CIF OPEN DIVISION: SCRIPPS RANCH ROLLS EAGLES

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 23, 2018

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

SAN DIEGO CIF OPEN DIVISION PLAYOFFS

THIRD ROUND

#6 SCRIPPS RANCH 12, #4 GRANITE HILLS 2 (5 INNINGS)

The Falcons offense really poured things on in the middle innings to procure the lopsided run rule victory over the home team Eagles.

Scripps Ranch (19-11) coming off the loss to San Marcos knew they were the underdogs on the road and had to get off to a good start. Right away the Falcons put a runner on as Julia Cornelissen was hit by a pitch, Sarah Nakahara followed with a walk to put runners on first and second and no outs.

However, that changed when Alyssa Vilke grounded to Kara Blanchard who tagged third for the first out and threw to first to get the double play by a hair. The Eagles would get out of the inning.

Granite Hills (24-9) who was coming off the emotional come from behind victory over their rival Steele Canyon knew they had to play better and get going earlier. Things started off right as leadoff hitter Baily Wallace (1-2, R) walked, however, the next two batters would be retired and Wallace would advance to second. With two outs Staci Chambers (1-2, R, 2 RBI, HR) came up and hammered the 0-1 count over the center field fence for a two-run jack, her eighth on the season to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

However, things fell off for the Eagles in the top of the second as the Falcons strung together a bunch of hits including a Taylor Gray RBI single, and a three-run double by Nakahara which gave Scripps Ranch the lead 4-2.

McKenzie Boehm (2-2) for the Eagles led off the bottom of the second with a single but wouldn’t advance any further.

It would get worse for the Eagles as Scripps Ranch again took advantage of opportunities in the top of the third with multiple hits, walks and an error to extend their lead to 8-2.

The Falcons would round out their scoring in the top of the fourth as Delanie Kelly doubled to score Lexi Osowski, and a couple batters later Gray would drive in the final run.

Granite Hills in the bottom half of the fourth would get a one-out single by Boehm.

For the Falcons in the top of the fifth inning, Megan Fields drove in Osowski who led off with a double to make it 12-2.

The Eagles needed to do something or they were on the verge of being run-ruled. However, Wallace was only able to muster a one single before being doubled up at second base on a Brooke Bertussi lineout that was caught by Gray who tagged second base for the third out to end the game.

Juliana Lane for the Falcons went all 5 innings giving up 2 runs which were earned on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3.

Starting for the Eagles, Chambers went 3 innings giving up 7 runs of which 3 were earned on 5 hits while walking 3 and striking out 1. Catie Dobbs tossed 2 innings of relief giving up 5 runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3.

Scripps Ranch will now advance after eliminating the Eagles to take on the top-seeded Cathedral Catholic Dons in the Fourth Round at the Santee Sportsplex at 4 PM.