Santana captures Davison Memorial

East County Sports.com
LAS VEGAS (4-12-06) -- In an about face of the original game plan, Santana High pitcher SHAE BASS was called in for emergency relief to capture the semifinals, then KRISTEN MEDRUD bounced back to toss a complete game in the championship game, lifting the Sultans to the Fred Davison Memorial Tournament title at West Flamingo Park.

Medrud couldn't get out of the first inning of the semifinals, so Bass came on to stave off rallies by Grossmont North League rival West Hills, taking an exciting 7-6 decision in eight innings, using the international tie-breaker.

A more composed Medrud then returned to pitch the nightcap, allowing just five hits to down Las Vegas-Coronado, 6-1, for the first-place trophy. Santana, ranked second in the CIF-San Diego Section, is now 18-0 this season.

Against the Wolf Pack, Santana jumped out quickly to a 5-0 lead through a half-inning. But when West Hills answered with two quick runs in the home-half of the first, Sultans coach JOHN BOBOF quickly went to Bass, who ran her record to 11-0 this season with 7 1/3 innings of relief.

However, West Hills got to Bass for three runs in the seventh to tie the game, stranding the winning run in scoring position. Santana then scored in the eighth. Medrud made-up for her pitching woes by driving in three runs with a double and a triple, while also scoring once.

SANTANA 6, L.V.-CLARK 1 -- In the championship contest, catcher LAURIE LINDOW went 3-for-4 with an RBI, as the Sultans (18-0) scored twice in their first pair of at-bats to quickly put away the Cougars (19-3-1).

Medrud gained the victory to run her record to 6-0 this season. Since her sophomore year, the senior now owns a 33-2 varsity mark (43-9 for her 4-year varsity career).

Bronze Division
TORRANCE-NORTH 10, VALHALLA 0 -- Norsemen pitchers allowed 10 walks, falling to the Saxons in the Bronze Division semifinals. No other information reported.

Copper Division
EL CAPITAN 9, COACHELLA VALLEY 1 -- The Vaqueros broke free with five runs in the sixth (and final) inning, including a booming RBI double by STACY NULTON to make a winner of pitcher JULIANNA DUNCAN (5 strikeouts) in the Copper Division semifinals.

The inning also included an RBI double by catcher AMANDA COMBS, then ASHLEY HART smacked a 2-run homer for El Capitan (6-9).

MONTE VISTA 6, LV-CLARK 5 -- Monarchs third baseman ALYSSA PARKER went 3-for-4 in the see-saw contest, which Monte Vista finally won – the second semifinal on an international tie-breaker – in the seventh inning.

After Monte Vista took a 3-0 lead, the Chargers answered with four runs in the third, only to watch the Monarchs answer back in the fourth by parlaying three walks and a wild pitch into a run.

Neither team scored again until the tie-breaker, as freshman CAITLIN QUON walked with the bases loaded, forcing home LYDIA VENIEGAS.

EL CAPITAN 9, MONTE VISTA 3 -- The Monarchs might be the defending Bronze Division champions at this event, and may have defeated the Vaqueros during Grossmont Conference Tournament play, but this one all belonged to El Capitan in the division final.

RASHELLE BASORE, MEGAN McKINE and AMANDA COMBS all slugged a pair of doubles, while STEPHANIE REL-SOLIA went 3-for-3 and ALYSSA LOVEDAY added two hits to power a 14-hit attack.

El Capitan scored twice in the third and fourth innings, but Monte Vista bounced back on a 3-run home run by BREANNA McMILLAN. However, freshman SARAH JO GROHMAN came on in relief to toss 2 1/3 innings of scoreless ball to register the save. Meanwhile, the Vaqueros offense answered with a 4-spot in the sixth, including consecutive doubles by Benson and Combs, the latter a 2-run shot to the gap.

Longhorn Tournament
GRANITE HILLS 4, RANCHO BUENA VISTA 2 -- After getting stunned 7-0 in a Cougar Classic contest more than a month ago, the Eagles came back to defeat the tournament host Longhorns.

Granite Hills took a quick 2-0 lead, but when RBV tied the contest in the sixth, the Eagles immediately responded when BRITTANI BERTUSSI and MANDY OBNEY smacked doubles to left-centerfield. Following a sacrifice by CHARNEL ZETSCH, MANDY OMAHAN registered an RBI single for a cushion.

Bertussi then overcame an error to get the Longhorns out in the seventh to run her record to 2-0. She struck out four.

GRANITE HILLS 6, EL CAMINO 5 -- The Wildcats scored three unearned runs in the seventh, but pitcher MEGAN BELIO escaped with a game-ending grounder, giving the Eagles (8-5-3) a winning record of 2-1-1 in the annual midseason event. Their only setback was to top-ranked and undefeated Escondido.

Bertussi belted her first home run of the season in the third to give Granite Hills a 4-0 lead. She went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk.

After El Camino trimmed the margin to 4-3, Omahan and ALYSHA BENSON hit consecutive run-scoring singles in the fifth.

Bemis also knocked in four runs and scored three times. Included was a 2-run homer in the first, when Mt. Carmel (12-4-1) scored five times, a solo homer in the second to help make the lead 8-0, then an RBI single in the third.

Grossmont (9-5) scored its only run in the fifth on a 2-run single by ANDRIANNA NAU, scoring ASHLEY LOVELADY and CAMMI MOORE.

OCEANSIDE 9, MOUNT MIGUEL 6 -- In a battle of winless ballclubs, the Pirates snapped a season-long 16-game losing skid by handing the Matadors their 14th consecutive setback.

Mount Miguel (0-14) actually held a 3-2 lead, but Precious Tuisee slugged a 2-run homer when Oceanside (1-16) scored four times in the third to secure the lead for keeps. Winning pitcher Patrina Harrison-Doublet allowed just three hits, then aided her cause with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs.

Sultans, Wolf Pack scheduled to meet
in Davison Memorial semifinals

East County Sports.com
LAS VEGAS (4-12-06) -- The teams traveled more than 350 miles, yet neighborhood rivals are slated to meet when Santana and West Hills high schools meet in Wednesday morning's semifinals of the Fred Davison Memorial Tournament at West Flamingo Park.

Both teams are believed to be undefeated through four contests, as Santana swept two more contests in shutout fashion Tuesday (Apr.11), whipping Torrance-North, 3-0, and Cathedral Catholic, 8-0. Members of the Sultans coaching staff noted they would play West Hills at 11 a.m.; game reports by West Hills were not forthcoming.

SANTANA 3, TORRANCE-NORTH 0 -- Sultans pitcher SHAE BASS came within one out of a no-hitter, settling for the 3-hit shutout of the Saxons -- a school celebrating its 50th anniversary. Bass struck out six and walked two in the 6-inning ballgame (time-limit rule)

The Sultans needed just three batters to get onto the scoreboard, as DANIELLE BALOUGH slugged a one-out triple, scoring when KATIE THOMAS followed with a sharp single. Then in the fifth, after MICHELLE BRAMLAGE scored on an error, AMANDA CARPENTER came home on a single to centerfield by TAYLOR KELLY.

SANTANA 8, CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 0 -- Catcher LAURIE LINDOW capped another run-rule victory by clearing the bases with a 3-run triple in the sixth, extending the Sultans' season-long winning streak to 16 contests.

Bass and KRISTEN MEDRUD shared the 3-hit shutout, both going three innings. Bass struck out seven to raise her record to 10-0, while Medrud got three Dons out on strikes to register her fourth save of the season.

The Sultans pounded out 14 hits, including two each by Kelly, Balough, Thomas and Lindow.

L.V.-CIMARRON-MEMORIAL 3, EL CAPITAN 1 -- Despite easily facing the most difficult set of pool play opponents in the entire tournament, the Vaqueros stayed close and held early leads against all three before falling, including this contest to the Spartans.

EL CAPITAN 6, TORRANCE-WEST 1 -- The Vaqueros started elimination play in the Copper Bracket with their first victory of the tournament, busting the ballgame open with four runs in the fifth inning.

The rally included four consecutive RBI hits, as MEGAN McKUNE doubled home a run, SARAH JO GROHMAN and AMANDA COMBS registered run-scoring singles, then ASHLEY MARX capped the rally with a double.

McKUNE also opened the scoring in the second. Following her lead single, ASHLEY HART drove her home with a triple. Meanwhile, Grohman struck out eight and walked none to gain the pitching victory.

KENTFIELD-MARIN CATHOLIC 8, VALHALLA 7 -- JODIE SCHMEHR bombed a bases-loaded triple, then KELLEY SEITZ followed with a two-run homer as part of a 6-run rally in the bottom of the sixth (and final inning; time-limit rule), but the Norsemen still came up one run short of stunning the Wildcats.

Seitz, the Valhalla catcher, batted 4-for-4 with three RBI, also slugging a double.

VALHALLA 10, L.V.-DURANGO 3 -- ERICKA MARSH bounced back with a strong pitching effort, allowing just six hits to stop the Trailblazers.

After Durango scored three times in the fourth to knot the game at 3-all, the Norsemen responded by immediately reclaiming the lead on an RBI triple by KAYLA HOUSTON, scoring Schmehr. Houston finished going 3-for-4 with three RBI, driving home two with a double when Valhalla scored five times in the seventh to break open a close contest.

TORRANCE-NORTH 10, MONTE VISTA 3 -- BREANNA McMILLAN accounted for all of the Monarchs' scoring with a 3-run homer in the 4th to cut the Saxons' lead in half in the pool play affair.

MONTE VISTA 8, MADISON 1 -- ASHLEY MILLER belted one home run and nearly had a second to bolster the Monarchs past the Warhawks. Miller cleared the ball past the outfield and raced around the fence-less diamond for one score. However, after repeating the feat, she was called out on appeal for missing third base, thus was only credited with a double.

Monte Vista (8-5-1) needs to capture its Wednesday's (Apr. 12) morning Bronze Division semifinal to gain a shot at meeting El Capitan in the final.

Longhorn Tournament
GRANITE HILLS 1, RANCHO BERNARDO 1 (tie, 6 inn.) -- The Eagles hockey, oops, softball team collected yet another tie, staving off a late rally by the Broncos (8-7-2) to gain a 6-inning draw.

Just like Santana, Granite Hills needed just three batters to score, as NICOLE RIVERA opened with a double, was sacrificed to third by BRITTANI BERTUSSI, then scored on an RBI single to center by catcher JESSICA SCHATZ.

In the fifth, Rancho Bernardo scored in similar fashion, then loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth. However, Eagles pitcher CHARNEL ZETSCH escaped the jam by sandwiching a strikeout around a pair of infield pop-ups to gain the draw. Zetsch registered six strikeouts and walked two, allowing five hits.

The Eagles (6-5-3) collected seven hits, including a pair by catcher AMANDA OMAHAN.

GROSSMONT 7, OCEANSIDE 3 -- The Foothillers handed the winless Pirates their county-low 16th setback of the season, as CAMMI MOORE went 4-for-4 at the plate while allowing just four hits to collect the pitching win. Included among her hits was a 3-run homer when Grossmont opened the scoring with four runs in the third.

MICHELLE MIRANDA was also perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double. ANDRIANNA NAU added her second home run of the season - a solo shot -- in the sixth to mount a 7-1 advantage for the Hillers (9-4).

MT. CARMEL 14, MOUNT MIGUEL 2 -- The Matadors (0-13) remained winless after the Sundevils' Maggie Doremus went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, falling just a home run short of hitting for the cycle.

Mt. Carmel (11-4-1) busted the game open with eight runs in the 3rd, then five more in the 4th before the game ended three outs later on the run rule.

East County Sports.com
LAS VEGAS (4-11-06) -- It doesn't seem to matter where Santana coach JOHN BOBOF's Sultans take a batting stance. His girls know how to score. And win, which is evident by Santana's 14-0 record.

SANTANA 15, CASTLE PARK 0 (5 inn.) -- The No. 2-ranked Sultans put another notch in their victory belt as they banged out 18 hits and scored 13 runs in their final two turns at-bats to crush Castle Park in round one of the Fred Davisson Tournament in Las Vegas.

TAYLOR KELLY paced Santana with a triple, single and four RBI. KATIE THOMAS was 4-for-5 for the Sultans.

KRISTEN MEDRUD (6-0) and BRITTY BALOUGH combined to complete a 1-hit shutout in a game halted after five innings due to a tournament time limit

SANTANA 12, LV-DURANGO 1 (4 inn.) -- More flashes of Santana firepower was evident in this game as the Sultans used a 10-run 2nd inning to deepsix the Trailblazers of Durango.

Once again it was TAYLOR KELLY who led the Santana charge. She was 3-for-3 with her second home run of the season.

ASHLEY MATTOLA smashed a two-run home run and capped the big 2nd inning as the Sultans smoked the Trailblazers (5-7)

Once again Kelly, headed for Cal Berkeley, was the Santana ring-leader with a 3-for-3 effort at the top of the order.

SHAE BASS and Mattola pitched two innings apiece, rationing Durango to but one hit.

VALHALLA 9, LV-CLARK 6 -- The Norsemen scored all of their runs in the final three frames after Clark had taken a 6-0 lead in a Las Vegas Tournament game halted after five innings by a tournament time limit.

With one away in the 3rd inning, JODIE SCHMEHR walked, KAYLA HOUSTON hit a single up the middle, and KELLEY SEITZ hit a ground ball to second, scoring Schmehr. AMBER REARDON clubbed a two run single to center and Reardon was wild pitched home.

In the 4th inning with two outs, COURTNEY LUDWIG singled followed by a Schmehr triple to center scoring KAYLA DeSTEFANO and Ludwig. A wild pitch cashed in Schmehr. Houston smacked her second single and Seitz followed witn an RBI triple

"Jodie had a really big hit in the 4th inning that tied the game at 6-6," said Norsemen coach DOUG HARTUNG. "And Kayla Houston had a big game with two singles and two runs scored."

CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 2, VALHALLA 1 -- Valhalla's AMBER REARDON smacked a one-out single in the 2nd inning of the Fred Davisson Memorial Tournament opener in Las Vegas Monday (Apr. 10). ANDREA ALFANO sacrificed her to second. Reardon eventually scored on an error for the only Valhalla run.

The Norsemen wasted solid pitching by ERICKA MARSH, who scattered seven hits and allowed only two runs in a complete-game outing. The Dons avenged a setback to Valhalla at the Cougar Classic earlier this season.

MONTE VISTA 6, LV-PALO VERDE 5 -- Despite a pair of homers by the Panthers, the Monarchs rallied from deficits of 4-3 and 5-4 Monday (Apr. 10) in the Fred Davisson Memorial Tournament in Las Vegas by scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth (and final inning; time limit) to shock their 11-1 hosts.

The rally started when ROSANNE ABEYTA walked, then ROSALYN BURNS was hit by a pitch, forcing pinchrunner BRITTNEY WINTER to second. Both runners moved an additional 60 feet on a wild pitch to place the winning runs in scoring position.

AMANDA AGUON then lifted a deep fly ball to centerfield, scoring Winter on the sacrifice fly. Then the Monarchs switched gears and went to "small ball," as AMANDA WARD put down a successful squeeze bunt to score Burns.

CLAIREMONT 9, MONTE VISTA 3 -- Chieftains senior pitcher Erica Coelho was tagged for 10 hits, but the Monarchs failed to piece them together until the late innings when down 4-0 and 9-2.

