COUGARS OUTLAST HORNS IN SLUGFEST

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 1, 2018

STEELE CANYON following its season-opening win on Wednesday.

EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

FALCON FIESTA

STEELE CANYON 11, RBV 10

The Cougars traveled up to the North County for their opening round of the Falcon Fiesta tournament and were able to claim a wild one against the Longhorns.

Things started in the top of the first inning when leadoff hitter Jazmin Alvarado (1-3, 2 R, 2B) walked and a couple batters later Audrey Bagge (3-5, 2 R) singled putting runners on first and second.

The next batter JJ Venzor (3-5, 5 RBI, 3 R, HR) would reach on an error that scored Alvarez to make it 1-0, Bagge advanced to third and Venzor moved to second.

The Cougars would get a jolt a couple batters later with 2 outs as Maggie Carpenter (2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI) hammered a 3-run jack to put the Cougars up 4-0.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Longhorns would cut the Cougar lead in half as they scored a couple runs to pull within 4-2.

However, in the top of the fourth, Steele Canyon would tack on more runs thanks to another home run. This time the long bomb was hit by Venzor over the center field fence which scored DJ Dumeng (2-2) who led off with a single and also Bagge who singled as well. With the blast the Cougars now led 7-2.

Unfortunately, the Longhorns pulled within a run in the bottom of the fourth with 4 runs and would tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Steele Canyon would retake the lead in the top pf the sixth thanks to another 2-run homer this time by Bianca Morales (1-5, R, 2 RBI, HR) that also plated Venzor who single prior.

With the Cougars now leading 9-7 heading into the bottom of the inning the Longhorns took advantage of opportunities and actually took their first lead of the contest 10-9.

So with the Cougars down to their final outs heading to the top of the seventh, they knew they had to get something going.

Unfortunately, things didn’t start out right as the first two batters were retired.

Down to the final out, up stepped Alvarado who on a 1-2 count promptly smashed a double to right. The next batter Elizabeth Bott (2 R) stepped to the plate and hit a grounder to third which was misplayed allowing her to reach and keep hope alive. The next batter for the Cougar was Bagge who hit a ball to short which went for a single which advanced the runners.

Still, with two outs and the bags full the Cougars looked to keep things going as Venzor came to bat. On a 3-1 count, she smashed the ball for a hard grounder to center which scored Alvarez and also Bott was able to score on the throw to give the Cougars the lead again 11-10.

With only a one-run lead the game was far from over but Grace Richter who was in the circle for the Cougars was able to retire the Longhorns in order to preserve the one-run lead and garner the victory.

Ricter tossed a complete game for the victory which was her first varsity victory.