Roundup: Patriots roll; Cougars claw

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 8, 2017

Photo by Dwight Tinker

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

FALCON FIESTA

PATRICK HENRY 10, WEST HILLS 0 – Patrick Henry used 4 home runs to power themselves over the Wolf Pack in Falcon Fiesta action.

West Hills had the first opportunity to strike as leadoff hitter SIERRA SCHLICHTING was hit by a pitch, she stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. However she would be stranded as Henry ace MADISON JAMES (2-3, 2R, 3 RBI, HR) was able to retire the next three batters via punch out, and a couple of fly balls.

In the bottom of the inning with two outs, up stepped SAVANNAH CHAPMAN (1-3, R, RBI, HR) who took the 3-1 offering and clubbed the next pitch over the fence for the solo shot and give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.

Patrick Henry would add to their lead in the bottom of the second as they pushed across five runs courtesy of a couple 2-run dingers. With one down, LAILA SPRACKLEN (1-2, R) singled, LILI PENA (1-2, R, 2 RBI, HR) would work the count full and on the very next pitch from CARLY BURSCH just crushed it over the wall for a 2-run jack and also her first on the season. The blow extended the Patriots lead to 3-0. Up next MAGGIE ZIMMERLY (1-1, R, RBI) who followed with a single and a couple of batters with 2 outs and back to the top of the lineup, HANNAH MCEWEN (2-3, R, RBI, 2 2B) roped a double that scored Zimmerly to make it 4-0, CASSIE VAN TIL (2-3, 2R, 2 RBI, SB, HR) with McEwen on second took the offering and hammered the 2-run shot over the right center field fence for her first on the season and also to give Henry a 6-0 lead.

With one down, LAILA SPRACKLEN (1-2, R) singled, LILI PENA (1-2, R, 2 RBI, HR) would work the count full and on the very next pitch from CARLY BURSCH just crushed it over the wall for a 2-run jack and also her first on the season. The blow extended the Patriots lead to 3-0. Up next MAGGIE ZIMMERLY (1-1, R, RBI) who followed with a single and a couple of batters with 2 outs and back to the top of the lineup, HANNAH MCEWEN (2-3, R, RBI, 2 2B) roped a double that scored Zimmerly to make it 4-0, CASSIE VAN TIL (2-3, 2R, 2 RBI, SB, HR) with McEwen on second took the offering and hammered the 2-run shot over the right center field fence for her first on the season and also to give Henry a 6-0 lead.

Up next MAGGIE ZIMMERLY (1-1, R, RBI) who followed with a single and a couple of batters with 2 outs and back to the top of the lineup, HANNAH MCEWEN (2-3, R, RBI, 2 2B) roped a double that scored Zimmerly to make it 4-0, CASSIE VAN TIL (2-3, 2R, 2 RBI, SB, HR) with McEwen on second took the offering and hammered the 2-run shot over the right center field fence for her first on the season and also to give Henry a 6-0 lead.

James was having her way with the Wolf Pack, she was able to retire them again in order in the top of the fourth and preserve the no-hitter.

Patrick Henry added to their lead in the bottom of the inning as James singled with one out, Spracklen walked and a couple of batters later with two outs, Zimmerly knocked in a run to push the score to 7-0 in favor of the Patriots.

The Wolf Pack hadn’t had much luck offensively as they headed into the top of the fifth inning looking for their first hit of the game.

That changed as with one out, RYLEIGH DOBYNS (1-2) singled, and ALEX GUAY (1-2, 2B) roped a double that would put runners at second and third with only one out.

However, both would be stranded as James was able to get BROOKE SNYDER to fly out and ASHLIEGH HARTWIG to ground out to end the threat and the inning.

Looking to add more the Patriots did so in the bottom of the fourth, leadoff hitter McEwen doubled, Van Til laced a single that advanced McEwen to third, however, both tried to steal and McEwen was thrown out trying to get back to third while Van Til was safe at second, she advanced to third on the groundout by Chapman.

