© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (6-8-08) – Long-time Christian High head coach ROMA DAWSON thought her tenure with the Patriots ended last summer, but circumstances forced her to return for a 22nd season. This time, the move looks permanent after the school named travel ball coach GEORGE GENTRY to head the program in 2009.

"I was shocked when I was first asked about it," said Gentry, who has 11 years of experience with area club teams. "Now, I’m pretty excited about it, although they're some tough shoes to fill.”

Gentry has spent the past two seasons as a Patriots assistant, noting he's expanded in his knowledge of the softball under Dawson.

"I've learned a different way to play the game," he added. "Roma plays a lot more small ball than I'm used to, but I also learned how to get different skills out of the girls."

Fortunately, Dawson plans to remain in the area upon her retirement, "so she'll still be around if I need some help or advice," Gentry added.

Christian loses only two seniors from a ballclub which finished in the middle of the standings in the powerful Eastern League.

"Most of our girls were young, and with three pitchers coming back, we should be strong for the next few years, especially after finishing so strong this past season."

Note -- Dawson's daughter, Sarah Dawson, a former CIF player of the year, is head coach at Louisiana Tech, which recently competed in the NCAA Division I playoffs after capturing the Western Athletic Conference crown after upsetting 17th-ranked Nevada. It was the Lady Techster's ninth playoff appearance since 1995.

2008 ALL-SAN DIEGO SECTION TEAM (Selected by the media through the San Diego Hall of Champions) FIRST TEAM Pitchers – Lisa Akamine, Escondido, Sr.; Jessica McDermott, Mt.Carmel, Sr.; Lorena Klopp, Steele Canyon, So.; Courtney Craig, El Camino, Sr.; Rachel Brown, Scripps Ranch, Sr.; Jenny Lahitte, Granite Hills, So.; Britty Balough, Santana, Sr.; Terese Diaz, Helix, Sr. Catchers – Chelsea Troupe, El Camino, Sr.; Taylor Hensley, Patrick Henry, Sr. Infielders – Trina Harrison, Oceanside, Sr.; Kellie Fox, Mt.Carmel, So.; Alyssa Dronenburg, Helix, Sr.; Ashley Lane, Escondido, Jr. Designated hitter – Laura Winter, Rancho Bernardo, So. Player of the Year – Lisa Akamine, Escondido Coach of the Year – Erin Coyne, Granite Hills SECOND TEAM Pitchers – Ciera Ashman, Patrick Henry, Sr.; Michelle McEachron, La Costa Canyon, Jr. Catchers – Justine Maeva, Mira Mesa, Sr.; ;Jessica Vasser, Mt.Carmel, Sr.; Lauren Gellerman, Westview, Jr. Infielders – Kelly Flanagan, University City, Sr.; Rachel Failla, Santana, Sr.; Jessie Owens, Santana, Jr.; Jazmin Daigle, Steele Canyon, Jr.; Vanessa Perez, Mission Hills, Sr.; Felicia Reifschneider, Morse, Sr.; Sharla Kliebstein, El Camino, So.; Brittani Bertussi, Granite Hills, Sr.; Jerrin Faausa, El Camino, Jr. Outfielders –Amanda Carpenter, Santana, Jr.

STATE RANKINGS - May 28th (Compiled by CalHiSports.com) ALL DIVISIONS -- STATE 7. Mt. Carmel 11. Escondido 18. Santana ALL DIVISIONS -- SO. CALIF. 6. Mt. Carmel 7. Escondido 11. Santana 14. Granite Hills 15. El Camino DIVISION I 7. El Camino 9. Escondido DIVISION II 1. Mt. Carmel 7. Scripps Ranch Others: Steele Canyon DIVISION III 2. Santana Others: Brawley DIVISION IV 7. Francis Parker Others: Horizon, The Bishop's DIVISION V Others: San Diego Jewish Academy NATIONAL RANKINGS -- FINAL By Student Sports magazine 27. Mt. Carmel 30 43. Escondido 3

ALL-CIF TEAMS BY DIVISION (Selected by Coaches)

DIVISION I Player of Year – Alyssa Dronenburg, Helix. Pitcher of Year – Lisa Akamine, Escondido). First team – Lisa Akamine, Escondido, Sr.; Ashley Lane, Escondido, Jr.; Alyssa Dronenburg, Helix, Sr.; Terese Diaz, Helix, Sr.; Cierra Ashman, Patrick Henry, Sr.; Courtney Craig, El Camino, Sr.; Chelsea Troup, El Camino, Sr.; Jenny Lahitte, Granite Hills, So.; Taylor Hensley, Patrick Henry, Sr.; Alex Bitsimis, Poway, Sr. Second team – Felicia Reifschneider, Morse, Sr.; Michelle McEachren, La Costa Canyon, Jr.; Justeen Maeva, Mira Mesa, Sr.; Tina Galinato, Mira Mesa, Sr.; Monica Villarreal, Carlsbad, Jr.; Erin Doyle, Torrey Pines, Sr.; Laura Winter, Rancho Bernardo, So.; Jessica Schatz, Granite Hills, Sr.; Lauren Mario, Rancho Bernardo, So.; Lauren Carlson, Bonita Vista, Sr.

DIVISION II Player of Year – Trina Harrison-Doublet, Oceanside. Pitcher of Year – Rachel Brown, Scripps Ranch. First team – Rachel Brown, Scripps Ranch, Sr.; Lauren Gellerman, Westview, Jr.; Jessica McDermott, Mt. Carmel, Sr.; Jessica Vasser, Mt. Carmel, Sr.; Lorena Klopp, Steele Canyon, Sr.; Maggie Sevilla, Scripps Ranch, Fr.; Jasmine Daigle, Steele Canyon, Jr.; Amanda Ziegler, Westview, Sr.; Vanessa Perez, Mission Hills, Sr.; Trina Harrison-Doublet, Oceanside, Sr. Second team – Kelley Seitz, Valhalla, Sr.; Cassidy Raggett, West Hills, Sr.; Ashley Renaldi, Grossmont, Sr.; Kristi Valles, West Hills, Sr.; Megan Lerno, EC Southwest, Fr.; Adrianna Nau, Grossmont, Sr.; Jamie Jarvis, Steele Canyon, Sr.; Christian Datko, Scripps Ranch, Sr.; Alicia Ingram, Ramona, Sr.; Jordan Rhudy, Hilltop, So.

DIVISION III Player of Year – Rachel Failla, Santana. Pitcher of Year – Britty Balough, Santana. First team – Samantha Avi'i, Mar Vista, Jr.; Britty Balough, Santana, Sr.; Amanda Carpenter, Santana, Jr.; Cammi Corriea, Brawley, Sr.; Rachel Failla, Santana, Sr.; Brittany Fenn, Santana, Sr.; Kelly Flanagan, University City, Sr.; Kelsey McIlonie, Santana, Sr.; Jessica Owens, Santana, Jr.; Lauren Walsh, Cathedral, Jr. Second team – Brenda Alvarez, Montgomery, Fr.; Kaira Boccia, Cathedral, Jr.; Aliko Eddow, Cathedral, Sr.; Natalie Frias, Our Lady of Peace, Sr.; Myshayla Fryer, University City, So.; Jenna Howell, Mar Vista, So.; Trisha Kanie, Clairemont, Jr.; Laura Nelson, Mount Miguel, Jr..; Ashley Rodriguez, Clairemont, So.; Stephanie Wood, University City, So.

