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Beasley honored as EA Sports All-American
Henry's Kerr also on first team

© East County Sports.com
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (7-21-07) -- Nine players from California highlight the second annual EA Sports High School All-America fastpitch softball teams, including a pair of CIF San Diego Section standouts in Steele Canyon's SAM BEASLEY and Patrick Henry''s Donna Kerr. They were rated among 30 players named to the first team, as selected by the editors of Student Sports.

Florida prep Kelsi Dunne was tabbed EA Sports' national player of the year,while Diane Laffey of Michigan was the coach of the year.

Beasley was honored among the utility players for both her pitching and hitting abilities.

The San Diego State bound Beasley went undefeated in two seasons of playoff action, leading the Cougars to consecutive CIF-SDS Division III championships. She also collected 61 hits this past season, the second-highest total in section history, helping her gain Player of the Year honors by the San Diego Hall of Champions and an All-California state berth from CalHiSports.

She also finished with seven homers, 24 RBI, and an ERA of 1.11 with 148 strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Kerr, one of three first-team honorees headed for UCLA, did not go unnoticed even after the Patriots for disqualified from participating in the CIF playoffs.

Kerr as another EA Sports All-American who represented the U.S. in the Netherlands this summer as part of the Jr. National team.

Last summer, Kerr was the winning pitcher for her club team, the OC Batbusters, at ASA Gold Nationals. She continued her success in her senior season at Henry, throwing several no-hitters and one-hitters with a season high 17 strikeouts against Madison. She ended her career with 914 strikeouts.

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Five Inlanders gain All-State honors
Beasley, Bass, among Elite 30

© East County Sports.com
TORRANCE (6-29-07) -- Five East County fastpitch players are among a list of 14 standouts from San Diego County honored on various All-California teams announced Friday (June 29) by CalHiSports.com.

Included on two all-state lists are Steele Canyon's SAM BEASLEY and LORENA KLOPP. Both were tabbed to the all-state team among medium-size schools, of which Beasley was tabbed player of the year earlier in the week. Beasley also ranked among the top overall players on the All-State Elite 30, while Klopp, a finalist for freshman of the year honors, was a second-team pick on the All-Underclass team.

Also gaining an All-State citations was Santana High pitcher SHAE BASS. Like, Beasley, the Michigan State bound Bass was on the all-star roster for medium-size schools.

Meanwhile, JESSIE OWENS of Christian and KELLY MAJAM of Mountain Empire were honored among the 30 best in the All-State Small Schools division.

Other CIF-San Diego Section players honored were junior pitcher Jessica McDermott and senior catcher Chelsea Bemis, who both led Mt. Carmel to its first section championship. Each were named to the All-State second-team. Bemis will play for Louisville next season.

Also named to the second team was Vista catcher Audrey Roderfeld and Oceanside shortstop Trina Harrison-Doublet.

Escondido junior pitcher Lisa Akamine was named to the All-State Underclass first team along with McDermott and Harrison-Doublet. Akamine committed to Penn State prior to last month's CIF playoffs.

Patrick Henry pitcher Donna Kerr (UCLA) was selected to the All-State first team along with Beasley (San Diego State). Mira Mesa pitcher Melissa Tillett (Northern Iowa) was on the second team, although she out-polled Kerr for Eastern League pitcher of the year laurels..

Joining Owens and Majam on the All-State Small Schools Team was sophomore infielder Lauren Tomey, who helped Francis Parker to the CIF Div. IV crown over Christian.

This 'n' data -- Klopp (101) and Beasley (99) did establish an East County record for total bases, while the Cougars' team total of 530 breaks the existing state record listed in the CalHiSports record book... Steele Canyon also set CIF-SDS records for home runs (36) in a season and triples (5) in a game... Beasley's 62 hits were one short of the section mark set by Lisa Dodd (University City), who now plays for UCLA.

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Beasley named State Player of the Year
Teammate Klopp to receive All-Underclassmen berth

© East County Sports.com
TORRANCE (6-24-07) -- San Diego State bound pitcher SAM BEASLEY of Steele Canyon High became just the second fastpitch athlete from San Diego County to be named one of CalHiSports' California State players of the year.

Beasley headed the publication's All-State team for medium size schools, joining former University City standout LISA DODD (UCLA) to earn the honor since teams were first selected following the 1981 season.

Meanwhile, Steele Canyon teammate LORENA KLOPP, who played first base when not spelling Beasley in the pitching circle, is expected to be selected to state all-underclassmen team when CalHiSports makes its announcemenyt later this week. Plus, the Cougars were selected the top Division III ballclub in California under the direction of head coach JULIE BOHE.

Beasley capped her high school career with dominant performance in the CIF San Diego Section championships. She capped a 6-0 postseason run over two seasons by whipping Cathedral Catholic and Santana en route to a second straight second title.

Against Catholic, she equaled a second record with three homers while striking out 15 in a complete-game shutout victory. Beasley capped her career with a victory over the Grossmont Conference rival Sultans, posting a 15-4 record with 1.12 ERA with 148 strikeouts, along with slugging a solid .521 batting average.

Earlier, Beasley was named CIF-SDS player of the year by both the media (San Diego Hall of Champions and San Diego Union-Tribune) and coaches (CIF Division III player of the year).

Klopp led all East County batters with a .531 average this past season, including nine homers and an East County record 60 RBI (second-best in section history). She compiled 101 total bases, which is believed to be a record, while amassing a 7-2 pitching record. CalHiSports is expected to announce that Klopp was one of the finalists for the State Frosh of the Year award.

The last state freshman of the year from San Diego was Monte Vista's KELLY HOWARD (now Kelly Howard Warren) in 1989. Later a two-time All-America at UCLA, she served as an assistant coach at San Diego State until being named the head coach at Cal State San Marcos last month.

The numbers -- During the Cougars' team banquet, Bohe announced that Beasley's uniform No. 7 will be retired.

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Steele Canyon senior pitcher Sam Beasley -- the 2007 East County Fastpitch Player of the year. (Photo by Susan Cooper Photography)

Beasley tabbed
East County's
Player of the Year
Also named county's best
by San Diego Hall of Champions

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (6-8-07) --The CIF Division III playoffs didn't serve as a tiebreaker to determine East County's player of the year, it only served as validation.

Following a 3-homer hitting performance in the semifinals, Steele Canyon pitcher SAM BEASLEY out-dueled her opponent with a shutout in the final to gain the school's second straight San Diego Section championship. And when you throw in a season batting average hovering above .500, the multifaceted Beasley was the selection to top the 2007 All-East County fastpitch team.

With a scholarship to San Diego State in her pocket, Beasley is also a leading finalist for the player of the year award for the entire county. The All-County Team, as selected by the media through the San Diego Hall of Champions, will be released Saturday.

San Diego Hall of Champions' 2007 All-CIFSDS Team Sam Beasley CIF Player of the Year First Team Sam Beasley, Steele Canyon Shae Bass, Santana Lorena Klopp, Steele Canyon Second Team Jazmin Daigle, Steele Canyon Jessie Owens, Christian Nicole Rivera, Granite Hills (Complete Team Listed Below)

Three other Cougars joined Beasley on the first team, including freshman first baseman LORENA KLOPP, who accumulated more than 100 total bases en route to both the batting and home run titles this season. The others were corner infielder JAZMIN DAIGLE and catcher HANNAH ROST.

Obviously, Klopp was tabbed Rookie of the Year, too. Steele Canyon's JULIE BOHE was named Coach of the Year after winning a second straight section crown.

With Beasley taking the overall player award, Santana senior SHAE BASS won the pitcher of the year citation. The Michigan State bound righthander led the region with 19 victories while batting a solid .387.

The Unsung Hero Award went to a player not named among the 30 on either the first or second team. Outfielder ANDREA NEDDEN of Grossmont overcame a mediocre start to the season with a blazing finish, stroking homers over three consecutive games, then a week later registering late, key hits three times to deliver the game-winning RBI each time to keep the Foothillers in contention.

KYLEE KRINGS of West Hills, the coaches' North League pitcher of the year, captured the ERA title at 0.60. The senior posted an 11-2 record. Bass was the North's overall player of the year, barely capturing the strikeout title with 150, nipping Christian's JESSIE OWENS (149) and Beasley (148).

In the South, Beasley (pitcher) and NICOLE RIVERA, who plans to walk-on at San Diego State, were honored by league coaches.

Other first team selections on the All-East County team included: Santana's Kelsey McIlonie and Amanda Carpenter; West Hills' Brianna LaChusa and Krings; Christian's Owens and school valedictorian Sarah Seymour; Granite Hills' Rivera and Brittani Bertussi; Grossmont catcher Cammi Moore and Mount Miguel pitcher Laura Nelson.

© East County Sports.com
ALPINE (6-4-07) -- Much is known about the coaching success of Christian High School's ROMA DAWSON, featuring 11 berths to the CIF-San Diego Section softball championship game, including last week's Division IV finale.

The 1964 ASA National Champion Erv Lind Florist softball team of Portland, Ore., featuring second baseman Roma Dawson (front row, far right). (Contributed by teammate Carolyn Fitzwater, an ASA Hall of Famer)

"There wasn't much out there at the time for girls in sports," said Dawson. "But softball was one of the few sports organized at the local and national level, so I was playing Women's Open Division at 14."

Fortunately for Dawson, her hometown of Portland, Ore., featured one of the nation's top club programs. The sponsor was Erv Lind Florist, with the owner serving 26 years as the team's head coach.

"They won a championship back in 1944," noted Dawson. "And when I joined the team, I was a shortstop, but was soon moved to second base."

In 1963, the teams met in the final, which the Brakettes hosted and won. But at a neutral site in 1964, Dawson 's team earned a national championship.

"To come so close to winning on their field in 1963 was something," Dawson noted. "But in 1964, we became U.S. champions by winning the whole thing the next year in Orlando, Fla."

Dawson's championship ballclub was so good, it was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum's Class of 1993, which also featured a Rose Bowl champion football team from the University of Oregon.

Eventually, Dawson married and relocated to San Diego County, where all three of her daughters -- Amy, Sarah and Ruth -- were among the top players in San Diego County history -- and the reason Dawson became involved in coaching.

"Rene Palafox was the head coach at Christian at the time, and I became the JV coach when Amy was a freshman in 1986," noted Dawson. "And when the varsity made the playoffs, Rene allowed me to join the varsity coaching staff. I was so happy Rene allowed me to play a small part in winning CIF that year.'"

Three seasons later, Palafox moved on to Valhalla High, leaving Dawson in charge of a Patriots program which captured five section titles in a span of 17 seasons. However, there will not be a sixth championship under her tutelage, as late last week, Dawson turned in her papers to the Christian High staff to announce her retirement from the program.

"There were a lot of great players and a lot of great teams while I was coaching here, but coaching my daughters is what I'll remember most," said Dawson . "But I hope all my players learned that life's lessons were about more than softball only."

