ROUNDUP: Helix def. Pats; Cougars, Pack, Q’s win; Henry falls

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 10, 2016

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

EL CAJON (3-10-16) — Out in El Cajon, the Helix Highlanders took on the host Christian Patriots in Lady Warhawk Tournament action and came away with the victory 6-3.

The Highlanders were able to take advantage of a couple of Christian miscues in the top of the second and pushed across 2 runs to take a 2-0 lead. They would also score two more in the top of the third inning to lead 4-0.

Helix would add another run in the top of the fifth to push their lead to 5-0. The Patriots would finally get on the board in the bottom half as ELLE LINDBLAD would score to make it 5-1. They would add another run in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a miscue by the Highlanders which would allow TENAY BANEGAS (1-4, R, RBI) to score on an RBI double by Lindblad to make it 5-2. Helix would add another run in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 6-2.

The Patriots tried to make a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning as SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (3-5, R, SB) led off with a single, she stole second, ASHLEY CARTER would fly out for the first out of the inning, ANNA SHERBURNE (2-3, BB) would draw a walk to put runners at first and second, Banegas would single which scored Espinoza to make it 6-3 and put runners at the corners with the tying run coming to bat.

The Patriots wouldn’t do any further damage as SHAREENA LaCHANCE who tossed all 7 innings would get the final out as AMARA HARRIS would ground out to the shortstop.

For Helix it was GABRIELA OLIVARRIA who did most of the damage as she was 2-2 and scored 4 runs. Helping her own cause, LaChance knocked in 2 runs as she went 2-4. In her victorious effort in the circle, LaChance gave up 3 runs of which only 1 was earned on 7 hits, walked 3 and struck out 5 on the day.

STEELE CANYON 8, SAN DIEGUITO ACADEMY 0 – The Cougars were able to jump out to an early lead and never looked back in their 8-0 victory over San Dieguito Academy in the Cougar Classic at Kit Carson Park, Wednesday (Mar. 9) in 5 innings.

Cougar ace MAKAYLA McCARTHY took the circle and tossed a 4 hitter in the victory. She gave up no runs on 4 hits and struck out 4 on the day. The offense helped back the pitching effort as the bats tallied 8 hits on the day and were able to take advantage of the opportunities given them.

The Cougars continued where they left off offensively the previous night against Hilltop when they scored 9 runs and jumped to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second thanks to a 2-run single by SAMANTHA MILLER (1-2, 2 RBI) that scored both JJ VENZOR (1-2, 2B, RBI, R) who led off with a double and EMMA DODSON who singled and stole second base.

Leading the way offensively was MAKAYLA STROMENGER who went 2-3 and smashed a long 3-Run bomb in the bottom of the fourth. She also had 2 RBI and scored 2 runs. AUDREY BAGGE (1-3, RBI, R) also had an RBI single in the third inning that plated ASHLEY TAVIZON (1-2, 2R).

WEST HILLS 14, MISSION HILLS 0 – The West Hills Wolf Pack on Wednesday (Mar. 9) took on the Mission Hills Grizzlies and thanks to a high powered offensive spree were able to rout the Grizzlies 14-0 in 4 innings.

The Wolf Pack in the second inning started their offensive spree due to a leadoff jack by PAIGE BOWLER (2-3, 2 RBI, 2R, 2 HR) on a 2-0 count to lead 1-0. It was only the beginning as RYLEIGH DOBYNS (2-3, 3R, RBI, 2B) would reach on an error by the shortstop and would move up to second on a wild pitch, SAVANNAH HENDERSON (0-1, 2R) drew a walk, a couple of batters later SYDNEY CRAVEN (2-3, 2R, 5 RBI, HR) stepped to the plate looking to add to the lead, she took the first couple pitches and on the 1-1 count just like Bowler ripped a long 3-run jack to give the Wolf Pack a 4-0 lead and bring the crowd to their feet.

