Patriots roll dice, Steele simply rolls

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 11, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EL CAJON – With rain hitting all across San Diego only a handful of games were able to be played which included games down in the valley as they were not expected to be hit by the storm. Many games were able to start but would be halted as the storm hit while in progress.

Christian 12, Imperial 6

EL CENTRO – In one of the few contests not to be affected by rain in the Imperial Valley, the Christian Patriots would roll 12s as they doubled up the Imperial Tigers, 12-6, on Friday (Mar. 20) in the desert.

Imperial tried to rally from a 10-2 deficit as they would push across four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning but the Patriots erase that with a pair of their own runs in the seventh.

The Patriots prior took an early 2-0 lead, then in the third, an RBI double by Samantha Baca scored Tyler Krystek, followed by Baca scoring on an error would make it 4-0.

Lucy Sherburne in the fifth inning would drive in Krystek on a sacrifice fly and later Keelayana Carrizosa hit a ball that was misplayed allowing both Baca and Alyson Moddy to plate which was followed by an RBI single by Ashley Wood to give them an 8-2 lead.

An RBI double by Baca that allowed Payton Grosset to come around and score followed by another RBI double by Moody that scored Baca would extend the lead to 10-2.

Freshman Ava Barrios was given the starting nod and she would take advantage as she went the distance for the win. Barrios allowed six runs on nine hits over seven innings of work in which she would also fan thirteen.

With the victory, the Patriots have now won four games in a row and improved to 5-3 on the season.

Steele Canyon 11, Coronado 0 (4 inn.)

CORONADO – Over on the island in another contest that wasn’t affected by the rains the Cougars behind Emma Shellstrom striking out seven and limiting the Islanders to a single hit in the shortened mercy rule victory on Friday (Mar. 10).

Seven runs scored by Steele Canyon in the third inning thanks to a two-run double by Jazmin Williams that scored both Gabrielle Ortega Alves and Isabella Gonzalez, the following batter Kamea Seunarine would double in both Vanya Barragan and Williams to make it 8-0. Later in the inning, Janea Wilson drove in Makenzie Meyer and the Cougars would tack on another pair of runs to round out things.

Earlier in the contest, Shellstrom who drove in three runs in the game would help her own cause as she drove in both Seunarine and Wilson and Laryza Serrano singled in Kayala Hopkins.

Williams at the plate ended up 2-for-2 with a double and a triple and two RBI’s along with scoring a pair of runs.

Steele Canyon improved to 5-2 overall heading into a pair of tournament contests on Saturday. The Cougars meet Mt. Carmel ay 9:45 a.m., then Olympian at 3 p.m., but the South Bay site was not posted.

Meanwhile, Coronado feell to 1-5-1. The Wahine next meet Holtville.