ROUNDUP: Santana, West Hills, Helix, Christian, Henry win

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 28, 2016

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

SANTEE (4-28-16) — In another game that came down to the final inning the host Santana Sultans were able to come back and hold the visiting Granite Hills Eagles 3-2 in Grossmont Hills league action.

With both teams looking to stay in the hunt for the league crown it would be a battle and sure enough the Eagles fired first as they pushed across a run in the top of the first inning to lead 1-0 early. Leading off was HALLE KYLER (run) who was able to draw a four pitch walk from Sultan pitcher MADDY MENDEZ and then stole second base. The next batter CASSIDY SHEW (1-3) advanced Kyler to third on a sacrifice. With only one out the Eagles were in business as KAREN CREECH (RBI) hit a ground ball to short which scored Kyler from third.

Staked to an early 1-0 lead, CATIE DOBBS who took the circle for the Eagles looked to get it going on the defensive side. She was able to retire her counterpart Mendez on a pop up for the first out, the next batter MACKENZIE BENNETT (2-3) hit a hard grounder to short for a hit, ASHLEY MADRIGAL came into run, SYDNEY VATES walked advancing Madrigal to second and RACHEL WILSON hit into a fielder’s choice to short where Kyler threw out Madrigal at third allowing both Vates to advance to second and Wilson to reach safely. CASSIDY MATTHIE (1-3, R) smashed a hard hit single to left in which the ball was misplayed allowing Vates to score tying the game at 1-1. Up stepped JORDAN TEEGARDIN (2-3, 2 RBI, 2 2B) who took the Dobbs offering and roped a fly ball double to right field scoring both Wilson and Matthie to put the Sultans ahead 3-1. The next batter SHELBY HOLMQUIST would be retired but not before the damage had been done.

Both teams defensively would hold each other until the late innings when the Eagles had a shot in the top of the sixth as with one out Shew would single, Creech would advance her to second on a sacrifice bunt, JESSIE LAPIERRE (1-1) would get hit by a pitch, MADISON CALDWELL would also be hit by a pitch, the next batter KAYLA MACK would hit the ball to short where it would be fielded and Shew would be thrown out at the plate to end the inning and the threat.

The Sultans would also threaten in the bottom of the sixth inning as Teegardin would boom a 2-out double and Holmquist walked. It wasn’t meant to be however as Dobbs was able to retire NICOLE PENTON-MARCH via strikeout to end the inning.

Leading 3-1 heading into the top of the seventh inning the Sultans knew it wasn’t going to be easy and it wasn’t as the Eagles would get another shot. Leadoff hitter RACHEL RILEY (1-3, R) singled to center and would actually advance to second on an error, RILEY AGERBEEK grounded to short which advanced Riley to third, HAYLEY BUDVARSON would rope a fly ball to left field where it was misplayed, allowing Riley to score to make it 3-2 and Budvarson to advance to second base with only one down. Budvarson would be lifted for a pinch runner, next up was Kyler who could tie the game but Mendez was able to get her to fly to center field for the second out. So with 2 outs, Shew looked to extend the inning and bring home the tying run but Mendez had other ideas as she was able to get Shew to swing and miss for the third strike and also the final out to end the game to preserve the victory.

On the day both teams combined for 8 hits, with the Eagles garnering 3 and the Sultans knotting 5. Both freshman standout pitchers did well. Dobbs for the Eagles in the loss, tossed all 7 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 2 and fanning 8. Her counterpart, Mendez picked up her 10^th win in the complete game victory, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 1.

WEST HILLS 10, VALHALLA 2 – In Grossmont Hills league play the West Hills Wolf Pack traveled to Valhalla to take on the Norsemen and never looked back as they earned the road victory, Wednesday (Apr. 27) to stay in the league crown hunt.

