Foothillers have flair for dramatic in late inning win

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 25, 2016

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

EL CAJON (3-25-16) – A late rally by the host Grossmont Foothillers allowed them to beat the visiting Valley Center Jaguars, 8-7, in the Jaguar Classic on Thursday (Mar. 24).

In the bottom of the first the Foothillers were able to take an early 2-0 lead thanks to a CHLOE CAMARERO single, she would steal both second and third base, CARLY PEARSON would knock Camarero in with a hard single up the middle to make it 1-0. She would come around to score when ALEXIS COLLINS (3-4, 2 RBI) laced a single to make it 2-0.

However the lead wouldn’t last as in the top of the second inning the Jaguars were able to get to Foothiller pitching and push across 6 runs on 7 hits including a homerun to lead 6-2. They would tack on another run in the top of the fifth thanks to a solo bomb shot to extend their lead to 7-2.

The bats for Grossmont came alive in the bottom half of the inning as MEGAN MALWITZ singled, Collins blasted a double all the way to the centerfield fence which allowed Malwitz to score. SAMARIA ROOPE roped a single to right field which scored Collins, KAILEY DANIELS came in as a courtesy runner, MADDIE LINDSAY (3-4) knocked her in to bring the score to 7-5.

With the momentum swinging in their favor, the Foothillers despite trailing didn’t fret as they would get more in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Back-to-back singles by TAYLOR BAEZ and Lindsay gave the Hillers an opportunity as LILI FLORES came in to run for Lindsay. The opportunity almost vanished as with a fly out there would be two outs and down to their last out. Up came DESTINY BACON who worked the count and did so into a walk to load the bases. What happened on the next two plays would give the game its heart attack moments.

So now with the bases loaded and the Jaguar pitcher definitely so rattled that in the very next at bat she tossed a pitch that got by the catcher for a passed ball, allowing Baez to score. Both Flores and Bacon would advance to second and third.

The Foothillers were not out of the woods yet as there were still two down and up came Pearson who hit a shot to the 5.5 hole where the shortstop couldn’t make up her mind and ended up throwing it away over the head of the first baseman. Both Flores and Bacon would come in to score, giving the Foothillers the very dramatic come from behind victory.

On the day, Grossmont would pound out 15 hits in the victory while Valley Center would get 13 hits.

Getting the victory for Grossmont was Roope who tossed 5 2/3 in relief while giving up 1 run which was earned on 6 hits while striking out 5.

BISHOP’S 10, VALHALLA 4 — The Bishop’s Knights traveled to the East County, Thursday (Mar. 24) to take on the Valhalla Norsemen in the Jaguar Classic and came away with the 10-4 victory.

The Norsemen in the bottom of the first pushed across a run to take an early 1-0 lead thanks to a leadoff single by BRANDI KOHEL (1-4, R). She moved up on an error and would come around to score as RACHEL SHELSTROM (0-2, 2 R. RBI) knocked her in.

The narrow lead would hold up for Valhalla until the top of the third when Bishops would push two runs across to take a 2-1 lead. However Valhalla would knot the score at 2-2 as they scored a run in the bottom of the inning as Shelstrom with 2 outs drew a walk and came around to score when EMILY HOWARD (1-4) reached on an error as the ball rattled around. The Knights would score three runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth to lead 6-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Valhalla would push across two runs to cut the Knights lead 6-4 as KENNEDY LABSHERE (1-3, R) with one out, reached on an error, Shelstrom got hit by a pitch to advance Labshere, so with runners at first and second, Howard singled to load the bases, and ALEXIS INGRASSIA (2-4, 2 RBI) boomed a double to left center which scored both Labshere and Shelstrom. With the Norsemen back in business and looking for more as runners were on and in scoring position the Knights were able to squash the threat thanks to retiring the next couple of batters to end the inning.

Unfortunately the deficit of two runs would be the closest the Norsemen would get as Bishops put up a four spot in the top of the sixth inning to pretty much put the game away to make it 10-4.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

MOUNT CARMEL 5, GRANITE HILLS 4 – In Jaguar Classic tournament action, the Granite Hills Eagles traveled to the North County to take on Mount Carmel and unfortunately dropped a 5-4 contest.

