Michelle Miranda (SCB Courtesy Photo)

Hillers backstop joins the Toros

East County Sports.com
CARSON (8-17-06) -- Grossmont High catcher MICHELLE MIRANDA, who ranked among the top hitters in East County during the 2006 season, has accepted a full-ride scholarship to Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Miranda, a three-year starter and team captain for the 15th-ranked Foothillers, batted .386 to rank third on her team. Included were 11 doubles to share the East County lead en route to a Grossmont North League championship. Miranda continued her solid hitting during the summer with her Southern California Breakers club team.

Miranda, one of just three catchers honored on the All-East County first team, and was also an All-League and All-CIF performer, helping battery mate DOMONIQUE GUERRA claim North League player of the year laurels.

She will join a successful Toros program, coached by Jim Maier, which has gone 230-111-2 over the past six seasons, including a 21-7 mark last season to finish second in the CCAA to gain an NCAA Division II playoff berth.

Laurie Lindow (UTM Courtesy Photo)

"Laurie will provide immediate help for us at the catching position," said Canary."Her catching ability and throwing are above average. We also need her bat in the middle of the line-up to drive in runs."

UTM are members of the NCAA Division I Ohio Valley Conference, finishing this past season in fourth place (15-12), and 35-26-1 overall.

Zetsch heads to Texas
BIG SPRING, Texas -- CHARNEL ZETSCH, a steady performer as both a pitcher and corner infielder for Granite Hills High throughout her prep career, made an impression with several community college coaches evaluating her during summer ball, as Zetsch elected to accept a scholarship from head coach CHERYL DICKENS at Howard College.

Zetsch received the offer following a stellar performance at the Sparkler Showcase tournament, part of the Triple Crown series of events held earlier this month.

She posted a 3-1 pitching record, collecting her lone loss in an International Tiebreak decision. The power hitter also displayed her prowess on offense in one game, when Zetsch collected seven RBI with a 3-run homer, a two-run double, and a 2-run homer.

Zetsch was a second-team, All-East County selection this past season, helping the Eagles slip into the final Top 20 county rankings at No. 19 with a 15-10-3 record, falling to eventual CIF Division I champion Escondido in the postseason.

2006 ALL-EAST COUNTY TEAM

Beasley, Bass, Taylor tabbed
East County's best in fastpitch

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (6-7-06) -- The main ingredient that lifted Steele Canyon to its first-ever Grossmont South League and San Diego CIF Division III crowns could be found in the pitching of junior right-hander SAMANTHA BEASLEY, selected by the East County Sports.com staff as the East County Pitcher of the Year.

Beasley shares the award with SHAE BASS, who powered Santana to elite status in the county rankings all season before the Sultans finally settled for third place in the SDCIF Division III tournament. Bass paced all East County pitchers in victories, while also leading the Grossmont Conference in strikeouts.

Unlike baseball, which honors one single player for seasonal honors, fastpitch selects both a pitcher and a field player. That person is Santana shortstop TAYLOR KELLY, who is considered one of the nation's top prospects after signing for an NCAA Div. I scholarship with the University of California.

East County Sports.com staff also tabbed West Hills freshman CHELSEA VELOVICH as an unsung hero for keeping the Wolf Pack in contention all season after injuries to three other pitchers, while Steele Canyon freshman JAZMIN DAIGLE was the rookie (newcomer) of the year, providing the offensive spark for the Cougars.

Maintaining an East County tradition, Coach of the Year honors went to the leader of a SDCIF championship club, as JULIE BOHE became the youngest winner of the award after Steele Canyon raced through the field -- downing Monte Vista, Ramona and Cathedral Catholic -- to take the section's Div. III crown.

CAMMI MOORE of Grossmont and NICOLE RIVERA of Granite Hills were repeat first-team selections from 2005, joining Bass and Beasley, while MICHELLE MIRANDA of Grossmont, ALYSSA PARKER of Monte Vista, and Valhalla's KELLEY SEITZ made the jump from second team to first.

Daigle also topped the All-Freshmen Team, joined by Velovich, East County strikeout leader JESSIE OWENS (Christian), BRITTANI BERTUSSI (Granite Hills), HANNAH ROST (Steele Canyon), and STASIA HOLDMAN (West Hills).

Final East County statistics, as reported by the coaches, for both hitting and pitching can be found HERE.

East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (5-27-06) -- Dominating through all seven innings, the only goal left for the Steele Canyon fastpitch team was to preserve the shutout for pitcher SAMANTHA BEASLEY, who is expected to be announced as Player of the Year in the Grossmont South League later this week.

So when a ground ball raced through the right side of the Cougars' infield with two outs in the 7th, right-fielder ERIKA BEASLEY charged the ball and fired a strike to catcher HANNAH ROST, who survived a collision with Cathedral pinchrunner Alexis Galardo, to make the dramatic tag.

However, the Division III finale actually ended moments earlier by the umpires.

The ground ball slipped past because it deflected off the baserunner at first base for an automatic out instead of an error, giving the unlikely champions from Steele Canyon its first girls sports CIF championship after blanking the Dons, 6-0, at the San Diego State Softball Complex.

"It didn't matter who we played because we were fully prepared," said Samantha Beasley, who struck out seven in tossing a 4-hitter. "We came a long way and everyone was focused because this was CIF -- it was a real day."

The second-seeded Cougars originally expected to meet top-seeded Santana, a school they have never defeated, including a pair of setbacks in this season's Grossmont Conference Tournament. But when Cathedral upset the Sultans in the semifinals, Steele Canyon's mindset completely altered.

"It didn't matter -- we still played hard and we were confident," noted freshman third baseman JAZMIN DAIGLE, who was honored with one of the CIF Sportsmanship awards."Winning this means so much for the school and for the girls on the team."

Indeed, the Cougars continued to grow all season, seemingly becoming more comfortable in their own skin.

Following several games of inconsistent defense early in the season, the Cougars (23-9) were nearly flawless in the postseason in downing Monte Vista, Ramona and now Cathedral (22-9) to gain the school's first-ever CIF crown in girls athletics.

"We've never seen Cathedral before and knew very little about them," noted Cougars head coach JULIE BOHE. "We didn't know what to expect from their pitching, but we got strong hitting from everybody and played incredible defense."

The Dons demonstrated strong defense, too, forcing a quick alteration in Steele Canyon's strategy. In the 1st, Bohe went with 'small ball' and two successful sacrifice bunts. However, the runner was eventually stranded at third.

"We tried to force them to make mistakes, but Cathedral made every play," noted Bohe. "So we let our girls swing away."

The switch quickly turned the tide behind Samantha Beasley's bat. She bombed an extra base hit to key rallies in the 3rd and 6th innings.

However, the momentum turning occurred on defense in the top of the 3rd.

Following consecutive two-out, infield singles by Aliko Eddow and Alyc Kalamaha (and a throw to third base) moved both runners into scoring position, Samantha Beasley put the hammer down.

The junior pitcher escaped the jam with a strikeout, igniting a stretch of retiring 11 consecutive Dons. Beasley then followed a lead single by JENEVA MACK with a booming RBI triple to the wall in right, scoring on the next pitch which went to the backstop for a 2-0 lead.

The rally continued when Rost walked, Daigle doubled, then a slow tapper to first base by JAYME JARVIS brought home the third run.