Now with two outs up came ANDREA WRIGHT (RUN) who worked the count and was able to draw the walk, James followed that with a 3-run blast over the fence to push the lead to 10-0.

Looking to stay alive and get something going the Wolf Pack got a one-out walk by Bursch, MIKAYLA CRISTINI (1-2) followed with a single to put runners at first and second, Schlichting would ground into a fielders choice in which Bursch was thrown out for the second out, and the next batter HALEY VALLES struck out to end the game.

Taking the loss for the Pack, Bursch tossed 2 1/3 innings, giving up 6 runs in which all were earned on 5 hits, walked one and struck out 2. Dobyns who came in and tossed 1 2/3 innings of relief gave up 4 runs, all earned on 5 hits, walked 2 and struck out 1.

For Henry in the victory, James went 5 innings, giving up 0 runs on 3 hits, walked 1 and fanned 4 on the day.

The win for Henry is now its fifth in a row over West Hills dating back to last year.

Non-League

SANTANA 6, CLAIREMONT 1 – Four RBI by RACHEL WILSON (2-3, R, 4 RBI, 2B) helped propel the Sultans to a victory over the Chieftains in a non-league contest.

The Chieftains struck the first blow in the top of the first as they were able to push across a run to lead 1-0 early on.

Santana would answer in the bottom of the first inning with 2 outs as CASSIDY MATTHIE (1-2, R, RBI, 2B) rocked a double to center field, Wilson followed that with a smash double that scored Matthie to tie the score 1-1, KRYSTEN SERVICE (1-3, RBI, 2B) knocked in Wilson with a double of her own to give the Sultans a 2-1 lead.

The Sultans would add another run in the bottom of the third as leadoff hitter MADISON MENDEZ (1-4, R) reached on an error by the shortstop, she would advance to second on the error, MACKENZIE BENNETT (1-3, R) grounds out which advanced Mendez to third, Matthie walked to put runners at first and third, and Wilson hits a fly ball to right field which is caught and Mendez tagged up and scored to extend the lead to 3-1.

Three singles in a row for Santana in the bottom of the fifth by SYDNEY BENJAMIN (1-3, R), Mendez which advanced Benjamin to third and Bennett, SHELBY HOLMQUIST (RUN) came into run for Mendez, Matthie drew the bases loaded walk to score Benjamin and make it 4-1, Wilson would come up and rip a two-run single that scored both Holmquist and Bennett to make it 6-1.

Clairemont would get two singles with two outs in the top of the seventh before Mendez retired the last batter for the final out of the contest.

Mendez on the day went 7 innings, gave up 1 run which was earned on 6 hits, walked 1 and fanned 4.

STEELE CANYON 3, POINT LOMA 2 – Opportunities taken advantage of by the Cougars led to a hard fought victory over the Pointers in non-league action.

The Pointers struck the first blow as they took advantage of a leadoff single, an error and a sacrifice fly by VAN HOUTEN to take an early 1-0 lead.

Steele Canyon had an opportunity to score in the top of the second with one out, MAKAYLA MCCARTHY (1-1, R, RBI, HR) walked, BIANCA MORALES (1-2) singled which advanced McCarthy to second, however, the next couple of batters would be retired to end the threat.

Both pitchers would match each other inning-for-inning for the next couple of innings which would see the Pointers take their one-run lead into the top of the fourth inning. Steele Canyon finally got the break they needed off of CRAKES who was pitching a gem so far.

JJ VENZOR (1-3, R) led off by singling on a line drive hit to left field, MAKAYLA STROMENGER (2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) on a 1-2 count would hammer a shot over the right field fence for the 2-run dinger to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead. Next up was McCarthy who would match

Next up was McCarthy who would match Stromenger with a home run, this one a solo blast over the right field fence to extend the lead to 3-1.

Point Loma would threaten in the bottom of the fourth when with two outs they would hit back-to-back singles but SAMANTHA MILLER would get the next batter to pop out to end the inning.

