Cougars’ Trujillo provides late magic

By Adam Paul
Updated: February 26, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

ESCONDIDO – Cougar magic was in the air Monday evening as the Steele Canyon Cougars trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning and were able to power their way to a 3-2 victory over the El Camino Wildcats in Cougar Classic pool play.

Senior Lauren Becker (1-3, R, RBI, HR) would provide the first punch with a solo shot to center field to pull within 2-1, the next batter Bailey Evans (1-3, R, 2B) showed that being a freshman didn’t matter as she roped a ball to left field for a double. Still with no outs and the tying run at second up came Hailey Trujillo (2-3, R, 2 RBI, HR) who would fall behind 1-2 before a couple of pitches later would see the pitch she liked and launch it over the left field fence for the game-winning two-run shot.

The inning prior with the game still scoreless in the top of the sixth inning the El Camino Wildcats (0-3) behind an RBI triple by Kailey Dain and a sacrifice bunt by Makayla Boone that would score a run would lead 2-0.

Evans who also provided a spark in the seventh inning for the Cougars would get the starting nod and the victory as she hardly showed any freshman nerves as she surrendered only four hits and two runs over seven innings while fanning 7 Wildcats and walking one on the day.

Kayla Layland on the other side for the Wildcats took the loss as she allowed five hits and three runs over six innings, striking out six and walking none.

Steele Canyon improves to 2-0 and will next take on the Rancho Bernardo Broncos on Wednesday at 7 PM in Cougar Classic action.

GRANITE HILLS 1, BONITA VISTA 0 – Strong pitching effort by Kaleigh Bougher who was able to make sure the only run of the game stand in the 1-0 victory over the Bonita Vista Barons in Cougar Classic pool play on Monday out at Kit Carson Park.

Bougher who was able to get out of one-out jams in the bottom of the first, third, and sixth innings limited the Barons to four hits while striking out four over six innings of work to pick up the win.

Offensively, the Granite Hills Eagles would put what would be the only run on the board in the top of the second inning thanks to UCLA-bound Sofia Mujica (1-2, R, RBI, HR) who led off with a blast to left field for her first dinger of the season. Her home run now gives her 48 for her career and puts her within the State career record of 60 by Tanon Snow of Chino Hills from 2012-15.

On the day the Eagles tallied 6 hits which included Mia Downes who went 2-for-3.

Bonita Vista starter Danica Aboytes took the loss as she allowed one run and six hits over six innings while striking out two and walking a pair.

Granite Hills is now 1-0 and will next play Tuesday at 7 PM against the Lancers of Hilltop in Cougar Classic action.

PATRICK HENRY 7, COASTAL ACADEMY 2 – Sophomore Belle Will provided quite a punch offensively as she drove in four runs on three hits to lead the Patrick Henry Patriots past Coastal Academy in a time-shortened four-inning contest on Monday in Cougar Classic action.

Pitching wise Patrick Henry was led in the circle by McKenna Geiger who struck out 10 on the day. She would pick up the win as she allowed two runs on three hits in her four full innings of work.

Patrick Henry early on would jump out first as they pushed across three runs in the bottom of the first inning after scoring on an error and Will doubling in a pair of runs.

They would add another run in the second inning on a double by Izzy Ervin (1-1, 2 R, RBI, 2B) to make it 4-0. The rest of their runs would come in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to Sophia Sanchez who drove in a run and Will again would drive in another pair of runs.

Will would finish her evening a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and four RBI. Brooke Taylor would also have a hit in the contest along with scoring a run and Zoe Rutherford had a hit as well.

Patrick Henry picks up their first win of the season as they move to 1-2 and will next take on Otay Ranch on Wednesday at 7 PM in Cougar Classic action.