Historically, the runs were the only ones needed because, since the inception of the Div. III classification in 1994, 12 of the 13 finals have been captured by shutout, including five wins by the Dons (as USDHS prior to this school-year's relocation to Carmel Valley).

The lead went to 4-0 when Rost scored an unearned run in the 5th. One inning later, Erika Beasley led-off with an identical triple like her older sister's, Mack walked, then LISA MONGELLI fell about five feet short of a home run to left, settling for a sacrifice fly for a 5-0 lead.

"This feels so good because this is a team of friends," said Erika Beasley. "We could talk to any of the girls all of the time -- we really liked each other -- and we brought that together on the field."

Sam Beasley followed with a run-scoring double over the head of the centerfielder to cap the scoring.

In the end, the day belonged to Sam. In addition to her strong pitching, she went 2-for-2 at the plate, with a walk, a sacrifice and a pair of RBI.

"Sam is the whole package," noted Bohe, who became one of the youngest coaches to capture a fastpitch title. "Because of her, we came together just in time. We are so fortunate that she and her family came to Steele Canyon."

Meanwhile, veteran Dons coach Margaret Mauro, the winningest coach in CIFSDS history (just ahead of West Hills' Steve Sutton and Hilltop's Nancy Acerrio), is now 7-4 in CIF title games, last winning in 2001.

"We had some chances early, but we just didn't execute," noted Mauro. "Their heart got them this far and I think we ran out of gas -- we weren't supposed to be here."

Walsh collected two of the Dons' four hits. The centerfielder also completed a circus catch to rob Erika Beasley of extra bases on a liner to open the 4th. The ball was sailing over her head, but she fully-extended towards the wall to make the grab, despite knocking the wind out of herself.

On the game-ending play, Rost again injured her shoulder -- a season-long problem -- but she was feeling fine with the rush of a championship.

"That would've been some way to win the championship," said assistant coach DOUG SUMMERS. "But we'll take it either way."

The Cougars should stay in contention, losing just one player to graduation while already starting four sophomores and a freshman to go along with Bohe. Meanwhile, the Dons will lose six senior starters, including catcher Tracy Dean (Blossom Valley) and pitcher-outfielder Natalie Garrett (El Cajon).

Jazmin Daigle races around third base with a game-winning, inside-the-park home run to shock Ramona, 2-1, in eight innings. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

East County Sports.com
POWAY (5-26-06) -- Officials with the CIF-San Diego Section office insisted they have tried to accommodate all semifinalists in the softball championships by placing temporary outfield fences onto the baseball-sized fields at Sportsplex USA, the site for the Final Four in each division since relocating from Escondido's Kit Carson Park several seasons ago.

As in years past, several schools loaned fencing and personnel to transport and install the outfield barriers, then breakdown and remove them afterwards.

However, despite getting three schools to agree to utilizing its fencing during the playoff committee seeding meeting last week, something happened in the past eight days, thus, the CIF semifinals again were played sans fencing.

And it was the difference for a pair of Division II teams based in the East County -- one winning because there was no fence to stop a ball from rolling away, while another ballclub lost due to the absence of the promised perimeter.

DIVISION III
STEELE CANYON 2, RAMONA 1 (8 inn.) -- Freshman third baseman JAZMIN DAIGLE added another chapter to her family's athletic lore Thursday (May 25), beating the odds by guessing correctly on the location of a 3-2 pitch for a walkoff, inside-the-park home run to send the Cougars to their first-ever CIF championship game appearance.

After receiving a constant variety of outside pitches all contest long, Daigle instinctively felt that Bulldogs pitcher Dana Roberts might opt for a change in strategy.

"Basically, I gambled and was looking for an inside pitch -- I don't know why she suddenly pitched me inside," noted Daigle. "And when she threw it there, I picked up on it and hit it past third."

Without an outfield fence, the tattooed ball rolled to the baseball fence some 300 feet from home plate, rather than the traditional 200 feet of a softball fence. And by the time Ramona's outfielders retrieved the ball, Daigle was already turning the corner at third base and waltzed home with her fourth homer of the season and the most memorable hit in the short 4-year varsity history of Cougars fastpitch.

"It's something that we talked about and thought about every single day," noted Daigle about reaching the CIF final. "And we've got to that point, so I guess it worked."

Second-seeded Steele Canyon (22-9) will meet Cathedral (22-8) in the final. The unseeded Dons upset top-seeded Santana, 1-0, in the other semifinal, ruining an opportunity for an all East County finale.

"I was trying to be really careful with her all game because I knew she was the one who could take it deep," said Roberts. "As soon as I let go of the pitch, I knew. It was one those pitches that when it left my hand. I said to myself, 'Not to this girl.' "

Meanwhile, Steele Canyon pitcher SAMANTHA BEASLEY overcame a run allowed in the first inning to toss a 6-hitter at the Bulldogs to collect the victory.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of the girls," said head coach JULIE BOHE. "This is such a young school and such a young team (only one senior), to be in the championship game in just our fourth year of varsity is incredible."

"We definitely deserved it and we definitely earned it."

After Steele Canyon tied the ballgame in the 6th, Ramona had an opportunity to win in the 7th. However, after the leadoff batter reached first, Bulldogs coach Mike Schuler elected to forego the bunt to advance the runner.

Instead, a soft liner went into the direction of Cougars second baseman JENEVA MACK, who caught the ball then fired to first for a double play.

Ramona, just three years removed from a three-win campaign, finishes its season at 18-11.

The Cougars also won despite the absence of sophomores JAYME JARVIS and ERIKA BEASLEY, who left in the third inning to attend Confirmation ceremonies at their church.

Santana catcher Laurie Lindow with the first of two linedrive outs hit directly to the Dons shortstop. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

CATHEDRAL 1, SANTANA 0 -- In the 6th inning, Sultans pitcher SHAE BASS blasted one of the longest drives of the postseason, a ball which most observers estimated to travel 230 feet. But instead of a go-ahead (and possible game-winning), three-run homer, Dons left-fielder Brooke Lewis raced to the deep corner to make an improbable, back-handed catch to salvage the victory.

"Actually, we've always liked playing without an outfield fence," said Lewis, who started as the designated player and only entered the field defensively an inning earlier. "This way, we have to play deep so no balls go over our heads in the outfield and everything stays in front of us."

However, in the modern era of fastpitch softball, where nearly all fields have or are soon installing fencing, another playoff thriller is decided under old-fashion playing conditions.

"I just know that I saw the ball and just ran -- I knew I had to catch it," added Lewis, who will play for Lehigh University next season.

Instead of a ticket to the division final and a chance at a second CIF crown in three seasons, the Sultans (28-5) were sent packing with their first loss all season to an opponent from outside of the Grossmont North League.

"So she's already playing almost 200 feet back -- that's just not softball," lamented Santana coach JOHN BOBOF, whose team fell in the playoffs on a similar play for the second straight season.

Meanwhile, Cathedral pitcher Natalie Garrett finished with a one-hit shutout. The lone hit was a lead single in the 6th by California bound shortstop TAYLOR KELLY.

Garrett, an El Cajon resident, also drove in the game's lone run in the 5th on a ball which rolled no more than 30 feet down the first-base line.

With runners on second and third, Garrett slapped the ball straight down and it trickled down the line. After rolling for a few seconds, Bass realized it wouldn't turn foul, so she picked it up and fired to first, but the person covering failed to place her foot on the bag as Alyssa Rosales scored.

