Sultans, Patriots, cling to early leads

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 18, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

OCEANSIDE – Leading by six runs, the Santana Sultans would hold off the El Camino Wildcats who would score four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, 8-6, in non-league play on Friday (Mar.17).

Santana would score the first run of the contest when Taylinn Warren scored on a ground out by McKenna Miller.

But the Wildcats would go on to erase the deficit with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead.

The Sultans however later in the top of the fifth with two outs would tie the game on a Delanney Smith double to left field allowing Sara Spry to race around from first and score, a misplayed ball hit by Emma Schneider allowed the Sultans to take the lead as Smith would race home on the error.

Having taken a 3-2 lead the Sultans were not done in the inning as Miller doubled, Annabella Heguy followed with a walk and the big hit came courtesy of Kaitlyn Ours who drove in both Schneider and Miller to give them a 5-2 lead.

Later in the sixth inning, Schneider would strike again as she would drive in both Spry and Warren to make it 7-2 and they would add another run courtesy of a ground ball out by Miller that scored Smith.

Leading by six runs the Sultans were in business but the Wildcats wouldn’t go down without a fight and thanks to multiple hits, a two-run scoring error and a couple of ground outs the six-run lead would dwindle down to a two-run lead.

But Aurelia Dawson would buckle down in the bottom of the seventh and retire the Wildcats in order including striking out the final batter to preserve the victory.

Dawson who picked up the complete game win struck out four while giving up six runs on six hits over the seven innings of work.

The Sultans move to 7-1-1 on the season and will next play tomorrow on Saturday against an undermined opponent in the finals of the Slugger Madness tournament.

Elsewhere

Patrick Henry 7, Grossmont 5

FLETCHER HILLS – An RBI single by Izzy Patrick Henry’s Ervin y in the top of the sixth inning would break the 5-5 tie and lead the Patriots to a 7-5 victory over the Grossmont Foothillers on Friday (Mar.17) in tournament action.

Early on the Foothillers behind a two-run blast by Jade Daley over the left field fence scoring Nakhia Lee would give them a 2-0 lead. They would add another run in the bottom of the second inning thanks to Carleigh Wencks’ sacrifice fly that allowed Jenna Ennis to tag up from third and come home for a 3-0 lead.

The Patriots would finally get going with two outs in the top of the third inning as Brooke Taylor tripled, Jenna Mallari was hit by a pitch and McKenna Geiger singled to center scoring Taylor which was followed by a base hit to center field by Irvin that allowed both Mallari and Geiger to score to tie the game at 3-3.

Grossmont did have an opportunity in the bottom half with two down thanks to a walk by Katelynne Parent, a base hit by Eliana Vasquez followed by another walk to Ennis. However, the Pats would get out of the inning on a fielder’s choice.

Patrick Henry would take their first lead of the game in the top of the fourth inning behind an RBI single by Mallari that allowed Josi Alvarado to plate and later Ervin would be hit by a pitch that would bring in Emily Hanna to give them a 5-3 lead.

Despite having the momentum the Patriots would see it slip as the Hillers in the bottom of the inning would see Heidi Villa score on a ground out and Daley came up with an RBI single scoring Ashley Beard to tie the game.

Trailing by a pair of runs thanks to Irvins’ RBI single and Geiger scoring on a passed ball the Hillers had one more opportunity.

Natalie Maxwell would draw a two-out walk and Villa singled to put runners at first and second but Zoe Rutherford who came in would get the final out via a ground ball to first base to end the game.

Vasquez who got the start for the Hillers wouldn’t factor in the decision as she only lasted three innings giving up three runs on four hits and striking out two, Beard who came into relieve Vasquez would take the loss as she allowed four runs on six hits over four innings of work.

For the Patriots, Sophia Sanchez got the start and only lasted four innings in which she allowed five runs on six hits and struck out one and wouldn’t factor in the decision, Rutherford would get the win as she allowed one hit over three innings of work.

Patrick Henry with the win improves to 2-3-1 while Grossmont falls to 2-5.

Granite Hills 10, San Dieguito 2

EL CAJON – Three runs scored by the Granite Hills Eagles in the bottom of the second inning to rally would be the start of an outburst of offense intheir handling of the San Dieguito Mustangs on Friday (Mar.17), 10-2, in tournament action.

Granite Hills clobbered out fourteen hits to go with their ten runs scored as Esther Cerda (2-3, 2 R, 2 2B), Audrey Smale (2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI), and Sofia Mujica (2-4, 2 R, 5 RBI) each led with two hits on the day.

The Mustangs would take an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning as Hannah Barker would drive in a pair of runs.

But the Eagles would strike in the bottom of the inning thanks to an RBI double by Smale that brought home Cerda which was followed by Mujica blasting a two-run shot over the center field wall for her fourth home run of the season.

Moving to the bottom of the fourth the Eagles added more as Jenna Haynal (1-2, R, RBI, 2B) doubled in Cerda to make it 4-2, a couple of batters later it was deja-vu all over as Mujica once again blasted a shot over the center field wall this time for a three-run bomb to extend the lead to 7-2 for her fifth of the season.

More runs for the Eagles in the fifth inning as Marilynn Lewis (RUN) would come into score on a pop-out to left field by Smale and Kaylanii Caple (1-2, R, RBI) also scored on a tag up after a pop-out by Mujica.

Leading 9-2 Granite Hills would tack on their final run when Caple singled in Ariana Heninger 1-1, R) which ended the contest.

Mikayla Tileia started for the Eagles. Tileia allowed six hits and two runs in her one and two-thirds innings of work. Coming in and relieving was Kaleigh Bauer who picked up the victory as she worked four and a thirds innings in which she allowed one hit and struck out one.

Continuing her assault on the all-time Sn Diego Section Softball home run record Mujica with her two blasts giving her 37 for her career surpasses Kelsey Quist for third and only trails Paige Dimler who hit 39 for Rancho Buena Vista and both Katiyana Mauga of Mira Mesa and Trina Harrison of Oceanside whom both hit 41 for their careers.

Granite Hills has now won six in a row and improves to 7-1 barring rain will next play at home against the Brawley Wildcats which is scheduled for a 4 pm start time.

Scoreboard

Santana 8, at El Camino 6
Patrick Henry 7, at Grossmont 5
Granite Hills 10, San Dieguito 2
Anza-Hamilton 15, Borrego Springs 0 (5 inn.)
Ramona 14, Sage Creek 10
Mission Vista at Mount Miguel
Valhalla at Del Norte