Granite Hills’ Mujica sets CIFSDS HR Mark
- Updated: April 25, 2023
2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
Sophia Mujica
SAN MARCOS – In sports, there are dates that will always be remembered due to a memorable event occurring, and usually with those memorable events come memorable calls whether it be via television or radio.
One such call came on April 8, 1974, courtesy of former Atlanta Braves radio broadcaster Milo Hamilton. On that date, Hamilton called what is considered to be one of the most historic radio calls of all time as the Atlanta Braves’ right fielder Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run off Dodgers pitcher Al Downing.
“Hamilton cited, “Here’s the pitch by Downing … swinging … there’s a drive into left-center field! That ball is gonna be… outta here! It’s gone! It’s 715! There’s a new home run champion of all time, and it’s Henry Aaron!”
Fast forward almost 50 years. While it might not be as huge a record as the all-time MLB career home run broadcast on television and radio in 1973, you can imagine what the call would sound like by whoever was announcing on either radio or television yesterday as a San Diego Section preps 15-year record fell to a new home run queen who would also propel the victory for Granite Hills.
Mujica’s new standard
With the score tied at 6-all and Granite Hills batting in the top of the sixth, UCLA-bound Sofia Mujica belted the 0-1 pitch for a solo shot over the right field fence, which proved to be the game-winning run, lifting the San Marcos Knights to a 7-6 non-league victory, in a game with playoff implications on Monday (Apr.24).
Granite Hills (12-6 overall) would jump out to a 1-0 lead early on when Mujica would score on a passed ball.
A couple of innings later the Eagles would stretch their lead even further as they scored five more runs in the top of the third inning to lead 6-0.
Back-to-back one-out singles by Kamryn Flath and Makayla Tileia, who had a pair of hits on the day, would lead to an RBI single to right field by Makenna Hines (3-3, R, RBI) scoring Flath to make it 2-0.
Later with two outs Audrey Smale would knock in both Tileia and Hines, and Ariana Heninger would finish off the scoring, driving in both Jenna Haynal and Smale.
However, things started to unravel and sway towards the San Marcos Knights (12-5-1) in the bottom of the fourth inning as they would take advantage of base hits and multiple errors committed by the Eagles to tie the game at 6-6.
“Hey, we got this and no need to worry,” said Mujica to the team in the huddle after the Knights tied the game.
Moving to the top of the sixth inning with one out, up stepped Mujica to the plate and after fouling off the first pitch, she would take the next pitch and belt it high and deep to right field and over the fence for a solo home run to give the Eagles the lead.
Granite Hills Sofia Mujica’s CIF San Diego Section record breaking 42nd career home run in the 7-6 victory over San Marcos pic.twitter.com/YJ04ma8zB2
— EC Preps (@EC_Preps_SD) April 25, 2023
“I was looking for something I could hit hard, and the pitch was outside and I went for it and connected. I am glad to get the monkey off my back after trying so hard the last few games,” said Mujica when asked about the pitch she connected on for her career record-breaking home run off Knights pitcher Alexis Schwartz.
The 42 career home runs by Mujica also puts her 18 home runs away from tying the California State record of 60 set by Tannon Snow of Chino Hills who played from 2012-15 according to Cal-Hi Sports.
Eagles starting pitcher Peyton Wells would set down the Knights the rest of the way to preserve the one-run victory. Wells would toss all seven innings for the complete game victory, allowing six runs on five hits while striking out two.
Caylene Nguyen started as pitcher for the Knights, allowing six runs on nine hits over four innings, striking out two. Schwartz, who came in to relieve Nguyen, would be saddled with the loss as she allowed one run on three hits and struck out three over three innings.
The Record Book
Katiana Mauga
Mujica’s 42nd homer broke the all-time CIF-San Diego Section home run record previously held by Trina Harrison of Oceanside, who played from 2005-08, and Katiana Mauga of Mira Mesa, who played with the Marauders from 2010-13.
Mauga became a four-year starting shortstop for Arizona when the Wildcats were ranked among the Top Five ball clubs in the country. At Arizona, Mauga would set the Pac-12 Conference record for career home runs.
Mujica is also the latest East County player to join the 100 career hits club. Stanford bound Ava Gall of El Capitan, joined the club back on April 15.
Tannon Snow
According to CalHiSports, Mujica, who is only a junior and has one month still to play, in addition to her entire senior season, is within reach of the California state career home run record.
The target number is 60, a record held by Tannon Snow of Chico Hills (2012-15). Snow later played for Auburn and was a four-year starter.
