ROUNDUP: Valhalla, Steele Canyon, Serra, Henry win

By ECS Staff
Updated: May 14, 2016

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul
© EastCountySports.com

SANTEE – The Valhalla Norsemen used a stellar pitching performance and some timely offense to knock off the host West Hills Wolf Pack, 3-2, on their senior day in Grossmont Hills action, Friday (May 13^th).

Kennedy Labshere got things started for Valhalla in the top of the third as she led off with a single, RACHEL SHELSTROM (1-4, R) grounded to short in what should have been a routine play but an error occurred allowing both to be safe and Labshere advance to third, EMILY HOWARD reached on a fielders choice and JADE HILL (1-3, 3 RBI) drove in Labshere and Howard to give the Norsemen a 2-0 lead.

In the circle for Valhalla, LILY METSCH got out of a jam in the bottom of the first inning, allowed only a single to SIERRA SCHLICHTING in the bottom of the third before retiring ALEX GUAY on a fly ball to end the inning. Valhalla would threaten again in the top of the fourth as BRANDI KOHEL (2-4, 2 2B) singled and Labshere walked with 2 outs. However RYLEIGH DOBYNS got out of the inning as she retired Shelstrom for the third and final out. In the bottom of the fourth, the Wolf Pack went down in order as Metsch got both KENDALL MARINESI and PAIGE BOWLER to ground out and SYDNEY CRAVEN to strike out for the third out of the inning.

West Hills finally broke through and got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with one down as ALEXIS HERRERA (1-4, R) singled, BROOKE ROBERTS (2-3, RBI) sacrificed her to second, and MOANA PISIA (2-4, RBI) singled which scored Herrera to cut the lead to 2-1. It looked like the Pack would threaten more as Schlichting walked but Metsch retired Guay on a fly ball to center.

Both teams would go scoreless until the seventh inning as the defense for each team picked things up to keep the contest a one run ball game. However that changed in the top of the seventh as the Norsemen broke through with another run to push their lead to 3-1. The insurance run would be scored by Shelstrom. West Hills got out of the inning.

West Hills had one last shot to do something to extend the game. Leading off, CAELI GIBBS (run) walked, a couple of batters after a line out, Roberts singled scoring Gibbs to cut the lead to 3-2 with only one down. However that was all Metsch would allow as she retired Pisia on a ground ball for the second out and also retired Schlichting on a ground ball to end the game.

Dobyns on the day for the Wolf Pack tossed 5 innings of 5 hit ball while only giving up 3 runs of which only 1 was earned while walking 3 and striking out 1. Metsch in the victory for Valhalla tossed all 7 innings, giving up 2 runs which were both earned, walked 1 and struck out 3.

Steele Canyon 7, Grossmont 3 – The host Steele Canyon Cougars struck the first blow in the bottom of the second and never looked back as they defeated the Grossmont Foothillers in Grossmont Hills action, Friday (May 13^th).

Grossmont was held in both the first and second innings and also the third despite a couple of hits by KATIE APPENZELLER and DESTINY BACON. However the Cougars on the other hand in the bottom of the second inning strung together some offense as KYLIE MINSHEW doubled to left, SAMANTHA MILLER sacrificed advancing Minshew to third, HANNAH DUDLEY reached on an error that also allowed Minshew to come into score to make it 1-0, JENNA RITTER reached on a fielders choice where Dudley was thrown out at second base, ASHLEY TAVIZON singled and AUDREY BAGGE (2-3, 2 RBI, R) singled which scored Ritter to make it 2-0.

Grossmont in the top of the fourth inning was able to cut into the lead as they pushed a run across to make it 2-1. SAMARIA ROOPE led off with a single, KAILEY DANIELS came into run, she would advance to second on a passed ball, CARLY PETERSON (2-3, RBI) ripped a single up the middle which scored Daniels, the next couple of batters were retired to end the inning.

The defense for each team picked it up despite the hits as no score came across all the way until the bottom of the sixth inning. Leading off Dudley singled to center field, Ritter singled to right, Tavizon walked to load the bases, Bagge singled to left which scored Dudley, a couple of batters later GENTRY HOFFMAN (2-3, RBI, R) knocked in Tavizon on a bunt, MAKAYLA STROMENGER (1-4, 2 RBI, R) singled to right scoring Bagge and Hoffman would come around to score and JJ VENZOR singled which scored Stromenger to make it 7-1.

The Foothillers finally put together a little offense in the top of the seventh as Appenzeller was hit by a pitch, CHLOE CAMARERO (2-3, RBI, R, 2B) blasted a double to left that scored Appenzeller and Bacon singled to score Camarero to make it 7-3. That was all the damage done as Grossmont was retired to end the game.

