Baca power helps spur Patruots rally

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 17, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

CHRISTIAN 11, GRANITE HILLS 8 – A big day at the plate that included a display of power by Sammy Bacca helped spark the Christian Patriots to rally twice in their victory over Granite Hills in tournament play Monday afternoon.

Sammy Baca (4-4, 4 RBI, 4 R, 2B, 2 HR) not only was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate but also cranked a pair of home runs to go with her four RBIs. Baca would homer in both the fifth and seventh innings.

Early on the Granite Hills Eagles would lead 2-0 thanks to a Mia Downes (2-4, R, 3 RBI, HR) deep fly over the center field fence for the two-run blast.

Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning the Eagles would add another pair of runs on a deep blast by Peyton Wells (2-3, R, 2 RBI, HR) to center field.

But the Patriots would rally with five runs scored in the top of the fourth inning that included a three run double by Lucy Sherburne (1-4, 3 RBI, 2B).

The Eagles would strike back in the bottom of the inning and tie the game up 6-6 thanks to Taylor Nash (3-3, 2R, RBI, 2 2B) and her RBI double and Jazlyn Thomas 1-1, RBI) who also drove in a run.

Baca again would come through for the Patriots with a home run in the top of the fifth with a deep blast to center field scoring Kaitlyn Moody (2-4, R, RBI, 2B) to take an 8-6 lead. However, the momentum was taken back this time in the bottom of the sixth inning when Downes would tie the game at 8-8 with a base hit to the right side of the infield.

Christian with the score all knotted up would go to business in the top of the seventh inning and break the tie when Moody doubled in a run and Baca blasted her second home run of the game to left field for a two-run shot giving the Patriots the lead 11-8.

Sienna Staite who came into the game in relief for the Patriots would pick up the win. On the day she would allow seven hits and four runs (three earned) over four innings, striking out five and walking one. Alyssa McCurty would earn the save.

Wells who started for the Eagles allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits over four innings in which she walked four and struck out one.

Granite Hills in the slugfest did outhit Christian 12-11.

Christian who are now winners of four in a row move to 7-1 while Granite Hills who have dropped a pair of games in a row fall to 2-4-1 on the season.

STEELE CANYON 13, CLAIREMONT 4 (5 inn.) – A big ten runs second inning by the Steele Canyon Cougars was more than enough as they convincingly won in Hilltop pool play Monday afternoon.

Trailing 3-0 in the top of the second inning the Steele Canyon Cougars really came alive as multiple players drove in runs which led to the huge offensive barrage. Scoring included Bailey Evans driving in a pair with a double, Hailey Trujillo drove in a pair of runs, Marina Gonzalez singled in a run, Dannika Lakin doubled in a run, Sophia Jackel drove in a run and both Kayala Hopkins and Makenzie Meyer doubled in runs.

Gonzalez would earn the win for the Cougars. The starter allowed four hits and four runs (two earned) over four innings in which she struck out three and walking two.

Steele Canyon offensively on the day tallied 15 hits. Evans led the Cougars with her 3 RBIs while going 1-for-1 at the plate and scoring a run, Meyer went 3-for-3 and jackel, Hopkins, and Lakin each collected multiple hits in the contest for the Cougars.

Steele Canyon moves to 5-4 with the victory.

LA COSTA CANYON 1, SANTANA 0 – It only took one run and that one run was scored by Sadie Moench of La Costa Canyon in the fourth inning as the LCC Mavericks came away with the victory over Santana in Mater Dei tournament action Monday.

Santana offensively in the game was limited to only two hits in the game courtesy of Kaitlyn Ruckle and Lily Sowinski.

Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t help Ashlyn Darrow who took the loss. On the day the started went six innings in which she allowed one run on five hits while walking two and striking out five.

Santana falls to 4-3 with the loss.

SAN MARCOS 14, PATRICK HENRY 1 (5 inn.) – In what would wind up being a convincing victory the Knights used a nine run third inning to give them the tournament win over Patrick Henry on Monday.