Early breakout fuels Patrick Henry

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 12, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

DEL CERRO – Six runs by Patrick Henry in the bottom of the second inning would catapult the Patriots to an 11-1 victory over Mission Bay on Tuesday (Apr.11) in Western League opening day action.

Multiple Patriots would contribute in the inning including Brooke Taylor, Izzy Ervin, McKenna Geiger, Leila Ludwig, and Lily Glenn, who all had RBI in the inning.

Early on Patrick Henry (6-7-1, 1-0 CWL) would pull out to a 2-0 lead thanks to both Geiger and Ludwig who drove in runs in the first inning.

In the big second inning they would score all six runs courtesy of six hits which included an RBI triple by Taylor, Ervin with an RBI single, Geiger would drive in Zoe Rutherford who doubled and Ludwig would drive in a pair on single to left field to extend the lead to 7-0 which was followed up by Glenn hitting a sacrifice fly to center field allowing Brianna DeGuzman to tag up from third and race home for the score.

Six Patriots would accumulate multiple hits in the contest which included Jenna Mallari who tallied three hits while Irvin, Geiger, Aubrey Purvis, Ludqig, and Glenn all tallied two hits apiece.

Besides going 2-for-2 at the plate Ludwig would also drive in three runs.

Mission Bay (1-9, 0-1 CWL) would tally their lone run in the top of the sixth inning when Laura Pilger singled to right field.

Addy Hall of the Buccaneers would take the loss allowing nine runs on twelve hits over four innings of work while striking out three.

On the other side for the Patriots, Sophia Sanchez collected the victory going six innings in which she allowed one run on three hits while striking out seven.

Santana 3, Brawley 1

BRAWLEY – In another close affair between division rivals, the Santana Sultans were able to make a long road trip after coming away with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the Brawley Wildcats on Tuesday (Apr.11) in non-league action.

Pitching was tough on both sides as 12 hits would be combined and scattered throughout the contest.

Getting the start for the Sultans was Gracie Johnston who picked up the win. She would toss six and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on five hits.

On the other side for the Wildcats was Dylann Baker who took the hard-luck loss despite striking out six, allowing three runs on seven hits over seven full innings.

Santana (10-1-1) would score the first run of the game in the third inning courtesy of a ground ball out by Sara Spry that allowed Kaitlyn Ruckle to race home for the 1-0 lead.

Later in the sixth inning with two outs the Sultans would manage another run thanks to Delaney Smith who started with a double which was followed by Emma Schneider a sophomore coming up big with another double to bring in Smith.

The second run scored would serve to be crucial for the Sultans as Brawley (4-11) would tally a run in the bottom of the inning when Abbey Ruiz doubled in Maliyah Montoya to bring them within 2-1.

However, Santana wasn’t done as they would tack on another crucial run thanks to a passed ball that allowed McKenna Miller who led off the inning with a double to score from third base.

The win down in the Valley by the Sultans is their first win over Brawley on the road according to research and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Wildcats dating back to April 1st of 2021 when the Santana Sultans won a home-neutral site tournament contest by a score of 7-1.

Overall, the Brawley Wildcats lead the series 11-7.

The Sultans are off to their best start since 2018 when they started out 10-2.

Mira Mesa 5, Christian 0

EL CAJON – Four early runs was all the Mira Mesa Marauders would need to go on to shutout the Christian Patriots , 5-0, in Eastern League action on Tuesday (Apr. 11).

An RBI single by Ashley King in the first inning for the Marauders followed by a two-run home run by Callie Christian and an RBI single by Aria Phruksukarn would give Mira Mesa a 4-0 lead.

Christian (6-4 overall, 0-1 league) would tally six hits in the game but couldn’t capitalize despite a lead-off triple by Keelayana Carrizosa and a bunt single by Ashley Wood in the second inning as both would be stranded.

Both Wood and Tyler Krystek would each have a pair of hits for the Patriots.

Allyson Moody who got the start for the Pats went four innings and would take the loss allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out four.

Christian who had helped her own cause at the plate would also be very effective in the circle as she fanned 11 Pats in her seven full innings of work shutting them down on six hits.

Mira Mesa improves to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in Eastern League play.