Wolf Pack have just enough offense to get past Foothillers
- Updated: April 16, 2016
West Hills Alex Guay stands at second following a double in the first inning Friday at Grossmont.
2016 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (4-16-16) – If you were looking for a game where runs would be scored then you were in the right place as the West Hills Wolf Pack outlasted the host Grossmont Foothillers 9-8 in Grossmont Hills League action, Friday (Apr. 15).
The Wolf Pack got on the board first with the offensive fireworks as they scored 5 runs as leadoff hitter ALEXIS HERRERA hit a shot to third but the throw was off thus allowing Herrera to reach on the error, MOANA PISIA (2-2, 2 R) ripped a single and SIERRA SCHLICHTING (3-4, 2 RBI, 2 R) laced a double that scored Herrera, up stepped RYLEIGH DOBYNS (1-4, 3 RBI, HR) who on the 2-0 count took the offering and just hammered it over the fence for the 3-run jack. The next batter ALEX GUAY (2-5, 2 R, RBI, 2 2B) ripped a double, PAIGE BOWLER (2-4, RBI) singled and KENDALL MARINESI (3-4, 2 RBI) singled scoring Guay to make it 5-0.
West Hills had a nice lead but the Foothillers who could put up runs themselves did so by answering with three runs of their own to cut the lead to 5-3. DESTINY BACON (2-4, 2 R) laced a one out single, MEGAN MALWITZ (2 R) drew a walk, TAYLOR BAEZ tried to lay down a bunt but she popped it up and Schlichting tried to catch it but it bounced out and rolled into foul territory thus allowing Baez to reach on an error that allowed Bacon to score when the ball got away, CARLY PEARSON (1-4, R, 2B) sacrificed the runners up and SAMARIA ROOPE (2-3, 2 RBI) singled with two outs scoring both Malwitz and Baez.
The offensive party continued in the top of the second inning as the Wolf Pack extended their lead with a couple of runs to lead 7-3. Pisia led off with a double, Schlichting doubled which put Pisia at third, Guay would knock in Pisia on a fielders choice and Marinesi a couple of batters later would double which scored Schlichting. Facing a four run deficit, the Foothillers always a threat to score did so in their half of the second. However it didn’t come easy as the first two batters were retired. CHLOE CAMARERO (1-4, R) came up and singled, Bacon reached on an error, Malwitz walked and Baez blasted a 2-run double to left scoring both Camarero and Bacon to make the score 7-5.
So again only leading by a couple of runs the Wolf Pack pushed across a run in the top of the third as Herrera singled, Pisia sacrificed Herrera to second, Schlichting singled scoring Herrera from second to lead 8-5. Grossmont answered right back with a run of their own as Pearson banged out a leadoff double, she would advance to third on a wild pitch and would score a couple batters later when ALEXIS COLLINS (1-3, 2 RBI, HR) grounded out to short but Pearson scored to cut the lead at 8-6.
Back to back doubles in the top of the fourth inning, first by Guay and secondly by Bowler scoring Guay extended the lead to 9-6 for the Pack. The Wolf Pack would hold the Foothillers scoreless for the first time in the fourth and fifth innings. Grossmont did the same to the Pack in the fifth and sixth innings. So down to the nitty gritty of the contest and down to the last chances the Foothillers needed to do something if they wanted to get back into the game. Things got really exciting in the bottom of the sixth inning as Roope singled to lead things off, LILI FLORES (run) came in as a courtesy runner. Next up in the lineup was Collins and she took the offering from Dobyns and launched it over the fence for the 2-run bomb which brought the Foothiller fans to a roaring cheer. The blast brought Grossmont within 9-8 and gave them hope. However that would be all the damage done as Dobyns worked her magic to get the Pack out of the inning.
West Hills wouldn’t add to their lead in the top of the seventh so that gave the Foothillers one more crack to either tie or win the game in the bottom of the seventh. Dobyns on the other hand had other ideas as she masterfully got the leadoff hitter Malwitz to groundout for the first out, the second batter Baez was able to work the count full before she grounded out for the second out of the inning. So with two outs it was up to Pearson to keep things going, unfortunately it wasn’t to be as Dobyns retired her via a pretty easy hit fly ball to centerfield where ALYSSA BUBAR put the glove up and squeezed it for the third and final out of the game.
Getting the victory for the Wolf Pack, Dobyns who tossed all 7 innings, giving up 8 runs of which 4 were earned on 8 hits, walked 2 and struck out 1. Taking the loss was Roope who gave up 9 runs on 15 hits, walking 1 while striking out 4.
The win for the Wolf Pack was a measure of revenge as Grossmont had defeated them in the Cougar Classic the previous month for the first time in a few years.
