Barons take advantage of opportunities to win late
- Updated: May 17, 2018
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
EastCountySports.com
SAN DIEGO CIF OPEN DIVISION
#5 BONITA VISTA 3, #4 GRANITE HILLS 1
Too many errors doom the Eagles as the Barons scored two unearned runs late to pull out the victory.
Bonita Vista (17-7-2) came into the game on a five-game winning streak and also having won 6 of their last 7 ballgames knew they would have to take advantage of opportunities if they were to pull out the victory.
They had an opportunity in the top of the first inning as Granite Hills committed three errors but unfortunately, nothing came of them as Staci Chambers struck out Madalyn Loperena to end the inning.
Granite Hills (23-8) came in having won 4 of their last 5 games in the bottom of the first had an opportunity as Brooke Bertussi (2-3, 2 2B) doubled with one out. Unfortunately, she would be caught stealing third base, Haley Johnson (1-3) followed by singling to center field.
The Barons in the top of the third got a lucky bounce when the ball that was hit by Brittney Mendoza bounced over the fence for a ground rule double, Alexis Guevera followed with a hit advancing Mendoza to third, a couple batters later with one out Julia Hill was able to place a sacrifice bunt down to score Mendoza who was pretty much halfway home to make it 1-0.
Neither team did anything for the next few innings as Chambers for the Eagles and Mia Marinakis for the Barons pretty much limited the others’ offense.
In the bottom of the sixth, it looked like the Eagles might tie the game as Bertussi roped a two-out double. With Bertussi at second and Johnson coming to hit the Eagles were in good shape. However, Marinakis was able to get Johnson to pop out in foul territory on the third base side for the final out of the inning.
Moving to the top of the seventh inning still leading 1-0 Bonita Vista knew they had to put some insurance runs up. Leadoff hitter Klarissa Munoz hit a ground ball to short that was misplayed allowing her to reach on an error, Micaela Macario followed by laying down a sacrifice that was fielded and thrown away from first base allowing both Munoz and Macario to advance to second and third, Mendoza came up and laced a single to left that scored both Munoz and Macario to give the Barons a 3-0 lead.
The Eagles trailing would score a run in the bottom of the seventh as Amaya Esparza (1-3, R, RBI, HR) blasted a one-out solo homer to make it 3-1.
On the day, Marinakis went all 7 innings giving up the one run which was earned on 1 hit while striking out 5 in the complete game victory.
Talking to Mia Marinakis of Bonita Vista after they won 3-1 vs Granite Hills. https://t.co/UNWtMM6gpq
— EC Preps (@EC_Preps_SD) May 17, 2018
For the Eagles, Chambers went 7 innings in the loss while giving up 3 runs of which 1 was earned on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4.
Bonita Vista will now travel to take on the top-seeded Cathedral Catholic Dons on Saturday at 10 am while Eagles will play at home against the eighth-seeded Steele Canyon Cougars for a fifth time on the season. Game time on Saturday for the game will be 10 am.
