Eagles, Vaqueros, Cougars and Pack Claim League Openers

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 9, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EL CAJON – A Big third inning for the Granite Hills Eagles propels them to an 8-0 victory over the Helix Highlanders Tuesday to open Grossmont Hills league action.

Granite Hills in the third inning would push across five runs thanks to Kailey Sandoval (2-4, 2 R, RBI, HR) who drove in a run, Ariana Heninger (1-4, R, RBI, 2B) doubling in a run, a ground out by Olivia Cirar (RBI) that led to a run and RBI singles by both Kamryn Flath (1-3, R, RBI), and Ashley Yeargain (1-2, RBI).

The Eagles would start their scoring thanks to an error by Helix to lead 1-0 in the first inning. Granite would score another run in the second inning when they took advantage of a wild pitch by the Highlanders.

Later in the bottom of the sixth inning Sandoval led off and belted a solo home run for her first of the season to right field.

Yeargain drew the starting nod for the Eagles and would get the win as she allowed one hit which was the only hit for the Highlanders and no runs over five innings in which she struck out one. Kaleigh Bougher who was called upon would come in and finish the game out. She would toss the last two innings allowing no hits and no runs while striking out four.

On the other side for the Highlanders, Katelyn Woodland got the start and would take the loss as she allowed eight hits and seven runs (six earned) over three innings, striking out three and walking two. Lauren Farace came into the game in relief and went three innings allowing one run on one hit while striking out one.

Sofia Mujica would also contribute to the Eagle’s offense as she singled in the bottom of the third and scored a pair of runs.

The lone hit by the Highlanders came courtesy of Naomi Parra.

Granite Hills with two wins in a row now evens their record at 6-6 and 1-0 in league play while Helix falls to 6-8 and 0-1.

EL CAPITAN 6, SANTANA 0 – Leading by a slim margin thanks to an early run scored the El Capitan Vaqueros took advantage of their opportunities to ensure the victory as they scored five runs in the bottom sixth to put away the visiting rivals on Tuesday.

El Capitan who is very crafty on the base paths would take advantage in the bottom of the first inning starting with Ciara Bernardini who led off with a walk. Bernardini later in the inning took advantage of what she saw and safely stole home for the 1-0 lead.

The lone run scored by the Vaqueros looked like it would be the only run of the contest as both team’s pitching wasn’t allowing much activity and the Vaqueros when they had opportunities couldn’t cash them in.

Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, everything looked like the Sultans would get out of the inning unscathed with only a single allowed.

But with two outs the Sultans would commit an error to keep the inning going for the Vaqueros as Alyssa Fierro moved over to third base. She would come into score on Bernardini’s single to make it 2-0, another error by the Sultans allowed Sofia Simone to score, Bernardini would steal home for the second time and Aubrey Thorne followed with an RBI double scoring Kylee Frazier which was followed by another error by Santana that allowed Thorne to come in and score.

Shelby Vars would pick up the complete game victory for the Vaqueros as she allowed no runs on three hits over seven innings while striking out six.

Ashlyn Darrow took the loss for the Sultans as she allowed six runs of which one was earned on nine hits over six innings in which she struck out three.

Santana offensively would be led by Delaney Smith, Vanessa Ryan, and McKenna Miller who each had a hit.

Santana who have dropped four straight falls to 7-9 and 0-1 while El Capitan now winners of three games in a row improve their record to 6-6-4 overall and 1-0 league. The defending Grossmont Hills League champions dating back to last season when they went undefeated in league play have now won 9 league games in a row.

STEELE CANYON 8, VALHALLA 1 – Scoring all of their runs over the middle innings the Steele Cougars came away with the Grossmont Hills League road win over Valhalla on Tuesday.

Steele Canyon behind a two-out single by Dannika Lakin (1-4, R, 2 RBI) that allowed both Bailey Evans (1-4, R) and Hailey Trujillo (1-3, 2 R, 2B) to score gave them a 2-0 lead. They would add another pair of runs when Tevia Cohen (2-3, R, 3 RBI) drove in both Lakin and Isabella Azevedo (1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B).

Marina Gonzalez added to the Cougar lead as she drove in Kayala Hopkins to make it 5-0.

Valhalla would put their lone run on the board in the bottom half of the fifth inning as Taylor Mack hit a ball that was misplayed by the Cougars allowing Jayden Chiaramonte who led off the inning with a double to come in and score making it 5-1.

However, the Cougars would answer as Azevedo doubled in Trujillo, Cohen singled to right to score Azevedo and Makenzie Meyers doubled to score Cohen to finish off the scoring.

Gonzalez would pick up the win for the Cougars as she allowed one run on four hits over five innings, striking out one and walking one. Evans would come in and toss two innings of shutout ball in relief in which she allowed two hits.

Devyn Mack would take the loss for Valhalla as she allowed eight runs (six earned) on ten hits over seven innings while walking three and striking out five.

Preslee Fink, Avery Voth, and Natalia Marco collected the other hits for the Norsemen.

Valhalla has now dropped seven games in a row and fall to 1-14 overall and 0-1 in GHL play while Steele Canyon continues with their eighth win in a row and moves to 10-3-1 overall and 1-0 in GHL.

GROSSMONT VALLEY

WEST HILLS 15, MONTE VISTA 0 (5 inn.) – Eight runs scored in the bottom of the third inning by the West Hills Wolf Pack completed the shortened game convincing win on Tuesday in the league opener.

West Hills blasted a pair of home runs in the third inning courtesy of Kristina Deal (1-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR) who belted a three-run home run deep to center field scoring both Addie Vela (RUN) and Amaya Angeli (1-3, 2 R, 3 RBI). Later in the inning Faith Balestreri (2-4, R, 3 RBI, HR) also homered over the center field fence for a two-run homer scoring Lili Leija.

Overall the Wolf Pack tallied 13 hits as eight different West Hills batters had hits in the game including four who wracked up multiple hits.

Those who had multiple hits included Maddie Aylesbury (3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, 3B), Leija, Balestreri, and Raelyn Gagnon (2-2, 2 R).

Katy Spargo also contributed for the Wolf Pack as she drove in a run and scored a run.

Pitching wise the duo of Ava Goodman and Aylesbury combined for a no-hitter as they completely blanked the Monte Vista Monarch offense.

Goodman who started went two innings in which she walked one and struck out five over five over two innings while Aylesbury who came in tossed three innings of relief in which she struck out five while dishing out zeros the rest of the way.

Monte Vista with the loss has now dropped eight in a row and their record falls to 2-12 overall and 0-1 in GVL.

Meanwhile, West Hills improves to 6-6-1 overall and 1-0 in GVL play.