ROUND UP: WEST HILLS PREVAILS OVER GRANITE HILLS IN QUITE THE SLUGFEST

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 21, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

WEST HILLS 11, GRANITE HILLS 10 – Runs and hits came at a premium as both teams combined for 21 runs and 26 hits but in the end the West Hills Wolf Pack held on after scoring five runs in the seventh to come away with the slugfest victory over Granite Hills on Friday afternoon in tournament action.

Kristina Deal (5-5, 5 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 2B, HR) for West Hills was one of the driving forces in the victory as she tallied a 5-for-5 day at the plate. Deal blasted a solo home run over the center field wall in the sixth inning, singled in the seventh, doubled in the fifth inning and singled in the first inning.

West Hills would lead early on thanks to Katy Spargo (3-4, R, 4 RBI, HR) who drove in the first run of the game to give the Pack a 1-0 lead. Granite Hills would answer with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-run single by Alexis Mujica (3-4, 6 RBI).

The Eagles would add to their lead in the bottom of the second inning when Mujica drove in another pair of runs to make it 4-1. After West Hills answered with a run in the top of the third inning the Eagles answered back thanks to Ariana Heninger (1-3, R, RBI) who drove in a run to give them a 5-2 lead.

Trailing by three runs in the top of the fifth inning the Pack would rally as Deal led off the inning with a double followed by Kiara Rabaya (2-2, 2 R, RBI) and her bunt single to put runners at the corners. With runners on and no outs the Pack were in business and Spargo on a 3-0 count lifted the very following pitch high and deep to center field for the game tying three-run home run and take the momentum.

However, the momentum was short lived as Granite Hills took advantage of an error by the Pack to retake the lead which was followed by a two-run single by Mujica to extend the lead to 8-5.

West Hills would answer with a run in the top of the sixth inning on a two-out solo shot by Deal to center field to pull within 8-6.

Trailing 9-6 heading into the top of the seventh inning the Wolf Pack needed to put together something and indeed they did. They would push across a pair of runs in the inning courtesy of Deal who singled with one out scoring both Sophia Zayac (2-4, R, 2B) and Lili Leija (1-3, R) to make it 9-8. They would add three more runs in the inning to lead 11-9.

Granite Hills would score a run in the bottom half of the inning to make it a one run game before the last out was made to end the game.

Gianna Burgin who came into the game in relief for West Hills would pick up the win. She would allow three hits and five runs (one earned) over four innings in which she struck out eight and walked six. Ava Goodman started for the Pack. She would surrender six hits and five runs (four earned) over three innings while striking out four and walking four.

Kaleigh Baugher started things off for the Eagles. On the day she would allow 11 hits and five runs over five innings while striking out five.

Both Mia Downes (2-3, R, 2B) and Taylor Nash (2-5, 2 R) each collected a pair of hits for the Eagles.

With the win West Hills moves 6-3 while the Eagles fall to 2-7-1 on the season.

EL CAPITAN 8, GROSSMONT 0 (5 INN.) – In Hilltop tournament action the El Capitan Vaqueros scored four runs in the second inning as they limited the Grossmont Foothiller opportunities in the win on Friday afternoon.

Early on in the bottom of the second inning the El Capitan Vaqueros would get on the board thanks to Ciara Bernardini (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) who drove in a pair of runs which was followed by two more runs scoring on an error by Grossmont.

The Vaqueros would add another run in the third inning when Ryliegh Vesco (1-2, RBI, 2B) doubled in a run with a shot to left field.

Makenna Burton who drew the start for the Vaqueros picked up the victory. On the day she allow no runs on four hits over five innings in which she walked three and struck out four.

Nakhia Lee started for Grossmont and would take the loss. She would allow seven hits and eight runs (five earned) over four and two-thirds innings while walking five.

For Grossmont, Jenna Ennis, Heidi Villa, Madison Busch, and Jules Short each had a hit.

Offensively for the Vaqueros a trio of them would collect multiple hits including Bernardini, Sofia Simone (2-4, R, 2 RBI, 2 SB) and Kylie Frazier (2-4, R, 2 RBI, 2 SB).

El Capitan with win improves to 3-4 while Grossmont falls to 2-5-1.

SANTANA 7, AOLP 1 – Six runs spread out over the second, third and fourth innings combined with the damage the bottom of the lineup did led to a Mater Dei Invitational victory for the Santana Sultans as they cruised over the AOLP Pilots on Friday afternoon.

The Santana Sultans bottom half of the lineup made up of McKenna Miller (2-3, R, RBI, 2B), Vanessa Ryan (2-4, RBI), and Samantha Mora (2-2, R, RBI) combined for six of the team’s 12 hits while scoring two runs and driving in three.

Santana would strike first in the top of the second inning when Ryan drove in a run on an RBI single and Mora followed up with an RBI single of her own scoring Miller to make it 2-0. They would extend the lead in the third when Brianna Canty (1-3, R, RBI) drove in a run followed by Miller driving in a run.

Leading 4-0 the Sultans offense wasn’t done as Alyssa Cipro drove in Mora on a bunt single and later with two outs Elizabeth Stephenson (1-2, RBI) singled to center field to bring home Kaylee Lindahl (1-5, R, RBI).

Bella Zuckerman earned the win for Santana as she allowed one run on two hits over seven innings in which she walked four and struck out three,

Santana with the win improves to 6-3.

CHRISTIAN 8, FOOTHILL 1 (5 INN.) – Five second innings runs scored by the Christian Patriots proved to be a big help as they came away with the convincing Las Vegas tournament win over Foothill in their second game of the day on Friday.

Early on the Christian Patriots would score a run in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of Sammy Baca (2-2) who drove in a run with a base hit to lead 1-0.

Offensively in the second inning the Patriots behind Keytyn Ruis (1-1, R) who drew a run scoring walk, Tyler Krystek (1-1, R, RBI, SB) and her sacrifice fly that brought home a run and a two-run home run by Kaitlyn Moody (2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR) to left field would extend their lead to 6-1. They would add another pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on a passed ball that scored Moody and an RBI single by Reese Danczak (2-3, R, RBI) that scored Lily Reyes.

Alyssa McCurty would earn the win for the Patriots. In her outing she gave up one hit and one run over four innings while walking three and striking out five.

Lucy Sherburne for Christian would also score a run and drive in a run.

Earlier in the day the Christian Patriots would drop an 8-4 decision to San Clemente in the first game.

The Patriots would trail 8-0 before scoring their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Sammy Baca (1-3, R, RBI, HR) homered to center field. Other contributors offensively for the Patriots were Pressly Villalva (2-3, R, RBI, 2B) and Keels Carrizosa (2-3) who each tallied a pair of hits.

Christian moves to 8-3-1 on the season.