Cougar Classic: Eagles exorcise Barons

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 7, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

ESCONDIDO – Five runs scored over the first couple of innings were all the Granite Hills Eagles needed to go on and defeat the Bonita Vista Barons, 5-2 in five innings, in Cougar Classic tournament action at Kit Carson Park on Monday (Mar 6).

The Eagles got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning courtesy of an RBI single by Makayla Tileia (2-3, RBI) with two outs who would drive in Kailey Sandoval (1-3, R, 2B) who had doubled in the inning.

Leading 1-0 the Eagles tacked on another run quite quickly as Kailey Baugher (2-2, R, RBI, HR) led off the second inning with a solo shot to left field, later in the inning Sofia Mujica (1-3, R, 3 RBI, HR) would belt a three-run blast over the left field fence. Scoring on the home run were Jenna Haynal (1-3, R) and Esther Cerda (2-3, R).

Bonita Vista would push across a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning but that would be all they would get as Baugher who would come into the game in the third inning would shut down the Baron’s offense the rest of the way.

Granite Hills offensively had eleven hits in the game.

Mujica with her home run inches closer to history to not only East County, and Grossmont conference history but CIF history as well.

She now has thirty-four for her career which ties both Olivia Gigante of Patrick Henry and Kayti Grable of Santana for the all-time East County mark. She also with her next home run will be not only the all-time East County leader but the all-time Grossmont Conference leader

Peyton Wells who started the contest went two innings, allowing two runs on three hits while Baugher finished up with three innings of shut-out ball as she allowed three hits and fanned four.

With the victory, the Eagles improve to 4-1 on the season.

Elsewhere

Rancho Buena Vista 5, Santana 2 (5 inn.)

Four runs scored by the Longhorns of Rancho Buena Vista in the top of the fourth inning would be the difference as they would go on to beat the Santana Sultans in Cougar Classic action on Monday (Mar 6) evening.

Trailing 1-0 the Sultans would take momentarily momentum in the bottom of the second inning thanks to Delanney Smith who belted a solo home run.

However, the Longhorns would grab the momentum back in the following top half starting with an RBI single by Sklyer Mangerchine, an RBI single by Camryn King, and a two-run triple by Avalon Millard.

Santana would score their other run in the fourth inning when Emma Schneider hit the second home run of the day for the Sultans over the left field fence.

Kaitlyn Ours and Sara Spry had the other hits for the Sultans as they were limited to four hits on the day.

West Hills 8, Mission Bay 2

SANTEE – Katy Spargo’s big 4 RBI day along with strong pitching by Alyssa Thornton made for a good combination as the West Hills Wolf Pack would defeat the Mission Bay Buccaneers on Monday (Mar 6) .

The Wolf Pack started their scoring in the bottom of the third inning when Maddie Aylesbury (3-4, 2 R, RBI) drove in Amaya Angeli (1-2, R) which was followed by Spargo (2-4, 2R, 4 RBI, 2B) driving in both Kristina Deal (RUN) and Aylesbury with a base hit to center-field to extend the lead to 3-0. Later in the inning, Spargo would score on a ground ball out by Raelyn Gagnon to make it 4-0. ‘

More of the same for the Pack in the fourth inning as Spargo doubled in both Faith Balesteri (1-3, R, 2B) and Aylesbury to make it 6-0. A couple of batters later Ava Goodman (3-5, 2 RBI, 2 2B) would line a shot to left field for a two-run double scoring both Spargo and Addi Vela to round out the scoring.

Mission Bay would finally get on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Thornton would get the start and pick up the complete game victory as she allowed two runs on five hits and would strike out nine on the day.

Christian 12, San Ysidro 1 (5 inn.)

SAN YSIDRO – A long trip down to the U.S./Mexico border really r was made all the better thanks to three home runs and twelve hits which led to a convincing victory in a shortened tournament contest by the Christian Patriots over the San Ysidro Cougars on Monday (Mar 6) afternoon.

Freshman Samantha Baca (2-3, 3 R, 3 RBI, SB, HR) belted her first-ever varsity home run a solo shot in the first inning to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead early on. The Patriots would really put the pedal on in the second inning as Kaitlyn Moody (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR) belted a two-run blast that scored Keelayana Carrizosa (2-4, 2 R) to make it 3-0 and later in the inning, Baca would drive in both Hannah Mroz (2 R, RBI) and Tyler Krystek (2-4, R, RBI). Also, in the inning, Lucy Sherburne (2-3, RBI, 2B, 3B) would double to right field to bring in Baca to make it 6-0.

San Ysidro would score in the bottom of the inning to make it 6-1.

After taking advantage of a couple of opportunities to extend the lead 8-1 the Patriots would later in the third inning add more when Moody blasted a three-run shot over the left field fence that scored both Mroz and Baca.

Christian would add their final run in the fourth inning when Tyler Krystek drove in Jordyn Krystek(1-1, R).

Scoreboard

Christian 12, San Ysidro 1 (5 inn.)
Granite Hills 5, Bonita Vista 2
Liberty Charter 19, San Diego Academy 1 (5 inn.)
Ramona 5, San Dieguito 0
West Hills 8, Mission Bay 2
Maranatha Christian 16, Monte Vista 2
Rancho Buena Vista 5, Santana 2 (5 inn.)