Nash provides dramatics for Eagles

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 2, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

GROSSMONT HILLS LEAGUE

GRANITE HILLS 5, VALHALLA 3 – With one out and one swing of the bat freshman Taylor Nash provided the flair for the dramatics as she blasted a deep fly to left field for the game winning two run blast of which was her ninth dinger of the season to give Granite Hills the victory on Friday afternoon.

Granite Hills early on would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Peyton Wells singled in a run.

A couple of innings later the Norsemen would take the lead after a run would score on a wild pitch and Natalia Marco grounded into a fielder’s choice to give them a 2-1 lead.

The momentum would be short lived as the Eagles would take advantage on an error by Valhalla to tie the game and again Wells came up and drove in a run to retake the lead 3-2. However, Valhalla in the top of the sixth inning would tie the game thanks to Avery Voth who would hit a ball down the right field line for an RBI single.

Kaleigh Baugher who came into the game in relief for Granite Hills would pick up the win as she allowed no runs on no hits over two innings of work in which she struck out two. Wells who started for Granite Hills wouldn’t factor in the decision. On the day she allowed three runs on four hits over five innings in which she walked seven and struck out two.

Devyn Mack stepped into the circle for Valhalla and would take the loss. On the day she would allow five runs (three earned) on eight hits over six and one third innings in which she walked one and struck out three.

Granite Hills with the win move their overall record to 7-14-1 and into a logjam in league with both Santana and El Capitan with a 3-3 record.

STEELE CANYON 6, WEST HILLS 3 – Trailing 3-0 the Steele Canyon Cougars woke up to rally with six runs scored over the late innings to come away with the come from behind road victory over West Hills on Friday afternoon.

The last time the two teams met the Cougars would prevail 1-0, so this time around like the last time the thought was runs would be hard to come by.

Player of the year candidate Katy Spargo would give the Wolf Pack a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a double to right field scoring Kristina Deal.

A couple of innings later the low scoring theory would be blown out of the water when Deal led off the bottom of the third inning with a solo shot to over the center field fence for her team leading sixth home run of the season. Later in the inning Lili Leija hit a ball deep enough to right field that would allow Amber Foley to tag up from third base and score to make it 3-0.

Things were looking up for the Pack as they had all the momentum but the Cougars would scratch a run across in the top of the fourth inning on a ball hit by Sophia Jackel that was misplayed allowing Isabella Azevedo to score to make it 3-1.

Steele Canyon would again in the top of the fifth inning take advantage on another error this time on a but by Azevedo that was misplayed allowing Kayala Hopkins to come in and the Jackel would follow with a ball hit deep enough to right field that allowed Payton Sos to come home to tie the game at 3-3.

Now with all the momentum on their side the Cougars in the top of the fifth inning would take their first lead of the game when Marina Gonzalez drove in Haley Trujillo to give them a 4-3 lead. They would add two more runs in the top of the seventh inning as they again took advantage of another error that allowed two runs to score.

Belle Will who got the starting nod and would get the victory would retire the Pack in order in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Will on the day allowed three runs on seven hits over seven innings in which she walked four and struck out four.

Gianna Burgin who started for the Pack would be tagged with the loss as she allowed six runs (one earned) on seven hits over six and two-thirds of an inning in which she walked seven and struck out seven.

The win by Steele Canyon give them two in a row and an overall record of 11-11-1 and also moves them into a first place tie in league with a 4-2 record with West Hills who with the loss falls 13-8-1 overall and 4-2 in league.

GROSSMONT VALLEY LEAGUE

HELIX 18, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 (5 INN.) – Another big day for Ta’Tiannah Wright as she drove in seven runs on three hits to help spur the Helix Highlanders to victory on Friday afternoon.

Wright’s big day included a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning, a two run double in the third inning, and an RBI double in the second inning. She would also score four runs.

Katelyn Woodland who drew the start for Helix would strike out 10 batter on the day in the no-hit victory in five innings.

LaNiah Broom who doubled three times would drive in four runs and score twice, Nikayla Domingo scored three times as she had a pair of hits in the game.

Helix who has now won four games in a row moves to 13-5 overall and 5-0 in league while El Cajon Valley drops their sixth in a row and falls to 1-12 overall and 1-4 in league.