Wolf Pack, Norsemen remain on course

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 3, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

SPRING VALLEY (5-3-22) – West Hills Wolf Pack pitcher Lily Youngdale (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB) was on her game as she struck out six and fired a two-hit shutout, leading the Pack (9-7, 4-1 GVL) easily won a 13-0 victory in five innings over the Monte Vista Monarchs (11-10, 2-4 GVL) on Tuesday in Grossmont Valley action.

Youngdale also would help her own cause as she drove in the game’s first run in the top of the first inning with an RBI single to score Amaya Angeli (1-4, 2 R, RBI, 3B) to make it 1-0.

The Wolf Pack would tack on four more runs in the top of the second inning starting with Youngdale being hit by a pitch that would allow Jaci McKindley (2-2, 2 R, SB) to trot home, Alyssa Thornton (1-2, R, RBI) followed with a walk that scored Callia Rooks (1-3, 2 R). Leading 3-0 the next batter Faith Balestreri (2-2, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI) would drive in both Thornton and Youngdale to make it 5-0.

After scoring another run in the top of the third inning the Wolf Pack would take advantage of other opportunities and really open the scoring. Later in the inning, a walk by Balestreri would score Rooks, and Emily Byrd would follow by clearing the bases as she roped a triple to right field that scored Youngdale, Thornton, and Balestreri to make it 10-0. They would tack on another run courtesy of a ground ball out by Marina Morales (1-4, 2 RBI) that allowed Byrd to race home.

The last pair of runs for the Pack would be scored in the top of the fifth inning when Morales drove in Balestreri and later with two outs Angeli would draw a walk to bring home Byrd.

Youngdale in the bottom of the fifth inning would start the inning off by hitting the first batter but would induce a ground ball double play followed by striking out the next batter to end the game.

Not only did the Wolf Pack win but also with the win head coach Mike Applebaum picked up victory 175 for his career which has spanned now thirteen seasons.

Editors Note: Previous error saying that Coach Mike Applebaum was now in his twenty-first season was incorrect and we regret the error as we strive to be as factual as possible.

Valhalla 12, El Cajon Valley 0

RANCHO SAN DIEGO (5-3-22) – Norsemen pitcher Savannah Avalos struck out five and allowed two hits as the Valhalla Norsemen blanked the El Cajon Valley Braves (0-15, 0-5 GVL) in five innings on Tuesday.

Valhalla would secure the victory as they would go on to score nine runs in the first inning. Driving in runs for the Norsemen in the inning were McKayla Fish, Aubrielle McKee, Brooke Tucci, Avalos, Bailey Lenz, and Lily Moscoso.

Maryn Jordan of the Norsemen went 1-for-1 and drove in a pair of runs as did both McKee and Tucci who each drove in a pair of runs.

Avalos in the victory went all five innings in the victory.

With the win, the Norsemen improve to 16-6 overall and 5-0 in Grossmont Valley League play and stay on course for a showdown on the very last day of play with the West Hills Wolf Pack for the league crown.