Sultans Dominate Pats; Christian’s Barrios Tosses Gem

By Adam Paul
Updated: February 23, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

SANTEE – The Santana Sultans explode for six runs in the bottom of the third inning to pull away in an 11-1 convincing victory in six innings over Patrick Henry in non-league action on Friday (Feb. 23) afternoon.

Santana (1-0) would take advantage of their opportunities as they scored multiple runs on three errors committed by Patrick Henry.

Leading 5-1 in the bottom of the third inning the Sultans would extend their lead further when Aurelia Dawson drove in a pair of runs to give them a 7-1 lead.

Dawson not only helped her cause at the plate but she also shut down the Patriots’ offense in the circle. On the day she would toss five innings while only giving up a run on three hits, walked two, and struck out three.

On the other side, Zoe Rutherford took the loss. She would only last three innings, surrendering nine runs (four earned) on three hits while walking two.

Patrick Henry (0-2) would score their only run of the game in the first inning thanks to McKenna Geiger who blasted a solo shot to center field.

Six Santana players collected the six hits in the contest including Kaitlyn Ruckle, Sara Spry, Emma Schneider, Vanessa Ryan, Dawson, and Delaney Smith.

Christian 4, Calexico 2 – Sophmore ace Ava Barrios struck out 10 in the 4-2 victory over the visiting Calexico Bulldogs in non-league action on Friday afternoon.

Barrios who had shut down the El Capitan Vaqueros a couple of days prior limited the Bulldogs’ offense to only a pair of runs on three hits.

Despite trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning the Patriots would rally as Kaitlyn Moody belted a solo shot to center field to pull them within 2-1.

Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, Moody would strike again as she drove in both Tyler Krystek and Keels Carrizosa. They would add another run on a sacrifice fly by Sammy Baca that brought home Moody to finish the scoring.

Calexico scored their only runs of the contest in the top of the fourth inning when Regina Rodriguez doubled in a pair of runs.

Anahi Lopez took the loss for the Bulldogs as she allowed one run on two hits while striking out four over five innings of work.

Christian improves to 2-0 and will travel to La Mesa on Thursday where they will take on the Helix Highlanders.

El Capitan 8, Imperial 1 – Leading the charge for the El Capitan Vaqueros was Ciara Bernardini who proved to be a difficult out with her three hits in the road victory over the Imperial Tigers in non-league action on Friday afternoon.

Bernardini not only collected three hits in her four at-bats but she also drove in three of the seven RBI on the day for the Vaqueros.

She would triple in the fourth inning, and single in the fifth to go along with her lead-off double to start the game.

The Vaqueros leading 3-0 would explode for five runs in the top of the fifth inning which included RBI singles by Kylee Frazier and Kameron McDaniel, Bernardini would drive in a pair as well and the other run came on a wild pitch.

Pitching-wise Shelby Vars would garner the win as she allowed three hits and one run over seven innings while walking eight and striking out seven.

Imperial starter Jayden Rutledge took the loss as she allowed eight runs on 10 hits, striking out five and walking five over seven innings of work.

El Capitan improves to 1-1-1 while Calexico falls to 0-1.

Torrey Pines 8, West Hills 6 – Despite the best efforts of Katy Spargo at the plate for West Hills the Torrey Pines Falcons were too much as they scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally for the non-league victory on Friday afternoon.

Offensively Spargo gave the Falcons all they could handle as she collected three hits on her four at-bats which included a two-out solo home run to right field in the bottom of the third inning to pull the Pack within 3-1.

Torrey Pines (1-0) would strike first thanks to a lead-off solo blast by Reagan Cullivan over the left field fence. They would add a pair of runs in the top of the second inning to make it 3-0.

West Hills (0-2) trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning would come alive offensively as Raelyn Gagnon singled in a run, Maddie Aylesbury doubled in a pair and Spargo again would drive in another run to give the Wolf Pack a 5-3 lead.

Unfortunately for the Pack, the wheels fell off in the top of the seventh as the Falcons pushed across five runs on five hits to retake the lead 8-5.

Ava Goodman started for the Wolf Pack in the circle. The starter surrendered 16 hits and eight runs (five earned) over seven innings, striking out one and walking three.

Kathryn McGinty would earn the win for the Torrey Pines Falcons. The reliever allowed one hit and one run over three innings, striking out five and walking two.

Next up for the Wolf Pack is under the lights in La Mesa on Tuesday evening as they take on the Helix Highlanders in a scheduled 6 PM start time.

La Costa Canyon 21, Valhalla 3 (5 inn.) – A big 9-run inning by the La Costa Canyon Mavericks put the game out of hand as they would win a shortened Falcon Fiesta contest over the visiting Valhalla Norsemen on Friday.

Valhalla (0-1) on the day was limited to five hits but two of the five hits were doubles by Devyn Mack and Preslee Fink who also drove in runs.

Scoring for the Norsemen were Brooke Tucci, Avery Voth, and Taylor Mack.

Next up for Valhalla is a Saturday morning Falcon Fiesta tilt against Cathedral Catholic scheduled for 10 AM.