Rose shutout detours Scotties’ title hopes
- Updated: May 9, 2022
2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Tyler Gribble
Special to ECS.com
LA MESA — The Granite Hills Eagles spoiled Senior Night at Helix High with one swing of the bat.
Chloe Knepp smashed a solo home run in the sixth inning to snap Monday’s (May 9) pitchers’ duel, powering the Eagles past the host Highlanders, 1-0. The blast made a winner of Eagle pitcher Taylor Rose in her battle with Sophia Ramuno of Helix.
More importantly for the Scotties, the loss means they must win their season-finale with El Capitan to gain a share of the GHL championship, as they fell a half-game behind the idle Vaqueros.
The homer by Knepp was one of just six hits combined by both teams all afternoon. However, Helix never rolled over.
Kori Jonilonis led off with a double in the sixth before advancing to third on an infield groundout. Angel Riggins followed by lifting a routine fly ball to center field, allowing Jonilonis to attempt to tag up on a potential sacrifice fly.
However, Eagles center fielder Audrey Smale delivered a strike to catcher Sofia Mujica, who applied the tag to turn the inning-ending double play and end Helix’s best scoring opportunity.
Rose finished with a complete-game, 4-hit shutout, striking out four Scottie batters. Ramuno struck out 14 Eagles batters in her 2-hitter yet took the setback.
Helix’s softball team is graduating nine seniors this season. They are Amber Young, Ashton Isbell, Cassandra Dominguez, Danika Munoz, Jadalyn Tedtaotao, Kori Jonilonis, Lilly White, Paulina Orser, and Sophia Ramuno.
Granite Hills moves to 13-11 overall (4-5 GHL). Helix missed on its first shot at a 20-win season, moving to 19-7 (7-2 GHL), one-half game behind El Capitan (20-6, 7-1 GHL)
