Barclay Provides Extra-Inning Drama

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 9, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

FALCON FIESTA

STEELE CANYON 8, TORREY PINES 7 (9 INN.) – Down to the wire on Wednesday, Junior Ily Barclay (3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB, 3B, HR) did what every batter dreams of doing as with one out smashed a ball to right field that went by the right fielder in a way that allowed the tying run to score and Barclay to race around the bases for the dramatic walk-off game winning inside the park home run and provide the come from behind victory over Torrey Pines in Falcon Fiesta pool play action.

Despite leading 6-2 thanks to three runs scored in the bottom of the first inning and bottom of the fourth inning. The first three runs by the Cougars came about on a bases clearing three run double by Kayala Hopkins (1-3, 2B, 3 RBI) that brought home Belle Will (1-4, R), Kallan Shaw and Hailey Trujillo (RUN). Later in the fourth their second grouping of three runs came all with two outs courtesy of an RBI single by Tevia Cohen (1-3, R, RBI) followed by a Barclay triple that scored Cohen and Barclay would score on an error by the Falcons.

Despite trailing by four runs the Falcons would wind up rallying to tie the game at 6-6 with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth and sixth innings.

Neither team was able to push anything across the seventh inning so the game would go into extra innings where everything would conclude in the wild ninth inning.

With the game all tied up the Falcons would strike in the top of the ninth with a run to take a 7-6 lead.

Payton Sos who came into the game in relief would earn the win as she went four and one third of an inning in which she allowed two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out one. The starter Marina Gonzalez allowed four runs on six hits over four and two-thirds of an inning.

With the win the Steele Canyon Cougars improve to 8-6-1 on the season.

NON-LEAGUE

IMPERIAL 5, WEST HILLS 3 – Despite an early 3-0 lead the West Hills Wolf Pack couldn’t hold on as the Imperial Tigers roared back with three runs in the third and two in the bottom of the fifth to claim the non-league victory on Wednesday.

An RBI double by Katy Spargo (2-3, RBI, 2 2B) gave the Wolf Pack a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. They would strike again in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by Giana Burgin 1-3, RBI) that allowed Maddie Aylesbury (1-3, R, 2B) to plate and a couple of batters later with two outs Kristina Deal (3-4, R, RBI, 2B, 2 SB) would drive in a run to round out the scoring.

Imperial who came into the contest ranked NO. 5 in the latest Union Tribune Top 10 Poll would rally to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a two-triple by Raegan Ray and a sacrifice fly by Natalia Espinoza.

Burgin who drew the start for the Pack would be saddled with the loss despite allowing only four hits in the game but unfortunately five runs of which two were earned over six innings in which she walked three and struck out eleven.

In the loss Deal for West Hills notched a major career accomplishment with her double in the top of the fifth inning as it was her thirty-third of her career and with it she tied the school record for doubles in a career which was held by Courtney Horne who also notched thirty-three in her illustrious career at West Hills.

West Hills falls to 10-6-1 on the season with the loss.

WESTVIEW 3, PATRICK HENRY 2 – Three runs scored in the top of the fifth inning were all the Wolverines needed despite a late run scored by Patrick Henry as they held onto claim the tournament victory on Wednesday afternoon.

Despite outhitting the Wolverines 9-7 the Patrick Henry Patriots couldn’t put together enough opportunities. Both Angelina Mazon and Zoe Rutherford each collected a pair of hits apiece and would each drive in runs.

Mazon would actually put the Patriots on board first as she belted a solo home over the center field fence for a 1-0 lead.

Westview would take advantage of their opportunities in the top of the fifth when Taylor Thomas singled in a run, Patrick Henry would commit and error that led to a run scored and an RBI double by Abby Peake led to the final run.

Later in the game in the bottom of the seventh inning Rutherford would drive in Izzy Ervin to pull the Patriots within 3-2.

Rutherford would take the loss for the Patriots as she allowed three runs on seven hits over seven innings in which she walked two and struck out nine.

With the loss the Patriots fall to 7-8 overall.