ROUNDUP: Vaqs win; Christian, Henry fall
- Updated: March 24, 2021
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
ECS staff report
LAKESIDE (3-23-21) – For the second straight day the bats of the El Capitan Vaqueros offense came alive as they tallied 18 hits on the day in their 11-4 victory.
An RBI single by AVA GALL (4-4, 2 RBI, 2B) bringing home HAILEY MULLIGAN (1-4, R) and a two-out roped double by KATY HICKS (3-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B) which scored MADDIE TAYLOR (3-3, 3R, 3 RBI, 3B) gave the Vaqueros a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Clairemont in the top of the second inning with two-outs would threaten with runners on first and second. However, BROOKE HORN (1-3) was able to get out of the inning with a called third strike looking.
After getting out of the jam the Vaqueros bats went back to business in the bottom half of the second inning starting with an RBI double by BRANDY TAYLOR (1-3, R, RBI) to score the courtesy runner ALYSSA FIERRO (2R). Later in the inning with two-outs Gall added to the damage with an RBI single.
More damage was done in the inning when Maddy Taylor roped a two-run triple scoring both Fields and Fierro. The Vaqueros added another run on an RBI single by Hicks.
The Chieftains would scratch a run in the top of the fourth to make it 7-1. They would later add three more runs in the top of the fourth on a three-run home run.
El Capitan in the bottom of the sixth inning would round out their scoring with an RBI single by Hicks which was followed by a two-run single by KYLIE MEAD (3-4, 2 RBI, 2B).
Horn would finish out the top of the seventh inning only allowing a one-out base hit in the inning before striking out the final batter.
For the Vaqueros, Horn went the full 7 innings in which she gave up 4 runs on 10 hits while walking 1 and fanning 6 on the day.
FUN FACT: Thru 2 games so far on the early season the 3-4-5 hitters, Ava Gall, Maddie Taylor, and Katy Hicks for the Vaqueros have gone 17-for-23 while driving in 14 runs.
El Capitan moved to 2-0; Clairemont dropped its season opener.
SAN DIEGO 6, CHRISTIAN 2 (10 inn.)
EL CAJON – A late surge in extra innings by San Diego propelled the Cavers to the victory over host Christian aftert they broke a 1-1 tie.
The Cavers would score the games first run in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single.
Christian would tie the game in the bottom of the seventh when KATE MANES hit a ball that
was misplayed which allowed RACHEL STEPHENS to come into score.
With the score tied at 1-1 the Cavers in the tenth inning would push across three runs courtesy of four hits in a row. They would also add a couple of runs on a miscue by Christian.
Trailing 6-1 in the bottom of the tenth inning the Patriots only managed to push across a single run courtesy of a sacrifice fly by GISELLE COMENERO to bring home Manes.
ALLYSON MOODY for the Patriots took the loss on the day. On the day she fanned 10 while walking 4 in which she gave up 6 runs on 9 hits.
MATER DEI CATHOLIC 15, PATRICK HENRY 4
CHULA VISTA – Early on, the Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders put the game away as they pushed across 10 runs over the first five innings on play to beat Patrick Henry, 15-4
A three-run homerun by GIGI GONZALEZ in the bottom of the first inning started off the fireworks. She would add another RBI in the bottom of the second with a double.
Mater Dei would later in the bottom of the fourth tack on more runs to extend their lead 10-0.
The Patriots would push across a run in the top of the fifth inning thanks to a successful steal of home plate by KAIAH ALTMEYER who had singled with one out to start things.
In her first game back in over a year OLIVIA GIGANTE led off the top of the sixth inning with a double, ALEXIS HAMPTON into run. Later in the inning Hampton would come into score on afielder’s choice by MCKENNA GEIGER which made it 10-2.
Another base hit in the inning by SYDNEY NEWTON which brought in Geiger pulled the Patriots within 10-3.
However, the Crusaders would tack on their final runs in the bottom of the inning.
Trailing 15-3 the Patriots needed something and had a little momentum thanks to JESSICA DEWITT who started off with a hit by pitch, she would advance to second on a passed ball and
move to third thanks to a base hit by DEZIANNA PATMON.
With DeWitt at third base and only one out Gigante came to the plate and hit a fly ball to to left allowing DeWitt to tag up and run home making it 15-4. That would be all the runs the Patriots would get as the Crusaders were able to get out of the inning and end the game.
Elsewhere
BAYFRONT CHARTER 19, MONTE VISTA 0 – The Sharks’ Karizma Garcia and Lenika Padilla both drove in four runs.
Malea Raimey had two of Monte Vista’s three hits, including a double.
Bayfront Charter (2-0), coached by Mary Grabowski, the 2011 East County Softball Player of the Year out of Christian High, saw her side collect 20 hits in the 5-inning affair. Included were four hits each from Garcia and pitcher Iliana Romero (nine strikeouts over four innings). Both are freshmen.
Garcia also collected four RBI, as did Padilla, helping the Sharks to their fourth-highest offensive output in Bayfront Charter’s short 6-year history playing softball.
“We were only expected three girls from our feeder middle school to come out for the team,” said Grabowksi. “But nine showed up and they all play travel ball, so we were pleasantly surprised. We’re young with al those freshmen, but we’re going to be pretty good for our level.”
Meanwhile, Monte Vista lead-off batter Madison James, one of the ballclub’s top hitters, was walked twice.
