Rutherford & Co. declaw Cougars

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 4, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

ESCONDIDO – Big day at the plate for the Patrick Henry Patriots as they tallied 11 hits in their big 10-2 victory over the Steele Canyon Cougars in Cougar Classic action on Monday.

Led by Zoe Rutherford who belted a grand slam the Patriots pushed across 7 runs to put the contest away.

Patrick Henry early in the contest would jump out to a 3-0 lead thanks to McKenna Geiger who drove in a run and Belle Will who helped her own cause as she blasted a two-run home run to center field.

Will would earn the five-inning victory for the Patriots as she allowed two runs on two hits while striking out eight in the contest. Bailey Evans was tagged with the loss for Steele Canyon as she allowed eight runs on ten hits over four and one-third innings of work.

Leila Ludwig and Brooke Taylor who drove in three runs were the other Patriots to have multiple hits in the game.

Steele Canyon would receive RBI from both Dannika Lakin and Kallan Shaw while Lauren Becker and Kamea Seunarine each would tally hits.

Patrick Henry with the win evens their record at 3-3 while Steele Canyon falls to 2-2-1.

SANTANA 2, RANCHO BUENA VISTA 1 – Rallying with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning the Santana Sultans would make them stick in the come-from-behind four-inning victory due to time constraints in Cougar Classic action.

Santana would trail 1-0 heading into the top of the third inning when Kaitlyn Ruckle would lead off the inning with a walk. The following batter Emma Schneider on a 2-1 count would take the next pitch and blast a liner deep to center field for a two-run dinger.

Bella Zuckerman who started for the Sultans would make the one-run lead stand as she only allowed two hits and one run over the four innings while fanning five.

McKenna Miller also would contribute for the Sultans with a pair of hits.

SAN MARCOS 3, GRANITE HILLS 2 – Despite outhitting the San Marcos Knights 5-4 the Granite Hills Eagles couldn’t take advantage of their opportunities on Monday in the one run loss.

Sofia Mujica would give Granite Hills the early lead as she belted a two-run shot over the center field fence for her second home run of the season and a 2-0 lead.

Unfortunately, San Marcos would push across three runs courtesy of a pair of RBI singles and also a wild pitch.

Audrey Smale and Olivia Cirar each tallied a pair of hits for the Eagles.

Granite Hills falls to 2-2 on the season.

CARMEL 7, VALHALLA 3 – Despite leading early on the Valhalla Norsemen couldn’t hold onto the lead as Mt. Carmel was able to take advantage and would push across five runs in the fourth inning in the time-shortened victory on Monday at Kit Carson Park.

Valhalla offensively would get their big hit in the bottom of the first inning when Natalia Marco drove in three runs on a bases clearing single to center field to make it 3-0.

Preslee Fink, Avery Voth, Marco, and Taylor Mack all had hits for the Norsemen.

Valhalla falls to 0-6 with the loss.

IMPERIAL 8, GROSSMONT 0 – It was a day for the team from the desert as the Imperial Tigers outhit the Grossmont Foothillers 9-4 in the shut-out victory o Monday.

Heidi Villa led Grossmont as she went 2-for-2 at the plate with a double. Her teammate Carleigh Wenck also double in the contest.

Grossmont falls 3-1-1 with the loss.