Santana High senior catcher Brittany Fenn, named MVP of the Hilltop Tournament. (Photo by Jeff Grennan)

© East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (3-30-08) -- Santana High junior JESSIE OWENS is about to surpass her older sister, MELISSA, for an East County career record after equaling a CIF-San Diego Section record. The performance helped lift the Sultans to the championship of the annual Hilltop Tournament.

On Saturday (Mar. 29), Owens tied the section mark by slugging three home runs in a single contest, as Santana downed El Centro-Southwest, 14-6, in the tournament quarterfinals. The Sultans went on to blank Mater Dei, 12-0 in five innings, and Francis Parker, 4-0, to claim the first-place trophy.

With her blasts, Owens now owns 19 career homers, one short of her older sister’s career mark of 20, which ranks tied for sixth place in section history. Among the standouts the younger Owens surpassed include Lisa Dodd (UCLA; U.S. National Team) and Megan McAllister (Univ. of Georgia All-America, school-record 47 HRs; NPF Philadelphia Force).

Senior AMBER BEEBE added a grand slam in the 1st, while Balough led-off the 4th with a solo homer.

In game two, AMANDA CARPENTER registered a pair of home runs to romp over the Crusaders, who earlier upset El Capitan, 4-1, in the quarterfinals.

And the long ball continued in the title game, as Beebe and Balough went back-to-back with homers in the 4th. Balough added an RBI single in the 5th for a key insurance run, then capped her triumph with the final of her 10 strikeouts.

Along with Fenn, the all-tournament team included Santana's Owens, Balough, Carpenter and senior KELSEY McILONIE.

Mater Dei 4, El Capitan 1 -- Natalie Erb, a player not even listed on the Crusaders' opening day roster, hit a 3-run homer to highlight a 4-run, 4th-inning rally to drop the Vaqueros, which scored in the 7th to avoid the shutout.

© East County Sports.com
TIERRASANTA (3-29-08) -- Ever since a setback to top-ranked Escondido, the Helix Highlanders can't be stopped. The Scotties captured their eighth straight contest Friday (Mar. 28) by whipping Serra for the second time in a week, posting a 7-0 verdict in Falcon Fiesta tournament action.

Helix, which owns an East County best 10-1-1 record, created offense from nearly every segment of the lineup to back the pitching of TERESE DIAZ. The senior struck out 14 batters in six innings of work, while NATALIE SMITH pitched a perfect 7th inning in the combined 1-hit shutout of the Conquistadors (8-5-1).

Almost every starter either scored or drove in a run for the Scotties., featuring a booming, 2-run homer to straightaway centerfield by Diaz to give Helix a 5-0 in the 5th inning.

While Diaz has been one of the team's top performers in both pitching (8-1 record) and batting (5 homers), the depth of the Highlanders should allow the team to stay with Granite Hills and Steele Canyon for the team's first shot at a Grossmont South League pennant since current Eagles coach ERIN COYNE and current Cougars coach JULIE BOHE wore the Scotties green.

A good example is Smith, now the backup pitcher to Diaz after serving as the co-No. 1 starter in the circle for Helix last season.

Highlanders pitcher Terese Diaz. (Helix High courtesy photo)

Fri., Mar. 28

Falcon Fiesta SCOTTIES 7, Q'S 0 Helix (10-1-1) Serra (8-5-1) 020 031 1 - 7 10 1 000 000 0 - 0 01 1 Diaz, NSmith (7) and Martin Del Campo Ryan, Washington (7) and Olafsen. W-Diaz (8-1). L-Ryan. HR-Diaz, 5th, 1 on.

Serra managed just one hit against Diaz and Smith after Diaz tossed a no-hitter against the Conquistadors last week. Meanwhile, the Helix offense battered the pitching of the Q's.

"You need to play against your opponent's weaknesses as well as play to your own team's strengths," added Smith. "That's one of the reasons we're having such a good season so far."

Included was going with small ball on offense to score twice in the 2nd, as the bottom of the batting order delivered. Included was a lead double by SHALEY MADRUGA, a walk to KAILAH CANO-RUE, then RBI singles by JESSICA FERNANDEZ and ANDY MARTIN DEL CAMPO.

In the 5th, Helix turned to its power hitters, which reached Serra's short porch in centerfield with a series of drives.

The only hit by Serra was a lead single by sophomore catcher Jessica Olafsen in the 2nd inning.

Conquistadors pitcher Leix Ryan delivers against Helix. The Highlanders downed Serra for the second time in 2008. (Photo by Kim Gotfredson)	Scotties pinchhitter Chanel McNutt is barely out at 1st. (Photo by Kim Gotfredson)

"We need our bats to pick it up a little bit," said Christian coach ROMA DAWSON. "We just need one more bat to get hits for us to get untracked."

