Patmon, Gieger, Gigante power Patriots in tight race
- Updated: June 2, 2021
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
DEL CERRO – For the second time in as many years, the possibility exists of a tri-championship in the City Western League due to a loss during the final week of the top team. In 2019 the Scripps Ranch Falcons beat Patrick Henry on the last day of the regular season to force the tri-championship along with the Cathedral Catholic Dons.
Fast forward a couple of years later in 2021 and the Patrick Henry Patriots were able to this time around be the spoilers.
GAME REPORT
Coming into the contest the University City Centurions (18-7-1, 6-2 CWL) led and only needed the win to pretty much wrap up the league crown. However, the Patrick Henry Patriots (15-6, 5-2 CWL) had other ideas as they scored five runs early on and cruised the rest of the way to a 10-1 victory on Tuesday (June 1).
Henry’s Savannah Sutton (1-3, 2 RBI, 2B) would drive in a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning when she doubled to center field scoring both Jessica DeWitt (RUN) and Isabella Dean (2 R) to make it 2-0.
Leading 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning the Patriots would add more to their lead when Olivia Gigante (3-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) drove in Kaiah Altmeyer (2 R, SB) with a double to left field which was followed by a two-run home run by Dezianna Patmon (3-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR) over the left-field fence for her eighth of the season.
University City would score their only run of the ball game in the top of the fourth inning when with one out Kyla Parco belted her fifth home run of the season a solo shot over the left-field fence to make it 5-1.
However, the Patriots answered with another run in the bottom of the inning when Patmon drove in Altmeyer to give them a 6-1 lead.
Later in the bottom of the fifth inning McKenna Gieger (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) would come into score on a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt by Sydney Newton to make it 7-1.
Patrick Henry would go on and score three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Gigante jacked her fourteenth of the season and later Gieger belted a two-run shot for her sixth of the season.
Gigante’s fourteenth of the season is only second behind Sofia Mujica of Granite Hills who leads all of San Diego with sixteen on the season. Also, her home run moves her into third place all-time in East County history.
After doing damage in the bottom of the sixth inning Gigante went back to the circle and finished up the victory allowing only a single hit in the top of the seventh inning before retiring the final batter.
Kate Wiggins who started for the Centurions took the loss as she only lasted two innings in which she gave up five runs on three hits while walking five and striking out two, coming in for relief was Ashley Legler who over her four innings of work gave up five runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking one.
On the other side, Gigante got the win as she allowed one run on five hits over seven innings in which she walked one and struck out seven on the day.
With the win, the Patriots who have now won three games in a row find themselves with a legitimate shot at clinching at least a tri-championship. They will face the Mission Bay Buccaneers on Thursday and Cathedral Catholic who also is in the mix will finish up with Scripps Ranch on the road.
Carlsbad 9, Santana 1
CARLSBAD – Looking for another signature victory for their resume and also a tune up for what should be a winner take all showdown on Friday against the El Capitan Vaqueros the Santana Sultans, unfortunately, were outmatched as they dropped a road decision on Tuesday (June 1).
Carlsbad who came into the contest ranked fourth in the latest MaxPreps rankings looked to solidify a top spot in the Open Division playoffs and right off the bat scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to lead 3-0.
Lancers’ London Jarrard belted a three-run home run over the center-field fence scoring both Madison Gaines and Mikaela Buscemi.
The Lancers would push across three more runs in the bottom of the third inning courtesy of a passed ball and also an error by the Sultans that allowed two runs to score to make it 6-0.
A couple of innings later in the bottom of the fifth inning, Gaines would successfully steal home and Laurel Moody blasted a two-run home run to give the Lancers a 9-0 lead.
The Sultans would finally get on the board in the top of the sixth inning when Kassidy Harper singled in Taylin Warren who led off the inning with a double.
But that would be the only run of the game for the Sultans as Paige Wilson allowed only a Natalie Sims single in the seventh inning before retiring the final two batters.
Joey Barkhimer for the Sultans got the nod and took the loss as she allowed six runs on seven hits while walking five and striking out five over four innings of work.
Wilson for the Lancers struck out ten on the day over her seven innings of work in which she allowed one run on three hits.
