D-2: Helix’s Ramuno takes down Granite
- Updated: May 22, 2022
Helix senior Sophia Ramuno, the 2022 Grossmont Hills League player of the year
2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Tyler Gribble
Special to ECS.com
LA MESA — A pair of first-inning runs were all the Helix Highlanders needed to back the shutout pitching of senior Sophia Ramuno, who spun her ninth shutout of the season in limiting the Granite Hills Eagles to a single hit in a 2-0 verdict in the CIF San Diego Section Division 2 playoffs.
The top-seeded Scotties (22-7 overall) will take on Poway (19-10-1) in the winners bracket finale, set for SportsPlex USA in Poway on Thursday. The Titans advance after whipping El Camino, 10-1.
Helix stepped out of the starting gate quickly.
Lead-off hitter Angel Riggins pulled the first pitch off Eagles starting pitcher Taylor Rose through the 5-6 hole into left fielder for a basehit. Lauren Farace followed with a sharp grounder which was misplayed for an error. A subsequent walk to Sophia Ramuno loaded the bases for Kori Jonilonis.
Jonilonis, the Highlanders center fielder, lined an 0-2 pitch into left for a 2 RBI double, accounting for what would turn out to be the only two runs of the ballgame.
The balance of the contest belonged to Ramuno, who carried a perfect game into the fourth inning. She retired he first 11 Eagles batters in order before the streak broken on a hit-by-pitch.
The Helix ace finished the game with eight strikeouts, allowing just one basehit — a sixth-inning, two-out single by slugging catcher Sofia Mujica, the CIFSDS single-season record holder for home runs.
For the Eagles, Rose took the loss, allowing just five hits, striking out four Scotties batters across 5.2 innings of work. In relief, Kaleigh Baugher retired the lone batter she faced.
With the victory, the Highlanders pairing against Poway will be a rematch of the Falcon Fiesta semifinals earlier this season, captured by the Titans in a wild slug-fest, 8-7, in a contest which Ramuno did not pitch.
Meanwhile, the Eagles will take on El Capitan, which downed Grossmont, 5-2.
