Cougars win late; Sultans walk off; Henry rolls Chieftains

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 28, 2017

Photo by Dwight Tinker

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

Grossmont Hills League

Steele Canyon 4, West Hills 2: A back and forth affair between the two is determined late as the Cougars push across a couple of runs.

West Hills in the top of the first looked to strike first as SIERRA SCHLICHTING was hit by a pitch, she would advance to second a sacrifice by ALYSSA BUBAR. However she would be stranded at second as both RYLEIGH DOBYNS and ALEX GUAY (2-3, 2R, 2 RBI, 2 HR) would be retired to end the inning.

The Cougars went to business as GENTRY HOFFMAN (2-4, R, RBI, 2B) singled with one out, MAKAYLA MCCARTHY (1-4) singled, ELIZABETH BOTT into run and MAKAYLA STROMENGER (1-3) walked which loaded the bases. The next batter JJ VENZOR (2-3, RBI, 2B) was able to push across a run on a single to score Hoffman making it 1-0 early on. However that would be all the Cougars would get as CARLY BURSCH was able to work out of the jam by retiring the next two batters.

Both teams would match each other inning for inning mixed with a base hit thrown in for good measure. For the Cougars, Venzor would double with two outs but would be stranded in the bottom of the third inning.

Clinging to the 1-0 lead, McCarthy in the top of the fourth faced leadoff hitter Guay and on a 1-2 count, she connected on the offering and crushed it over the center field fence to tie the game 1-1 with the solo-dinger.

Steele Canyon in the bottom of the fourth came right back as EMMA DODSON (1-3, R) singled, she would advance to second on a sacrifice. A couple batters later with two outs, AUDREY BAGGE (1-4, R) came to the plate and was able to lace a single to short which scored Dodson to make it 2-1.

The Cougars took the one run lead into the top of the sixth where West Hills with one out would knot the game again 2-2. With one out Guay came to the plate again and déjà vu to the fourth connected for a solo shot to center which at first didn’t look like it was going out but did over the fence.

However the tie was short lived as the Cougars took back the momentum in the bottom of the sixth inning. Leadoff hitter MACKENSIE PEARLSTEIN (1-2, R) roped a single to center, JESSICA ALVARADO (1-2, R) followed with a fly ball to right that fell in for a single which put runners at first and second but a throwing error by West Hills allowed both runners to advance up a base. A couple of batters later Hoffman dealt the crucial blow as she smashed a double to left that scored both Pearlstein and Alvarado to make it 4-2.

Now leading by a couple of runs the Cougars looked to end things and that they did as McCarthy was able to retire the Wolf Pack in order 1-2-3 to procure the victory.

Bursch for West Hills went 6 innings in the loss giving up 4 runs on 11 hits, walked 2 and struck out 6.

McCarthy for the Cougars tossed a complete 7 inning victory giving up 2 runs on 2 hits, walked 2 and struck out 8 on the day.

Granite Hills 9, Valhalla 2: The Eagles deal early blow and put game away in the middle innings.

Granite Hills in the bottom of the first would push across a couple of runs starting with a lead walk by KAREN CREECH, she stole second base, HALLE KYLER ripped a lined single to right in which Creech scores on the throw to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. The next batter KAYLA MACK singled, HALEY JOHNSON hit a ball to short which is misplayed allowing all runners to be safe to load the bases, a couple batters later Kyler scored on a single by CASSIDY SHEW to push the lead to 2-0.

Valhalla would get a runner on in the top of the second when with one out DELANEY STETTLER singled but she would be stranded at second.

Another opportunity for the Norsemen presented itself in the top of the third when SARAH BOTTE (2-3, R, 2B) led off with a smash double, she would advance to third on a passed ball and with two outs would score when KENNEDY LABSHERE (2-4) hit a ball to short which was misplayed and reached on the error which allowed Botte to score cutting the lead 2-1.

Granite had a golden opportunity to add to their lead in the bottom of the inning when BAILEY WALLACE singled and Shew roped a double but they would be stranded.

However the opportunities presented themselves once again in the bottom of the fourth, leadoff hitter SYDNEY HUSE walked, Creech walked, Kyler walked to load the bases with only one out, Mack would be hit by the LILY METSCH offering which scored Huse to make it 3-1. Two more runs scored on a Johnson single pushing the score to 5-1 and they added another run making it 6-1 on a sacrifice fly by Wallace which scored Mack.

More runs for the Eagles in the bottom of the fifth when CATIE DOBBS clubbed a solo dinger over the center field fence making it 7-1, a couple batters later with two out Kyler roped a double, Kelly walked, Johnson singled to once again load the bases, Wallace followed a two run single to extend the lead 9-1.

