ROUNDUP: Pack, Cougars, Hillers, Vaqueros, Q’s get league wins

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 21, 2016

Paige Bowler scores for West Hills on Wednesday in a Hills League game against Granite Hills.

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

SANTEE (4-21-16) — It was more of a boxing match with both fighters pretty even going into the mid to late rounds as was the case in the West Hills-Granite Hills Grossmont Hills League tilt on Wednesday (Apr. 20). In the end it was West Hills beating Granite Hills 4-2 and unlike a fight it didn’t have to go to the cards.

Both teams threw their respective aces and both teams held each other scoreless and pretty much hitless for the first few innings. However that all changed in the bottom of the fourth when the Wolf Pack took advantage of the opportunities afforded them by the Eagles. Leadoff hitter MOANA PISIA (run) drew a walk, SIERRA SCHLICHTING reached on a throwing error when the catcher tried to throw out Pisia at second but the ball got away and both runners were able to advance. A couple of batters later ALEX GUAY (2-3, 2B, RBI) singled which scored Pisia to make it 1-0 and PAIGE BOWLER (2-3, RBI, R) singled scoring Schlichting to extend the lead to 2-0.

However the Eagles pushed a run in the top of the sixth to cut the lead in half 2-1. Leading off for the Eagles, KAREN CREECH (1-4, R) singled and moved to third as CASSIDY SHEW (1-3) laced a single. HALLE KYLER (0-2, RBI) knocked in Creech with a sacrifice fly. The Wolf Pack after getting out of the inning would answer the Eagles scoring with a couple of runs in their half of the sixth inning. Leading off was Guay who ripped a double, SYDNEY CRAVEN (run) came in as a courtesy runner, Bowler would follow with a single, KENDALL MARINESI walked and a couple of batters later, BROOKE ROBERTS (RBI) would get the run batted in as she reached on an error. Craven and Bowler both scored in the inning for the Pack to make it 4-1.

Granite would have one more chance to do something as they headed to the top of the seventh inning trailing. Leadoff hitter JESSIE LAPIERRE (2-3, 2B) smashed a double, MEGAN KELLY (run) came in as a courtesy runner, Kelly would come into score a couple of batters later when RACHEL RILEY (1-2, RBI) laced a single to cut the lead in half at 4-2. However RYLEIGH DOBYNS would have nothing of it as she struck out SYDNEY HUSE and after walking HAYLEY BUDVARSON would get Creech to groundout for the final out of the game.

Taking the loss was Kyler who went the distance in which she gave up 4 runs on 6 hits and walked 3 while striking out 1. Dobyns in the victory tossed all 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, walked 2 and fanned 6.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

STEELE CANYON 14, SANTANA 9 (11 innings) – In a game that resembled a roller coaster as it was an up and down game for both teams, it would be the Steele Canyon Cougars roaring back to take the 14-9 victory in Grossmont Hills league action, Wednesday (Apr. 20) in Santee.

The Cougars jumped right out of gun right away as they pushed across a couple of runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead. With one out up stepped to the plate a gal who was celebrating her special day, GENTRY HOFFMAN (3-5, RBI, 2 R, 2B) who was celebrating her 17^th birthday started things off by singling to right field. The next batter MAKAYLA STROMENGER (1-5, 2 RBI, R) would be retired for the second out. So with 2 outs and a runner on first, MAKAYLA MCCARTHY (2-6, 6 RBI, 2 R, 2 HR) took the offering and just crushed it over the right field fence for the 2-run blast.

The Sultans got out of the inning but trailed heading into the bottom of the first inning. That all changed as they answered with their offense to the tune of 3 runs to take a 3-2 lead. Leading off for the Sultans, MADISON MENDEZ singled to center, ERICA REID came in as a courtesy runner, MACKENZIE BENNETT (3-5, 3 RBI, R, HR) ripped a double to left field, Reid came around to score, ASHLEY MADRIGAL came into run for Bennett, and RACHEL WILSON (3-6, 2 RBI, R, HR) clubbed a line drive over the center field fence for the 2-run jack.

Santana would hold the Cougars in the top of the second inning. The offense for the Sultans took off in the bottom of the second inning as they plated 4 runs to lead 7-2. SHELBY HOLMQUIST would get a leadoff single, SYDNEY BENJAMIN sacrificed her to second, Mendez would be hit by a pitch, Reid came into run, Bennett singled to center advancing Holmquist to third and scoring and Reid to second, Madrigal came into run for Bennett, SYDNEY VATES (2-6, 3 RBI, R, HR) came to the plate and absolutely hammered the pitch over the center field fence for the 3-run bomb. Steele Canyon pushed a run across in the top of the fourth as HANNAH DUDLEY singled and she would come around to score to make the score 7-3.

