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CIF So. Cal Quarters: Highlanders Double Up Colts To Con’t Historic Season
- Updated: June 2, 2026
2026 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
CIF – Southern California Regional – Quarterfinals
By Adam Paul
LA MESA (6-2-26) – Coming off of a historic first ever San Diego Section CIF title there could have been a letdown of sorts for the Helix Highlanders and for the first few innings there was as they trailed 6-3 but what would be the final three innings the bats woke up to not only rally but score 8 runs combined over the fifth and sixth innings to double up the visiting 7-seeded Covina Colts 14-7 on Tuesday afternoon in the first ever regional playoff game for the Highlanders.
Trailing 1-0 after a half an inning the Highlanders managed three runs in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of an RBI double by Lillianna Benabdeljalil to tie the game and a two-run single by sophomore Marley Johnson to give them a 3-1 lead.
Covina would score three runs in the top of the third to retake the leas 4-3 and would extend their lead even further as they pushed across another pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning to lead 6-3.
The Highlanders knowing they needed to get something going started their offense in the bottom of the fourth inning when LeNiah Broom doubled with one out and would later come into score on a passed ball which was followed by an RBI single by Riley Adams to pull the Highlanders within 6-5. A couple of batters later with two outs Adams after advancing on a passed ball and to third on a groundball out would come into score on another passed ball to tie the game.
Helix would again retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning courtesy of Broom who drove in a run, Johnson scoring on a passed ball and an error that allowed Broom to plate which gave them a 9-6 lead.
After Covina pushed across a run in the top of the sixth inning to cut the deficit at 9-6 the bats of the Highlanders again exploded for five more runs to round out their scoring.
Helix with the win has now won six in a row and moves to 25-4 on the season and within one victory of the all-time wins a in a season of 26.
The Highlanders will now take on the Grace Lancers out Simi Valley and is the current third seed.
The big news of the day though is that top seeded Venice lost to the eighth seed Mission College Prep by a score of 4-2 which means if Helix defeats Grace they will host the regional championship on Saturday June 6th.
