Sultans, Eagles, Cougars, Vaqueros, Highlanders win
- Updated: May 3, 2017
2017 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont Hills League
Santana 6, West Hills 3: A late rally by the Sultans secures the victory over West Hills in Grossmont Hills action.
Things started off with a bang for the Sultans in the top of the first as MADISON MENDEZ (2-2, 2R, 3 RBI, 2 HR) led off with a walk, ASHLEY MADRIGAL (RUN) into run, MACKENZIE BENNETT (1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR) followed by connecting off of Wolf Pack starter CARLY BURSCH for a 2-run rocket shot, her sixth on the year over the left field fence to give the Sultans a 2-0 lead.
West Hills would start out by answering with a SIERRA SCHLICHTING (2-4, RBI) single, however she would be out on the fielders choice by MELISSA CASTILLO (RUN), a couple of batters later RYLEIGH DOBYNS would hit a ball to short which was misplayed allowing Castillo to score cutting the lead 2-1.
The Wolf Pack would do more damage an in inning later as Bursch led off with a walk, HALEY VALLES into run, STAR GAYLORD (2-3. 2B) singled, SAVANNAH HENDERSON bunted both runners over, ALYSSA BUBAR (1-3, R) grounded into a fielders choice but all runners would be safe, Schlichting comes up and hit a ball to third that is misplayed allowing Valles to score tying the game 2-2 and Castillo hits into another fielders choice which scored Bubar to give the Pack a 3-2 lead.
Santana in the top of the third had an opportunity as ERICA REID (1-2) led off with a single and Mendez followed with a walk, but Bursch was able to retire the next three batters in order to squash the threat.
Mendez in the bottom of the third retired the Pack in order 1-2-3 on a strike out and a couple of fly ball outs.
West Hills leading by the slim one run headed into the top of the fourth looking to keep the lead but Santana wouldn’t go down quietly. Leadoff batter NICOLE MADRIGAL (1-3, R) singled, she would be sacrificed up by LAKAILA AQUININQOC, up stepped SHELBY HOLMQUIST (1-3, RBI) who on a 0-2 count dealt the blow with a grounder that got through to right allowing Madrigal to come around and score to knot the game 3-3.
Santana added another run in the top of the fifth on a Mendez solo opposite field connection over the right field fence to retake the lead 4-3.
The Wolf Pack again threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth with one out as Gaylord roped a ball to right that went for a double, but Mendez again worked her magic as she retired the next two batters.
Santana extended their lead in the top of the seventh with a couple of insurance runs thanks to a SYDNEY BENJAMIN one out single and another jack by Mendez off of Dobyns. This time the long ball was with two outs and over the center field fence to make it 6-3 for her seventh on the season.
In the bottom of the seventh, leadoff hitter Schlichting would reach on an error but Mendez would get the next three batters out to end the game.
Also getting hits on the day were ALEX GUAY for the Pack and RACHEL WILSON for the Sultans.
Bursch would take the loss for the Pack as she tossed four and a third innings giving up four runs, walked two and struck out three. Dobyns came in and tossed two and two thirds innings in relief, giving up two runs and striking out two.
“It was good to beat West Hills as they had beat us on our field the first time and also in the process hit a couple of homeruns as I hadn’t been much lately.” Said Mendez when asked about the victory and also her homeruns.
For the Sultans, Mendez tossed a complete 7 innings for the victory, giving up three runs, walked one and fanned five on the day to pick up her eighteenth victory on the season.
The win for the Sultans was their eighth in a row.
Granite Hills 7, Grossmont 3: Late perseverance by the Eagles allows them to come away with road victory in Hills action.
The Foothillers looked to strike the upset as they were able to get on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff batter CHLOE CAMARERO (RUN) would be allowed to go to first on catchers interference, DESTINY BACON (1-1, R) singled, MOANA PISIA (RUN) lined a shot to right that was misplayed allowing both Camarero and Bacon to be safe at second and third, TAYLOR BAEZ (RBI) followed by walking which scored Camarero to make it 1-0, a couple of batters later ALEXIS COLLINS hits a ball that was misplayed allowing both Bacon and Pisia to score making it 3-0.