The Cougars had another opportunity to extend their lead in the top of the sixth as Stromenger with one out roped a double to center, McCarthy would be hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second and only one out. However, Crakes would get GENTRY HOFFMAN to hit into a double play to end the inning.

The pointers would go down in order in the bottom of the sixth and the Cougars would do the same in the top of the seventh.

Trailing by a score of 3-1 the Pointers looked to get something going in the bottom of the seventh inning. They would get a

They would get a one-out double by WARSON, she advanced to third on a passed ball and would come into score on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. The next batter would single but that would be all as Miller would get the next batter to fly out for the final out of the game.

Miller on the day tossed a complete 7 innings, giving up 2 runs of which 1 was earned on 9 hits, walked 0 and struck out 1.

UNIVERSITY 7, EL CAPITAN 6 – A late run by the Centurions stunned the Vaqueros in non-league action.

The Vaqueros in the top of the first would strike first, with one out ZANNDRA RAGOLE (R, RBI) was hit by a pitch, AMANDA VASQUEZ (1-5, R) advanced Ragole to third on a ground ball, the next batter ALEXA WILLIAMS (2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) would smash a 2-run homer for her second on the season and also give El Capitan a 2-0 lead.

The lead by the Vaqueros would be erased a couple of innings later in the bottom of the third on a leadoff double which would score and another run would score on a fielder’s choice to tie the game 2-2.

However the Vaqueros answered in the top of the fourth with two outs as Vasquez singled, Williams roped a double which put runners at second and third, KATELYN COLLIER (RUN) came into run for Williams, GRACE BURKETT (1-3, R, 2B) was hit by a pitch, BAILEY OLAVESON (2-4, 2 RBI) singled in both Vasquez and Collier on a shot to left to allow El Capitan to gain the lead 4-2.

University City would add a run in the bottom of the fourth to pull within 4-3. Another run by the Vaqueros in the top of the fifth pushed their lead to 5-3. Burkett doubled with one out, Olaveson hit a grounder which was misplayed and allowed her to reach on the error and also Burkett advanced to third, ALLYSON VON YOKES (3-4, R, RBI) singled which allowed Burkett to score.

Another run by the Vaqueros in the top of the fifth pushed their lead to 5-3. Burkett doubled with one out, Olaveson hit a grounder which was misplayed and allowed her to reach on the error and also Burkett advanced to third, ALLYSON VON YOKES (3-4, R, RBI) singled which allowed Burkett to score.

Burkett doubled with one out, Olaveson hit a grounder which was misplayed and allowed her to reach on the error and also Burkett advanced to third, ALLYSON VON YOKES (3-4, R, RBI) singled which allowed Burkett to score.

However, in the bottom of the fifth, the Centurions took advantage of multiple hits including three to start the inning to tie the game and take a 6-5 lead.

Trailing by a run heading into the top of the seventh, the Vaqueros were down to their final at-bat but that didn’t stop them. Olaveson led off with a single, HANNAH HARVEY into

Olaveson led off with a single, HANNAH HARVEY came in to run for Olaveson, Von Yokes bunted but Harvey would be out at second, HANNAH DAVIS reached on an error by the pitcher which allowed Von Yokes to advance to third, MARIA LOTTA (1-3) walked to load the bases, a couple of batters later with 2 outs, Ragole drew the walk to score Von Yokes to knot the score 6-6.

University City which saw its lead evaporate looked to end the game in the bottom of the seventh. A leadoff single, a sacrifice advanced the runner to second, with one out the next batter singled and the runner at second advanced to third, a passed ball allowed the runner at first to advance to second, still only one out the next batter lined a single that scored the runner from third to end the game.

A leadoff single, a sacrifice advanced the runner to second, with one out the next batter singled and the runner at second advanced to third, a passed ball allowed the runner at first to advance to second, still only one out the next batter lined a single that scored the runner from third to end the game.

Taking the hard-luck loss, Williams went 6 1/3 innings, giving up 7 runs of which 6 were earned on 14 hits, walked 1 and struck out 4 on the day.