On the day in the circle for the Foothillers, CASSIDY DAVILLA went 6 innings, 7 runs of which 5 were earned, walked 4 and struck out 4 in the loss. MAKAYLA MCCARTHY for the Cougars went 7 innings, giving up 4 runs of which 2 were earned on 8 hits in the victory and also snapped the three game losing streak.

By Adam Paul © EastCountySports.com

Serra 6, Christian 3 – The Serra Conquistadors took advantage of their opportunities that the Christian Patriots afforded them on senior day in Eastern League action, Friday (May 13^th).

The Conquistadors in the bottom of the first were able to push across three runs to lead 3-0 early on. DARBY TIBBETTS (1-2, R) led off with a single, VIVIAN TOMOVICH sacrificed Tibbetts to second, AMBER WOZNIAK (2-3, 2 RBI, R) singled and Tibbets advanced to third, SELA FALLON (2-3, RBI, R) singled scoring Tibbetts, Wozniak advanced to third and Fallon advanced to second on throw, MEGAN POOLE hit a ball to center where it was misplayed which allowed both Wozniak and Fallon to score.

For Christian in the top of the second, AMARA HARRIS (run) led off by getting hit by a pitch, ELLE LINBLAD bunted and was able to reach on an error which actually allowed Harris to come around to score to cut into the lead at 3-1. That would be all they would get in the inning.

Serra would answer with a couple of runs in the bottom of the second to extend their lead to 5-1. KRISTA RASK (1-2, 2 R) reached on a fielders choice, Tibbetts was hit by a pitch and Wozniak singled to center scoring Rask, Tibbetts advanced to third and actually would come in to score for the second run of the inning. Both teams held each other scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Serra pushed across its final run.

For the Conquistadors in the bottom of the fourth Rask was able to get on via a bunt single, she would come around to score to make it 6-1. The Patriots made things interesting in the top of the fifth as they would cut into the Conquistador lead with a couple of runs to make it 6-3.

LAUREN SHERBURNE (R, SB) reached on an error, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, TENAY BENAGAS (1-2, RBI) singled scoring Sherburne, COURTNEY SKJERVE (2-4) bunted her way on base, ASHLEY CARTER reached on an error as she hit the ball to second base, Steele reached third and Carter reached second base, ANNA SHERBURNE (1-3, RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Steele. The Patriots looked for more as SHANNON MCMAHON (2-3, 2B) singled but couldn’t do anything as a couple of batters later the Patriots were retired.

Serra was able to hold the Patriots as Tibbetts shut down the offense the rest of the game as she only allowed a couple of hits the rest of the way.

For the Patriots in the circle, Carter tossed 6 innings in the loss as she gave up 6 runs of which only 1 was earned on 7 hits, walked 1 and struck out 1 on the day. Tibbetts for the Conquistadors tossed all 7 innings for the complete game victory in which she gave up 3 runs of which 0 were earned on 7 hits and struck out 1.

By Adam Paul © EastCountySports.com

Patrick Henry 16, Mira Mesa 8 – The Patriots pounded out 21 hits and doubled up the host Mira Mesa Marauders in Eastern League play to secure their position in the playoffs and also second place, Friday (May 13^th).

Leading things off as usual for the Patriots HANNAH MCEWEN (3-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 3B) tripled, ANYA VANDERSIP (3-5, RBI, 3 R, 2B) singled and CRISTIONA CACCAMISE (3-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B) singled scoring McEwen, DANI ROMERO knocked in Vandersip on a groundball, ANDREA WRIGHT doubled in Caccamise to make it 4-0. However the lead didn’t last as Mira Mesa was able to push across three runs off of Henry starter LAILA SPRACKLEN to cut the lead to 4-3. They would tie the score in the bottom of the second inning.

The Patriots offense exploded for six runs in the top of the third inning to lead 10-4, highlighted by a triple by McEwen who would score, Vandersip doubled and would come into score on the double by Caccamise. Both Wright and Romero would get on base and also score.

In the top of the fifth for the Patriots, CASSIE VAN TILL (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, HR) would smash a solo jack over the wall for her first career ever high school home run. Three doubles by JOSIE GONZALEZ, Romero and Wright of whom all would score in the inning would really boost the offense as they led 16-4.

Mira Mesa would score four more runs to cut the lead in half 16-8 but Spracklen would shut the Marauders down to gain the victory.

On the day for the Patriots, Spracklen tossed 7 innings, giving up 8 runs of which 4 were earned on 12 hits, walked 2 and struck out 1.

By Adam Paul © EastCountySports.com