The Wolf Pack would score first in the top of the first inning as ALEXIS HERRERA (2-3, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2B) walked, MOANA PISIA (3-4, 2 RBI, R, HR) singled, and a couple of batters later PAIGE BOWLER (1-4, 2 RBI, HR) walked to load the bases. The next batter ALEX GUAY (2-4, RBI) would drive in Herrera to make it 1-0 on a ball hit to first for the second out. No further damage was done as RYLEIGH DOBYNS was retired to end the inning.

West Hills would extend their lead in the top of the third as SIERRA SCHLICHTING led off with a walk and Bowler crushed the offering by Norseman pitcher LILY METSCH over the wall for the 2-run blast to make it 3-0. Valhalla would answer with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning despite 2 outs as RACHEL SHELSTROM (1-2, 2 R) singled, KENNEDY LABSHERE (1-3) singled and BRANDI KOHEL reached on an error that scored Shelstrom to make it 3-1. The next batter EMILY HOWARD (1-3) would single but Dobyns would retire the next batter to get out of the inning.

More runs would be scored by West Hills in the top of the fifth as they pushed across a couple more to make it 5-1. Schlichting would come around to score as would SYDNEY CRAVEN who came in to run for Guay who singled. Craven would steal third as well before scoring. Valhalla again would answer with a run in the bottom of the fifth as Shelstrom would reach on an error and would come around to score to make it 5-2.

Offensive fireworks occurred aplenty for the Pack in the top of the seventh as KENDALL MARINESI (run) reached on a fielder’s choice, ALYSSA BUBAR (1-4, R, 2B) doubled, BROOKE ROBERTS (1-2, R) walked, Herrera smashed a 3-run double and Pisia crushed a 2-run blast to round out the scoring.

Valhalla would be retired in order to end the game. Dobyns in the victory would toss 7 innings, give up 2 runs on 5 hits.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

HELIX 6, EL CAPITAN 5 – A big late inning sparked a comeback as the host Helix Highlanders worked their way back in a battle of top 2 teams in the Grossmont Valley League to defeat the El Capitan Vaqueros.

It was all El Capitan in the first two innings as the Vaqueros would score 5 runs to lead 5-0. ZANDRA RAGALE (1-3, 2 R) would walk with one down, ALLYSON VON YOKES (run) would reach on an error by the second baseman which advanced Ragale to second and she would score to make it 1-0. GRACE BURKETT (2-4, 4 RBI, R, HR) would then crush a pitch over the fence for the 2-run bomb which was her first career high school homer to make it 3-0.

They tacked on a couple more runs in the top of the second as MADISYN WIEHER (1-4, R) singled, Ragale reached on an error, Von Yokes reached on a fielder’s choice which saw TESSA LOHMAN (2-3, 2B), who led off with a single, get thrown out at the plate. Burkett came up again and knocked in both Wieher and Ragale to make it 5-0.

It would be an even game by both teams until the fifth inning when Helix made their move. The comeback wouldn’t be an easy one as El Capitan was able to get two outs. Facing two outs, FRANKIE MARTINEZ (1-2, R) singled, FAITH KING (3-4, RBI, R) and McKENZIE FLORES followed with consecutive singles. The big bopper for the Highlanders came to the plate in the form of DESTINI BULLOCK (1-3, 3 RBI, R, 2B, SB) who got it done as she roped a double that scored all three to make it 5-3. She proceeded to steal third and would score on the single by GABBY OLIVARRIA. She moved to second on an error and would come around when VICTORIA CYMAN singled. The score was all knotted up at 5-5.

Helix would shut down the Vaqueros in the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the inning the Highlanders would score what ended up being the go ahead run as ISABELLA MENA (2-3, R) singled with one out. She would advance to second when Martinez bunted her over and come into score when King laced a single. It was now 6-5 in favor of the Highlanders and they looked to put things away and take the lead even further in league.

The run in the bottom of the sixth was all the Highlanders needed as SHAREENA LACHANCE retired the Vaqueros in order to preserve the one run victory.

