Norse, Hillers, Grizzlies win at Cougar Classic

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 3, 2021

Naomi Villalva delivers on Friday. / Valhallahs_softball

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

ESCONDIDO – Valhalla’s Naomi Villalva didn’t allow a single run, and the offense scored six early to win pretty easily over Point Loma, 8-0, on Friday (Apr. 2) at Kit Carson Park

Valhalla started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Maryn Jordan hit a ball that was misplayed which allowed Aubrielle McKee to score to make it 1-0.

Later in the inning a bases-loaded walk by Abby Johnston brought home Jordan making it 2-0, the final run of the inning came when Cadyn Ruffer successfully stole home.

Moving to the bottom of the second inning the Norsemen started off with back-to-back hits by Marissa Lupo and Villalva.

A couple of batters later Lup would come into score when Jordyn singled to left field. Later in the inning with two outs Valhalla would take advantage of an error by the Pointers that would allow both Jordyn and Ruffer to score to make it 6-0.

Moving along to the bottom of the sixth inning the Norsemen tacked on their final two runs on a Ruffer hit by a pitch to score Bailey Lenz and with two outs a walk by Allie Piscopo brought in Bella Moscoso.

Villalva in the circle tossed six innings of one-hit ball in which she allowed no runs while striking out four.

Valhalla moves to 1-2; Point Loma is winless in three starts.

GROSSMONT 4, MT. CARMEL 2
ESCONDIDO – The Grossmont Foothillers grab the lead late with what would end up being the game-winning run when Alison Murphy drives in Alyssa Bolden in the bottom of the fourth inning on Friday to defeat Mt. Carmel, 4-2

The Sundevils (3-3) would strike first with a run in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.

Grossmont (2-1) would threaten with two outs in the bottom of the second inning when Bolden roped a double to right field. Unfortunately, she would be stranded as the next batter was retired to end the inning.

Moving along to the bottom of the third inning the Foothillers would take advantage of their opportunities and score two runs to take a 2-1 lead.

Caitlyn Potts would hit into a fielder’s choice and the lead runner would be thrown out, the next batter with one out Natalie Emery singled advancing Potts to second, Kimmy Bond followed with a base hit to load the bases.

Only one out and the bases full up stepped Jade Daley who knocked in both Potts and Emery with a base hit to left field.

The one-run lead by the Foothillers would be short-lived as the Sundevils would tie the game at 2-2 behind a double and an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning.

Even though the momentum was taken back the Foothillers would go back to work in the bottom of the fourth inning with a run of their own set up by a double by Bolden.

Later in the game and leading by a run Grossmont would get the bats swinging in the bottom of the sixth inning starting with back-to-back hits by Katelynn Parent and Bolden.

A couple of batters later after a double-play ball, Alison Becker singled to advance Parent to third base. She would come into score when on the next play Potts lined a single to left field.

For Grossmont, Potts picked up the win in which she allowed two runs on four hits in six innings of work, she also walked one and struck out three.

MISSION HILLS 7, STEELE CANYON 1
ESCONDIDO – Big day for Ariel Lopez Fifita of Mission Hills as she knocked in four runs and scored twice in the victory on Friday.

Lopez Fifita sparked the first run for the Grizzlies in the top of the first inning with a base hit to lead off the game, she would later steal second and third base and would score on a Steele Canyon error to make it 1-0.

Once again Lopez Fafita would do damage as she would knock in a run in the second inning with a double to center field to make it 2-0. She would add more to her stat line in the top of the fourth inning when she blasted a three-run home run to give the Grizzlies a 5-0 lead. They would add another run in the inning to lead 6-0.

The Grizzlies’ final run of the evening came in the top of the fifth inning to make it 7-0.

Steele Canyon (2-2) wouldn’t be shutout as they would score in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Leadoff hitter Kamea Seunanne would walk, Breanna Perez would single for what would be the only hit of the game or the Cougars.

The next batter, Breanna Lakin, hit a ball that was misplayed by the Grizzlies (2-1) which would allow Seunanne to come into score making 7-1.