ROUNDUP: Granite, SC, Helix, El Cap, Serra, Henry win

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 23, 2016

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

EL CAJON (4-23-16) — It was a matchup of the irresistible force – the Grossmont Foothillers taking on the host immovable object – the Granite Hills Eagles in a Grossmont Hills League tilt, Friday (Apr. 22). In the end it was the Eagles coming out on top, 4-2.

The Foothillers the irresistible force who came into the contest averaging about 7 runs a game were slowed down a bit as the immovable object the Eagles who were only allowing a tad over 3 runs a game shut them down for 6 innings.

The Foothillers threatened in the first inning as MEGAN MALWITZ walked and stole second base, and TAYLOR BAEZ walked as well. However Eagles pitcher CATIE DOBBS was able to get out of the inning as she got CARLY PEARSON to ground out to third for the third out and strand the runners.

Granite Hills in the bottom of the first inning got the offense going as CASSIDY SHEW with one down singled and a couple of batters later JESSIE LAPIERRE would take the SAMARIA ROOPE offering and just hammer it over the left field wall for the 2-run blast to put the Eagles up 2-0.

Trailing in the top of the second, the Foothillers put up a two out threat as KATIE APPENZELLER walked, moved up as JESSICA WILSON singled to left and CHLOE CAMARERO hit a ball to the shortstop who got the out unassisted to end the inning.

Granite Hills in the bottom of the second inning started off with a bang as MADISON CALDWELL smashed a double to right field all the way to the wall, she would come into score on a passed ball to make it 3-0 Eagles.

Grossmont would threaten in the top of the fifth as Camarero would leadoff with a walk but Dobbs would strikeout both DESTINY BACON and Malwitz for two outs, Baez would draw another walk to give runners at first and second but Pearson would be called out on strikes to end the inning and threat.

The Eagles would tack on another run in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-0 as the Foothillers committed a couple of crucial errors. Leading off, KAREN CREECH reached on an error, she would advance to third and score thanks to another error that allowed Shew to reach. The Eagles couldn’t cash in any further and Grossmont got out of the inning without any further damage done.

Heading into the top of the seventh trailing 4-0 and looking like they were going to be shutout the bats for the Foothillers finally woke up. With the top of the lineup, Camarero walked and reached second on a passed ball, the next couple of batters Bacon and Malwitz would be retired for 2 outs. Down to the final out up stepped Baez who laced a single to right field, KAILEY DANIELS came in as a courtesy runner, Pearson was able to reach on an error which allowed Camarero to score to make it 4-1 and Daniels came into score as well to cut the lead in half at 4-2. Pearson would steal second and also third. Next up was ALEXIS COLLINS who represented the tying run but unfortunately would be retired by Dobbs via groundout to end the game.

In a battle of the two freshman pitchers, taking the loss for Grossmont was SAMARIA ROOPE who went 6 innings, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits, walking 1 and striking out 2. In the circle for the Eagles and tossing the complete game victory was Dobbs who went 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, walking 8 and fanning 6 on the day.

STEELE CANYON 12, VALHALLA 4 – The Steele Canyon Cougars used a big third inning to pull away from the visiting Valhalla Norsemen to claim the 12-4 victory in Grossmont Hills League action, Friday (Apr. 22).

Early on the Norsemen jumped out to a 2-0 lead as SAMMY GREEN (2-4, R, 2B) ripped a leadoff double to left field, a couple of batters later KENNEDY LABSHERE (2-4, RBI, R, 2B) doubled to centerfield scoring Green to make it 1-0 and EMILY HOWARD (4-4, RBI, R, 2 2B) doubled scoring Labshere.

However the lead didn’t last as the Cougars answered with a couple of runs of their own off Valhalla starter LILY METSCH. Leading off AUDREY BAGGE (1-3, 2 R) singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on the single by GENTRY HOFFMAN (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R), she would steal second base. Stepping to the plate MAKAYLA STROMENGER (2-2, 4 RBI, 2 R,HR) continued her hitting streak as she singled scoring Bagge to pull within 2-1 and advanced Hoffman to third, next up MAKAYLA MCCARTHY (RBI) who hit a fly ball to center deep enough so that Hoffman would trot home to knot the score at 2-2.

Valhalla in the top of the third inning would retake the lead as BRANDI KOHEL (run) reached on an error, she would steal second and come into score. Howard doubled to left field and she would score when VICTORIA VILLEGAS (1-4, RBI) singled which brought the score to 4-2. It would be all the damage the Norsemen would do in the inning.

Now things got really interesting in the bottom of the third as the Cougars offense went crazy as they pushed across 9 runs which was highlighted by the monster grandslam by KYLIE MINSHEW (2-4, 5 RBI, R, 2B, HR) who crushed it over the center field fence. Not to be outdone, Stromenger matched Minshew with a 3-run bomb of her own to push the lead to 11-4.

Despite pounding out 13 hits on the day Valhalla couldn’t take advantage of the opportunities as they had runners on in pretty much every inning.

On the day in the circle for the Cougars, McCarthy tossed a complete game 7 inning victory, giving up 4 runs on 13 hits while walking 0 and striking out 1.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

EL CAPITAN 13, MOUNT MIGUEL 2 – Despite trailing early on the El Capitan Vaqueros offense got going to prevail in their Grossmont Valley contest out in Lakeside against the Mount Miguel Matadors, Friday (Apr. 22) in five innings.

Mount Miguel jumped ahead in the top of the first inning when KIARA MORRIS (1-3, R) singled, she would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt, move to third on a wild pitch and come into score. CHEYENNE ROLLES would also score for the Matadors after drawing a walk to lead 2-0.

