Highlanders looking for gold after 2-0 start

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 5, 2019

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

Helix 11 – La Jolla 0 (5 innings)

Gold and Silver Classic Tournament

By Tyler Gribble

Special to EastCountySports.com

LA JOLLA – The Helix High bats came out of the gate hot, batting around in the top of the first en route to a convincing victory over the La Jolla Vikings.

Leadoff batter Avery Perez (1-3, BB) started the game with a walk, followed by a single from Erin Brown (2-4, RBI, SB).

“Throughout the game, I did my best to wait on the pitcher and get my hands through the ball in order to gain solid contact,” Brown said. “By cheering on my teammates and helping them through their mental game, it allowed us to be successful as a team.”

Isabella Bordine (1-4, 2B) then hit a sharp ground ball which was misplayed by the second baseman, allowing Perez to score.

“I always take and advantage at the plate,” Perez said. “I see a pitch and drive it.

“It might not be right where you want it but then again it depends on whether or not you think you should take the swing.

“Same thing with bunting you might not always have a perfect pitch right down the middle. It’s all about your approach coming up to the plate. My mentality was wait for the ball, let it come to my hands in and throwing my hands right back at the pitcher.”

Next up, freshman Sophia Ramuno (1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB) found her first hit of her high school career, lining a bases-clearing double into the left-center gap.

Nicole Hernandez (1-2, 2 R, HBP) and Kasey Castro (1-3, R, RBI) each followed with singles, before Zoe Kuhlken (1-1, R, 2 RBI, BB) drove them both in with a double.

In the bottom of the first, Sophia Ramuno (3 IP, W, 1 H, 6 K) took to the pitching rubber for the first start of her high school career.

At first, nerves seemed to get to the freshman as she surrendered a leadoff walk, and a single to Vikings catcher Hailey Ramos.

However, Ramuno quickly settled in, allowing just one baserunner the rest of the way. She concluded her first start (and pitching win) with six straight strikeouts, before giving way to Kasey Castro (2 IP, 3 K) in relief.

“I felt good about my outing,” Ramuno said. “I was nervous because it was my first game.”

The Highlander bats ended the day with 9 hits, including a pinch-hit 2 RBI single by Melissa Gutierrez, which drove in the critical 10th run.

EastCountySports.com