GHL: Highlanders edge Steele Canyon

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 20, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

LA MESA (4-19-22) – Despite allowing the Steele Canyon Cougars (12-8-1, 1-2, GHL) to position themselves to tie things up the last couple of innings the Helix Highlanders (14-5, 3-0 GHL) held on for the 4-3 victory on Tuesday afternoon in Grossmont Hills action.

Helix would score the game’s first run in the bottom of the second when with two outs Ivy Greene (1-2, R, RBI) lined a single to left field to bring home Amber Young (1-3, R). They would tack on another run in the bottom of the second after a one-out double by Angel Riggins (1-4, R, 2B) would lead to her scoring when Young hit a ball that was misplayed to make it 2-0.

The Highlanders would extend their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Danika Munoz (1-3, R, RBI, HR) belted her first-ever home run over the left-field fence to lead off the inning.

But the Cougars wouldn’t be held down as they would break thru in the top of the sixth inning after a one-out single by Isabella Azevedo (1-3, R) would lead to her scoring when Jazmin Williams (2-4, 2 R, 2B) hit a ball that was misplayed and she would end up at third base. The very next batter Allyson Haessly (1-4, 2 RBI) would lay down a sacrifice bunt that would score Williams to pull within 3-2.

Steele Canyon would threaten in the top of the sixth as Janea Wilson (2-3, 2B) hit a one-out double to left field but she would be stranded as Sophia Ramuno would retire the next couple of batters to end the inning.

Still leading by a run in the bottom of the sixth the Highlanders would tack on an insurance run thanks to an RBI double by Kori Jonilonis (1-4, 2B, RBI) scoring Greene to make it 4-2. That insurance run would come into play as the Cougars in the top of the seventh inning with two outs would pull within a run to make things interesting.

With two outs Williams would lace a double to left field followed by her scoring when Haessly drove her in on a single to left and advanced to second on the throw. Still, with two outs and the tying run at second base, the Cougars were in business as Abby Curran would walk but Ramuno would strike out the next batter to end things.

Shellstrom for the Cougars took the loss as she allowed four runs on eight hits over six innings of work in which she walked one and struck out two.

Her counterpart Ramuno picked up the complete seven-inning victory in which she allowed three runs on six hits while walking three and striking out eight on the day.

Santana 6, Granite Hills 3

SANTEE (4-19-22) – With the score tied at three apiece in the bottom of the sixth inning the Santana Sultans (9-10, 1-2 GHL) were able to claim the lead for good as they pushed across three runs in the bottom of the inning and make them hold up for the victory over Granite Hills (11-6-1, 1-1 GHL) on Tuesday afternoon.

Granite Hills would early on take a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning courtesy of an RBI single by Kaleigh Baugher (1-2, RBI) that brought home Taylor Rose (1-2, R, RBI, 2B).

However, the Sultans would take advantage of opportunities in the bottom of the fourth with two outs when Hailey Phillips (1-3, 2B, 4 RBI) doubled in Jordyn Beatty (2 R), Kassidy Harper (1-3, 2 R) and Haley Oceguera (1-2, 2 R, RBI) to take a 3-1 lead.

But the Eagles would answer with a run in the top of the fifth inning as Sofia Mujica (1-2, R, RBI, HR) with two outs belted her tenth home run of the season over center field fence to make it 3-2. They would tie the game in the top of the sixth inning when Rose doubled in Audrey Smale (1-4, R, 2B) who led off the inning with a double.

Santana though would answer right back as Oceguera would knock in Jordyn Beatty for the go-ahead run which was followed by Phillips grounding out and in the process Harper racing home to make it 5-3 and the next batter Kaitlyn Ours driving in Oceguera to round out the scoring.

Now leading by a score of 6-3 the Sultans were in business and Ashtyn Niemic was brought in to close things out. However, the game would get interesting thanks to a lead double by Chloe Knepp (1-3, 2B) and a walk to Mujica to bring the tying run to the plate. Knepp would actually advance to third base on a wild pitch.

With the tying run coming to the plate with both Knepp at third and Mujica at first things was looking really good for the Eagles. However, the luck would change as Niemiec would get Kailey Sandoval to line into a double play as Aurelia Dawson who was at second caught the ball and was able to fire to first base to double off Mujica at first base. Now with two outs and Knepp still at third base, Niemiec was able to strike out the next batter to end the game.

Rose who came into the contest in relief took the loss in which she allowed three runs on three hits over two innings of work, striking out two. Baugher who got the starting nod went four innings in which she gave up three runs on three hits while walking one and striking out three to get the no-decision.

For the Sultans, Niemiec would get the win in relief as she only allowed a hit while walking one and striking out one in her inning of work. Starter Gracie Johnston who earned a no-decision went five and two-thirds innings in which she gave up three runs on four hits while walking three and striking out three.