Highlander wins of different nature

LA MESA – The Helix Highlanders held off a late rally by the Pt. Loma Pointers on Wednesday afternoon to secure their fifth straight victory, 3-2.

Helix had plenty of batters reach base on the day but not many runs to show for it, with their only scoring action coming in the second inning.

Left fielder JOLENE GILES (1B, R) led the inning off with a line-drive single into left field, followed by catcher IVY GREENE (BB, HBP) reaching via a hit by pitch.

Second baseman ASHTON ISBELL (BB, R) drew a walk to load the bases and shortstop AUDREY KULL (1B, RBI, 2 BB) singled through the 5-6 hole, scoring Gilres for the first run of the day.

One out later, third baseman NICOLE HERNANDEZ (1B, BB, 2 RBI) placed a single in the outfield gap, scoring the speedy middle infield combo of Isbell and Kull for Helix’s final scores of the game.

Highlander pitcher LILLY WHITE got the start, scattering four hits across the first 5 2/3 innings before the Pointers finally broke through in the top of the sixth.

First baseman MORGAN MYERS lined an 0-1 pitch over the left-field fence, narrowing the score to 3-1.

CASSIDY SAUNAR followed with a double and MEGAN O’DONNELL drove her in with a double of her own.

With a one-run lead, White exited the game in line for the win, with SOPHIA RAMUNO looking to close it out.

Ramuno indeed secured the victory, retiring the final four batters in short order.

White (5.2 IP, 7 K, 2 ER) ended the day with the pitching win, and Ramuno (1.1 IP, 2 K) got the save.

Helix 11, Morse 0 (5 inn., Slugger Madness Tournament)

SAN DIEGO – Helix’s pitching staff spun their third consecutive shutout as JIOVANA NUANEZ went the distance in a run-rule shortened game on a chilly Tuesday afternoon.

Morse’s ANGELINA BORJA caught the Helix defense asleep in the first, leading off with a bunt single. During the following at-bat, Highlander catcher ISABELLA BORDINE threw Borja out in an attempted steal of second base.

The bunt single was Morse’s only offensive performance of note as Nuanez subsequently did not allow a single Morse batter to reach base, striking out 10 and facing the minimum 15 batters in the “almost” perfect game.

“It’s good to take one game at a time,” Nuanez said. “Things like championships are always in the back of our mind but the games in front of us should have first priority.

Offensively, the Highlanders scored two in the second, thanks to a fielding error and singles by AMBER YOUNG (2 1B, 2B, 4 RBI), IVY GREENE (1B, 2 BB, RBI), and ANGEL RIGGINS (1B, RBI).

Helix added two more in the third inning, with three consecutive singles by Bordine (1B, 2B, RBI), KORI JONILONIS (1B, 2 R), and JOLENE GILES (2 1B, 2B, 2 RBI), followed by a double by Young.

The Highlanders continued to add runs in the fourth inning, with hits from ASHTON ISBELL (1B, 3 BB), Giles, Young, and DANIKA MUNOZ (1B, BB, 2 RBI).

In the top of the fifth, Helix surpassed the run-rule limit with walks to Isbell and NICOLE HERNANDEZ followed by run-scoring doubles from Bordine and Giles.

Helix hasn’t allowed a run in 19 consecutive innings.

“My pitch of choice today was my curveball,” Nuanez said. “We have a lot of talented girls on this team and a great coaching staff. Our outfield helped clinch this one-hitter and our offense was super-solid. Everyone had a great approach in the batter’s box.”