© East Coiunty Sports.com
SANTEE (5-14-08) -- The old "good news, bad news" adage tipped the way of the Grossmont Foothillers to close the regular season on Tuesday (May 13).

The bad news: Hillers pitcher allowed 26 runs to rival West Hills over three GNL meetings this season. However, Grossmont gladly accepted taking the season series, 2-1, after staving off a late Wolf Pack rally to take a wild 10-8 victory to catch the Pack and finish in a tie for second place behind undefeated league titlist Santana.

LAUREN VALLELY slugged a pair of home runs, helping Grossmont build a mammoth 9-1 lead before West Hills scored seven times to move within a run. But in the 7th, the Hillers' ASHLEY RENALDI belted the second home run in as many days, giving Grossmont some momentum entering Saturday's (May 17) postseason opener with three victories in four outings.

"We scored a bunch of runs in the first game (a 7-6 win), then we got blasted (a 12-1 loss) in the next game," Grossmont coach JERRY LERUD recalled. "Then today, both things happened."

The Hillers offtset a 1st-inning run by the Wolf Pack with nine consecutive runs. Included was a 4-run, 2nd-inning rally, featuring a 2-run double by MADI HILL. Grossmont then scored three times in the 4th, with KAITLYN NICKS, JAYME TALMICH and Renaldi all collecting an RBI each,

West Hills marched back, ignited by a solo homer by freshman TAYLOR HALLAHAN to open the 5th. The Pack then posted a 5-run outburst in the 6th, as CASSIDY BAGGETT and MICHERIE KORIA knocked in runs, while errors accounted for three unearned runs.

However, Renaldi countered with her homer, then she pitched the final inning to close out the victory.

Vallely finished the day by batting 3-for-4, with three RBI and three runs scored.

Santana 6, El Cajon Valley 0 -- The Sultans completed their 12-game sweep through the Grossmont North League behind the fourth 1-hitter of the season by JESSIE OWENS. The junior struck out 16 Braves, coming within two batters of a no-hitter until DEENA FORD lifted a clean single to left field in the 7th inning.

Owens also walked just one (also Ford), running her season record to 12-0 (with two saves), leading Santana to the league's first undefeated league champion since Grossmont in 1999.

AMANDA CARPENTER ran her hitting streak to 12 straight contests (11 were multiple-hit outings), going 2-for-4 on Tuesday (May 13) to make her 14-for-18 in her last five ballgames. The leadoff batter once again opened the scoring on her first at-bat, this time setting the table with a single, eventually scoring on a KELSEY McILONIE basehit.

Santana added three runs in the 4th to bust open the contest at 4-0. Included was an RBI double by Owens, who later scored when Carpenter reached on an error, followed by an RBI single by BRITTANY FENN.

Carpenter and McIlonie were joined by RACHEL FAILLA and AMANDA GRABLE by going 2-for-4 at the plate.

Meanwhile, the Braves said goodbye to four players on Senior Day -- all honors students -- in COREY RAINEY, a 4-year varsity starter, and 3-year varsity performers in KARI SATROM and JESSICA GIBSON. All three will attend San Diego State, while the fourth senior, DALIA SERRANO, heads for cosmetology school.

Senior Day at Santana featured a 4-0 victory over West Hills to celebrate its GNL crown. The Sultans need one additional victory to become the first undefeated GNL titlist since Grossmont in 1999. (Photo by Carla Sunudo)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-13-08) -- A long season plagued by nagging injuries may leave the Grossmont Foothillers on the fence in acquiring an SDCIF playoff berth when pairings are announced Thursday afternoon. But for one day at least, some of the walking wounded can look back at one solid performance.

On Monday's (May 12) Senior Day at "the top of the Grossmont summit," senior ASHLEY RENALDI not only pitched a 4-hitter, she drove in all of her team's runs with a grand slam, powering the Foothillers past El Capitan, 4-1, on the penultimate day of the Grossmont North League season.

"It's not a coincidence -- Ashley is healthy and she pitched well," said Hillers coach JERRY LERUD. "Everything was working today."