Granite Hills had a few opportunities early to cut into the lead but each time SAMARIA ROOPE shut them down.
Still trailing into the top of the fourth the Eagles looked to get something going and finally were able to as STACI CHAMBERS (3-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B) led off with a single, BRIELLE TYSELING followed with another single, a couple batters later RYLEE OMAHEN lined a single and Chambers was able to score on the throw cutting it to 3-1.
Granite Hills a couple innings later in the top of the fifth did more damage, this time all with two outs. It looked like they would go down but HALEY JOHNSON (1-3, R) kept it alive with a single, CASSIDY SHEW (2-4, R) followed with a single, Chambers roped a double that scored both Johnson and Shew to knot it at 3-3.
The final damage was done by the Eagles in the top of the sixth as they added a couple more runs thanks to back to back singles by Omahen and KAREN CREECH (1-5, R), Omahen advanced to third on an error and came in on a fielders choice by BAILEY WALLACE (R, RBI) to make it 4-3. The second run came when KAYLA MACK (1-3, 2 RBI) singled which scored Creech and Wallace to extend the lead to 6-3. They tacked on their final run in the top of the seventh.
Taking the loss for the Foothillers, Roope who went the distance, giving up 7 runs, walked 4 and struck out 2.
Chambers for the Eagles, tossed 4 innings, giving up 3 runs, walked 3 and struck out 2 to pick up the win. HALLE KYLER came in and tossed 3 innings of relief, striking out 2.
Steele Canyon 5, Valhalla 4: The Bagge, Stromenger combo does the job for the Cougars to earn the victory in Hills action.
The Cougars struck the first blow in the top of the first as AUDREY BAGGE (2-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B) walked to lead things off. She would come into score later on a single by MAKAYLA STROMENGER (3-3, RBI, 2B) to make it 1-0.
Valhalla wouldn’t wait long to strike as they took the lead in the bottom of the first inning as JADE HILL would hit into a fielders choice and VICTORIA VILLEGAS (1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR) would crush a 2-run dinger to give the Norseman a 2-1 lead.
Valhalla would lead until the top of the fourth when the Cougars were able to do some damage. Leadoff hitter MARIANA MARTINEZ (1-3) singled, ELIZABETH BOTT (RUN) into run, MACKENSIE PEARLSTEIN reached on an error, JASMIN ALVARADO (2-3, R, RBI) loaded the bases on a single, a couple batters later Bagge ripped a double that scored both Bott and Pearlstein to give the Cougars a 4-2 lead.
The Norseman cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth as SAMMY GREEN (RUN) walked to leadoff, she would score on a two out single by RYLEE MCMILLAN (1-3, RBI) to make it 4-3.
For the Cougars in the top of the sixth, Alvarado would knock in JJ VENZOR (RUN) to push the lead to 5-3.
The score would remain a two run game until the bottom of the seventh when Valhalla made things interesting.
With one out, RACHEL SHELSTROM (2-3, R) singled, JADE HILL (2-4, R) followed by singling, KENNEDY LABSHERE (1-4, RBI) knocked in Shelstrom on a single to make it 5-4. However a couple batters later after loading the bases, SAMANTHA MILLER for the Cougars would get ALEXIS INGRASSIA to fly out to center where Pearlstein caught it and threw it to third to get JADE HILL out for failing to tag.
DELANEY STETTLER who started for Valhalla went 1 2/3 inning, giving up a hit and striking out one, LILY METSCH who took the loss in relief went 5 1/3 innings, giving up 5 runs on 10 hits, walked 3 and struck out 3.
For the Cougars, Miller went all 7 innings, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits, walked 1 and struck out 2 for the victory.
Grossmont Valley League
El Capitan 16, El Cajon Valley 0: The two headed pitching duo dominated the Braves limiting them to one hit in the lopsided victory.
