Cougars, thanks to Agnotti’s clutch hit, claim Opening Day win

By Adam Paul
Updated: February 25, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

SPRING VALLEY (2-25-26) – If there is a way to make an even bigger debut, you might not be sure what it would be as freshman Ariana Angotti (1-4, 2B, RBI) came up big in extra innings as she doubled in Belle Will for the game winning run to give the Steele Canyon Cougars the opening day 2-1 victory over the defending CIF Division I and SoCal Division 2 champion Eastlake Titans on Wednesday afternoon in non-league action.

Eastlake, which entered the contest as winners of their last seven games in a row, dating back to the start of the Division I CIF playoffs on May 21st, could only manage one run despite outhitting the home team Cougars, 7-5.

The Titans would strike first in the top of the third inning on a double by Kaili Balajadia that plated a run to give them a 1-0 lead.

Steele Canyon would pounce in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to multi-sport athlete Illy Barclay (3-4, R, 2B, 3B, SB), who, with two outs, singled and swiped second and moved to third on an error and would score when the Titans committed a second error on a ball hit by Dannika Lakin.

A plethora of Cougar pitchers combined to shut down the Titans and their offense starting with Will who allowed zero runs on three hits over two innings while fanning two. Avigail Hendricks, Payton Sos, Annia Melendez-Custodio, and Delaney Shamaya each tossed shutout ball for the Cougars.

Steele Canyon will next play on Monday against the San Pasqual Golden Eagles at 5 P.M. to start the Cougar Classic at Kit Carson Park up in Escondido