Blossom Valley's Tracy Dean, the Dons' top-hitting catcher, was walked to load the bases, but Bass got out of the jam on a tapper back to her in the pitching circle.

Bass finished with nine strikeouts and allowed just five hits -- one to Dean-- while Garrett struckout three.

"And I thought about taking Natalie out after the 4th," said Dons coach Margaret Mauro. "But I couldn't take out a girl throwing a no-hitter."

The reason for a possible removal of Mauro's senior starter was a series of line shots by Santana's hitters. Kelly and DANIELLE BALOUGH sent a pair of screamers right at Dons defenders to end the 3rd, then seniors KATIE THOMAS and LAURIE LINDOW slammed balls directly to both middle infielders to open the 4th.

"We couldn't have hit the ball any better, but they were all right at people," said Kelly. "It's hard to believe I got the only hit, because everyone was hitting the ball hard."

The loss ended the high school careers of six Sultans, but many will continue to play at the next level.

"Yes, I guess I'm an adult now and have a lot of responsibilities," noted Kelly, who will play travel ball for The Next Level this summer before heading to Berkeley. "It's been fun playing."

DIVISION IV
IMPERIAL 5, CHRISTIAN 4 -- Tigers pitcher Caschjen Davis, the reigning CIF Div. IV player of the year, will get a chance to capture another section title after eliminating the Patriots for the second straight season.

Despite a pair of Christian comebacks, Jennifer Sanchez singled home Chelsea Jensen with one out in the bottom of the 7th to earn the school's third consecutive trip to the CIF final. Jensen scored on a collision at the plate with catcher KRISTINA WYNNS, who hung tough but never really had a chance to catch the relay throw from left field.

The run came moments after the Patriots tied the score just one pitch away from being eliminated. CASEY WHITE, who struck out in three previous at-bats, shocked the Tigers by stroking a solid, run-scoring single to left-centerfield, scoring AMANDA PLUM, who had doubled to open the frame.

Christian almost got another run when SARAH SEYMOUR smoked a line drive to right-centerfield, but Imperial second baseman Shalyn Cheatham stabbed at the ball for the catch.

"We did a great job -- we came back fighting all the way," said Pats coach ROMA DAWSON. "If Sarah's ball goes through, it would've gone all the way to the fence-- that's how close the game could've gone either way."

Down 1-0, Wynns collected the second of her three singles for the ballgame in the 4th, driving in a run to tie the game. Several batters later, freshman NICOLE MARCOS lined a 2-run single down the left-field line, giving Christian a 3-1 advantage.

Patriots freshman JESSIE OWENS struck out six batters, while also smashing a double to left in the 3rd -- one of 11 hits collected by Christian (16-9-2) against Davis.

Christian centerfielder ALLYSSA GRAUL also registered three hits, scoring once, while Plum scored twice.

FRANCIS PARKER 6, MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 0 -- By the time Red Hawks freshman pitcher Kelly Majam allowed her first hit in the 6th inning, the top-seeded Lancers already posted six runs on the scoreboard, courtesy of several errors and a pair of fielder's choices. Thus, Parker (22-1) will play for the Division IV title against Imperial (22-5).

Meanwhile, the prep career of Majam's older sister -- Allison -- may be over, but she will continue to play at the next level on scholarship with Colorado State next season.

Sarah Seymour sends the ball deep into the air for a long home run (top), then Seymour sends herself skyward to leap onto the plate in celebration. (Photos by Burt Melvin)

East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (5-24-06) -- With five championships and 10 title game appearances, Christian High has been a longtime staple to the CIF playoffs. Santana High has been there, too, owning three championships and five title game appearances, including at least one berth in all four decades of San Diego Section competition -- a feat only matched by Patrick Henry.

Then there's Steele Canyon, a newcomer to the fastpitch postseason scene. The Cougars possess a playoff resume slightly shorter than the height of first base. Yet that is quickly changing.

Taking advantage of almost every opportunity, Steele Canyon scored three quick runs in the first inning, racing to an easy 6-2 triumph over Monte Vista in Tuesday's (May 23) quarterfinals of the CIF Division III tournament. The second-seeded Cougars will tackle No. 3 Ramona in Thursday's semifinals, hoping to gain a berth in Saturday's championship quadruple-header at San Diego State.

Even if they fail, it's the farthest any Cougars team has advanced in the playoffs. However, signs of failure are nowhere on the horizon as Steele Canyon prepares for a prime time performance.

"We're pumped up and ready to play under the lights," said pitcher SAMANTHA BEASLEY, referring to a 7:30 p.m. meeting with 3rd-seeded Ramona, which ripped University City, 13-0, to also reach the semifinals. "We're still a young team, but we're playing with a whole lot of confidence."

Confidence seemed to be the modus operandi of Monte Vista, which defeated the Cougars 3-1 on May 10. Since then, Steele Canyon has rolled to three straight wins and a share of the Grossmont North League title.

"They came in thinking they already were going to win," added Beasley.

Instead, the Cougars took advantage of seven Monarchs errors, plus an assortment of other defensive miscues, to lead from wire-to-wire.

Freshman third baseman JAZMIN DAIGLE punctuated the offense, scoring three times after two singles and a walk. Meanwhile, first baseman VANESSA ADAME finished with an unusual 0-for-4, reaching base three times on errors, while HANNAH ROST twice reached third base on singles to the outfield which were misplayed to allow the catcher to circle the diamond.

"After beating us last time, they're weren't focused -- they thought it would be easy to beat us," noted Daigle, who also reached third on an RBI basehit and a two-base error in the 4th. "We were not going to let that happen again."

Steele Canyon's initial rally didn't start until after two were out, as JAYME JARVIS walked, then Daigle singled. Rost collected an RBI on her first three-base play, then Adame reached for the first time on an error for another run.

Monte Vista reached Beasley just once, scoring two times in the 3rd, also on a two-out rally. Following an infield single by ROSALYN BURNS, a wild pitch moved her to second, then shortstop ASHLEY MILLER singled her home. Miller moved to second on the throw home, then when a second throw to get Miller sailed into the outfield, Miller scored to trim the lead to 3-2.

However, the error was the only Cougars mistake all contest, as Beasley shut down the Monarchs on just three hits the rest of the way.

Hard-luck loser BREANNA McMILLAN matched Beasley with five strikeouts, while also stroking a double in the 4th, although she was eventually stranded at third base.

DIVISION I
ESCONDIDO 2, GRANITE HILLS 0 -- The old cliche' that's it's hard to defeat a team three times in a season fell by the wayside after the top-seeded and top-ranked Cougars bested the visiting Eagles, backed by a 4-hit shutout by Sarah Akamine.

Both teams had opportunities in the 1st and 3rd innings, but only Escondido (25-2) could push across any runs, gaining a 1-0 lead on the first of two doubles on the day by catcher Raylene Asman, then Akamine singled home Alisa Barlow.

Granite Hills (15-10-3) saw catcher AMANDA OMAHEN twice reach third base. In the 1st, she walked, then advanced on a wild pitch and a passed ball, while in the 3rd following a single, Omahen stole second base and moved 60 additional feet on a throwing error.

However, both times Omahen was left stranded, then Akamine shut down the Eagles with eight strikeouts, while her defense also ended a threat by turning a double play.