Sarah has been the most successful in the sport since leaving Christian. She is currently head coach at Louisiana Tech after an All-America career at UL-Monroe, still holding several NCAA Division I records. In 1997, she was named MVP of the women's pro league (now known as National Pro Fastpitch).

"Amy was always very competitive -- not that my other daughters weren't," noted Dawson . "Sarah had to pitch every game because we didn't have any other pitcher until Ruth joined the team as a freshman, so we used her a little bit just in case Sarah got hurt."

Pitching has always been the backbone with Christian softball

The 1986 CIF champs featured SDCIF player of the year MICHELLE WESSON. Sarah received the same honor in the 1993 season, then Ruth gained the award for 1994.

Since then, other Patriots to gain Player of the Year laurels under Dawson include: ALY DUNN (1996), RENE HENSON (2000-'01), JENNY RAY (2002) and three-time winner MELISSA OWENS (2003-05), who now stars for San Diego State.

Dawson still plans to attend games and assist the program when needed when not tending to her 90-year old mother. The new coach will inherit a ballclub which loses just one senior in first baseman SARAH SEYMOUR, the school's co-valedictorian.

Beasley carries Steele Canyon
to second straight CIF crown

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (5-27-07) — For Steele Canyon's SAM BEASLEY, the senior's final foray in a high school fastpitch contest featured an appearance on her future diamond playing for San Diego State. And she made a quick delivery to the Aztecs coaching staff.

In her first at-bat, Beasley smacked a pitch off the yellow line at the top of the centerfield fence, directly in front of the coaching staff which will mentor her for the next four years.

Not that she will need any assistance.

Carrying the Cougars (27-6-1) upon her shoulders, Beasley dominated an opponent for the second straight outing, slugging a pair of doubles and pitching a 6-hit shutout to lift Steele Canyon past Grossmont Conference rival Santana, 8-0, to capture back-to-back San Diego CIF Division III fastpitch championships.

"My seniors certainly went out with a bang, but I will especially miss Sam for several reasons," said Cougars coach Julie Bohe. "She, above all, deserved that (CIF) Sportsmanship Award today."

Beasley struck out seven, including two to escape jams after Santana placed two runners in scoring position in the 2nd and 5th innings. And her two hits gave her 62 for the season, one shy of the section record set by University City's Lisa Dodd, the state player of the year in 2004.

Steele Canyon catcher Hannah Rost (right) is checked out by the coaching staff, including head coach Julie Bohe (in red), after getting hit by a pitch in the ankle. Moments later, Rost stole her second base of the championship. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

"It was crunch time and we crunched -- that's how it is." -- Cougars catcher Hannah Rost

“It’s nice to go out with a big win like this,” said Beasley. "I was just ready to come here and play and hit. I wasn't trying to do anything big, just get on base and help my team out."

The player with the best view of Beasley's talents may be catcher HANNAH ROST, who helped her capture eight consecutive victories to close the season.

"Sam is an amazing player and she always will be -- Sam will never be forgotten at our school, " Rost said. "She's the strongest hitter on this team, so when she hit the top of the wall, we all knew we had the momentum up and we got it done."

"We started focusing a lot more on hitting and that's what we accomplished. It was crunch time and we crunched -- that's how it is."

While the focus was on Beasley, who nearly smashed five consecutive home runs over the course of Thursday's 12-0 semifinals demolition of Cathedral Catholic and Saturday's (May 26) licking of the Sultans in the title contest, several other Cougars stepped forward with big contests, too.

"Our team stepped it up when they needed to,"added Bohe of a team which established a CIFSDS record for team homers. "We've got some good hitters and they proved it."

STEELE CANYON HIGH SCHOOL "COUGARS" 2007 CIFSDS FASTPITCH CHAMPIONS

Included was first baseman LORENA KLOPP, who slugged a 2-run single in the 1st inning, giving her 59 RBI for the season -- the second-highest total in San Diego Section history.

"I was kind of under pressure, but when Sam hit the double, we all got pumped up and knew we could hit SHAE (BASS, the Santana pitcher)," said Klopp. "It's really exciting to come through like that and drive in two runs at the beginning of the CIF final."

The East County home run champion failed to go deep over the final month of the season due to injury woes, so the freshman adjusted and batted for average upon her return to continue her RBI count, helping Steele Canyon close the season riding a 14-game winning streak.

"Sam's is amazing, so it was a good opportunity for me to play with her this year," Klopp added. "I heard a lot about her and everything I heard was true, whether it was her hitting or pitching, or her leadership and how she helps everyone out."

Third baseman LISA MONGELLI added a two-run basehit in the 4th for a 4-0 advantage, then JAZMIN DAIGLE knocked runners home in the 5th and 7th, as the Cougars scored twice each time in their second wire-to-wire triumph over Santana (28-4) this season.

"Everyone seems to get big hits for our team," noted Mongelli. "But it all comes down to Sam -- she's an amazing player and all she asks is for you to work hard for us to win."

Along with two shutouts this season, Beasley posted a 6-0 postseason pitching record over the past two seasons.

"Even I was getting a little nervous, but working hard outside of school practice helped, then my team was there to back me up," added Beasley, who plans to major in keniseiology at SDSU.

For Santana, the only players to solve Beasley were centerfielder AMANDA CARPENTER (3-for-4) and left fielder MICHELLE BRAMLAGE (2-for-3) -- all on singles -- plus a basehit by DANIELLE BALOUGH.

"They're just a much more talented ballclub than we are," said first-year Sultans coach MIKE BASS. "We had a great season, but we have to work so much harder than Steele Canyon does. They are easily the better team."

It was the fourth straight Final Four appearance by Santana, which includes winning the 2004 championship, followed by a pair of difficult setbacks in the semifinals the previous two seasons.

Brittany Fenn, the catcher, won the CIF Sportsmanship Award for Santana.

Division IV
Francis Parker 4, Christian 2 -- This championship may have been decided in Thursday's semifinals, when Patriots pitcher JESSIE OWENS hyper-extended her knee on the next-to-last play of a narrow victory over Horizon Christian.

Although not starting as the pitcher, Owens entered in relief for 2 2/3 innings, but more was needed on several fronts by second-seeded Christian.

"We were playing to go with JENNA (ROYCE) and see how long she could last, and if Parker got any hits, I would go it and see how long I could last," noted Owens. "I tried my best, but my knee starting hurting me early on, so I had to be taken out -- I didn't want that, but it had to be done."

"I proud of our team for not giving up. We did come back, which was great."

Meanwhile, the defending champion Lancers stormed from the No. 5 position to close the season with eight straight victories, including decisions over the top two seeded teams -- No. 1 Imperial and the Patriots -- in the Final Four to repeat as section titlists.

Lauren Tomey paced Parker by batting 3-for-4, including a double in the 1st when the Lancers took a 2-0 lead after Christian stranded a pair of runners in the top of the inning.

Owens entered late in the 1st, but Tomey got to her, too, adding a 2-run single in the 2nd for a 4-0 advantage. Tomey also singled and scored in the 6th for an insurance run after Christian trimmed the deficit to 3-2.

"The girls had a great season, fought hard and to keep that victory on Thursday evening," said Patriots coach ROMA DAWSON, who was making her 8th title game appearance. "We just came out and gave it our best."

The Patriots comeback included consecutive basehits by Owens and KRISTINA WYNNS, a sacrifice fly by AMANDA PLUM, then a run-scoring single by first baseman SARAH SEYMOUR, the lone senior on the Christian roster.

"We had so many people sick or injured that couldn't play, but our team never gives up," said Seymour. "I'm very proud of our team and I couldn't have asked for a better season. We played really well and all these girls are amazing and I love them all."

Seymour was the Christian High selection for the CIF Sportsmanship Award, given to one member of each team advancing to the finals in every division.

"Since I was the only senior, no one's won a CIF title except me, there were nerves to deal with, but the team still played very well," added Seymour, who plans to major in biology or Pre-Med while playing both basketball and softball at Dordt College (Iowa).

We're only losing Sarah and getting some good players (Christian) Junior High," Owens added. "So we should again do well in our (CIF) division and we'll be good in league, too -- I think we might even win both.

The decision on whether to fill the pitching void or the one at shortstop didn't occur until minutes before the first pitch.

"We had to wait right up until this morning to see who would be ready to go," Dawson recalled. "Part of it was our shortstop (KARA CARTWRIGHT) came down with a virus or soemthing, so we had to decide which hole to plus."

"Jenna's stepped up big for us all season long, but she didn't get the support that I though she deserved in that 1st inning, maybe 1st-inning jitters, I don't know."

The coaching staff elected to start Owens at shortstop and Royce in the circle, but the backup lan was soon vacated. Nevertheless, the Patriots trimmed a 3-run deficit to a single run, with the potentioal tying and go-ahead runners on base in the 6th and 7th innings.

"They kept fighting back, while Parker had a terrific year and showed what they're made of," added Dawson. "Give them credit."

"And Sarah's a great senior leader. I know she wanted to go out with that title, but I couldn't have asked for anything more from a senior than what she's shown this season. She's ready for the next step."

Parker catcher Kierstie Svatos went 3-for-4, with an RBI double in the 1st, as the Lancers out-hit the Patriots, 10-4.

"We may have been a low seed, but I don't think there were too many Division IV teams that really wanted to draw us early," said Parker coach Jim Tomey. "We played some tough teams throughout the year, but our luck wasn't too good in the middle of the season, but by the end, we were locked in and playing really sharp ball, and I felt real good about our chances."

Parker features four East County products, including three starters: leftfielder Hannah Rapopost of La Mesa, and El Cajon residents Lindsey Gross, the third baseman, and centerfielder Ari Sanders.

Beasley goes homer-homer-homer;
Cougars in position for Div. III repeat

© East County Sports.com
POWAY (5-25-07) -- It's been four years since the graduation of All-American LISA DODD, the 2003 California State Player of the Year, since San Diego has witnessed an effort which combined both outstanding hitting and pitching by a single player.

San Diego State bound pitcher SAM BEASLEY placed her name among exclusive company by equaling a CIF-San Diego Section mark by blasting three home runs while also tossing a 3-hit shutout, allowing defending Division III champion Steele Canyon to steamroll Cathedral Catholic, 12-0, in Thursday's (May 24) section semifinals.

The wipeout propelled the top-seeded Cougars (26-6-1) into position to repeat as champions, only if they can stop Grossmont Conference rival Santana in Saturday's (May 26) championship contest, slated for San Diego State at 12:30 p.m. The second-seeded Sultans overcame a sluggish start to whip Dodd's old team from University City, 11-6.

Still, Beasley holds court with a choice group whom all advanced to NCAA Division I programs. The list features Kristin Goodall (Mission Bay HS; Cal State Fullerton), Jennette Franco (Francis Parker; So. Methodist in volleyball), Megan McAllistar (Carlsbad; Georgia) and Kelsey Quist (Calvin Christian; Princeton), who twice hit three homers in a single ballgame.

