ROUNDUP: Sultans, Cougs win at Classic
- Updated: March 30, 2021
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
SANTANA 3 (2-0), SCRIPPS RANCH 2 (1-2)
ESCONDIDO (3-29-21) – With the score tied late in the game, a double by NATALIE SIMS (2-2, R, RBI, 2B). would allow the Santana Sultans to prevail in the bottom of the fifth to defeat Scripps Ranch at the annual Cougar Classic softball tournament at Kit Carson Park.
The Falcons would strike first in the top of the second when they took advantage of a fielding miscue by the Sultans to take a 1-0 lead.
Santana would answer back in the bottom of the third inning starting with back-to-back base hits by Sims and HAILEY PHILLIPS (2-2, 2R, SB), Sims would advance to third. She would come into score on a sacrifice bunt by GILLIANE JOHNSTON (RBI) which tied the game at 1-1, the next batter SAMMI SULLIVAN (RBI, SB) would also lay down a sacrifice bunt which would bring home Phillips to give the Sultans a 2-1 lead.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning with the Sultans still clinging to the 2-1 lead the Falcons were able to rally with two outs as they scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2.
The Sultans would start their momentum in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out as Phillips would reach on a bunt, she would go onto steal second base and score when Sims roped a double to center field.
The double by Sims would prove to be the difference as JOEY BARKHIMER would shut down the Falcons bats in the top of the sixth inning before in the bottom of the inning the game would be called.
In the victory, Barkhimer gave up two runs on five hits in six innings of work in which she also walked two and fanned eight.
STEELE CANYON 6 (2-0), DEL NORTE 5 (1-1)
ESCONDIDO (3-29-21) – With the score all squared up at 3-3 the Steele Canyon Cougars would score three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and hold on for the victory.
The Nighthawks would strike first with a run in the top of the first inning courtesy of a groundball hit by CHARLIE JOHNSON.
Steele Canyon would answer right back in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out blast by JANEA WILSON (2-3, R, RBI, HR) over the center-field fence to tie the game at 1-1.
Still tied up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning the Cougars started off with a hard-hit ball by JAZMIN WILLIAMS (1-3, 2R) that was misplayed allowing her to reach safely, TAYLER THOMAS (1-3, 2R, RBI) followed by reaching safely on a fielder’s choice, a couple of batters later CARLIE WILLIAMS (1-3, 3 RBI) would drive in both Williams and Thomas with a base hit to center field to make it 3-1.
Del Norte though would take advantage of a couple of misplayed balls by the Cougars and also a couple of base hits to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Nighthawks would make a pitching change and the Cougars would take full advantage. Leading things off, Williams would single to center and would advance to third on an error in the outfield, she would score on a Thomas base hit to left field, a couple of batters later after a Wilson base hit, Carlie Williams would reach on an error allowing Thomas to come home to make it 5-3. Later in the inning, KASSANDRA JAGGARD (RUN) would score to make it 6-3.
Things would get interesting in the top of the sixth inning as the Nighthawks tallied multiple extra-base hits to eventually pull within a run. They would eventually put the game-tying runner at third base with two out but EMMA SHELLSTROM would retire the next batter on a fly ball to center field to end the game and preserve the victory.
Shellstrom for the Cougars picked up the win as she went all six innings in which she gave up five runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out one.
RANCHO BERNARDO 6 (1-1), VALHALLA 1 (0-1)
ESCONDIDO (3-29-21) – The Rancho Bernardo Broncos offensively scored all their runs early on to put away the Valhalla Norsemen.
The Broncos started things up in the bottom of the first inning when ISABELLA BURDENSKI doubled to left field bringing in a pair of runs, she would come into score on a base hit to make
it 3-0.
Another two-run double in the bottom of the second inning would extend the Broncos lead to 5-0.
Valhalla would finally get on the board in the top of the third inning when MARYN JORDAN drove in CADYN RUFFER to make it 5-1.
Rancho Bernardo would take advantage of a couple of miscues by the Norsemen in the bottom of the third inning to round out their scoring.
On the day the Norsemen would be limited to four total hits with three of those coming courtesy of Jordan who also knocked in a run and doubled.
NON-LEAGUE
CANYON CREST 13, CHRISTIAN 3
EL CAJON (3-29-21) – The Ravens offense really took charge with the bulk of their runs in the middle innings to put things away on Monday afternoon.
Sophomore ALLYSON MOODY (2-3, 2R, 2 RBI, HR) started things off for the Patriots in the bottom of the first inning as she blasted a two-run home run over the left-field fence to make it 2-0 early on. Also, scoring on the home run was RACHEL STEPHENS (1-3, R, RBI, 2B) who had doubled.
Canyon Crest would cut the Patriots’ lead in half as they pushed across a run in the top of the second inning to make it 2-1. However, Christian would answer right back with a run of their own as DAWNELLE MCLOUD (2-3, R, RBI) would score to give them a 3-1 lead.
Unfortunately, the moment the Patriots had would be erased in the top of the third inning as the Ravens would push across six runs which would spark their run-scoring outburst over the
next couple of innings.
On the day for the Patriots, KATE MANE would go 1-2 with a double.