JESSICA SCHATZ registered a basehit and stole a base for the Eagles, while the remaining hits were collected by MEGAN BELIO and CHARNEL ZETSCH, who suffered the loss, despite allowing just five hits and striking out four without a walk.

DIVISION II
EL CENTRO-SOUTHWEST 2, GROSSMONT 1 -- Foothillers pitcher DOMONIQUE GUERRA carried a 1-hit shutout into the 6th before the Eagles erupted for a pair of runs to stun 3rd-seeded and 5th-ranked Grossmont.

It looked like a 3rd-inning run by the Hillers (29-8) would stand up, as Guerra struck out 12 batters, but an error allowed the go-ahead run to score to eliminate the Grossmont North League champions.

JILL TIMMER opened the 3rd with a walk, moving to second on a misplayed sacrifice bunt by ANDRIANNA NAU, placing two runners on base. MEGAN GREEN followed with a basehit on a grounder to the hole on the left side.

However, with no play on Green, the Eagles defense elected to get the lead runner at third base, but when the ball was thrown away, Timmer raced home for a 1-0 advantage.

In the 6th, Southwest (19-7-1) countered when right-fielder Jennifer Lopez bombed a double over the Grossmont centerfield's head, scoring on a sharp single by leadoff batter Amber Flores to tie the ballgame.

Sophomore pitcher Jennifer Aguilar aided her cause by following with a basehit to place runners on the corners, then Karen Leon tapped a slow roller towards third. Flores scored easily as the play went to first base, although the ball was thrown away for an error while Leon still was credited with an RBI.

Green batted 2-for-4 with a double for Grossmont, while catcher MICHELLE MIRANDA added a triple.

WESTVIEW 3, WEST HILLS 1 -- Expecting more speed than brawn from the top of the lineup, Wolverines left-fielder Ashley Estepa shocked the Wolf Pack with a 2-run homer in the third, powering fourth-ranked Westview past No. 6 West Hills in a tight, Top Ten match-up.

Estepa sent a drive over the head of the Pack outfield, but playing on a field with a fence designed more for baseball than fastpitch softball, by the time West Hills recovered the ball, the Wolverines gained a 2-0 lead.

The margin would move to 3-0 before West Hills scored in the 5th. Shortstop MELISSA HILL registered her second hit of the ballgame, then stole second base. Two outs later, MICHELLE IAVELLI went to right field with an RBI single.

However, Westview pitcher JANAE PORTUGAL would escape the jam and leave two runners on base, setting down six of the final seven hitters to complete a 4-hitter. Portugal only struck out four, but the Pack could do little with the senior's riseball except to hit an assortment of easy fly balls for outs.

DIVISION III
SANTANA 10, BRAWLEY 0 -- Junior pitcher SHAE BASS clouted a 3-run homer in the 1st and combined with BRITTANY BALOUGH in tossing a 1-hit shutout at the Wildcats (18-9). Bass struck out six batters in five innings of work, then Balough tossed two perfect innings to advance to Thursday's semifinals.

Bass finished with four RBI, adding a run-scoring single to center in the 4th to go 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored in the contest for top-seeded Santana (28-4).

The Sultans' 18-hit attack also included two hits each by TAYLOR KELLY, DANIELLE BALOUGH, LAURIE LINDOW, JEN KRISMER and MICHELLE BRAMLAGE. Lindow's totals included a double and two RBI for the senior catcher.

The lone Brawley hit came with two outs in the 1st, when sophomore catcher Cami Correa slapped a hard grounder up the middle.

CATHEDRAL 4, VALHALLA 2 -- Three outs away from a fourth consecutive trip to the semifinals, the Norsemen were stunned by a game-tying, leadoff homer senior catcher Tracy Dean, then the Dons scored two additional runs in the 7th in a heart-breaking setback for Valhalla (19-10).

The Norsemen tallied twice in the 2nd, when catcher KELLEY SEITZ opened the frame by moving station-to-station around the bases on a single, passed ball, wild pitch, then scoring by beating the throw to the plate on a ground ball by KYLA BRANSFORD.

Two batters later, designated player MEGAN McGIRR slammed a double to the outfield barrier for a 2-0 lead.

The Dons tied the game with a single run in the 3rd, then Dean's homer. Cathedral (21-8) then took the lead on a throwing error, then an RBI single by senior Alexa Baldino.The late rally made a winner of starting pitcher Chanel Rose, who allowed just four hits -- two to Seitz -- despite recording just a single strikeout.

DIVISION IV
CHRISTIAN 4, THE BISHOP'S 2 -- First baseman SARAH SEYMOUR clouted a mammoth homer in the 5th inning, while JESSIE OWENS batted 3-for-3 and pitched a 2-hitter to lead the Patriots. The victory placed all four schools from the Eastern League (Patrick Henry, Mira Mesa and Scripps Ranch, too) into the SDCIF semifinals.

Seymour sent her huge drive over both the right-field fence and the school's boundary fence onto East Madison Avenue, giving Christian (16-8-2) a 4-0 lead.

The Patriots jumped on the visiting Knights (12-8) for three runs in the opening inning.

Owens opened with a single, then was sacrificed to second base by catcher KARA CARTWRIGHT. Third baseman AMANDA PLUM (2-for-3) followed with an infield single, scoring Owens.

Seymour walked, then took off for second, as Plum scored on a double steal. ALLYSSA GRAUL followed with an RBI single to plate Seymour for a three-run lead.

Meanwhile, Owens struck out 10 batters to gain the victory. Only Michelle Brunker of The Bishop's could solve the freshman, going 2-for-3 with a double, a steal and a run scored.

Granite Hills catcher Amanda Omahen lines a second-inning single, one of 15 hits collected by the Eagles in a 10-2 pasting of Bonita Vista. (Photos by Chris Edwards)

East County Sports.com
BONITA (5-21-06) -- Granite Hills High demonstrated all of the attributes necessary for a winning ballclub: Strong pitching, clutch hitting and timely defense. And the Eagles have a slogan for it.

"It's 'Yankee Style' -- it's like skills," said versatile infielder NICOLE RIVERA. "The New York Yankees have something like 26 world championships, so who wouldn't want to be 'Yankee Style.'"

Rivera's main skills: defense and getting on base. And she amply demonstrated both Saturday, twice reaching base to leadoff innings and scoring both times, as 9th-seeded Granite Hills wasted No. 8 Bonita Vista, 10-2, in the opening round of the CIF San Diego Section Division I softball championship.

Four times, the Eagles placed the leadoff batter on base, and three times that player scored to vanquish the Barons.

"It's funner to get on base before they get any outs," added Rivera. "It's always best to knock 'em down early and punch them in the face."

Eagles pitcher Brittani Bertussi (top) not only pitched a 5-hitter, she collected three hits, including this fifth-inning single. Pinchrunner Sage Woodrow (bottom) then stole second base and eventually scored for a 5-1 lead. (Photos by Chris Edwards)

Meanwhile, the current second baseman is JESSICA SCHATZ, who batted 3-for-3 against Bonita Vista pitching, driving in three runs, scoring three times, then capping her effort with a sacrifice bunt.

"It's CIF -- time to step it up," explained Schatz. "We're over thinking who get the credit and play as a team."