"I was just ready to hit when I got up there -- I wasn't thinking about it, even after I hit my third one," added Beasley. "I was just worried about putting the ball in play."

The Cougars' four homers lifted their team total to 36 for the season, eclipsing the section mark of 34 set by McAllistar's Lancers ballclub in 2003.

Beasley dominated a Cathedral (19-10) side which downed Madison then upset 4th-seeded Ramona to advance to the Final Four, only to again fall to the Cougars. Beasley also blanked the Lady Dons in last season's title contest, 6-0, on a 4-hitter.

This time, the senior right-hander more than doubled her strikeout total, escalating from 7 to 15 punchouts, collecting 14 of the Dons' first 16 outs on 'K's.

Cathedral starter Kiara Boccia started strong, too, carrying a no-hitter into the 4th inning. But the sophomore found no answers in the second go-round through the Steele Canyon line-up -- nine of the 10 runs were earned.

An inning later, VANESSA ADAME belted what turned out to be a solo homer to set the section team record.

Her drive hit the top of the temporary outfield fence at Sportsplex USA , then flipped over. However, the field umpires each signaled different rulings. One indicated a homer, but the other called for a ground-rule double.

Following a pow-wow among all three officials, Adame was awarded her second homer of the season, then Beasley followed with back-to-back shots for her third home run to etch her name in the record book.

Adame finished 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI, while Randel and LORENA KLOPP added two hits each in an 11-hit attack (11 earned runs).

Meanwhile, the heart of the Cathedral lineup was kept off the board, as No. 9 hitter Brooke Conlon, the designated player, garnered two of the Dons' three basehits.

Steele Canyon (26-6-1) now meets a Sultans ballclub which won the SDCIF crown in 2004, then suffered heartbreak losses in the semifinals during the past two seasons. The teams met on Mar. 26 in the Grossmont Conference Tournament, as the Cougars claimed a 5-1 decision on a 3-hitter by Beasley.

"We played them earlier in the season, and we know they'll be ready to play," noted Beasley."So we have to come to play -- we better be ready."

Balough is now 9-1 this season with three complete-game shutouts.

But Balough, entering with two runners on and no one out, registered a pair of strikeouts and a routine grounder for an out to escape. The momentum swing was apparent and immediate, as the Sultans (28-4) responded with five markers in the 6th to punch their ticket to the final.

Key hits included the go-ahead basehit by MICHELLE BRAMLAGE to score Bass, who utilized her bat to started the game-winning rally when her pitching arm failed her. She opened with a lead walk, followed by a KELSEY McILONIE basehit.

DANIELLE BALOUGH and AMANDA CARPENTER later added consecutive RBI singles for the Grossmont North League titlists. The duo also moved the Sultans in front after trailing 2-0 after one inning. In the 2nd, a Balough basehit tied the contest, then she scored on a Carpenter double for a 3-2 advantage which later climbed to 6-2.

The tandem collected three hits each in the Sultans' 14-hit attack. Now they get ready for Steele Canyon .

"With our defense, we have a lot support, so we shut a lot of teams out," noted Carpenter, a sophomore centerfielder. "It'll help that we've played them already, because we know what to expect and we know what Sam's pitching is like."

Santana is among the section leaders with 16 shutouts. Bass owns nine of them, while sharing four others with Britty Balough. And with such lofty numbers, no one on the Sultans believes Bass will be anything but ready in preparation for the All-East County final.

Some of the players believe Santana may be better prepared to challenge for the title, thus a bounce back will be forthcoming.

"We've been progressing along since we got a new coach (MIKE BASS, Shae's father)," explained Bramlage, a junior leftfielder, who went 2-for-4 and scored twice. "We've been practicing a lot more to get ready for days like this."

After failing to reach the championship game last season following six straight finals appearances (including three Division IV crowns), the Patriots are back -- but at what cost?

Four errors allowed Horizon Christian to score four times in the bottom of the 7th inning to trim a 6-1 deficit down to a single run, but Patriots pitcher JESSIE OWENS thought she was going to catch a short popfly in front of the plate for the final out.

However, catcher ALLIE SCOTT also charged to the ball and the players, both calling for the ball, collided. Owens dropped the ball while injuring her leg, as people realized the season hopes for the Patriots could be dashed.

While Jessie Owens was being tended to with her injury, players and coaches from both ballclubs, including Rachel Ortiz (above) of Horizon Christian, take to their knees in prayer. (Photo by Dan Dangel)

"The trainer said I only hyper-extended my knee," said Owens. "But I'll be in there no matter what."

The determined Owens, who is known "for going at only one speed, and that's at her very best all of the time," according to Dawson , was carried off the field in the arms of an assistant coach. But she was gingerly walking un-aided following the ballgame to the relief of Patriots followers.

She breezed along by spinning a 4-hitter through six innings, then struckout her 9th batter to open the 7th. However, the defense was charged with four errors, capped by Owens' drop on the collision, leaving the Panthers with the potential tying and winning runs on base.

Royce came in and collected two quick strikes, but her third pitch was in the dirt and rolled about 10 feet behind the catcher. However, Scott recovered the ball and fired to third baseman AMANDA PLUM to nail the runner to end the contest and advance Christian to the championship round.

The second-seeded Patriots (20-8) will meet defending champion Francis Parker, which upset top-seeded Imperial, 2-1 in 8 innings. The Lancers seek to become the first team to repeat as Division IV titlists since the divisions were revamped in 1994. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m. from SDSU.

Starting pitchers BRENNA SANDBERG of the Wolf Pack and the Grizzlies' Whitney Orellana both carried shutouts into the 6th inning, including a 1-hitter by Sandberg.

However, Mission Hills collected a pair of infield singles, then a line basehit to left field by clean-up hitter Jordan Parsons to score Vanessa Perez and snap the pitchers' duel.

West Hills answered back in the home half of the 6th when BRIANNA LaCHUSA dropped a single over the head of the second baseman, then sophomore CASSIDY BAGGETT drilled an RBI double to the fence in right-centerfield to level the contest.

The Grizzlies also responded immediately, parlaying an error, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch to score Donna Blackwood.

The final chance for West Hills saw FAITH KORIA reach on a lead infield single, then stealing second base, but Orellana coaxed a popout to shortstop then recorded two of her 12 strikeouts to end it. Sandberg also struck out 12 batters.

"I'm still glad because we were able to come back from a really, really rough beginning to our season," said Baggett of the team's 1-5 start, yet finishing with 24 victories in the final 28 starts. "We were able to come back and kick butt."

"You can not get down, and we learned to stick up for each other and stay up. It's the only thing you can do to be successful."

Baggett, the third baseman, batted 2-for-3, matching Koria's effort.

West Hills was also hampered by the loss of several players during its playoff run.

BRIANNA AUSTIN was lost in the quarterfinals after breaking a finger, STASIA HOLDMAN missed the last 10 days with an ankle, then SHARLANA BURNER came out after the 3rd inning after getting roughed up when caught attempting to steal second base.

Santana's Amanda Carpenter slugged a 2-run homer in the 1st inning, jump-starting the Sultans to a 2-0 lead in besting Monte Vista in Tuesday's CIF Division III softball quarterfinals. (Photo by Sheila Bass)

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SANTEE (5-23-07) -- The Santana Sultans play the part of the underdog much better than the favorite's role, so when the San Diego CIF Division III fastpitch seedings came out listing them behind defending champion Steele Canyon, it may be all that is needed to propel the Sultans to their first section title since 2004.

Santana took the first step by taking control in what proved to be the decisive opening inning, rolling past Grossmont Conference rival Monte Vista, 6-1, in Tuesday's (May 22) SDCIF quarterfinals.

AMANDA CARPENTER smacked a 2-run homer and MICHELLE BRAMLAGE powered a 2-run triple in the opening frame for a 4-0 cushion after preventing the Monarchs from scoring moments earlier.

Singles by BRITTANY WRIGHT and LYDIA VENIEGAS, plus a stolen base, placed Monte Vista runners at 2nd and 3rd. However, Santana pitcher SHAE BASS escaped the logjam with two of her seven strikeouts, then coaxed a short flyball to prevent the Monarchs from scoring.

Bass, moments after being told she would move to shortstop, then utilized her stick for some insurance. She opened the 5th with a solo homer just to the left of dead-centerfield for a 5-0 lead.

"A lot of people thought we were down on ourselves after losing to West Hills," noted Santana third baseman KELSEY McILONIE. "But we played a solid game, so we weren't feeling bad."

"We came into this game without a big head and stayed focused on what we needed to do."

The Sultans' Britty Balough tossed the final two innings to complete a 6-1 victory over Monte Vista in the CIF Dov. III quarterfinals. (Photos by Sheila Bass) The Usual Suspects

The other Santana run came in the 6th as BRITTANY FENN doubled off the fence in left-center, missing a homer by just over a foot, with Bass collecting her second RBI with a double to the opposite field in right.

Monte Vista , which played solid despite the 1st inning shortcoming, never rolled over and played a solid contest. The Monarchs punched through in the 7th to avert the shutout by an RBI single by pinchhitter SHANNON WRIGHT, scoring pinchrunner MARIZA MALDANADO.

Following the contest, Santana's opening for a berth in the Div. III final grew a touch wider. Instead of meeting third-seeded Brawley, the Sultans will instead meet University City, which traveled to the desert to upset the Wildcats, 2-1.

Steele Canyon 7, Valhalla 1 -- One could appreciate the position Cougars coach JULIE BOHE faced after her side committed three errors in the 1st inning, allowing Valhalla's JODIE SCHMEHR to score for a 1-0 lead.

"I was ready to take a Valium," said Bohe of the tension relief medication. "We were shaking in our boots."

However, the defending SDCIF Division III titlists quickly regrouped, answering three times in the home-half of the 1st en route to an easy triumph in a sloppy contest featuring five errors by both ballclubs.

Steele Canyon's Jazmin Daigle strokes a 2-run double, part of a 4 RBI outing. (Photos by Chris Edwards)

Beasley finished by striking out eight Norsemen without issuing a walk in tossing a 2-hitter to start another playoff run for the Cougars. The senior also delivered with the bat, going 4-for-4 to raise her season average to .580. Meanwhile, third baseman JAZMIN DAIGLE drove in four runs, including a two-run line single in the 1st to claim the lead for keeps.

"Jaz made it another big game," added Bohe. "Every time she comes up with runners on base, she always seems to knock someone in."

Rost and LORENA KLOPP added run-scoring basehits in the 6th to cap the scoring.

"Sam, Jaz and Hannah were our studs," added the coach. "And when Sam pitches like she did today, you can't beat her."

Steele Canyon will get a championship rematch in the semifinals by meeting Cathedral Catholic, which upset fourth-seeded Ramona in a 10-8 slugfest up on the mountain. The Cougars downed the Lady Dons in the 2006 finale, 6-0.

