Patriots double-up Scripps Ranch

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 27, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

DEL CERRO (4-27-22) – Early on, it looked like the Patrick Henry Patriots (8-9-1 4-1 CWL) were going to roll but the offense for Scripps Ranch (5-15-1, 0-4 CWL) wouldn’t go down without a fight, but in the end, it was the Patriots who would come out on top, 2-6, on Wednesday afternoon in City Western League play.

Malia Savage (1-3, R, 2 RBI) of the Patriots would start things off with an RBI single to make it 1-0. Her base hit to center field would score Kaiah Altmeyer (1-3, 2 R, 2 SB) who led off with walk and would steal second base.

A couple of batters later Olivia Gigante (1-2, 2 R, RBI) would drive in Savage and advance Savannah Sutton (3-4, R, 2 RBI) to third base, she would come into score on a base hit by McKenna Gieger (1-4, R, RBI, SB) which made it 3-0. Patrick Henry would add another pair of runs courtesy of Leila Ludwig (1-3, 2 RBI) to extend the lead to 5-0.

Scripps Ranch would answer with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning as they would take advantage of an error by the Patriots. After a pair of walks, Zoe Wong would come up and line a single to center field but the ball would be misplayed allowing both the base runners to come into score to make it 5-2.

The Patriots would go on to tack onto their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Lily Glenn (1-3, R, RBI) drove in Maura Evans (1-3, R), a couple of batters later with the bases full Savage would draw a walk which allowed Jenna Mallari (1-2, 2 R, 2B) to trot home and Sutton followed with a two-run single that scored both Glenn and Altmeyer to make it 9-2.

The Falcons again would push across a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning to pull within 9-4. The momentum though would switch back to the Patriots after a double by Mallari who would come around to score when Altmeyer hit a ball that was misplayed to give them a 10-4 lead.

Patrick Henry would extend their lead even further in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI single by Josi Alvarado (1-1, RBI, SB) that scored Aubrey Purvis, and later Gigante would score on an error by the Falcons.

Leading 12-4 in the top of the seventh inning the Patriots looked to close things out and Zoe Rutherford who had been called in to pitch a couple of innings prior despite a lead-off walk would retire the next couple of batters. However, back-to-back doubles by the Falcons would make it 12-6 but that would be the closest they would get as Rutherford would get the last out to end the game.

Sophia Sanchez who got the start for the Patriots picked up the win as she allowed four runs on five hits over four innings of work, she also walked a couple of batters. Rutherford who came into the game in relief allowed two runs on three hits over three innings in which she walked two and struck out three.

For the Falcons, Tori Turfler took the loss in which she allowed 12 runs on 12hits over six innings of work and walked four on the day.