Schatz opened the scoring with an RBI single to score Rivera, as the Eagles rolled to a 4-0 first-inning lead. CSU San Marcos bound CHARNEL ZETSCH followed with a run-scoring single to plate BRITTANI BERTUSSI, then JORDAN CONWAY capped the outburst with a 2-run basehit to bring home AMANDA OBNEY and Schatz.

Bertussi also gained the victory with seven strong innings in the pitching circle while Rivera returned to shortstop, scattering five hits and escaping from a major jam in the fourth to maintain a 4-1 lead. The Barons scored a run on an error and had the bases loaded, but Bertussi registered her lone strikeout, then coaxed an easy ground ball to end the threat.

Granite Hills then answered with two runs in the 5th, then four more in the 6th to gain a berth into the quarterfinals against top-seeded and top-ranked Escondido (24-2).

"They were seeded ahead of us, so I expected more from the other team," noted Bertussi, who aided her cause by batting 3-for-4 at the plate, including a double and an RBI single in the 6th. "And when they did hit the ball, my defense did a great job -- I'm proud of them."

Included were a pair of double plays by the Eagles defense. The first twin-killing erased a leadoff single in the 2nd, then Conway turned an unconventional two-out play in the 5th.

With runners at first and second, the Barons' Taegan Isbell floated the ball over the extended glove of Conway. However, the Eagles' sophomore recovered the ball and stepped on the bag for the first out, then fired the ball to Rivera covering second, who applied the tag for the out since the force play was eliminated.

Although the lead runner reached third, Bertussi ended the frame with only one run allowed with another easy ground ball.

Granite Hills (15-9-3) accumulated 15 hits for the contest, including a triple by MEGAN BELIO, who collected two hits, as did AMANDA OMAHEN.

Mara Thornton (22) retired nine of the 10 batters she faced, combining with Brenna Sandberg and Chelsea Velovich in tossing a 1-hit playoff shutout. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

Moments after NANCY SUE LARSON collected a one-out single, LaChusa sent a drive over the centerfielder's head, and without a fence to prevent the ball from rolling away, head coach STEVE SUTTON kept pumping his arm from the third-base coaches box to send LaChusa around the diamond to score without a throw home.

"It didn't really matter where we played this game, because we came in prepared and ready to play," said LaChusa, the Pack right-fielder. "I really got good bat on the ball and just drove it over her head."

West Hills (21-9) actually possessed the higher seed at No. 7, but No.10 Mar Vista received the Imperial Beach home game as a league titlist. But all the Mariners could muster was a single hit all afternoon, as three pitcher combined to blank them.

Stasia Holdman slugs the first of her two doubles off Mariners pitching, finishing the day by going 3-for-3 with a run scored for the Wolf Pack. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

BRENNA SANDBERG tossed the first three innings, registering six of her nine outs on strikes. Although she walked two and hit a batter in the 2nd, one of her strikeouts allowed Sandberg to escape the jam.

MARA THORNTON, coming off a 1-hit shutout of 4th-ranked Santana -- the top seed in Division III -- faced just one batter over the minimum in her three innings of work. Freshman CHELSEA VELOVICH then pitched a perfect inning in the 7th to gain a berth into the quarterfinals against second-seeded Westview, leaving a Wolverines coaching staff wondering which of the three distinctively different styles of pitchers they will face on Tuesday.

"They won't be able to get used to any one style of pitcher," noted LaChusa. "It's another reason why we have such a strong team."

LaChusa also scored in the 3rd after getting hit by a pitch with two outs. STASIA HOLDMAN followed with a sharp single to center, but when the throw back to the infield was dropped, LaChusa chugged in from third base.

West Hills added two more runs in the 5th, as Holdman doubled to center, then scored when Thornton's fly ball to right field was dropped. KRISTY VALLES entered as a pinchrunner for Thornton, first stealing third, then scoring on an infield single on a hot shot to third by JAYLEEN BUSH.

Holdman finished with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate, including a pair of doubles, as Sutton utilized all 17 players on the Pack's expanded postseason roster.

West Hills left-fielder Elisa Kovi stretches to make an excellent, back-handed stab for the catch and rob a Mar Vista batter of extra-bases. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

Monte Vista catcher Amanda Ward. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

LYDIA VENIEGAS' bases-loaded single up the middle scored AMANDA WARD and CAITLIN QUON in the 6th to allow the visiting Monarchs (17-11-1) to overcome a 3-2 deficit and advance to Tuesday's (May 23) quarterfinals.

"I just hit the ball and it went out there," said Veniegas, a sophomore. "I knew we could win it -- we just hit with confidence."

That was a key blow considering Monte Vista left the bases loaded three times, stranding 12 runners in the game.

Senior ASHLEY MILLER drove in an insurance run with a base hit that scored Ward in the 7th.

"It was an inside pitch and I kept my hands tight on the bat," Miller said of her key single.

Monte Vista knocked out 13 hits -- all of them singles. But using a combination of push bunts and slap hits, the Monarchs were able to gain enough muscle to eliminate a tough Clairemont club.

Monte Vista's Ashley Miller with an RBI single, one of her two basehits to help down Clairemont, 5-3. (Photo by Lenny Gemar)

"That was a home run because they don't have a fence," Monte Vista coach CIG CHABROWSKI said. "On our field, it's a double."

BREE McMILLAN pitched a complete-game five-hitter for Monte Vista.

"These games are getting to be hard on my ticker," said Chabrowski.

Christian High freshman Jessie Owens struckout 18 batters, powering the Patriots past Guajome Park. (Photo by Burt Melvin)

"It was a very strange game," said Patriots coach ROMA DAWSON. "Let's just say there wasn't a lot of hitting."

Owens allowed just two hits all afternoon, while Frogs starter Kaitlyn Quigey was almost as formidable, striking out 11 and yielding just three hits -- the only baserunners for the Patriots all contest. Yet, all would eventually score.

Owens, the leadoff batter, opened the home-half of the first inning with a single, advancing to third base with a stolen base and a wild pitch. A failed squeeze bunt left Owens stranded halfway to home plate, but when the throw to push the freshman back to third came too early, Owens turned and promptly scored.

"We wanted to put a lot of pressure on their defense," added Dawson. "But we didn't get many people on base to do that."

After Guajome Park knotted the contest with an unearned run in the third, the Patriots offense briefly came alive in the 4th before sinking back into hibernation.

Freshman catcher KARA CARTWRIGHT opened with a double to deep left, then scored when sophomore third-baseman AMANDA PLUM went to right-center with a drive to the fence, landing on third with an RBI triple. Plum scored on a successful squeeze bunt by sophomore ALLYSSA GRAUL.

Guajome Park received a golden opportunity to pull out a victory in the seventh after Owens walked three to load the bases. Freshman Sarah Myers singled through the left side to cut the deficit in half, but Owens struck out the next three batters to advance the Patriots to the quarterfinals.

In the 1997 playoffs, Dana Sorenson of Scripps Ranch (29) and MARIA LOPEZ of Grossmont (22) combined for 51 strikeouts in a 14-inning marathon at Kit Carson Park.