DIVISION IV Player of Year – Kelly Majam. Mountain Empire. Pitcher of Year – Amye McIntyre, Francis Parker. First team – Samantha Berenter, La Jolla Country Day, Sr.; Cassidy Coleman, Horizon, So.; Mandy Hoskins, Horizon, Sr.; Demi Johnson, Holtville, So.; Amanda Plum, Christian, Sr.; Amye McIntyre, Francis Parker, Jr.; Kierstie Svatos, Francis Parker, Jr.; Austin Sanders, Francis Parker, So.; Kelly Majam, Mountain Empire, Sr.; Wendy Tamayo, Mater Dei, So. Second team – Lauren Tomey, Francis Parker, Jr.; Devyn Lambell, Francis Parker, Jr.; Rachel Ortiz, Horizon, Sr.; Nicole Sikes, Horizon, Jr.; Mari Majam, Mountain Empire, So.; Allie Scott, Christian, So.; Natalie Camarda, The Bishop's; Jr.; Michelle Brunker, The Bishop's, Sr.; Kara Cartwright, Christian, Jr.; Alyssa Nisperos, Imperial, So.

Lahitte, Dronenburg, tabbed East County's best

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (6-5-08) – The change which propelled Granite Hills High to its first-ever SDCIF championship also gave promoted pitcher JENNY LAHITTE the edge in a close decision as Pitcher of the Year on the All-East County Sports.com fastpitch team for the 2008 season.

Lahitte (15-2) started her big second-half run by tossing a no-hitter against Helix on the final day of the Falcon Fiesta, then she defeated Santana in the Grossmont Conference Tournament finale. And when Eagles head coach ERIN COYNE gave Lahitte the ball as the ballclub's No. 1 pitcher over the final weeks of the season, the sophomore whipped past a trio of Top 10 ranked teams – Rancho Bernardo, Helix and La Costa Canyon – to capture the San Diego Section championship.

Lahitte nosed out Steele Canyon's LORENA KLOPP and Santana's BRITTY BALOUGH for the award, despite the others capturing league crowns and winning pitcher of the year honors, as voted by league coaches. The selection by East County Sports.com is based on the entire season, not just league contests.

Meanwhile, ALYSSA DRONENBURG was a runaway choice for Player of the Year laurels. The Helix High third baseman led East County in batting with an even .500 average, while ranking among the leaders in power categories. The senior's 8th and final home run of the season allowed the Highlanders to upset top-ranked Escondido in the Division I quarterfinals for the only loss of the season by the Cougars.

The Rookie of the Year went to AMANDA GRABLE of Santana. The first baseman's defense was equal to anyone, while she posted the top batting average of the first-year starters in all three leagues covered.

The Unsung Hero Award was shared by Mount Miguel pitcher LAURA NELSON and Valhalla shortstop AMBER REARDON. Nelson pitched virtually every inning in every Matadors ballgame all season, leading the team to their best record since 2004. Meanwhile, Reardon overcame a disappointing season with the bat by coming through in countless clutch situations, registering the game-winning hit or scoring the deciding run in half of Valhalla 's 16 victories.

Coach of the Year honors was shared by Coyne and Santana's MIKE BASS, after both captured their first CIF section championships.

Notes – Santana centerfielder AMANDA CARPENTER equaled the CIF non-Division IV record by scoring 53 times, which was first set by All-America LISA DODD of University City. Carpenter also registered 94 total bases, the region's third-best mark behind the 101 set by Steele Canyon's Klopp last season as a freshman. . . Helix pitcher TERESE DIAZ eclipsed the Grossmont Conference record for strikeouts in a season with 283, snapping the mark of Steele Canyon's SAM BEASLEY (now playing for San Diego State).

ALL-GROSSMONT SOUTH LEAGUE TEAM (Selected by League Coaches) FIRST TEAM Player School Pos. Yr Jazmin Daigle Steele Canyon 3B-1B 11 Terese Diaz Helix P 12 Alyssa Dronenburg Helix 3B 12 Jayme Jarvis Steele Canyon LF 12 Lorena Klopp Steele Canyon P-1B 10 Jenny Lahitte Granite Hills P 10 Laura Nelson Mount Miguel P 11 Jesika Perea Monte Vista C 11 Jessie Schatz Granite Hills C 12 Kelley Seitz Valhalla C 12 SECOND TEAM Player School Pos. Yr Vanessa Adame Steele Canyon OF 12 Megan Belio Granite Hills CF 11 Brittani Bertussi Granite Hills SS-P 11 Irene Blumenstock Steele Canyon 2B-P 10 Alyssa Britschgi Helix 1B 12 Whitney Mullins Monte Vista P 12 Sonia Ray Mount Miguel C 10 Torrey Rook Valhalla P 9 Natalie Smith Helix RF-P 11 Angela Uy Valhalla P 11 Pitcher of the Year Lorena Klopp, Steele Canyon Player of the Year Alyssa Dronenburg, Helix Honorable Mention Steele Canyon: Michelle Beasley (9), Gabrielle Beasley (9), Kelly Cash (10), Nicole Randel (10); Granite Hills: Amanda Omahen (12), Kylee Wilson (12); Helix: Shaley Madruga (10), Andy Martin Del Campo (12); Valhalla: Kyla Bransford (12), Amber Reardon (12), Jodie Schmehr (12); Mount Miguel: Leona Reyna (12), Gabby Waidas (11); Monte Vista: Lydia Veniegas (12), Brittany Wright (10).

ALL-GROSSMONT NORTH LEAGUE TEAM (Selected by League Coaches) FIRST TEAM Player School Pos. Yr Cassidy Baggett West Hills 1B 12 Britty Balough Santana P 12 Amanda Carpenter Santana CF 11 Rachel Failla Santana SS 12 Brittany Fenn Santana C 12 Kelsey McIlonie Santana 3B 12 Adrianna Nau Grossmont 1B-OF 12 Jessie Owens Santana 2B-P 11 Ashley Renaldi Grossmont P 12 Kristy Valles West Hills P 12 SECOND TEAM Player School Pos. Yr Brianna Austin West Hills SS 10 Michelle Bramlage Santana DP 12 Katherine Brown El Capitan C 10 Brittany Fishtrom Grossmont P 12 Amanda Grable Santana 1B 10 Madi Hill Grossmont C 11 Micherie Koria West Hills C 10 Faith Koria West Hills RF 10 Leslie Kuhne El Capitan 3B 11 Corey Rainey ECVHS SS 12 Pitcher of the Year Britty Balough, Santana Player of the Year Rachel Failla, Santana Honorable Mention Santana: Amber Beebe (12), Charisse Grennan (12), Cara Carillo (10); Grossmont: Hannah Escalante (12), Katharine Miranda (11), Kaitlyn Nicks (9), Desiree Olson (10); West Hills: Alex Miller (10), Michelle Thille (10); El Capitan: Julianna Duncan (12), Karina Hale (12), Alyssa Wyckoff (10); El Cajon Valley: Deena Ford (9), Desiree Garcia (11), Chelsea Wilson (11).

