Cougars rally, Henry routs; Pats, Matadors, Hillers fall
- Updated: March 23, 2016
2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO — In Falcon Fiesta action, Tuesday (Mar. 22) the Steele Canyon Cougars rallied to bite the visiting Scripps Ranch Falcons 6-5.
The Falcons got some luck in the first inning as they scored a couple of runs, both of which were unearned thanks to a miscue by the Cougars to lead 2-0 early on.
The Cougars had their opportunity in the bottom of the first inning as they were able to get runners at first and second with two outs. Both JJ VENZOR (2-3, 2B) who singled and MAKAYLA McCARTHY (0-1, RBI) who drew a walk would be stranded. However the Cougars struck in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 2-1. Leadoff hitter SAMANTHA MILLER (1-3, 2 R, 2B) drew a walk, NIKKI DEPAOLA drew another walk, JASMINE ALVARADO would come in as a courtesy runner and ASHLEY TAVIZON (1-1, RBI, SB) reached on an error that allowed Miller to come in to score. However that would be all they would score as the next three batters would be retired.
Scripps Ranch added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Steele Canyon cut the lead in half as they pushed across a run to make it 4-2. Leadoff hitter AUDREY BAGGE walked and would be forced out on the fielder’s choice by GENTRY HOFFMAN (2-3, 2 R, 2B) who would proceed to steal second base and come in to score on the booming double to left field by MAKAYLA STOMENGER (1-3, RBI, R). The teams would hold each other scoreless for the next couple of innings and in the bottom of the sixth inning the Cougars broke through in a very dramatic way.
In the bottom of the sixth, Hoffman led off with a single to right field, Stromenger would reach on an error and advance Hoffman to second base. Venzor would lay down a great sacrifice bunt which would advance both Hoffman to third and Stromenger to second. McCarthy would lay down another sacrifice bunt which would score Hoffman to make it 4-3 and EMMA DODSON (2-4, RBI, R) laced a single to right that scored Stromenger and knotted the score at 4-4. The Cougars back in business and with all the momentum would do more damage as Miller ripped a double to left center. She would come into score a couple of batters later as Tavizon would knock in both her and Stromenger to take a 6-4 lead thanks to a really well placed bunt and some gutsy base running.
Heading into the top of the seventh the Falcons tried to make the comeback thanks to a one out walk, a wild pitch and a double that would put them within a run at 6-5. However DePaola shut down any thoughts of a comeback as she retired the next two batters to close out the contest.
By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com
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VALLEY CENTER 3, CHRISTIAN 1 – In Jaguar Classic tournament action, Tuesday (Mar. 22) the home team Valley Center Jaguars nipped the Christian Patriots late 3-1.
The Patriots got on the board first in top of the first as SILENT RAIN ESPINOSA (1-3, R, 2B, SB) led off with a booming double, she would steal third and come in on the groundout to the shortstop by ELLE LINDBLAD (RBI) to make it 1-0 early on, the next batter ANNA SHERBURNE (1-2, 2B) would double but unfortunately be stranded at second.
Things were looking good for the Patriots as they were cruising along until in the bottom of the fifth inning the Jaguars tied the score 1-1 thanks to a double and a single. The Patriots threatened in the top of the sixth as Lindblad drew the leadoff walk, Sherburne would strike out, so with one out up stepped SHANNON McMAHON (1-3) who drilled a single. That’s all they would get as the next two batters would be retired this stranding runners on. Valley Center would tack on their final two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com
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MORSE 24, MOUNT MIGUEL 12 – In a non-league game the Morse Tigers traveled to Spring Valley to take on the Mount Miguel Matadors and in a slugfest won 24-12.
The Tigers in the top of the first inning were able to jump out early as they pushed across eight runs to lead 8-0. In the bottom of the first the Matadors showed their offense as they put up seven of their own runs to pull within 8-7. Leadoff hitter CHEYENNE ROLKES singled, KIARA HARRIS walked putting runners at first and second. Both Rolkes and Harris would get out. JULIETTE HARRIS (3-4, 3 R) would single, RASHANNA MCCOY (2-3, R) singled, NEDDY BERRIOS singled, YVETTE ANDRADE (3-5, R, 2 RBI, 2B) doubled in both Harris and McCoy. JACKIE ESPINOZA (3-4, R) walked, ADRIANA MENDEZ walked which scored Andrade and JAYLENE VEGA walked which scored Espinoza. Both Mendez and Vega would score as well.
In the bottom of the second inning the Matadors would even the score at 8-8 thanks to Harris singling and McCoy singling. Harris would come around to score. However the Tigers would break the tie with five runs in the top of the third inning to take a 13-8 lead. Mount Miguel would cut into the Tigers’ lead as they pushed across a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth as Berrios and Andrade would score to make it 13-10. The Tigers would score 11 more runs over the next three innings to round out their scoring.
Mount Miguel would only score a couple more runs, one in the bottom of the fifth, and in the bottom of the seventh.
By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com
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DEL NORTE 7, GROSSMONT 6 (12 inn.) – In a nail biter that went back and forth the host Del Norte Night Hawks edged the visiting Grossmont Foothillers 7-6 in 12 innings in Jaguar Classic tournament action, Tuesday (Mar. 22).
Things didn’t go quite the Foothillers way in the bottom of the first when the Night Hawks scored four runs to take an early 4-0 lead. However in the top of the second inning the Foothillers got on the board as they pushed across a run to make it 4-1. They gave back a couple of runs in the bottom half of the inning to make it 6-1.
Grossmont would get back into the contest as they pushed across runs in the top of the fourth, fifth and sixth. They would notch two runs in the top of the seventh to even the score at 6-6 including a double by ALEXIS COLLINS to tie the score.
Both teams would go back and forth until the twelfth inning when Del Norte was able to score thanks to a double and a blooped single to end it.
Offensively for the Foothillers, MEGAN MALWITZ went 2-3 and banged out 2 2B and knocked in a run.
By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com
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PATRICK HENRY 11, EL CAMINO 1 – In Jaguar Classic action on Tuesday (Mar. 22) the visiting Patrick Henry Patriots scored often against the El Camino Wildcats to take 11-1 victory.
RUBY GONZALEZ earned the win for the Patriots.
By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com
