Rutherford is the Hero in Extra Innings
- Updated: March 25, 2024
2024 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
By Adam Paul
DEL CERRO – A come-from-behind win is always exciting and dramatic and that is what junior Zoe Rutherford provided Monday as she belted a three-run home run over the right field fence to give the Patrick Henry Patriots the come-from-behind 7-6 victory in the eighth inning over Carlsbad.
Earlier in the contest in the bottom of the third inning, the Patriots trailed 1-0 before with one out McKenna Gieger (2-3, 2 R, 4 RBI, HR) belted her fourth home of the season deep to center-field for a three-run shot to give them a 3-1 lead. Scoring for the Pats on the long ball by Geiger was Riley Teixeira (1-3, R) and Izzy Ervin (1-4, 2 R).
Carlsbad would scratch back with another run in the top of the fifth inning to pull within 3-2 but Henry would answer back on a RBI single by Geiger that brought home Ervin to make it 4-2.
However, the two-run lead and momentum were short-lived as the Lancers behind an RBI double by Brooke Bubnis and a run-scoring triple by Autmn Muro would knot the score 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning.
Neither team scored in the seventh inning so it would be bonus ball time and the Lancers would take advantage of the international tiebreaker runner at second rule and score to make it 5-4. They would extend their lead on a solo home run by Bubnis to give them an insurance run at 6-4.
Now trailing by a pair of runs the Patriots would be given an opportunity in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Sophia Sanchez (RUN) would be placed on second and leadoff hitter Gieger would draw a four-pitch walk. With one out on the first pitch she saw, Rutherford provided the heroics for the big victory.
Belle Will started for the Patriots and would finish things off as she would go the distance to pick up the victory. In the win, she would allow five hits and five runs (four earned) while walking four and striking out six.
Patrick Henry improves to 6-5 overall.
RANCHO BERNARDO 7, VALHALLA 1 – It was a tough day run-wise for the Valhalla Norsemen despite collecting seven hits as they fall in tournament action on the road Monday to Rancho Bernardo.
Valhalla offensively had the early bright spot thanks to Lily Alvarado who put them up 1-0 with an RBI single that would bring home Avery Voth who had singled in the inning.
Alvarado who also started in the circle would allow seven runs (six earned) on eight hits while walking four and striking out two over three and two-thirds innings in the loss.
Offensively for the Norsemen, Voth would have a pair of hits and steal two bags, Alvarado, Preslee Fink, Natalia Marco, Emma Sloan, and Danica Reed all had hits in the contest.
Valhalla falls to 1-11 on the season.