So meeting a team with a gleaming record, but against second-string competition, allowed Christian to clearly demonstrate how fastpitch is really played. Indeed, it's a role the Pats relish year after year to advance deep into the SDCIF Division IV playoffs.

On Tuesday (May 22), sophomore JESSIE OWENS clearly was the superior pitcher, needed for just the first five innings to dominate the supposedly indomitable Lions. And when you throw in Owens' afternoon at the plate -- 3-for-4 with a home run and a pair of doubles -- the Patriots punched their ticket to their seventh straight Final Four appearance.

But it was more than just Owens. KARA CARTWRIGHT and ALLIE SCOTT also batted 3-for-4, as Christian accumulated 16 hits --the ballclub's third-highest total of the season.

"We were focused on driving the ball better," noted coach ROMA DAWSON, who's troops rebounded from a 2-hit performance in a victory in Saturday's first round. "We had some hard hit balls all game."

Owens opened the stretch with a two-out double in the 3rd, as the Pats pieced together five consecutive hits to mount a 4-1 lead. Owens scored on a basehit by Cartwright, who came home on a double by AMANDA PLUM. SARAH SEYMOUR and ALLIE SCOTT added to the rally with singles.

Owens, who scored three times, opened the 5th with a solo home run -- her sixth of the season -- then Christian completed the rout with four runs in the 6th. In the frame, ALY GENTRY stroked a two-run single, while Seymour blasted a two-run triple, one of six extra-base hits by the Patriots.

For the contest, Christian pitchers struck out 16 batters, with Owens collecting 10 in her five frames, then JENNA ROYCE garnered all six of her outs on strikes in relief.

Krings tossed four solid innings in a starting assignment, getting tagged for just one unearned run, then BRENNA SANDBERG entered as the change-of-pace pitcher, helping keep visiting Mar Vista off-balance and give the Wolf Pack the opportunity to rally.

West Hills holds recent success over the Mariners, including a 1-hit shutout by Krings at the Hilltop Tournament two seasons ago.

"Our group of seniors beat them as 10th-graders, and against their pitcher who was also a 10th-grader," noted Pack coach STEVE SUTTON. "Take away our error and we win this one easily, too."

Meanwhile, West Hills answered with runs in the 5th and 8th innings to secure the rally.

MOCHERIE KORIA opened the 5th with a single, moved to second on a JAYLEEN BUSH grounder to the right side, then stole third base. MELISSA HILL followed with a potential inning-ending grounder toward second base, but the fielding error allowed Koria to level the contest.

Another error doomed the Mariners in the 8th.

SHARLANA BURNER and FAITH KORIA opened the inning with bunt singles, with a throwing error on the second bunt moving both runners into scoring position. Senior BRIANNA LaCHUSA followed with the walkoff, RBI single to score Burner, advancing West Hills into the semifinals.

The third-seeded Wolf Pack (25-8), winners of 24 of their last 27 outings, will avoid meeting second-seeded Scripps Ranch in one of Thursday's (May 24) final four pairings, instead meeting Mission Hills (18-13), which scored twice in the 7th to upset the Falcons, 2-0.

Mt. Carmel 8, Grossmont 3 -- In the past, the Foothillers has reached Mt. Carmel junior Jessica McDermott, the reigning Palomar League pitcher of the year, who paced the Sundevils to the top of the Division II bracket as the top seed. And Grossmont tagged her again early, answering Mt. Carmel 's 3-run effort in the 1st with three of its own to tie the contest in the 3rd.

But that would be all the runs McDermott (23-3) would allow, despite yielding nine hits to the Hillers in the round-of-8 contest in Rancho Penasquitos.

Since falling in the final of the North County Tournament to Mission Hills back on Mar. 22, the Sundevils have gone exactly two months without a setback in stringing together 19 consecutive victories.

Grossmont's season ends at 15-14-1, yet can take some solace in scoring the most runs off Mt. Carmel since the Devils yielded five markers to Granite Hills in Cougar Classic play way back on Mar. 9.

Kellie Fox smacked a 3-run homer for the quick Mt. Carmel lead. Maggie Doremus (3-for-4) put the Sundevils back in front with a 2-run single in the 4th, followed by an RBI on a fielder's choice by Chelsea Bemis, who later smacked a 2-run homer in the 6th.

Grossmont scoring details were not reported.

Christian freshman Aly Gunter gained the victory in relief. (Photo by Jeanne Royce)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-20-07) -- With the proliferation of small, private schools springing up throughout the county -- many offering high school sports activities -- a full field of 16 teams comprised the San Diego CIF Division IV playoff bracket, unlike pools of 12 schools in the remaining divisions. Thus, there are no longer any byes for the top seeds, including No. 2 Christian, which came out flat against The Bishop's, the next-to-last team to gain a postseason berth.

However, third baseman AMANDA PLUM put on the pressure which finally undid the Knights, helping the Patriots score three times in their final at-bat to secure a 3-2 victory in Saturday's (May 19) opening round of the SDCIF playoffs.

Plum placed a perfect bunt which left The Bishop's defense with no play except a desperate attempt to get KARA CARTWRIGHT at the plate. And when the toss was too late, the game was tied, as the Knights would commit four errors in the inning for all three (unearned) runs to advance Christian to Tuesday's (May 22) round-of-8.

"We just needed to play with more energy," said Plum , who surprised the defense with a rare bunt by the ballclub's No. 3 hitter. "I don't bunt very often, but we needed to do something to get the run in, then Kara did a great job running from third."

For five innings, The Bishop's sailed along on a 1-hit shutout by Natalie Carmarda, who struck out 11 in her six innings of work.

Christian High's Amanda Plum (3) is ruled safe after taking the extra base following her game-tying bunt single in the 6th inning. The No. 2 Patriots downed The Bishop's School, 3-2, in Saturday's CIF opener. (Photo by Jeanne Royce)

JESSIE OWENS opened the inning with a short popfly to shortstop, but the ball was dropped and the hustling Owens raced to second base. Cartwright followed with a bunt to sacrifice Owens, but the throw went to right field and Christian halved the deficit to 2-1.

Plum's bunt left her at second base, moving to third on a dropped third strike for The Bishop's' third error, then a fly ball by catcher ALLIE SCOTT was dropped to score the go-ahead run.

Meanwhile, freshman ALY GUNTER gained the pitching victory in relief.

Gunter entered a 1-0 game with the bases loaded and no one out in the 5th. However, she walked in a run on a series of tight pitches which didn't go her way.

"That was interesting," Gunter explained about the calls. "But I learned from Jessie not to let the umpire know you're upset with a call."

"So I turned to Jessie (at shortstop) and made a face -- she knows how I feel."

Owens went the first 4-plus innings, striking out five and walking four. Two of the free passes plus an error allowed the Knights to break the scoreless game in the 4th.

"But we played really solid defense after we scored," added Gunter. "They knew we got a second chance after we messed up their defense by putting pressure on them with our bats."

Valhalla's Amber Reardon gets full extention on what proved to be the game-winning homer -- a two-run shot in the 3rd inning -- to power the Norsemen past Clairemont, 4-2. (Photos by Chris Edwards)

However, the home plate umpire asked the base umpire if the batter had checked her swing -- long after the runner from third was in the dugout celebrating with teammates. The outside official said she had not checked, thus the call became a strike and erased the hit-by-pitch.

Carmarda finished with a 2-hitter despite the setback. The only other hit Christian had was a 2nd-inning single by ALLYSSA GRAUL.

Knights catcher MICHELLE BRUNKER went 3-for-4.

Valhalla 4, Clairemont 2 -- For the fourth consecutive season, Clairemont's Chieftains were eliminated from the playoffs by an East County school, as the Norsemen took the honors for the second time in three seasons.

This go-round, it was AMBER REARDON who sent the Chieftains packing, snapping a 2-2 deadlock with her third home run of the season. The junior drilled a 2-run shot to left-centerfield in the 3rd, with catcher KELLEY SEITZ (single) scoring in front of the shortstop.

MEGAN McGIRR then entered the contest and tossed four shutout innings to gain the pitching victory in relief. She yielded just three basehits and never was threatened.

"Megan got a ton of ground balls," noted Norsemen coach DOUG HARTUNG. "She just came in and shut them down."

The Norsemen jumped to a 2-0 lead during their first at-bat.

JODIE SCHMEHR hit a one-out double to left, reaching third on a single by Reardon. CELINA CRUZ answered with a sacrifice fly to left to score Schmehr, then KYLA BRANSFORD went the opposite way with a single to right-center to bring home Reardon.

Clairemont tied the game in the 2nd on a double by sophomore second baseman Shelby Turner.

Adriana Nau (top) and Cammi Moore (center) each belted 2-run homers, then Andrea Nedden hit a grand slam to power Grossmont.

Hilltop received the 8th seed, thus, were able to host the 9th seeded Foothillers, but a closer look questions how the decision was made between teams with similar records.

So it came as no surprise when the Foothillers sojourned to the South Bay and placed the lumber on Hilltop. Grossmont equaled a season high by clouting three home runs to race to a quick 10-0 lead after just 2 1/2 innings.

Included were 2-run bombs by ADRIANA NAU and CAMMI MOORE for a 5-0 lead through two frames, then ANDREA NEDDEN continued the assault with a grand slam in the 3rd. The trio drove in all 11 of the Hillers' runs.

"I hope the bats stay alive for Tuesday," noted Grossmont coach JERRY LERUD of his team's upcoming meeting with top-ranked Mt. Carmel . "If we keep them hot, then we'll be ready to play."

Nedden finished with five RBI on 3-for-5 hitting. Along with the slam, she opened the ballgame with an RBI double in the 1st, then added a triple in the 7th to fall just a single short of a cycle.

Nau and Moore added three RBI each. Nau went 4-for-4, driving home Nedden in the 7th. Moore 's other RBI came on a bases-loaded walk.

Meanwhile, while the offense was shooting fireworks, almost overlooked were the pitching of ASHLEY RENALDI and BRITTNEY FISHTROM. Renaldi tossed four shutout innings for the victory, then Fishtrom lasted the final three frames for her first save of the season.

Monte Vista 8, Our Lady of Peace 1 -- WHITNEY MULLINS stayed strong while waiting for the Monarchs' offense to awaken, carrying a shutout into the 6th to defeat the host Pilots at Serra Mesa Recreation Center.

Mullins struck out five, then went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.

"Whitney's been the mainstay of our pitching staff, especially with ROSIE ABEYTA playing hurt all season," said Monte Vista coach SIG CHABROWSKI. "Whitney came in and takes care of business."

For the long time, it looked like a single run in the 1st would hold up, but the Monarchs finally erupted for five runs in the 6th to make quick work of the 7th seeds.

The key hit was a bases-loaded double by second baseman SHAAKIRAH RANSOM. The sophomore sent a shot to the fence-less, left-centerfield gap, easily clearing the bases. Ransom, who earlier doubled, had a shot at a grand slam, but was ruled out at third for missing the bag.

