ROUNDUP: Granite Hills, Santana, Helix, Christian, Serra
- Updated: April 1, 2016
Mackenzie Bennett with her home run ball after her third round-tripper of the season Thursday against Morse.
2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-1-16) — The Granite Hills Eagles looked to get back on the right track but unfortunately couldn’t overcome various defensive miscues as they dropped a 4-3 decision to the visiting Del Norte Nighthawks in the Jaguar Classic, Thursday (Mar. 31).
Granite Hills in the first inning got on the board first as they pushed across a run to lead 1-0 early on. Leadoff hitter KAREN CREECH was hit by a pitch, she then stole second, a couple of batters later CASSIDY SHEW hit a line drive single that advanced Creech to third. It would be up to JESSIE LAPIERRE to come through with 2 outs and she did as she drilled a single that scored Shew to make it 1-0, LaPierre would advance to second base on the throw. It would be all the Eagles would muster as the next batter struck out to end the inning.
For the Eagles it was HALLE KYLER taking the circle, she had shut down the Nighthawks in the first inning as she struck out two and in the top of the second struck out one and got out of the inning without any damage done. Granite Hills offensively in their half of the second inning went down in order 1-2-3.
Heading into the top of the third leading, the Eagles were in good shape as the Nighthawks couldn’t touch what Kyler was throwing. However that all changed as Del Norte finally got the offense going as they singled, doubled and singled. The last coming with one out. Kyler was able to get the second out of the inning. It looked like the Eagles would get out of the inning but unfortunately the next batter would hit what was a routine groundball to the first baseman but the ball was misplayed and it went through the legs into right field. This allowed two runs to score giving the Nighthawks the 2-1 lead.
Still trailing by a run, the Eagles had an opportunity to tie the score in the bottom of the fourth inning as LaPierre led off with a single to left field, No. 13 came in as a courtesy runner, she would swipe both second and third base. Granite was in business as there were none out and a runner at third. However it was not meant to be as the next three batters would be retired with back to back strikeouts and the last batter would fly out to end the inning.
The Nighthawks would add another run in the fifth thanks to a couple of hits, a passed ball that would advance the runners and a sacrifice fly that scored a runner to give them a 3-1 lead. Granite Hills again would have another opportunity in the bottom of the fifth to cut into the Del Norte lead and again couldn’t get the timely hit to take advantage of having runners on with two outs.
Heading into the top of the sixth inning and still holding onto the 3-1 lead, Del Norte took advantage of a walk, back to back base hits and another Eagles miscue in left field that allowed a runner to score to make it 4-1. The run by the Nighthawks was huge as the Eagles stormed back to cut the lead in half 4-2. LaPierre singled to center, No. 13 came in as a courtesy runner, she would advance to second on the sacrifice bunt and would advance to third on the called third strike against SYDNEY HUSE but it wasn’t played by the catcher and she was safe at first. She tried to advance to second but was thrown out. The courtesy runner was able to advance to third base. She would come in on the single to right field by ERICA SIMON.
So after holding Del Norte in the top of the seventh, the Eagles made one last stand in the bottom of the seventh. The second batter of the inning, MADISON CALDWELL with one out rifled a double down the left field line, the next batter flew out to center for the second out of the inning. Kyler looking to extend the inning did so as she ripped a single to center that scored Caldwell to make it 4-3. Kyler then stole second base. The next batter LaPierre drew the walk. So with two outs BRENDA RUSHING stepped to the plate looking to extend the inning. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be as she struck out to end the ball game.
Kyler took the circle and garnered the hard luck loss as she tossed 7 innings, gave up 4 runs of which 3 were unearned on 4 hits while walking 3 and fanning 5 on the day.
For the Eagles what makes this more frustrating is that it is another one run loss which makes this now 6 of the last 7 losses in the last 9 games a one run defeat.
Santana 18, Morse 3 – The Santana Sultans traveled inland to Morse High to take on the Tigers and in the process, everyone in the lineup contributed in their 18-3 Monarch Classic conquest, Thursday (Mar. 31).
Santana got the ball rolling early as MADDY MENDEZ (1-3, R) led off with a single, SHELBY HOLMQUIST (1-1, 2 R) came in as a courtesy runner, MACKENZIE BENNETT (3-3, 2 RBI, R, HR, 2B) would take the 0-1 count and blast the very next pitch over the center field fence for the 2-run jack to make it 2-0. The fireworks continued as SYDNEY VATES (2 R) walked, she would be driven in on a single by NICOLE PENTON MARCH (1-4, 3 RBI, 2 R), CASSIDY MATTHIE (1-3, R) would reach on a fielder’s choice to the shortstop who would commit an error that allowed Penton March to score, which pushed it to 4-0. Matthie would come in on the single by CELINE MENARD (3-3, 3 RBI, R, 2B) to make it 5-0.
The Sultans tacked on four more runs in the top of the second to extend their lead to 9-0. For the second time Bennett would reach as she boomed a double to center, SYDNEY BENJAMIN (1-2, RBI, 3 R) came in as a courtesy runner, she would advance to third on a passed ball, Vates would walk, RACHEL WILSON (2 RBI, R) would knock Benjamin in on a fielder’s choice and Vates would advance to third base as the shortstop again committed an error. Penton March would hit a sacrifice fly that scored Vates and advanced Wilson to second and then to third. A couple of batters later Menard would walk and ASHLEY MADRIGAL (2-4, 3 RBI) singled to center that scored Wilson and advanced Menard to third. She would come into score.
