Helix’s Greene thumb enough in classic

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

 

By Tyler Gribble
Special to ECS.com

LA MESA — The batting woes of the Helix Highlanders continued Wednesday (Apr. 7) against the University City Centurions, but when you never register a 21st out, no one was complaining.

For the second times in a week, the Scotties registered a walk-off run with two down in the seventh inning, downing University City, 1-0, in non-league action.

The game-winning hit was registered by freshman Lauren Farace.

“It felt awesome and I feel like it was something that we really needed to get our moral up,” said Farac, who is also known as a standout for the Scotties volleyball team. “Soph (Ramuno) has been pitching phenomenally, and when we can’t back her up with hits, it brings the whole team down.”

The scoreless pitchers’ duel was doomed to end badly for University City when a pair of infields errors allowed the first two Helix batters to reach base.

Two outs later, including a sacrifice bunt, which advanced Kamryn Evans to third base, Farace, who drilled a “far ace.” Her liner to left-center field ignited a team bounce.

Added Farcae, “I think this win will help us finally get out of our slump, and will help us realize we have what it takes to do well.”

Six days earlier, Helix catcher Ivy Greene took home plate on a wild pith to take a 1-0 verdict over Grossmont.

The basehit clinched a complete-game shutout for Helix putcher Sophia Ramuno for her fourth shutout of the season.

The season allowed just two basehits while striking out nine Centurions batters, snapping the ballclub’s 2-game losing streak.

“I think we’re taking steps in the right direction to overcome this slump,” said Ramuno, who also recorded two hits withher bat. “We’ve pulled ourselves together.”

“We worked a lot more on defense, and our swings were more methodical than just our normal hacks.”

Helix (12-5 overall) returns to actionn with just one contest net week, travelling to Santana next Wednesday,

University CIty slipped to 2-12-1. The lone hits by the Cents were by a pair of juniors, Dalia Powell and Elisa Garcia.

Apir of UC pitcher — Grace Cowman and Isabelle Gibson — combined on a 4-hitter; the other Helix hit was by senior Kori Jonilonis.