ALL-EASTERN LEAGUE TEAM (Selected by League Coaches) FIRST TEAM Player School Yr Ciera Ashman Patrick Henry 12 Rachel Brown Scripps Ranch 12 Kayla Calabrese Morse 12 Christina Datko Scripps Ranch 12 Tina Galinato Mira Mesa 12 Taylor Hensley Patrick Henry 12 Justeen Maeva Mira Mesa 12 Isela Mohr Serra 12 Felicia Reifschneider Morse 12 Maggie Sevilla Scripps Ranch 9 SECOND TEAM Player School Yr Kara Cartwright Christian 11 Andrea Earle Scripps Ranch 10 Melanie Goff Mira Mesa 12 Lauren Harper Patrick Henry 11 Corinna Lopez Scripps Ranch 10 Amanda Plum Christian 12 Tori Schaefer Patrick Henry 12 Allie Scott Christian 10 Shannon Tillett Mira Mesa 12 Anne Vincelett Patrick Henry 12 Pitcher of the Year Rachel Brown, Scripps Ranch Athlete of the Year Ciera Ashman, Patrick Henry

© East County Sports.com
POWAY – Granite Hills and Santana high schools claimed half of the four CIF-San Diego Section fastpitch championships Saturday (May 24). The fourth-seeded Eagles upset No. 3 La Costa Canyon, 7-1, for the school's first-ever Division I crown. Meanwhile, the top-seeded Sultans seized their second Division III title in four seasons, whipping upstart Brawley, 11-1, outscoring their three postseason opponents by a 45-2 count.
FULL STORIES BELOW TEAM PICTURES.

(Photo Courtesy of Susan Cooper Photography)

Granite Hills' Brittani Bertussi slaps an infield single in the 1st inning during the Eagles' 7-1 pasting of La Costa Canyon for the CIF title. (Photo by Susan Cooper Photography) Eagles finally inhale CIF success © East County Sports.com POWAY (5-25-08) – The 2007 fastpitch season at Granite Hills High was typical compared to seasons past: a strong program with little major recognition or postseason success. The Eagles were among a group rated behind top-ranked Escondido all season, and they again played second-fiddle in the shadow of Grossmont South League champion Steele Canyon. However, to spin an old cliché, these are not your mother's Granite Hills Eagles. Finding playoff success missing in past campaigns, Granite Hills stepped forward to sweep three consecutive postseason ballgames, capped by Saturday's (May 24) spanking of La Costa Canyon, 7-1, to claim the CIF-San Diego Section Division I championship at Sportsplex USA – the school's first-ever section crown. "This is the first time in Granite Hills history we've ever won CIF," exclaimed Eagles catch JESSIE SCHATZ. "I could not be prouder for my team. This was a great season." The evolution of the Eagles started from the top, when head coach ERIN COYNE trusted that the development of sophomore pitcher JENNY LAHITTE was solid enough to allow BRITTANI BERTUSSI to leave the circle and re-anchor the defense at shortstop. "I'm lucky I had a great group of girls who got the job done," said Coyne. "I think we were taken for granted and I think it benefited us. Every good win we had, people took it away and said this or that, but we outright went and did the job and got it done." "This is what everyone worked for, whether we won league or not, we won our ultimate goal." Lahitte posted a perfect 6-0 record in May, including all three playoff victories, posting an even 1.00 earned-run average in allowing just eight basehits in 21 innings. Included were a pair of 3-hitters, then spinning a 2-hitter to unsaddle the Mavericks. "We knew La Costa already has won a few championships, and we knew they were favored because they were seeded above us," noted Lahitte. "We wanted to prove everyone wrong and that an East County team can beat La Costa Canyon." Lahitte dominated with seven strikeouts, setting the Mavericks down in order in five of the seven innings, allowing just four baserunners all contest. Meanwhile, the Eagles collected 11 hits, knocking the LCC starting pitcher out of the ballgame in the 5th inning, when Granite Hills scored five times to break a 1-1 deadlock. "It's pretty crazy winning the first title in Granite Hills history," added Lahitte. "Everyone hit so well today – it was unbelievable." Leading the hit parade was junior designated player JILL SCIARRA, who went 3-for-4, including a 2-run double during the game-winning rally. "Everyone contributed, I think we were all ready to go, then we killed them out there," Sciarra declared. "We're just really happy about winning the actual goal we worked for all year. We talked about it a lot – and it feels good." Left-fielder KYLEE WILSON, who had been slumping with the bat all postseason, delivered a pair of blows to drive in runs. Following Sciarra's ground-rule double, Wilson drove her in with a basehit. Wilson later added an insurance marker in the 7th with a ground ball that allowed freshman pinchrunner SAVANNAH BROOKS to come home from third base. "Our coaches told us to come here and kick butt – we didn't want it to be a close game, we wanted to win, win win," noted Wilson. "And we knew if we wanted to go out with a bang, we needed to win CIF." "And look at us now – CIF champions!" Lahitte then took over down the stretch, retiring the five Mavericks with a slight change in pitching strategy. "We really relied on the drop ball and got a bunch of ground balls," added Schatz. "And we had confidence in our defense – they win games." "Then before the last inning, I went out to my girls at the circle and I said, 'Listen ladies, I am so proud of every single one of you. Now let's do this – let's make history.'" The Eagles defense responded with a near-perfect performance. Meanwhile, La Costa Canyon booted the ball five times. "Definitely, it's a whole different feeling from being a player to being a coach," added Coyne. "I have 14 girls to worry about, so I get more nervous before every game now than I ever did as a player." DIVISION I EAGLES 7, MAVERICKS 1 Granite Hills La Costa Canyon ab r h bi ab r h bi Belio cf Bertussi ss Schatz c Lahitte p Brooks pr Omahen 3b Sciarra dp Kurtz pr Wilson lf Zetsch rf Lovelady 2b Conway 1b 3 1 2 0 4 1 2 0 2 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 4 1 2 1 4 0 3 2 0 1 0 0 4 1 1 2 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   Cooley cf Capetz 2b Connors 3b Magliozzi c Lunn 1b Kunin dp Davis lf Black ss May rf 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 Totals 31 7 11 6 Totals 23 1 2 0 Granite Hills (24-7-1) La Costa Cyn. (23-9) 100 050 1 - 7 11 1 001 000 0 - 1 02 5 GWRBI-Omahen. E-Magliozzi, Davis 2, Capetz, Conway, Cooley LOB-GH 6, LCC 3. 2B-Sciarra. SB-Bertussi, Belio 2, Black 2, Capetz 2. CS-Belio. S-May. SF-Schatz. Granite Hills Lahitte W,15-2 La Costa Canyon McEachron L,16-8 Anderson ip 7.0 4.2 2.1 h 2 8 3 r 1 5 2 er 1 4 1 bb 1 2 1 so 7 5 2 PB-Magliozzi. T-1:46. In the 1st, Bertussi beat out a one-out infield single, then reached third by stealing second and advancing on a wild throw. Schatz answered with a sacrifice fly down the line in left. La Costa Canyon (23-9) got even on a double steal, as Emma Capetz took second, while Mady Black waited a beat before heading home. And when the throw to second also went wide, Black scored without a return throw to the plate. In the 5th, centerfielder MEGAN BELIO, who went 2-for-3 plus a walk, slapped a basehit to left. For the postseason, the junior batted a blistering .636, going 7-for-11 and a trio of multi-hit outings (2-for-4, 3-4, and 2-3). Belio barely stole second base when the defense saw the ball kick out of the shortstop’s glove while applying the tag, but Belio was still at second as two outs were recorded before the skies opened up. Lahitte singled to place runners on the corners, then AMANDA OMAHEN delivered the go-ahead blow with a single to left, taking an extra base on an outfield error. Sciarra was credited with a ground-rule double on a blow which rolled under the fence in right-center field for two RBI, followed by Wilson's run-scoring single, then another run when a ball hit by SHAYLA ZETSCH was booted to score pinch-runner MORGAN KURTZ. Belio, Bertussi and Omahen recorded two hits each. Meanwhile, the top seven batters in the LCC batting order went a composite 0-for-20 against Lahitte.