The Sultans would tack on more runs in the bottom of the fourth as Bennett blasted a solo shot and CASSIDY MATHIE doubled, she would come around to score on the double by JORDAN TEEGARDEN to make the score 9-3. Things were looking good for the Sultans but the Cougars bats woke up and decided to make things interesting in the top of the sixth as they pushed across three runs to cut the lead to 9-6. Dudley reached on an error, KYLIE MINSHEW (2-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, HR) reached on a fielder’s choice, AUDREY BAGGE singled to center scoring Dudley and Stromenger singled scoring both Minshew and Bagge. It got more interesting in the top of the seventh as Sultans got the first couple outs and needed that always pesky last out. However the Cougars had other plans.

So with two outs, Dudley singled, JENNA RITTER reached on a fielder’s choice and Minshew with two outs still took the offering and just absolutely jacked it into the tennis courts for the game tying 3-run homer. The score was all knotted up 9-9. The Sultans couldn’t do anything so the game was headed into extra frames.

Santana had their best shot to win in the bottom of the tenth when they were able to place runners on second and third with fewer than 2 outs. Reid placed a bunt down and was able to get on, Holmquist doubled, advancing Reid to third but unfortunately the next two batters would be retired to end the threat.

Again two quick outs on the Cougars in the top of the eleventh, Minshew drew a walk, Bagge walked, Hoffman doubled in Minshew, Stromenger walked and McCarthy capped things off with a monster of a grand slam to give the Cougars the 14-9 lead. This would be all the Cougars needed as McCarthy only allowed one runner to reach in the bottom of the inning before she retired Matthie on a fly ball to end the game.

Taking the loss for the Sultans was Mendez going the whole way, giving up 14 runs on 14 hits while walking 6 and striking out 3. For the Cougars, garnering the victory was McCarthy who went the distance giving up 9 runs on 12 hits, striking out 4.

Both teams gave phenomenal efforts as they put on quite the showing and gave everyone in the stands their monies worth.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

GROSSMONT 14, VALHALLA 7 – In what was more of a football game as the score would indicate, the Grossmont Foothillers hosted the Valhalla Norsemen in Grossmont Hills League action and would get the 14-7 victory, Wednesday (Apr. 20).

The Foothillers would get on the board first as their potent offense put up 4 runs to lead 4-0 early on. Leading things off CHLOE CAMARERO doubled to left center and was sacrificed to second, MEGAN MALWITZ would be hit by a pitch, TAYLOR BAEZ would knock in Camarero on a lined shot to right field, CARLY PEARSON knocked in Malwitz with a single to left, ALEXIS COLLINS singled scoring Baez and KATIE APPENZELLER knocked in Pearson with a double. They would tack on a run in the bottom of the second inning as Camarero would come in to score on a single to center by Baez to make it 5-0.

However the Norsemen would answer in the top of the third inning as they got their bats going. All of their runs came with 2 outs. A walk by GIAVANNA STEINER, SAMMY GREEN banged a double scoring Steiner, JADE HILL came in as a courtesy runner, RACHEL SHELSTROM smashed a double to left that scored Hill and KENNEDY LABSHERE would double in Shelstrom to cut into the lead at 5-3. The momentum went back to the Foothillers as they put up a 7 spot in the bottom of the fourth to lead 12-3.

Leading things off was DESTINY BACON who singled, Malwitz singled to center advancing Bacon to second, a walk by Baez, Wilson came in as a courtesy runner, Pearson knocked in Bacon as she singled, SAMARIA ROOPE singled in Malwitz, Collins doubled in two runs as she hit it to right center, Appenzeller reached on an infield single and Camarero hit a gapper to left center scoring Appenzeller, Collins and Roope.

Valhalla would answer with four runs of their own in the top of the sixth to cut the lead in half at 14-7. SARAH BOTTE led off with a single to left field, ANGELINA GUTHRO came in as a courtesy runner, CAMBRIA KEISER walked, Steiner singled and Green tripled to right field for three RBI and Shelstrom singled to knock in a run.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

EL CAPITAN 6, MONTE VISTA 3 – In Grossmont Valley action, the El Capitan Vaqueros doubled up the visiting Monte Vista Monarchs by a score of 6-3, Wednesday (Apr. 20).

