Falcons keep rallying, beat Cougars
- Updated: May 9, 2018
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
EastCountySports.com
NON-LEAGUE
SCRIPPS RANCH 7, STEELE CANYON 6
In a back and forth affair the Falcons took advantage of late opportunities to push across runs late to claim the walk-off victory.
Besides being a non-league contest the game had other implications as Scripps Ranch came into the contest ranked number eight in the power rankings whereas Steele Canyon was in a virtual tie with Grossmont in the number nine spot.
The Cougars looked like they would get something going in the top of the first inning as both Elizabeth Bott (1-3) and Audrey Bagge drew consecutive walks to start off. Neither would come around to score.
Both teams pitching and the defense held as neither team could muster anything more than a baserunner or so.
That is until the top of the fourth when Amanda Whipple hit into a fielder’s choice in which Bianca Morales (1-2, 2R) was thrown out at second, Maggie Carpenter (1-2, R, 2 RBI) followed with a single advancing Whipple to second, Tayler Thomas (1-3, R) singled to load the bases and Jazmin Alvarado (1-4, 2 RBI, 2B) roped a double to score both Whipple and Carpenter, Thomas would come into score on a Carly Logan (RBI) sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
Scripps Ranch would pull within 3-2 as Malaya Delfin laced a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Steele Canyon would extend their lead 4-2 as Bianca Morales would score on a catcher’s error in the top of the fifth.
Again the Falcons would rally and score two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 4-4.
However in the top of the seventh with one out JJ Venzor singled, Morales is hit by a pitch, Venzor advances to second, Whipple laces a single to load the bases and Carpenter rips a single to center that brought both Venzor and Morales around to score to give the Cougars the 6-4 lead.
The Falcons trailing in the bottom of the seventh inning took momentum as leadoff hitter Sarah Nakahara walked, Alyssa Vilke singled and Lexi Osowski walked to load the bases. The next batter Delaney Kelly would pull the Falcons within 6-5 on a sacrifice fly. The next batter would ground out for the second out of the inning. Scripps Ranch was down to their final out with runners on second and third after the double steal, Julia Folkl worked the count full and on the very next offering blooped it to right field where it fell in for the game-winning two-run single.
For the Cougars, Richter took the loss as she went 6.2 innings giving up 7 runs on 11 hits while walking 3 and striking out 1.
On the other side Elaine Swecker started and went 4.1 innings giving 4 runs on 6 hits while walking 4 and striking out 3, Ashley Tong came in and tossed 2.2 innings of relief and got the win giving up two runs on 3 hits.