(Photo Courtesy of Susan Cooper Photography)

Santana pitcher Britty Balough allowed just three hits to power the Sultans to the CIF Div. III crown over Brawley, 11-1. (Photo by Susan Cooper Photography) Sultans dominate Division III, steamroll to championship © East County Sports.com POWAY (5-25-08) – Thundering through opponents at a 45-2 scoring clip, what the Santana Sultans did to the rest of the SDCIF Division III field was simply unfair. Winning by scores of 13-0, 21-1, and, finally, 11-1 on Saturday (May 24) against Brawley, the season-long, top-rated Sultans dominated a San Diego Section division like almost no one before them in easily capturing the Division III flag at Sportsplex USA. Santana finished with a school-record mark of 31-2 to claim its fourth section title – it's first since 2004. The others came in 1984 under PETE JERNIGAN (defeating Granite Hills in the section's first spring season tournament), and the first of two by JOHN BOBOF in 1990. "It's great to win a championship," said head coach MIKE BASS, who stayed on as the Sultans coach even after the graduation of his daughter SHAE BASS following a loss to Steele Canyon in last season’s SDCIF title contest. "All eight seniors deserve to go out like this." Santana had been considered the top Division III team by all rankings services throughout the season, with Cathedral Catholic considered a distant second. But when the Lady Dons were taken down by Brawley, 7-1, in the semifinals, the road to the title for the Sultans was considered a formality. And the Sultans quickly validated it by scoring five times in the 1st inning, going on to set a section scoring record. Among the three largest SDCIF divisions (by enrollment), the 11 runs in the title game is a new standard, eclipsing the 10-4 hurting Carlsbad placed on Clairemont to take the 1984 crown. "It definitely wasn't easy – there was a lot of hard work, a lot of coaching, and a lot of teamwork," said centerfielder AMANDA CARPENTER, who concluded the season with an 18-game hitting streak. "Winning the Grossmont North (League) was a step to our main goal of winning CIF, then BRITTI BALOUGH goes out there and only allowed one run – she never surprises us with how well she does." Balough allowed just three hits to the Wildcats (22-8), running her record to 18-2. She struck out six batters. "We had two losses that we couldn't prevent," added Carpenter. "But overall, we're all proud for each other. Ever since our warm-ups, we were in the mode and feeling we would do really good and were very confident going into the game." Santana's first four batters reached base and eventually scored to quickly defuse any Brawley hopes of claiming the title as a 6th seed. JESSIE OWENS opened with a basehit, Carpenter reached on an error, then senior catcher BRITTANY FENN was hit by a pitch. DIVISION III SULTANS 11, WILDCATS 1 Brawley Santana ab r h bi ab r h bi Alcantar 3b Gibson rf Correa c Kuhn pr Salcedo cf Garcia ss Moore dp Dminguez dp Ruelas p Muller 1b ArmntMrm pr Gonzalez lf Chavarin rf 3 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   Owens 2b Carpenter cf Fenn c Schisler pr McIlonie 3b Failla ss Bramlage dp Grabel 1b Balough p Carillo pr Beebe lf Brzeczek pr Grennan rf 4 1 2 0 4 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 4 1 2 3 4 1 1 1 4 2 1 3 4 1 2 2 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 24 1 3 1 Totals 33 11 13 11 Brawley (22-8) Santana (31-2) 001 000 0 - 01 03 1 500 006 x - 11 13 0 GWRBI-McIlonie. E-Garcia. LOB-Braw 6, Sant 7. 2B-McIlonie, Bramlage, Grabel, Balough. SB-Owens. CS-Grabel. Brawley Ruelas L Santana Balough W,18-2 ip 6.0 7.0 h 13 3 r 11 1 er 10 1 bb 3 4 so 1 6 HBP-by Ruelas (Fenn). DIVISION II Mt. Carmel 6, Scripps Ranch 1 DIVISION IV Francis Parker 4, Horizon Chr. 0 Third baseman KELSEY McILONIE then smacked a 2-0 run double for what proved to be the game-winning hit. An out later, MICHELLE BRAMLAGE stroked an RBI double, then scored on an AMANDA GRABLE basehit for a 5-0 cushion. In the 6th, Santana added six more runs, capped by a bases-loaded double by Balough to set the team scoring record – the final of five straight run-scoring hits in the inning. The others were by McIlonie, RACHEL FAILLA, Bramlage and Grable, as the Sultans sent 11 batters to the plate. "Well, it feels amazing," noted Owens, who posted a 13-0 record as the team's No. 2 pitcher behind Balough. "Then Britti goes out there and ends the game with a 3-pitch inning." It was almost an identical scenario when the teams met in the opening game of the season, when Santana took an 11-0 run rule decision in six innings during the opening round of the Hilltop Tournament back on Mar. 13. "We played them the first game of the season, so we knew how they might be," recalled Owens. "They got better, but we believe we got better, too." "We wanted to play for our seniors, since we have eight of them. And we feel we can beat any of the teams here (in the CIF finals)." Owens, McIlonie and Grable finished with two hits each among Santana's 13 for the contest. McIlonie and Bramlage finished with thee RBI each, while Grable and Balough knocked home a pair each.

© East County Sports.com
POWAY (5-23-08) -- It was less than three weeks ago when Granite Hills needed to go deep into extra innings before out-lasting Grossmont South League rival Helix under the lights, 1-0. And with the fourth game of the season between the ballclubs also slated for night play, the Eagles had only one thing on their minds.

"My team did not want to get into another 11-inning game," said Granite Hills pitcher JENNY LAHITTE. "We wanted to come out stronger and we knew they wanted to kick our butts because we beat them in that game."

And Lahitte delivered, belting a 2-run double in the first inning, then tossing a 3-hitter in Granite Hills' 4-1 triumph over the Highlanders in Thursday's (May 22) SDCIF Division I semifinals at Sportsplex USA.

Granite Hills dropped title contests in 1983 (when softball was, unbelievably, a winter-season sport, while basketball was contested in the spring), 1984 and 1992. La Costa Canyon is 3-2 in section finals with D-1 crowns in 1998 and 2000-01.

Lahitte's pitching and batting were main contributing factors to the victory.

"I think both were interesting," she said. "My hitting on Tuesday wasn't too swell, striking out three times. This time, I needed to come out and make a statement with my bat, then there were all the great defensive plays behind my pitching."

MEGAN BELIO opened the contest with a basehit, with JESSIE SCHATZ adding a one-out walk. Both scored when Lahitte sent the ball deep to the fence for a 2-0 lead, going wire-to-wire for the victory.

Belio, a junior centerfielder, batted 3-for-4 after collecting the game-winning hit in Tuesday's quarterfinals.

"I was just seeing the ball really well tonight and I was really pumped," noted Belio. "I knew I had to do well, I'm just really glad I performed."

"This group had never gone farther than the first playoff game before, so I wanted to come out big after an injury to get the winning hit -- I got 9 stitches in my knee after sliding into second base against Mount Miguel in the regular season."

Belio later registered a two-out triple in the 5th, scoring on a basehit by Schatz, who went 2-for-3 and matched Lahitte with two RBI. The combo also worked together in the 7th, each doubling to produce an insurance run.

"I'm seeing the ball, but you don't get RBIs unless the people in front of you are hitting, too,” said Schatz, who gained a partial scholarship to play for Hawai'i-Hilo next season. "I give big gratitude to the girls who got on base before me to give me the opportunity to knock them in."

Schatz also welcomes the opportunity to catch Lahitte, who has carried the pitching load throughout the playoffs.

"Jenny and I just have the best chemistry I've ever experienced with a pitcher," said Schatz.. "This girl, for a sophomore, is incredible. I feel so comfortable catching that girl. We know what each other wants to pitch - the girl's amazing with her hitting, pitching -- everything."