Scott, a sophomore, was left stranded following a lead single in the 2nd. Then in the 7th, she slugged a triple, followed by an AMANDA PLUM walk to place runners on the corners with no one out. However, University City escaped on a line drive which went for a double pkay, then a pop out.

Catcher Allie Scott with the catch at home plate, leaving a runner at third. (Photo by Jeanne Royce)	Second baseman Nicole Marcos races up the middle to backhand a short pop fly. (Photo by Jeanne Royce)

Mar. 26: Patrick Henry at Granite Hills (Slideshow by Chris DeRosier) DOUBLE-CLICK PHOTO FOR ENTIRE SLIDESHOW

Granite Hills pitcher Jenny Lahitte earned her fifth consecutive shutout vs. Patrick Henry. (Photo by Chris DeRosier)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-27-08) -- Granite Hills High sophomore JENNY LAHITTE is anything but missing in action. Despite not getting much respect in a recent poll by not even being listed among the contenders, Lahitte responded by delivering her fifth consecutive shutout, punishing 4th-ranked Patrick Henry, 7-0, in non-league action Wednesday (Mar. 26).

Lahitte finished with a 1-hitter, now allowing just four total hits in five outings this season. Her stat of 0.82 isn't an earned-run average, it's Lahitte's earned-HIT average after running her scoreless string to 34 consecutive innings.

"I practiced a lot to give myself a better start than I did last season," said Lahitte. "It's been a lot more (success) than I expected."

Lahitte owns a perfect 4-0 record facing many of the county’s best. Along with Wednesday's (Mar. 26) triumph over the Patriots, she's defeated ranked ballclubs in Poway and West Hills, plus a scoreless tie with No. 3 Scripps Ranch.

"Jenny's been just stepping it up -- offensively and defensively," said Eagles coach ERIN COYNE. "She's setting the tone out there for the rest of the girls to step up and play at her level."

The lone hit off Lahitte was a blooper over the shortstop's head by Henry right-fielder Maggie McCormick with one out in the 5th. Otherwise, Lahitte would've finished with her third consecutive no-hitter of the season.

"I've lost a few of those on little bloopers," added Lahitte. "As long as they're not good hits, you're still proud of yourself."

Lahitte was also aided by solid defense, including a pair of nice grabs and throws by shortstop BRITTANI BERTUSSI, who shares pitching duties with Lahitte."

Lahitte also powered the offense by going 2-for-3, driving in runs with each hit.

In the 1st, her double to deep center scored MEGAN BELIO, and when the outfielder booted the ball, JESSIE SCHATZ also came around to score for a 2-0 lead.

Lahitte added an RBI single in the 3rd for a 3-0 lead, then the Eagles doubled the advantage in the 5th on singles by third baseman AMANDA OMAHEN and left fielder KYLEE WILSON, plus a bases loaded walk to right fielder SHAYLA ZETSCH.

Madruga registered run-scoring hits in both the 1st and 5th innings when the Highlanders scored four times each to whip the Tigers in non-league action Wednesday (Mar. 26).

Madruga's first hit tied the contest after Morse opened with a quick 1-0 lead, then ALYSSA BRITSCHGI followed with a go-ahead basehit. The next two runs came home on errors.

Morse moved to within 3-2, but Madruga again delivered. Following a sacrifice fly by TERESE DIAZ to score SIERRAH MOORE for a 4-2 lead, Madruga's low liner brought home NATALIE SMITH.

Moore collected the victory, going a designated three innings, then Diaz tossed four shutout innings of relief for the save in the combined 3-hitter.

© East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (3-26-08) -- Christian High produced plenty of baserunners, but knocking them in proved both problematic and dubious. And that left the door open for host Hilltop High, which rallied with five runs in the 5th inning to upend the Patriots, 6-2, in non-league action Tuesday (Mar. 25).

"We certainly gave ourselves lots of chances," said Pats coach ROMA DAWSON. "I reminded the girls we have two rounds of league games coming up soon, so we better take advantage of our opportunities when we get them."

Christian catcher ALLIE SCOTT did delivery early with an RBI single in the 1st, but the rally ended when ALY GUNTER was thrown out at the plate.

An inning earlier, Lancers freshman catcher Monica Arnas hit a leadoff homer to tie the game at 1-all. Sophomore pitcher Jordan Rhudy collected the victory, despite allowing eight hits.

Christian High's Aly Gunter. (Photo by Jeanne Royce)	The Patriots' Ricki Gentry. (Photo by Jeanne Royce)

© East County Sports.com
POINT LOMA (3-25-08) -- Helix High senior TERESE DIAZ already survived one close call to register a complete-game no-hitter against Serra last week. And now, it went down to scorer's decision to record her second straight no-hitter.

