West Hills, El Capitan, Valhalla get wins

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 9, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

SANTEE – A day after beating Bonita Vista the West Hills Wolf Pack kept the momentum rolling as they rolled the Point Loma Pointers, 10-0 in five innings, on Thursday (Apr.8).

West Hills (2-0) would score the first run of the contest when Alyssa Thornton hit a ball that was misplayed allowing Shannon Kim (3-4, R, 2 RBI, 2 SB) to score to make it 1-0 early on.

They would add two more runs in the bottom of the second inning thanks to Maddie Edwards (2-2, 2R, 2 RBI) who knocked in Emily Bird (2R), and later Callia Rooks (1-4, RBI) would drive in Kim to extend the lead 3-0.

Another run for West Hills in the bottom of the third inning when Amaya Angeli (1-3, 2 RBI) reached on an error that allowed Naomi Kai (1-2, 2R) to score, the next batter Kim would drive in Ava Trenkle (RUN) which made it 5-0.

By now the Wolf Pack were taking advantage of their opportunities and they would again in the bottom of the fourth inning as multiple walks would lead to another run.

With the bases full, Edwards would draw a walk to bring Thornton home to make it 6-0.

Angeli followed with a base hit that brought home both Kai and Emily Byrd and Kim followed that up with a bunt hit down the third-base line which allowed Edwards to race home to make the score 9-0.

The final run for the Pack came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Thornton singled to center field allowing Sabrina Brown to come around from second all the way home to score. With that run, the game was called due to the run rule.

For Point Loma (1-4), Cassidy Sauner took the loss as she allowed 5 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits in 3 innings of work while walking 2 and striking out 2.

Despite allowing 8 hits on the day Lily Youngdale for West Hills tossed 5 innings for the complete-game win in which she struck out 1 on the day.

HILLTOP TOURNAMENT

EL CAPITAN 13 (4-1), CALEXICO 2 (4-3) 5 innings

LAKESIDE– It was a big day at the plate for Brooklyn Fukushima (2-3, 2R, 4 RBI, 2B) as she helped pace the El Capitan Vaqueros to the convincing victory on Thursday.

Early on the Bulldogs would take charge first as they were able to take an early 2-0 lead thanks to multiple base hits and a miscue by the Vaqueros.

However, the Bulldogs momentum wouldn’t last as the Vaqueros started their own rally with lead hitter Hailey Mulligan (1-4, R) reaching on an error, back-to-back base hits by Alyssa Fierro (1-2, R) and Ava Gall (3-4, R, RBI) would load the bases.

The very next batter Fukushima would rip the pitch to center field for a double that scored both Mulligan and Fierro to tie the game at 2-2. With runners on second and third Jojo Christiaens (3-3, R, 3 RBI) would follow with a base hit to score Gall.

Dayla McAuliffe (RBI) would walk which allowed Fukushima to score, then Alexis Mc Daniel (RUN) came in to run. Alex Burrough (1-3, R) reached on an error that scored a run, Brandy Taylor (1-2, 2R, 2 RBI) would drive in both Brooke Horn (RUN) and Mc Daniel which made it 7-2, Gall would come back up and drive in Burrough, Fukushima singled in both Taylor and Fierro.

It was a hit and run-fest for the Vaqueros in the bottom of the first inning and it wasn’t even over as Christiaens came up to bat and would drive in both Dom Garcia(1-1, R, RBI) and Fukushima to give the Vaqueros a 12-2 lead.

Later in the bottom of the fourth inning, Garcia of the Vaqueros would drive in Taylor to give them a 13-2 lead.

The eleven-run lead wouldn’t be relinquished as McAuliffe would retire the Bulldogs in order in the top of the fifth to finish things off.

El Capitan on the day would scatter thirteen hits and six batters would drive in runs.

McAuliffe would garner the complete game five-inning victory in which she gave up 2 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3 on the day.

VALHALLA 6 (3-3), CLAIREMONT 1 (1-7)

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – The big bat of Maryn Jordan (3-4, 2R, 3 RBI, 3 2B, SB) would drive in three runs and double three times and would spur the Norsemen in the late innings to victory on Thursday.

Jordan would give Valhalla a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as she doubled in Naomi Villalva (1-3, R).

Both teams would have various opportunities to score runs but it wouldn’t be until the top of the fourth inning when the Chieftains scored to tie the game at 1-1.

Moving along to the bottom of the fifth inning with the score still tied the Norsemen would finally break thru as Cadyn Ruffer (1-4, 2R, 2B, 2 SB) with one-out double to left field and would advance to third on the throw, Jordan followed with a hard-hit ball to center to bring in Ruffer and Jordan would end up at second for the double, she would come around to score when Abby Johnston (2-3, R, 2 RBI) followed with a base hit. Later in the inning, she scored on a ball hit by Aubrielle McKee that was misplayed.

Leading 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning the Norsemen would add more thanks to Jordan who again would double in Ruffer and Johnston followed with a base hit to bring in Jordan to give them a 6-1 lead.

That would be all McKayla Fish would need as she only allowed a base hit with two outs in the top of the seventh before getting the final out of the game.

Fish garnered the victory as she went 7 innings in which she only gave up 1 run (earned) on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 7.

As for Jordan and her three doubles. The three doubles according to the San Diego Section CIF Record book ties her for second-most with a long list of players including tied for first in East County history with former Steele Canyon Standout Lorena Klopp who accomplished the feat back in 2007 against Carlsbad.

UNIVERSITY CITY 5 (3-1-1), STEELE CANYON 4 (3-4)

UNIVERSITY CITY – With the score tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out Kyla Parco would come thru in the clutch with a base hit to drive in the game-winning run on Thursday.

The Cougars would get on the board first in the top of the first inning courtesy of Tayler Thomas (1-4, RBI) who with two outs singled to right field to bring in Kamea Seunanne (1-4, R) to make it 1-0.

But the Centurions would answer with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning as they used a two-out ordeal of back-to-back-to-back singles to take a 2-1 lead.

University City once again would strike a blow against the Cougars with two outs as they were able to take advantage of a walk and an error to extend their lead to 3-1.

However, Steele Canyon would scratch across a run and cut the deficit to 3-2 as Madi Villaescusa (run) who led off the inning with a walk would come into score on a Centurions fielding error.

Later in the top of the sixth inning, the Cougars struck again as Allyson Haessly (RUN) walked with one out, she would advance to second on a passed ball and come around to score when Marley Rimoldi (1-2, RBI) with two outs singled to right field.

Moving to the bottom of the inning and score tied 3-3, the Centurions would take advantage of an error to lead off the inning as that runner would score when Elisa Garcia doubled.

Down to their final at-bats, the Cougars needed a spark and boy did they get that jolt as Jazmin Williams (1-3, R, RBI, HR) on a 1-2 count blasted her second home run of the season over the center-field fence to once again tie the game at 4-4.

Unfortunately, the Centurions would start the next inning with a double by Ashley Legler, she would advance to third on a ground out. Multiple walks to the next two batters would bring up Parco who would drive in Legler.

Taking the loss for the Cougars was Davina Moya who in her 6 1/3 innings of work gave up 5 runs (2 earned) on 8 hits while walking 4 and striking out 2.

On the other side, it was Legler who in her 7 innings of work picked up the win in which she gave up 4 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits while walking 5 and fanning 14 on the day.