Cougars score upset over Scripps Ranch
- Updated: May 5, 2019
Steele Canyon sophomore Kim Jaggard slides safely into home on Saturday. / SRHS photo
2019 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
Steele Canyon junior BIANCA MORALES applies a tag on Saturday. / SRHS photo
East County Sports staff report
SCRIPPS RANCH (5-5-2019) – Steele Canyon took a 7-5 mild upset decision over host Scripps Ranch in a non-league ballgame on Saturday.
Despite all of the postseason possibilities, Scripps Ranch utilized the contest more like a scrimmage by using four different pitchers. Of course, maybe they needed to after the Cougars scored on all four.
Meanwhile, after Steele Canyon grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the 4th inning after they pulled starting pitcher Grace Richter.
But when the bullpen fumbled away the lead, Richter was re-inserted into the circle, but not before the Cougars reclaimed the lead at 5-2 in the 4th.
Thus, Richter only garnered the save rather than the victory, but the bottom line is much more important following the final Saturday of the regular season. Next weekend, San Diego Section officials will announce the seedings and playoff pairings to the CIF championships.
Richter also scored the go-ahead run.
Tied at 2-all, Audrey Bagge lifted the Cougars back in front with a 2-run homer over the fence in center field.
Bagge’s first blast in three weeks was her eighth of the season, moving the senior into position to match the school record of 10, set by catcher Molly Hutchison in 2012.
With one exception, all of the rest of the Steele Canyon runs were unearned after the Falcons defense committed five errors.
Meanwhile, Richter definitely earned her save by escaping out of a major a jam in the 6th.
A Steele Canyon player slides into second on Saturday. / SRHS photo
After Scripps Ranch moved to with 6-3, they added three straight singles to cut the deficit to 6-4, before Richter coaxes a ground ball to get off the field.
In the 7th, the Cougars used a two-out rally to score an important insurance run. Following consecutive walks to Amanda Whipple and Tayler Thomas, pinch-hitter Marley Rimoldi registered an RBI single.
Scripps Ranch answered with a run in the 7th on a pair of doubles, but with the potential game-tying run at the plate, Richter again escaped with a pair of fly balls that stayed in the ballpark.
Steele Canyon (12-14 overall) saw Whipple bat 3-for-3 with a walk.
Scripps Ranch (15-10) center fielder Mayca Brown didn’t register a hit but earned two RBI with a sacrifice fly and a squeeze bunt.
