat.

The Eagles had a third opportunity to get on the board thanks to a one-out double by Smale to left field followed by an intentional walk to Mujica but again the Eagles would be denied as both runners would be stranded to end the threat.

After getting out of the top of the sixth inning allowing only the lead walk the Eagles would start their half of the inning on the right foot.

Lead batter Freshman Makayla Tileia (1-3, R) would hit a ball to center field for a base hit which was followed by Baugher’s double to left field which was thrown in to second base who misplayed it allowing Tileia to score what would be the game-winning run. ‘

Baugher was also strong in the circle as she kept the Lancers’ offense at bay limiting them to two hits in the contest and also fanned eleven.

The Silver Division Championship was the Eagles’ first such deal since the 2017 season when they beat the Megan Faraimo led Cathedral Catholic Dons in the semi-finals 10-3 and would beat a loaded Ramona Bulldogs squad led by Hanah Bowen in the finals 5-3 to capture the Platinum Division Championship.

With the victory, the Granite Hills Eagles move to 5-1 on the season and off to their best start since 2020 when they were off to a 6-2 start before COVID shut down the season. In a full season, they are off to their best start since 2017 when they started 5-1-1.

Elsewhere

Canyon Hills 4, West Hills 0

Tierra Santa – Strong pitching by Natalye DeBus of Canyon Hills as she stifled the West Hills offense limiting them to only a pair of hits and fanning eight on the day over seven full shutout innings of work in the non-league victory on Tuesday (Mar 7) afternoon.

DeBus would also help her own cause at the plate as she was perfect on the day going 3-for-3 including a solo home run in the fifth inning. She also doubled and scored a pair of runs.

Maddie Aylesbury for West Hills would have one of the hits on the day as she doubled in the fourth inning and later in the bottom of the seventh inning Katy Spargo would have the other hit as she doubled to center field.

For West Hills, Ava Goodman would take the loss as she went four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out seven. Gianna Burgin would finish things out as she threw a pair of innings allowing two hits and striking out two.

For the Pack, the loss snaps their three-game winning streak and drops their record to 6-2-1.