Vaqs, Patriots get really offensive

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 10, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

CHULA VISTA – Offensively, the El Capitan Vaqueros were completely dialed in.

Led by a perfect 5-for-5 outing by Ciara Bernadini , the Vaqueros pounded out a season-high 20 hits in a 12-1 demolition over Eastlake in Monday’s (Apr.10) non=league contest.

Not only did the Vaqueros offense overwhelm the Titans, they were also in charge in the the circle thanks to pitcher Makenna Burton. who struck out five over seven innings allowing one run on six hits in the complete-game win.

Bernadini, who is only a freshman, would score four runs on the day to go with her five hits at the plate. Included were a pair of doubles and would also show her prowess on the basepaths as she swiped a pair.

Along with Bernadini , a half-doen other Vaqs — Ava Gall, Addison Leone, Aubrey Thorne, Alyssa Fierro, and Quinnley Morehouse — tallied multiple hits.

The El Capitan Vaqueros would never trail in the contest as they put a three spot in the first inning starting with an RBI single by Alanna Christiaens followed by an error by the Titans that would lead to Gall scoring and Christiaens also scoring on a separate error.

Later in the fourth and fifth innings, the Vaqs offense would really put the game away as they tallied seven runs combined in the two innings to extend their lead to 10-1.

All the runs for the Vaqueros in the fourth inning would come with two outs starting with an RBI double by Bernadini, Leone would drive in Dom Garcia and Bernadini would successfully steal home.

RBI double in the fifth inning by Fierro would push the lead to 7-1 which was followed by Morehouse driving her in later Burton would score a run and Gall would finish things off with an RBI single to make it 10-1.

The Vaqueros with the win have now won four in a row and 12-1 overall which is their best start in school history according to what has been found in the records.

Patrick Henry 9, Bonita Vista 8

BONITA – In what looked to be a convincing victory for the Patrick Henry Patriots they would hold off a furious late rally by the Bonita Vista Barons and hold on for a 9-8 victory on Monday (Apr.10) in tournament action.

Patrick Henry early on would race out to an 8-0 lead thanks to putting up four spots in both the first and second innings.

Zoe Rutherford would get things started as she would drive in Rachel Earner, the next batter McKenna Geiger followed with a two-run double scoring both Izzy Ervin and Rutherford, she would come into score on a sacrifice fly by Mara Evans.

Leading 4-0 the Patriots would strike again in the second inning starting with a sacrifice fly that allowed Emily Hanna to tag up and score, Rutherford followed with an RBI double, and later Alyssa Hampton would score on a base hit by Evans to round out the scoring.

Trailing 8-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Barons would finally get on the board with a run which would jolt their momentum further as they would score four more in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 8-5.

However, the Patriots would score what would be the insurance run they would need thanks to Brooke Taylor who hit a ball that was misplayed by the Barons allowing Geiger to score in the top of the sixth inning.

The run scored by the Pats was crucial as the Barons would make one last charge by scoring three runs in their half of the sixth inning to make it a one-run contest.

Zoe Rutherford though would shut down the Barons in the bottom of the seventh inning as only one hit would be allowed before the final out was tallied.

Geiger would pick up the win for the Pats, allowing five runs on eight hits and striking out two.

Patrick Henry improved to 5-7-1 with the victory.