Vaqueros remain unbeaten in League; Sultans rally late

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 3, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EL CAJON – Despite allowing eleven hits, the duo of Shelby Vars and Makenna Burton kept the runs pretty much off the board, as the El Capitan Vaqueros won 10-4 on the road against the Granite Hills Eagles on Wednesday (May 3) in Grossmont Hills League play.

Vars, who would be credited with the win, allowed six hits and three runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out one. Burton would come in and finish things off in relief, recording the last ten outs and earning the save for her efforts.

RB singles by Alanna Christiaens and Kylee Frazier would kickstart the offense for the Vaqueros as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead early on.

Granite Hills, though, would answer back as Sofia Mujica would cut the deficit in half by belting a two-run blast to left field (her 12th of the season), scoring Kamryn Flath to make it 4-2.

Christiaens would strike again in the top of the second inning, driving in another run for the Vaqueros to make it 5-2.

An RBI double by Peyton Wells would pull the Eagles to 5-3 in the bottom of the third inning.

Ava Gall, who had a pair of hits in the game, would extend the Vaqueros’ lead with her seventh home run of the season with a solo shot to center field in the top of the fourth inning to make it 6-3.

RBI singles by Ciara Bernardini and Addison Leone, along with Gall, made it 9-3 Vaqueros in the top of the fifth inning.

Granite would score again in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Kaleigh Bauer.

Wells, who took the loss for the Eagles, allowed five runs on four hits over an inning and a third, and Bauer, who came in as relief, would allow five runs on ten hits over five and two-thirds innings, in which she struck out four.

With the win, El Capitan extends their winning streak to five games, and becomes the first team in East County to win twenty games, as they move to 20-3 overall and 5-0 in league play.

The Eagles fall to 13-8 overall and 2-4 in league play, and have lost their last two games.

Santana 3, Helix 2

LA MESA – The Santana Sultans, despite being outhit 7-5, would rally with a pair of runs, including the game-winning run with two outs, to come away with the road victory over the Helix Highlanders in Grossmont Hills League play on Wednesday (May 3).

Helix would score the first run of the game, courtesy of a walk by Kamryn Evans to bring home Lauren Farace to make it 1-0. They would extend their lead in the bottom of the second inning, when Kamilah Jones drove in Ivy Greene on a base hit to right field.

Trailing 2-0, the Sultans would get on the board with two outs in the top of the third, when Emma Schneider doubled in Taylinn Warren to make it 2-1.

Both sides pitched on the strong side, as they matched each other inning for inning, shutting down one another on offense with the scoring remaining the same heading into the last inning.

Down to their final outs, the Sultans needed a spark that would come in the form of freshman Vanessa Ryan. On a 3-0 count, instead of taking the pitch, she would slash it to left field for a double.

Ryan, who was still at second base, would take off and safely swipe third. She would come in and score the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly by Warren.

Now with two outs, the Sultans again needed something, and Delaney Smith came thru as she singled to bring up Schneider, who earlier in the game drove in the first run.

After evening the count to 1-1, Schneider hit a fly ball to left field that went for a double. Smith, who was at first, would use her speed to come all the way around and score the game-winning run.

Gracie Johnston would be credited with the win for the Sultans; she allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings and struck out eight.

The Sultans with the win improved to 17-4-1 and 4-1 in league play to remain a game behind El Capitan for first place.

Helix falls to 10-12-2 and 1-5 in league play.