Monte Vista freshman CAITLIN QUON belted her first career homer in the fourth, a 2-run shot following a lead single to left by LYDIA VENIEGAS. Two innings later, BREANNA McMILLAN smacked an RBI double to score Burns.

GROSSMONT 5, WESTVIEW 4 -- In her first pitching start of the season, CAMMI MOORE staved off a late rally to pick up the victory in Monday's (Apr. 10) Longhorn Tournament contest, downing the 6th-ranked Wolverines. Westview (10-3-1) scored twice in the sixth and final inning (time limit), but Moore got out of the late jam with a pair of ground outs,

MEGAN GREEN opened the ballgame with a lead off home run, then ALYSSA ESCALANTE added a solo shot for a quick 2-0 lead. Green later added a second homer in the sixth -- another solo shot -- which proved to be a valuable insurance run.

SAN PASQUAL 2, GROSSMONT 1 -- Following their upset victory, the Foothillers went flat under the lights at West Flamingo Park, unsuccessfully battling Golden Eagles pitcher Alex Villalobos.

Grossmont (8-4) again scored in the first inning, but three errors and only five total hits allowed San Pasqual to rally.

Grossmont saw its six-game winning streak come to an end.

"We struggled with the bats," recalled Foothillers coach JERRY LERUD. "ASHLEY RENALDI threw a good game -- we just couldn't give her any run support in the second game of the night. Our hits were scattered, not bunched together."

MIRA MESA 5, EL CAPITAN 1 -- Marauders pitcher Melissa Tillett got the game off from pitching duties, so she used her bat to secure the victory in Monday's (Apr. 10) Fred Davisson Memorial Tournament game in Las Vegas, launching a solo homer to power a Mira Mesa side which just fell out of the rankings earlier in the day. Tillett's homer came in the fifth to break a 1-1 tie.

The Vaqueros scored in their first at-bat, when ASHLEY HART opened with a walk, advanced when AMANDA COMBS laid down a sacrifice bunt, then scored when a grounder by ASHLEY MARX was thrown away by the third baseman.

LAS VEGAS-CORONADO 9, EL CAPITAN 1 -- The Cougars, one of the top ballclubs in Southern Nevada at 14-2-1 entering Monday's (Apr. 10) action, were held scoreless for five innings before erupting for seven runs in the sixth, then two more in the seventh to quell the Vaqueros' upset bid. (Read highlights on this game from the Las Vegas Reiew-Journal HERE)

Once again, El Capitan (4-8) held a 1-0 lead throughout most of the contest, scoring its lone run in the third by JULIANNA DUNCAN. The sophomore singled, stole second base, then came home on an RBI single to left by Hart.

The Vaqueros thought they would receive a break in Tuesday's final pool play contest against a weak Carson ballclub. However, the school pulled out of the tournament late, so El Cap will complete its "Pool of Death" action against LV-Cimarron-Memorial, which is 11-1 and ranked among the top teams in the Nevada,

ESCONDIDO 2, GRANITE HILLS 0 -- The Eagles faced the defending SDCIF Division II champions in Longhorn Tournament Monday (Apr. 10), and lost 2-0.

"Three singles were all we could muster from that girl," said Granite Hills assistant coach KEVIN ZETSCH, referring to Escondido pitcher SARAH AKAMINE. "She pitches well."

Christian pitcher Jessie Owens with another strikeout, this one against a batter from Imperial. (Photo by Burt Melvin)
2006 Strikeout Performances By Christian High freshman Jessie Owens (10 starts, 10+ Ks/game)
Date	Opponent	Ks
3-1	El Cajon Valley	17
3-7	Coronado	10
3-16	Valley Center	10*
3-21	Our Lady of Peace	18
3-28	Montgomery	13
3-30	Serra	15
4-6	Saddleback Valley Chr.	12
4-7	Mountain Empire	10
4-8	La Jolla	10
4-8	Imperial	10
SUB-TOTAL		125
*10 Ks in 3 IP (one batter reached base on dropped 3rd-strike).

East County Sports.com
LA JOLLA (4-9-06) -- After recently defeating a Top Ten team in the San Diego Section rankings, Imperial High pitcher Caschjen Davis continued her hot streak Saturday (Apr. 8) by knocking off one of the section's four remaining undefeated ballclubs.

In a classic pairing against Christian strikeout artist JESSIE OWENS, Davis scattered four hits, lifting the Tigers to a 2-0 victory to snap the season-long 9-game unbeaten string of the Patriots (8-0-1) in the semifinals of the La Jolla Country Day Tournament.

Davis, a junior, who tossed a 2-hitter to down No. 10 El Centro-Southwest on Mar. 28, has her team poised to become the top seed in next month's SDCIF Division IV playoffs thanks to this head-to-head win over the Patriots. The teams have met in the last two section title contests, with Christian taking the title in 2004, but Imperial bounced back to claim the rematch last season behind Davis.

Owens was equally impressive, limiting the Tigers to just two hits while striking out 10, continuing her streak of double-digit totals in strikeouts in all 10 ballgames. Owens now owns 125 strikeouts in her 10 starts (61 innings).

The freshman is on target to challenge the section's single-season record of 347, set in 1993 by former Christian pitcher SARAH DAWSON, the former women's pro league (National Pro Fastpitch) MVP and daughter of Patriots head coach ROMA DAWSON.

Owens' older sister, MELISSA OWENS, who now performs for San Diego State as a freshman, registered 281 strikeouts last season to rank 10th all-time in the section record book

Imperial (11-1) now owns a 9-game winning streak heading into the tournament final. The Tigers recorded the only run they needed in the fifth inning, when Taylor Loyd lined a drive down the left-field line. The Christian outfielder made an extended dive for the ball, but missed and the ball rolled to the fence, as Loyd garnered an RBI triple.

Imperial added an insurance run in the seventh when a Christian error led to an unearned run.

Earlier in the morning, Christian completed pool play with a perfect 3-0 ledger after downing La Jolla, 7-2. The teams were tied at 2-all through five innings, but the Patriots scored five times in the sixth and final inning due to a tournament time limit rule.

Owens started the uprising with a one-out walk, scoring the tie-breaking run when shortstop KARA CARTWRIGHT slugged a triple. One out later, she scored when catcher KRISTINA WYNNS also slugged a triple.

Both teams scored twice in the opening inning, including a two-run double by Patriots third baseman AMANDA PLUM. Owens struck out 10 Vikings in spinning a 3-hitter, walking just one. She also leads the team with a .516 batting average and is 11-for-11 in stealing bases.

Falcon Fiesta
CARMEL VALLEY -- Third-ranked Patrick Henry bounced back from a non-league setback to West Hills earlier in the week to capture two ballgames against ranked competition Saturday (Apr. 8). The Patriots (12-1) downed No.10 El Centro-Southwest, 3-0, and No. 6 Poway, 4-1, to capture Torrey Pines' Falcon Fiesta tournament.

Meanwhile, a trio of East County teams were involved in consolation action:

STEELE CANYON 1, LA COSTA CANYON 0 -- SAMANTHA BEASLEY tossed a two-hit shutout to pace the Cougars (11-4) past the Mavericks. Beasley struck out 10 and walked just one to raise her pitching record to 5-3.

Leadoff batter LISA MONGELLI scored the game's lone run in the first inning. The left-side infielder opened with a walk, then moved to second when La Costa Canyon pitcher Jessica Smith was called for an illegal pitch.

Beasley then reached first on a bunt single to place runners on the corners. And when she took off for second base on a steal attempt, Mongelli raced home for a quick lead which stood up all contest long.

The Mavs'lone threat came in the second inning with two runners in scoring position, but Beasley got an infield popup and a grounder for an out to escape the jam.

GRANITE HILLS 4, CARLSBAD 2 (6 inn., time limit) -- NICOLE RIVERA slugged a lead homer in the sixth to snap a 2-all tie, lifting the Eagles (6-4-2) past the Lancers (5-11). The senior went 2-for-3, also adding an RBI double.

Trailing 2-0 early, Granite Hills scored twice in the third, then two more in the fifth, starting with Rivera's shot to left-centerfield on a 2-0 pitch.

MANDY OBNEY (2-for-3) later scored an insurance run after grounding a single through the left side, coming home on an opposite-field double by CHARNEL ZETSCH.

Zetsch, a senior, also came on in relief twice to get the save, needing just eight pitches to register five outs. Entering with one out in the fifth, she needed just three pitches for a strikeout, then collected a comebacker on the next pitch to get out of the inning.

After Carlsbad scored twice in the first, the Eagles bounced back to tie it in the third.

ALYSHA BENSON opened with a double to left-center, Rivera belted a one-out double for the team's first run. Rivera moved to third on a passed ball, then scored on a slow tapper back to the pitcher by Bertussi. Even though Rivera was checked back to the bag when the throw went to first base, she still found the speed to race home and beat the relay.

SCRIPPS RANCH 4, WEST HILLS 2 -- The Wolf Pack out-hit the Falcons, 5-4, but three fielding mishaps led to four runs in the 5th , spelling out the difference in a consolation game won by Scripps Ranch (9-2-1).

Rachel Brown struck out 12 in the victory, while two unearned runs burned West Hills ace MARA THORNTON.

Thornton had the only West Hills RBI when she drove in NANCY LARSON with a groundout in the Wolf Pack's two-run 6th inning.

East County Sports.com
LA JOLLA (4-8-06) -- Mountain Empire pitcher Kelly Majum might have won the strikeout battle, but Christian pitcher JESSIE OWENS won where it counts -- on the scoreboard -- as the Patriots built a 5-0 lead then hung on to down the Red Hawks, 5-3, in Friday's (Apr. 7) pool play action at the La Jolla Country Day Tournament.

Majum, who once pitched East County ASA to a second-place finish at a national tournament, retired a season-high 16 Patriots batters on strikes. Owens (7-0) was almost as impressive, striking out 10 to again reach double figures in all eight of her starts this season; the freshman's season total is now an impressive 105.

The difference: Owens yielded just two hits, while Christian responded with key hits when runners were in scoring position. Included was a 2-run single by shortstop KARA CARTWRIGHT, who capped a 3-run rally with her shot to left in the fifth inning to give the Patriots a 4-0 advantage.

Third baseman AMANDA PLUM batted 2-for-3 with an RBI, as the Patriots saw Mountain Empire score three times in the sixth, yet fall short. The game was then called on the tournament time limit.

In a scheduling change, Christian will now play La Jolla at 9 a.m. Saturday in the final game of pool play. A victory sends the Pats to the championship game at 2:30 p.m., probably meeting the winner between Imperial, a team Christian has split with in the last two CIF-SDS Division IV title games, or Lincoln (14-1) of Los Angeles.

East County Sports.com
LA JOLLA (4-6-06) -- The JESSIE OWENS Show continued Thursday (Apr. 6) as the freshman pitcher hurled Christian to a 3-0 victory over Saddleback Valley Christian in the La Jolla Country Day Invitational.

Owens allowed only one hit and three walks as she struck out a dozen en route to her sixth win without a loss.

Christian (6-0-1) took an early 1-0 lead in the 1st inning as Owens reached base on an infield single, stole second and third and scored on an error before the second batter finished batting.

In the 5th inning, SARAH SEYMOUR singled, advanced to second on CASEY WHITE's sacrifice bunt and SARA MELVIN's base hit to put runners at first and third. A double steal gave Christian a 2-0 lead. Owens later singled in a run to make it 3-0.

PATRICK HENRY 2, STEELE CANYON 1 -- Patrick Henry showed visiting Steele Canyon it has more than one quality pitcher on staff in Thursday's (Apr. 6)

Falcon Fiesta Classic tilt.

Ashley Ashman held the Cougars to six hits and struck out 11 in six innings to notch the victory for No. 3-ranked Patrick Henry (9-1). Patriots ace Donna Kerr picked up the save with a scoreless 7th that included a pair of strikeouts.

"Their No. 2 pitcher (Ashman) is the best one we've seen besides (Santana's ) SHAE BASS -- except for Donna Kerr, who is the best," said Steele Canyon assistant coach DOUG SUMMERS. "If something happened to Kerr, they would be still in good shape."

Kerr was 3-for-3 with a triple for the Patriots.

"We made some mental mistakes in the 3rd inning," Summers said. "With one out, we hit a single, a double and another single and didn't score. Normally, when you get three hits in a row you would score. Our biggest problem today was when we had people in scoring position and our batters struck out."

Steele Canyon (10-4) cut Henry's 2-0 lead in half with a run in the 6th inning. SAMANTHA BEASLEY singled, JAYME JARVIS walked and JAZMIN DAIGLE advanced the runners with sacrifice bunt. JENEVA MACK smashed a single off Ashman's glove for a single and RBI as Beasley scored. But that was as far as this rally would go.

Beasley (4-3) allowed only five hits and one earned run while striking out two and walking none. She also accounted for two of the Cougars six hits.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-6-06) -- El Cajon Valley pitcher JANELLE HAVENS fired a no-hitter Tuesday (Apr. 4) as the Braves (4-6-1) clobbered Crawford, 16-0, in a non-league contest.

Havens also had two hits and a scoring fly ball in the game that was halted after five innings due to rain.

DESIREE GARCIA was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a triple for the Braves.

Melissa Hill slides safely under the tag for the steal of third base Monday, despite a failed hit-and-run play. Hill then scored the only run of the game on Mara Thornton's double, leading West Hills to a 1-0 upset victory over No. 1 rated Patrick Henry. (West Hills courtesy photo)

East County Sports.com
DEL CERRO (4-4-06) -- Until told of the details, everyone assumed this battle of kingpin pitchers was captured by West Hills' MARA THORNTON, who out dueled UCLA bound Donna Kerr of Patrick Henry, 1-0, in a non-league affair.

Indeed, Thornton was the winner -- but with her bat.

Behind the pitching of junior BRENNA SANDBERG, Thornton's key double in the 6th inning scored MELISSA HILL with the game's lone run, sending the No. 1 ranked Patriots to their first setback in nine outings during Monday's (Apr. 4) non-league contest.

"I think because of Kerr's reputation as a No. 1 pitcher, girls psych themselves out on trying to hit her," said Hill. "But she's beatable if you stay off her junkballs and put the ball in play."

The victory vaulted the Wolf Pack (7-4) to No. 8 in the Media CIF-San Diego Section rankings (which included Monday's action), while Henry slipped two spots to third, leaving undefeated Escondido (11-0) and Santana (12-0) to head the listings.

Hill, the Pack's leadoff hitter, opened the sixth on an infield error when Kerr's throw handcuffed the first baseman.

Hill then stole second base, but third base was another matter.

"Actually, it was a hit-and-run but we missed the pitch," noted the West Hills shortstop. “I just hauled bun and hoped I got there."

With Hill 60 feet away with the go-ahead run and no one out, Kerr stormed back to register two of her 13 strikeouts. But Thornton, now batting clean-up, delivered with an opposite-field drive that ticked off the end of the left-fielder's glove.

"The left-fielder wasn't used to the curve of the ball off the bat of a left-handed hitter," noted West Hills coach STEVE SUTTON. "I'm standing there (in the third-base coach's box) and suddenly realized the ball just might fall."

With the ball sailing away from the defender toward the foul line, it grazed the glove in fair territory. Hill scored easily and Thornton was standing at second with a double.

The opposite situation occurred in the outfield when West Hills was playing defense in the bottom of the seventh. After the Patriots' Leanna Navarro reached on an infield single and was sacrificed to second by Nicole Lococo, late-inning defensive replacement Anne Vincelett received an at-bat and stroked a shot down the right-field line.

