Altmeyer’s 5 RBIs spark Patriots to tri-championship
- Updated: June 4, 2021
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
DEL CERRO – Patrick Henry’s Kaiah Altmeyer (3-4, 3 R, 5 RBI, 2B, 3B) drove in five runs as the Patriots used an eleven-run first inning to win convincingly over the Mission Bay Buccaneers 16-4 on Thursday (June 3) afternoon.
Altmeyer would get things started for Patrick Henry (16-6, 6-2 CWL) as she drove in both Sydney Newton (2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2 2B) and Jessica DeWitt (2 R) to make it 2-0, the next batter Olivia Gigante (2-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR) belted a two-run homer over the center-field fence scoring Altmeyer to make it 4-0, later McKenna Gieger (2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B) would rope a two-run double scoring both Dezianna Patmon (1-2, R, 2 RBI, 2B, 2 SB) and Savannah Sutton (1-2, R) and Alexis Hampton (1-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB) would drive in Gieger to extend the lead to 7-0.
With one out and the Patriots batting around Altmeyer came up again and doubled to right field scoring both Hampton and Malia Savage (1-2, R) to make it 9-0, a couple of batters later Patmon drove in both DeWitt and Altmeyer with a double to right field to round out the scoring in the inning.
Mission Bay (9-9, 1-7 CWL) who was looking to play spoiler for the Patriots league crown chances finally scored four runs in the top of the third inning to make it 11-4.
The Patriot bats were not done pushing runs across as Hampton drove in Isabella Dean (RUN) on a fielder’s choice, Newton followed with a double which scored Hampton, a couple of batters later Altmeyer was at it again this time slicing a ball to right field that went for a triple allowing Newton to score to make it 14-4.
The next batter Gigante came up and jacked her second two-run homer of the game over the center-field fence that also scored Altmeyer to give the Patriots a 16-4 lead.
Gieger who was given the starting nod only allowed a single hit in the top of the fifth inning before retiring the final two batters to end the shortened game due to the run rule.
With the win, the Patrick Henry Patriots clinch a City Western League tri-championship as Cathedral Catholic beat Scripps Ranch 5-1. The championship for the Patriots was set up by their 10-1 victory the other day over league leader at the time University City who with that loss concluded their regular season. It is the second City Western League tri-championship in the last three seasons as they also were tri-champions in 2019 with Cathedral Catholic and Scripps Ranch.
Editor’s Note: Patrick Henry’s Olivia Gigante with her two home runs on the day now has unofficially 16 which would tie Granite Hills Sofia Mujica who also currently has sixteen on the season for the all-time record in East County. It is unofficial as we are still attempting to receive clarification of a contest earlier in the season against Castle Park which, from our understanding, was declared a forfeit before the official amount of innings played to make things official.
If we get clarification that the statistics do count despite the forfeit by Castle Park, then the records will stand and there will be a tie. However, if the statistics are not counted, then the numbers for Gigante will be 13 home runs on the season.
