Santana, Granite are early Hills leaders

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 14, 2018

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

GROSSMONT HILLS LEAGUE

SANTANA 8, GROSSMONT 7

In one of the wackier games of the season, the Sultans hung on to pull out the slim victory in quite the non-prettiest of ways as Grossmont nearly erased a five-run deficit.

Both teams in the contest combined for 24 hits and 10 errors on the day.

Things looked good for the Sultans (14-3, 2-0) as they would go onto lead 8-3 on a single by freshman Joey Barkhimer who went 3-for-4 as well as a Grossmont miscue which would give the Sultans the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.

However much to the dismay of Santana the Grossmont Foothillers (12-7, 0-2) took advantage of some opportunities which included two Santana errors as well as two hits in the top of the fifth inning to score four runs to pull within 8-7.

With the tying run in scoring position, the Foothillers had a chance for more with two outs but Madison Mendez was able to garner the ground ball fielder’s choice out to end the inning.

For the Sultans, Mendez over the final two innings would only allow a single hit which would secure the victory.

“It was a weird game in that I expected a lower scoring game and also a cleaner game but we were able to get the job done,” said Mackenzie Bennett who had an RBI double in the contest.

Santana on the day pounded out 15 hits which included the duo of Ashley Madrigal and Shelby Holmquist going 2-for-4 with doubles. Other contributors included Mendez who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Emma Leggett who went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

For Grossmont, Samaria Roope went 2-for-4, Kati Contreras went 2-for-5, Candace Henderson went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a double, Katie Appenzeller had a double, Aly Allmann went 1-for-4 with 2 runs and Jessica Medlin scored a run and had 2 RBIs.

GRANITE HILLS 7, STEELE CANYON 0

The Eagles continued their momentum from the previous game to slow the Cougars (13-5, 1-1) offense and come away with the convincing Grossmont Hills League victory.

It started for Granite Hills (10-6, 1-0) in the top of the first when Rylee Omahen (2-3, R, RBI, SB) singled to lead off, she advanced to third as Brooke Bertussi (R, RBI) reached on an error, Omahen would steal home safely to make it 1-0, Staci Chambers (2-3, R, 2 RBI, 3B, HR) followed with a roped triple that scored Bertussi to make it 2-0.

The Eagles would add to their lead in the top of the fourth as Chambers led off with a rocket shot over the center field fence for the home run to lead 3-0. A couple batters later Sydney Huse (2-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B) would double to score Bailey Wallace (1-3, 2R) who singled which made it 4-0 and Omahen would drive in Huse to make it 5-0.

Granite Hills would add a run in the top of the sixth and another in the top of the seventh inning to round out their scoring.

On the day the Eagles offense had 12 hits which included Haley Johnson going 2-for-4 with a double and McKenzie Boehm going 2-for-4 with a run and a double.

The only hit on the day for the Cougars was a single by Audrey Bagge in the bottom of the first inning.

For the Eagles, Catie Dobbs tossed a complete game 7 inning 1 hit shutout, walked 4 while and fanning 12.

In the loss for the Cougars, Grace Richter went 7 innings giving up 7 runs on 12 hits while walking 5 and striking out 1.