Busch spurs Hillers; Henry’s Will dominates

By Adam Paul
Updated: February 28, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

KIT CARSON PARK – Madison Busch helped propel the offense of the Grossmont Foothillers as she tallied a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate in the 7-2 victory over the El Camino Wildcats in pool play of the Cougar Classic on Wednesday afternoon.

Bush doubled in the fourth inning, singled in the third inning, and singled in the sixth inning.

El Camino (0-4) would get on the board first thanks to a double by Kailey Stanford that scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Grossmont (3-0) though would answer back in the top of the fourth inning as Skyler Glover (1-3, R, RBI) drove in a run on a base hit, Bush doubled in a pair of runs and Saraya Roope (2-4, RBI, SB) singled in a run to give them a 4-2 lead.

They would go on to tack on three more runs in the top of the sixth inning which included Jenna Ennis knocking in a pair of runs.

Roope would pick up the win for the Foothillers as she only allowed two runs on six hits over six innings of work. She also struck out six and walked three.

The bats came out for the Hillers as they tallied 12 hits on the day including Nakhia Lee (2-3, R), Roope and Eliana Vasquez (2-4, RBI) who each collected multiple hits in the game.

Next up for Grossmont is the final pool play game against Steele Canyon on Thursday at 7 PM.

PATRICK HENRY 4, OTAY RANCH 1 – Sophomore Belle Will fanned 11 Mustangs on the day in the Patriots’ victory over Otay Ranch on Wednesday. Will allowed five hits and one run over five innings of work while walking one.

Otay Ranch would early on take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first courtesy of a ground ball out by Nataly Lozano that allowed a run to score.

Patrick Henry though would answer with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning courtesy of a base hit by Zoe Rutherford (102, R, RBI) and an error by the Mustangs that each scored a run.

The Patriots offensively notched 10 hits in the game. McKenna Geiger (2-3, RBI) along with Izzy Ervin (2-3, R) and Will tallied two hits. Leila Ludwig (1-3, R, RBI), Rutherford and Geiger each drove in runs.

Not only was Will dominant in the circle she even helped her own cause at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with a triple.

With the win the Patriots even their season record at 2-2 and will next take on Poway in pool play on Friday at 3 PM.

RANCHO BERNARDO 7, STEELE CANYON 1 – Five runs scored by the Rancho Bernardo Broncos dooms the Steele Canyon Cougars in four innings due to time constraints giving them their first loss of the early season.

Steele Canyon would score what would be their only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a passed ball that would allow Kayala Hopkins to race home which tied the game at 1-1.

Hailey Trujillo and Hopkins had the only hits for the Cougars all game long as Zoey Meadows for the Broncos struck out five in the victory.

Steele Canyon will now face Grossmont in pool play action on Thursday.

POWAY 11, VALHALLA 3 – It was a long day for Valhalla as the Poway Titans ran away with a convincing decision in Cougar Classic pool play action on Wednesday.

Valhalla did try to make a comeback as they trailed 5-0 in the bottom of the third inning with three runs scored to pull within 5-3 but that would be the closest they would get.

Danica Reed who came into pinch hit with the bases loaded would do the only damage on the day as she smacked a ball hit to left field that went for a bases-clearing double.

Scoring on the double by Reed were Preslee Fink, Avery Voth, and Bailey Lenz who had come into run for Devyn Mack.

With the loss, the Norsemen remain winless as they fall to 0-4 and will next take on the Otay Ranch Mustangs on Friday at 3 PM.