East County Sports

Henry avenges Dons in walk-off winner

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

 

By Adam Paul

DEL CERRO (4-25-22) – In a seesaw, back-and-forth battle, the Patrick Henry Patriots (7-9-1, 3-1 CWL) pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim the 9-8 victory over the Cathedral Catholic Dons (13-10-1, 2-3 CWL) in Western League action on Monday afternoon.

The Patriots, who dropped  a heart-breaker to the Dons, 3-2, in the league opener a couple of weeks ago, were looking to avenge that loss. They started off well, scpring three runs in the bottom of the first inning to lead 3-1.

Savannah Sutton (1-5, R, 2 RBI, 2B) would ti the game at 1-1 when she doubled in Kaiah Altmeyer (2-2, R, 2B, SB) who led off the inning with a double of her own, the next batter Olivia Gigante (3-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, 2 HR) would extend the lead when she slammed a two-run shot over the center-field fence for her seventh home run of the season and a 3-1 lead. The Patriots would add another run on a Dons miscue to make it 4-1.

Cathedral Catholic would pull within 4-2 as Sereniti Trice grounded out allowing Tyler Price to score.

Still leading 4-2 in the bottom of the third inning the Patriots added another run when Gigante again homer this time a leadoff one as she belted a solo shot over the right-field fence for her eighth of the season to make it 5-2.

The Dons, not one to stay down would strike back in the top of the fourth when Ab’C’De Patane led off with a solo home run to make it 5-3. They would pull within 5-4 in the top of the fifth inning with another run.

However, the Patriots wouldn’t flinch as Gigante led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double, Brooke Taylor (RUN) would come into run, Leila Ludwig (1-4, R) would single advancing Taylor to third base and both would score when Maura Evans (3-4, R, 2 RBI) singled to left field to make it 7-4. After back-to-back singles by Jenna Mallari (2-3, R) and Sophia Sanchez (1-2) later in the inning with two outs, Malia Savage (1-4, RBI) would knock in Mallari to give them an 8-4 lead.

The Dons though would rally for a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning when Mallory Axline singled in two runs to make it 8-6. They would tie the game in the top of the seventh when two runs would score on a passed ball.

Now with the game tied at 8-8 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Patriots would start off on the right side as Evans would reach on an error, she would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt, and later with two outs would advance to third as Altmeyer was intentionally walked followed by a walk to Malia Savage.

Still, with two outs and the bases full the batter Sutton on a 2-1 count would hit a ground ball that would allow Evans to race home for the game-winning run.

Sanchez would pick up the win in relief for the Patriots. On the day she allowed three runs on three hits over two and third innings, striking out one. Zoe Rutherford got the start but wouldn’t get the decision. She on the day allowed five runs on six hits over four and two-thirds, striking out four.

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