ROUND UP: Wolf Pack Take Down Eastlake

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 17, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EASTLAKE – Five second-inning runs scored by the West Hills Wolf Pack helped procure themselves an important non-league road win over Eastlake 7-4 Wednesday.

Early on the Eastlake Titans would lead 1-0 as they pushed across a run in the bottom of the first inning.

But the bats of West Hills came alive in the top of the second inning all with two out thanks to Kristina Deal walking to tie the game 1-1, Maddie Aylesbury followed with a walk to give them a 2-1 lead, and Katy Spargo followed with another walk to bring home a run to make it 3-1. Still with the bases full Faith Balestreri was able to draw another walk to bring home another run to make it 4-1 and finally, Samiya Wright who started things off came back up and singled in another run to give them a 5-1 lead.

Eastlake would answer with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning to pull within 5-3. They would later score another run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 5-4.

However, the Wolf Pack would add on insurance runs in the top of the sixth as Balestreri doubled in Spargo and in the seventh inning when Kristina Allen scored on a fielder’s choice by Deal.

Ava Goodman drew the start and picked up the win. She would also allow four runs on eleven hits over seven innings of work while striking out one.

Deal, Spargo, and Goodman each combined for six of the ten hits collected by the Pack in the contest.

The win by West Hills was a big one as Eastlake according to the CIF power rankings which will be used for playoff determination was ranked second in Division II whereas West Hills came in at the ninth spot.

West Hills now winners of six in a row move to 11-6-1 overall.

CITY WESTERN LEAGUE

MIRA MESA (4-17-24) – Despite a four-run lead heading into the bottom half of the final frame the Patrick Henry Patriots were able to fend off the Mira Mesa Marauders 5-4 on Wednesday.

Patrick Henry would open up the scoring early on a first-inning solo home run by McKenna Gieger to center field for her East County-leading eighth of the season to make it 1-0.

The Patriots would add another run in the top of the second inning on a ground out by Chloe Copeland to give them a 2-0 lead.

Mira Mesa would cut the lead as they answered with a run scored in the bottom of the second to make it 2-1.

Later in the sixth inning Belle Will doubled in a Gieger, and Zoe Rutherford followed with a double that advanced Will to third base. The next batter Leila Ludwig hit a sacrifice fly to right field allowing Will to tag up and race home for the score to make it 4-1. The Patriots would add another run to give them a 5-1 lead.

Despite giving up three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to make things interesting the Patriots would end things on a ground ball out.

Rutherford who started for the Patriots went six innings to earn the win as she allowed three runs on four hits while walking two and striking out four.

Angelina Mazon who drove a run in the sixth inning for the Patriots led the team at the plate with a 2-for-3 day.

Patrick Henry with the win moves to 12-7 overall and 1-1 in City Western League play while Mira Mesa falls to 5-13 overall and 1-1 in league.

NON-LEAGUE

CHRISTIAN 12, BAYFRONT CHARTER 2 (5 inn.) – Three home runs and fourteen hits for the Christian Patriots as they outslug the Bayfront Charter Sharks in a ruled-shortened non-league contest on Wednesday.

Christian would start their scoring early as they pushed across five runs in the bottom of the first inning to lead 5-0.

Contributing with the punch was Tyler Krystek (1-3, 3 R, RBI, HR) who homered to left field with a solo shot, Kaitlyn Moody (2-2, R, 5 RBI, HR) would belt a two-run dinger to left field, Keels Carrizosa (1-2, 2 R, RBI, HR) would also homer to left field with a solo blast, and Jordyn Krystek (2-3, RBI) singled in a run.

Bayfront Charter would answer with a solo home run of their own in the top of the second inning to make it 5-1.

However, the Patriots added more in the bottom of the second inning as Moody drove in another run via a sacrifice fly and Sammy Baca (2-3, R, RBI, SB, 3B) tripled in a run. They would go on and extend the lead further in the bottom of the third inning thanks to RBI singles by Lucy Sherburne (4-4, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 2B, 3B) and Moody.

Sienna Staite would earn the win for the Patriots. The starter went the full five innings in which she allowed two runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out three.

Winners of five in a row the Patriots are now 15-4-1 overall.