CIF-San Diego Section Playoffs
Sat., May 27 -- Championships
(At SDSU Softball Field)
DIVISION I
No. 1 Escondido (27-2) 3, No. 2 Patrick Henry (25-6) 1
DIVISION II
No. 2 Westview (22-6-1) 4, No. 4 Scripps Ranch (20-9-1) 1
DIVISION III
No. 2 Steele Canyon (23-9) 6, Cathedral Catholic (22-9) 0
DIVISION IV
No. 1 Francis Parker (23-1) 9, Imperial (22-6) 7

DIVISION II
No. 4 Scripps Ranch (20-8-1) 3, San Pasqual (16-13-1) 0
No. 2 Westview (21-6-1) 7, EC Southwest (19-8-1) 2

DIVISION III
No. 2 Steele Canyon (22-9) 2, No. 3 Ramona (18-11) 1 (8 inn.)
Cathedral Catholic (22-8) 1, No. 1 Santana (28-5) 0

DIVISION IV
No. 2 Imperial (22-5) 5, No. 3 Christian (16-9-2) 4
No. 1 Francis Parker (22-1) 6, No. 4 Mountain Empire (17-8) 0

DIVISION II
Upper Bracket
No. 9 San Pasqual (16-12-1) 2, No. 1 Mission Hills (20-3-1) 0
No. 4 Scripps Ranch (19-8-1) 2, No. 5 Mt. Carmel (18-9-1) 0
Lower Bracket
No. 6 El Centro-Southwest (19-7-1) 2, No. 3 Grossmont (20-8) 1
No. 2 Westview (20-6-1) 3, No. 7 West Hills (22-10) 1

DIVISION III
Upper Bracket
No. 1 Santana (28-4) 10, No. 8 Brawley (18-9) 0
No. 5 Cathedral (21-8) 4, No. 4 Valhalla (19-10) 0
Lower Bracket
No. 3 Ramona (18-10) 13, No. 6 University City (18-5) 0
No. 2 Steele Canyon (21-9) 4, No. 10 Monte Vista(17-12-1) 2

DIVISION IV
Upper Bracket
No. 1 Francis Parker (21-1) 2, No. 9 Horizon Christian (13-12-1) 0
No. 4 Mountain Empire (17-7) 5, No. 5 La Jolla Country Day (13-11) 2
Lower Bracket
No. 3 Christian (16-8-2) 4, No. 6 The Bishop's (12-8) 2
No. 2 Imperial (21-5) 2, No. 7 Holtville (14-11) 0

DIVISION II
Upper Bracket
No. 1 Mission Hills (20-2-1) -- bye
No. 9 San Pasqual (15-12-1) 4, No. 8 Hilltop (20-10) 1
No. 5 Mt. Carmel (18-8-1) 10, No. 12 Castle Park (7-19) 0
No. 4 Scripps Ranch (18-8-1) -- bye
Lower Bracket
No. 3 Grossmont (20-7) -- bye
No. 6 El Centro-Southwest (18-7-1) 4, No. 11 Point Loma (11-7) 2
No. 7 West Hills (21-9) 5, No. 10 Mar Vista (18-10) 0
No. 2 Westview (19-6-1) -- bye

DIVISION III
Upper Bracket
No. 1 Santana (27-4) -- bye
No. 8 Brawley (18-8) 3, No. 9 San Dieguito Academy (18-11) 2
No. 5 Cathedral (20-8) 9, No. 12 Valley Center (10-16-1) 1
No. 4 Valhalla (19-9) -- bye
Lower Bracket
No. 3 Ramona (17-10) -- bye
No. 6 University City (18-4) 8, No. 11 Our Lady of Peace (16-8) 2
No. 10 Monte Vista (17-11-1) 5, No. 7 Clairemont (15-10-1) 3
No. 2 Steele Canyon (20-9) -- bye

DIVISION IV
Upper Bracket
No. 1 Francis Parker (20-1) 10, No. 16 Escondido Charter (5-18) 1
No. 9 Horizon Christian (13-11-1) 14, No. 8 Palo Verde Valley (13-13) 0
No. 5 La Jolla Country Day (13-10) 2, No. 12 Coronado (7-16) 1
Monday -- No. 4 Mountain Empire (16-7) 6, No. 13 Marian Catholic 3 (6-16)
Lower Bracket
No. 3 Christian (15-8-2) 3, No. 14 Guajome Park Academy (9-8) 2
No. 6 The Bishop's (12-7) 3, No. 11 Santa Fe Christian (9-11) 2 (8 inn.)
No. 7 Holtville (14-10) 10, No. 10 Julian (11-10) 2
No. 2 Imperial (20-5) 17, No. 15 Tri-City Christian (7-11) 0
Note: League champions Borrego and SD Jewish Academy elected not to participate.

Wed., May 17
Grossmont North League
Grossmont 8, El Capitan 0
West Hills 2, Santana 0
Grossmont South League
Granite Hills 8, Mount Miguel 1
Valhalla 3, Monte Vista 1
Steele Canyon 3, Helix 2
END REGULAR SEASON

Tue., May 16
Grossmont North League
Grossmont 3, Santana 0
West Hills 10, El Cajon Valley 0 (5 inn.)

Mon., May 15
Grossmont North League
Grossmont 4, West Hills 1
El Capitan 7, El Cajon Valley 2
Grossmont South League
Valhalla 4, Granite Hills 2
Steele Canyon 9, Mount Miguel 2
Monte Vista 5, Helix 3 (11 inn.)
Central League
Patrick Henry 2, Mira Mesa 0
Scripps Ranch 4, Morse 2

Fri., May 12
Grossmont North League
West Hills 5, El Capitan 1
Santana 9, El Cajon Valley 2
Grossmont South League
Steele Canyon 3, Granite Hills 1
Monte Vista 2, Mount Miguel 1
Valhalla 7, Helix 0
Eastern League
Scripps Ranch 3, Christian 2
Patrick Henry 6, Serra 1 (8 inn.)
Mira Mesa 5, Morse 0

Wed., May 10
Grossmont North League
Grossmont 10, El Cajon Valley 5
Santana 5, El Capitan 1
Grossmont South League
Monte Vista 3, Steele Canyon 1
Granite Hills 5, Helix 4
Valhalla 7, Mount Miguel 1
Eastern League
Mira Mesa 7, Christian 0
Morse 4, Serra 0
Patrick Henry 4, Scripps Ranch 2 (14 inn.)

Mon., May 8
Grossmont North League
Santana 6, West Hills 1
Grossmont 5, El Capitan 3
Non-League
Patrick Henry 1, Steele Canyon 0 (12 inn.)
El Cajon Valley 6, High Tech High 1
Valhalla 5, Bonita Vista 4 (9 inn.)