"I was just in the right position and read it well," said Kovi. "That was pretty exciting -- and Brenna pitched a fabulous game."

Sandberg completed the shutout with a strikeout, getting the batter to swing at two pitches well above the strike zone.

"Everyone was up, but I was relaxed -- (as a pitcher,) it's not good when you're tense," said Sandberg, who also escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth with a strikeout. "And this team's good enough to hit Kerr."

Kerr finished with a 3-hitter, as catcher KAITLIN COBB broke up the no-hit bid with a lead double in the fifth, while Sandberg lined a single in the seventh.

Sandberg allowed five hits, including a pair to Navarro, the designated player.

Norsemen pitcher Ericka Marsh delivers the pitch (above), while Valhalla's Jodie Schmehr follows through following her line single to help whip Serra, 8-2, in Monday's non-league game. (Photos by Chris Edwards)

Senior COURTNEY LUDWIG opened both rallies by reaching base, first with a walk, then a line single. And KAYLA HOUSTON answered a few batters later with key hits, accounting for three RBI.

In the fifth, Houston singled home Ludwig, eventually scoring herself on a passed ball for a 4-2 lead. The next inning, Houston, a sophomore, stroked a two-run single to right-centerfield to start a 4-run outburst.

Meanwhile, pitcher ERICKA MARSH finished off a 5-hitter, raising her record to 6-4. Her batterymate KELLEY SEITZ added a run-scoring triple in the first, reaching base all three times to the plate and scoring once.

MIRA MESA 6, HELIX 5 -- Talk about tough losses... The struggling Highlanders (3-10-1) scored for runs in the 7th inning only to come up 60 feet short of a tie and a possible upset in Monday's (Apr. 3) non-league contest at Mira Mesa.

Trailing 6-1 entering the 7th inning, the Highlanders fought back on a two-run double by NATALIE SMITH and a two-run single by ALYSSA DRONENBURG to close the gap.

The Highlandersâ'offense stalled at that point.

Dronenburg was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles for Helix. ALEX SARZYNIAK was 2-for-2.

CHRISTINE JACOBITIES was the hard-luck loser, surrendering 11 hits but only two earned runs in five innings work.

"It was better today," said Helix coach JAIME KAHLER. "The kids didn't give up, they started hitting the ball and working better together."

East County Sports.com
SPRING VALLEY (4-2-06) -- Monte Vista High carried the momentum of Friday's seventh-inning comeback by striking early against undefeated Point Loma, scoring two quick runs to down the Pointers, 4-1, in Saturday's (Apr. 1) non-league game.

ASHLEY MILLER, the Monarchs' leadoff-hitting shortstop, opened both rallies with hits, scoring both times. The senior stroked a triple to jumpstart the offense for the hosts, then added a lead single in the sixth, as Monte Vista scored twice in each frame.

"Sometimes you just have to let players hit the way they want to hit, and Ashley has her own style," said Monte Vista coach SIG CHABROWSKI. "And she has the speed to beat out plays to first."

Unlike a lot of coaches, Chabrowski was glad Miller played basketball this season, taking time away from fastpitch softball.

"Basketball helped her with her speed and agility," he added. "And it helped her vertical jumping ability, too."

Following her lead triple, LYDIA VENIEGAS put down a squeeze bunt, but when no Point Loma defender was able to make a play on the ball, the Monarchs' centerfielder collected both a base hit and an RBI.

Veneigas later scored when she was unable to score.

A fly ball to center wasn't deep enough to tag-up and score from third base, but the outfielder didn't know that. So when the throw home sailed over the catcher and bounced around the backstop, Veniegas waltzed home for a 2-0 lead.

In the sixth, Miller circled the bases on a single, an error, then an RBI basehit by ALYSSA PARKER. CAITLIN QUON followed with a basehit, then ROSANNE ABETYA added a third consecutive single for a 4-1 lead.

Meanwhile, pitcher BREANNA McMILLAN (4-3) claimed her second pitching victory in 24 hours, scattering eight hits by the Pointers (7-1). She struck out three and walked one.

Montgomery Tournament -- It was a good thing the sun was soon going to set at Otay Mesa's Silver Wing Park on Saturday (Apr. 1), postponing the championship contest in the annual Montgomery Tournament.

Following three victories on the day, 9th-ranked Steele Canyon was about to play for the title against Francis Parker. Fortunately, they didn't -- it seems tournament organizers were unaware of a CIF rule.

Unlike Nevada, where the number of games is unlimited, such as next week's Fred Davisson Memorial Tournament in Las Vegas, which features 18 San Diego Section teams this season, the California rule limits the number of contests in a day to three. A fourth may have resulted in sanctions and/or forfeitures.

Still, Steele Canyon, the first team to reach double figures in victories at 10-3 overall, will enjoy their 3-game sweep. With starting pitcher SAMANTHA BEASLEY unavailable to pitch, younger sister ERIKA BEASLEY came through with three complete games. The sophomore pitched all 14 innings, not allowing an earned run

"We needed her to come through for us because we played so many games recently," said Cougars assistant coach DOUG SUMMERS. "And Erika did a fantastic job for us."

Included were a 15-0 triumph over Calexico in six innings to complete pool play. Steele Canyon then bounced Lutheran, 12-1, in four innings during the quarterfinals, then slipped past Brawley, 4-1, in six innings, as the time limit shortened the semifinals.

The 3-game sweep snapped the Cougars' 3-game losing streak after opening the season at 7-0.

The load of innings on the younger Beasley could have been worse, yet Friday's Grossmont Conference Tournament finale pitting the Cougars against undefeated Santana was postponed.

MIRA MESA 3-1, WEST HILLS 0-2 -- In what has become a traditional doubleheader, West Hills and Mira Mesa settled for a split of Saturday's (Apr. 1) non-league twinbill in Santee. The Marauders won the opener 3-0 behind the second no-hitter of the season by Melissa Tillett, and the Wolf Pack won the nightcap 2-1.

The best the Pack could do in game one was draw three walks as Tillett mowed down 15 West Hills on strikes.

Things brightened a lot for West Hills (6-4) in the second game as singles by JESSICA HAMMOND and NANCY SUE LARSON, coupled with a throwing error, gave the Wolf Pack the winning run in the bottom of the 7th.

"Larson is a left-handed kid who runs fast," West Hills coach STEVE SUTTON said. "She tapped a slow-roller to second base and the kid trying to get her out at first, ended up rushing her throw and throwing it away."

Game over. Victory West Hills.

West Hills was not at full strength for the doubleheader.

"We had five kids taking the S.A.T. test and another starter attending a college function," Sutton noted.

East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (4-1-06) -- When the championship contest in the Grossmont Conference Tournament was postponed following a snafu between tournament organizers and the local umpires' association left the scheduled contest without on-field officials, attentions turned northeast for the event's final pool play contest -- a rain make-up affair -- between Monte Vista and El Capitan.

And what a barnburner of a finish between ballclubs hovering around the .500 plateau.

With the host Vaqueros making the best of just three hits to hold a 2-0 lead, the Monarchs stormed back with three runs in the seventh to secure a 3-2 verdict to avoid going winless in the annual battle between the North and South leagues.

Monte Vista first baseman KAITLYN McMILLAN surprised El Capitan by putting down a squeeze bunt for a run. ASHLEY MILLER followed with a two-run single to right, making a winner of Monarchs pitcher BREANNA McMILLAN.

"I wasn't surprised I was asked to bunt because that's what I did the last time I was up," noted Kaitlyn, the younger of the two McMillan sisters on the varsity roster. "And it might have caught them off guard."

Down by two runs with runners on the corners, the runner at third meant nothing -- it was the runner on first who was the game-tying run. However, since El Cap didn't have a play at first, Monte Vista got an additional break when the bunt was misplayed on the toss to home plate, allowing the tying run to move an extra 60 feet to third, while the batter raced around to second base.

One pitch later, Miller sent a grounder through the right side of the infield for the game-winning hit.

"I took something off the plate and went with it to right," said Miller.

The Vaqueros lost an opportunity to tie in the last-half of the seventh when a leadoff single was wiped from the scorebook when Monte Vista protested that the player was not properly listed on the lineup slip. In baseball, it's an administrative correction without penalty; in fastpitch, the batter is declared out.

Ouch.

For six innings, it looked like El Capitan would only need the first two of its three hits to grab the victory.

Second baseman TENNILLE RUST collected the Vaqueros' lone hit through five innings, singling home STEPHANIE REL-SOLIA, who walked, then advanced to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball, eventually scoring an unearned run.

Monte Vista, a perfect 4-0 outside of the tournament, moved to 5-3-1 with the victory. El Capitan slipped to 4-6 overall.

Christian High's Sarah Seymour rips the first of her two doubles, eventually scoring the game's only run following this hit to defeat Serra, 1-0, in the Eastern League opener. (Photo by Burt Melvin)

In her league debut, Christian High freshman JESSIE OWENS struckout 15 batters, tossing a no-hitter at visiting Serra in a thrilling 1-0 decision. The ballgame came down to the final play, as senior centerfielder ANDREA GARVIN made a catch for the second out, then gunned down a Conquistadors runner at the plate for a victory-clinching double play.

Christian's Jesse Owens no-hit the Conquistadors. (Photo by Burt Melvin)

"That's about as good as it gets -- both Jessie's pitching and Andrea making a great throw," said Patriots coach ROMA DAWSON. "And, of course, our little freshman behind the plate, KARA CARTWRIGHT, made a nice catch and made the tag."

Despite not registering a hit, Serra advanced a runner to third base on a leadoff walk, a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt. All the Q's needed was a fly ball, as the third-base coach took the risk and sent the runner home on a medium-depth ball to Garvin.

"We're a really young team, but Andrea is one of our seniors and has been playing out there for us for four years," added Dawson. "And Kara was only playing because our regular catcher, KRISTINA WYNNS, needed a rest."

The only other threat against Owens came in the sixth, when an error on a bunt play and a ground ball placed a runner at second base. However, Owens coaxed another grounder to end the potential rally.

"Jesse showed poise and the defense played great except for a little miscommunication on the one bunt play," added the coach. "Jesse is coming on, but she will be tested next week in the La Jolla Country Day Tournament, then we move back into league play."

Christian, undefeated through six contests at 5-0-1, scored the only run Owens would need in the second inning.

SARAH SEYMOUR slugged the first of her two doubles in the contest. She eventually scored an unearned run on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Seymour later slugged a double in the fourth in a 2-for-3 performance.

After blanking the Highlanders on just three hits, Santana's Kristen Medrud ran her record to 5-0 this season, improving her 4-year varsity career ledger to 42-9. Included is a remarkable 32-2 -- a winning percentage of .941 -- over the past three seasons. Prior to this season, Medrud posted annual marks of 10-7 (frosh), 14-1 (soph.), and 13-1 (junior). (Photo by Chris Edwards)

Sultans second baseman DANIELLE BALOUGH jump-started the effort with a pair of important plays in the first inning, turning a double play in the top of the frame, then slugging a 2-run homer in the home half.

"Danielle had a big first inning," noted Santana assistant coach SHANNON MORENO. "She took the game in her hands from the start."

Balough batted 2-for-3, adding an insurance run in the fifth with a double to cap a 3-RBI performance. In addition, shortstop TAYLOR KELLY scored twice on Balough hits, and added an RBI single to score JEN KRISMER in the second.

Santana High catcher Laurie Lindow (Photo by Chris Edwards)

VALHALLA 9, EL CAJON VALLEY 2 -- Senior pitcher ERICKA MARSH tossed five shutout innings and was backed by five doubles, helping the Norsemen (6-4) snap a 3-game losing skid by bouncing the Braves.

Already leading 1-0, Valhalla slugged three consecutive doubles -- by JODIE SCHMEHR, KAYLA HOUSTON and KELLEY SEITZ -- en route to scoring three times in the third. The Norsemen later added three more runs in the fourth, then two in the sixth before lifting Marsh.

The Braves (3-4-1) received an RBI single from MEGAN HILL in the sixth, then JANELLE HAVENS grounded into a fielder's choice to push across an unearned run in the seventh to cancel the shutout bid.

WEST HILLS 10, MOUNT MIGUEL 0 -- An eight-run 5th inning by the Wolf Pack (5-3) turned Thursday's (Mar. 30) Grossmont Conference Tournament game with visiting Mount Miguel (0-11) into a rout.

Eight of West Hills' 11 hits came in the big inning. KYLEE KRINGS cracked a single and a two-run double in the frame, while JESSICA HAMMOND hammered an RBI double. STASIA HOLDMAN, MARA THORNTON and MELISSA HILL each had an RBI single in the 5th.

Hill finished the game 3-for-4 with a run, two RBI and a steal in the West Hills leadoff spot.

BRENNA SANDBERG and Thornton combined to blank the Matadors on a four-hitter while striking out six.

"Everybody got a chance to play," said West Hills coach STEVE SUTTON. "(MELISSA) HILL and (KYLEE) KRINGS both had a big day hitting and Jessica Hammond, who doesn't play very much, had a double."

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-30-06) -- Even though the Grossmont Foothillers are unbeaten in the Grossmont Conference Tournament, they haven't secured a place in the championship game which is tentatively slated for Friday (Mar. 31) at either Grossmont or Santana.

The Foothillers edged Steele Canyon, 5-4, with a run in the bottom of the 7th inning on Wednesday (Mar. 29) for their fifth straight win. Santana hosts Helix Thursday (Mar. 30) and is a heavy favorite to win its fifth tournament game without a loss. Should Santana win, the host for the conference championship game will be determined by fewest runs allowed.

Grossmont (7-3) fused a single by MICHELLE MIRANDA and a pair of bunt singles by KIERSTIN ENGLISH and ALYSSA ESCALANTE to load the bases. AMBER LOVELADY, who was running for Miranda, kept coming on Escalante's bunt. The Steele Canyon pitcher fired to the plate but her toss was off the mark and Lovelady scored the game winner.

"We pulled it out," said Grossmont coach JERRY LERUD. "We were down for five innings and there was just no quit -- finally our bats came alive in the 6th inning."

Despite the loss, Steele Canyon (7-3) will represent the Grossmont South in the conference tournament championship game.

The Cougars tied the game with a run in the top of the 7th thanks to a Grossmont throwing error. Steele Canyon could have had more, but had two runners forced out at the plate on infielder grounders and Grossmont pitcher DOMONINQUE GUERRA (6-2) recorded an inning-ending strikeout.

Steele Canyon took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning as JAZMIN DAIGLE and HANNAH ROST whacked back-to-back triples and ANGELA HARRIS contributed a scoring fly ball.

Rost ripped her third home run of the year to make it 3-0 in the 6th.

"It was a much better performance than we did against Scripps Ranch," said Steele Canyon assistant coach DOUG SUMMERS. "ERIKA BEASLEY pitched great for the first five innings then Grossmont got her timing down in the 6th inning."

Grossmont got off the floor in the bottom of the 6th for four runs and the lead. Consecutive doubles by Miranda, CAMMI MOORE and Escalante accounted for two runs. ANDREA NEDDEN and REBECCA OSBORNE added RBI singles.

East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (3-29-06) -- The determination on whether Christian High will blossom into a SDCIF contender could come over the next 10 days.

"We open with a couple of league games, starting first with Serra, then we play in the La Jolla Country Day Tournament against teams in our own division," noted Patriots coach ROMA DAWSON. "We'll know in the next week or so if we have a chance to be there."

