Hefty offenses on display in conquests

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 14, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

CHULA VISTA – Eight runs over the final three innings allowed the Steele Canyon Cougars to double up the Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders, 12-6, in non-league action on Thursday (Apr.13).

Isabella Gonzalez of Steele Canyon would have the big blow as she would drive a shot to right field for an RBI double with the score tied at 6-6 to make it 7-6 which proved to be the go-ahead run that would sway the momentum to the Cougars.

Steele Canyon (9-4) would continue the offensive onslaught in the seventh inning thanks to an RBI walk by Ily Banclay, a two-run double by Jazmin Williams followed by an RBI double by Kamea Seunarine to round out the scoring.

Earlier though the Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders (8-6) would jump out to a 5-0 lead after two innings of play with a pair of those runs courtesy of a two-run blast by Ayanna Shaw.

However, the Cougars would start their momentum courtesy of back-to-back hits by Banclay and Williams followed by a walk to Seunarine to load the bases. The next batter Gonzalez would line to center and Banclay would tag and score a couple of batters later Hailey Truillo walked to score Williams to make it 5-2, Kayala Hopkins followed with a hard hit ball that was misplayed allowing both Seunarine and Lauren Becker who came into run to both score and pull the Cougars within 5-4.

Gonzalez took the win for the Cougars, she would last four innings, allowing zero hits and one run while striking out two.

Danielle Soltero took the loss for Mater Dei Catholic, she allowed one hit and zero runs over two-thirds of an inning.

El Capitan 12, Mission Hills 1 (5 inn.)

LAKESIDE – The El Capitan Vaqueros were working on all cylinders on Thursday (Apr.13)as coasting to a convincing, shortened victory over the Mission Hills Grizzlies, 12-1, in tournament action.

The last time these two teams met was back in the CIF Division III semifinals in 2018, when the Vaqueros were down to their final outs when they mounted a charge with six runs to pull out the crazy come-from-behind 7-6 victory to advance to cha;;enger bracket final, also winning to move on to the San Diego Section championship game.

Fast-forward to 2023, there was no dramatics needed. El Capitan (14-1 overall) would pound out 16 hits and score three runs in three of the five itrips to the plate.

An RBI single by Ava Gall would put the Vaqueros on the board first followed by an RBI double by Alanna Christiaens and Domonique Garcia would drive in the third run in the first inning to give them a 3-0 lead.

Later in the fourth inning, the Vaqueros would tally three more runs thanks to a two-run double by Addison Leone who would also score on a wild pitch.

Makenna Burton continued her winning ways as she would pick up the victory allowing four hits and one run over five innings, striking out one.

Oloa Motas of Mission Hills (8-5) would take the loss allowing eleven runs on sixteen hits over four innings of work and striking out four.

Both Ciara Bernadini who would finish 4-for-4 and scored three runs and Leone would go perfect at the plate as she finished 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI and scored four runs.

Other contributors were Gall who accumulated three hits and drove in three runs and Thorne who also drove in a pair of runs and had two hits.

Patrick Henry 8, University City 0

SAN DIEGO – Behind the strong pitching of d McKenna Geiger, Patrick Henry waltzed to an 8-0 win over University City in Western League action on Thursday (Apr.13).

Geiger allowing only a pair of hits by the Centurions in here shutout.

Offensively, the Patriots (7-7-1 overall, 2-0 WL) would rack up 13 hits including four knocks leading to four runs in the second inning.

Already leading 1-0 the Patriots would extend their lead when Brooke Taylor drove in Lily Glenn which was followed by back-to-back jacks by Izzy Ervin and Zoe Rutherford to put them ahead 5-0.

Ervins’ two-run blast would be her third of the season and Rutherfords’ was her first of the season.

Later in the sixth inning Jenel Mallari singled to center field to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead which was followed by an RBI double by Taylor for her second of the game.

Geiger, who picked up the win went the full seven innings and also struck out six on the day.

Grace Cowman took the loss for University City (3-9, 0-2 WL). Cowman went three and third innings, allowing six runs on nine hits.

Ervin, Mallari, Glenn, Geiger, Rutherford, and Taylor all would have multiple hits for the Patriots.