The offensive parade didn’t end for West Hills as they would tack on six more runs in their half of the third inning. Dobyns would have an RBI single, CARLY BURSCH who also was in the circle helped her cause as she laced an RBI double, and again Craven added to her RBI total as she raked a two run single. After three innings of play the Wolf Pack now led 10-0 over the Grizzlies.

Leading off for the Pack in the fourth inning was Bowler and like the last time she blasted a leadoff solo shot. Dobyns would double and Bursch would knock her in with a double of her own.

The Pack on the day pounded out 9 hits and were also able to take advantage of the 5 miscues by the Grizzlies.

Bursch on the day tossed 3 innings for the victory and only allowed 1 hit while walking 2 and striking out 4.

SERRA 8, HORIZON 7 – In Monte Vista Classic action at Serra High, the Conquistadors were able to come back from a big deficit and pull off the 8-7 victory over the Panthers.

Things didn’t start on the right foot for the Conquistadors as the Panthers were able to put up a 3 run spot in the top of the first to lead 3-0. However in the bottom they were able to pull things together and push across 2 of their own runs to cut the lead 3-2.

VIVIAN TOMOVICH (3-4, R) singled, BRIANNA CORONADO (2R) came in as a courtesy runner, she would come around to score on a single by AMBER WOZNIAK (2-3, RBI, 3R). TAYLOR CURLEY (2-4, 2RBI, R, 3B) would single in Wozniak.

The Panthers would extend their lead with another run in the top of the second and again with another couple of runs in the top of the third to lead 6-2. Serra would cut into the Panther lead with a couple of runs of their own in the bottom of the third to make it 6-4. Both Tomovich and Wozniak would have a hand in the scoring.

Horizon in the top of the fourth would add another run to extend the lead to 7-4. Things got really interesting in the contest as in the bottom of the fifth the Conquistadors took advantage of their opportunity and were able to put together a rally and tie the game at 7-7.

Leading off for the Conquistadors, DARBY TIBBETTS (R) reached on an error, Tomovich singled which moved Tibbetts to third, Coronado came in for Tomovich as a courtesy runner, Curley singled scoring Tibbetts, and both Wozniak and Coronado would score as well.

So with the score now tied after Serra made a fast and furious comeback, no team was able to score in the rest of regulation. The contest went into extra innings. Serra was able to complete the comeback thanks to an error that would score Curley to end the game.

CARLSBAD 6, PATRICK HENRY 5 – In Cougar Classic action from Kit Carson Park two of the top programs clashed and in a close one the Carlsbad Lancers edged the Patrick Henry Patriots 6-5.

The Patriots got on the board first as leadoff hitter HANNAH McEWEN singled and would come around to score on a CRISTIONA CACCAMISE double to make it 1-0. Carlsbad would answer with a run of their own in the bottom of the first inning to tie the score at 1-1. Patrick Henry would score three times in the second inning thanks to multiple basehits and a walk. SAVANNAH CHAPMAN led off with a single, ANDREA WRIGHT drew a walk, McEwen singled scoring Chapman, and Caccamise ripped a double scoring the final two runs to give the Patriots a 4-1 lead.

Normally this would have been enough for Patriot pitcher MADISON JAMES but the Lancers scored 2 runs in the bottom of the fourth thanks to multiple basehits and a walk. The burst of offense gave Carlsbad a one run lead at 5-4.

The Lancer pitching finally was able to shut down the offense of the Patriots as it wouldn’t be until the final inning that they would put something together offensively. So now facing their final at bats, the Patriots CASSIE VAN TIL led the inning off and on a 1-0 count laced a single. She would move up to second on a Caccamise groundout, DANI ROMERO would groundout to short for the second out of the inning. Down to their last at bat JOSIE GONZALEZ stepped to the plate and with the count in her favor 3-1 ripped the next pitch for a double that scored Van Til to tie the score at 5-5.

Now with the score tied the Patriots hoped they could get through the bottom of the seventh to push the contest into extra innings. Unfortunately, the Lancers had other ideas. The leadoff batter would get out, so with one down the next batter would triple and come in to score on a wild pitch to end the game.