Christian may be on the path to another deep run in Division IV. On Tuesday (Mar. 28), the Patriots remained undefeated through five contests following a 6-0 blanking of host Montgomery. JESSIE OWENS, one of five freshmen on the roster, ran her record to 4-0 after combining with JENNA ROYCE on a 2-hit shutout.

Owens struck out 13 Aztecs in five frames, then Royce added three more in relief.

"We pitched both of them to get them ready for next week," added Dawson. "We'll be playing a lot of innings, so we need both arms."

The Patriots offense is also rounding into form. Five different players -- KARA CARTWRIGHT, AMANDA PLUM, KRISTINA WYNNS, SARA MELVIN and ALLYSSA GRAUL -- all registered two hits each to back a 14-hit attack as every starter recorded at least one hit.

"Amanda has been solid and Kristina is hitting the ball big," added the coach.

The Patriots scored three times in the second inning, including a run-scoring hit by ANDREA GARVIN.

POWAY 2, GRANITE HILLS 0 -- Titans pitcher Simone Brandalise came within one out of a no-hitter, but the Eagles' MANDY OBNEY snapped the string of outs with a single in the seventh inning in the Falcon Fiesta contest. Brandalise settled with a 1-hitter, striking out six to lead 7th-ranked Poway (9-2-1) to its eighth consecutive victory.

SCRIPPS RANCH 10, STEELE CANYON 3 -- Alexa Datko, a former member of the Santee Heat club program, collected the pitching victory after her Falcons mounted an early 7-2 lead in a Falcon Fiesta contest.

Katie Sigler added a two-run homer in the sixth for 10th-ranked Scripps Ranch (6-2-1).

The Cougars (7-2) saw LISA MONGELLI, who opened the season on a 12-for-13 tear, snap an ensuing 0-for-10 skid with two hits. SAMANTHA BEASLEY scored twice, while the team received run-scoring hits from JAZMIN DAIGLE and HANNAH ROST in the first, then ANGELA HARRIS in the fifth.

Santana's Shae Bass takes her cuts against Steele Canyon. Bass tossed a 3-hitter to pace the Sultans to a Grossmont Conference Tournament triumph. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

East County Sports.com
JAMUL (3-28-06) -- The similarities on paper were nearly identical: both fastpitch teams were undefeated; both were ranked in the top 10 in at least one CIF-San Diego Section poll; and each were riding school-record winning streaks to open the season.

On the field, however, the focus of Santana High proved to be the difference. Playing smooth and error-free, the third-ranked Sultans took advantage of a pair of unearned runs to capture their 11th consecutive contest, staving off No. 9 Steele Canyon, 2-1, in Monday's (Mar. 27) marquee contest in the Grossmont Conference Tournament.

"Everyone knew it would be exciting, so we pulled up and played together," said Santana shortstop TAYLOR KELLY, who highlighted an afternoon of perfect defense by the Sultans by going deep into the hole to backhand a ball and throw out LISA MONGELLI, the county's hottest hitter, to open the fourth inning. "We made a few adjustments and it's all coming together for us in the tournament."

Kelly also aided the attack on offense by reaching base on all four of her plate appearances. After reaching twice on errors, the second scoring the game's first run in the third inning, the Cal-bound senior singled twice and stole a base.

"I was slumping at the beginning of the year," noted Kelly, who recently ended her woes and was tabbed MVP of the Hilltop Tournament over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Santana pitcher SHAE BASS tossed a 3-hitter, striking out 10 Cougars to run her season record to 7-0. She credits the consistent defensive play behind her for the team's early success.

"I always feel confident with Taylor behind me," said Bass. "And not just her, but the entire team. It helps with my confidence not worrying about them. Besides, we've got a win streak going and I don't want to jinx it."

Surprisingly, Bass believes she is pitching better than at any other time in her life, this despite missing time which forced her to miss parts of the basketball season.

"Especially after having surgery, I was worried how I would come back," she added. "But everyone picks me up with our defense-- I am thankful for that."

Meanwhile, a pair of errors by Steele Canyon put Santana in the driver's seat in the third. After Kelly's grounder was misplayed for a run, LAURIE LINDOW singled to score Kelly for a 2-0 lead.

Bass carried a perfect game into the fourth before opposing pitcher SAMANTHA BEASLEY singled through the middle with one out. Beasley would later follow a lead single by sister ERIKA BEASLEY with a run-scoring triple in the sixth to move Steele Canyon into position to tie the contest.

Bass survived by stranding the runner at third with the last of her 10 strikeouts, then retired the Cougars in order in the seventh, facing just three batters above the minimum.

"We fought back and there's always tomorrow," noted Steele Canyon coach JULIE BOHE.

Oddly enough, despite the decision in Santana's favor, only the host Cougars could look forward to gaining a berth in Friday's scheduled tournament finale. Steele Canyon (7-1 overall) is 3-1 in the round-robin event against teams from the opposing league, yet even suffering another loss, the Cougars possess a mammoth 30-run advantage (37-7) in a tiebreaker with second-place Helix in fewest runs allowed.

In other words, Steele Canyon could fall 29-0, yet still advance.

Meanwhile, the Sultans victory did little to alter the standings in the North. Santana remains level with Grossmont with 4-0 records, and dead-even in the tiebreaker, tied at 6 each. And should both teams fall in Wednesday's final round of pool play, West Hills (3-1) is knocking with an even better tiebreaker count with just four runs allowed.

GROSSMONT 6, VALHALLA 3 -- ALYSSA ESCALANTE batted 3-for-4 with a double and a homer, while pitcher DOMONIQUE GUERRA escaped her only jam all contest to preserve the lead, helping the 10th-ranked Foothillers remain in Grossmont Conference Tournament contention after doubling-up the Norsemen.

"Our whole team is hitting well right now," said Grossmont coach JERRY LeRUD, whose Foothillers have scored 48 runs in their last four games.

CAMMI MOORE doubled in MICHELLE MIRANDA giving Grossmont a 1-0 edge in the opening frame.

Escalante's second homer of the year led off the 2nd inning for a 2-0 lead, then ANDREA NEDDEN ripped a 2-run double in the 4th to double the advantage.

Guerra then withstood an error which produced a pair of runs to move Valhalla within 4-3. The rally also included an RBI single by JODIE SCHMEHR.

The Foothillers then closed it out when catcher Miranda and Moore each ripped a RBI single. Miranda, Nedden and Moore each stroked two hits for Grossmont (6-3).

"It was just a question of Grossmont hitting the ball well," said Norsemen coach DOUG HARTUNG.

WEST HILLS 14, HELIX 0 -- CHELSEA VELOVICH, one of three freshmen on the Wolf Pack roster, tossed a 3-hit shutout for her first interscholastic victory, leading West Hills (4-3) to a road triumph by run-rule over the Scotties (3-8-1). Velovich struck out six and walked just one in five innings.

Shortstop MELISSA HILL batted 4-for-5 with an RBI, while BRIANNA LaCHUSA and MICHELLE IAVELLI each drove home two runs when the Pack scored 12 times in the fourth to blow open a 1-run ballgame.

West Hills collected 15 hits, including two each from LaChusa, NANCY SUE LARSON and BRITTANY SWANSON before the Pack cleared the bench.

"CHRISTINE JACOBITES was pitching well but her defense was not helping her at all," said a disappointed Helix coach JAIME KAHLER.

All three of Helix's hits came off ALYSSA DRONENBURG's bat, once in the 2nd inning, once in the 4th and once in the 6th.

"Alyssa came out to play not only defensively, but offensively as well," said Kahler.

MONTE VISTA 4, EL CAJON VALLEY 4, tie (8 inn.. darkness) -- The Braves were clinging to a 3-1 lead as they entered the 7th inning and then added an insurance run to all but assure themselves of a Grossmont Conference Tournament victory Monday (Mar. 25) afternoon.

Host Monte Vista (4-4-1) scrambled back for three runs in the last of the 7th to force overtime.

El Cajon Valley's MEGAN HILL laced a 2-run single and MARISSA UTLEY belted an RBI double to put the Braves on top 3-1. The Braves added a run in 7th on a throwing error to give themselves a three-run spread.

Monte Vista came up with three runs in the 7th inning on a combination of an AMANDA WARD single, a double by ALYSSA PARKER, three El Cajon Valley errors, two passed balls and a wild pitch to tie it 4-4.

"We missed several opportunities," Monte Vista coach SIG CHABROWSKI said. "It looks like El Cajon Valley has improved since last year."

EL CAPITAN 14, MOUNT MIGUEL 4 -- This was anything but textbook softball as each team committed a half-dozen errors in Monday’s (Mar. 27) Grossmont Conference Tournament game at Mount Miguel.

The Vaqueros broke a 2-2 tie with an 11-run outburst in the 3rd inning as AMANDA COMBS set pace with a two-run single.

STACEY NULTON was 3-for-5 with three RBI to lead El Capitan (4-5), while ASHLEY MARX was 2-for-5 with three and two RBI.

East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (3-26-06) -- Senior shortstop TAYLOR KELLY was named tournament MVP, while KATIE THOMAS and SHAE BASS topped the all-tournament team, leading Santana High to three straight victories Saturday (Mar. 25) -- all against South Bay competition -- to claim the championship of the Hilltop Tournament.

The undefeated Sultans (10-0) scored late to nip Eastlake 2-0 in the quarterfinals, eliminated defending champion Bonita Vista 10-3 in the semifinals, then easily handled the host Lancers for the second straight season, this time 7-0 in the final.

SANTANA 2, EASTLAKE 0 -- In the closest of the team's three ballgames in the knockout phase of the Hilltop Tournament, the Sultans scored twice in the sixth to tip the Titans.

Senior KRISTEN MEDRUD, an all-tournament selection here last season, came up with the bases loaded and two out in a scoreless contest. And the four-year varsity performer delivered, slugging a double to right field to score both of the game's only runs.

In addition, Medrud was the winning pitcher, allowing just two hits while waiting for someone to deliver the key hit. Santana totaled 13 hits, yet couldn't score until Medrud came through late.

The decisive rally started on a one-out single to right by JEN KRISMER. MICHELLE BRAMLAGE reached on an error, then DANIELLE BALOUGH singled to left to load the bases. Both runs were unearned.

SANTANA 10, BONITA VISTA 3 -- In a similar situation in 2005, the Barons defeated an undefeated East County ballclub (West Hills) to take the tournament title. The Sultans made sure a repeat performance would not occur after scoring six times in the second inning to quickly put this semifinal round game into the victory column.

Krismer and LAURIE LINDOW each belted 2-run homers to give Santana a 10-2 lead through four innings. Thus, Bass, the starting pitcher, was able to leave the contest early to rest for the title game. She struck out seven in just four innings, garnering the victory after reliever ASHLEY MATTOLA added three more strikeouts in three frames to collect her first interscholastic save.

SANTANA 7, HILLTOP 0 -- A rested Shae Bass blew the Lancers off the field, tossing a 1-hit shutout to seal the Sultans' claim for the top spot in the San Diego Section rankings. Bass (6-0) struck out 12 batters in her most dominating performance of the season.

Katie Thomas, the designated player, batted 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Danielle Balough also added a pair of hits and scored twice. Kristen Medrud drove in a pair of runs, while five others players had one RBI each, including AMANDA CARPENTER.

Santana (10-0) ended any comeback hopes of Hilltop (7-4) by scoring four times in the seventh to expand a 3-0 lead.

STEELE CANYON 4, ORANGE GLEN 2 -- HANNAH ROST capped a 4-run rally in the first inning by ripping a 2-run homer -- her second bomb of the season-- in Saturday's (Mar 25) Montgomery Tournament pool play contest, which was called in the top of the seventh on a drop-dead time limit rule.

STEELE CANYON 5, MAR VISTA 2 -- Erika Beasley also pitched the Cougars' second pool play contest Saturday (Mar. 25), again allowing just four hits to subdue the Mariners.

JAYME JARVIS belted an RBI triple in the first, then Beasley squeezed home VANESSA ADAME in the second for a 2-0 lead.

Steele Canyon then blew open the ballgame with three runs in the fifth, including another run-scoring hit by Rost.

The victory gives the Cougars (7-0) the best start in school history, topping last season's mark of 6-0. However, the team's next game is Monday at home against undefeated Santana (10-0) in a battle of undefeated ballclubs.

MIRA MESA 6, EL CAPITAN 0 -- Marauders junior pitcher Melissa Tillett tossed a perfect game at the Vaqueros, striking out 16 batters and allowing just one ball to be hit out of the infield.

Justeen Maeva slugged a leadoff homer to push Mira Mesa's lead to 2-0 in the fourth. Two batters later, Tillett belted a 2-run homer to double the advantage. El Capitan (3-4) finished a busy week by going 1-4.

TORREY PINES 7, HIGHLANDERS 0 -- Angela Hosko recorded eight strikeouts in her four-hit shutout, pacing the Falcons to a victory in its own tournament -- the Falcon Fiesta.

Mary Episcopo batted 4-for-5 with a double, then a 2-run homer in the sixth for 6-0 lead. In addition to her two RBI, she also stole two bases and scored three times for Torrey Pines (7-5). Helix fell to 3-7-1.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-25-06) -- The Grossmont Foothillers are proving themselves as East County's premier hitting unit. Fifteen hits equaled 14 runs as the Hillers mauled Monte Vista, 14-0, in Friday's (Mar. 24) Grossmont Conference Tournament action.

While DOMONIQUE GUERRA was shutting on the visiting Monarchs on two hits over six innings, Grossmont was battering Monte Vista pitcher BREANNA McMILLAN for 12 runs on 15 hits.

The Hillers (5-3) began their barrage in the 1st inning as MEGAN GREEN led off with a triple and scored on an error. ANDRIANNA NAU added a two-run single and ALYSSA ESCALANTE and REBECCA OSBORNE each added an RBI to give Grossmont a 5-0 lead.

Escalante added a mammoth three-run home run during a 7-run 4th inning to give her five RBI on a 3-for-4 batting effort.

"The ball she hit was 40 feet over the center field fence (210 feet)," Grossmont coach JERRY LERUD said.

MICHELLE MIRANDA whacked two doubles in Grossmont's 7-run fourth inning, scoring once and driving in one run. Miranda and Escalante finished with 3 hits apiece.

Two of Monte Vista's three hits came in the first inning. Singles by ASHLEY MILLER and ROSALYN BURNS were wiped out by a double-play ball.

SANTANA 3, VALHALLA 1 -- The Sultans won their seventh straight game behind the 4-hit pitching of SHAE BASS in Friday's (Mar. 24) Grossmont Conference Tournament game in Santee.

Bass walked one and struck out eight as she recorded her fourth consecutive win.

The Sultans broke a 1-1 deadlock in the 3rd inning as Bass hoisted a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing her battery-mate, LAURIE LINDOW, to score.

Santana (7-0) added an insurance run in the 5th frame on TAYLOR KELLY's RBI single.

"Kelly was struggling in the beginning, then she started just pounding the ball," said Santana assistant coach SHANNON MORENO. "She's easily batting .500 over the last three games."

The only run for Valhalla (5-3) came on a solo home run by KAYLA HOUSTON in the second inning.

HELIX 7, EL CAPITAN 3 -- ALYSSA DRONENBURG drove in four runs with an RBI triple, a 2-run double and a run-scoring single as the visiting Highlanders surprised El Capitan in Friday's (Mar. 24) Grossmont Conference Tournament action.