They would threaten again in the top of the third inning as YVETTE ANDRADE (2-3, RBI) and KAYLA WILLIAMS (1-3) each singled but couldn’t get the hit to knock them in.

So trailing, the Vaqueros in the bottom of the third inning took the lead for good as they scored three times as KIM GARCIA (1-2, R) and BAILY OLAVESON (2-3, 3 RBI, R, 2B) singled back to back and both come into score. The previous run was scored by AMANDA VASQUEZ (3-3, 2 RBI, 3 R) who was hit by a pitch and would score on a wild pitch.

Leading 3-2, El Capitan poured on the fireworks offensively in the bottom of the fourth to really put things away as they pushed across 10 runs to lead 13-2. The Vaqueros in the inning knocked out 5 hits and took advantage of walks, a couple of hit by pitches and a couple of wild pitches.

The big blows in the inning for the Vaqueros came courtesy of NICOLE VACCARO (1-4, 2 RBI, R) who had a 2-run single, Vasquez had a 2-run single and a 2-run double by Olaveson.

For the Vaqueros, garnering the victory was Garcia who tossed 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

HELIX 10, MONTE VISTA 0 – Despite the slow start the Helix Highlanders were able to take care of business as they beat the host Monte Vista Monarchs in Grossmont Valley league action, Friday (Apr. 22) in six innings.

Both teams held each other scoreless well into the contest as it wouldn’t be until the top of the fifth when the Highlanders broke through with three runs to lead 3-0.

Leading things off for Helix, FRANKIE MARTINEZ singled but the next two batters were retired, MCKENZIE FLORES (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R) roped a two out single and DESTINI BULLOCK (4-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B) followed that with a single of her own that scored Martinez, GABBY OLIVARRIA singled in another run to round out the scoring.

Helix in the top of the fourth really exploded as they batted around on their way to scoring 7 runs to lead 10-0. Flores laced a single that scored 2 runs, VICTORIA CYMAN doubled in 2 runs and BRIANA REED also had a 2 run double.

SHAREENA LACHANCE tossed 6 innings for the complete game shutout and also her ninth victory, giving up 4 hits while fanning 4.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

SERRA 11, MIRA MESA 6 – Taking advantage of the opportunities afforded them, the Serra Conquistadors used a big sixth inning to rally for the victory over the visiting Mira Mesa Marauders in Eastern League play, Friday (Apr. 22).

In the top of the first inning the Marauders pushed across a run to lead 1-0 early on. However in the bottom of the first inning the Conquistadors answered with a run to tie it at 1-1 led by an RBI double by VIVIAN TOMOVICH (2-5, 3 RBI, R, 2B) scoring DARBY TIBBETTS (2-4, 2 R, 2B) who led off with a double.

Serra tacked on another run in the bottom of the second to lead 2-1 as JACQUELINE KAMERY singled to left which advanced BRIANNA CORONADO (run) to third after she had come into run. VALERIE VALADEZ (2-4, 4 RBI, R, 2B) would put down a sacrifice bunt that would score Coronado.

Mira Mesa would retake the lead in the top of the third as they pushed across two runs to lead 3-2. They would tack on three more runs in the top of the fifth to lead 6-3. However the Conquistadors wouldn’t go away as in the bottom of the sixth they would rally to score 9 runs as Valadez would double in three runs.

Leading off, Kamery reached on an error, ABIGAIL WARDEN (RBI, 2 R) came into run, she would advance to second after Valadez singled, Tibbetts singled and Tomovich singled to center which scored Warden from third, Valadez scored as well, AMBER WOZNIAK (2-4, RBI, R) drove in Tibbetts with a single, SELA FALLON (1-3, RBI) knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly.

Pitching the seventh inning, MEGAN POOLE was able to get a fly out to center, a putout at second base and finally ended the game on a fly ball to center. She got the victory in relief as she tossed 2 innings only giving up 3 hits.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

PATRICK HENRY 20, MORSE 0 (5 innings) – In Eastern league action, Friday (Apr. 22) the Patrick Henry Patriots tamed the host Morse Tigers by pounding out 18 hits.

Big days by multiple players led to the early runs scored by the Patriots including three in the first and the big 7 in the third and 8 in the fifth. HANNAH MCEWEN went 4-4 and scored 3 times and knocked in 3 runs, JOSIE GONZALEZ drove in 4 runs and scored 3 times in a 3-4 effort, ANYA VANDERSIP went 3-4, scoring 3 times and driving in 3 runs, ANDREA WRIGHT drove in 4 runs while going 2-5.

Taking the circle for the Patriots, LAILA SPRACKLEN who tossed the complete game in gathering another victory, giving up 0 runs on 1 hit while only walking 1 and striking out 6.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

SCRIPPS RANCH 3, CHRISTIAN 0 – The Christian Patriots traveled to Scripps Ranch to take on the Falcons in Eastern league action, Friday (Apr. 22^nd) and out hit the Falcons 5-3, unfortunately they couldn’t push across any runs in the effort.

It wouldn’t be until the top of the sixth inning that the Patriots threatened as ELLE LINDBLAD (1-3) singled, a couple of batters later SHANNON MCMAHON (1-2) walked, but unfortunately they couldn’t push anything across as the next couple of batters were retired to end the inning and the threat.

They would get another shot in the seventh inning as TENAY BENEGAS (1-2) walked and reached second on the sacrifice bunt by MALLORY STEELE. Just like the sixth inning, Christian couldn’t get the key hit to push in the runner as the next couple of batters were retired to end the game.

Taking the hard luck loss ASHLEY CARTER who tossed 6 innings, giving up 3 runs of which 1 was earned on 2 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com