Cougar Classic Roundup (3-6-18)

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 7, 2018

Santana's MADISON MENDEZ. / photo by Tammy Ryan - TRYAN PHOTOGRAPHY

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

COUGAR CLASSIC ROUNDUP

STEELE CANYON 7, OTAY RANCH 2

The Cougars came into the contest looking to continue their momentum on the season and started off right in the bottom of the first inning with a run.

With 2 outs, Audrey Bagge (2 R, SB) drew a walk, JJ Venzor (2-3, 2 R) singled which advanced Bagge to third, Venzor would steal second and Bagge would steal home to make it 1-0.

The slim 1-0 lead would be erased by the Mustangs in the top of the third as they pushed across a run to tie it at 1-1.

Steele Canyon retook the lead in the bottom of the third inning on a Tayler Thomas (2-2, R, 2 RBI) single to center that scored Venzor to make it 2-1, a couple batters later Elizabeth Bott (2-2, RBI) lined a single that scored Amanda Whipple making it 3-1 and finally Jazmin Alvarado (1-4, 2 RBI) singled scoring a couple more runs to extend the lead 5-1.

They would round out their scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning with a couple more runs to push their lead 7-2. Carly Logan (RBI) would hit a fly ball that scored Bagge and Venzor would also score on a sacrifice fly.

In the circle for the Cougars, Grace Richter went 6 innings, giving up 2 runs of which 1 was earned on 6 hits and walked 5 in the victory.

GRANITE HILLS 15, DEL NORTE 4

Right away the potent offense of the Granite Hills Eagles got things going in the top of the first inning as they pushed across four runs.

Leadoff hitter Haley Johnson (3-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B) roped a single to left field, Julia Tysling (2 R) came into run, a couple batters later with one out Amaya Esparza walked and with 2 outs Staci Chambers grounded out but the ball was misplayed allowing Esparza to score making it 1-0, McKenzie Boehm (2-2, 3R, 2 RBI) singled, Sydney Huse (1-4, R, 2 RBI) singled which scored Boehm and Esparza would score on an error by the left fielder, Kaylenn Valenzuela (2R, RBI) who came into run for Chambers scored on the same error to put the score at 4-0.

Granite Hills added a couple more runs in the top of the third to extend their lead to 6-0. The Nighthawks finally got on the board with a couple runs in the bottom of the third to make it 6-2. They would a couple innings later cut the deficit to two runs at 6-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning.

However, things really exploded for the Eagles in the top of the fifth as their offense just sizzled. With one out Catie Dobbs (1-1) singled, Kara Blanchard (1-1, 2R, 2 RBI) into run, Boehm ripped a double that scored Blanchard making it 7-4, an error and a walked followed, Valenzuela followed with a single that scored Boehm to make it 8-4, next up was Hayley Johnson who rammed a single that scored both Huse and Tysling to make it 10-4.

Next batter Brooke Bertussi (R, SB) laid down a bunt that was misplayed allowing Valenzuela to score making it 11-4, Bertussi stole second and Blanchard ripped a double which scored Johnson and Bertussi to make it 13-4, Baily Wallace (1-4, 2R, RBI, 2 SB) hammered a double that scored Blanchard to make it 14-4 and finally she would score a couple batters later as Boehm hit a fly ball for a sacrifice.

The double-digit lead was all the duo of Staci Chambers and Catie Dobbs needed on the evening. Chambers went 3 1/3 innings for the victory giving up 4 runs on 1 hit, walking 6 and striking out 5 while Dobbs came in and got the save going 1 2/3 innings giving up 0 runs on 1 hit and striking out 5.

In total, the Eagles pounded out 10 hits in their dominating victory.

SANTANA 5, LA COSTA CANYON 0

The Sultans would take an early 1-0 lead thanks to a MacKenzie Bennett (3-4, RBI) single that scored Madison Mendez (2-4, 2 RBI, 2B) who smashed a leadoff double to start the game.

The slim lead for the Sultans would hold up until the top of the fourth when they pushed across some more runs. With one out Nicole Madrigal (2-2, 2R, 2 RBI, 2 HR) took a 1-2 pitch and jacked it over the left field fence to extend the lead 2-0, Shelby Holmquist followed with a walk, Ashley Madrigal singled, Natalie Sims (1-3) bunted for a single, Mendez drove in both Holmquist and Madrigal as she roped a single to right field to make it 4-0.

Another solo dinger to left field by Nicole Madrigal made it 5-0 in the top of the fifth inning.

The five runs would be all Mendez needed as she went all 6 innings for a complete game victory, giving up 0 runs on 2 hits, walked 2 and struck out 6 on the day.

RANCHO BERNARDO 5, GROSSMONT 1

The Broncos got their bats going early in the top of the first as they pushed across a couple of runs to lead 2-0 thanks to a two-run jack.

Both teams would go back and forth for scoreless innings until the bottom of the fourth when Grossmont finally broke through. Leadoff batter Katie Appenzeller (RUN) drew a walk, a couple batters later Samaria Roope (1-3) singled, Jamie Medlin in for Roope, Jessica Medlin walked, Candace Henderson grounded back to the pitcher which allowed Appenzeller to score to cut the deficit 2-1. However, that would be all the Foothillers would garner.

Rancho Bernardo again would take advantage of opportunities in the top of the fifth inning to extend their lead 4-1.

Unfortunately, the Foothiller bats couldn’t wake up and were limited on the day to only 2 hits.

Roope on the evening went 6 innings, giving up 5 runs of which 3 were earned on 8 hits, walked 2 and struck out 9 in the loss.

OLP 8, VALHALLA 4

Things looked good for the Norsemen in the top of the first inning as Rachel Shelstrom with one out singled, Kennedy Labshere walked, Shelstrom stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.

However, the early lead didn’t last as the Pilots would score 5 runs in the bottom of the first inning which included a home run.

Valhalla would cut into the deficit as Sammy Green doubled, she advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Rylee McMillan groundball to make it 5-2.

Unfortunately, another home run in the bottom of the second for the Pilots extended their lead as they would make it 7-2.

Another Valhalla run in the top of the fourth starting with a Kelly Olson single, McMillan single to right scored Olson making it 7-3. Unfortunately, that would be the only run garnered for the Norsemen in the inning.

The Norsemen would go onto score another run in the top of the fifth inning as Jade Hill led off with a single, she advanced to second on a passed ball, stole third and scored on a Shelstrom line drive that was misplayed.

Despite the fourth run, the Norsemen offense couldn’t add anything else on the scoreboard for the evening.

ESCONDIDO 2, PATRICK HENRY 1

Unfortunately, for the Patriots it was a hard-luck loss as their bats couldn’t get going in their one-run loss on Tuesday evening. Both teams went back and forth until the top of the fourth when the Cougars broke through with a run to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Patriots were able to answer with a run of their own a couple innings later in the bottom of the sixth inning as Lauren Nett smashed a double and would score on a base hit by Savanah Chapman to tie the game at 1-1. Neither team would add another run so the contest went into International Tie Breaker rules which meant each team would get an opportunity as each team would start out with a runner on second base.

The Cougars would take advantage of their opportunity in the top of the eighth inning as they pushed across their runner to take a 2-1 lead. Patrick Henry in the bottom of the inning was able to get Laila Spracklen to third base but unfortunately couldn’t push her across, which ended the contest.

H. Jenks for the Patriots took the hard-luck loss as she went 7 innings, giving up 1 run which was earned, walked 0 and struck out an amazing 16 batters on the evening.