Junior CHRISTINE JACOBITES pitched a complete game 4-hitter with 6 strikeouts to gain her second win in six decisions.

Things started out pretty well for El Cap when ASHLEY WHITMORE laced a 2-run triple, giving the Vaqueros a 2-1 lead.

The Highlanders tied the game in the 3rd inning on a single by PRICILLA CHAVEZ and a Dronenburg triple.

"We didn't have a bunch of errors this time," said a pleased Helix coach JAIME KAHLER. "Our triangle worked for us today. (Sophomore) Dronenburg was a huge, huge key in the game. Sophomore ANDREA DEL CAMPO went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and freshman NATALIE SMITH was 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored. All three of these kids were huge today."

"There's nothing better than your leadoff batter -- Smith -- getting on base and doing her job. It kinda gets the team motivated and ready to go."

Another plus for El Capitan was ASHLEY MARX, who tripled and scored on a passed ball in the 6th inning.

"We just didn't play very well today,"said El Capitan coach JOE COTA. It's frustrating, but we've got more games so we just need to move on."

STEELE CANYON 4, WEST HILLS 0 -- The Cougars' SAMANTHA BEASLEY pitched perhaps her finest game in the last two seasons in Friday's (Mar. 24) Grossmont Conference Tournament game as she blanked West Hills on one hit while striking out 11.

Beasley had a perfect game through 4-2/3 innings before BRITTANY SWANSON walked. She was West Hills' first baserunner.

"Sam was really on today," said Steele Canyon assistant coach DOUG SUMMERS. "She was keeping them off balance with her changeup. She realizes how devastating that pitch is, has really learned how to move that pitch around. I wasn't sure how she'd do with a freshman catcher, but HANNAH (ROST) does a great job. We let her call her own pitches and its worked out well."

In the 7th inning with one out, MARA THORNTON hit a single to break up the no-hitter. But that was all West Hills could muster.

Steele Canyon scored the only run they needed in the 6th inning as LISA MONGELLI and JAYME JARVIS each singled and advanced on JAZMIN DAIGLE's sacrifice bunt. Rost singled to right to score Mongelli and break the scoreless tie.

Steele Canyon broke the game open on Jarvis' 3-run home run.

"Jayme is only a sophomore and is a really good player," said Summers. "She struggled early, had trouble with the West Hills pitcher's riseball, struck out twice. But in her last two at-bats they didn't throw her any more riseballs. Her home run was off a low pitch."

JENNA SANDBERG allowed only one earned run and struck out 12 in a losing cause for West Hills.

EL CAJON VALLEY 1, MOUNT MIGUEL 0 (9 inn.) -- El Cajon Valley's COREY RAINEY drove in DESIREE GARCIA with the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning.

Senior MARISSA UTLEY went 2-for-4 and freshman Garcia was also 2-for-4. Braves senior pitcher JANELLE HAVENS boosted her record to 3-2.

"Utley is pretty much our whole team," said Braves coach MIKE McCLAIN.

East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (3-24-06) -- Looking to add some pop to its lineup, five of El Capitan's hits went for doubles -- including a pair by senior centerfielder ASHLEY HART -- powering the Vaqueros past visiting Morse, 4-2, in East County's lone girls fastpitch contest Thursday (Mar. 23).

"We've been hitting the ball -- we just didn't do that against Steele (Canyon)," noted El Cap coach JOE COTA on his team's 24-hour turnaround. "We're trying to get 'em to play like they did against Valhalla, but it's hard to do that everyday."

The Vaqueros dropped a pair of Grossmont Conference Tournament contests by just a single run each, yet rebounded by spraying the ball all over the yard to jump on Morse for a quick 3-0 lead through two innings.

Hart, better known for her work as the starting goalkeeper for the El Capitan soccer team, has been slowly rounding into form following an injury-plagued campaign on the pitch. Hart batted 2-for-3 with her doubles, scoring twice to make a winner of starting pitcher KRISTY BARKER.

"It's nice to see Ashley coming around after hurting her back," added Cota. "She was struggling a little bit."

Hart and catcher AMANDA COMBS belted consecutive doubles for a quick 1-0 lead in the first. One inning later, ASHLEY MARX doubled home two runs off Morse starter Stefanie Rosario for a 3-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Barker yielded just four hits over six innings, as freshman SARAH JO GROHMAN tossed a perfect seventh-inning for the first varsity save of her career.

East County Sports.com
JAMUL (3-23-06) -- The hottest hitter in not only East County, but the entire San Diego Section, is hands down Steele Canyon infielder LISA MONGELLI.

The junior shortstop added another 3-for-3 performance to her ledger Wednesday (Mar. 22), while also scoring twice in leading the undefeated Cougars to the top of the Grossmont Conference Tournament standings following a 3-2 decision over El Capitan.

In 13 at-bats this season, Mongelli owns an amazing 12 hits for a nifty .923 batting average. Throw in a pair of bases-on-balls and her on-base percentage is an astronomical .933 (14-for-15).

"I'm not letting my head get to me and am just getting hits," noted Mongelli. "I guess my hitting coach made an impression on me."

Steele Canyon listed four of East County's top 10 hitters last season, with two returning this season. And with Mongelli joining the parade, coupled with the return of No. 1 pitcher SAMANTHA BEASLEY, suddenly the Cougars have made a move in the standings.

With their victory over El Capitan, the Cougars are the only remaining undefeated Grossmont South League team in the conference tournament.

"We're doing a lot of things well and getting more familiar with each other, but we're still a young team," noted Beasley, who tossed four shutout innings against the Vaqueros, strking out four.

Meanwhile, younger sister ERIKA BEASLEY pitched the final three innings for the save, surviving a sixth-inning RBI triple by ASHLEY WHITMORE to strand the Vaqueros' potential game-tying run at third base to preserve the victory. Following the hit, she set down El Cap's final five batters.

Meanwhile, Mongelli showed a "little bit of Country, and a little bit of Rock 'n Roll" to collect her three hits. Her bunt single ignited a 2-run rally in the first inning. On the flip side, she blasted a third-inning triple, eventually circling the bases on an error.

"I know what I like when batting, so I just let my body take over," added Mongelli. "And if the team can keep hitting and cut down on the errors, I'd like to think we can be right up there with Valhalla and Granite Hills."

El Capitan rallied in the fifth on a one-out single by pitcher JULIANNA DUNCAN, who overcame being struck in the side by a line drive in the first inning. Duncan scored when centerfielder ASHLEY HART ripped a double down the line in left.

Whitmore's RBI triple in the sixth capped an 3-for-3 outing by the Vaqueros' left-fielder. Steele Canyon catcher HANNAH ROST posted two of the Cougars' seven hits.

WEST HILLS 1, VALHALLA 0 -- West Hills senior MARA THORNTON fired a no-hitter at perennial power Valhalla in Wednesday's (Mar. 22) Grossmont Conference Tournament action.

"Mara made us look silly," said Valhalla coach DOUG HARTUNG, referring to Thornton's 12 strikeouts. "The umpire had a big strike zone, especially on the outside part of the plate. Mara got some calls, but our girls were doing a lot of fishing, too."

"That's as good as I've seen Mara pitch," agreed West Hills coach STEVE SUTTON. "I didn't realize she had as many strikeouts as she did until after the game."

Thornton walked one and hit two batters. West Hills played errorless defense behind her.

The only run of the game came in the 1st inning when the Norsemen blew a chance for an inning-ending double play with a throwing error that allowed MELISSA HILL to score from second base.

"I thought for sure we were going to get that double play after our third baseman caught a soft line drive for the second out," Hartung said. "But the throw was wide of the mark and we gave West Hills the only run they needed."

Valhalla (5-2), which suffered its first shutout loss in seven games, had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the 6th inning. COURTNEY LUDWIG was hit by a pitch and moved up to second on JODIE SCHMEHR's sacrifice bunt. The Norsemen appeared to have the game tying hit when KELLEY SEITZ rifled a shot that was headed for right-center.

West Hills second baseman NANCY SUE LARSON robbed Seitz of the RBI with a miraculous catch.

"It's hard to describe that catch because it happened so fast," Hartung said. "(Larson) reached across her body and speared the ball."

It was one of three line drives Valhalla hit off Thornton. Schmehr lined out in the 1st inning and ANDREA ALFANO lined out in the 5th.

The only two hits Valhalla pitcher ERICKA MARSH allowed were infield singles by MICHELLE IAVELLI in the 5th and ELISE KOVI in the 6th.

GROSSMONT 12, MOUNT MIGUEL 3 -- CAMMI MOORE continued her torrid hitting as Grossmont mauled host Mount Miguel in Wednesday's (Mar. 22) Grossmont Conference Tournament action.

Moore drove in five runs with a home run, a double and a single. A .500 hitter on the season, Moore has driven in 11 runs in Grossmont's last two games.

Grossmont struck quickly, taking a 3-0 lead after just three pitches. MEGAN GREEN began the game with a single, MICHELLE MIRANDA was hit by the second pitch and Moore swatted the third serve from Mount Miguel freshman LAURA NELSON for her second homer in as many games.

Green led off the 2nd inning with a home run and Moore's two-run double in the 3rd made it 8-0 for Grossmont (4-3). Green was 3-for-4 in Grossmont's 19-hit attack.

After an RBI single by ANDRIANNA NAU made it 9-0 in the 5th, ANDREA NEDDEN belted a solo home run in the 6th.

DOMONIQUE GUERRA pitched three shutout innings of one-hit ball while striking out three.

ROSIE GONZALEZ had a pair of doubles and one run scored for Mount Miguel (0-7).

SANTANA 11, MONTE VISTA 3 -- KRISTEN MEDRUD had a hand in six Santana runs as the Sultans (6-0) slapped the Monarchs in Wednesday's (Mar. 22) Grossmont Conference Tournament action.

Medrud, clubbed a two-run home run and finished 2-for-4 with three RBI. She also pitched three innings to pick up the save for starter SHAE BASS who garnered her third win after limiting the Monarchs (4-2) to two hits and one unearned run over four innings.

Santana totaled 11 hits. AMANDA CARPENTER added a single and double to the Sultans' stack, while RACHAEL FAILLA drove in three runs with a double and a bases-loaded walk.

Santana all but decided the issue with 7 runs in the 1st inning.

"They just hit and hit and hit," said Monte Vista coach SIG CHABROWSKI. "They went through the whole lineup plus two -- they had 11 batters before we got out of the inning. That's why they're the No. 5 team in the county."

AMANDA WARD drove in two runs for Monte Vista in the 7th inning.

HELIX 6, EL CAJON VALLEY 4 -- The Highlanders scored five runs in the 5th inning to wipe out a 4-1 El Cajon Valley lead in Wednesday's (Mar. 22) Grossmont Conference Tournament action.

ALYSSA DRONENBURG delivered the big hit for Helix (2-6-1) -- a three-run double that capped the pivotal fifth frame.

That blast was all that Highlanders' pitcher NATALIE SMITH needed as she limited the visiting Braves to six hits and two earned runs.

PRICILLA CHAVEZ also had two hits and two runs scored for the Highlanders.

"We got kinda behind in the 1st and 3rd innings," said Helix coach JAIME KAHLER. "We keep telling the kids the defense needs to support the pitchers and the offense supports the defense. Our pitcher was throwing great today and things started to work. The kids were having fun out there and we are doing a good job."

East County Sports.com
SERRA MESA (3-22-06) -- Undefeated Christian High pounded out 16 hits to support the overpowering pitching of Patriots freshman JESSIE OWENS as the Patriots pasted Our Lady of Peace, 13-1, in a non-league game Tuesday (Mar. 21) at the Serra Mesa Recreation Center.

Owens (3-0) spun a one-hitter and did not allow an earned run while striking out 18, walking three and hitting one batter.

Sophomore AMANDA PLUM was 4-for-4 with four runs scored to help lead the Patriots (3-0-1), who also received two hits and three RBI from senior SARAH MELVIN.

"The kids hit the ball well today," Christian coach ROMA DAWSON said.

The remainder of Tuesday's schedule was washed out by rain or wet grounds.

East County Sports.com
SPRING VALLEY (3-21-06) -- Coming into the season, the one major hole in the West Hills batting order was someone to plug in for power-hitting KASEY MYTINGER, who smashed the East County home run record last season.

The Wolf Pack seems to have found the solution in outfielder ELISA KOVI. The senior smacked a pair of doubles and a triple to drive in four runs Monday (Mar. 20), pacing West Hills to an 8-0 pasting of previously undefeated Monte Vista in the opener of the annual Grossmont Conference tournament.

"I like to go up there not thinking about anything -- just concentrating on the ball," said Kovi. "We've got a really competitive team this year and we're just starting to play well."

Following a slow 1-2 start this season, West Hills looks again to challenge Santana and Grossmont in the North League. Meanwhile, the Monarchs saw their season-long, 4-game winning streak snapped on a 1-hit shutut by West Hills' KAYLEE KRINGS.

The junior faced just two batters over the minimum while striking out six and walking one. Another batter reached base on an error, and one was thrown out attempting to steal second base.

Only ROSANNE ABEYTA could solve Krings, coming back from an 0-2 pitch to finally loop the ball over the third baseman with one out in the fifth inning.

"We're experimenting and discovered there are some things we can't do," noted Monarchs assistant coach RON PARKER, who noted there might be positions changed the next time Monte Vista takes the field.

West Hills struck early when BRITTANY SWANSON slapped a 2-run single in the first, then later scored when freshman STASIA HOLDMAN singled for a quick 3-0 lead.

Kovi then came on and slugged a 2-run double in the second for a 5-0 lead, then jolted a 2-run triple in the seventh to build the count to7-0.

Meanwhile, MARA THORNTON, the Pack's top pitcher, is expected to start when West Hills meets Valhalla in Wednesday's (Mar. 22) battle of East County powers. Thornton is mulling over scholarship offers from several colleges, but has yet to make a decision.

VALHALLA 1, EL CAPITAN 0 (8 inn.) -- Sophomore slugger KELLEY SEITZ of Valhalla hoisted a flare that glanced off the glove of the El Capitan second baseman with one out in the bottom of the 8th inning Monday (Mar. 20), scoring COURTNEY LUDWIG to give the Norsemen a 1-0 victory in the opening round of the Grossmont Conference Tournament.

Ludwig reached base on a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and dashed to third on JODY SCHMEHR's second sacrifice bunt of the game.

Senior ERICKA MARSH (4-1) rationed the visiting Vaqueros to five singles over eight innings, but it was anything but smooth sailing. She did a toe-dance in escaping a bases loaded jams in the 1st and 3rd innings.

"Ericka is a corners pitcher," said Valhalla coach DOUG HARTUNG, whose 10th-ranked Norsemen are 5-1. "When she gets the calls (from umpires), she's very tough. She's not going to overpower anybody. But she's always around the plate and keeps the ball down."

Valhalla senior ANDREA ALFANO was 2-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. Ludwig did a classic job in the leadoff spot with a double, two walks and a steal in four plate appearances.

Sophomore STEPHANIE REL-SOLIA accounted for two of El Capitan's hits.

STEELE CANYON 4, EL CAJON VALLEY 3 -- The Cougars (3-0) began Monday's (Mar. 20) Grossmont Conference game against the visiting Braves with a 3-0 lead after five innings.

And then things got tough.

