ROUNDUP: East teams have tourney success

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 12, 2017

2016-17 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

ESCONDIDO (3-11-17) – Runs aplenty and dominant pitching equaled success as the West Hills Wolf Pack dominated Mission Vista, 8-0, in Bronze Bracket play of the Cougar Classic.

The bats for the Pack came alive in the top of the first as SIERRA SCHLICHTING (2-3, 3 RBI, 3 R, HR) led off with a jack over the fence to make it 1-0. The next batter ALYSSA BUBAR (2-4, R, SB) singled, stole second and would score on the double by RYLEIGH DOBYNS (2-2, RBI, R, 2B) to make it 2-0.

In the circle for West Hills was CARLY BURSCH (1-3, RBI), who just overmatched the Timberwolves as she retired them in order.

West Hills went back to work in the top of the second, for the second straight inning the leadoff hitter got on as MELISSA CASTILLO (2-2, 2 R, RBI, 2B) doubled, she scored on the single by Schlichting who also scored a couple of batters later when ALEX GUAY (1-2, RBI) singled.

Bursch would also help her own cause in the top of the fourth as she singled in Dobyns who had doubled to extend the lead to 5-0.

Another big contributor for the Pack was HALEY VALLES, who went 2-for-3.

Bursch in the circle tossed a 5 inning, no-hitter which included 7 strikeouts on the day.

GRANITE HILLS 6, MT. CARMEL 5 (11 inn.) – In a wild Platinum Bracket contest where both teams went back and forth, the Eagles finally came out on top in extras played by international tiebreaker rules.

The Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first but the Sun Devils pushed across a run in the top of the second to cut into the lead 2-1. Granite extended their lead in the third with another run to make 3-1 and would add another run in the bottom of the fifth to push the score to 4-1.

Granite extended their lead in the third with another run to make 3-1 and would add another run in the bottom of the fifth to push the score to 4-1.

The Sun Devils would cut the lead in half 4-2 with a run in the top of the sixth and in the top of the seventh add a couple more to tie the score at 4-4.

For the Eagles, KAYLA MACK would drive in 2 runs as she went 3-for-4, HALEY JOHNSON also drove in a couple runs and had 2 hits on the day. The other Eagle to have multiple hits was HALLE KYLER who went 2-for-4 and scored 3 runs and drove in a run.

So with the score all tied up both teams would shut each other out until the eleventh inning when the Sun Devils would score to make 5-4. No further damage was done as the Eagles got out of the inning. Now trailing, Granite went to

Now trailing, Granite went to business and was able to score to tie and then added another run to end the contest.

Garnering the victory for the Eagles was CATIE DOBBS, who came in relief and tossed the last 5 innings, she gave up 2 hits and struck out 3.

STEELE CANYON 12, MIRA MESA 6 – In a slugfest, the Steele Canyon Cougars outlasted the Marauders despite committing three errors to win the Copper Bracket opener and snap their three-game losing streak.

Mira Mesa jumped out to early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning but would see that evaporate in the top of the second as the Cougars pushed across two runs of their own to tie the score 2-2.

The Marauders scored another run in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead 3-2.

However, the bats for the Cougars came alive in the top of the third as they scored six runs and in the fourth scored four more to extend their lead to 12-3.

Mira Mesa wouldn’t go down without a small fight as they scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead in half at 12-6.

On the day, the Cougars pounded out 11 hits including multiple hits by GENTRY HOFFMAN, MAKAYLA STROMENGER and MAKAYLA MCCARTHY.

Stromenger would also drive in 3 runs, EMMA DODSON drove in 3 and Makayla McCarthy drove in 2 runs.

STEELE CANYON 10, SAN PASQUAL 1 – The Cougars scored early and often and didn’t look back as they won their second game of the Copper Bracket of the Cougar Classic.

Steele Canyon scored 5 runs in the bottom of the first and would roll 5 runs over the next couple of innings to put things away. The pitching and defense did the rest.

The pitching and defense did the rest.

Both MAGGIE CARPENTER and AUDREY BAGGE each had 2 hits on the day. RBI wise, MAKAYLA MCCARTHY drove in 3 while JJ VENZOR and Carpenter each drove in 2 runs.

RBI wise, MAKAYLA MCCARTHY drove in 3 while JJ VENZOR and Carpenter each drove in 2 runs.

In the circle for the Cougars was SAMANTHA MILLER, limited the Eagles to a run on 5 hits while striking out 1 on the day.

SANTANA 6, EL CAMINO 3 – The Sultans doubled up the Wildcats in the Silver Bracket of the Cougar Classic.

The Wildcats got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning to lead 1-0 early on. ut the Sultans didn’t panic and struck back as MADISON MENDEZ (1-4, RBI, R, HR) jacked a deep ball over the center field fence to tie the score 1-1. Santana added another run to make it 2-1.

But the Sultans didn’t panic and struck back as MADISON MENDEZ (1-4, RBI, R, HR) jacked a deep ball over the center field fence to tie the score 1-1. Santana added another run to make it 2-1.

MACKENZIE BENNETT (2-4, 2 R, RBI, HR) in the bottom of the second would extend the lead as she blasted a solo shot over the left-field fence to make it 3-1 in favor of the Sultans.