Granite Hills hopes to avenge an earlier loss to La Costa Canyon.

"We made a goal not to lose to a team two times this season," noted Belio. "We lost to them in the Cougar (Classic) tournament, so we're gunning for them."

Helix scored its lone run when ALYSSA DRONENBURG, who batted leadoff in the revised batting order, opened the 6th with a double. Consecutive ground balls by JESSICA FERNANDEZ and NATALIE SMITH produced the run.

The only other Scotties hits were registered by shortstop SIERRAH MOORE and catcher ANDY MARTIN DEL CAMPO. Meanwhile, pitcher TERESE DIAZ, who did not bat because of continued swelling in her pitching hand after getting hit by a pitch in the Tuesday's quarterfinal, struck out 10 batters.

Division III
Santana 21, Madison 1 -- In one of the biggest blowouts this late in the SDCIF tournament in recent memory, the Sultans exploded for 13 runs in the 5th inning to erase the Warhawks Thursday (May 22) SDCIF semifinals at Poway Sportplex.

Centerfield AMANDA CARPENTER, who closed the regular season on a 14-for-18 tear, continued her torrid hitting by batting 5-for-6 with 6 RBI, featuring a 3-run double in the 5th.

BRITTANY FENN drove JESSIE OWENS home with a single in the 3rd to open the scoring, then KELSEY McILONIE belted her 7th homer of the season for a 3-0 lead. The advantage went to 5-0 before senior shortstop RACHEL FAILLA started the memorable 13-run inning with a leadoff homer, her 6th of the season.

A single and a walk chased Madison 's starting pitcher, but she would return later in the inning after the Warhawks reliever failed to retire any of the 11 batters she faced. Included were five straight batters with an RBI from Failla (2-for-6, 3 runs), MICHELLE BRAMLAGE (2-for-3), AMANDA GRABLE, BRITTY BALOUGH (3-for-6) and a bases loaded walk to pinchhitter EMILY SCHISLER (2 RBI), as the Sultans sent 18 batters to the plate.

Meanwhile, Owens ran her record to 14-0 after carrying a 1-hit shutout into the 7th inning. Owens struck out 15 batters, as the lone Madison run was unearned due to a two-out error. Owens also delivered with the bat, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and scoring a pair of runs.

The 21 runs are the most by an East County ballclub since Valhalla padded Hilltop, 13-0, in 2003.

Santana, the top seed for the second straight season, will not get to avenge its 2006 semifinal loss to Cathedral Catholic. In the other semifinal, the second-seeded Lady Dons were rudely bounced by No. 6 Brawley, 7-1.

The Sultans will be heavy favorites to capture their fourth section championship. The school owns titles from 1984, 1990 and 2003, going 3-3 in section finals (losses in 1979-80 and last season to Steele Canyon ).

Division II
Scripps Ranch 1, Steele Canyon 0 -- Falcons senior RACHEL BROWN tossed her third no-hitter of the season Thursday (May 22) in the SDCIF playoffs to capture a classic pitcher's duel with Steele Canyon sophomore LORENA KLOPP, eliminating the two-time defending Division III champion Cougars in their initial foray in D-2 play.

The semifinal round contest was decided in the 6th inning, when an error and a wild pitch allowed Falcons catcher Maggie Sevilla to score the ballgame's lone run.

"Yeah, they're definitely a great team and we knew Steele Canyon was a tough team," noted Brown. "We just hoped we got one run and then our defense would play well enough to hold them."

Scripps Ranch committed a pair of two-out errors to give Steele Canyon a small window of opportunity, for their only baserunners over the first six innings. However, Brown ended the budding rally, finishing with 15 strikeouts. Her lone walk allowed came in the 7th to Klopp, but a strikeout and a grounder to third base sent the Falcons to the championship contest.

"I just felt confident spinning the ball and keeping them off-balance since they weren't going for my riser," added Brown.

Falcons centerfield Jackie Nguyen hit a grounder to the hole between the first and second baseman, but when the throw sailed wide of the bag -- and with Cougars catcher KELLY CASH backing up the play at first base -- the ball skipped around the backstop with no one to retrieve it, allowing Nguyen to take three bases. She scored on the ensuing wild pitch on a too high riseball.

Otherwise, Klopp finished with 12 strikeouts and allowed an unearned run.

"I think next year when we play, we'll be a little more prepared because D-2 is a little bit tougher," said JAZMIN DAIGLE.

However, while Scripps Ranch will lose Brown (Harvard) and two other key seniors, Steele Canyon looks to be a contender for years to come.

"I'm proud of my girls -- we had a great season," noted Cougars coach JULIE BOHE, who has posted a 71-21-2 record over the past three seasons. "But you want to know something good – my team has more depth for the upcoming years than anyone else out here."

"I can't wait until next year because we're more than a 1-man team, unlike a lot of these teams -- we have more than just one pitcher."

Division IV
Horizon 2, Christian 0 -- The Patriots' quest for a rematch in the SDCIF Division IV title contest Thursday (May 22) fell a game short when Panthers pitcher Cassidy Coleman stopped Christian on a 1-hit shutout. The sophomore struck out 13 batters -- 7 in-a-row at one stretch -- yielding only a 1st-inning single to shortstop AMANDA PLUM.

Horizon third baseman Rachel Ortiz collected two of the four hits allowed by Patriots pitcher Monique Elliott, including an RBI single in the 1st to score Melanie Hall, who reached on an error to open the ballgame.

The other Panthers run came one inning later when Coleman drove home right-fielder Gina Dowdy, who was hit by a pitch then moved into scoring position on a Rebecca Dawson sacrifice bunt.

Other than Plum's basehit, Christian gained only three other baserunners on a pair of errors, and a 6th-inning walk to Plum.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-21-08) -- Some teams attempt to approach their schedules game-by-game. Not so for Granite Hills High coach ERIN COYNE.

"Our goal is to win every inning," explained Coyne, the former standout from Helix High. "And even though we gave up two runs in the 7th, we still won the inning by also scoring."

After surrendering a 2-0 lead, the fourth-seeded Eagles replied on a run-scoring single by MEGAN BELIO to down visiting Rancho Bernardo, 3-2, in the SDCIF Division I quarterfinals.

The triumph advances Granite Hills (22-7-1) to Thursday's (May 22) Final Four showdown with Coyne's alma mater (21-9-1). It will be the fourth meeting of the season between the ballclubs, splitting a pair of Grossmont South League affairs after the Eagles captured a Falcon Fiesta ballgame in March.

Belio, a junior who has played all over the diamond in her career, including a 4-4 record as a pitcher last season, had been relegated to all portions of the batting order this season. But the centerfield has provided several clutch hits all season, including a pair out of the leadoff spot Tuesday (May 20) to top the Broncos.

After Rancho Bernardo ruined the shutout bid of Eagles starter JENNY LAHITTE on an unearned run and an RBI on a squeeze bunt by Kirsten Westre, Granite Hills immediately answered for the walkoff victory.

JILL SCIARRI opened the home-half of the 7th with a single to left-centerfield, then KYLEE WILSON beat out a bunt for a scratch single, with both advancing on a grounder to the right side of the diamond by SHAYLA ZETSCH.

One out later, Belio sent the ball over the head of the Rancho Bernardo second baseman to cap a 2-for-4 outing at the plate.

Granite Hills mounted a 2-0 lead with the long ball.

JESSICA SCHATZ stroked a leadoff homer in the 4th, her fifth of the season. BRITTANI BERTUSSI later belted a one-out shot in the 6th, her first of the year.

