Mater Dei holds off Highlander rally
- Updated: February 17, 2022
2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
BY ADAM PAUL
TOURNAMENT
MATER DEI CATHOLIC 7, HELIX 4
Chula Vista (2-17-22) – With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the third inning the Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders the defending CIF Open Champions would push across a pair of runs and en route to their victory over the Helix Highlanders on Thursday afternoon.
The Crusaders would take an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to a triple by Ayana Shaw.
Later in the top of the third inning, the Highlanders with one out would cut into the Crusaders’ lead when Lauren Farace hit a ball that was misplayed allowing Elaine Mohammad to race home and make it 2-1. Helix would eventually tie the game at 2-2 when with two outs Sophia Ramuno singled to center field allowed Kori Jonilonis to come into score when the ball was misplayed by the Crusaders centerfielder.
Unfortunately, the momentum gained by the Highlanders wouldn’t last as the Crusaders pushed across a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third inning to take a 4-2 lead. They would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend their lead to 7-2.
Helix tried to make a comeback as they would push across a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull within 7-4 but that would be all they would muster. The pair of runs came courtesy of a Kiana Lee Brown ground ball out that scored Ramuno and Ashton Isbell hitting a ball to first base that was misplayed that allowed Amber Young to race home and score.
For the Highlanders, Ramuno took the loss as she gave up 7 runs on 5 hits while striking out 8 in her 3 1/3 innings of work.
On the other side for the Crusaders, Isabela Valdez got the win as she allowed 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 2 in her 3 innings of work.
