Christian continues early-season drive

By Adam Paul
Updated: February 29, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

LA MESA – Even though it might be early in the softball season, the Christian Patriots have thrown their names out to be potential contenders in Division II as they beat Helix who is in Division I by a score of 6-1 in non-league action on Thursday.

Early on Christian (3-0) would open up the scoring thanks to Keels Carrizosa who knocked in a run to make it 1-0 with a sacrifice fly. They would tack on another run courtesy of Tyler Krsytek who grounded into a double play but in the process, Kayleigh Martin was able to race home.

Picking up the victory for the Patriots was Sienna Staite who only allowed one hit and no runs over five innings of work. She would go onto strike out three and walk none. Ava Barrios would come in and toss one inning of shut-out ball in relief while striking out one and walking one.

On the other side, Lauren Farace would take the loss for Helix (1-3). She would go the full seven innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits, striking out one and walking three.

Staite would also help her cause offensively as she would drive in a pair of runs while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Carrizosa led the Patriots as she tallied a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate.

Offensively for Helix, Ta’Tiannah Wright, LaNiah Broom, and Katelyn Woodland each collected hits for the Highlanders. Woodland would also drive in the only run of the game for them as well.

According to game history on Max Preps, it is the first time in four tries since 2012 that the Christian Patriots defeated the Helix Highlanders.

Christian will next take on El Capitan again as these two played on opening day. This time around it will be a home tournament contest scheduled for Saturday at 9 AM. Meanwhile, Helix will take on Mission Vista in tournament action on Saturday at 12:30.

GROSSMONT 5, STEELE CANYON 5 – A two-run rally thanks to a clutch two-run home run by Bailey Evans for Steele Canyon in the fifth inning ties the game and that is the way it would remain as time expired in the Cougar Classic contest between conference foes on Thursday evening.

Grossmont (3-0-1) early on would lead 1-0 thanks to Saraya Roope thanks to an RBI double.

Steele Canyon though would in the top of the third inning take a 3-1 lead starting with a ball hit by Evans that was misplayed allowing both Dannika Lakin and Hailey Trujillo to score. The next batter Lauren Becker would ground out but on the play, Kamea Seunarine would come in.

But the two-run lead for the Cougars wouldn’t last long as the Foothillers answered in the bottom of the inning thanks to Carleigh Wenck who doubled to left allowing both Sophie Plunk and Jenna Ennis to come in and score to tie the game at 3-3. A couple of batters later Wenck would come into score on an error by the Cougars and Roope later in the inning would drive in Jordan Leon to give them a 5-3 lead.

Roope would get the start for Grossmont and would allow six hits and five runs (two earned) while striking out six and walking five. Evans would lead off in the circle for the Cougars. She allowed eight hits and five runs (two earned over five innings while striking out none and walking five.

Eliana Vasquez was the other Foothiller to collect a pair of hits in the game besides Roope and Wenck.

Kayala Hopkins, Trujillo, Seunarine, Lakin, Becker, and Evans all had one hit for Steele Canyon.

CARLSBAD 3, SANTANA 0 – Three runs scored by the Carlsbad Lancers in the top of the third inning was all they needed as they would come away with the victory on Thursday in Cougar Classic pool play action.

Emma Schneider for the Sultans would provide a 2-for-2 day at the plate and would lead them as they were limited to only five hits on the day.

Sara Spry and Kaitlyn Ruckle would have the other hits in the game for the Sultans.

Santana with the loss falls to 2-1 and will next take on San Marcos on Friday at 5 PM in more Cougar Classic action.

CANYON HILLS 5, WEST HILLS 3 – Despite outhitting the Canyon Hills Rattlers by a 7-5 margin the West Hills Wolf Pack couldn’t overcome the deficit and fell in a non-league contest on Thursday afternoon.

Samaya Wright would give West Hills an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning that would score Addie Veld.

Canyon Hills would push across four runs over the third and fourth innings to take a 4-1 lead.

Kristina Deal would double in Amaya Angeli and Raelyn Gagon would drive in Wright.

Ava Goodman, Katy Spargo, and Lili Leija would have the other hits for the Pack.