The Braves (2-2) kept pecking away, climaxing with two runs in the 7th inning before Steele Canyon sophomore pitcher ERICKA BEASLEY turned out the lights. Beasley allowed only four hits and one earned run as she struck out eight.

JAZMIN DAIGLE, who was 3-for-3, ignited the Steele Canyon offense with RBI singles in the 1st and 5th innings.

LISA MONGELLI was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases for the Cougars, who also received a double and run scored from JAYME JARVIS.

"We weren't as sharp today," said Steele Canyon assistant coach DOUG SUMMERS. "It was pretty cold. Our No. 2 pitcher, DANIELLE DAVISSON, is out 4-6 weeks with a broken finger suffered in Friday's game with San Dieguito. Ericka Beasley is taking over in that spot."

GROSSMONT 16, HELIX 0 -- Junior CAMMI MOORE drove in six runs with an RBI double in the 1st inning, an RBI single in the 4th and a grand slam in the 5th inning as the visiting Foothillers flattened Helix in Monday's (Mar. 20) first round of the Grossmont Conference Tournament.

The Foothillers' KINDRA MYERS drove in four runs with a double and a single and ALYSSA ESCALANTE drove in four runs with a two-run double in the 4th and a two-run single in Grossmont's 7-run 5th inning.

ANDRIANNA NAU added a run-scoring triple for Grossmont (4-2).

The Foothillers finished with 15 hits, including two by JILL TIMMER.

BREANNA COX and NATALIE SMITH accounted for Helix's two hits.

SANTANA 16, MOUNT MIGUEL 1 -- Thirteen Sultans contributed to a 23-hit attack as 5th-ranked Santana (5-0) mauled Mount Miguel (0-6) in Monday's (Mar. 20) Grossmont Conference opener in Spring Valley.

Amazingly enough, the game was scoreless after three innings before Santana broke through for 6 runs in the 4th inning.

Doubles by KATIE THOMAS and JEN KRISMER gave Santana a 1-0 edge in the 4th inning. TAYLOR KELLY's triple made it 2-0. RBI singles by MICHELLE BRAMLAGE, KRISTEN MEDRUD, LAURIE LINDOW and a run-scoring double DANIELLE BALOUGH capped the six-run frame.

ASHLEY MATTOLA, who picked up the win with four innings of 3-hit pitching, laced a three-run double to make it 9-0 in the 5th inning.

The Sultans completed the blowout with 7 runs in the 6th inning. Kelly cracked an RBI double and Balough and KELSEY McILONIE added RBI singles.

Kelly and Bramlage had three hits apiece to pace Santana. BRIANNA PADILLA, Medrud, Mattola, Lindow, McIlonie, Balough and RACHEL FAILLA had two hits each.

GRANITE HILLS 20, CASTLE PARK 1 -- Granite Hills pounded out 19 hits and scored in every inning Monday (Mar. 20) as the Eagles (43-1) rolled to a win in the Falcon Fiesta Classic contest.

NICOLE RIVERA was 4-for-4 with 5 runs scored. BRITTANI BERTUSSI was 3-for-4 with four runs scored.

Pitchers MEGAN BELIO, BRITTANI BERTUSSI and NICOLE RIVERA combined to pitch a 2-hitter, with the win going to freshman Belio in her first official game.

East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (3-19-06) -- Count the Santana Sultans ready to challenge for San Diego CIF supremacy. Not only for the top spot in Division III, but for the top rung on the overall section ladder.

Santana pitchers SHAE BASS (2-0) and KRISTEN MEDRUD (2-0) turned in back-to-back shackling performances in Saturday's (Mar. 18) Hilltop Tournament action. Bass blanked Bonita Vista, 2-0, on a 1-hitter after Medrud muzzled Mar Vista 3-2 with a 4-hitter.

Bass, fresh off the basketball court, fired a 2-hitter and struck out 13 in a 3-2 win over Madison and followed that up with a 9-strikeout effort against the Barons.

SANTANA 3, MAR VISTA 2 -- After falling behind 1-0, Santana scrambled back for two runs in the 4th inning as LAURIE LINDOW laced an RBI double and Bass smashed a run-scoring single.

Even that didn't hold up as Mar Vista tied the game 2-2 in the last of the 5th.

Santana scored the winning run in the 7th as KELSEY McILONIE singled and eventually scored on Medrud's single into the left-center field.

SANTANA 2, BONITA VISTA 0 -- AMANDA CARPENTER ripped an RBI double and LAURIE LINDOW raked an RBI single Saturday (Mar. 18) as Santana edged Bonita Vista in a Hilltop Tournament contest.

"Freshman AMANDA CARPENTER really came through for us," said Santana assistant coach SHANNON MORENO. "We were counting on TARYN PROCTOR, who moved away, and Amanda has really stepped into her shoes. We got lucky."

Carpenter, DANIELLE BALOUGH and McIlonie had two hits apiece for Santana.

EL CAPITAN 11, LA JOLLA 2 -- After a slow start that left them trailing La Jolla 2-0 through three innings, the Vaqueros scored all 11 runs in their final four turns at-bat Saturday (Mar. 18) to claim the Hilltop Tournament victory.

"We kinda spotted them a couple of runs and then got going," said El Capitan coach JOE COTA. "Some of the kids were a little nervous -- had butterflies -- at the start of the game. But they got over them."

STEPHANIE REL-SOLIA was 2-for-5 with three RBI for the Vaqueros. MEGAN McKUNE was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while AMANDA COMBS had three hits, a run and one RBI.

ASHLEY WHITMORE and ASHLEY MARX each had a triple for El Capitan, which totaled nine hits.

KRISTY BARKER pitched a complete-game five-hitter to earn the win for El Cap.

HILLTOP 3, EL CAPITAN 0 -- The Vaqueros were limited to singles by ASHLEY MARX and STACEY NULTON as they suffered their first loss in three starts in Saturday's (Mar. 18) Hilltop Tournament. JULIANNA DUNCAN pitched a 4-hitter in a losing cause for the Vaqueros.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-18-06) -- Unlike baseball, one of the rarest feats in softball (on an enclosed field) is the triple. So when Valhalla High struck for consecutive 3-base hits in the sixth inning Friday (Mar. 17), it paved the way for a victory in a battle of CIF Division III powers.

With both shots landing to almost the identical spot in right-centerfield, KAYLA HOUSTON and KYLA BRANSFORD blasted back-to-back triples to account for all of the ballgame's scoring, powering Valhalla to a 3-0 decision over visiting Clairemont.

"Kayla is a big, strong sophomore," said BRUCE WHITLOW, the acting head coach of the Norsemen. "She's got power and is a clone of (teammate) KELLEY SEITZ."

Following five frames of scoreless play, COURTNEY LUDWIG opened with a single and stole second base. One out later, Seitz walked, which led to a key component prior to Houston's game-winning hit.

"Courtney saw the Clairemont infield was tight, so she took (stole) third base on her own," added Whitlow. "And Kelly was heads-up and took second, too."

Not desiring an encounter with the power-hitting Seitz, the on-deck batter, who made a run at the East County home run record while only playing half of the 2005 season, the Chieftains elected to pitch to Houston with an open base rather than face Seitz with the bases loaded.

Boom! And Houston knocked in both runners for a 2-0 lead. And when Seitz also sent a drive to the same spot, it made a winner of relief pitcher MEGAN McGIRR, who tossed the final four innings for her first varsity victory.

Clairemont pitcher ERICA COELHO failed to make the start for the Chieftains with an undisclosed injury, so Valhalla lifted its No.1 pitcher, ERICKA MARSH, after three innings of 1-hit ball. However, McGirr proved equally effective, allowing just two hits while overcoming a pair of errors.

Marsh struck out three, while McGirr registered four outs on strikeouts. Houston finished with two of the seven hits for the Norsemen (4-1).

STEELE CANYON 13, SAN DIEGUITO 3 -- A nine-run 4th inning and a 17-hit attack helped Steele Canyon to an easy Falcon-Fiesta Tournament victory over visiting San Dieguito Academy on Friday (Mar. 17).

"In the 4th inning all of a sudden the girls just killed the ball," said Steele Canyon assistant coach DOUG SUMMERS. "It was just like in the La Jolla game (a March 10th game in which the Cougars turned up the heat for 7 runs in the 6th inning to win). This is the second game in a row that we've had an inning that broke the game open."

Steele Canyon crushed three home runs, including a 250-foot shot in the air by 5-foot-3 freshman HANNAH ROST leading off the magic 4th. After a single by RACHEL MAHONEY, freshman JAZMIN DAIGLE belted a home run over the right fielder's head to extend the Cougars lead to 4-1.

JAYME JARVIS chipped in a two-run double in the 4th and DANIELLE DAVISSON clubbed a three-run homer.

"We had three legitimate home runs even if we had a fence," Summers said of their wide open field.

LISA MONGELLI was 4-for-4 with a double, triple and three runs scored for the Cougars. Rost finished 3-for-3, while Daigle and Jarvis had two hits apiece.

SAMANTHA BEASLEY allowed one run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. ERIKA BEASLEY pitched two shutout innings to finish the job for Steele Canyon.

GRANITE HILLS 3, SCRIPPS RANCH 3 (8 inn., tie) -- JESSICA SCHATZ slugged a two-run home run in the 6th inning to erase a 3-1 deficit and help the visiting Eagles pull out a non-league tie on Friday (Mar. 17).

NICOLE RIVERA collected two singles, one of them driving in a 1st inning run for the Eagles.

Eagles starter BRITTANI BERTUSSI went five innings, had 10 strikeouts, gave up two hits and one earned run. Granite Hills' CHARNEL ZETSCH pitched three innings of hitless relief while striking out four.

East County Sports.com
SANTEE (3-17-06) -- Winless Madison apparently wasn't impressed by Santana's lofty No. 5 ranking.

The Warhawks (0-5) scored twice in the top of the 7th inning to tie the score 2-2 in Thursday's (Mar. 16) Hilltop Tournament contest. But the Sultans (2-0) wasted little time counter-attacking as they fused together a walk to TAYLOR KELLY, who stole second, advanced to third on AMANDA CARPENTER's sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch to claim a 3-2 triumph over the Warhawks.

Santana took a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. The key blow was LAURIE LINDOW's RBI double.

KATIE THOMAS, who was 2-for-3, drove in Santana's first with a ground out.

"Katie is picking up from last year -- she was our leading hitter last year," said Sultans assistant coach SHANNON MORENO.

Carpenter, Santana's leadoff hitter, stole three bases.

SHAE BASS, making her first start since returning from basketball, fired a two-hitter and struck out 13 for the Sultans.

MONTE VISTA 12, SAN DIEGO 2 -- The Cavers of San Diego High are not likely to apply for membership in the Grossmont Conference any time soon. In games against East County teams El Cajon Valley, El Capitan and Monte Vista, the Cavers were outscored 48-2.

"We let everybody have the opportunity to play," said Monte Vista coach SIG CHABROWSKI.

Notable for the Monarchs was junior pitcher ROSANNE ABEYTA, who went 4-for-4 with 3 RBI.

CHRISTIAN 4, VALLEY CENTER 4 (tie) -- Talk about a dramatic game, the Patriots pulled off an act that didn't receive a curtain call as Christian settled for a Jaguar Classic tie with the home team.

Things started out fine for the Patriots (2-0-1), who claimed a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

JESSIE OWENS singled to lead off the 1st inning, went to second on KARA CARTWRIGHT's sacrifice bunt and stole third. Following AMANDA PLUM's walk, Owens stole home. SARAH SEYMOUR's RBI single made it 2-0.

Owens, who was 2-for-2 with two steals, pitched the first three innings and JENNA ROYCE toiled the final three after Owens needed to leave the ballgame early to attend a drama production.

"I give great credit to Jenna for coming in after starter Owens left in the 3rd inning for a drama production. We had a couple of miscues in the 7th inning, but we came back after being down by two runs," Christian coach ROMA DAWSON said.

Freshman KRISTINA WYNNS was 2-for-3 with a double for Christian.

"Scoring those two runs right away got us off to a good start. We had other scoring opportunities in the 3rd inning but left people on bases."

SCRIPPS RANCH 2, GROSSMONT 1 -- The Foothillers (2-3) surrendered two runs in the 7th inning as they wasted the three-hit pitching of DOMONIQUE GUERRA in Thursday's (Mar. 16) non-league loss to the visiting Falcons.

"The bats just didn't come around," said Grossmont coach JERRY LERUD. "We didn't hit like we should have, couldn't get in synch. We weren't quite ready to play."

MEGAN GREEN had a triple and MICHELLE MIRANDA laced a double for the Foothillers.

Guerra pitched a complete-game 3-hitter in defeat.

East County Sports.com
DEL CERRO (3-16-05) -- Will the real Granite Hills Eagles please stand up.

Following several record-breaking performances to open the season, Granite Hills looked equally as bad at the Cougar Classic to see its record fall back near the .500 plateau with top-ranked Patrick Henry next on the schedule.

However, the Eagles responded with their best effort of the season against a quality opponent, falling one ground ball short of upsetting the undefeated Patriots.

After an error extended the 6th (and final) inning, Patrick Henry designated player Leanna Navarro slugged a game-tying, two-run single. And when the Eagles threw behind a baserunner in an attempt to nail Navarro at second base, another runner raced home to give the Patriots an improbable 3-2 verdict in Falcon Fiesta Tournament play Wednesday (Mar.15). All three runs were unearned.

Henry pitcher Donna Kerr, less than 24 hours removed from tossing a perfect game against San Pasqual at the Cougar Classic, recorded 15 of the Eagles' 18 outs on strikes.

Nevertheless, the teams remained scoreless through five frames, as Granite Hills starter CHARNAL ZETSCH was equally impressive, striking out five and allowing just three hits entering the decisive sixth inning.

Granite Hills claimed a 2-0 lead following a pair of un-Kerr-like walks by Kerr, setting up an RBI single by MANDY OBNEY that bounced off Kerr's glove. JORDAN CONWAY scored, then a bad throw also allowed NICOLE RIVERA to score.

Henry responded with a Dani Griswold single and a walk to Taylor Hensley. However, when a potential game-ending grounder by Ciera Ashman was misplayed to extend the ballgame, Navarro delivered to keep the Patriots perfect at 5-0. The Eagles fell to 3-3-1.

BONITA VISTA 8, HELIX 7 -- Trailing 7-3 entering the final inning, the Highlanders scored four to tie and should have had more in Wednesday's (Mar. 15) Falcon Fiesta Tournament game at Bonita Vista. That fault proved costly as the Barons pushed across a run in the bottom of the 7th to gain the victory.

"If we would cut back on these errors, we would not only be in all these ball games, but we'd be winning them. We have a lot of young players, they just don't have the confidence yet," said Helix coach JAIME KAHLER. "We only have three returning players and one senior."

In the top of the 7th, Helix started with back-to-back singles by KATRINA GLENN and ANDREA MARTIN DEL CAMPO. The next batter hit into a force play and Del Campo was picked off second.

The rally, which had nearly fizzled out with two outs and a runner at first base, received new life when MELISSA FARRIOR and PRICILLA CHAVEZ singled to load the bases.

ALYSSA DRONENBURG, who clubbed a two-run home run in the 1st inning, came through again with a two-run single in the 7th. BRYANNE COX then singled to plate a third run. Dronenburg carried across the tying run on an error.