The Monarchs took an early 1-0 lead as GEENA HENDERSON reached on an error and she would score on a groundout. However that lead didn’t last long as the Vaqueros answered in the bottom of the first as they took advantage of multiple walks. Leadoff hitter MADISYN WIEHER singled and stole second, she came in to score when ZANDRA RAGALE singled which knotted the score 1-1. ALLYSON VON YOKES, GRACE BURKETT and Ragale all scored in the inning.

El Capitan in the bottom of the second added more runs as Wieher walked and Ragale knocked her in a with a smash triple and she would score on the groundout by Von Yokes to make it 6-1. The Monarchs would score a run in the top of the fourth as CIERRA ROSS singled, she would advance on a sacrifice bunt, and would score a couple plays later on a single by NATALLIA BRAMELLA to make it 6-2. They would tack on another run in the top of the fifth to cut the lead in half 6-3 as CYNTHIA VALENCIA would single and score. However the Vaqueros would shut the Monarchs down the rest of the way to preserve the victory.

Also KIM GARCIA for the Vaqueros had a double on the day in the victory.

Taking the loss for the Monarchs was Ross who went 6 innings giving up all 6 runs on 5 hits, walked 6 and struck out 2. In a winning effort AMANDA VASQUEZ tossed 7 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking none and striking out 1 on the day.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

SERRA 12, MORSE 2 (5 INNINGS) – The host Serra Conquistadors made short work of the Morse Tigers in Eastern League action, Wednesday (Apr. 20) as they run ruled them 12-2 in a shortened contest that went 5 innings.

Serra in the first three innings scored 11 runs to pretty much put things away from the get go as Morse was no match. Leadoff batter DARBY TIBBETTS got hit by a pitch, she would come in to score on the single by VIVIAN TOMOVICH. AMBER WOZNIAK reached on an error, and back to back singles by SELA FALLON and VALERIE VALADEZ knocked in runners. They would do the same in the bottom of the second on multiple hits including a triple by Tibbetts, Tomovich singled in Tibbetts, ALYSSA FIGUEROA-GONZALEZ came in as a courtesy runner, Wozniak singled, TAYLOR CURLY singled and Fallon doubled as well as Valadez.

They would tack on the final two runs in the third and fourth innings to make the score 12-2 and make sure the 10 run rule came into effect. Tomovich got the victory as she gave up 2 runs on 6 hits, walked 0 and struck out 4.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

MIRA MESA 6, CHRISTIAN 5 – The Christian Patriots traveled to Mira Mesa for an Eastern League contest and dropped a 6-5 contest to the Marauders, Wednesday (Apr. 20).

The Patriots got on the board first with a couple of runs as leadoff hitter COURTNEY SKJERVE walked, she would come in to score on a wild pitch, ASHLEY CARTER would be hit by a pitch, advance to second on a wild pitch and come in to score on an error to make it 2-0. They tacked on another run in the top of the second to make it 3-0 as LAUREN SHERBURNE walked and she would later score on a wild pitch.

The Marauders would answer with a couple of runs in the bottom of the second to pull within 3-2. Christian on a double by SHANNON MCMAHON who would score as ALEXA HENDERSON reached on an error to make the score 4-2. Mira Mesa answered with a run in the bottom of the third to pull within one at 4-3. The final run for the Patriots came in the top of the fifth as ELLE LINDBLAD walked and Carter singled but an error by the left fielder allowed Lindblad to come in and score to put the score at 5-3. The lead wouldn’t last as Mira Mesa got to Carter and scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth on three consecutive hits to put them up a run at 6-5. The lead would hold as Mira Mesa despite a couple of hits ended the threat to end the game.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

SCRIPPS RANCH 15, PATRICK HENRY 5 (5 innings) – It just wasn’t the day for Patrick Henry as they fell behind right off the bat in their Eastern League tilt with Scripps Ranch. In fact the Falcons were able to make short work of the Patriots as they defeated them 15-5 in 5 innings, Wednesday (Apr. 20).

The Falcons immediately got to Henry starter MADISON JAMES who only lasted 2/3 of an inning before being relieved as she gave up 10 runs out of the gate in the top of the first inning. Patrick Henry would push across three runs in the bottom of the second as ANDREA WRIGHT singled, JOSIE GONZALEZ singled, RUBY GONZALEZ singled, CASSIE VAN TIL singled in Wright, HANNAH MCEWEN singled in Josie Gonzalez and ANYA VANDERIP hit a deep fly ball that scored Ruby Gonzalez to make it 10-3.

The Falcons did the rest of their damage in the top of the second as they pushed across 5 more runs to extend their lead to 15-3. Patrick Henry didn’t quit as they scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as McEwen walked, stole second, and scored on the double by CRISTIONA CACCAMISE who would score on a passed ball to make it 15-5 and end the game.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com