Eagles’ Dobbs spins second no-hitter; Monarchs win

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 18, 2019

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

East County Sports staff report

ENCINITAS (3-19-2019) – It’s hard to believe, but Granite Hills hasn’t captured the championship of the Falcon Fiesta since 2007.

It’s something not to be embarrassed about since only one school in the 20-year history of the premier tournament has ever repeated as titlists.

Last season, the Eagles came close, falling in the finale to Mission Hills, so this season’s edition of the ballclub seems more determined than ever.

And they proved it during Monday’s (Mar. 18) Fiesta opener.

Granite Hills needed an inning to shake off the effects by being stalled by traffic on Interstate 5, then erupted to match a season-best 11 runs in the 2nd inning, opening the third decade of Fiesta action by deposing of host San Dieguito Academy, 12-0, in five innings.

The party started early when Staci Chambers belted a grand slam, while McKenzie Boehm knocked in two runs without the aid of a base hit, to bury the host Mustangs early.

While Chambers receives the majority of the press based on her hitting and pitching, it was Catie Dobbs who dominated in the circle for this one, She equaled Chambers’ effort from opening day by also firing a no-hitter.

Dobbs, a senior, dominated by recording 10 of her 15 outs on strikes. needing just 81 pitches to complete her masterpiece.

For Dobbs, it was her second no-hitter of the season. Earlier, she also turned the trick against Vista, in an identical 12-0 score.

Dobbs, it could be argued, did even better at the plate. She batted 2-for-2 and walked twice. In addition, teammate Haley Johnson also recorded a pair of hits, while Baily Wallace reached three times with a single and a pair of walks.

Granite Hills moved to 6-3 with the triumph.

MONTE VISTA 7, HOLTVILLE 2: At Spring Valley, Ionna Upham blasted a pair of doubles, while Kayla Gonzalez and Ionna Upham each added triples, lifting the Monarchs past the visiting Vikings in Monday’s (Mar. 18) non-league contest.

Holtville (3-5) scored twice in the 1st inning, but Monte Vista (4-3) responded with seven unanswered runs.

Abigail Johnston, following a tough extra-inning loss, bounced back with her second straight victory. She struck out five Vikings without a walk, with both runs coming unearned.

Monte Vista scored on five of the team’s six trips to the plate, including single runs over the first three innings to overcome a 2-0 deficit. Included were RBI singles by Johnston in the 1st, a sacrifice squeeze bunt from Alexis Cervantes in the 2nd, then a go-ahead double by Johnston. The blast brought home Ionna Upham (lead single), who batted 3-for-4 and scored twice.

For Holtville, freshman Mariah Velasco registered the team’s lone RBI with a two-out base hit.

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