Valhalla in the top of the seventh was able to push across another run as KELLY OLSON (RUN) walked to lead things off, she would steal second and come around to score on a hard hit ball by JADE HILL making it 9-2. However that would be all they would get as Dobbs was able to retire Labshere looking to end the game.

For Valhalla, Metsch went 3 1/3 inning in the loss giving up 6 runs on 7 hits, walked 4 and struck out 1. Stettler tossed 2 2/3 innings of relief giving up 3 runs on 5 hits and walked 2.

For the Eagles, Dobbs tossed a complete game 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, walked 1 and fanned 9 on the day.

Santana 3, Grossmont 2: The Sultans win in dramatic fashion as Wilson does the job with a walkoff.

The last time these two teams played it went extra innings before the winner was decided and this time was almost the same.

Grossmont in the top of the first inning thanks to a DESTINY BACON (2-3, R, 2B) single and a 2-run blast by MOANA PISIA (1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR) over the left field fence took a 2-0 lead. They almost added more as TAYLOR BAEZ followed by being hit by a pitch and JORDAN BROWN (2-3, 2B) smashed a double putting runners at second and third with two outs but MADISON MENDEZ was able to get ALEXIS COLLINS to ground out to RACHEL WILSON (1-3, RBI, 2B) at third who threw it to first for the third out.

The Sultans in the bottom of the second had a great opportunity to put some runs on the board as NICOLE MADRIGAL (1-2, RBI) singled with one out, LAKAILA AQUININQOC (1-3) grounded into a fielders choice in which she was safe but Madrigal was out at second for the second out of the inning. Aquininqoc would advance to second on a wild pitch, ASHLEY MADRIGAL (1-2) would walk, SHELBY HOLMQUIST (1-2) would be hit by a pitch to load the bases but SYDNEY BENJAMIN flied out to end the inning.

The Foothillers went down in order in the top of the third including two strikeouts. So still trailing in the bottom of the third things didn’t look good for Santana but with two outs, CASSIDY MATTHIE (1-3, R) drew the seven pitch walk, Wilson followed with a walk of her own and Nicole Madrigal would deal a blow with a roped double which scored Matthie cutting the lead to 2-1 and Wilson tried to score but she would be thrown out at the plate.

Grossmont in the top of the fifth got a one out double by Bacon but Mendez was able to get out by retiring the next two batters. Santana in the bottom of the fifth would tie the score thanks to a one out MACKENZIE BENNETT (2-3, R, RBI, HR) connected solo jack way over the left field fence to knot it at 2-2.

Santana in the bottom of the sixth had an opportunity as both Aquininqoc and Ashley Madrigal singled back to back, and Aquininqoc advanced to third to put runners at the corners with only one put. However the Sultans couldn’t convert as Holmquist would get the bunt down but Aquininqoc would be thrown out at the plate.

The score still tied 2-2, the Foothillers looked to push across the go ahead run in the top of the seventh. Leading off SAMARIA ROOPE hit a ball to third that was misplayed allowing her to reach, AMBER ALLMAN into run, Mendez would get CHLOE CAMARERO (1-4) to strikeout, Bacon would follow by walking to put runners at first and second, Pisia would hit a grounder to Holquist who stepped on first base for the second out but both Allman and Bacon would move up, ALY ALLMAN came up to the plate looking to strike a blow but Mendez would strike her out to end the inning and the threat.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh the Sultans looked to end the game or the game would go into extra innings. With one out Bennett singled on a hard hit ball to short, ERICA REID (RUN) into run, Matthie would strike out for the second out. So up stepped Wilson who looked to keep the inning going and she would work the count from Roope to a 1-2 count. On the very next offering Wilson would connect sending a smashed ball to left field where it would get to the fence where Allman would pick it up and throw it in, Reid was rounding third when the throw came in and on the throw to the plate Reid would slide in safely just beating it for the game winning run and Wilson would end up at second for the game winning walk-off double.

On the day for the Hillers, Roope would go 6 2/3 innings in the loss, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits, walk 4 and strike out 4.

For Santana, Mendez would throw a complete 7 inning victory, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits, walking 2 and striking out 9 on the day.

Grossmont Valley League

El Capitan 12, Mount Miguel 0: The Vaqueros pounded out 16 hits in their 12 run shutout victory over the Matadors.

Leading off for the Vaqueros in the top of the first, KATELYN COLLIER (2-3, 2R) singled on a bunt, she advanced to second on an error and come into score when HANNAH DAVIS (3-3, 3R, 3 RBI, 2B) doubled, AMANDA VASQUEZ (2-3, R, 4 RBI) drove her in with a single to make it 2-0.