LA COSTA CANYON 10, WEST HILLS 8 -- Four errors by the host Wolf Pack (1-2) led to eight unearned runs Wednesday (Mar. 15), as La Costa Canyon (3-3) edged West Hills in a Falcon Fiesta Classic contest.

The Mavericks looked as if they would win in a rout as they took a 9-1 lead in the top of the 3rd. West Hills battled back with five runs in the bottom of the 3rd.

ELISE KOVI was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, a run and three RBI to pace the Pack. She is 5-for-7 in her last two games.

MARA THORNTON, who pitched the final four innings in relief allowing just one run and two hits while striking out four, also contributed at the plate. Thornton was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs.

MELISSA HILL was also 2-for-4 with one run. KYLEE KRINGS was 1-for-1 with a squeeze bunt RBI.

"We played our first game back on Mar. 4, and then didn't play again until yesterday (Mar. 14)," West Hills coach STEVE SUTTON said. "It showed in our play in the field and with our pitching."

EL CAPITAN 17, SAN DIEGO 0 -- The Vaqueros received doubles from ASHLEY MARX, ALYSSA LOVEDAY and STEPHANIE REL-SOLIA as El Capitan opened the season Wednesday (Mar. 15) with a lopsided win at San Diego in the Hilltop Tournament. No further details were available.

Santana senior Kristen Medrud slugs this first-inning RBI double and was the winning pitcher to pace the Sultans past visiting University City, 4-1, in Wednesday's action. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (3-15-06) -- The Valhalla Norsemen clipped Cathedral Catholic 4-1 in Tuesday's (Mar. 14) final round of the Cougar Classic at Kit Carson Park.

ERICKA MARSH threw a one-hitter and struck out three as Valhalla, the defending tournament champions, improved to 3-1 overall.

"We managed to play good enough defense behind her to not have (Marsh's) five walks hurt us," said Valhalla assistant coach BRUCE WHITLOW, who is directing the Norsemen while head coach DOUG HARTUNG is in Hawaii watching his daughter MEAGAN HARTUNG and San Diego State play softball.

"But Ericka and (catcher) KRISSY (VESSEY) worked very well together."

Valhalla took a 2-0 lead in the 4th inning. JODIE SCHMEHR led off with a single and scored when a hard hit ball by KELLEY SEITZ eluded the Cathedral second baseman. Seitz eventually came around to score on a single by KAYLA HOUSTON.

In the 5th inning, COURTNEY LUDWIG stayed back nicely on a 1-2 changeup and hit the ball hard up the middle. On a hit and run Schmehr smacked the first pitch for a triple into the right field gap, scoring Ludwig. Schmehr came home on a wild pitch that caromed off the catcher's shin guard during Seitz's bat.

Kudos to Valhalla left fielder ANDREA ALFANO who made two dynamic catches in left field for the Norsemen.

SANTANA 4, UNIVERSITY CITY 1 -- For the first time out of the chute this season, Santana came out swinging in Tuesday's (Mar. 14) non-League game against visiting University City.

AMANDA CARPENTER ripped a leadoff double and came around to score on a pair of infield groundouts in the first inning. LAURIE LINDOW kept the inning going with a walk and scored on a double by KRISTEN MEDRUD.

Lindow laced a single to left to set the Santana offense in motion again in the 5th inning. Medrud sacrificed Lindow to second. KELSEY McILONIE singled to center as Lindow took third. When McIlonie got caught in a run down between first and second, Lindow scored to make it 3-0. McIlonie was eventually tagged for the second out.

But Santana wasn't through. MICHELLE BRAMLAGE doubled to left and scored on JEN KRISMER's single to center.

Lindow, McIlonie and Krismer had two hits apiece for Santana.

Medrud pitched a complete game, scattering six hits while striking out 5.

WEST HILLS 7, MORSE 2 --The Wolf Pack hammered out 13 hits in Tuesday's (Mar. 14) Falcon-Fiesta Classic victory over the Tigers at Morse.

Senior second baseman NANCY LARSON was 3-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice bunt to pace West Hills (1-1).

BRIANNA LaCHUSA's RBI single gave West Hills a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning.

MICHELLE IAVELLI's two-run double, followed by JAYLEEN BUSH's RBI single, made it 4-0 in the 3rd inning.

MARA THORNTON capped the Wolf Pack scoring with an RBI double in the 7th.

KAYLEE KRINGS blanked the Tigers on one hit over the first four innings for the win before freshman CHELSEA VELOVICH toiled the final three frames to earn the save.

CARLSBAD 10, HELIX 0 -- The Lancers noted their displeasure by being left off both major CIF-San Diego Section media fastpitch polls by raising their record to 3-1 by blanking the Highlanders.

Senior pitcher Dana Robbins tossed a 3-hit shutout for Carlsbad, backed by a 2-run homer by Alyssa McKinney in the third, part of a 14-hit attack against three Helix pitchers.

The lone Highlanders hits were all singles by MELISSA FARRIOR, BETH AMANN and ALYSSA DRONENBURG.

RANCHO BUENA VISTA 17, MOUNT MIGUEL 0 -- Brooke Rhoades tossed a 1-hit shutout, as the Matadors avoided the no-hitter with a hit in the fifth and final inning (mercy rule). Rhodes struck out six.

Ashley Afalava smacked a 2-run homer in the first inning as part of her 3-for-4 outing at the plate, while Marissa Hughes slugged a pair of triples, including a 2-RBI blast when the Longhorns (2-2) scored eight times in the 3rd, then another in a 6-run fifth-inning rally to keep Mount Miguel (0-4) winless.

Notes -- In other tournament action, Patrick Henry pitcher Donna Kerr struckout 14 batters in tossing a perfect game at San Pasqual, 3-0.

East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (3-14-06) -- Grossmont Foothillers coach JERRY LERUD might need to make a difficult decision in the near future. While preseason No. 1 pitcher ROXY HESHMATY pitched six strong innings in Monday's (Mar. 13) Cougar Classic action, DOMONIQUE GUERRA did even better.

Guerra struck out six and allowed just two hits, helping the Foothillers defeat second-ranked Mira Mesa, 5-2, in the final game of pool play. Grossmont later advanced to the rain-delayed knockout phase of the tournament, falling to Poway, 5-1, in the quarterfinals.

Following an injury-plagued junior year, Guerra has come out strong in her senior season. She went six innings without allowing an earned run in her opening outing against El Centro-Southwest, a team expected to be ranked in one of the county's two major polls this week. Then Guerra overcame an early 2-run rally by the Marauders by not allowing any hits over the final four innings, giving the Foothillers time to rally with five unanswered runs for the victory.

The comeback was sparked with three runs in the fourth. After KIERSTIN ENGLISH singled home CAMMI MOORE with the game-tying run, English and ANDRIANNA NAU scored on a 2-run basehit by MEGAN GREEN.

JILL TIMMER also scored twice, coming home on an RBI single by MICHELLE MIRANDA in the third, then crossing the plate on a throwing error after taking third base in the fifth.

POWAY 5, GROSSMONT 1 -- In the Foothillers' second game, the No. 4 Titans broke open a 1-0 contest with four runs in the sixth, although Grossmont avoided the shutout on a ROXY HESHMATY home run to lead off the home-half of the sixth in Monday's (Mar. 13).

Hilary Hopkins went 1-for-3 with double and two RBIs for Poway (2-1-1). Grossmont is 2-2.

GRANITE HILLS 3, MT. CARMEL 3 -- BRITTANI BERTUSSI's two-run single gave Granite Hills a one-run edge in the 5th inning of this Cougar Classic contest at Kit Carson Park.

The Sundevils tied the score with a singleton in the 6th before the tournament time limit halted play after six innings.

CHARNEL ZETSCH scattered eight hits and allowed three runs while striking 6 in as many frames.

WESTVIEW 4, VALHALLA 1 -- This was a battle of unearned runs as neither side scored an honest marker in Monday's (Mar. 13) Cougar Classic contest. Five errors spelled defeat for Valhalla (2-1) and a recorded a four-run 1st inning for Westview (3-0).

"The five errors pretty much told the story," said Valhalla assistant coach BRUCE WHITLOW. "We had chances but couldn't get a hit when we needed it. The Westview pitcher had a good off-speed pitch that a lot of people were lunging for."

With one away to start the 5th inning, JODIE SCHMEHR had a base hit and KELLEY SEITZ hit a hard one-hopper to first base that started a double play for Westview.

"They made the plays and we didn't,"said Whitlow.

TORREY PINES 9, HELIX 1 -- The Falcons grabbed a 6-1 lead after three innings as they blew out Helix in Monday's (Mar. 13) Cougar Classic action at Kit Carson Park.

"Our first pitcher kept getting called for illegal pitches," said Helix coach JAIME KAHLER. "It really takes the kids out of the game, definitely affects your infield."

Helix (0-2-1) committed three errors that led to two unearned runs for Torrey Pines (3-1).

East County Sports.com
LA JOLLA (3-11-06) -- Steele Canyon overcame bad weather and the La Jolla Vikings Friday (Mar. 10) to open the season with a 10-2 non-league victory.

The Cougars actually came from behind for the win. Trailing 2-1 after three, Steele Canyon scrambled back for two runs in the 5th and seven runs in the 6th. The game was called after six frames due to darkness.

Activity was halted by a rain delay in the 3rd inning for about 20 minutes. Had the game not been played on La Jolla's artificial surface, it would have never started.

The Cougars made the most of the chance to play, banging out 13 hits to support the complete-game pitching of junior SAMANTHA BEASLEY, who struck out seven.

Sophomore JAYME JARVIS drove in three runs and scored three with a home run, a double and a single in four at-bats for Steele Canyon. LISA MONGELLI whacked two doubles as she went 3-for-3 for the Cougars.

"I think we are going to have a good hitting team," said Steele Canyon assistant coach DOUG SUMMERS. "I like our chances -- as long as we can hit, we'll be fine. We had seven consecutive hits to start the 6th inning, had five runs in before any outs."

JAZMIN DAIGLE had two hits and two RBI in the Cougars' breakout 6th inning. ERICKA BEASLEY ripped a two-run double in that frame.

East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (3-10-06) -- With several collegiate scouts in attendance to watch her pitch, Grossmont High senior ROXY HESHMATY seems to have turned into a hot commodity in the recruiting wars. And she did not disappoint those who saw her work.

Facing the defending CIF-San Diego Section Division I champions in Rancho Bernardo, Heshmaty scattered six hits and allowed just one earned run, backing the Foothillers to an 8-4 triumph to highlight Thursday's (Mar. 9) action at the Cougar Classic Tournament at Kit Carson Park. Heshmaty struck out eight Broncos, including the first four batters she faced to set the tone early.

"I hear several schools are looking at me, including San Diego State, Point Loma Nazarene and (Cal Poly) Pomona," noted Heshmaty. "But right now, I'm just concerned about pitching for this team."

With SDSU assistant coaches in attendance, Heshmaty made several key strikeouts when Rancho Bernardo roared back from a 5-0 deficit to within 5-4 entering the fifth and final inning, due to the tournament time-limit rule.

"My changeup is my best pitch, but I'm moving the ball around well, too," added the senior. "Meanwhile, everyone on the team was on top of everything. We put a lot of hits together."

Heshmaty then used her bat to help Grossmont erase the memory of an ugly loss one day earlier. She slammed an RBI triple for a run, then scored when JILL TIMMER also banged out a three-base hit, as the Hillers registered four triples as part of a 15-hit attack in the contest.

Grossmont scored four times in the first, including the first of two triples by TImmer to push across a pair of runs. For the ballgame, she went 2-for-4 with three RBI, while catcher MICHELLE MIRANDA recorded the other 3-base hit as part of a 3-for-3, two RBI outing.

Sophomore ANDRIANNA NAU also batted 3-for-3 for the Hillers.

MONTE VISTA 11, MAR VISTA 5 -- Monte Vista coach SIG CHABROWSKI isn't afraid to come right out and say it:

"We have a great team," he stated. "And I'm glad I have a great coaching staff in RON PARKER, RICK McMILLAN and MELANIE MASSEY, one of my former players, to help prepare these kids for the games. After being down 2-0 today (after three innings), the kids didn't give up; they battled back. I lost my voice from shouting directions, had to have someone else yell for me."

BREANNA McMILLAN smashed a 3-run homer in the 6th inning on a 1-2 pitch that put the game on ice for the Monarchs (3-0), who sent the visiting Mariners packing 11-5 in Thursday's (Mar. 9) non-league game.

"The pitch was low and outside," McMillian said. "I saw the perfect pitch and smacked it. I was just amazed as I ran the bases."

McMillan (2-0), who pitched a complete game 6-hitter, noted that "my curve and drop pitch and fastball seem to always work for me."

Monarchs designated hitter JESIKA PEREA was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and scored two runs.

"I was hitting mostly fastballs outside," Perea said. "Those are my favorite pitches."

ALYSSA PARKER had two hits and scored three times for the Monarchs, who also got two hits and two RBI from ROSANNE ABEYTA. ROSALYN BURNS added two hits and an RBI, as did AMANDA WARD.

RANCHO BUENA VISTA 7, GRANITE HILLS 0 -- Longhorns pitcher Corie Goodman moved within two outs of a perfect game, but an infield error in the 6th and final inning forced the sophomore to settle for a no-hitter against the Eagles in a Cougar Classic pool play contest on Thursday (Mar. 9).

The lone baserunner for Granite Hills (3-2) was left-handed hitting MEGAN BELIO, who slapped a grounder to shortstop. However, the grounder was booted for a one-out error. Goodman retired the next two batters, finishing with10 strikeouts.

RBV centerfield Melissa Tobia batted 4-for-4 (all singles) with three RBI, including an RBI single in the fifth to break a scoreless duel and a 2-run basehit in the 6th when the Longhorns (1-2) scored five times.

SAN PASQUAL 2, HELIX 0 -- Golden Eagles pitcher Alex Villalobos tossed a 2-hit shutout at the Highlanders in another Cougar Classic pool play affair. The game lasted only six innings due to the tournament time limit.

Villalobos needed to throw zeros at Helix (1-1-1) as San Pasqual didn't break the scoreless duel until the fifth inning to remain undefeated at 2-0. Included was an RBI single by Natasha Dassow, who scored when Allisha Martinez blasted a triple over the centerfield's head.

For the Scotties, NATALIE SMITH (2nd inning) and ALYSSA BRITSCHGI (3rd) registered the teams' lone basehits.

East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (3-9-06) -- Often overlooked because of its location, Southwest High School of El Centro might just be the top CIF-SDS ballclub in Division III this season, already defeating defending divisional champion Westview.

And the Eagles again demonstrated why they may be the team to beat, even over the likes of the Wolverines, Santana or Hilltop in Wednesday's (Mar. 8) pool play contest in the Cougar Classic at Kit Carson Park.

Despite the Foothillers scoring the apparent winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Eagles took advantage of two costly mistakes, allowing sophomore Amber Salazar a chance to slug a three-run homer in the seventh to topple Grossmont, 6-4.

In the sixth, Hillers left-fielder ADRIANA NAU belted a sharp single to center, scoring KINDRA MYERS to snap a 3-all tie. Myers opened the frame by being hit by a pitch, then moved into scoring position on a perfect REBECCA OSBORNE sacrifice bunt.

However, with two minutes left on the tournament's 90-minute time-limit clock, instead of stalling out the clock to win the game, Grossmont kept swinging and Southwest was able to produce a quick, inning-ending double play to extend the game.

