Tough day For Eagles, Sultans, Vaqueros

By Adam Paul
Updated: June 10, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

CARMEL HIGHLANDS – Early runs scored by the Torrey Pines Falcons were hard to overcome for the Granite Hills Eagles as they lost 2-1 on Wednesday (June 9) in the first round of the CIF Division I playoffs.

Granite Hills with the loss will now travel back up to the North County to take on San Pasqual on Thursday (June 10) at 3:30 PM.

Torrey Pines would strike first in the bottom of the first inning when Georgia Bilski drove in Kyra Chan to make it 1-0. They would go onto add another run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Chan drove in Carly Silveira to give them a 2-0 lead.

The Eagles would put runners on in the top of the fifth inning with two outs starting with a base hit by Kiki Sandoval which was followed by Sofia Mujica being hit by a pitch. However, both would be stranded as the Falcons were able to get out of the inning without any harm done.

A couple of innings later in the top of the seventh inning, the Eagles down to their final at-bat finally got going as Jenna Haynal led off with a walk, Casillas followed with a base hit as did Sandoval which loaded the bases with no outs.

Granite Hills was in business as there were no outs and they had the bases packed with runners and Mujica coming up to bat but she would strike out, Kayla Fox would hit into a fielders’ choice that did score Haynal to make it 2-1. Unfortunately, that would be all the Eagles would get as Makenna Hines would ground out to end the game.

Chloe Knepp for the Eagles took the hard-luck loss as she only allowed two runs on eight hits while striking out one over six innings of work.

Brawley 6, Santana 4
SANTEE – Three runs scored by the Brawley Wildcats in the first inning was too much for Santana despite out hitting the Wildcats.

The Wildcats would score the game’s first run when Dilynn Gill hit a sacrifice fly to right field which made it 1-0, they would take a 2-0 lead when Tamara Carranza raced home on a passed ball.

Leading 2-0 the Wildcats would push across another run when Brianna Hoffman doubled in Caryn Aguilar to make it 3-0.

But Santana would answer back in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of runs that came when Gilliane Johnston knocked in Natalie Sims which was followed by Taylin Warren driving in Johnston to make it 3-2.

However, Brawley in the top of the fourth inning would add to their lead thanks to an RBI double by Carranza and later would score when Aly Tapia hit a ground ball to make it 5-2.

Later in the top of the sixth inning, the Wildcats would score again thanks to an RBI single by Gill which extended their lead to 6-2.

Santana in the bottom of the seventh inning would score a pair of runs starting with Warren leading off with a triple and would come home on a ground ball out by Sammi Sullivan, later in the inning, Isabella Cyman would drive in Jordyn Beatty to make it 6-4. However, that would be all the Sultans would get as the Wildcats would retire the next batter to end the game.

For the Sultans, Joey Barkhimer got the starting nod and would take the loss as she only lasted 3 1/3 innings in which she gave up 5 runs on six hits while walking 5 and striking out 1, Ashtyn Niemiec came in and finished things up as she tossed 3 2/3 innings in which she gave up 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 1.

Brawley was led by Marissa Pena who got the win as she allowed 4 runs on 10 hits over 7 innings of work while walking 1 and striking out 5.

With the loss, the Sultans will host Ramona on Thursday at 3:30 PM in an elimination game while Brawley will travel to San Marcos to take on the second-seeded Knights at 3:30 PM.

Otay Ranch 8, El Capitan 3
OTAY – Otay Ranch on Wednesday afternoon took advantage of their opportunities as they scored seven runs over the first three innings of play to win against the visiting El Capitan Vaqueros on Wednesday afternoon in CIF Division II first-round action.

El Capitan would answer with three runs in the top of the fourth inning but that would be all they would muster as they were only limited to a single hit on the day.

The Vaqueros with the loss will now take on the La Costa Canyon Mavericks in a contest that was originally scheduled for Friday but has been moved to Monday afternoon.

Otay Ranch with the win will now host University City on Friday afternoon.