Sat., May 5
Non-League
Cathedral Catholic 1, Scripps Ranch 0

Fri., May 5
Grossmont North League
Grossmont 3, Santana 2 (8 inn.)
West Hills 5, El Cajon Valley 0
Grossmont South League
Valhalla 2, Steele Canyon 0
Granite Hills 11, Mointe Vista 0
Mount Miguel 6, Helix 3
Eastern League
Patrick Henry 14, Christian 1
Mira Mesa 5, Serra 1
Scripps Ranch df. Morse, no score reported

Wed., May 3
Grossmont North League
West Hills 4, Grossmont 0
El Capitan 4, El Cajon Valley 3
Grossmont South League
Granite Hills 13, Mount Miguel 0
Monte Vista 2, Valhalla 0
Steele Canyon 9, Helix 2
Eastern League
Christian 4, Serra 1 (8 inn.)
Mira Mesa 3, Scripps Ranch 2 (8 inn.)
Patrick Henry 6, Morse 0

Tue., May 2
Non-League
Serra 7, Monte Vista 3

Mon., May 1
Grossmont North League
Santana 5, El Cajon Valley 0
West Hills 17, El Capitan 0
Falcon Fiesta Tournament
Poway 2, Steele Canyon 1
Non-League
Bonita Vista 9, Mount Miguel 2
Patrick Henry 2, Helix 0

Sat., Apr. 29
Grossmont Conference Tournament
Championship: Santana 2, Steele Canyon 0
Valley Center Tournament
Pool Play: Christian 15, El Centro-Central 6
Semifinal: Christian 7, Orange Glen 0
Championship: Valley Center 3, Christian 2 (5 inn., time limit)

Fri., Apr. 28
Grossmont North League
Santana 9, El Capitan 1
Grossmont 7, El Cajon Valley 2
Grossmont South League
Valhalla 5, Granite Hills 2
Monte Vista 5, Helix 1
Steele Canyon 6, Mount Miguel 2
Eastern League
Morse 7, Christian 4
Scripps Ranch 5, Serra 0
Patrick Henry 5, Mira Mesa 0

Wed., Apr. 26
Grossmont North League
West Hills 1, Santana 0
Grossmont 9, El Capitan 4
Grossmont South League
Steele Canyon 7, Granite Hills 6
Valhalla 2, Helix 1
Monte Vista 5, Mount Miguel 1
Eastern League
Christian 3, Scripps Ranch 1
Mira Mesa 22, Morse 0
Patrick Henry 17, Serra 1

Mon., Apr. 24
Grossmont North League
West Hills 1, El Cajon Valley 0
Santana 3, Grossmont 0
Montgomery Tournament
Championship
Steele Canyon 4, Francis Parker, 1
Non-League
Clairemont 7, Mount Miguel 0
Valhalla 3, Scripps Ranch 1
Morse 3, Helix 1 (9 inn.)
Patrick Henry 6, Bonita Vista 0

Fri., Apr. 21
Grossmont North League
El Capitan 11, El Cajon Valley 2
Grossmont 3, West Hills 1
Grossmont South League
Granite Hills 13, Helix 0
Steele Canyon 6, Monte Vista 3
Valhalla 6, Mount Miguel 1
Eastern League
Mira Mesa 4, Christian 0
Scripps Ranch 3, Patrick Henry 0
Morse df. Serra

Wed., Apr. 19
Grossmont North League
Santana 10, El Cajon Valley 2
West Hills 6, El Capitan 1
Grossmont South League
Steele Canyon 3, Valhalla 1 (8 inn.)
Helix 3, Mount Miguel 0
Granite Hills 11, Monte Vista 4
Eastern League
Patrick Henry 10, Christian 1
Scripps Ranch 4, Morse 2
Mira Mesa 4, Serra 0

Tue., Apr. 18
Eastern League
Christian 5, Morse 0
Non-League
Grossmont 10, Mira Mesa 6

Mon., Apr. 17
Grossmont North League
Grossmont 7, El Cajon Valley 2 (8 inn.)
Santana 12, El Capitan 2
Non-League
Monte Vista 8, Castle Park 3

Sat., Apr. 15
Non-League
Christian 7, Avalon 2

Fri., Apr.14
Non-League
Christian 2, Avalon 2, tie (7 inn.)

Wed., Apr. 12
Rancho Buena Vista Tournament
Granite Hills 4, Rancho Buena Vista 2
Granite Hills 6, El Camino 5
Mt. Carmel 9, Grossmont 2
Oceranside 9, Mount Miguel 6
Davisson Memorial Tournament, Las Vegas
Gold Division
Semifinals
Santana 7, West Hills 6 (8 inn.)
Final
Santana 6, L.V.-Coronado 1
Bronze Division
Semifinals
Torrance-North 10, Valhalla 0
Copper Division
Semifinals
El Capitan 9, Coachella Valley 1
Monte Vista 6, L.V.-Clark 5
Final
El Capitan 9, Monte Vista 3

Tue., Apr. 11
Rancho Buena Vista Tournament
Grossmont 7, Oceanside 3
Granite Hills 1, Rancho Bernardo 1, tie (6 inn., time limit)
Mt. Carmel 14, Mount Miguel 2
Davisson Memorial Tournament, Las Vegas
L.V.-Cimarron-Memorial 6, El Capitan 1
El Capitan 3, Torrance-West 1
Santana 3, Bakersfield-North 0
Santana 8, Cathedral Catholic 0
Marin Catholic 8, Valhalla 7
Valhalla 10, L.V.-Durango 3
West Hills 4, Santa Rosa-Ursuline 2
West Hills 4, LV-Palo Verde 3
Torrance-North 10, Monte Vista 3
Monte Vista 8, Madison 1

Mon., Apr. 10
Rancho Buena Vista Tournament
Escondido 2, Granite Hills 0
Grossmont 5, Westview 4
San Pasqual 2, Grossmont 1
San Pasqual 9, Mount Miguel 0
Westview df. Mount Miguel
Davisson Memorial Tournament, Las Vegas
Cathedral Catholic 2, Valhalla 1
Valhalla 9, LV-Clark 6
Mira Mesa 5, El Capitan 1
LV-Coronado 9, El Capitan 1
Santana 15, Castle Park 0 (5 inn.)
Santana 12, LV-Durango 1 (4 inn.)
Monte Vista 6, LV-Palo Verde 5
Clairemont 9, Monte Vista 3
West Hills 10, Pahrump Valley (Nev.) 0 (5 inn.)
West Hills 10, Madison 6 (6 inn.)

Sat., Apr. 8
LJ Country Day Tournament
Christian 7, La Jolla 2
Semis: Imperial 2, Christian 0
Falcon Fiesta
Steele Canyon 1, La Costa Canyon 0
Granite Hills 4, Carlsbad 2
Scripps Ranch 4, West Hills 2
Semis: Poway 4, Bonita Vista 1
Semis: Patrick Henry 3, El Centro-Southwest 0
Final: Patrick Henry 4, Poway 1

Fri., Apr. 7
LJ Country Day Tournament
Christian 5, Mountain Empire 3

Thurs., Apr. 6
Falcon Fiesta
Patrick Henry 2, Steele Canyon 1
Carlsbad at Granite Hills, ppd., wet grounds (Apr. 8, time TBA)
LJ Country Day Tournament
Christian 3, Saddleback Valley Christian 1

Wed., Apr. 5
Eastern League
Christian at Morse, ppd., rain
Falcon Fiesta
Helix at West Hills, ppd., rain
Steele Canyon at Poway, ppd., rain

Tue., Apr. 4
Non-League
El Cajon Valley 16, Crawford 0 (5 inn., rain) (Havens, ECV, no-hitter)

Mon., Apr. 3
Non-League
West Hills 2, Patrick Henry 1
Valhalla 8, Serra 2
Mira Mesa 6, Helix 5

Sat., Apr. 1
Montgomery Tournament
Pool: Steele Canyon 15, Calexico 0 (6 inn.)
Quarters: Steele Canyon 12, Lutheran 1 (4 inn.)
Semis: Steele Canyon 4, Brawley 1 (6 inn.)
Final: Steele Canyon vs. Francis Parker, ppd., darkness (make-up date TBA)
Non-League
Monte Vista, 4, Point Loma 1
Mira Mesa 3-1, West Hills 0-2