Renaldi kept painting the generous outside corner, striking out nine Vaqueros for the contest.

"The umpire called a lot of outside strikes, which helped," noted Renaldi, who became the first East County player to slug two grand slams this season by parking a 2nd-inning shot over the centerfield fence.

"Both grand slams came to put us ahead in games we needed to win," she added. "Maybe she lost a little concentration after the error, so she hit a batter then she had to throw one to me."

Earlier in the season, similar scoring situations failed to materialize. But on this occasion, a pair of breaks set up the bases-loaded situation.

Following a clean single by senior ADRIANNA NAU, an error and a hit batsman would load the bases for Renaldi, who then jumped on a 1-0 pitch.

"I was on second base, and I just saw it sail over the fence -- I knew it was gone the second Ashley hit it," said third baseman JAYME TALMICH. "Now if we do well against West Hills, then we can do well in the playoffs."

El Capitan, which was playing its regular season finale with a bye date on Tuesday's schedule, got one run back with a pair of two-out hits in the 4th inning.

Following a lead walk to catcher CATHERINE BROWN, Renaldi nearly left her stranded with a pair of strikeouts. However, HEATHER BREWER beat out a scratch single on a ball in the hole which was deflected by the third baseman to the shortstop, but the throw was a touch late.

JULIANNA DUNCAN then collected the RBI with a basehit up the middle, allowing Brown to score from second base.

Following the contest, all four Grossmont seniors confirmed their college plans.

Renaldi will play for the Lady Braves of Ottawa University, an NAIA program located in Kansas; HANNAH ESCALANTE is ticketed for Olivet Nazarene University of Illinois (52-10 record), which just gained its fifth NAIA World Series appearance since 1997; Nau reaffirmed her move to San Francisco State; and Talmich will play for Grossmont College, the reigning Pacific Coast Conference champions.

Santana 4, West Hills 0 -- The Wolf Pack would prefer to no longer play at Santana High anymore. After suffering a loss by no-hitter in their first appearance of the season at their Santee neighbor, Sultans pitcher BRITTY BALOUGH this time delivered a 1-hitter to again blank the Pack.

Junior centerfielder AMANDA CARPENTER, who leads the Grossmont North League in hitting (based on an unofficial survey of league coaches) at .486, ended this contest early.

Carpenter opened the bottom of the 1st inning with a solo homer -- her 6th of the season -- with senior catcher BRITTANY FENN following with a double off the top of the rail in centerfield.

KELSEY McILONIE singled home another run en route to a 3-0 lead, so by the time AMBER BEEBE -- another senior -- belted a solo homer in the 4th, Balough was cruising to her 16th victory of the season to maintain her deadlock with Terese Diaz of Helix for the East County lead.

Balough finished with six strikeouts without a walk; the lone West Hills hit was a single collected by CASSIDY BAGGETT.

Grossmont South League
Helix 2, Mount Miguel 0 -- In the teams' first meeting, the Matadors scored twice in the 6th inning for a 2-0 victory. In Monday's (May 12) rematch, the visiting Highlanders used a similar script, scoring twice in the 1st to avenge Mount Miguel at Jane Trude Field.

The road victory allowed Helix to snap the tie between the ballclubs in the Grossmont South League standing, as the Scotties finished tied for third place with Valhalla .

TERESE DIAZ spun a 2-hitter for the triumph, striking out nine batters, while ALYSSA BRITSCHGI paced the offense with two hits.

Helix started quickly when NATALIE SMITH reached on an error, replaced by ALYSSA DRONENBURG on a fielder's choice. Diaz walked, followed by a run-scoring basehit by Britschgi, then an RBI double by SHALEY MADRUGA.

Steele Canyon 10, Monte Vista 3 -- The frustrated Monarchs, winless in GSL competition this season, were in perfect position for a plum win to close the regular season when locked in a tie contest through six innings.

However, LORENA KLOPP and KELLY CASH each homered when the Cougars scored seven times in the 7th inning to ruin the storybook ending for Monte Vista.

