Steele Ekes Out WIn; Norsemen Rally In League Openers

By Adam Paul
Updated: April 2, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

Grossmont Hills League

STEELE CANYON 1, WEST HILLS 0 – Both teams pitching were strong on the day but in the end the Steele Canyon Cougars squeaked out a 1-0 victory over the West Hills Wolf Pack to open up league play out in Spring Valley on Tuesday afternoon.

A one out single by Marina Gonzalez (1-3, RBI) that scored Ily Barclay (1-2, R) who led off the inning with a single would be the only run of the game.

West Hills would threaten in the top of the third inning thanks to Lili Leija leading off with a double but Gonzalez would retire the next three batters to end the threat and the inning for the Cougars.

The Pack would threaten again in the top of the sixth inning as Kristina Deal (1-3, 2B) doubled to lead off the inning, a couple of batters later with one out Katy Spargo (1-2) was intentionally walked but again the threat was averted as Gonzalez again retired the next two batters to get of the inning.

Gonzalez would pick up the win for the Cougars. On the day she went the full seven inning in which she allowed zero runs on six hits while walking two.

Ava Goodman started for the Wolf Pack. She would take the hard luck loss as she allowed one run on four hits over six innings in which she walked one and struck out three.

Other contributors for the Cougars were Sophia Jackel and Kayala Hopkins who each had a hit.

For the Pack it was Hailey Kai who led them at the plate as she went 2-for-3 on the day.

Steele Canyon with the victory is now 6-5-1 overall and 1-0 in Grossmont Hills League play while West Hills falls to 8-4-1 overall and 0-1 in league play.

VALHALLA 3, GRANITE HILLS 2 – A pair of runs scored in the bottom of the seventh including a walk off two out RBI single by Natalia Marco to claim the come from behind victory over Granite Hills on Wednesday afternoon in Hills league action.

With pitching strong on both sides it wouldn’t be until the sixth inning when Mia Downes singled in both Iliana Cruse and Taylor Nash to give Granite Hills a 2-0 lead.

Valhalla would scratch a run back in the bottom of the inning when Devyn Mack hit a ball that was misplayed by the Eagles which allowed Marco to plate making it 2-1.

The Norsemen would eventually tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning after Emily Sloan led off with a single, she would steal second base and come into score on a ball hit by Liliana Moscoso. Later in the inning with two outs would be the GW hit by Marco.

Mack would draw the start for Valhalla and pick up the win in which she allowed four hits and two runs over seven innings while striking out five.

Peyton Wells would take the loss for the Eagles in which she allowed three runs on five hits while striking out nine over six innings.

Valhalla with the win improves to 6-10 overall and 1-0 in league while Granite Hills falls to 3-10-1 overall and 0-1 in league play.

SANTANA 9, EL CAPITAN 6 – Six runs scored in the first inning and a hold off of a late rally propelled the Santana Sultans to victory in Hills League opening day action against the El Capitan Vaqueros on Wednesday afternoon.

A pair of walks to Ashlyn Darrow and Emma Schneider led to runs along with a fielder’s choice by Delaney Smith followed by a two run single by Samantha Mora and an RBI single by Kaylee Lndahl would give the Sultans an early 6-0 lead.

Santana would tack on another pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning to extend their lead to 8-0 and would add another run in the bottom of the third inning.

El Capitan would trail 9-0 heading into the top of the fourth inning before breaking through and getting back into the game.

The first run of the game by the Vaqueros came courtesy of Quinnley Morehouse who was hit by a pitch which led to Addison Higuera coming into score, Brynlie Ford would come into score on a wild pitch making it 9-2. The following batter Trinity Curo would rope a two run double to left field that scored both Ryleigh Vesco and Morehouse to make it 9-4.

Another run for the Vaqueros in the top of the fifth inning courtesy of a Sultans error made it 9-5. El Capitan would score again in the top of the seventh inning on a leadoff solo home run by Higuera before Bella Zuckerman retired the next three Vaqueros to end the game.

Darrow who started for the Sultans picked up the win. On the day she allowed four runs on four hits over four innings while walking one and striking out three. Zuckerman came into the game and tossed three innings of relief in which she allowed two runs on two hits over three innings in which she walked one and struck out two.

Santana with the win improves to 8-4 overall and 1-0 in league while El Capitan falls to 4-8 overall and 0-1 in league.

Grossmont Valley League

HELIX 21, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 (5 INN.) – Katelyn Woodland on Wednesday opened up league action by no-hitting the El Cajon Valley Braves in which she struck out 13 on the day.

Ta’Tiannah Wright for the Highlanders went 4-for-5 at the plate including a home run in the fourth inning, tripled in the second and singling in the first and third innings. She also drove in three runs and scored three runs.

Helix in the game offensively would tally 16 hits which included Maliyah Domingo going 3-for-3 and driving in a run along with scoring a pair of runs, Clarissa Torres scoring four runs to go with her 2-for-4 day at the plate and driving in a run, Naomi Parra driving in a pair of runs and going 2-for-3 and scoring a run.

Helix improves to 5-3 overall and 1-0 in league while El Cajon Valley falls to 0-6 overall and 0-1 in league.