SOFT: Henry expands Western League lead

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 19, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

SAN DIEGO – Four runs collected late over the final couple of innings propelled the Patrick Henry Patriots to rally to an exciting 7-5 victory over the Our Lady of Peace Pilots in City Western League action on Tuesday (Apr.18).

Trailing 2-0 early, Patrick Henry (9-7-1 overall, 3-0 WL) would tie the game up in the top of the second inning when Leila Ludwig belted a shot to center field for a two-run home run.

But the momentum was only momentarily as the OLP (8-7-1, 1-1 WL) would retake the lead in the bottom half with two outs on a base hit by Alex Riggs to give them a 3-2 lead. They would tack on another run in the bottom of the third inning which made it 4-2.

Although trailing the Patriots would cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth thanks to Alyssa Hampton who racked a two-out RBI double to left field that scored Lily Glenn to make it 4-3.

Glenn would tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth with an RBI double to right field that scored Rachel Earner and Hampton followed up with an RBI single to left field to give the Patriots their first lead of the game 5-4.

Now with the lead for the first time the Patriots looked to add some insurance runs and Izzy Irvin did just that as she doubled in Brooke Taylor, later McKenna Geiger tacked on another run with an RBI single to center field scoring Ervin to extend the lead to 7-4.

The Pilots would try to rally in their half of the seventh but only could muster a leadoff solo home run by Stefini Ma’ake who hit a shot over the center field fence for her tenth long ball of the season.

Geiger would only allow one other baserunner to get on due to an error but would retire the final two batters to end the game.

Pilots starter Riggs would take the loss, she allowed eleven runs on twelve hits over seven innings of work while striking out eleven on the day.

On the other side for the Patriots the winner would be Geiger who came into the game in relief going four innings and giving up one run on two hits while striking out one. Sophia Sanchez got the start lasting three innings in which she allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out three.

Clairemont 6, Christian 4 (8 inn.)

EL CAJON – Two runs in extra innings prove to be the difference as the Clairemont Chieftains broke the hearts of the the Christian Patriots, 6-4 in eight innings, to claim the City Eastern League victory on Tuesday (Apr.18) out at Roma Dawson field.

Early on, the bats of Christian (6-6-1 overall, 0-2 EL) came alive as Kaitlyn Moody would give the Patriots an early 2-0 lead on a two-run double to left field scoring both Lucy Sherburne and Samantha Baca.

But those runs would be erased by Clairemont (11-5, 2-0 EL) in the top of the second inning thanks to an RBI groundout followed by an RBI single to center field. They would later add another pair of runs in the fifth inning to take their first lead of the game 4-2.

However, the momentum would swing back the way of the Patriots as Allyson Moody would drive in Tyler Krystek and a couple of batters later Sherburne would race home on a fielder’s choice by Ashley Wood to tie the game at 4-4.

Ava Barrios who came into the game in relief for the Patriots would be saddled with the loss. She would allow two runs on five hits over her two and two-thirds innings of work in which she struck out one. Peyton Grosset also pitched in relief going a third of an inning.

Allyson Moody who started for the Patriots went five innings giving up four runs on seven hits and striking out one.

Both Kaitlyn Moody and Sherburne collected a pair of hits for the Patriots.

Bonita Vista 6, El Capitan 2

CHULA VISTA – Six runs combined over the fourth and fifth innings would be all the runs needed for the Bonita Vista Barons to defeat the El Capitan Vaqueros, 6-2, in non-league action on Tuesday (Apr.18).

Alanna Christiaens would give El Capitan an early 1-0 lead as she drove in Ava Gall with a double to center field.

Unfortunately, the tide would turn in the fourth inning as Bonita Vista thanks to Makayla Veglia who hit a solo home run, and Alisa Quitoriano who drove in a run to give them a 2-1 lead.

They would go on to add four more runs in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 6-1.

The Vaqueros would add a late run in the seventh inning courtesy of a fielder’s choice by Gall.

Natalie Gonzalez was the winner for the Barons. She would toss seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out two.

Shelby Vars took the loss for the Vaqueros. She would last four and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs on nine hits and striking out one.

Ciara Bernardini went 2-for-3 to lead the Vaqueros in hits.