Brawley claims next chapter, tops Sultans

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 24, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

SANTEE (3-24-22) – Five runs scored by the visiting Brawley Wildcats in the top of the fifth inning proved to be the difference in their 11-7 victory over Santana in non-league action on Thursday afternoon.

The Wildcats would start the scoring first as they took advantage of a passed ball by the Sultans allowing Aly Tapia to race in from third and score to make it 1-0, they would tack on another run when Caryzma Aguilar (2-4, R, 4 RBI, HR) grounded out allowing Isabella Yescas (3-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B) to score making it 2-0.

Santana though would answer in the bottom of the inning when McKenna Miller (RBI) grounded out which brought in Jordyn Beatty (3-4, 2R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) to cut the lead 2-1.

Brawley would answer back in the top of the second inning when Tapia doubled to center field and Brianna Sandoval (1-4, 2R) would race around and score on the throw to give them a 3-1 lead, later in the inning Caitlyn Padilla (2-3, R, 3 RBI, 2B) would add to the lead when she doubled in both Tapia and Jocelyn Ubence (1-1, 2R) to extend the lead 5-1.

Despite trailing the offense for the Sultans went back to work and answered as Samantha Sullivan (2-4, R, RBI, 2B) doubled in Taylinn Warren (2-4, R) and Sullivan would come around and score when Kassidy Harper (3-4, 2R, 2 RBI, HR) doubled her in to make it 5-3, the next batter Beatty came up and got a hold of one as she belted a two-run blast to tie the game at 5-5.

Once again though the Wildcats would steal the momentum as they took advantage of their opportunities in the top of the fifth inning.

A one-out single by Tapia followed by a walk to Ubence would bring up Yescas who would hit a hard hit ball to left field that brought in Tapia and Ubence who scored on the throw but would see Yescas thrown out at third base.

Now with two outs and leading 7-5 the Wildcats would receive back-to-back singles by Padilla and Kelsey Meza (2-4, R). The next batter Aguilar came up and on a 1-2 count belted a shot over the left-field fence for a three-run blast to extend the lead 10-5.

The Sultans would strike back with a run in the bottom of the inning when Harper hit a solo home run over the center-field fence to pull within 10-6.

Both Brawley and Santana would add runs in their respective halves of the sixth inning and despite allowing a runner in the bottom of the seventh the Wildcats would get out of it to claim the victory over a familiar foe.

Brawley improves to 10-3 with the win and has now won three in a row while the Sultans fall to 7-6.

Scripps Ranch 11, West Hills 3 (8 innings)

Santee (3-24-22) – With the score all knotted at 3-3 in the top of the eighth the Scripps Ranch Falcons busted the game open with eight runs scored to claim the victory over West Hills on Thursday afternoon.

The Wolf Pack would take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning behind Faith Balestreri reaching on an error allowing Ava Goodman to score and Samiya Wright doubling in Marina Morales.

They would retake the lead in the bottom of the third inning when Balestreri singled in Chirara Burgin to make it 3-2.

Later in the sixth inning, the Falcons would tie things up at 3-3 would string together multiple base hits in the extra-inning frame to score the eight runs as they would claim the victory.

Wright, Balestreri, and Alyssa Thornton each would collect a pair of hits in the game, and Lily Youngdale and Amaya Angeli each would have a hit.