ROUNDUP: Stellar day for East teams
- Updated: March 7, 2017
Helix's McKenzie Flores stands on first Monday afternoon.
2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
EastCountySports.com
ESCONDIDO (3-6-17) – The opening game of the Cougar Classic at Kit Carson Park for the Patrick Henry Patriots saw their offense come alive as they routed the Mission Hills Grizzlies, 11-3.
The Grizzlies would strike first with a run to take an early 1-0 lead thanks to a couple of doubles but that would be all they would get.
Patrick Henry would strike back in the bottom half of the first as senior outfielder HANNAH MCEWEN (1-1, 2 RBI, 3 R, SB, HR) started off by being hit by a pitch, she then stole second base and scored on a single by CASSIE VAN TIL (1-3, 2 RBI).
In the bottom of the second, the offense just came gushing out for the Patriots as they took advantage of four walks. They also smashed a couple of home runs including one by pitcher MADISON JAMES (2-2, 3 RBI, R, HR) and also one by McEwen, who used her speed to make it an inside the park jack.
Other contributors included freshman LAUREN NETT (1-3, R, 2B), who doubled and scored a run, CRISTIONA CACCAMISE (1-3, 2 RBI) drove in a couple of runs and scored as well, Van Til knocked in a couple runs also.
Pitching wise for the Patriots, James who was making her return to the circle after missing part of the season last year due to injury and tossed 4 innings for the win, giving up the 2 runs, of which both were earned, while walking 1 and striking out 4 on the day.
WEST HILLS 7, RANCHO BERNARDO 2 – In Cougar Classic pool play action, the Wolf Pack took advantage of their opportunities and rustled the Broncos for the victory.
West Hills in the bottom of the first inning started off with two outs but senior RYLEIGH DOBYNS garnered a full count walk, STAR GAYLORD (2 R) came into run, up came catcher ALEX GUAY (1-2, 2 RBI, R, HR) who on an 0-2 count took the offering and crushed it over the fence to give the Pack an early 2-0 lead.
A couple innings later the Longhorns tied the game with a couple of runs but the Pack didn’t let that phase them as they pushed across three runs in the bottom of the third to retake the lead 5-2.
Leadoff hitter SIERRA SCHLICHTING started off by being hit by a pitch, advanced to second via a wild pitch and would advance to third on another wild pitch, a couple of batters later Dobyns would also be hit by a pitch, Gaylord would come in to run and she also would advance to second on a wild pitch, ALYSSA BUBAR (1-3, 2 RBI, 3B, R) came to the plate and had the honors of knocking both of them in as she laced a triple that scored both Schlichting and Gaylord. The next batter ASHLIEGH HARTWIG (1-2, RBI) singled which scored Bubar.
The last couple of runs for West Hills would come in the bottom of the fourth inning as both Schlichting and BROOKE SYNDER (run) would score.
Despite having a couple of opportunities, the Longhorns were thwarted each time by the defense of West Hills, who turned a crucial double play in the top of the fourth.
For the Pack in the circle, Dobyns got the victory tossing 5 innings, giving up 2 runs of which one was earned on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2 on the day.
GROSSMONT 13, SAGE CREEK 0 – The Foothillers, behind a barrage of offense, put the pedal to metal and claimed a shortened Cougar Classic pool play victory in 4 1/2 innings.
The Foothillers’ TAYLOR BAEZ jacked a homerun for the second straight game as she went 2-2 and scored twice along with 2 RBI.
Grossmont on the day pounded out 11 hits, which included DESTINY BACON, who scored a run and had an RBI along with a stolen base, LILI FLORES scored a couple of runs to go with her one hit. Also, ALEXIS COLLINS laced a triple knocking in a run and she would also score a run.
Grossmont would also bang out three doubles in the game thanks to CANDACE HENDERSON, AMBER ALLMAN, and ALY ALLMAN.
Pitching wise the Foothillers would toss a 1 hitter as SAMARIA ROOPE struck out 6 while giving up the lone hit.
HELIX 10, MONTGOMERY 0 (5 innings) – Stellar pitching and fast offense drove the way for victory for the Highlanders as they defeated visiting Montgomery in the Monte Vista Classic.
Helix in the bottom of the first inning jumped out to a 2-0 lead as AVERY PEREZ smashed a triple and scored on an error and MCKENZIE FLORES would single and later score on a groundout by ALOFA COLLINS.
The Highlanders really put things away in the fourth inning with the addition of 5 runs to stretch the lead to 10-0. Leading things off, FAITH KING was hit by a pitch, Perez bunted for a single, FRANKIE MARTINEZ drew a walk and Flores drove in a couple with a single. The next batter GABBY OLIVARRIA cleared the bases as she tripled.
It wasn’t just the offense on the day for Helix but also KASEY CASTRO a freshman who was making her pitching debut. She earned her first varsity victory as she hurled a complete game shutout, giving up one hit while fanning 10 on the day.
CHRISTIAN 7, MADISON 7 (Game called due to darkness after 7 inn.) – A back and forth contest between the two teams led to the game being called due to darkness.
The Patriots early on looked like they would garner the victory as they put a run on the board in the top of the first inning as SILENT RAIN ESPINOSA (3-4, RBI, 3 R, 2B) singled and would later on score.
Christian would extend their lead in the top of the third as ASHLEY CARTER (2-5, 2 R, RBI, SB) and Espinosa would knock out back-to back singles, Carter would steal second base before Espinoza singled, SHANNON MCMAHON (3-4, 2 RBI, R) would single in a run and Espinosa would come in to score during the inning which put the Patriots up 3-0.
Christian would tack on another run in the top of the fifth to go up 4-0 as Mcmahon singled and would come into score a couple batters later on a sacrifice bunt by TENAY BANEGAS. However, the Warhawks would scratch 4 runs in the bottom of the fifth to knot the game at 4-4.
Even though the score was tied the Patriots didn’t flinch as they pushed across three runs in the top of the 6th to retake the lead at 7-4. Leading off ALEXA HENDERSON drew a walk, a couple of batters later with two outs Carter smashed a double that scored Henderson, Espinosa followed up with an RBI double and McMahon finished with a run scoring single.
Unfortunately, the lead wouldn’t last as Madison scored a run in the bottom of the sixth and tie the game in the bottom of the seventh where it would stand as the umpires decided to call the game.
