Vaqueros use late sparks to pull away
- Updated: April 20, 2021
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
POINT LOMA – It wasn’t easy nor pretty for the El Capitan Vaqueros as they scored eleven runs over the sixth and seventh innings to pull away from the Point Loma Pointers in a Monday evening clash, 13-3, in a non-league game Monday (Apr. 19).
Jojo Christiaens (2-2, R, RBI, 2B) would drive in the first run for the Vaqueros in the top of the first inning when she ripped a double deep to center field to bring home Hailey Mulligan (2-4, 2R, RBI) who led off with a single to start things. A couple of batters later Christiaens would come into score when Brooklyn Fukushima (2-2, R, RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning the Pointers were able to scratch a run back after three base hits in a row to load them followed by a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.
El Capitan (7-3) would have various opportunities to put something together as they had base hits in multiple innings only for them to be wiped out.
Point Loma had an opportunity of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out as they hit back-to-back singles followed by a walk to load the bases. With only one out and the bases full, Vaqueros pitcher Brooke Horn dug deep and was able to strike out the next batter and retired the following batter on a fly ball to end the threat and the inning.
Getting out of the inning unscathed the Vaqueros seized the moment as Ava Gall (1-4, 2R, RBI) led off with a walk, Fukushima followed with a base hit to give them runners at first and second and no outs.
The next batter Katy Hicks (2-4, 2R, 3 RBI, 3B) who hadn’t had a hit yet really came up big as she smoked a ball deep to center that rolled for a two-run triple to give the Vaqueros a 4-1 lead. Hicks would come into score on a wild pitch by the Pointers to make it 5-1.
Now with momentum after upping their lead by four runs the Vaqueros went to work in the top of the seventh inning.
With one out Mulligan singled, Siana San Vicente (R, RBI) followed with a walk to advance Mulligan to second base. With runners on first and second and only one out Gall stepped up and lined a single to center that brought home Mulligan to make it 6-1.
A couple of batters later Hicks would come through again as she drove in San Vicente with a base hit, the next batter Horn singled in Gall, a couple of batters later with two outs Brandy Taylor walked to bring home Alexis Mc Daniel (run). Alex Burrough (1-4, R, RBI) drove in a run followed by Mulligan being hit by a pitch to bring home Alyssa Fierro. Another walk brought in a run and finally, Burrough scored on a passed ball to make it 13-1.
Point Loma (1-9) in the bottom of the seventh inning was able to score a couple of runs before Horn was able to get the final out to end the game.
Yamashiro for the Pointers on the day gave up four runs on seven hits in her five innings of work while walking one and striking out two in the loss.
On the other side for the Vaqueros, Horn went all seven innings for the complete game victory in which she allowed thirteen hits while only allowing three runs. She also walked one and struck out six.