Lahitte, who carried a 1-hitter into the 7th, finished with a 3-hitter, running her record to 13-2.

DIVISION II
Steele Canyon 1, West Hills 0 -- Cougars sophomore LORENA KLOPP came within four outs of tossing a postseason no-hitter in Tuesday’s (May 20) SDCIF quarterfinal game, settling for a 1-hit shutout of the Wolf Pack. Klopp struck out 14 batters in out-dueling West Hills starter KRISTY VALLES, who yielded the game's only run in the 4th inning.

JAYME JARVIS put down a safety squeeze, which rolled down the 1st-base line. JAZMIN DAIGLE, who was at third, then needed to make a quick decision.

"Since it went down first, Jazmin thought she could make -- it was a do-or-die choice," said Cougars assistant coach QUINN RENFRO. "West Hills threw the ball home, but she just made it."

Jazmin opened the 4th by walking, Klopp singled, with NICOLE RANDEL sacrificing both into scoring position to set-up Jarvis' bunt.

Mt. Carmel 2, Grossmont 1 (9 inn.) -- The Sundevils, the reigning Division II champions and current No. 2 ranked team in the county, barely survived the challenge from the rejuvenated Foothillers, which won four of their last five games before losing in extra innings to the top seeds in Tuesday’s (May 20) SDCIF quarterfinal contest.

For the second straight playoff game, Hillers senior ASHLEY RENALDI pitched a solid game, while catcher MADI HILL slugged her second homer of the season to knot the ballgame in the 3rd inning, lining a one-out shot down the left-field line.

Renaldi then matched Sundevils standout pitcher Jessica McDermott out-for-out until Mt. Carmel finally broke through. Kristin Poggioli opened with a double, Vanessa Currie bunted her to second, then Maggie Doremus delivered the game-winning basehit up the middle.

McDermott tossed a 2-hitter, striking out 14 batters. The only other Grossmont hit was a 1st-inning single by ADRIANNA NAU.

"It's the third time we've faced McDermott in three years and we’re 0-and-3 against her," said Grossmont coach JERRY LERUD. "This was the closest we've been to her because Ashley just pitched a great game, too."

"It's unfortunate she was hurt most of the year, but she really came through over the past two weeks."

The Sundevils opened the scoring in the 2nd when Alix Johnson doubled, scoring on a Briana Williams basehit, also to centerfield.

Balough struck out six batters, allowing just two singles and a walk to run her season record to 17-2. And with the elimination of top-ranked Escondido in Division I action, Santana (29-2) now owns more victories than any school in the San Diego Section.

For Failla, her 2nd-inning home run was her fifth of the season.

"We just started hitting well, and kept adding it on," noted the Chico State bound shortstop, who plans to major in graphic arts. "It was an inside pitch, but a little up, so I was able to hit it to left."

Other than Failla's home run, it took Santana a few innings to get going, finally scoring six times in both the 4th and 5th innings to eliminate Mount Miguel , which gained its berth into the quarterfinals with an upset victory at Valley Center.

"We struggled at first, then we caught on to what she was throwing," noted senior catcher BRITTANY FENN, who stroked a 2-run single to center in the 4th to break open the contest for a 4-0 lead. "Then AMBER BEEBE hit their pitcher in the knee and that took Mount Miguel out of their game."

Already leading 8-0 in the 5th, Beebe's shot up the middle hit Matadors pitcher LAURA NELSON, who had pitched every inning of every ballgame all season. Beebe was safe at first base, with CARLA CARILLO scoring following her leadoff triple.

However, Nelson was forced from the game for the first time all season, with the emergency relievers allowing a 3-run homer to KELSEY McILONIE -- her sixth of the season -- and Carillo's second hit of the inning, an RBI single to plate CHARISSE GRENNAN.

Failla, Carillo and Beebe each collected two of Santana's 11 basehits.

The Sultans will meet 4th-seeded Madison in the semifinals. The Warhawks advanced by outlasting 12th-seeded San Dieguito, 6-5 in 9 innings.

DIVISION IV
Christian 7, Mountain Empire 0 -- Patriots pitcher ALY GUNTER just continued to get stronger throughout Tuesday's (May 20) SDCIF Division IV quarterfinals, striking out all three Red Hawks batters in the 7th to give her 11 for the contest in her 4-hit shutout.

"Our team came out hard and competed at our highest level," said Gunter. "I didn't want them to see the same pitch, so I moved the ball around so they couldn't figure out what was coming, while their pitcher kept throwing to the outside."

NICOLE MARCOS slugged a 2-run single in the 2nd for the early lead, then Christian added five more markers in the 4th to eliminate the visitors from Buckman Springs in East County's back country.

"She has a lot of movement on the ball," noted Marcos. "So I just took an outside pitch to right field.

Senior shortstop AMANDA PLUM capped a 5-run outburst in the 4th, clearing the bases with a 3-run double.

"I hit a changeup, something I struck out on earlier in the game," Plum noted. "This time, I waited on it and hit it to left-center. It was just the right hit at the right time."

KARA CARTWRIGHT batted 3-for-4, reaching base each time as part of an 8-hit attack by the Patriots.

"We just kept going with her outside pitches," Cartwright added.

Meanwhile, Gunter kept Mountain Empire off-balance with a variety of riseballs and changeups.

Christian (13-12) will meet second-seeded Horizon in the semifinals. The Panthers advance by receiving a forfeit win from Santa Fe Christian in the first round -- the Eagles said they didn't have enough players to participate -- then downed Palo Verde Valley, 9-1.

Christian outfielder Amanda Marcos (left) makes the sliding catch after calling off shortstop Amanda Plum, who just does duck out of the way. The Patriots steamed past Guajome Park's Frogs, 10-0, Saturday. (Photo by Jeanne Royce)

© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (5-18-08) -- One is a power pitcher known for also wielding a powerful bat. The other can possess a similar ability, yet has been hampered by injuries all season.