For the Vaqueros in the loss, ELENA LADDEN tossed 5 innings, giving up 5 runs while scattering 8 hits. AMANDA VASQUEZ pitched 1 inning giving up 1 run on 2 hits. She also collected 2 hits offensively. LaChance for the Highlanders gave up 5 runs in the complete game victory on 10 hits while striking out 3 and walking 1.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

CHRISTIAN 9, SERRA 2 – Strike a blow for the Christian Patriots as they helped themselves back into the Eastern League race as they defeated the visiting Serra Conquistadors and also in the process bolstered their playoff prospects.

The Patriots, after getting out of the first despite the single by AMBER WOZNIAK (3-3) pushed across a couple of runs as SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (3-4, RBI, 2 R, SB) ripped a double, she would come in to score when ANNA SHURBURNE (2-2, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 HR) crushed the DARBY TIBBETTS offering over the left field fence for the 2-run bomb to make it 2-0. They would add a run in the bottom of the second when MALLORY STEELE (2-4, RBI, R) singled, advanced to second on a passed ball and came into score a couple of batters later when Espinoza singled to make it 3-0.

Serra would threaten in the top of the third inning as VIVIAN TOMOVICH walked and Wozniak singled. However TAYLOR CURLEY would hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning and the threat. Christian added more in the bottom when Anna Sherburne hit a solo shot and AMARA HARRIS doubled and scored when Steele reached on an error to make it 5-0. The Patriots would make it 6-0 with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning as SHANNON MCMAHON (2-4, RBI) drove in the run.

Neither team would score in the fifth inning. However Serra would finally get on the board in the top of the sixth inning. They scored all their runs with 2 outs. TAYLOR CURLEY (RUN) reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second on the single by SELA FALLON (2-3, R) and would score. Fallon would score on the single by MEGAN POOLE to make it 6-2.

Unfortunately for the Conquistadors, the Patriots were not done offensively as in the bottom of the sixth they would tack on three more runs to round out the scoring. Espinoza reached on a one out error, stole second base and ASHLEY CARTER (2-3, RBI, 2 R, 2B) drove her in with a single. Anna Sherburne walked, McMahon singled, Harris knocked in a run and ALEXA HENDERSON (RBI) knocked in a run as well.

Taking the loss for the Conquistadors, Tibbetts went 6 innings, giving up 9 runs on 13 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2. Garnering the victory for the Patriots was Carter who tossed 6 innings, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and fanning 2.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com

PATRICK HENRY 13, MIRA MESA 2 – Patrick Henry would keep themselves in the hunt in the Eastern League as they run ruled Mira Mesa in 5 innings.

The Patriots in the bottom of the first inning would score four runs and never look back. All the runs in the inning came mostly without the benefit of a hit as HANNAH MCEWEN (1-2, 3 R) led off with a walk, stole second. CRISTIONA CACCAMISE (1-2, R) was hit by a pitch, ANDREA WRIGHT would reach on an error that scored both McEwen and Caccamise. JOSIE GONZALEZ (1-2, RBI, R) was hit by a pitch and SAVANNAH CHAPMAN (2-3, RBI) singled and LAILA SPRACKLEN (1-2, 2 RBI) helped her cause as she singled in Wright and Gonzalez to make it 4-0.

Mira Mesa would cut the lead in half in the top of the second as they scored two runs to make it 4-2. However the Patriots would push across five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-2. Leadoff hitter McEwen drew another walk, ANYA VANDERSIP (1-3, 2 R) walked and Caccamise singled. DANI ROMERO (1-3, 3 RBI, 2 R, HR) walked scoring McEwen, Wright was hit by a pitch scoring Vandersip, Caccamise scored on a passed ball, Josie Gonzalez drove in Romero on a ground out and Chapman drove in Wright when she singled.

The Patriots over the next two innings would score 4 runs as CASSIE VAN TILL (run) would score, Vandersip would come in on a 2-run blast by Romero and McEwen would score on the single by CAMRYN DEMKO (1-1, RBI).

Tossing the shortened victory was Spracklen who went 5 innings, giving up 2 runs on 9 hits while striking out 1 on the day.

By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com