The offense for the Sultans was clicking the entire day as they would score 9 more runs over the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Other Sultan standouts on the day were ALEXIS BERRY (1-2, 3 RBI, R), and LEXI CHAVARIN-MIRANDA (1-2, 2 R).
For the Sultans pitching wise, SOPHIA MARTORANA got the start and the victory. She went 3 innings giving up 2 runs of which both were earned on 4 hits, walked 2 and struck out 5 on the day. BRITTANY MUNDAY came in for 2 innings of relief, giving up a run which was earned on 2 hits, walked 2 and struck out 1.
By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com
Helix 14, Mar Vista 4 (5 innings) – In the second game of pool play of the Highlander Classic, the Highlanders’ offense took over as they run ruled the visiting Mar Vista Mariners 14-4, Thursday (Mar. 31).
The Mariners took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a hit by pitch and also a Helix miscue in the outfield but the lead didn’t last long. Helix would take the lead as they pushed across three runs to lead 3-2 of which was all accomplished with two outs. With two outs DESTINI BULLOCK singled, GABBY OLIVARRIA knocked Bullock in with a double, Olivarria would come in to score on the single by VICTORIA CYMAN who would score on the single by JASMINE VELIZ.
The Mariners pushed across a run in the second inning to knot the score at 3-3 but the Highlanders came back and never looked back as they plated five of their own runs in the bottom of the second. After leadoff single by BELLA MENA, FAITH KING singled and would advance on the sacrifice bunt by BRIANA REED. MCKENZIE FLORES drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly, Olivarria ripped a 2 run double and Cyman and Veliz had back to back RBI singles to make it 8-3.
Helix scored 5 more in the fourth and the final run in the fifth to end the contest via run rule. Reed would get the pitching victory as she hurled 5 innings, allowing 4 runs of which 3 were earned on six hits. It was her third win on the season.
By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com
San Diego 12, Christian 11– The San Diego Cavers traveled to the East County to take on the host Christian Patriots and in a slugfest came away with the 12-11 victory in the Monte Vista Monarch Classic, Thursday (Mar. 31).
The Cavers got on the board first as they scored a couple of runs to lead 2-0 early on via a leadoff walk followed by a 2-run homer. The lead didn’t last long as the Patriots exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the 8-2 lead. Four consecutive walks by COURTNEY SKJERVE (RUN), SILENT RAIN ESPINOSA (1-3, RBI, R, 3B), ASHLEY CARTER (1-3, 2 R) and ANNA SHERBURNE (1-2, 2 RBI, 2 R, HR) who got the RBI as Skjerve scored. SHANNON MCMAHON struck out for the first out of the inning, ELLE LINDBLAD (2-3, 2 RBI) singled which scored both Espinosa and Carter, LAUREN SHERBURNE (2-4, R) singled, ALEXA HENDERSON (1-2, RBI, R) knocked in a run with a single and MALLORY STEELE (2-3, 2 R, 2B) singled. All would score in the inning as well.
San Diego got their offense going in the second inning as they pushed across five runs to pull within 8-7. Christian would tack on a run in the second as Anna Sherburne blasted a solo shot to make it 9-7. They would push across their final two runs in the third as Carter and Steele both scored to extend the lead to 11-7. However the Cavers would get to Carter who pitched for the Patriots in the fifth and seventh innings. They would tie the score in the fifth with four runs to make it 11-11 and the run in the seventh would make it 12-11. The bats for Christian all of sudden stopped producing in the latter innings and the Cavers were able to hold them.
By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com
Brawley 15, Serra 8 – Runs were aplenty in the Monarch Classic contest as the visiting Brawley Wildcats came back to beat the host Serra Conquistadors 15-8, Thursday (Mar. 31).
The Conquistadors broke through first with a run in the bottom of the second inning as JORDAN GRAVES (RBI, 2 R) led off with a walk. She would be sacrificed to second base and she stole third. She would score on the sacrifice by ABIGAIL WARDEN (RBI, R) to make it 1-0. Brawley took the lead 2-1 in the top of the third on a fielder’s choice followed by a two run homerun. They tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 4-1.
Serra now trailed going into their half of the fourth but they erased the three run deficit with five runs of their own to take a 6-4 lead. Leadoff hitter VIVIAN TOMOVICH (2-4, R) singled to center, Graves drew a walk, both Tomovich and Graves pulled off the double steal, JACQUELINE KAMERY (1-3, 2 RBI, R) laced a single scoring Tomovich. The next batter Warden was able to get on base via a walk, which brought up SELA FALLON (2-5, 4 RBI, R, 2B) with the bases full. Facing the count of 0-1, Falon took the very next pitch and absolutely crushed it over the left field fence for the grand slam.
Now leading 6-4, the Conquistadors were back in business but the Wildcats clawed a run in the fifth to pull within 6-5. Brawley in the sixth and seventh innings would take advantage of multiple hits along with multiple Serra miscues to score 9 runs to lead 15-6. Now trailing after falling apart in the final two innings heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Conquistadors did their best to rally.
In the bottom of the seventh, Serra would scratch together a couple of runs to make it 15-8. Leading off was AMBER WOZNIAK (2-4, R) who would single, TAYLOR CURLY (2-4, R) singled moving Wozniak to second base, Tomovich singled to load the bases. The next batter Graves was able to draw the walk allowing Wozniak to score, a couple of batters later Kamery grounded out which scored Curly. This would be all the Conquistadors would garner as Fallon hit into a fielder’s choice in which Graves was thrown out to end the ball game.
By Adam Paul, © EastCountySports.com