KATELYN COLLIER (2-3, 2R, RBI, 3 SB) led things off for the Vaqueros in the bottom of the first with a bunt single, she stole both second and third and scored on a sacrifice fly by MADISYN WIEHER (1-2, R, 2 RBI, 3B) to make it 1-0, HANNAH DAVIS (1-3, 3 R, 2 SB) followed by reaching on an error, she stole second and scored on the ALEXA WILLIAMS (2-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB) single to make it 2-0, BAILEY OLAVESON (1-2, R, 2 RBI, 2B) doubled in Williams to make it 3-0, OLIVIA MARTINEZ (1-3, 3R, 2 RBI) knocked in Olaveson making it 4-0 and ALLYSON VON YOKES (2-3, R, 3 RBI, HR) hit a lined shot to right that went around for a while allowing both Martinez and Von Yokes to race around to score the inside the park dinger to push the score to 6-0.
The Vaqueros did more damage in the bottom of the second as they doubled their score. Leadoff hitter Collier reached on an error, Wieher roped a triple scoring Collier making it 7-0, Wieher scored on a passed ball to make it 8-0, Davis is hit by a pitch, Williams singled advancing Davis to third, Olaveson drove her in on a sacrifice fly to make it 9-0, HANNAH HARVEY (2-2, 2R) singled, Williams scored on a passed ball making it 10-0, Martinez walked, Harvey scored on a passed ball, SAVANNAH MINSHEW (1-2, 2 RBI) drove in Martinez to make it 12-0.
El Capitan would do more damage in the bottom of the third as they pushed across four more runs to make it 16-0.
ELENA LADDON went 3 innings, giving up 1 hit, walked 2 and struck out 4. Williams went 2 innings, striking out 6.
Helix 14, Mount Miguel 0: The Highlanders made it look easy as they rolled the Matadors in Valley League action.
The Highlanders pushed across a run in the bottom of the first as EMILY COALE reached on an error, she would move to third on back-to-back walks and score on a wild pitch.
They added five runs over the second and third innings to extend their lead and put the game away in the bottom of the fourth as they batted around in the lineup as they pushed across 8 runs. A big blow was the RBI triple by GABRIELLA OLIVARRIA scoring MCKENZIE FLORES, FAITH KING walked and ERIN BROWN reached on an error, Castro drove in a run via a single. AVERY PEREZ had an RBI single and Coale drove in a couple runs as she ripped a double.
On the day she drove in 4 runs along with a stolen base to go with the double, triple and run scored.
City-Western League
Scripps Ranch 10, Patrick Henry 5: The Falcons clip the Patriots in the early goings of a crucial League contest.
The Falcons to a great surprise took advantage of their opportunities and pushed across ten runs to lead early on. They would take that lead into the late innings.
Patrick Henry who had beaten the Falcons the previous encounter looked to finally get something going in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Leadoff hitter ARIANA RIOS (2-3) singled, HANNAH MCEWEN (RUN) hit into a fielders choice which forced Rios out, CASSIE VAN TIL (2-4, R, RBI) followed with a single, CRISTIONA CACCAMISE (1-3, R) walked, a couple of batters later MADISON JAMES (R, RBI) was hit by a pitch to score McEwen to make it 10-1, SAVANNAH CHAPMAN (1-4, 3 RBI, 3B) roped a double that scored Van Til, Caccamise and James to make it 10-4.
The Patriots tried to keep things going in the bottom of the sixth as LAILA SPRACKLEN (1-3, R) singled with one out, Rios singled, a couple of batters later Van Til would single to score Spracklen making it 10-5 but that’s all they would garner.
In the bottom of the seventh inning the Patriots received a two out roped triple from H. JENKS but she would be stranded to end the game.
Taking the loss for the Patriots was James who tossed 4 2/3 innings, giving up 10 runs on 8 hits, walked 5 and struck out 4. Jenks went 2 1/3 innings, giving up 1 hit and striking out 2.
City-Eastern
University City 10, Christian 2: In a battle for first place the Centurians kept their spot in first as they quieted the high scoring offense of the Patriots limiting them to three hits.
By the time the Patriots were able to finally push something across the Centurians had already scored eight runs to lead 8-0.
Christian finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning as SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on the single by LAUREN SHERBURNE, she would steal second base and come around to score when AUDREY SHEBLOSKI singled to make it 8-2.
University City would score a couple more runs in the top of the seventh inning to round out their scoring.
Taking the loss for the Patriots, Carter who went the full 7 innings, giving up 10 runs on 13 hits, walked 1 and struck out 4 on the day.
