Granite scratches past Santana

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 3, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

Grossmont Hills League

GRANITE HILLS 4, SANTANA 3 – Holding off a late seventh inning rally the Granite Hills Eagles would fend off the Santana Sultans on Thursday afternoon to claim the Grossmont Hills League contest.

Granite Hills would take an early lead on a leadoff solo home run by Taylor Nash (1-1, R, RBI, HR) to make it 1-0.

Santana though with two outs would tie the game up thanks to Delaney Smith (1-3, 2B, RBI) who doubled in Emma Schneider (1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR).

However, the Eagles would regain the lead in the bottom of the third inning when Olivia Cirar (1-3, RBI) singled to right field allowing Mia Downes (1-3, R, SB) to come around and score to give them a 2-1 lead.

Later in the game the Eagles would add a pair of runs that ended up being of the insurance variety thanks to Kaylani Caple (1-1, 2 RBI) hit hard hit ball to left field for a base hit allowing both Kamryn Flath (RUN) and Iliana Cruse (RUN) to come around and plate which extended the lead to 4-1.

Santana though didn’t go down without a fight in the top of the seventh with one out McKenna Miller (1-2, R) reached on an error which was followed by Emma Schneider lining one over the left field fence for the two run blast to pull the Sultans within 4-3. That would be the closest they would get as Kaleigh Baugher retired the next two batters to end the game.

Baugher who started for the Eagles picked up the win as she went all seven innings in which she allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out eight.

Ashlyn Darrow would take the loss for the Sultans. On the day she went six innings in which she allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits while walking seven and striking out three.

Granite Hills with the win bounces back and moves to 4-10-1 overall and 1-1 in league play while the Sultans fall to 8-5 overall and 1-1 in the league.

Elsewhere

EL CAPITAN 11, SAGE CREEK 2 – Strong pitching performance by Addison Higuera along with a six run seventh inning powered the El Capitan Vaqueros to a non-league road win on Thursday afternoon over the Sage Creek Bobcats.

Higuera who is only a freshman took the circle for the Vaqueros and spun a complete game seven inning gem victory that saw her punch out 10 Bobcats while allowing only two hits in the game.

Gabrielle Garcia (3-3, R, 3 RBI, 2B, SB) helped power the Vaqueros offensively with her 3-for-3 day at the plate in which she doubled in in the seventh inning, and singled in the fifth and second innings. She also scored a run and drove in three.

El Capitan drew first blood in the top of the first when Isabella Farris (2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B) doubled in both Kylee Frazier (2-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B, 2 SB) and Sofia Simone (2-4, 3 R, 3 SB) to make it 2-0. They would add another run in the bottom of the third inning when Higuera helped her cause as she doubled down the line with two outs brining in Ciara Bernardini (2-4, R) to make it 3-0.

The Vaqueros later in the contest leading 5-2 would really break things wide open in the top of the seventh inning thanks to Ryleigh Vesco (R, 2 RBI) who drew a walk to score a run, Garcia doubling in a pair of runs, an RBI single by Quinnley Morehouse (1-4, R, RBI, SB), and Frazier finishing things off with two-run double.

The victory moves the Vaqueros overall record to 5-8.