ROUNDUP: Christian, West Hills, Steele Canyon
- Updated: March 6, 2016
2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (3-6-16) — The Christian Patriots continued where they left off the other day with their offense as they were able to outslug the Madison Warhawks 13-11 in the Lady Warhawk Tournament action, Saturday (Mar. 5).
The offensive machine started in the top of the first as the Patriots plated 5 runs thanks to a couple of hits and a couple of miscues by the Warhawks. ASHLEY CARTER (4-5, 2 RBI, 4 R), ANNA SHERBURNE (3-5, 2 R, SB), SHANNON McMAHON (2-3 2 R, 2 RBI, 3B), SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (1-3, 2 R) and COURTNEY SKJERVE all scored in the inning. Madison would answer with a run in the bottom of the first to make it 5-1.
The second inning brought more runs for Madison as they would inch closer with 3 runs to bring the score to 5-4. Christian stretched its lead with another run in the top of the third inning thanks to a leadoff single by Carter who scored on a booming RBI triple by McMahon to make it 6-4. However the lead wouldn’t last as Madison scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the 8-6 lead. Madison pushed across another run in the fourth to make it 9-6.
The Patriots, now trailing by three runs, got it into gear in the top of the fifth inning as McMahon reached on an error, Sherburne singled and McMahon would score on a groundout by LAUREN SHERBURNE (2 RBI). Anna Sherburne would score on an RBI single by ELLE LINDBLAD (2-4, RBI, 2B) to make it a one run game at 9-8. Both teams would notch a run in their respective halves of the sixth inning to make it 10-9.
The lead would again become the Patriots for good in the top of the seventh as Lindblad would lead off with a double and would come around to score on an RBI double by TENAY BANEGAS (1-2, RBI, 2B) which tied the score. Espinoza walked, putting runners at first and second, Carter knocked in Banegas and McMahon knocked in Espinoza to give Christian the 13-10 lead. Madison would tack on a run in the bottom of the seventh to round out the scoring.
WEST HILLS 9, SAN MARCOS 4 – What a difference a day makes as the Wolf Pack, coming off a loss to Patrick Henry, was able to rebound with a 9-4 victory over the home team San Marcos in non-league action on Saturday (Mar. 5).
Just like the matchup against Henry, it was another battle against a top program in the county as the Knights were a finalist in the San Diego CIF Division I playoffs a year ago.
The Wolf Pack got things going early on as SIERRA SCHLICHTING (2-4, 2 R, RBI) singled, she moved to second on the walk by KENDALL MARINESI (2-3, 3 R, 3 RBI, HR). With runners at first and second and only one out, PAIGE BOWLER (2-4, RBI) stepped to the plate and roped a single to load the bases, RYLEIGH DOBYNS (2-4, 4 RBI, 2 2B) then proceeded to lace a double that scored both Schlichting and Marinesi to give West Hills a 2-0 lead. The lead wouldn’t last as the Knights would push across two runs to tie the score at 2-2.
West Hills went back to work in the top of the second inning thanks to a leadoff double by SAVANNAH HENDERSON (1-2, R, 2B). ALEXIS HERRERA (2-3, 2 R) singled giving the Wolf Pack runners at first and second, BROOKE ROBERTS (1-4, R) flied out to center for the first out, then again came up Schlichting who doubled knocking in Henderson and Herrera moved to third. Marinesi, with one down and runners in scoring position, with the count 1-1 she took the next pitch and smashed a Babe Ruthian tower shot of a homer which wowed the crowd over a 30-foot high fence and onto San Marcos Boulevard. The 3-run blast which was her first of the season went an estimated 270 feet at the least, according to many spectators. With the homerun the Wolf Pack now owned a 6-2 lead.
Both teams would go scoreless in the third inning but in the fourth more offense for the Wolf Pack was on the menu as they added three more runs to their lead to 9-2. Scoring for the Pack in the fourth was Roberts, Marinesi, and Herrera. Bowler would lace an RBI single while Dobyns ripped a 2-run double. The Knights tacked on a couple more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 9-4.
Taking the circle for the Wolf Pack and getting the victory was CARLY BURSCH who tossed 5 innings, allowed 4 runs of which all were earned on 6 hits and would walk one and strike out one. Dobyns came in relief and tossed the final 2 innings and gave up only a hit.
RANCHO BUENA VISTA 12, STEELE CANYON 5 – In Falcon Fiesta action Saturday (Mar. 6) the Steele Canyon Cougars traveled to the North County to take on the Rancho Buena Vista Longhorns. Unfortunately the Longhorns’ offense was too much for the Cougars in the 12-5 loss.
The Longhorns got on the board first after retiring the Cougars in order in the top of the first inning. They put a 5 spot on the board in the bottom of the first inning thanks to three hits.
The Cougars scored 3 runs in the top of the second inning to cut into the Longhorn lead and make the score 5-3. SAMANTHA MILLER (1-2, 2R) would come around to score on an EMMA DODSON RBI single, Dodson and JESSICA VENZOR (2-3, 2 R, 2RBI, HR) both scored on the long triple by AUDREY BAGGE (2-3, 2 RBI, 3B).
The Longhorns would extend their lead with 2 runs in the next three innings to lead 11-3. In the sixth inning the Cougars put up a couple more runs thanks to a walk by Miller who proceeded to steal second base. She would score on the 2-run blast by Venzor to make it 11-5.
Taking the loss for the Cougars was MAKAYLA McCARTHY who tossed 4 innings, gave up 9 runs, 6 hits, 7 of the runs were earned, walked 2 and struck out 3. NICOLETTE DEPAOLA came in tossed the last couple of innings and gave up 3 runs on 2 hits, both runs were earned, walked 2 and struck out none.