Grossmont then elected to pitch to Salazar, who came up with two runners in scoring position and first base open with one out, while the batter on-deck was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. Instead of issuing the walk, Salazar bombed the ball over the centerfield's head and circled the bases, giving her four RBI for the contest.

"Actually, I wasn't surprised they pitched to me," said Salazar, a sophomore, who teams with University of Oklahoma-bound shortstop Amber Flores to give Southwest a potent 1-2 punch in the middle of their line-up. "The pitcher wanted to come back in the count, so I expected the pitch to be down the middle."

Winning pitcher Jennifer Lopez then pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to close out the triumph. She struck out six without issuing a walk, although she did hit one batter.

Grossmont (0-1) also demonstrated some power as MEGAN GREEN slugged the first pitch in the bottom of the first for a solo homer to right. One inning later, Adriana Nau belted a two-run homer that tipped off the extended glove of the Southwest right-fielder, circling the infield for a 3-0 lead.

Flores went 2-for-4, with a 2-run single in the third, then scored the tying run on Salazar's single. All three runs were unearned off Grossmont starter DOMONIQUE GUERRA, who looked strong after being hampered by tendinitis all last season. Guerra struck out 10 Eagles.

Green, Nau and JILL TIMMER collected two hits each for Grossmont. Salazar finished hitting 3-for-4

VALHALLA 6, OCEANSIDE 4 -- Traditionally a team centered around pitching, the Valhalla Norsemen have taken on a different look this season. The Norsemen are now hoping their offense can carry much of the load.

So far, so good.

Sophomore KELLEY SEITZ led Valhalla's attack in Wednesday's (Mar. 8) Cougar Classic 6-4 victory over Oceanside at Kit Carson Park.

Seitz, who is 5-for-6 in Valhalla's first two games, laced an RBI double to break a 3-3 tie in the 5th inning. But that was only part of her story. Seitz followed a triple by COURTNEY LUDWIG with a home run in the 1st inning. Seitz also delivered a scoring fly ball in the 3rd inning that gave Valhalla a 3-1 lead.

Six of Valhalla's nine hits against Oceanside pitcher Melissa Moffatt went for extra bases.

"€œWe hit some long shots," Valhalla coach DOUG HARTUNG said. "They were all hard hit balls."

Ludwig, Seitz and sophomore KAYLA HOUSTON had two hits apiece for Valhalla. Houston had a double and an RBI triple.

JAMIE ZINTER keyed Valhalla's winning rally with a lead-off double in the 5th. After Seitz gave the Norsemen a one-run lead, JODIE SCHMEHR's sacrifice fly made it 5-3. Houston's triple made it a three-run spread.

Valhalla senior ERICKA MARSH was touched up for four earned runs, but came out a winner for the second straight day.

East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (3-8-06) -- Helix High freshman right-fielder NATALIE SMITH clouted a 2-run single just before the Cougar Classic time-limit expired Tuesday (Mar. 7), as the Highlanders' offense came alive late following five scoreless frames to secure a 2-2 draw against Clairemont in the pool play opener for both ballclubs.

It was an impressive outing by both ballclubs, including the match-ups between the pitchers, as the Highlanders' MELISSA FARRIOR matched All-SDCIF pitcher Erica Coelho of the Chieftains with five shutout innings. During the stretch, Farrior yielded only one hit, but the batter was thrown out attempting to stretch the hit into a double when centerfielder BETH AMANN tossed a strike to ALYSSA BRITSCHGI at second base in the 5th inning.

However, the Chieftains finally struck for two runs in the 6th, only to see Helix receive a major break after ALYSSA DRONENBERG grounded out to open the bottom half of the frame.

Moments before Dronenberg rolled out to shortstop on a 3-2 pitch, the first base umpire called time due to a loose ball in the Clairemont bullpen. The pitch was replayed and Dronenberg drew a walk, followed by another base-on-balls to CANDICE KROM.

One out later, Smith sent a bomb to the gap in left-center for three bases to knot the game, which was called two batters later when the tournament clock expired.

"I was thinking that I only wanted to get the bat on the ball and get it through the infield," noted Smith, who instead found the baseball fence in left-center . "It ended up being a power hit."

Meanwhile, Farrior proved to be equal to Coelho, a senior who once pitched the Chieftains to the CIF Division III title game as a frosh. This gives Helix coach JAIME KAHLER room for optimism.

"We're a really, really young team, so I would love to see us come through as underdogs all season," said Kahler, who returns just three players to her roster. "It's exciting to see everyone on this team already coming together, and phenomenal to see the whole team hitting so well."

The Highlanders placed baserunners in scoring position in almost every inning, but strong Clairemont defense prevented Helix from breaking through earlier. Included were several nice stops by the left-side of the Chieftains infield by third baseman Kailey Schmutz and shortstop Chelsea Gonion.

VALHALLA 9, ORANGE GLEN 0 -- Sophomore first-baseman KELLEY SEITZ collected three hits, including a double while scoring in the first inning, helping the Norsemen run-rule the Patriots in Tuesday's (Mar. 7) Cougar Classic pool play affair.

Seitz scored in each of Valhalla's three run-scoring rallies, while four others garnered two knocks each to back a 12-hit attack.

Meanwhile, ERICKA MARSH tossed a 3-hit shutout over the game's five innings, setting down 14 of the first 16 Patriots she faced, including a trio of 1-2-3 frames.

After Seitz scored on a single by KRISSY VESSEY in the first, the Norsemen scpred five times in the third, featuring a 2-run single by KYLA BRANSFORD. The team later added three runs in the fourth, as Bransford registered her third RBI of the contest, while ANDI ALFANO recorded her second straight run-scoring basehit.

Also gathering a pair of hits were Vessey and KAYLA HOUSTON, including a double.

CHRISTIAN 5, CORONADO 2 -- Patriots freshman pitcher JESSIE OWENS continues to follow the footpaths of her more renowned older sister -- former Christian High pitcher MELISSA OWENS, now at San Diego State.

The younger Owens pitched a complete game for her second victory while striking out 10 Islanders, then jump-started the offense with a triple and scored in the first to lift the Patriots to their second triumph in as many starts.

Owens smacked a lead-off triple to open Christian's 9-hit attack, then scored on a ground ball to the right-side of the infield by KARA CARTWRIGHT.

SARAH SEYMOUR then had a hand in a pair of rallies in the fourth and the fifth, first garnering a walk and later scoring on a NICOLE MARCOS grounder. An inning later, Seymour smartly hit the ground ball to score AMANDA PLUM, who opened with a double down the left-field line.

Plum added a two-run single in the sixth to score Owens and Cartwright.

SAN MARCOS 9, MOUNT MIGUEL 4 -- Heather Foster collected three of the Knights' 15 hits in another Cougar Classic contest held Tuesday (Mar. 7) at Kit Carson Park.

The Braves scored in every inning as they balanced their season ledger at 1-1.

No other information was reported by El Cajon Valley coach MIKE McCLAIN.

East County Sports.com
SPRING VALLEY (3-5-06) -- The host Monte Vista Monarchs opened their season with a little off-the-field hospitality Saturday afternoon (Mar. 4) when they welcomed Calexico in what has become a traditional double-header.

On the field, the Monarchs swept the rebuilding Bulldogs 17-0 and 5-0. But saved the best part for the middle -- as in between games.

"We had a one hour break between games and fed both teams and the JV a hamburger and hotdog barbecue with beans and homemade chile, potato salad and cupcakes," Monte Vista coach CIG CHABROWSKI said. "I felt kinda bad. The first year we played them I gave them water; then when we traveled down there they fed us carne asada. I wanted to make sure it was different this time. We gave them the extra food to take on their 2-hour bus ride home."

Monte Vista pitchers gave them nothing. ROSANNE ABEYTA and BREANNA McMILLAN each picked up a win, blanking the Bulldogs on three hits over 11 innings (second game called by mercy rule). McMillan struck out 10 in six innings in the two games.

ASHLEY MILLER was 5-for-7 with two doubles, 3 runs and a pair of RBI to lead Monte Vista. ALYSSA PARKER had three doubles and four RBI in the twinbill. ROSALYN BURNS was 3-for-4 with a double, triple and 4 RBI in the nightcap.

GRANITE HILLS 26-16, CHULA VISTA 0-5 (REVISED 3-6-06) -- Backed by a pair of record displays of power, the Eagles (3-0) twice run-ruled the Spartans (0-2) to sweep Saturday's (Mar. 4) doubleheader.

In the opener, MANDY OBNEY broke the listed Grossmont Conference record with 10 RBI, batting 4-for-4 with a pair of homers (a 3-run shot and a grand slam) and two doubles.

Driving in runs at a "cycle" pace, Obney pushed home across one run with a double in the 2nd, then collected two hits in the 3rd. She plated two runners with a double, then slammed a 3-run homer, later adding a grand slam in the 4th for her 10 RBI.

CHARNEL ZETSCH and JESSIE SCHATZ also hit homers, giving the Eagles four for the contest, falling just one short of the CIF-San Diego Section record. Zetsch also hit for the cycle in going 4-for-5, while Schatz and SAGE WOODROW each went 3-for-3.

In the second game, also called after five innings, ALYSHA BENSON drove home five runs, belting a 3-run double and a 2-run single. Zetsch also knocked in three runs, and was the winning pitcher in both contests.

For the twinbill, Obney went 6-for-7, while Schatz, BRITTANI BERTUSSI and MEGAN BELIO each registered five hits.

Obney broke the RBI mark set by ANJIE BRYANT of El Capitan in 1987. Bryant later became among the all-time pitching leaders for Cal State Fullerton.

The all-time section mark for RBI is also held by an East County player. JENNY RAY of Christian collected 12 runs batted in during a May 2000 contest against Hoover.

EL CENTRO SOUTHWEST 3, WEST HILLS 0 -- A pair of perennial San Diego CIF powers collided in Saturday's (Mar. 4) season opener of the Falcon Fiesta Classic at La Costa Canyon.

The Wolf Pack was limited to one hit -- SHARLANA BURNER's 6th inning single – by Eagles junior Jennifer Lopez, who struck out seven.

MARA THORNTON gave up three runs-- all in the 3rd inning -- but walked none and struck out 5 in a six-inning stint for West Hills. Pack reliever CHELSEA VELOVICH pitched the 7th, striking out all three batters she faced.

"When we did hit the ball we hit it right at them," said West Hills coach STEVE SUTTON. "They are a pretty good team. We had one bad inning."

East County Sports.com
LA MESA (3-4-06) -- Helix overcame a 4-1 deficit with four runs in the bottom of the 5th inning Friday (Mar. 3), as the Highlanders opened the season with a 6-4 non-league victory over visiting Eastlake.

Base hits by BETH AMANN and MELISSA FARRIOR set the stage for Helix's 5th-inning comeback. The runners advanced into scoring position on a groundout by PRICILLA CHAVEZ. Back-to-back errors by Eastlake allowed both runners to score.

Helix tied the game on a RBI single freshman ALEX SARZYNIAK and took the lead on CHRISTINE JACOBITIES' RBI single.

Farrior sparked Helix's 11-hit attack with three hits and three runs in three at-bats.

Dronenberg had two hits and two RBI for the Highlanders. Jacobites also had a pair of hits for Helix.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-3-06) -- Junior MANDY OBNEY ripped a three-run home run and senior CHARNEL ZETCH struck out 13 Thursday (Mar. 2), as host Granite Hills opened the season with a 7-3 non-league victory over Eastlake.

JESSIE SCHATZ also clubbed a triple for the Eagles, who host Chula Vista in a non-league double-header on Saturday (Mar. 4) beginning at 10 a.m.

Christian High freshman Jessica Owens belts an inside-the-park home run, the only run she would need while pitching the Patriots past visiting El Cajon Valley, 1-0. (Photo by Burt Melvin)

Oh, those Owens!
Little sister takes over from where
big sister left off

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-2-06) -- Only four players in CIF-San Diego Section history have belted 20 or more career home runs in softball. One of them is former Christian High standout MELISSA OWENS, the 3-time CIF player of the year, now performing for San Diego State.

However, another Owens sister could obliterate all of those records.

On Wednesday (Mar. 1), the Patriots welcomed to their line-up freshman JESSICA OWENS, who belted an inside-the-park homer in her first career outing -- the difference in a 1-0 triumph over visiting El Cajon Valley to open the 2006 season.

It was one of three hits for Owens, who also struck out 17 while blanking the Braves on a 2-hitter.

AMANDA PLUM and KARA CARTWRIGHT added two hits apiece for the Patriots, who collected 11 safeties.

The Aztecs' Taryin Casillas (SDSU Courtesy Photo)

Locals leading SDSU
Meanwhile, San Diego State freshman pitcher MELSSA OWENS fired a six-inning. 1-hit shutout at USD, as the Aztecs (10-3) won, 8-0, Wednesday night. The victory gives SDSU an overall 10-3 record, equalling the best start in school history.

Owens (2-0) struck out a career-high eight Toreros. She walked none and retired the final 12 batters she faced after giving up a leadoff double in the third inning. In 14.0 innings this season, she has allowed only one earned run for an ERA of 0.50.

Grossmont High alum TARYIN CASILLAS led the SDSU offensive attack with three hits and an RBI, while Valhalla alum MEAGAN HARTUNG (2-for-4) had her fourth two-hit game of the season.

East County Sports.com
LINDA VISTA (2-3-06) -- The schedule of games has been released for the 2nd annual First Pitch Softball Classic, the season-opening event of the high school fastpitch season which raises funds for the CIF-San Diego Section. Six ballgames are slated, with Christian High school the lone East Country entrant among the 12 participating schools.

CIF commissioner Dennis Ackerman announced the games will be held at Sat., Feb. 25, on two fields at the Rancho Bernardo High School softball complex.

The classic begins at 10 a.m. in a contest between former league rivals meet when 2005 Division IV finalist CHRISTIAN battles Our Lady of Peace, while 2005 Division IV semifinalist La Jolla Country Day going against rising contender Ramona.

At 11:30a.m., Hilltop meets Valley Center, while Serra takes on Torrey Pines. Finally at 1 p.m., it's Division IV champion Imperial meeting Castle Park, while Division II quarterfinalist El Centro-Southwest meet the host Rancho Bernardo Broncos, the defending Division I champions.

Tickets are just $6 and go on sale Feb. 1, 2006. To purchase tickets or for further information, contact the CIFSDS office at 858-292-8165 or visit the section's website www.cifsds.org.

East County Sports.com
HANOVER, N.H. (1-20-06) -- Monte Vista High softball third baseman ALYSSA PARKER, who was selected to the All-East County team last season, is one of four early-season recruits to declare their intentions to join the fast-pitch program at Dartmouth University of the Ivy League for the 2007 season.

Parker batted .372 and was among the Grossmont South League leaders with 25 runs batted in, while being noted as a sure-handed third baseman.

On the field, Parker has received all-league honors since her freshman year and received Gatorade's "Team Player Award" in 2005 and "Will to Win Award" in 2004. She currently plays for the ASA 18-U San Diego Legacy club program, which took first place at the 2004 ASA Western National Championships.

Parker's academics are as solid as her glove. She has been named a California Scholastic All-CIF selection six times and received Monte Vista's "Top of Class" Academic Achievement award three times.

Dartmouth finished 10-26-1 last season.

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 df. Santa Rosa-Ursuline
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 8, Pahrump Valley (Nev.) 0 (5 inn.)
West Hills df. Madison, no score reported

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