With the triumph, Monte Vista gains a quarterfinals date with 2nd-seeded Santana, slated for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (May 22).

Mary Episcopo, who went 2-for-3 for Torrey Pines, started a 4-run rally in the 4th with a solo homer. She also earlier knocked in a run for a 2 RBI outing.

The inning featured just a single hit, as the Falcons parlayed a pair of walks and four bunts, including squeeze bunts for runs by Episcopo and Shannon Smoot. The last two runs then scored on a wild pitch, as one runner scooted home, but when a throw targeted to nail a runner at third base sailed to the outfield, another runner also scored.

However, Granite Hills made things interesting.

After Falcons pitcher Kelly Ratchuk limited the Eagles to two hits through four innings, the visitors answered in the 5th, which opened with a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases.

Torrey Pines catcher Wendy Schubert registered one out on a throw to the plate on a fielder's choice, but NICOLE RIVERA followed with a two-run double, then another runner came home on a wild pitch.

Rivera finished batting 2-for-4, also scoring in the 4th following a walk and a stolen base, one of her two thefts on the day. Granite Hills got on the scoreboard on a strange, two-out play, where Schubert caught a short popup, but when runners were unsure whether she had caught the ball, she fired to second base resulting in a rundown to get another baserunner.

Rivera finished batting 2-for-4, while MEGAN BELIO went 2-for-2, as the pair collected more than half of the Eagles' seven hits.

In the middle of the celebration is West Hills junior Kristy Valles (light blue helmet, hugging No. 5) following her game-winning hit in the bottom of the 8th to nip Santana, 1-0, to share the GNL crown. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (5-17-07) -- West Hills High started a lap down to open the season, with the engine smoking, yet they were once again in contention at the finish line when the games really counted.

Playing catch-up to Santana all season long in both the county rankings and the Grossmont North League standings, the Wolf Pack roared back to grab a share of the title on the final day of the regular season Wednesday (May 16) after nipping the Sultans, 1-0 in 8 innings. The decision allowed the teams to finish in a dead heat with 10-2 records in league play.

The Wolf Pack tap and slap hands and gloves to prepare for action. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

Santana took the teams' first meeting, but the Wolf Pack posted consecutive shutouts of the Sultans, this time on a combined 2-hitter by BRENNA SANDBERG and KYLEE KRINGS.

Sandberg completed her Senior Day performance with five strikeouts in five frames of no-hit ball. Krings then gained two outs on strikes over the final three innings to collect the victory.

Valles finished with a pair of stolen bases, while CASSIDY BAGGETT batted 2-for-2 plus a walk for the Wolf Pack.

The complete pairings in all division are slated to be released Thursday (May 17) night by the CIF-San Diego Section office.

The same situation resulting in a co-championship occurred two years ago, but the roles were reversed when Santana also took a 1-0 decision in 8 innings to forge the deadlock.

El Capitan 3, Grossmont 0 -- The Vaqueros, an obvious bubble team in an attempt to secure a CIF Division III playoff berth, gave it their best shot of the season in downing the visiting Foothillers behind a 5-hit shutout by junior JULIANNA DUNCAN. It was El Cap's second straight shutout victory to close the regular season.

"It was probably Julianna's best performance of the season," noted Vaqueros coach JOE COTA. "She frustrated Grossmont by hitting her spots -- she did a great job."

The possible invitation to the postseason will not be determined until Thursday night, but there was additional motivation for the Vaqueros.

"If we won, I agreed to let them dye my hair any color they want," added Cota, who is no longer endowed with a thick, wavey mane from his youth.

El Capitan (7-15) captured 3 of its last 5 ballgames after making several changes on defense.

"One of them was moving CATHERINE BROWN to shortstop," Cota noted. "But she was unsure about playing there, but told her, 'You're the one.' So she goes out there and made some nice plays -- she did a great job, too."

While the pitching and defense held true, the offense did just enough by posting three runs in the 3rd inning for the game's lone scoring.

Following consecutive basehit by PAIGE BORRAS and SARAH GROHMAN, LESLIE KUHNE made it three straight singles to drive home Borras. An error knocked in another run, then AMANDA COMBS slugged a double to complete the team's biggest single-inning outburst of the month.

Steele Canyon 5, Helix 1 -- The Cougars became the first Grossmont Conference school to post an undefeated ledger in either league this decade by completing a 10-0 slate in the Grossmont South League after topping the host Highlanders. Steele Canyon outscored its GSL opponents by a 78-5 count, including five shutouts while allowing just a single run in the remaining five contests.

East County's top home run hitting team added to three more to their totals, including back-to-back shots by VANESSA ADAME and SAM BEASLEY to open the scoring in the 3rd inning. It would be all the offense needed by Beasley, who tossed a 2-hitter and struckout five in raising her season pitching record to 12-4.

Helix shortstop ALYSSA DRONENBURG immediately responded with an RBI single to center, scoring BETH AMANN, who was hit by a pitch, then advanced into scoring position on an error.

However, the Cougars' big bats answered back when JAYME JARVIS led off the 4th with her seventh homer of the season. LISA MONGELLI followed with a basehit, coming around the diamond on a pair of stolen bases and a throwing error.

Steele Canyon placed the finishing touches on its league title when LORENA KLOPP doubled in the 5th, racing home on an RBI single by JAZMIN DAIGLE. The Cougars (24-6-1) closed the regular slate with an 11-game winning streak, plus win in 14 of their last 16 outings.

Uy retired 18 consecutive batters, then survived a Monte Vista rally in the 7th, when the visitors registered its lone hits.

Monarchs third baseman BRITTANY WRIGHT snapped Uy's streak with a double, then a roller by LYDIA VENIEGAS barely skipped into left field. And with the Norsemen defense more concerned about Wright, a heads-up Veniegas slipped into second base to place a pair of runners into scoring position.

However, Uy escaped by converting a double play and coaxing a lazy fly ball for an out.

"Angela caught a soft liner right at her feet," said Valhalla coach DOUG HARTUNG. "Then she threw to CELINA CRUZ at 3rd base for the second out."

Senior Day at Valhalla saw KAYLA DeSTEFANO gain a rare start in centerfield. But she contributed heavily.

"Kayla's only had a few hits all year," added the coach. "But she came through despite sitting on the bench all season."

DeStefano, who went 2-for-3, reached base on a two-out error in the 7th. Sietz followed with her 5th homer of the season, sending a no-doubter over the fence in left-centerfield.

Granite Hills 1, Mount Miguel 0 -- The Eagles needed just four batters to score, then rode the pitching arm of MEGAN BELIO to blank the Matadors to secure second place all to themselves in the South League.

Designated player MANDY OBNEY provided one of just two hits allowed by the Matadors all afternoon, but it would be enough.

Following a pair of one-out walks to JESSIE SCHATZ and Belio, Obney laced a double to the fence in left, scoring Schatz.

Mount Miguel then switched pitchers, as LAURA NELSON tossed 6 2/3 innings of 1-hit ball. However, Belio (4-4) struck out eight batters in her 5-hit shutout in her first start in two weeks when she fell to the Matadors. It was also her first victory since Apr. 19 against Helix.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (5-16-07) -- The Santana Sultans staved off a late Grossmont rally, but the pressure only just began.

Even with the clinching of at least a share of the Grossmont North League championship following Tuesday's (May 14) 4-3 victory over the defending champion Foothillers, the Sultans now hope to avoid a feat they performed to share the 2005 title.

Trailing West Hills by one game heading into the final week of the season, Santana nipped the Wolf Pack on the next-to-last day of the season, 1-0 in 8 innings, to forge a co-title. Now the roles are reversed as West Hills hosts the Sultans in Wednesday's (May 16) regular season finale.

A victory by West Hills means a fourth crown in six seasons, while preventing Santana from its first outright title in a decade.

Santana 4, Grossmont 3 -- Sultans senior SHAE BASS pitched six strong innings, leaving with a 4-2 lead, then reliever BRITTY BALOUGH left the potential tying and winning runners on base to guarantee no worse than the school's second GSL crown in three seasons. Santana shared the 2005 title with West Hills.

Balough allowed a pair of basehits, with an error allowing an unearned run to score to halve the lead. Then it was decision time for Sultans coach MIKE BASS. With Grossmont catcher CAMMI MOORE, who had earlier bombed her 7th homer of the year, coming to the plate, the intentional walk was issued to place the potential winning run on base.

Grossmont took an early 1-0 lead in the 2nd.

ANDREA NEDDEN walked, Moore started her 3-for-3 outing with a basehit, then ADRIANA NAU walked to load the bases. ANGELA LOVELADY followed with a ground ball to the right side for a fielder's choice and the run.

Santana then posted four runs over the next three innings to mount a 4-1 advantage.

Consecutive doubles by KELSEY McILONIE and RACHEL FAILLA produced a run in the 3rd, then Failla scored on a basehit by MICHELLE BRAMLAGE.

DANIELLE BALOUGH followed with a one-out, solo homer in the 4th, then Britty Balough singled home a run in the 5th.

KYLEE KRINGS gained the win after going the first (designated) three innings, striking out four batters. BREANNA SANDBERG struck out three in her two innings, then CHELSEA VELOVICH struck out three over the final two frames, although tagged for an unearned run on a trio of miscues.

EMILY RAULS reached on an error in the 6th, advancing to second on an illegal pitch, then took two bases on a wild pitch which bounded around the backstop.

By then, the Wolf Pack had already mounted an 8-0 lead, including six runs in the 5th.

With the bases loaded, a basehit by MELISSA HILL scored MICHERIE KORIA, Sandberg doubled to score KRISTY VALLES and KAITLIN COBB.

The rally continued when CASSIDY BAGGETT doubled to score Sandberg, with Baggett coming home on a basehit by BROOKE COWAN.

© East County Sports.com
SPRING VALLEY (5-15-07) -- As far as TERESE DIAZ is concerned, just throw the results from her first game back pitching for Helix High in the trash heap. Instead, place her second game for preservation in her trophy case.

Diaz captured her first victory wearing Scotties green, tossing a no-hitter at Monte Vista in Monday's (May 14) 3-0 Grossmont South League decision. It was the junior's second no-hitter of the season, having blanked Valhalla in a Cougar Classic contest back on March 8 -- a contest which was halted after 5 innings.

However, her second no-hitter didn't become official until minutes after the ballgame had ended, as both coaches came together to discuss the scoring on a grounder to the left-side of the infield in the 4th inning.

"LYDIA VENIEGAS hit a sharp grounder, but the throw pulled the first baseman two feet off the bag," said Monarchs coach SIG CHABROWSKI. "It was an error all the way."

And since the home team's scorebook is the official book, Helix coach MARK PAULE was more than pleased that there would be no controversy for his player who has been the subject of speculation when the CIF ruled she was eligible for a midseason transfer.

"It was all about softball today," noted Paule. "And Terese was on. She had great stuff -- both her command and her location -- and we played good defense behind her."

