D-3: Patriots rally late, down Wolf Pack

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 19, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

SANTEE (5-19-22) – Trailing late in the contest the visiting Christian Patriots (20-11) would score two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game and in the top of the ninth would push across four more runs to claim the victory over the second-seeded West Hills Wolf Pack (12-8) on Thursday in a CIFSDS Division III contest..

The Patriots who earned the seventh seed and won their play-in contest started the scoring early as Allyson Moody (3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR) homered over the center-field fence for a 1-0 lead. But that early lead would be wiped out in the bottom of the first inning when Naomi Kai (2-5, RBI) drove in Amaya Angeli (1-5, 2 R) to tie the game up.

Christian would retake the lead in the top of the third inning when Tyler Krystek (3-6, R, 2 RBI, 2B) roped a double to center field that allowed Giselle Colmenero (1-3, R) to race around and score.

Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning the momentum was all in favor of the Patriots but the Pack would grab it back as they took advantage of multiple opportunities. Leadoff hitter Callia Rooks (RUN) walked, Angeli reached on an error and Lily Youngdale (1-3, R) singled to load the bases.

Later in the inning with two outs and the bases still full Faith Balestreri (2-4, 3 RBI, 2B) would change that as she ripped a ball to right field that cleared the bases for a double and give the Wolf Pack a 4-2 lead.

Christian would threaten in the top of the fourth inning with one out as Lucy Sherburne (2-5, R) singled which was followed by a walk to Kaitlyn Moody (RBI), however Alyssa Thornton (1-5) was able to get out of the inning without any damage done.

Still trailing by a pair of runs and down to their last opportunity, the Patriots knew they had to get something going. Things started off on the right foot as Hannah Mroz (4-4, R) led off with a single to center field and then the momentum changed as there was an attempted pickoff move and the ball was misplayed allowing Mroz to come all the way around from first base and score to bring the Patriots within 4-3.

Now only down by a run Krystek would single to left field, she would advance to second on the sacrifice bunt by Kate Manes (3-5, R) and would come around and score when Allyson Moody lined a single to center field which tied the game at 4-4.

West Hills again threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning as Thornton and Balestreri each singled but Allyson Moody would get out of the inning with no harm done.

A couple of innings later in the top of the ninth the Patriots started off with a lead hit by Kate Manes who would advance to second base on a wild pitch, she would come into score when Moody lined a base hit to right field to make it 5-4, after a ball hit by Sherburne was misplayed allowing Moody to advance to third base Kaitlyn Moody (RBI) would knock her in on a ground ball out to make it 6-4 and Ashley Wood (2-5, R, RBI) followed with a double to center field that plated Sherburne and later Krystek singled in Wood to round out the scoring.

Now with renewed momentum, the Patriots looked to put things away but things started a little shaky as Youngdale led off with a walk. However, Moody would get Thornton to line a shot that she caught and threw to first base for the double play. The next batter Kai would line out to Krystek at second base for the final out of the game.

Thornton who got the start for the Pack took the loss as she went all nine innings in which she allowed eight runs of which five were earned on eighteen hits while walking three and striking out one on the day.

On the other side, Moody garnered the victory as she went all nine innings in which she allowed four runs of which one was earned on twelve hits while walking two and striking out three on the day.

With the loss, the Wolf Pack will take on Coronado in the challenger’s bracket on Saturday.

Christian on the other hand advances to take on Calexico who defeated Coronado 5-4. The game will be played down in Calexico on Saturday.