Vaqs extend streak; Hillers gain in D-2

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 6, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

UNIVERSITY CITY (4-5-22) – The El Capitan Vaqueros came into their non-league contest with the University City Centurions riding a seven-game winning streak and they were able to continue that streak with four runs scored over the second and third innings as they went to win 5-1 on Tuesday afternoon on the road.

The scoring for the Vaqueros started when Aubrey Thorne (1-3, R, RBI, 3B) roped a ball to right field for an RBI triple scoring Maddie Taylor (2-4, 2 R, 2B) who led off the inning with a double, the next batter Alyssa Fierro (1-3, R, RBI) would knock in Thorne with a ground ball out to make it 2-0.

El Capitan would add another pair of runs in the top of the third inning when Peyton Wells (2-3, 2 RBI) hit a ball to center field with two outs that allowed both Jojo Christiaens (2-4, R, 2B) and Taylor to come into score which made it 4-0.

Later in the top of the sixth inning, Dominique Garcia would lay down a perfect sacrifice and in doing so Fierro was able to race home and touch home plate to make it 5-1.

The five runs were all Brooke Horn would need as she only allowed one run on six hits over seven innings, striking out five on the day.

With the victory, the Vaqueros improve to 13-4 on the season.

Grossmont 8, Hilltop 6

FLETCHER HILLS (4-5-22) – A late-inning two-run single by Jenna Ennis in the bottom of the fifth inning helped propel the Hillers to victory in a home non-league contest over the Hilltop Lancers on Tuesday afternoon.

Alexyia Reyes would drive in the first run of the game for the Lancers as she laced a double to center field to score Mia Vega, later in the inning Elijah Medina would drive in Brinyxcia Buchan to extend the lead to 2-0.

Trailing didn’t bother the Foothillers as with two outs Katelynne Parent would cut into the deficit with an RBI double that plated Ashley Beard to make it 2-1.

Hilltop would add another run in the top of the second inning when Mia Tejada successfully stole home to make it 3-1. Another run scored in the top of the third inning courtesy of an RBI double by Sarah Vega would put the Lancers on top 4-1.

But the Foothillers in the bottom of the third inning would take the momentum when with two-outs Jade Daley belted a two-run blast over the left-field fence would pull them within 4-3. Scoring along with Daley on the blast was Natalie Emery who had come in as a courtesy runner for Caitlyn Potts.

Grossmont would eventually tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Iryana Oliver doubled in Emery and they would take the lead on a sacrifice fly by Faith Sandoval that allowed Ennis to race home to give the Hillers their first lead of the contest 5-4.

But the Lancers wouldn’t go away as they would wind up tying the game at 5-5 when Vega drove in Lily Hermosillo in the top of the fifth inning.

Grossmont wasn’t down about the Lancers tying the game up as with one out they would take advantage of back-to-back errors by the Lancers that allowed both Daley and Parent to reach base.

The following batter Eliana Vasquez would single to right field which loaded the bases. A couple of batters later with two outs, the Lancers made another crucial mistake when they uncorked a passed ball in which Daley raced home to make it 6-5 and Ennis would drive in both Parent and Vasquez to extend the lead even further.

Dezirae Miller would come into the game for the Hillers in relief of Potts who got the starting nod. She would allow a single run before finishing the Lancers off in order to finish the game out.

Potts picked up the win as she allowed five runs on nine hits over four and third innings, striking out one, Miller finishing things up recorded the save as she threw two and two-thirds innings in which she allowed one run on two hits while striking out three.

Grossmont moves to 10-6 on the season.