Spargo sparks Wolf Pack over Helix

By Adam Paul
Updated: February 27, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

LA MESA – Sophomore Katy Spargo provided the big offensive spark for the West Hills Wolf Pack as they claimed a 7-2 victory over the Helix Highlanders under the lights on Tuesday evening in non-league action.

Spargo (3-4, R, 2 RBI) coming off of a monster freshman campaign continued her streak as she collected three hits in four plate appearances. She got the bat rolling with an RBI single in the first and fifth innings and a base hit in the sixth inning.

Helix (1-2) would tie the game in the bottom of the second inning when Ta’Tiannah Wright (1-3, R, RBI, HR) blasted a solo shot.

West Hills (1-2) offensively in the fifth inning would break the game open as they were able to push across six runs which allowed them to take a 7-1 lead. Amaya Angeli (1-4, R, RBI), Maddie Aylesbury (1-2, 2 R, RBI, 2B), Spargo, Samiya Wright (2-4, R, RBI) and Lili Leija (2-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B) all drove in runs in the inning.

Ava Goodman got the starting nod for the Pack and also picked up the win as she gave up six hits and one run over five innings, striking out five and walked two.

For the Highlanders, despite striking out 16 batters Katelyn Woodward took the loss as she allowed seven runs on 12 hits over seven innings of work. She also only walked two.

Leilah Jones would drive in the other run for the Highlanders.

West Hills will next take on the Canyon Hills Rattlers at home on Thursday at 3:30 PM in a non-league contest while Helix will next play at home on Thursday at 3:30 PM against the Christian Patriots.

SANTANA 5, SCRIPPS RANCH 4 – With the score tied up late in the game Delaney Smith would give the Santana Sultans the lead with a sacrifice fly that would hold up to give them the victory over the Scripps Ranch Falcons on Tuesday in Cougar Classic pool play.

Smith’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth would break the 4-4 tie as it allowed Lily Sowinski (1-2, R) to tag up from third base and race home for the score.

Scripps Ranch (0-1) early on would take a 1-0 lead on a solo home run in the first inning by Eva Frye.

Santana (2-0) though would answer in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of runs thanks to Faith Francisco (2-3, RBI, SB) who singled, and Kylee Aziz who grounded out which allowed them to take a 2-1 lead.

Trailing 4-2 after the Falcons pushed across three runs in the top of the third inning the Sultans would scratch back with a pair of runs all with two outs to tie the game.

An RBI double by Kaitlyn Ruckle (1-2, R, 2B) that brought home Smith was followed up with an RBI double by Ashlyn Darrow (2-2, R, 2B) that brought in McKenna Miller (2 R).

Bella Zuckerman who came into the game in relief picked up the win for the Sultans as she allowed no runs on no hits over three innings, striking out two and walking none. Darrow who started for Santana surrendered four runs (one earned) on four hits over three innings while walking three.

For the Falcons, Tori Tucfler took the loss as she allowed three runs on seven hits over three innings of work while striking out two and walking one.

Santana offensively outhit the Falcons 10-4.

The Sultans will next take on the Carlsbad Lancers at 5 PM in another Cougar Classic pool play contest.

GRANITE HILLS 4, HILLTOP 1 – The Granite Hills Eagles collected eight hits on the night as they collected a three-run triumph in five innings due to time length on Tuesday evening.

Kailey Sandoval would open up the scoring for Granite Hills as she drove in Mia Downes on a base hit to center field to make it 1-0.

Olivia Cirar was given the starting nod for the Eagles and would pick up the victory as she allowed one run on three hits over five innings of work while striking out six and walking two.

Sandoval led with a pair of hits going 2-for-3 and drove in a run while Audrey Smale also drove in a run and scored a run along with a base hit. Cirar not only helped herself in the circle but also at the plate as she drove in a run while going 1-for-2 on the evening.

Granite Hills (2-0) will next play on Friday evening against Del Norte in pool play of the Cougar Classic at 7 PM.

GROSSMONT 8, CORONADO 6 – Trailing by five runs the Grossmont Foothillers exploded for seven runs in the top of the fifth to rally for the victory on Tuesday evening in Cougar Classic pool play action.

Madison Busch of the Foothillers would break the tie in the top of the fifth inning with a two-run single.

Earlier in the contest and trailing 1-0 the Foothillers would tie the game on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Leon

However, Coronado (1-1) would retake the lead in the bottom would break the tie with three runs to lead 4-1.

Grossmont’s big fifth inning included seven runs on five hits which included an RBI single by Ashley Beard, Heidi Villa drawing a walk that scored Jenna Ennis, and a fielder’s choice by Sophie Plunk that scored Saraya Roope.

Roope would earn the victory in relief for the Foothillers. She allowed four hits and two runs over three innings, striking out five and walking one. Starting the game was Eliana Vasquez who surrendered four runs on four hits over two innings while fanning two and walking one.

Grossmont moves to 2-0 and will play against El Camino on Wednesday at 3 PM in another pool-play contest of the Cougar Classic.

IMPERIAL 2, VALHALLA 0 – Despite the strong pitching performance by Devyn Mack for Valhalla it wasn’t enough as the Imperial Tigers scored in the first and sixth innings and made the runs stick on Tuesday in Cougar Classic pool play.

Preslee Fink led Valhalla (0-3) with two hits in three at-bats.

Mack who started for the Norsemen struck out five in six innings of work while allowing 2 runs on four hits.

Scoreboard

Tue.,Feb. 27
Mount Miguel 11, Will C. Crawford 10
Granite Hills 4, at Hilltop 1
Grossmont 8, Coronado 6
Santana 5, at Scripps Ranch 4
West Hills 7, at Helix 2
San Ysidro 17, ECVHS 0
Santa Fe Christian 10, Liberty Christian 0
SD-Southwest 11, Monte Vista 3
Julian at Borrego Springs