Unlike Diaz' debut against Granite Hills, when five errors led to six unearned runs, the Scotties' defense made the plays, with both coaches noting there were no single great plays with the glove needed to keep the no-hitter alive -- it was pretty routine... at least for a no-hitter.

Helix later single runs scored in the 4th and 7th innings, both times by barely beating throws to the plate.

JESSICA FERNANDEZ made it 2-0 with a double, a steal of third, and when the throw scooted into left field, she barely beat the throw home from the outfield.

CHANEL McNUTT also barely made it from third. The senior was checked back on a ground ball to the left side, but the throw to first skipped past the defender. McNutt streaked for home, but the Monarchs second baseman backed up the play and fired home, but a split-second too late.

Diaz is now 5-4 for the season, 1-1 with the Scotties.

West Hills 5, Grossmont 4 -- Moments after the host Foothillers scored three times in the 6th to complete a rally from a 3-0 deficit, the Wolf Pack answered with a pair of markers in the 7th to eliminate the Hillers from Grossmont North League title consideration.

KAITLIN COBB came through with the big, two-out hit, lining a drive to the gap in right-centerfield. FAITH KORIA, who reached on a bloop single to left, easily scored, but third base coach STEVE SUTTON kept pumping his arm to signal MELISSA HILL (walked) to also race home from first base, barely beating the throw for the go-ahead run.

KYLEE KRINGS, who entered in relief in the 6th after Grossmont took the lead, set the Hillers down in order in the 7th to gain the triumph. Krings raised her record to 9-2, now ranking third among East County pitchers in victories.

West Hills started fast with two quick runs in the 1st. BRIANNA AUSTIN scored from third by beating the throw from shortstop on a grounder by CASSIDY BAGGETT. With the bases still loaded, JAYLEEN BUSH registered an RBI single to plate BRIANNA LaCHUSA.

In the 4th, the Pack's advantage went to 3-0 on three consecutive walks to SHARLANA BURNER, Austin and LaChusa, followed by a slow roller to third base by KRISTY VALLES for another run.

Grossmont's bats finally awoke in the 5th when KINDRA MYERS doubled and stole third base, eventually scoring on a single to centerfield by ANGELA LOVELADY.

One inning later, CAMMI MOORE drilled a 2-run double to score CORAL CASDEN and ANDREA NEDDEN to tie the contest. Moore then scored the go-ahead run on a double to left-centerfield by ADRIANA NAU.

"This one was a tough one to lose," said Hillers coach JERRY LERUD. "And now we have to play Santana, so we've got 24 hours to turn it around."

Steele Canyon 5, Mount Miguel 1 -- The Matadors hung tight with the Grossmont South League champions for most of the contest before the Cougars snapped a 1-1 deadlock by posting four runs in the 5th inning.

However, it was an unorthodox way of getting the offense rolling, as the first three batters all reached on bunts for basehits.

"We weren't doing much with the bats, so we tried to do something to get us going," said head coach JULIE BOHE, who saw SAM BEASLEY, VANESSA ADAME and NICOLE RANDEL all do their best impression of San Diego Padres pitcher GREG MADDOX -- one of the Majors League's top bunters.

LORENA KLOPP just missed her second grand slam of the week, this time settling for a sacrifice fly to left to score Beasley to break the tie. JAZMIN DAIGLE broke the ballgame open with a 2-run double, followed by an RBI single by KELLY CASH.

Mount Miguel took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd behind COREE MOLINA. GIGI RAMIREZ started the frame by reaching on an error, with a failed fielder's choice and a hit batter loading the bases. Molina followed with a solid single to left to score Ramirez.

The Cougars immediately got even when LISA MONGELLI walked, eventually scoring on a Beasley single. Meanwhile, younger sister ERIKA BEASLEY moved her pitching record to 5-0 by tossing a 4-hitter at the Matadors. However, an unusual double play in the 6th saved her.

After allowing a triple to Ramirez, a grounder to third base forced Ramirez to stay when the defender checked the baserunner, but she took off for home on the throw to first. The relay came home to catcher HANNAH ROST. However, Rost missed the tag, but Ramirez also missed home plate, but a second effort by Rost allowed her to make the tag to end the inning.

After Bertussi collected her 4th homer of the season, Lahitte overcame some early wildness to strikeout six batters for her shutout. She walked four.

MEGAN BELIO was the focal points for the other Granite Hills runs.

In the 3rd, Belio singled, moved to second on a passed ball, then while stealing third she came home and scored on a throwing error. Two innings later, Belio was credited with the RBI by bringing home KYLEE WILSON, who doubled to left, moved to third on a LAUREN HAGEMANN sacrifice bunt, then after walk to JORDAN CONWAY came home on Belio's low liner to left field.

El Capitan 4, El Cajon Valley 0 -- Sophomore SARAH GROHMAN tossed her third shutout of the season, helping the Vaqueros maintain their playoff aspirations in the CIF Division III pool.

Grohman was effectively wild in tossing a 1-hitter. She walked eight batters, but kept El Cajon Valley batters on their toes all day while striking out 12, allowing only a single basehit to MEGAN HILL with one out in the 6th inning.

Grohman also delivered at the plate, stroking an RBI double to right field in the 6th, when El Capitan doubled its lead. They opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the 3rd, when a passed ball allowed CARINA HALE to score, then a ground ball to the right side by CATHERINE BROWN allowed LESLIE KUHNE to trot home.

JULIANNA DUNCAN hit a one-out single to open the 6th, scoring on Grohman's hit. El Capitan then received consecutive basehits by Hale, Kohne and Brown to chase Grohman home.

In Division III, there are seven teams with winning records, following by four others with double-digit victory totals. That leaves the Vaqueros (7-15) in a battle with Mount Miguel (7-20), Madison (9-15) and four others teams with six wins for the division's final postseason berth.

© East County Sports.com
JAMUL (5-11-07) -- On a day when Steele Canyon High clinched its first outright Grossmont South League softball crown, Cougars coach JULIE BOHE made it known there are more lofty goals yet to achieve.

Steele Canyon senior Sam Beasley (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

"Sam put a serious hurt on them -- they never touched her," added Bohe. "She pitched a great game."

Freshman LORENA KLOPP, the heir apparent as starting pitcher upon Beasley's graduation, remains perfect at the plate since returning from injury. For the second time this week, Klopp reached base on all four of her at-bats (8-for-8, 3 hits, 5 walks), including a 2-run homer to give Steele Canyon a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning.

Steele Canyon head coach Julie Bohe (in red) holds a quick meeting with her Cougars, which clinched the South League crown. At far left is shortstop Lisa Mongelli, followed by Bohe, corner infielder Jazmin Daigle and left fielder Jayme Jarvis. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

Adame finished with a 3-for-4 performance, while team captain JAYME JARVIS went 2-for-4 and reached base on all four trips to the plate.

The only Eagles hits were recorded by catcher JESSIE SCHATZ to lead the 2nd,
and shortstop NICOLE RIVERA in the 4th.

Monte Vista 7, Mount Miguel 1 -- Coaches always seem to forget that they take losses a whole lot harder than the playersdo. So the Monarchs' staff had to be more than pleased by coming back from an unsightly, double-digit wipeout to storm back and defeat the Matadors.

"Everyone assumed we were dead in the water," explained Monte Vista coach SIG CHABROWSKI. "After the Steele Canyon game, we could've been demoralized. But we came back hard in practice and took care of business, then we came out today and produced."

Four times, the Monarchs scored a pair of runs in an inning to slowly stretch the lead to move within a game of second-place Granite Hills.

BRITTANY WRIGHT led the charge by going 4-for-4, including RBI singles in the 3rd and 5th innings. The freshman also stole a pair of bases.

In between Wright’s run-scoring hits, KAITLYN McMILLAN hit her first homer of the season, a 2-run shot in the 4th.

Catcher JESIKA PEREA batted 3-for-4 and scored three times, while AMANDA AGUON added a pair of hits. Both are sophomores.

Trailing 6-0, Mount Miguel gained its lone run in the 6th. COREE MOLINA slugged a double to centerfield, then pinchrunner KELSEY QUIJADA moved to third on a GABBY NAIDAS single past the second baseman, then scored on a sacrifice fly to left by catcher CATRINA JONES.

It was the lone blemish on the pitching line of Monarchs starter WHITNEY MULLINS, who yielded just five hits.

Helix 8, Valhalla 0 -- Senior pitcher CHRISTINE JACOBITES spun a 3-hit shutout to lead the Highlanders past the free-falling Norsemen. It took most of the season, yet Jacobites was finally able to level her pitching record, which now rests at 8-8 heading into the final week of the regular season.

The Scotties' triumph also made a mess of the Grossmont South League standings. While Steele Canyon has clinched the title, Granite Hills sits in second place at 4-4, while the four remaining ballclubs are all at 3-5 in GSL play.

Jacobites took the place of mid-season transfer TERESE DIAZ, whose return to Helix was most inhospitable after getting hit around Tuesday by Granite Hills. So a motivated Jacobites took control early, carrying a no-hitter into the 4th inning.

"Christine threw a fantastic game," said Helix coach MARK PAULE, who also acknowledged that Diaz was cleared to play by both CIF and school administrators. "And she got a lot of solid defensive support behind her."

Included were several stops by shortstop ALYSSA DRONENBURG to aid with Jacobites' shutout.

The Highlanders jumped on Valhalla by scoring seven times in their first trip to the plate.

Dronenburg opened the assault with a basehit, followed by a walk to JESSICA FERNANDEZ. Helix then registered four consecutive singles -- by Diaz, NATALIE SMITH, BAILEY REID and Jacobites -- for a 3-0 lead, then ALYSSA BRITSCHGI bombed a 2-run double to break it open.

Smith (2-for-2) added another RBI hit in the 4th to cap the scoring.

Reports from Patrick Henry coaches, players and parents indicate that the team played its final contest after self-reporting a rules violation by using an ineligible player for six contests. However, San Diego Section officials still have not officially ruled on the violation.

A section rule, implemented for the 2006-07 school year, states a team will be prevented from participating in the playoffs if it forfeits too many contests. In the case of softball that number is four ballgames -- the Patriots are reporting six games in question. However, only two are league games – four are tournament games. The problem here is the CIF’s foggy interpretation of their own guidelines has left the Henry Patriots in limbo.

(Editor's Note -- When Henry reported this game result to local media outlets, they stated the team's overall record at 15-11-1, which includes the forfeits).

Thus, if Kerr completed her season on Thursday (May 10), it may be the space needed by Mira Mesa pitcher Melissa Tillett to be the section's all-time strikeout artist with as many as three extra games in the postseason in which to pitch.

Christian head coach ROMA DAWSON, who has seen both pitchers throughout their careers, is more than familiar with standout strikeout performers. Included is her daughter, former record-holder SARAH DAWSON, a former collegiate All-American who now is coaching at Louisiana-Monroe.

