Cougars’ bats roll; showdown looms
- Updated: May 10, 2021
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
RANCHO SAN DIEGO – It was all Steele Canyon (11-7, 3-0 GHL) as they used a five-run second inning and a gem of a game by Emma Shellstrom to win convincingly 10-1 over Valhalla (9-7, 2-1 GHL) on Monday (May 10) in Grossmont Hills League action.
The Cougar bats started rolling in the top of the second inning when Tayler Thomas (1-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B) doubled in both Kamea Seunanne (1-2, 2 R) and Madi Villaescusa (RUN) to make it 2-0, a couple of batters later Jazmin Williams (3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B) knocked in Thomas to make it 3-0, she was followed by a two-run by Janea Wilson (2-3, 2 RBI, 2B) double that allowed both Kassandra Jaggard (RUN) and Williams to plate which extended the lead to 5-0.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning the Cougars would add more runs to their lead thanks to an RBI single by Mariah Mata (1-2, R, RBI), Marley Rimoldi (1-3, R) who was on third base would race home on a wild pitch which made it 7-0.
After a ground out Thomas came up and hit a ball that was misplayed which allowed Mata to score to make it 8-0, a couple of batters later Williams ripped a double to left field allowing Thomas to race around and score to make it 9-0.
Trailing 9-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning the Norsemen finally got on the board when McKayla Fish (RBI) grounded out to score Abby Johnston (RUN) to make it 9-1.
An RBI double by Carlie Williams (1-3, RBI, 2B) that scored Williams in the top of the seventh inning made it 10-1.
Shellstrom went out for the bottom of the seventh inning and promptly retired all three Valhalla batters she faced via strikeout and groundouts to end the game.
The only other hit Valhalla had on the day was a double by Maryn Jordan.
Fish took the loss for the Norsemen. She allowed ten runs on thirteen hits over seven innings of work while walking four and striking out seven.
On the other side, Shellstrom only walked two and struck out six over her seven innings of work as she picked up the complete-game win. She also only allowed one run on two hits.
Steele Canyon’s next game is a showdown on Wednesday for first place as they travel to La Mesa to take on the Helix Highlanders while Valhalla travels to Santee to take on West Hills.
Our Lady of Peace 8, Christian 2
SERRA MESA – Five runs scored late by Our Lady of Peace (4-7, 2-2 CL) doomed the comeback attempt by the Christian Patriots (0-15, 0-2 CL) on Monday afternoon at Serra Mesa Park.
The Pilots after both teams went back and forth would strike first in the bottom of the third inning when they would score on a passed ball with two outs to take an early 1-0 lead.
Our Lady of Peace added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a ground ball out to make it 2-0. Another run for the Pilots came in the bottom of the fifth inning on a leadoff home run over the left-field fence.
Trailing 3-0 in the top of the sixth inning the Patriots put together a string of hits that started with a leadoff single by Devyn Krystek (1-4, R), the next batter Kate Manes (1-4, R) followed with another base hit to put runners on first and second.
Later in the inning after a walk by Dawnelle Mcleod (1-2) to load the bases and two outs, Gioia Giorgi would hit a ball that was misplayed by the Pilots allowing both Krystek and Manes to race around and score and bring the Patriots to within 3-2.
But OLP would in the bottom of the inning push across five runs which included a two-run double, a sacrifice fly, and a pair of ground ball outs to extend their lead to 8-2.
Despite a one-out double by Rachel Stephens (3-4, SB) for the Patriots in the top of the seventh inning they were unable to do anything else as the next two batters were retired to end the ball game.
Allyson Moody took the loss for Christian. She went six innings allowing eight runs on nine hits while walking four and striking out two.
Picking up the victory for the Pilots was Jordan who struck out twelve while allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings.
