Pats blank Vaqueros; Monarchs win opener
- Updated: March 2, 2017
2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
© EastCountySports.com
EL CAJON (3-1-17) – Opening day in the East County saw the Christian Patriots host the El Capitan Vaqueros and gain the 4-0 victory behind brilliant pitching and timely offense.
Both teams went down in order the first couple of innings and each teams pitcher pretty matched each other out for out.
Making her pitching debut for the Vaqueros, freshman ALEXA WILLIAMS showed her stuff in the bottom of the second when she struck out the side thus preserving the scoreless contest into the third inning.
The Vaqueros in the top of the third with two outs had an opportunity as MADISYN WIEHER (1-3) laced a single and reached second on an error. Unfortunately, that would be all as Patriot hurler ASHLEY CARTER was able to get out of the inning on a ground ball. With the score knotted at 0-0 the Patriots in the bottom of the third took advantage of their opportunities.
Leading off in the bottom of the third, LAUREN SHERBURNE (2-3, 2 R, 2B) got things rolling as she smashed a single, MALLORY STEELE (1-2, R, 2B) followed with hard double to left which scored Sherburne to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead. Despite getting a couple of more hits in the inning the Vaqueros were able to keep the Patriots from adding on and get out of the inning.
Another opportunity presented itself for the Vaqueros in the top of the fourth as with two outs, Williams was able to reach on an error and ALLYSON VON YOKES (1-3) roped a double giving El Capitan runners at second and third. However, it wasn’t meant to be as the next batter grounded out to end the inning.
A couple of innings later in the bottom of fifth the Patriots pushed three runs across to make it 4-0 thanks to three hits. SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (1-3, R), AUDREY SHEBLOSKI (2-2, R, RBI) and Sherburne all would cross the plate. Also in the game, SHANNON MCMAHON (1-3, RBI) knocked in a run for the Patriots.
Even though they were shutout, the Vaqueros have a bright future as Williams despite taking the loss struck out 6 while giving up 7 hits.
In the circle for the Patriots, Carter fanned 3 while only giving up 3 hits on the day in the victory.
MONTE VISTA 8, CLASSICAL ACADEMY 2 –In Monte Vista tournament action on Wednesday (Mar. 1st), the Monarchs pushed across 4 runs in the first inning and never looked back in their 8-2 victory in Spring Valley.
On the day CIERRA ROSS banged out three doubles and knocked in a couple of runs as she went 4-4 and scored a run as well. DESSIRE CORONA also knocked in a couple of runs for the Monarchs.
For the Monarchs in the circle, SAVANNAH SOBOTKA garnered the victory tossing 4 innings giving up 1 hit while striking out 5 on the day.