Aided by a 7th-inning call which was ruled an error, Diaz struck out 15 batters and smacked a home run to power the Highlanders past host Point Loma, 5-0, in Monday's (Mar. 24) lone East County contest.

"It was another outstanding game by Terese," said Helix coach MARK PAULE. "She just threw hard."

Following six innings without shutout ball, Pointers sophomore Marissa Reyes led-off the 7th by hitting a roller to the right side of the infield. The Helix second baseman took two steps to her left, got a glove to the ball, but failed to field it cleanly.

And following the guideline that the first hit, when late in the contest, should be clean in nature, the Scotties' coaching staff hung an error on their own defender.

"That's a play that has to be made," noted Paule. "The call could've gone either way -- it definitely was close."

Three days earlier, with two outs in the 7th, a similar ground ball went through the Helix infield between first and second. However, Highlanders right-fielder NATALIE SMITH charged hard on the ball and threw to first baseman KAILAH CANO-RUE to cap Diaz' no-hitter against Serra.

With her two no-hitters, Diaz now owns four for her career, plus a shared no-hitter with SIERRAH MOORE. Helix (8-1-1) is ranked 12th in the CIF-San Diego Section according to the latest San Diego Union-Tribune poll, which was released this morning (Mar. 25).

© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (3-22-08) -- Owners of the second-best record among Grossmont Conference fastpitch squads, the Helix Highlanders made a case to gain a berth in the county rankings -- slated for release on Tuesday -- with their best performance of the season.

Headed by pitcher TERESE DIAZ, who tossed East County's 10th no-hitter in as many days of competition, and another home run by ALYSSA DRONENBURG, the Scotties trounced a highly respected ballclub in Serra, 7-1, in night action Friday (Mar. 21) at Helix.

"The South League pitchers this year are bringing it," said Diaz on the wave of no-hitters. "We're really competitive and everyone's working really hard."

"I've been working really well with my catcher, ANDI (MARTIN DEL CAMPO), and the defense behind us is working just as well," added Diaz, who will play for the University of Buffalo next spring. "Coach (MARK) PAULE and I are on the same path -- we're both in-tune with my pitches."

Unlike seasons past, Helix has faced few distractions in mounting a 7-1-1 mark, second only to Santana's 8-1 ledger. And each individual player is taking advantage to blossom in order to contribute to the team.

"It's been great - I love that I moved; I'm glad that I changed schools, and everyone is coming together as a family."

While Diaz has been dominating opponents with her drop-curve, team unity assists in creating a winning atmosphere.

"There's a lot of great pitching in East County, so it's going to come down to a lot of 1-run ballgames," said Paule. "There's a lot of tough teams, but we're coming around -- it's been a lot of hard work, but Terese takes a lot of pressure off."

"We emphasize family here at Helix softball and the girls are buying into it.

It's a credit to all of our girls, who are solid, well-rounded individuals."

The Highlanders scored in five of their six trips to the plate, using both speed and power to light-up the scoreboard.

Dronenburg did most of the damage early.

In the 1st, lead-off batter SIERRAH MOORE was hit by a pitch. She stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, then Dronenburg lined an RBI single to centerfield.

Two innings later, Dronenburg gained some elevation with her next shot to center, easily clearing the fence for her second homer of the season and a 2-0 lead.

"I've been working on waiting on the pitch and working on outside pitches," noted Dronenburg, who sat on a change and drilled it. "I'm thinking center (field) and that's what I'm working on right now."

Her work habits have carried over to the younger players.

"Everyone works really hard in practice, then we play like we practice -- we come out here and work, and as you can see in the games, it's been working out."

In the 3rd, BECKY ALMERAZ took advance of a start in center to register an RBI single.

An inning later, a bases-loaded pop by SHALEY MADRUGA landed beyond the shortstop. Although the left-fielder recovered the ball and threw to third for the fielder's choice force out and rob Madruga of a basehit, the Helix left-fielder still registered an RBI as NATALIE SMITH scored.

Serra ruined the shutout bid in the 7th.

Following a lead walk, the Conquistadors put down a successful sacrifice bunt. Helix got the out at first, but when an ensuing throw behind the runner at second base skipped past everyone to the left-field fence, Bree Partow would score Serra's only run.

So how far can the Highlanders go?

"We work on being a family -- we're all like sisters and that is our motto," noted Dronenburg, who is being looked at by several Division II and NAIA programs. "Before every practice, we say, 'family,' and before we walk into the dugout before every game we say, 'family.'"

"If we push as hard as we can, I think we can win league. From our showing at Kit Carson (Park for the Cougar Classic), I think we can do great in this league."