Sat., May 17 CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS Division I - First Round HIGHLANDERS 11, MARAUDERS 1 Mira Mesa (20-12) Helix (20-9-1) 000 010 0 - 01 03 1 200 432 x - 11 14 1 Goff, Cronauer (5), Nelson (6) and Tillett, Luevano (5); Diaz and Martin Del Campo. W-Diaz (17-6). L-Goff (13-5). HR-Diaz 2 (H,10), 1st, one on, and 5th, lead; Cano-Rue (H,2), 4th, two on. Sat., May 17 CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS Division II - First Round FOOTHILLERS 3, BULLDOGS 1 Ramona (14-16) Grossmont (14-14-1) 010 000 0 - 1 3 0 010 011 x - 3 8 0 Tenwolde and C.Fick; Renaldi and Hill. W-Renaldi (6-4). L-Tenwolde (7-11). HR-Renaldi (G,5), 6th, lead. Sat., May 17 CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS Division II - First Round WOLF PACK 6, LANCERS 3 West Hills (18-12) Hilltop (18-10) 200 121 0 - 6 14 0 200 001 0 - 3 06 3 Valles and M.Koria; Rhudy and Sheridan. W-Valles (10-7). L-Rhudy (12-7). HR-none. Sat., May 17 CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS Division II - First Round EAGLES 3, NORSEMEN 2 Valhalla (16-16) EC-Southwest (19-8) 000 200 0 - 2 6 0 001 110 x - 3 5 1 Rook, Uy (6) and Seitz; Lerno and Wilcox. W-Lerno. L-Rook (6-4). HR-Seitz (V,4), 4th, leadoff. Sat., May 17 CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS Division III - First Round MATADORS 3, JAGUARS 2 Mount Miguel (11-18) Valley Center (12-15) 100 100 1 - 3 7 0 000 002 0 - 2 5 1 Nelson and Ray; Brunskill and Contreras. W-Nelson (11-18). L-Brunskill (6-7). HR-none. Sat., May 17 CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS Division III - First Round CHIEFTAINS 4, VAQUEROS 1 El Capitan (13-16) Clairmeont (11-14-1) 010 000 0 - 1 3 3 400 000 x - 4 6 1 Grohman and C.Brown; Rodriguez and Pelot. W-Rodriguez (5-5). L-Grohman (4-5). HR-none. Sat., May 17 CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS Division IV - First Round PATRIOTS 10, FROGS 0 Guajome Park (13-7) Christian (12-12) 000 000 0 - 00 03 3 311 203 x - 10 11 0 Gallegos and Searls; M.Elliott and Scott. W-M.Elliott (2-1). L-Gallegos. HR-Scott (C,1), 4th, one on. SATURDAY'S SCORES Division I -- Helix 11, Mira Mesa 1; Rancho Bernardo 13, Eastlake 0; Poway 5, Bonita Vista 4; Vista 9, Patrick Henry 4. Division II -- Grossmont 3, Ramona 1; EC-Southwest 3, Valhalla 2; West Hills 6, Hilltop 3; Mission Hills 3, Point Loma 1. Division III - Mount Miguel 3, Valley Center 2; San Dieguito 4, Our Lady of Peace 3; Brawley 1, Mar Vista 0; Clairemont 4, El Capitan 1. Division IV - Francis Parker 20, Julian 0; Holtville 6, Coronado 3; Imperial 7, Escondido Charter 1; The Bishop's 15, Borrego Springs 0; Christian 10, Guajome Park 0; Mountain Empire 5, High Tech 0; Palo Verde Valley 3, Mater Dei 1; Horizon 7, Santa Fe Christian 0, by forfeit. The Nation's Only FREE Recruiting Service Double-Click HERE or logo for Information HOME RUN LEADERS (Through May 18) Player School HR Terese Diaz Helix 10 Alyssa Dronenburg Jessie Owens Helix Santana 7 Amanda Carpenter Lorena Klopp Jesika Perea Santana Steele Canyon Monte Vista 6 Kelsey McIlonie Ashley Renaldi Santana Grossmont 5 Rachel Failla Jenny Lahitte Jessica Schatz Kelley Seitz Santana Granite Hills Granite Hills Valhalla 4 Britty Balough Amber Beebe Jazmin Daigle Leslie Kuhne Alex Miller Jayme Talmich Lauren Vallely Santana Santana Steele Canyon El Capitan West Hills Grossmont Grossmont 3   PITCHING WIN PCT. (Through May 18) Player School W-L Jessie Owens Santana 12-0 Britty Balough Santana 16-2 Jenny Lahitte Granite Hills 12-2 Lorena Klopp Steele Canyon 9-2 Terese Diaz Helix 17-6 Brittani Bertussi Granite Hills 9-5 Kristy Valles West Hills 10-7 Ashley Renaldi Grossmont 6-4 Torrey Rook Valhalla 6-4 Sarah Grohman El Capitan 4-5 Chelsea Velovich West Hills 4-5 Julianna Duncan El Capitan 6-8 Briitany Fishtrom Grossmont 6-9 Whitney Mullins Monte Vista 8-11 Others of note -- Jessica Alderson (WH) 4-0, Gabrielle Beasley (SC) 4-0, Irene Blumenstock (SC) 6-1, Ricki Gentry (Chr) 4-2, Megan McGirr (Val) 3-2, Angela Uy (Val) 3-3.

"Terese just had another tremendous game," said Helix coach MARK PAULE, who seems to be losing adjectives to describe his standout senior. "And she and ALYSSA DRONENBURG hit the ball hard all day."

Diaz opened the scoring with a 2-run bomb to centerfield in the 1st inning, then answered a Mira Mesa run in the 5th with a leadoff homer to left for a 7-1 lead. In between, KAILAH CANO-RUE belted her second homer of the season, a 3-run shot to center in the 4th.

"Terese had an all-around game," added Paule. "We talked about minimizing her walks and she did that."

Diaz batted 3-for-4, with four runs scored and three RBI. Meanwhile, ALYSSA BRITSCHGI made her last home-game appearance count two of the Scotties' 14 hits -- Helix saw 11 different players gain basehits off a trio of Mira Mesa pitchers.

"She's healthy and she's hitting it solid," admitted Grossmont coach JERRY LERUD. "It's great to see."

Both Hillers pitchers were hampered by minor back ailments all season, not enough to keep them out for extended periods, but enough to hinder their control as the team see-sawed around the ,500 plateau all season.

But with the roster nearing 100 percent in health, could a surprise against top-seeded Mt. Carmel be in the offing in Tuesday's (May 20) quarterfinals in Rancho Penasquitos?

"Mt. Carmel is No. 1 for good reason," said Lerud. "But I like our chances a lot better than I did 3-or-4 weeks ago."

Grossmont's first pair of runs came on clutch, two-out hits.

After the Bulldogs scored in the 2nd, the Hillers immediately answered when Renaldi stroked a one-out single. Pinchrunner LAUREN MIRANDA then took three bases when a drive to right field by KELSEY ALVAREZ tipped off the defender's glove for a basehit.

The Foothillers took the lead in the 4th when JAYME TALMICH lined a pinch-hit single, pinch-runner DESIREE OLSON moved to second when a sacrifice bunt by CORAL KASDEN went for an infield single, then KATHERINE MIRANDA singled to center for a 2-1 lead.

Renaldi allowed just one hit over the final five innings, finishing with seven strikeouts.

Ramona's run came in the 2nd on an RBI basehit by senior Maranee Scottolini, bringing home Alexia Slater. A sacrifice bunt by Hilary Roloff aided the rally.

Christian will host Mountain Empire in Tuesday's quarterfinals. The Red Hawks advanced after upsetting High Tech High, 5-0.

Patriots catcher ALLIE SCOTT paced the offense by batting 3-for-4, including the first homer of the season by the All-CIF Division IV selection as a freshman in 2007. Scott, who fell a foot short of a home run earlier in the contest for her only out, clouted a 2-run shot in the 4th inning, giving Christian a 7-0 advantage.

KARA CARTWRIGHT opened the scoring with a 2-run double in the 1st. Cartwright and Scott each scored twice, while centerfielder AMANDA MARCOS batted 3-for-4 to pace an 11-hit attack.

"We had hitting from everyone up and down the lineup," said Pats coach ROMA DAWSON. "And we made some plays on defense, too. It was a real nice game."

Among the defensive stops was a sliding catch by Marcos, avoiding a collision with shortstop AMANDA PLUM while still making the grab.

West Hills 6, Hilltop 3 -- The Wolf Pack lost its home game because the Lancers were a league champion, per CIF rules, but it turned out to be fine according to West Hills coach MEAGAN HARTUNG.

"Yes, we lost our last chance to play at home, but we would've had to play in 100-degree temperatures," noted Hartung. "It was much nicer in Chula Vista."

With a nice breeze coming in from the Silver Strand, the Pack acclimatized quickly by scoring twice in the 1st, collecting 14 hits to eliminate the Mesa League champion Lancers from the first round of the Division II playoffs for the third consecutive season (11-3 to Grossmont in 2007, 4-1 to San Pasqual in 2006).

"We constantly put the ball in play and kept applying pressure on their defense," added Hartung. "And KRISTY (VALLES) pitched well again, always keeping us in the game."