In the top of the third, BAILEY OLAVESON (2-3, R, RBI) would drive in Davis to make it 3-0, HANNAH HARVEY singled, SAVANNAH MINSHEW (1-2, R) walked to load the bases, KIM GARCIA (1-2, R, RBI) would drive in Olaveson to make it 4-0 on a sacrifice fly.

El Capitan added a couple more runs in the top of the fourth to make it 6-0. More of the same for the Vaqueros in the top of the fifth. Leading things off, Minshew singled, Garcia would bunt for a single and Minshew would advance to third, OLIVIA MARTINEZ (1-3, R, RBI) knocked in Minshew to make it 7-0, MARIA LOTTA (1-1, R, RBI, 2B) doubled scoring Garcia making it 8-0, Davis singled which scored Martinez to make it 9-0, Vasquez would double in a couple of runs to make it 11-0 and GRACE BURKETT (RBI) drove in Vasquez on a sacrifice fly to make it 12-0.

HANNAH HARVEY for the Vaqueros would also have 2 hits in the game.

ELENA LADDON (1-3) who started for the Vaqueros went 4 innings giving up 1 hit, walked 2 and struck out 2 in the victory. ALEXA WILLIAMS tossed 1 inning of relief, giving up 1 hit.

City Western League

Patrick Henry 12, Clairemont 2: The Patriots put the game away early as their offense exploded in the second inning and the pitching did the rest.

Thanks to multiple hits in the top of the second inning including a lead single by MADISON JAMES, she would be out on a fielders choice by SAVANNAH CHAPMAN (1-4, R, 2B), LAUREN NETT (R, RBI) walked, LAILA SPRACKLEN (1-5, R, RBI) singled in Chapman to make it 1-0, ARIANA RIOS (2-3, 2R, RBI) knocked in Nett making it 2-0, HANNAH MCEWEN (3-5, 2R, RBI, 2B) doubled in Spracklen to make it 3-0, CASSIE VAN TIL (4-5, 2R, 2 RBI, 2B) doubled in Rios and McEwen to make it 5-0 and CRISTIONA CACCAMISE (2-5, 2R, 2 RBI) singled in a run and ANDREA WRIGHT (2-4, 3 RBI) singled in another run to make it 7-0.

Clairemont would cut into the lead in the bottom of the third inning when they were able to break through off Patriots starter James to score a couple of runs to make it 7-2.

However Patrick Henry would tack another run to their lead in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a walk by James, a double by Chapman and a groundout by net which scored James to make it 8-2.

The Patriots would round out their scoring in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a lead single by Rios, McEwen followed with her third hit on the day which would be her 180^th of her career, good for sixth in CIF San Diego Section history and also second in Eastcounty history behind only Northern Illinois star KAYTI GRABLE who played for Santana High from 2010-13 who had 191 in her prep career. Next up was Van Til who singled to load the bases, Caccamise followed with a 2-run single and Wright would drive in the final two runs to make it 12-2.

Also for McEwen, her double in the second inning was her 42^nd of her career tying her for fifth in San Diego CIF Section history and also tying her for third in Eastcounty history with LORENA KLOPP in who played at Steele Canyon from 2007-10. McEwen only trails Kayti Grable who tallied 44 doubles and AMANDA GRABLE who tallied 52 while at Santana from 2008-11.

James in the victory tossed 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 7 hits, walked 2 and fanned 4 on the day.

City Eastern League

Christian 7, Serra 4: A big sixth inning for the Patriots allows them to claim the league victory over the Conquistadors.

A double by SHANNON MCMAHON (2-4, R, 2B) and a single by ALEXA HENDERSON (2-2, R, RBI) to score McMahon gave the Patriots a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.

Serra would match the run as they were able to push one across in the bottom of the third to knot the score 1-1. They would again take advantage of opportunities in the bottom of the fourth which allowed them to score three more runs to take a 4-1 lead.

However Christian in the top of the fifth thanks to a lead single by MALLORY STEELE (1-3, R), she would advance to second and third on wild pitches, SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (1-1, 2R, 2B) walked, and error by the catcher allowed Steele to score making it 4-2, ASHLEY CARTER (1-3, R, 5 RBI, GSHR) laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Espinoza making it a 4-3 game.

Henderson would lead off for Christian in the top of the sixth with a single, TENAY BANEGAS (1-3, R) followed with a roped double, the Conquistadors intentionally walked Espinoza to load the bases which brought up Carter who on a 3-1 count took the offering and jacked it over the fence for the grand slam to give the Patriots the lead 7-4.

The three run lead for the Patriots would hole up as Carter was able to retire the Conquistadors in order 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning to procure the victory.

Carter for the Patriots went 7 innings for the complete game victory, giving up 4 runs on 9 hits, walked 1 and struck out 3 on the day.