Steele Canyon 2, La Costa Canyon 1 (9 inn.) -- In another contest which should severely effect next week's release of the county rankings, this Falcon Fiesta contest remained scoreless until the International Tiebreaker went into play, with all of the runs in coming in the 9th inning.

After the Mavericks scored on a squeeze bunt, the Cougars (6-1-1) answered with four of their six hits, including RBI singles by NICOLE RANDEL and LORENA KLOPP to gain the victory.

With MICHELLE BEASLEY placed on second base, MICHELLE CASH reached on a bunt single to place runners on the corners. Randel lined to left to tie the game, GABRIELLE BEASLEY bunted her way on to load the bases, then Klopp went to right-center with the game-winning hit.

Meanwhile, Klopp struck out 14 La Costa Canyon batters in spinning a 1-hitter. The lone hit came in the 4th, as the Mavs ITB run came on a stolen base and a fielder's choice play to the plate which was late to the plate on a bunt.

"The key for Lorena was to get the first batter out every inning," said interim coach QUINN RENFRO. "That took the pressure off her and the defense all game."

The only hit was a leadoff single in the 4th, but Klopp escaped with two of her strikeouts.

Granite Hills 9, Castle Park 0 (5 inn.) -- The Eagles should also receive consideration in the county rankings after raising their record to 7-2-1 after polishing off the Trojans in Falcon Fiesta action after mounting an 8-0 lead through two innings.

BRITTANI BERTUSSI completed the third strong pitching effort of Friday's (Mar. 21) action by tossing a 1-hit shutout. She struck out eight without issuing a walk; the lone hit led-off the 5th.

Bertussi also batted 2-for-3 with a double, while JENNY LAHITTE went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, including a 2-run shot in the 1st.

However, the top Eagles slugger was junior JILL SCIARRI, who earned a rare start at catcher while JESSIE SCHATZ took a day off from behind the plate and started at second base.

Sciarri failed to disappoint in a 3-for-3, 4-RBI performance, which also featured a pair of doubles. Included was a 2-run double in the 1st for a 5-0 lead, then a 2-run single in the 2nd.

Valhalla pitcher Celina Cruz tosses her perfect game against Las Vegas' Cimarron-Memorial, 10-0 in 4 innings. (Photo by Sherry McGirr) No-hitter streak remains alive © East County Sports.com EL CAJON (3-20-08) -- The no-hitter streak isn't over, it just took a day off. Following seven consecutive days of no-hitters by East County pitchers, the streak ended Tuesday, so Granite Hills' JENNY LAHITTE and Valhalla's CELINA CRUZ made up the difference by each tossing no-hitters Wednesday (Mar. 19) to make it nine no-hitters in as many days of competition. After starting the string of great pitching performances on Mar. 10, Lahitte came back to fire her second no-hitter of the season by halting Carlsbad, 5-0, in Falcon Fiesta pool play action at Granite Hills. Meanwhile in Las Vegas, Cruz registered a perfect game against Cimarron-Memorial, as the Norsemen breezed to a 13-0 decision in the Fred Davison Memorial Tournament. Cruz faced only 12 batters as the Nevada run (mercy) rule is applied following four innings instead of five like in California. For Lahitte, a change in attitude may be the reason why eight of the no-hitters have been tossed by teams from the Grossmont South League. "The girls might be more competitive," said the sophomore, who struck out eight Lancers. "I don't know how they feel, but I know I want to be better than I was last year." Lahitte opened strong, setting down the first 11 Carlsbad batters, including six on strikes, before Carlsbad gained the first of two walks for the ballgame. It's the third no-hitter by Granite Hills pitchers this season -- the other belongs to BRITTANI BERTUSSI, who stopped Morse. "We're both completely different pitchers," noted Lahitte. "Brittani goes more with screwballs, while I go up-and-down with drop balls and curveballs." Holding a narrow 2-0 lead, Lahitte helped the Eagles score three times in the 7th by smashing a 2-run homer to left-center field to cap a 3-RBI performance. In the 1st, Bertussi singled and stole a base, scoring on an AMANDA OMAHEN basehit. Omahen then stole second and scored on Lahitte's sharp roller through the infield. MEGAN BELIO followed the same game plan in the 7th with a lead single and a stolen base. Bertussi drove Belio home with a single, following by Lahitte's homer. For Cruz, it was just her second start of the season -- both shutouts; she earlier blanked Point Loma in a 6-inning contest. "There were really no difficult plays for the defense," said Valhalla coach DOUG HARTUNG. "They hit a couple of deep fly balls, but we easily got under them for outs. Otherwise, it was a one-hopper up the middle which Celina gloved that was the closest they got to a hit."<