"Let me just say that both (college) teams will be really pleased with their selections," said Roma Dawson. "Donna pitched a great game today, but Melissa gave us fits, too. Just when we thought we had either of them figured out to get some hits, they adjust and are unhittable once again."

"They both get the job done."

Kerr is ticketed for UCLA on scholarship, while Tillett is heading for Northern Iowa.

Meanwhile, Christian pitcher JENNA ROYCE saw her perfect record get clipped. However, knowing your lone loss in a 5-1 ledger was against one of the best takes some sting out of the wound -- making for some fancy story-telling in years to come.

With the City Conference season ending a week before the Grossmont Conference does, Christian will have about 12 days to prepare for the CIF playoffs. The Patriots are in contention with defending champion Francis Parker and '06 runner-up Imperial for the top seed.

Imperial defeated Christian in last season's semifinals, then nipped the Pats in a 5-inning, time-limit shortened contest at the Valley Center Tournament in March.

ANDREA NEDDEN continued her recent assault at the plate, belting a triple to right-centerfield to score MEGAN GREEN for the game's only run in the 8th inning. Nedden's hot streak began three weeks ago when she hit homers over three consecutive games, and has continued with either extra-base hits or key basehits for runs to keep Grossmont in contention.

"She's just seeing the ball real well," said Hillers coach JERRY LERUD. "It can be a 2-strike count, yet she's still hitting the ball hard every time."

The rally started when AMBER LOVELADY walked, then Green reached on a fielder's choice. Nedden then pounded the ball to the gap and circled the bases. However, she was sent home in an effort for an inside-the-park homer, but was out at the plate.

"Stupid coach," admitted the skipper.

Meanwhile, pitcher ASHLEY RENALDI was hardly touched by Otay Ranch to collect the victory. She allowed just three soft singles, striking out eight and gaining four assists on tappers back to the circle.

The Hillers also turned a pair of early double plays to keep the game scoreless.

In the 1st, one of Renaldi's assists led to a pitcher-to-shortstop-to-first twin-killing, as Green made a strong throw to KENDRA MYERS. An inning later, catcher CAMMI MOORE quickly moved laterally to collect a short popfly, then fired to second baseman DESIREE OLSON to beat the Mustangs runner back to the bag.

The only time Renaldi was in trouble came in the 4th when the Mustangs collected two of their hits, loading the bases with no one out. But she preserved the shutout with a pair of strikeouts, then a grounder to Green at shortstop.

Otay Ranch pitcher Rebecca Galindo also yielded just three hits, yet took the loss.

West Hills 7, El Capitan 0 -- Senior pitcher BRENNA SANDBERG spun a 1-hit shutout to lift the Wolf Pack to another 20-victory season. Sandberg struck out 14 Vaqueros to register a season-best performance.

MELISSA HILL stroked a double and a triple, including a key double to score a pair runs in the 4th. West Hills scored four times in the inning, including an RBI single by catcher KAITLIN COBB.

CASSIDY BAGGETT and SHARLANA BURNER added two hits each as part of a 12-hit attack, including a double by Baggett, while JAYLEEN BUSH had an RBI double in the 2nd to open the scoring.

Santana 15, El Cajon Valley 0 -- The Sultans scored 10 times in the 2nd inning to bury the Braves in a contest called after six innings.

Winning pitcher SHAE BASS struck out eight batters in her 2-hit shutout, and went 2-for-2 at the plate. NICOLE BRZECZEK batted 2-for-3 for Santana (25-3).

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-9-07) -- First-year Granite Hills High coach ERIN COYNE doesn't care what the reason is except to note her Eagles are back to their winning ways.

Coyne's troops scored in five of their six at-bats Tuesday (May 8), pulling away for an easy 7-1 sautéing of visiting Helix. The triumph gives Granite Hills sole possession of second place in the Grossmont North League, enhancing the ballclub's playoff possibilities.

"We're finally putting our hits together," noted Coyne. "And you can look to BRITTANI (BERTUSSI) and NICOLE (RIVERA) for leading us there."

Bertussi and Rivera have been the constants on a team which scalded the ball all season, yet found difficulty in driving home runs.

But not against the Highlanders. In almost every inning, when there was a runner in scoring position, someone stepped forward to garnish the inning with a run-scoring hit.

"It's nice to see the team putting things together," added Coyne. "It's been a real up-and-down year."

Bertussi, Rivera and catcher JESSIE SCHATZ each posted two hits, as Rivera collected two RBI. Included was a squeeze bunt to score CHAYLAH ZETSCH in the 2nd, then brought home Bertussi with a basehit in the 4th.

Granite Hills' Nicole Rivera (top) awaits the ball at shortstop, while pitcher Brittani Bertussi makes the pitch in the Eagles' 7-1 decision. (Photos by Adolfo Villanueva )

Meanwhile, Helix welcomed the reacquisition of junior TERESE DIAZ, who was the pitcher for her hometown school of Ramona High during the Cougar Classic earlier this season, including a shutout of Valhalla.

Diaz was a second-team All-Valley League performer while batting .384 last season as a sophomore for the Bulldogs after earning second-team honors in the Grossmont South League as a freshman in 2005.

Although she struggled in the circle in her return with the Scotties, she did collect the team's lone RBI on a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to 4-1 in the 3rd.

Santana 5, El Capitan 1 -- Trailing early, the Vaqueros once again moved to within a run against a team above them in the standings, only to again be frustrated in a loss to the 3rd-ranked Sultans.

Down 2-0, SARAH GROHMAN led-off the 3rd with a single, then came all the way around to score when LESLIE KUHEN tripled deep.

However, Santana immediately answered with three additional runs to halt the comeback efforts of El Capitan.

SHAE BASS got the rally started with a double, with a KELSEY McILONIE single placing runners at the corners. RACHEL FAILLA brought Bass home on a fielder's choice, while a grounder by MICHELLE BRAMLAGE was misplayed for another run.

McIlonie finished with a 3-for-3 outing, while Balough went 2-for-4 including a double. Meanwhile, BRITTY BALOUGH pitched a 3-hitter for the Sultans, lifting her record to 8-1 to match Bass (16-2) for the best winning percentage among East County pitchers.

Santana is now 1 1/2 games in front of 9th-ranked West Hills in the Grossmont North League standings, but the Wolf Pack has an extra game still to play before the ballclubs complete the regular season with a head-to-head showdown on Wed., May 16, at West Hills.

Christian 10, Morse 4 -- The Patriots moved into position for a first-division finish in the Eastern League after breaking a tied ballgame by scoring five times in the 2nd inning to tap out the Tigers.

JESSIE OWENS provided much of the offense and all of the pitching for Christian. Along with her seven strikeouts, the sophomore batted 3-for-5, including a two-run single in the 2nd to help increase the margin to 6-1.

Senior first baseman SARAH SEYMOUR, freshman catcher ALLIE SCOTT and sophomore outfield KRISTINA WYNNS each aided a 13-hit attack with two hits each.

Seymour provided an RBI single in the 2nd, then led-off the 5th with a basehit, eventually scoring for a 7-1 advantage. Scott doubled and later scored on a KARA CARTWRIGHT knock in the 5th, then Wynns completed the scoring by driving home a pair -- ALLISON GUNTER and Owens -- with a double to left-centerfield in the 6th.

Christian retained its hold on fourth place in league play, but may be elevated into third place if and when the CIF makes a ruling on the Patrick Henry situation.

Although the CIF office failed to return the communication efforts of East County Sports.com, officials at Henry, in a self-policing action, turned itself in for use of an ineligible player in six contests. Included were a pair of league contests, with the ensuing forfeitures -- if and when declared by the CIF -- would drop the Henry Patriots in the standings and completely out of the section playoffs.

Helix catcher Andi Martin del Campo (top) frames a pitch from Ramona High transfer Terese Diaz, who is pictured in discussion with Scotties head coach Mark Paule. (Photos by Adolfo Villanueva )

Nedden, a senior, followed an RBI single by ADRIANA NAU in the 1st with one of her own for a 2-0 lead. An inning later, Nedden capped a 4-run outburst with another drive to left field.

The rally also included a run-scoring double to the fence in centerfield by MEGAN GREEN to score MADDY HILL, while AMBER LOVELADY reached base for the second time in the ballgame on an error, yet was credited with the RBI when the only play would've been to first base.

A year ago, MARISSA UTLEY was the lone diamond in the rough for the Braves. She just completed a solid season as one of the state's batting leaders for Grossmont College. This season, the gemstone is JESSICA COPE, who now has hits in 8 of her last 11 outings with another RBI single for El Cajon Valley.

Cope scored in the 6th when she singled, took second on a wild pitch, stole third, then scored on a basehit by MEGAN HILL. An inning later, Cope singled again to drive home COREY RAINEY, followed by an RBI basehit by catcher DESIREE GARCIA to plate KARI SATROM.

Mount Miguel 4, Valhalla 2 -- Matadors pitcher LAURA NELSON tossed a 2-hitter and slugged a pair of home runs, leading Mount Miguel to its third triumph in five starts while keeping the Norsemen reeling with their fourth consecutive setback.

Nelson was tagged early on a 2-run homer by AMBER REARDON in the 1st inning, then settled in by allowing just one basehit the rest of the way. She struck out four batters.

In the 6th, Nelson parked a solo shot to halve the lead, then Mount Miguel took the lead on a basehit by SONIA RAY, followed by a 2-run homer by SHANICE SUTTON to left-centerfield.

Nelson completed the comeback by belting her 7th homer of the season -- a two-out shot -- to move into third place among the East County leaders.

The Norsemen tried to comeback with their only other hit of the afternoon in the home-half of the 7th, but Nelson stranded the runner to move her season record to 5-7 after opening the campaign with a 1-6 ledger.

Ray finished with two hits for the Matadors, while CATRINA JONES posting the team's other basehit.

Steele Canyon 26, Monte Vista 0 -- The 5th-ranked Cougars went with their third-string pitcher, but it was more than enough to paste the struggling Monarchs.

ERIKA BEASLEY only struck out three batters, but scattered five hits to run her record to 4-0. Three of the victories were by shutout by the junior.

The offense featured a pair of home runs by JAYME JARVIS -- a pair of 3-run shots -- to move into fourth place among the East County leaders. Jarvis finished batting 3-for-5 and scored five times in addition to her six RBI.

Meanwhile, catcher HANNAH ROST, in her first start since returning from a rib injury, smacked a grand slam, catching teammate LORENA KLOPP for the region lead with her 8th homer of the season.

Rost's slam came in the 4th inning, when Steele Canyon posted 14 runs against three pitchers to expand the lead from 12-0 to 26-0. Four errors aided the big inning.

Centerfielder VANESSA ADAME registered four hits, scoring four times and driving in a pair. Corner infielder JAZMIN DAIGLE and left-side infielder LISA MONGELLI also recorded four hits each.

The result could've been worse, as Klopp marked her return to the line-up by just missing a grand slam on a line drive which hit near the top of the fence. Klopp was officially 1-for-1 while being intentionally walked three times -- once to lead-off an inning!