El Camino pushed across a run in the top of the third to make it 3-2.

KRYSTEN SERVICE (2-3, 2 R) led off the bottom of the third with a single and would later come around to score as the Sultans loaded the bases and a hit by pitch occurred. With the run, the Sultans now led 4-2.

El Camino scored again to pull within 4-3 but Santana tacked on a couple more runs to round out their scoring 6-3.

NICOLE MADRIGAL also drove in a run for the Sultans as she went 2-for-3 on the day.

Mendez gained the victory for the Sultans, as she went all 6 innings, gave up 3 runs on 3 hits while striking out 4 on the day.

PATRICK HENRY 6, CALEXICO 4 – The Patriots took advantage of their opportunities and held on to win over the Bulldogs in Gold Bracket play in the Cougar Classic.

Calexico got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning to lead 1-0.

However, the lead didn’t last as Patrick Henry answered with a couple of runs. Leadoff batter CASSIE VAN TIL (1-3, R, RBI) smashed a triple and scored a couple batters later when

Leadoff batter CASSIE VAN TIL (1-3, R, RBI) smashed a triple and scored a couple batters later when CRISTIONA CACCAMISE (RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to tie the score. The next batter ANDREA WRIGHT (1-2, R, 2B) ripped a double and would come into score to make it 2-1.

The Patriots in the bottom of the second inning tacked on three more runs thanks to a leadoff walk by LAUREN NETT, the next batter HAILEY JENKS doubled and ARIANA RIOS singled which scored both Nett and Jenks to make it 4-1.

Rios would eventually score on a sacrifice by LAILA SPRACKLEN to make it 5-1. The final run for Patrick Henry came in the bottom of the third courtesy of a solo homer by MADISON JAMES (1-2, R, 2 RBI, HR) which put the Patriots up 6-1.

The final run for Patrick Henry came in the bottom of the third courtesy of a solo homer by MADISON JAMES (1-2, R, 2 RBI, HR), which put the Patriots up 6-1.

However things got interesting in the contest as Calexico would score two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the lead in half, 6-3, and would add an additional run in the top of the fourth to make it 6-4. However, that would be all they would get in the contest.

James would garner the win in which she tossed 4 innings, giving up 3 runs of which all were earned on 6 hits, walking 4 and striking out 5 on the day.

CHRISTIAN 10, CENTRAL 0 (Semifinal) – The Patriots after being held in check busted out the runs in the fifth to put the Monte Vista Gold Classic contest away.

Christian took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (2-3, 2 R, RBI) led off being hit by a pitch, she stole second and would come into score.

Things really took off for the Patriots in the bottom of the fifth as they plated 9 runs thanks to multiple hits and batting around by sending thirteen batters to the plate.

Big hits included LAUREN SHERBURNE (1-4, 3 RBI, R, 2B) doubling and driving in three runs, ASHLEY CARTER (3-4, RBI, 2 R, 2B) also doubled and drove in a run, TENAY BANEGAS (1-3, 2 RBI, R, 2B) also doubled and drove in two runs. Christian pounded out 13 hits.

Carter also would toss 5 innings for the victory in which she only surrendered 3 hits while striking out 1.

UNIVERSITY CITY 8, CHRISTIAN 3 (Championship) – Despite having the early lead the Patriots couldn’t hold on as the Centurions rallied late to get the victory in the championship of the Monte Vista Gold Classic.

Right away the Patriots got it rolling as SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (2-3, RBI, R, HR) led off with a solo homerun and LAUREN SHERBURNE (2-3, RBI, R) singled and SHANNON MCMAHON (1-4, RBI) would drive her in to give them a 2-0 early lead.

However, both teams matched each other until the top of the fifth when University City put up a run to pull within 2-1. In the top of the sixth

In the top of the sixth inning, they would take advantage of multiple hits and also a couple of Patriot fielding miscues which would see them score six runs to take the lead 8-2.

Christian would get one more crack at it in the bottom half of the inning but would only scratch across one run with two outs.

A two-out walk by KATIE LEPETRI (RUN) and would eventually score but that would be all the Patriots would manage.

MATER DEI CATHOLIC 10, GROSSMONT 4 – The Crusaders struck early and often in the first couple of innings to put the contest away in Gold Bracket play.

Over the first couple of innings, the Crusaders sent 20 total batters to the plate and scored their 10 runs with four in the first and six in the second.

The Foothillers in the first inning tried to get something going as CHLOE CAMARERO singled and stole second base but to no avail.

Grossmont got on the board in the fourth inning as they scored 4 runs of their own.

For Grossmont, ALEXIS COLLINS went 2-for-2 with an RBI.

MONTE VISTA 12, TRI-CITY CHRISTIAN 2 – The Monarchs took advantage of the 13 errors committed by Tri-City to win the Monte Vista Tournament contest.

Monte Vista would score five runs in the bottom of the first inning and would scatter the rest of the runs throughout the contest.

Offensively for the Monarchs, MEEAH MATANANE went 3-for-4, including 2 doubles, while scoring twice and driving in two runs as well.

Freshman DESSIRE CORONA tripled and doubled and drove in a run along with scoring twice in going 2-4.

TORREY PINES 11, VALHALLA 4 – The Falcons offense busted out to put the game away and advance in the Cougar Classic.

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