Evans’ HRs, Higuera no-hitter lift El Cap

By Ramon Scott
Updated: May 20, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

SAN DIEGO CIF DIVISION II PLAYOFFS

(6) EL CAPITAN 9, (3) SAN PASQUAL 0

EastCountySports.com staff report

ESCONDIDO — Junior Bailey Evans blasted two home runs and sophomore Addison Higuera threw a complete-game no-hitter as sixth-seeded El Capitan delivered one of the biggest surprises of the opening round of the CIF San Diego Section Division II softball playoffs Wednesday, defeating third-seeded San Pasqual, 9-0.

Higuera struck out five while not allowing a hit, and Evans drove in three runs as the Vaqueros improved to 14-12 and advanced in the winners bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

El Capitan will face 10th-seeded Scripps Ranch on Friday after the Falcons pulled off an upset of their own, blanking No. 2 seed Mt. Carmel, 5-0. The losers of those two games will meet in the elimination bracket, while the winner moves within one victory of the bracket championship.

For San Pasqual, the loss dropped the Eagles to 22-6 and sent them into the loser’s bracket despite entering the postseason as one of the top seeds in Division II.

The Vaqueros took command in the second inning when Evans, a junior, launched a two-run home run to center field to open the scoring.

One inning later, El Capitan broke the game open.

Senior Quinnley Morehouse crushed a three-run homer to left field, Evans followed with her second home run of the afternoon, and sophomore Isabella Farris added an RBI double as the Vaqueros erupted for five runs in the third inning and built a commanding 7-0 advantage.

Higuera, a sophomore, joined the power display in the fourth inning, belting a solo home run to center field to extend the lead to 8-0.

While the offense piled up runs, Higuera was nearly unhittable in the circle.

The sophomore right-hander faced only occasional traffic because of three walks but never surrendered a hit, turning in one of the most dominant pitching performances by an East County player in the opening round of the CIF playoffs.

San Pasqual was unable to generate any sustained offense as Higuera completed the no-hit effort.

El Capitan finished with 13 hits.

Evans, Morehouse, Higuera, Farris and sophomore Gabrielle Garcia each recorded two hits. Evans and Morehouse combined to drive in six runs from the heart of the lineup, while Farris continued the offensive barrage with two hits and an RBI.

The Vaqueros also turned a double play behind Higuera to help preserve the no-hitter.

San Pasqual starter Kayleigh Carby absorbed the loss after allowing eight runs, three earned, on 10 hits over five innings.

The victory continued a day of bracket-busting results in Division II. El Capitan’s win over the No. 3 seed, coupled with Scripps Ranch’s upset of second-seeded Mt. Carmel, has suddenly opened the upper half of the bracket.

For El Capitan, the formula was simple: a junior slugger, a sophomore ace, and an offense that never let up.

Evans supplied the power with two home runs, Higuera supplied the no-hitter, and the Vaqueros moved one step closer to a Division II championship-game appearance.

Sultans Drop Opener to Westview, Turn Attention to Elimination Game

SAN DIEGO — Santana’s road to a CIF San Diego Section Division II softball championship became more difficult Wednesday afternoon, but not impossible.

The fifth-seeded Sultans struggled to overcome an early deficit and fell to fourth-seeded Westview, 5-1, in the opening round of the Division II playoffs, sending Santana into the elimination side of the double-elimination tournament.

Santana (16-12) will now face Mira Mesa on Friday in a must-win contest after the Marauders dropped a 3-1 decision to top-seeded Carlsbad in another first-round game. The winner will remain alive in the postseason, while the loser will see its season come to an end.

Westview (18-5-2) seized control immediately on Wednesday.

The Wolverines erupted for four runs in the bottom of the first inning and added another run in the second to build a 5-0 advantage before Santana could settle into the game.

That was more than enough support for Westview sophomore pitcher Kaya Rodriguez, who delivered a dominant complete-game effort. Rodriguez allowed just two hits over seven innings, struck out seven and did not issue a walk.

The Sultans were held scoreless through five innings before finally breaking through in the sixth.

Senior Vanessa Ryan doubled and later came around to score Santana’s lone run. Freshman Paityn Miller was credited with the RBI as the Sultans spoiled Rodriguez’s shutout bid.

Ryan provided nearly all of Santana’s offense, collecting both of the team’s hits and finishing 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored.

Despite the final score, the Sultans settled down after Westview’s explosive start.

Junior pitcher Alexis Buquet worked through a difficult opening inning but kept the Wolverines from extending the lead after the second. Westview finished with eight hits, led by senior Emma Guzman, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Freshman J. Krogstad added two hits, while Reese Marier, Kamryn Gonzalez, and Kamilla Taraila each drove in a run.

Santana’s defense turned a double play, but four errors proved costly as the Sultans were forced to play from behind throughout the afternoon.

The loss sends Santana into the same portion of the bracket as Mira Mesa, which was defeated by No. 1 seed Carlsbad. Meanwhile, Westview advances to face the top-seeded Lancers in the winners’ bracket Friday.

While Wednesday’s result was not what the Sultans hoped for, their championship aspirations remain alive. The double-elimination format allows Santana an opportunity to regroup and begin the climb back through the bracket.

To do that, however, the Sultans will need to solve Mira Mesa on Friday and keep their postseason going.