Fri., Mar. 31
Grossmont Conference Tournament
Monte Vista 3, El Capitan 2
Championship: Steele Canyon at Santana, ppd. (no umpires)

Thurs., Mar. 30
Grossmont Conference Tournament
Valhalla 9, El Cajon Valley 2
West Hills 10, Mount Miguel 0
Santana 4, Helix 0
Eastern League
Christian 1, Serra 0 (Owens, CHR, No-hitter, 15 Ks)
Falcon Fiesta
Helix at West Hills, re-scheduled (Apr. 5)

Wed., Mar. 29
Grossmont Conference Tournament
Grossmont 5, Steele Canyon 4
Monte Vista at El Capitan, ppd., rain (Mar. 31)
Mount Miguel at West Hills, ppd., rain (Mar. 30)
Helix at Santana, ppd., rain (Mar. 30)
Valhalla at El Cajon Valley, rain (Mar. 30)

Tue., Mar. 28
Falcon Fiesta
Poway 2, Granite Hills 0
Scripps Ranch 10, Steele Canyon 3
Non-League
Christian 6, Montgomery 0

Mon., Mar. 27
Grossmont Conference Tournament
Santana 2, Steele Canyon 1
West Hills 14, Helix 0
El Capitan 14, Mount Miguel 4
Grossmont 6, Valhalla 3
El Cajon Valley 4, Monte Vista 4, tie (8 inn., darkness)

Sat., Mar. 25
Hilltop Tournament
Consol.: Mira Mesa 6, El Captan 0 (M.Tillett, MM, perfect game)
Quarters: Santana 2, Eastlake 0
Semifinals: Santana 10, Bonita Vista 3
Championship: Santana 7, Hilltop 0
Falcon Fiesta
Torrey Pines 7, Helix 0
Montgomery Tournament
Steele Canyon 4, Orange Glen 2
Steele Canyon 5, Mar Vista 2

Fri., Mar. 24
Grossmont Conference Tournament
Santana 3, Valhalla 1
Steele Canyon 4, West Hills 0
Helix 7, El Capitan 3
Grossmont 14, Monte Vista 0
El Cajon Valley 1, Mount Miguel 0 (9 inn.)

Thurs., Mar. 23
Non-League
El Capitan 4, Morse 2

Wed., Mar. 22
Grossmont Conference Tournament
Santana 11, Monte Vista 3
Grossmont 12, Mount Miguel 3
Helix 6, El Cajon Valley 4
Steele Canyon 3, El Capitan 2
West Hills 1, Valhalla 0

Tue., Mar. 21
Falcon Fiesta
Steele Canyon at Patrick Henry, ppd., rain
Non-League
Christian 13, Our Lady of Peace 1

Mon., Mar. 20
Falcon Fiesta
Granite Hills 20, Castle Park 1
Grossmont Conference Tournament
West Hills 8, Monte Vista 0
Santana 16, Mount Miguel 1
Valhalla 1, El Capitan 0 (8 inn.)
Grossmont 16, Helix 0
Steele Canyon 4, El Cajon Valley 3

Sat., Mar. 18
Hilltop Tournament
El Capitan 11, La Jolla 2
Hilltop 3, El Capitan 0
Santana 3, Mar Vista 2
Santana 2, Bonita Vista 0
Valley Center Tournament
Christian at La Jolla Country Day, ppd., rain
Non-League
Steele Canyon at Patrick Henry, DH, ppd., rain

Fri., Mar. 17
Falcon Fiesta
Steele Canyon 13, San Dieguito Academy 3
Serra 2, Helix 0 (9 inn.)
Non-League
Valhalla 3, Clairemont 0
Granite Hills 3, Scripps Ranch 3, tie (8 inn., darkness)
Point Loma 6, Mount Miguel 1
El Cajon Valley 14, San Ysidro 6

Thurs., Mar. 16
Hilltop Tournament
Santana 3, Madison 2
Valley Center Tournament
Christian 4, Valley Center 4 (tie)
Non-League
Monte Vista 12, San Diego 2
Scripps Ranch 2, Grossmont 1

Wed., Mar. 15
Falcon Fiesta
Bonita Vista 8, Helix 7
Patrick Henry 3, Granite Hills 2
La Costa Canyon 10, West Hills 8
Mount Miguel at Morse, ccd.
Hilltop Tournament
El Capitan 17, San Diego 0

Tue., Mar. 14
Cougar Classic, at Kit Carson Park
Quarterfinals
Valhalla 4, Cathedral Catholic 1
Carlsbad 10, Helix 0
Rancho Buena Vista 17, Mount Miguel 0
Granite Hills df. San Marcos, forfeit
END OF TOURNAMENT
Falcon Fiesta
West Hills 7, Morse 2
Non-League
Santana 4, University City 1

Mon., Mar. 13
Cougar Classic, at Kit Carson Park
Pool Play
Torrey Pines 9, Helix 1
Grossmont 4, Mira Mesa 2
Granite Hills 3, Mt. Carmel 3, tie
Westview 4, Valhalla 4
Scripps Ranch 10, Mount Miguel 1
Silver Division -- Quarterfinals
Poway 5, Grossmont 1

Sat., Mar. 11
Non-League
Point Loma at Monte Vista, DH, ppd., rain (to be made-up Apr. 1)
Cougar Classic, at Kit Carson Park
All games postponed, rain

Fri., Mar. 10
Non-League
Steele Canyon 10, La Jolla 2
Crawford at El Cajon Valley, ppd., rain
Falcon Fiesta
West Hills at Morse, ppd., rain
Cougar Classic, at Kit Carson Park
Mount Miguel vs. Scripps Ranch, ppd., rain
Helix vs. Torrey Pines, ppd., rain
Granite Hills vs. Mt. Carmel, ppd., rain
Grossmont vs. Mira Mesa, ppd., rain
Valhalla vs. Westview, ppd., rain

Thurs., Mar. 9
Cougar Classic, at Kit Carson Park
Grossmont 8, Rancho Bernardo 5
San Pasqual 2, Helix 0
Rancho Buena Vista 7, Granite Hills 0
Non-League
Monte Vista 11, Mar Vista 5

Wed., Mar. 8
Cougar Classic, at Kit Carson Park
Escondido 12, Granite Hills 2
El Centro-Southwest 6, Grossmont 4
Valhalla 6, Oceanside 4
La Costa Canyon 10, Mount Miguel 0 (5 inn.)

Tue., Mar. 7
Non-League
Christian 5, Coronado 2
Cougar Classic, at Kit Carson Park
Valhalla 9, Orange Glen 0
San Marcos 9, Mount Miguel 4
Helix 2, Clairemont 2, tie

Mon., Mar. 6
Non-League
El Cajon Valley 10, San Diego 0

Sat., Mar. 4
Falcon Fiesta, at La Costa Canyon
EC-Southwest 3, West Hills 0
Non-League
Granite Hills 26-16, Chula Vista 0-5
Monte Vista 17-5, Calexico 0-0

Fri., Mar. 3
Non-League
Helix 6, Eastlake 4

Thurs., Mar. 2
Non-League
Granite Hills 7, Eastlake 3

Wed., Mar. 1
Non-League
Christian 1, El Cajon Valley 0