Granite Hills started out fast as they pushed across three runs in the top of the first to lead 3-0 early on. The speedy KAREN CREECH (1-4, R) reached on a bunt single, she advanced on the sacrifice bunt by RACHEL RILEY (1-4), KAYLA MACK (1-4, R) drew a walk, and two batters later CASSIDY SHEW (2-3, RBI, R, 2B) knocked in Creech as she doubled, and the next two batters RILEY JO AGERBEEK and HALEY BUDVARSON (1-2, 2 RBI) both reached on an error. Both Mack and Shew scored in the inning as well.

Unfortunately the lead for the Eagles wouldn’t last as the Sun Devils would score four runs in their half of the first to take a 4-3 lead. They would extend that lead to 5-3 with another run in the bottom of the second inning as they took advantage of defensive miscues by Granite Hills.

Both teams would hold each other scoreless in the third and fourth innings but the Eagles would break through with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Already one out, SYDNEY HUSE (1-2, R) who came into bat for BRENDA RUSHING laced a single, she would advance as Shew was able to reach on an error, Budvarson knocked in Huse on a single which would pull the Eagles within a run at 5-4.

However that was the closest they would get as the Sun Devils would retire the Eagles 1-2-3 in both the sixth and seventh innings to end the game.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

DEL NORTE 12, CHRISTIAN 2 – In Monarch Classic action on Thursday (Mar. 24) the Christian Patriots traveled to Del Norte and unfortunately dropped a 12-2 decision in five innings.

The Nighthawks took advantage of their opportunities as they scored 12 runs in the first four innings to take a comfortable 12-0 lead. The Nighthawk pitching did the rest as they didn’t allow the Patriots to get many baserunners on. The Patriots avoided the shutout when they were able to get on the board in the top of the fifth inning as they scored two runs to make it 12-2.

LAUREN SHERBURNE (RUN) would reach when the called third strike got away, allowing her to reach first base. She would score later in the inning when ANNA SHERBURNE (2-3, RBI, R, HR) bombed a 2-run jack over the fence. SHANNON MCMAHON proceeded to draw a walk but the next batter struck out to end the game.

The other bright spots for the Patriots were SILENT RAIN ESPINOSA (1-2, 2B) and TENAY BANEGAS (1-2) who both collected hits on the day.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

LA JOLLA 6, MONTE VISTA 5 – The Monte Vista Monarchs traveled to La Jolla to take on the La Jolla Vikings and unfortunately couldn’t overcome various miscues in their 6-5 defeat.

The Vikings would strike first in the bottom of the first with a run to lead 1-0. However the Monarchs would strike to tie as they pushed a run in the top of the second to even it at 1-1. La Jolla would score another run in the bottom of the third to lead 2-1. The score would be even again as the Monarchs scored another run in the top of the fourth inning to make it 2-2. However the Vikings would score more than a run in the bottom of the fourth as they plated four runs to break the tie and lead 6-2.

In the top of the fifth the Monarchs would cut the Viking lead in half as they score a run to cut it to 6-3. The Monarchs held the Vikings scoreless the rest of the way and in the top of the seventh inning would do their best to rally as they pushed across two runs to pull within a run at 6-5. However that would be all they would get as the Vikings would retire the Monarchs and closing things out.

On the day offensively for the Monarchs, GENNA HENDERSON went 1-3, scored a run and stole 2 bases, EMILY BODTKE went 1-4 and knocked in a run, JAYDE GOLDHAGEN went 1-3 and knocked in a run and stole a base, and MARIAH WHITEHEAD also knocked in a run and scored twice as she went 1-3 and stole a base.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

FRANCIS PARKER 8, HELIX 5 – The Francis Parker Lancers hosted the Helix Highlanders in a Warhawk semi-final contest and came away with the 8-5 victory, Thursday (Mar. 24) .

Right away the Lancers bats came alive as they roughed up Highlander pitching for four runs in the bottom of the first to lead 4-0. However that lead didn’t last as Helix in the bottom of the third got their bats going as they scored five runs to take a 5-4 lead.

That was all the offense the Highlanders would get as the Lancers shut them out the rest of the game as they were able to score a run in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score and eventually push across three runs to take the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com