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Helix, Hillers finish as SoCal runners-up
- Updated: June 7, 2026
2026 Grossmont Foothillers CIF SoCal Regional runners-up
Historic Seasons End in Regional Finals
2026 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
LA MESA — The Grosmont Conference came within one victory of adding two more championship banners on Saturday.
Instead, Helix and Grossmont saw remarkable seasons come to an end in the CIF Southern California Regional championship round, with both clubs finishing as regional runners-up after reaching the final day of state competition.
For Helix, the defeat ended the finest season in school history. For Grossmont, it concluded an inspired postseason run that carried the Foothillers one win shy of a regional title.
While neither club was able to capture a Southern California championship, both programs established new standards and delivered memorable seasons for their schools.
HANFORD WEST 8, HELIX 4
Highlanders’ championship bid halted in Division III regional final
LA MESA — Helix spent much of the season answering every challenge placed before it.
On Saturday, Hanford West proved to be one challenge too many.
The visiting Huskies scored five runs over the first two innings and held off several Helix comeback attempts to defeat the Highlanders, 8-4, in the CIF Southern California Regional Division III championship game.
Second-seeded Helix closed the season at 26-5 after winning the program’s first CIF San Diego Section softball championship only a week earlier. Fourth-seeded Hanford West finished 20-14 with the regional crown.
The Huskies struck quickly, scoring three runs in the first inning before adding two more in the second for a 5-2 advantage.
Helix refused to fade.
The Highlanders answered with two runs in the bottom of the first and later added another run in the third inning to remain within striking distance. However, Hanford West pitcher Rylan Montoya worked through several traffic-filled innings and prevented Helix from putting together a game-changing rally.
Helix finished with nine hits and drew four walks but stranded 11 runners.
Sophomore Alana Garcia paced the offense, going 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Junior Lillianna Benabdeljalil collected two hits and scored a run, while sophomore Marley Johnson added two hits and drove in a run.
Freshman Janessa Briones also contributed an RBI.
Lea Moya battled through seven innings in the circle for Helix, striking out eight batters.
Hanford West finished with 13 hits. Freshman Erika Hernandez led the Huskies by driving in four runs, while Adyson Owens collected three hits.
Despite the loss, the Highlanders completed the most successful campaign in program history, capturing the school’s first section softball championship and advancing to the Southern California Regional final.
Historic Highlander season establishes new standard
The 2026 Highlanders rewrote the program record book.
Helix captured the first CIF San Diego Section softball championship in school history and followed it with a run to the CIF Southern California Regional Division III championship game.
The Highlanders finished 26-5, winning nearly 84 percent of their games while consistently ranking among San Diego County’s elite teams.
What makes the accomplishment even more notable is the youth throughout the lineup. Helix received major contributions from sophomores Alana Garcia, Marley Johnson and Lea Moya, along with several other underclassmen who gained postseason experience during the championship run.
The season ends without a regional title, but the foundation for continued success remains firmly in place.
Garcia, Johnson lead Scotties’ final offensive effort
Helix’s final game showcased the players who helped drive the program’s historic season.
Garcia delivered one of the team’s strongest performances, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.
Johnson added two hits and an RBI, while Benabdeljalil finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The trio combined for six of Helix’s nine hits in the regional championship game and helped keep the Highlanders within striking distance throughout the afternoon.
WOODLAKE 14, GROSSMONT 4
Foothillers’ postseason surge ends in Division IV title game
WOODLAKE — Grossmont appeared poised to complete another postseason upset.
For three innings, the Foothillers controlled the game and carried the lead.
Then Woodlake turned patience into production.
The Tigers capitalized on 13 walks and scored 12 unanswered runs over the final two innings to defeat Grossmont, 14-4, in five innings and claim the CIF Southern California Regional Division IV championship.
Fifth-seeded Grossmont grabbed an early 2-0 lead and later built a 4-2 advantage as its offense continued the momentum generated during a memorable playoff run.
The Foothillers collected nine hits and received multi-hit performances from Alyanna Vega, Madison Busch and Skyler Glover.
Glover provided the biggest offensive highlight, belting a home run and driving in two runs. Busch also drove in a pair of runs, while Vega finished with two hits and a stolen base.
Freshman Sahara Roope reached base four times, collecting two hits and drawing three walks.
Woodlake entered the fourth inning trailing before erupting for four runs to take the lead. The Tigers then added eight runs in the fifth inning to invoke the mercy rule.
Remarkably, Woodlake scored 14 runs while managing only five hits.
Grossmont finished the season at 20-12-1 after advancing to the Southern California Regional championship game.
Semifinal upset highlighted Foothillers’ playoff run
Although the season ended one victory short of a regional championship, Grossmont authored one of East County’s most impressive postseason performances.
The defining moment came in the regional semifinals when the Foothillers traveled to face top-seeded Madison and rolled to a stunning 15-3 victory.
The win propelled Grossmont into the Southern California championship game and established the Foothillers as one of the surprise stories of the regional playoffs.
Young core provides optimism for Hillers softball
Grossmont’s championship-game lineup featured significant contributions from underclassmen.
Freshman Sahara Roope collected two hits and reached base repeatedly during Saturday’s final. Sophomore Alyanna Vega added two hits and a stolen base, while sophomore Destiny Tufugafale and several other returning players gained valuable postseason experience.
Junior Madison Busch and senior Skyler Glover supplied key offense in the championship game, helping the Foothillers build an early lead.
The combination of veteran leadership and young talent helped carry Grossmont to the regional final and should provide momentum entering next season.
New tradition at the oldest schools
Saturday’s losses closed the curtain on one of the strongest softball seasons both Helix and Grossmont have ever produced in the same season.
Helix captured the first section softball championship in school history and reached the Southern California Regional Division III final.
Grossmont advanced to the Southern California Regional Division IV championship game after upsetting the tournament’s top seed.
Together, the Highlanders and Foothillers finished with 46 victories and appearances in regional championship contests, giving the Grossmont Conference’s oldest schools a significant softball presence on the final weekend of the California high school season.
