Lone Falcon Fiesta winner: El Capitan
- Updated: April 23, 2023
2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
SAN DIEGO – What a week it has been for El Capitan slugger Alanna Christiaens, who belted four home runs, plus drove in a pair of runs on Saturday (Apr. 22) to help the Vaqueros down Steele Canyon, 6-2, on the final day of a tournament.
Three singles in a row to load the bases to start off set the stage for Christiaens, who finished 2-for-4 at the plate including a double and scoring a run.
Aubrey Thorne followed by driving in the other run to give the Vaqueros a 3-0 lead.
El Capitan (18-3 overall) would score again in the third inning when Alyssa Fierro knocked a two-out base to left field scoring Christiaens.
Later in the bottom of the fifth inning, Steele Canyon (12-7) started out on the right foot as Kayala Hopkins led off with a single to left field, followed by Isabella Azevedo doubling to right field. The next batter Hailey Trujillo was able to procure the first run for the Cougars on a ground out to second allowing Hopkins to plate.
However, the momentum would be short-lived as the Vaqueros would score again as Stanford-bound Ava Gall, who went 3-for-4 including a double, would knock in Reese Danzak on a base hit to center field. A couple of batters later, Thorne would draw a two-out base loaded walk which allowed Addison Leone to trot home to give them a 6-1 lead.
Despite a threat by the Cougars in the bottom half of the sixth inning, with one out and both Jazmin Williams and Marina Gonzalez singling, the Vaqueros would get out of the inning.
Steele Canyon, though, would threaten one last time in the bottom of the seventh inning, starting with Azevedo being hit by a pitch, followed by a base hit by Trujillo and a base hit by Makenzie Meyers to load the bases. Then Emma Shellstrom hit a ground ball out but Azevedo would score to make it 6-2. No further damage was done as Mackenna Burton retired the next batter to end the game.
Burton, who got the win, went all seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out eight on the day.
Her counterpart Shellstrom surrendered four runs on eight hits over three innings. Kamea Seunarine came in and tossed four innings in relief allowing two runs on two hits and striking out one.
Westview 7, Patrick Henry 6
SAN DIEGO – Aleya Colon would give in the eventual game-wining run in the sixth inning, allowing the Westview Wolverines to claim a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Patrick Henry on Saturday (Apr. 22) on the final day of the Falcon Fiesta tournament.
Patrick Henry (9-9-1 overall) would start the scoring when Izzy Ervin doubled in a run. She would later score on a wild pitch. Also driving in a run were Leila Ludwig and Maura Evans.
Anessa Hartman would get the victory for the Wolverines; she would allow one run and three hits over seven innings, striking out three.
Sophia Sanchez took the loss for the Patriots as she surrendered seven runs on seven hits over five innings, striking out five.
Patrick Henry would collect seven hits on the day with Brooke Taylor and Ervin each collecting multiple hits. Taylor would lead the way going 3-for-4 while scoring twice and swiping two bags.
Westview improves to 7-7-1 with the victory.
Mission Hills 8, Valhalla 7
SAN DIEGO – Mission Hills’ Mykala Mercado’s two-run triple to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning proved to be the game-winning hit for the Grizzlies to rally past Valhalla, 8-7, on the final day of Falcon Fiesta action on Saturday (Apr.22).
Valhalla, despite outhitting the Mission Hills Grizzlies 12 to ten, would only score one more run in the contest.
McKayla Fish, Aubrielle Mckee, Devyn Mack, and Cadyn Ruffer all collected multiple hits. Fish would lead at the plate with her 3-for-5 effort which included scoring a run and driving in one. Mack would drive in a pair for the Norsemen to lead in that category on the day.
Taliah Mckinnon pitched the Grizzlies to victory. On the day, she would allow six hits and five runs over four-and-a-third innings of work while striking out three.
Mack for the Norsemen was tagged with the loss as she gave up six hits and five runs over four-and-two-thirds innings of work and struck out two.
Carlsbad 9, Granite Hills 0 (5 inn.)
SAN DIEGO – It was all Carlsbad as the Lancers scored all the runs they would need over the second through fourth innings in a shutout-shortened, five-inning affair to finish out the Falcon Fiesta tournament on Saturday (Apr.22) morning.
Both Jenna Haynal and Sophia Mujica would have the only hits for Granite Hills on the day with Haynal going 2-for-2 at the plate.
Abby Huhn picked up the win for the Lancers as she allowed three hits and zero runs over five innings and struck out six.
Kaleigh Bauer would take the loss, allowing four runs on five hits over two innings, striking out two on the day.
Granite Hills falls to 11-6 on the season.
Scripps Ranch 4, Grossmont 3
SAN DIEGO – With the score tied at 3-all in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Scripps Ranch Falcons would push across a run to win in dramatic fashion, 4-3, over Grossmont on Saturday (Apr.22) to finish out the Falcon Fiesta Tournament.
For Grossmont, Ashley Beard, Heidi Villa, and Katelynne Parent would drive in the runs for the Hills in the contest.
Scoring runs for the Foothillers were Carleigh Wenck, Nakhia Lee, and Jade Daley.
Scoreboard
El Capitan 6, at Steele Canyon 2
Carlsbad 9, Granite Hills 0 (5 inn.)
Mission Hills 8, Valhalla 7
Scripps Ranch 4, Grossmont 3 (walk-off)
Westview 7, Patrick Henry 6