Valles shook off the opening-inning jitters, striking out seven without issuing a walk, and yielding just one run over the final six innings to collect the victory.

West Hills scored twice in its opening trip to the plate, as MICHERIE KORIA's sharp single scored the first run, then a throwing error allowed a second run.

Hilltop answered with two markers in the first, but the Pack scored over three consecutive innings to gain a berth into the quarterfinals. Including was a go-ahead single by ALEX MILLER, who knocked in MICHELLE THILLE. Both are sophomores.

Thille later added a triple in the 6th, capping a 2-for-2, 2-walk performance, while STASIA HOLDMAN batted 3-for-4.

Clairemont 4, El Capitan 1 -- The Vaqueros came out slow from the blocks, committing a pair of 1st-inning errors to make three of the Chieftains' four runs unearned, which was all Clairemont pitcher Ashley Rodriguez needed in a Division III first-round triumph.

After loading the bases, Brittnay Aimalofoa lifted a sacrifice fly, but when the ball was misplayed, two runs scored.

"I thought the ump was giving Clairemont the outside of the plate, but not for us," said Vaqueros catcher CATHERINE BROWN. "We always seem to have a shaky first inning, but at least we came right back."

El Capitan immediately answered as shortstop HEATHER BREWER delivered a two-out basehit to score Brown, who singled, advanced to second on a ground out, then came home on Brewer's sharp liner to centerfield.

Otherwise, Rodriguez (5-5) only allowed one other hit, an infield single by SARAH GROHMAN in the 5th. Her grounder ticked off the glove of Aimalofoa, Clairemont's 6-foot-4 third baseman.

The Chieftains advance to Tuesday's quarterfinals against Western League rival Cathedral.

El Centro-Southwest 3, Valhalla 2 -- The Norsemen were seeded higher, but since the Eagles were Imperial Valley League champions, they not only gained the home game, it also forced Valhalla to travel nearly two hours to play in the desert heat, leaving early for the 10 a.m. start.

Despite leading 2-1 midway through Saturday's (May 17) Division II opener, Valhalla melted down the stretch as Southwest shortstop Karen Leon doubled home an Eagles run, then scored the go-ahead run in the 5th on a double by third baseman Andrea Salazar. Both are seniors.

The Norsemen kept the ballgame at a 1-run deficit on a nice play by catcher KELLEY SEITZ. With the Eagles looking for more runs in the 5th, a runner tried to score from second base on a hit to centerfield, but KAITLIN McGINLEY fired home to Seitz.

"Kelley made a real nice catch on the short hop, then made the tag for the third out," noted head coach DOUG HARTUNG. "It stopped the rally and kept the game close."

Earlier, Seitz tied the game at 1-all by belting a leadoff home run in the 4th. Valhalla later took the lead when TORREY ROOK gained a one-out walk, with pinch-runner CHRISSY LOPEZ circling the diamond on a stolen base, a grounder to the right side by ANGELA UY, then a passed ball to take a 2-1 advantage.

For the contest, Valhalla collected just six hits off Eagles freshman pitcher Megan Lerno, including a pair by Seitz.

The Nation's Only FREE Recruiting Service Double-Click HERE or logo for Information HOME RUN LEADERS (Regular Season Final) Player School HR Terese Diaz Helix 8 Alyssa Dronenburg Jessie Owens Helix Santana 7 Amanda Carpenter Lorena Klopp Jesika Perea Santana Steele Canyon Monte Vista 6 Kelsey McIlonie Santana 5 Rachel Failla Jenny Lahitte Ashley Renaldi Jessica Schatz Santana Granite Hills Grossmont Granite Hills 4 Britty Balough Amber Beebe Jazmin Daigle Leslie Kuhne Alex Miller Kelley Seitz Jayme Talmich Lauren Vallely Santana Santana Steele Canyon El Capitan West Hills Valhalla Grossmont Grossmont 3

PITCHING WIN PCT. (Regular Season Final) Player School W-L Jessie Owens Santana 12-0 Britty Balough Santana 16-2 Jenny Lahitte Granite Hills 12-2 Lorena Klopp Steele Canyon 9-2 Terese Diaz Helix 16-6 Torrey Rook Valhalla 6-3 Brittani Bertussi Granite Hills 9-5 Kristy Valles West Hills 9-7 Ashley Renaldi Grossmont 5-4 Sarah Grohman El Capitan 4-4 Chelsea Velovich West Hills 4-5 Julianna Duncan El Capitan 6-8 Briitany Fishtrom Grossmont 6-9 Whitney Mullins Monte Vista 8-11 Others of note -- Jessica Alderson (WH) 4-0, Gabrielle Beasley (SC) 4-0, Irene Blumenstock (SC) 6-1, Ricki Gentry (Chr) 4-2, Megan McGirr (Val) 3-2, Angela Uy (Val) 3-3.

© East County Sports.com
LINDA VISTA (5-16-08) -- In an alignment process which closely matched game results and various rankings from throughout the region, the CIF-San Diego Section released the team seedings and playoff pairings for all four divisions of the fastpitch championships. Among the 52 schools advancing to postseason play, nine hail from East County, including four among the top seeds in Santana, Steele Canyon, Christian and Granite Hills.

As expected, Santana (28-2), which owns the second-best overall record in the section, received the top seed in Division III. The Sultans received a first-round bye into next Tuesday's (May 20) quarterfinals, hosting the winner from Saturday's (May 17) opening contest between No. 9 seeded Mount Miguel (10-18) and No. 8 Valley Center (12-14).

Two-time Division III titlist Steele Canyon has been elevated in classification, now competing in the highly charged Division II tournament field. The Cougars (20-5-1), the three-time winners of the Grossmont South League, also gained a first-round bye as the No. 3 seed. They will host the winner among No. 6 West Hills (17-12) and No. 11 Hilltop (18-9), which gained the home-field berth as a league champion to force the Wolf Pack to play on the road.

Also gaining a No. 3 seed is Christian in Division IV, which carries a field of 16 teams. Thus, none of the schools gain a bye, with the Patriots (11-12) hosting Vista's Guajome Park Academy (13-6) in Saturday's first round. Game time against the Frogs will be 2 p.m. at Roma Dawson Field.

The biggest surprise among the top seeds may belong in Division I, where Granite Hills (21-7-1) nosed out Rancho Bernardo for the No. 4 spot. The Eagles gained a bye, but their opponent is not guaranteed.

Despite RB's Broncos being placed fifth, they will travel for the playoff opener at Eastlake, the bottom seed at No. 12, which won a coin flip with Mesa League co-champion Bonita Vista to be declared league champion and gain an automatic first-round home contest (even though the seeding committee placed the Barons higher -- No. 11 -- in the tournament bracket).

Also in the upper half of the Division I bracket, Helix (19-9-1) gained a home berth, as the No. 8 Highlanders entertain No. 9 Mira Mesa. The teams met earlier this season when the Marauders were guest entrants to the Grossmont Conference Tournament, taking a 7-2 decision over the Scotties.

In Division II, Grossmont (13-14-1) is seeded 8th, and will host No. 9 Ramona (15-15), while No. 5 Valhalla (16-15) will need to conquer the heat of the Imperial Valley with a game at El Centro-Southwest (18-8). The Eagles are at home due to capturing the Imperial Valley League crown.

In Division III, El Capitan (13-15) was disappointed at its No. 10 seed, but actually gained a very winnable contest to reach the quarterfinals, as the Vaqueros open at Clairemont (10-14-1).

Official CIFSDS brackets are here: DIV-1, DIV-II, DIV-III, DIV-IV.