Needless to say, Monte Vista was steaming following the contest, believing the Cougars ran up the score, citing several examples, including Steele Canyon stealing after the whisking was well-established. Steele Canyon noted that the team's only steal came when the score was still just 4-0.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (5-8-07) -- Santana High is heading down to the wire for the third straight season in the race for the Grossmont North League fastpitch title. Only the Sultans are hoping for a repeat of the 2005 season and not last season's disappointment.

With a chance to wrap-up its second championship in three seasons Monday (May 7), the GNL campaign will instead come down to the final week of the season after West Hills pitcher KYLEE KRINGS shutout the visiting Sultans, 2-0, at Wolf Pack Field.

Krings struck out seven batters without issuing a walk, escaping jams in the 2nd and 7th innings to move West Hills to within a game of the league leaders entering the third round of league play.

The Pack were able to chase Sultans starter SHAE BASS following four innings of work, including a trio of major scoring threats. But they only scored during their team's first at-bat.

MICHERIE KORIA started by getting hit by a pitch, one of two plunkings she absorbed to reach base. BRIANNA LaCHUSA and KRISTY VALLES followed with basehits to load the bases, then STASIA HOLDMAN drove home Koria and LaChusa with a single to the gap in right-centerfield.

Holdman and LaChusa each went 2-for-3 for West Hills, along with MELISSA HILL.

West Hills again loaded the bases in the 2nd, then had two runners aboard with no out in the 4th and 5th, but Bass kept the hosts off the scoreboard the first two times, then BRITTY BALOUGH prevented any additional scoring in the 5th.

Grossmont 7, El Capitan 2 -- Like West Hills, the Foothillers were facing elimination Monday (May 7), but staved off a Vaqueros rally by scoring four times in the 7th to break open a close contest. Included were 2-run singles by CORAL KASDEN and MADDIE HILL to keep Grossmont in title contention.

The Hillers' ASHLEY RENALDI and the Vaqueros' SARAH JO GROHMAN battled through four innings of scoreless action before the visitors from Grossmont finally broke through.

ANDREA NEDDEN tripled to deep right to bring home ANGELA LOVELADY, who reached on a one-out single. Nedden then scored on a squeeze bunt by AMBER LOVELADY, who later stole second base, then came home when a pickoff throw sailed into centerfield.

El Capitan swiftly came back to keep things interesting.

PAIGE BORRAS struck a one-out single, then freshman right fielder KELSEY MOODY blasted her first career homer, sending a shot to left-centerfield to trim the deficit to 3-2.

Amber Lovelady walked and went to third on a single by Nedden, who promptly stole second. KASDEN plated both on a sharp basehit to left for a 5-2 lead.

Later in the inning, CAMMI MOORE and KENDRA MYERS both stroked basehits, a fielder's choice advanced Moore and erased Myers, then Hill went deep to center for a pair of additional runs.

Renaldi struck out three while blanking El Cap in six of her innings of work, leveling her season record to 7-7. The Vaqs didn't help their cause with five errors.

The GNL's top three teams avoid each other this week, then meet head-to-head all next week to determine a titlist. The slate includes West Hills at Grossmont (Mon., May 14), Grossmont at Santana (Tue., May 15), and Santana at West Hills (Wed., May 16), each slated for 4 p.m. starts.

Steele Canyon senior Sam Beasley tossed a 1-hit shutout at Valhalla, striking out six and facing just one batter over the minimum in a 3-0 triumph. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (5-4-07) -- With two brisk brush strokes, Steele Canyon all-but-mathematically captured a second straight Grossmont South League fastpitch title Thursday (May 3), utilizing home runs by senior SAM BEASLEY and freshman IRENE BLUMENSTOCK to subdue host Valhalla, 3-0.

A year ago, both ballclubs shared the GSL title, but the Cougars were determined to make sure history would not repeat.

"That was one of our goals all year -- win the title outright," said Steele Canyon coach JULIE BOHE. "Someone new always seems to step forward and hit a home run for us."

Steele Canyon senior Sam Beasley rips her third homer of the season, sending a shot over Valhalla's championship banner in center despite the effort of Norsemen outfielder Kayla DeStefano. Both teams shared the 2006 Grossmont South League title, but in 2007, the Cougars' magic number is 1. (Photos by Chris Edwards) DOUBLE-CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE More Action Photos HERE

"A couple of good things happened," added Bohe. "Although we didn't get many hits, we made the most of what we did get. And the defense was solid behind Sam."

Following a pair of clunkers, Valhalla was solid, too. They utilized three pitchers in the staff's 4-hitter, then the Norsemen also displayed some good glovework, including turning a double play when leftfielder JESSIE APPLEBAUM caught a line drive, then firing to first base for the second out. It was Applebaum's sixth outfield assist of the season to rank among the East County leaders.

"We played very well, too," said Valhalla coach DOUH HARTUNG, despite dropping its third straight. "We made some really good plays on defense in both the infield and the outfield or it could've been a lot worse."

Two of Valhalla 's three hits were collected by first baseman KYLA BRANSFORD, who sent liners to left field for a double and a single.

Added Hartung, "The last two games were horrible, but we showed we can still play with the top teams in our division. Our season is anything but over."

Granite Hills 3, Monte Vista 2 -- The host Eagles needed just two batters to get on the scoreboard when BRITTANI BERTUSSI pumped a 2-run homer to centerfield. But it took 6 2/3 innings before they hit the scoreboard again, when MANDY OBNEY drew a bases-loaded walk for the walk-off run to nip the Monarchs.

The triumph made a complete mess of the South League standings, as Granite Hills moved into a second-place deadlock with Valhalla, with three other schools just one game back in a 5-horse race to finish second behind Steele Canyon with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Despite results as irregular as a heartbeat, the Eagles don't seem concerned and believe they can beat out the rest of the pack for the runner-up tag.

"We're hitting the ball and the defense played good -- we didn't make any errors," said Eagles pitcher JENNY LAHITTE. "So we're happy to be winning again."

It was a severe about-face for the Eagles, but the team doesn't believe they have been as inconsistent as their ledger shows.

"Our offense isn't really stagnant -- we've been hitting, but just not putting those hits together," explained Bertussi, who had two hits while striking the ball solid in all four at-bats. "It's just a mental thing. We just need to practice hard and keep winning."

Monte Vista pitcher WHITNEY MULLINS, like she twice accomplished in the 5th, coaxed another popout for the second out. But four pitches below the strike zone to Obney forced home the deciding run.

Trailing 2-0 early, the Monarchs drew even in the 4th. Catcher JESIKA PEREA walked with one out, Mullins bombed a double which short-hopped the fence in left for the first run, then Mullins scored on a two out single by AMBER McMILLIN.

However, the Eagles nailed McMillin attempting to take an extra base, then turned a double play in the 6th when a baserunner took off for second base on a strikeout, but was nailed on a strong throw by catcher JESSIE SCHATZ.

Bertussi and Mullins were the lone players with multiple hits, gaining two each.

CHRISTINE JACOBITES went the first four innings to earn the win for Helix, striking out three, then NATALIE SMITH pitched the final three frames to collect her second save of the season.

The Scotties scored six times on six hits in the 3rd to break the game open, creating a 3-way tie between the schools plus Monte Vista for fourth place, yet just one game out of second place.

The breakout inning opened on consecutive doubles by ALYSSA DRONENBURG and BETH AMANN. Later, Smith and ALYSSA BRITSCHGI posted run-scoring singles, then MELISSA FARRIOR capped the outburst with a 2-run double down the left-field line.

Helix catcher ANDI MARTIN DEL CAMPO batted 3-for-4, while Dronenburg, Smith and JESSICA FERNANDEZ added two hits each as part of a 13-hit attack.

With its second win in the head-to-head series, Santana pushed the Hillers on the brink of elimination for title consideration in the Grossmont North League, with the Sultans in position to do the same to West Hills in Monday's (May 7) showdown in western Santee.

Santana forged four hits into a pair of 1st-inning runs.

DANIELLE BALOUGH (left-center) and AMANDA CARPENTER (right field) both singled, with KELSEY McILONIE driving home Balough with a basehit to center, then Carpenter scoring on a double-steal with K-Mac.

The other Sultans run came home on a single to right field by MICHELLE BRAMLAGE in the 6th, scoring McIlonie, who singled then advanced on a walk to RACHEL FAILLA.

Meanwhile, Bass only needed one strong effort on defense all afternoon, as BREE PADILLA ran down a drive to the gap in left-center field in the 4th.

Holdman opened the scoring with a lead homer in the 2nd, then sent out a 2-run shot in the 4th to push the lead to 8-0. The third baseman now ranks in a tie for third place with five bombs for the season.

CHELSEA VELOVICH tossed six innings of 2-hit ball for the victory, then KYLEE KRINGS tossed a perfect 7th to keep the Wolf Pack in contact with Santana.

"Even with our loss to Grossmont, we still knew we have to beat Santana twice anyway," said West Hills coach STEVE SUTTON. "Monday is the big game for us."

Both El Cajon Valley hits were collected by catcher DESIREE GARCIA, who pounded a pair of doubles for the Braves. For West Hills, KAITLIN COBB and SHARLANA BURNER also posted two hits, including a 2-run double by Cobb.

Christian 17, Serra 1 -- The collapsing Conquistadors, who opened the season with a 5-1 record to gain a finals berth in the Friar Classic tournament, continued their freefall at the hands of the Patriots.

Christian dealt Serra its 12th straight setback -- 0-12-1 in last 13 -- by scoring in all five of its team at-bats in a contest mercifully called after six innings.

KARA CARTWRIGHT posted a career outing by going 4-for-4, including a bases-loaded triple in the 1st to mount a 5-0 lead. The sophomore finished with four RBI and four runs to pace a season-best 22-hit attack by the Patriots.

However, it was an early defensive stop which captured the Q's.

"ALLYSSA GRAUL made a key play for us," said Pats coach ROMA DAWSON. "It set the tone for the whole game and gave the defense some energy."

On a basehit to right, Graul collected the ball and fired home, nailing a player at the plate for the out to keep the game scoreless in the top of the 1st. The hit was the lone safety allowed by Christian pitchers, as JESSIE OWENS went the first four innings for the victory, then JENNA ROYCE went the last two innings without allowing a hit.

"The whole team is hitting the ball well -- not just one or two players, but the entire line-up," added Dawson. "Even against (top-ranked) Mira Mesa, we hit the ball well."

Leading the hit parade was KRISTINE WYNNS, who matched Cartwright with four hits, including a triple, while Owens and AMANDA PLUM added three hits each.

Along with her arm, Graul aided with her bat, driving home a season-best three runs, matching SARAH SEYMOUR with two hits each.

With the triumph, the Patriots moved to within a game of Patrick Henry, as the teams conclude the Eastern League schedule next Thursday (May 10) in San Carlos.