The rally started on consecutive singles by the BEASLEY sisters -- MICHELLE, then GABRIELLE -- with JAZMIN DAIGLE breaking the tie with an RBI single to right field which resulted in a second run on an error.

Klopp followed with her 6th homer of the season (15th career) -- a 2-run shot well over the centerfield fence -- for a 7-3 lead, then Cash later belted a 3-run blast.

Steele Canyon scored twice in the 1st on an error and a sacrifice fly by JAYME JARVIS. The Monarchs immediately answered with a pair of runs, scoring on an error and an RBI single by JESIKA PEREA.

Michelle Beasley batted 4-for-5 to lead a 12-hit attack, while Gabrielle Beasley, Cash (4 RBI) and NICOLE RANDEL all went 3-for-4. Gabrielle Beasley also was the winning pitcher, tossing three shutout innings of relief.

Granite Hills 12, Valhalla 0 -- The neighborhood duel went the Eagles' way after they scored in each of their six at-bats to overwhelm the Norsemen. It was the second 3-hit shutout win in the series by Granite Hills, as JENNY LAHITTE posted the complete-game triumph.

Lahitte also belted a pair of home runs, part of four roundtrippers slugged by the Eagles.

Lahitte hit a 2-run shot in the first to jumpstart Granite Hills to a 2-0 advantage. She later added the second of back-to-back homers, following a 3-run shot stroked by KELLEY SEITZ for a 9-0 lead through three innings.

Then in the 4th, left-fielder KYLEE WILSON hit a solo shot in the 5th as part of her 3 RBI for the contest. Wilson added a run-scoring basehit in the 2nd and a sacrifice fly in the 5th.

In a day for the catchers, Seitz finished with 5 RBI, also garnering a 2-run double. Meanwhile, Valhalla senior backstop JESSICA SCHATZ collected all three Norsemen hits.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (5-11-08) -- Santana High shortstop RACHEL FAILLA went into Saturday's (May 10) contest knowing the Sultans could clinch the Grossmont North League title, but she had more pressing issues on her mind.

An hour before the opening pitch, her father, assistant coach JOHN FAILLA, was called away on an emergency after receiving a call on his cell phone that his wife was in a traffic accident while on her way to the ballgame.

"John immediately left for the scene of the accident, but asked Rachel to remain at the field," said Santana scorekeeper MARK OWENS. "Apparently, someone ran a red light and collided with her SUV, deploying the airbags."

Which left daughter Rachel in the dark, not knowing the status of her mother while attempting to make preparations for the ballgame.

"John returned during the bottom of the 1st," added Owens. "The SUV was totaled, but Mrs. Failla was safe and sound."

The good news proved inspirational for the younger Failla, who channeled her stress into her batting.

As been expected for the last three weeks, Santana (26-2, 10-0 GNL) clinched the league title. The Sultans need two additional victories to close the regular season to become the first undefeated league champion in a decade (Grossmont, 12-0 in 1999).

AMANDA CARPENTER aided the cause with a pair of doubles and scored three times, while CARA CARILLO, AMANDA GRABLE and JESSIE OWENS went 2-for-4 each.

Owens also pitched a 2-hitter against the Vaqueros, running her season record to 11-0. She struck out 11 and walked just one, The lone El Cap basehits were by CARINA HALE and LESLIE KUHNE.

Miller, a sophomore, slugged a 3-run homer in the 3rd inning, doubling the West Hills advantage to 6-0. Then in the 5th, she lifted her third blast of the season to lead off the frame, followed by a back-to-back shot by CASSIDY BAGGETT. Both Miller and Baggett batted 2-for-3 in the morning ballgame.

KRISTY VALLES went a declared three innings in the rout to receive credit for the victory, with JESSICA ALDERSON going the final four frames for the save.

El Cajon Valley snapped the shutout bid with an unearned run in the 6th.

COREY RAINEY walked to open the inning, then took third on a DEENA FORD basehit, then scored on a passed ball.

© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (5-10-08) -- The challenge proved deeper and more intense, yet Steele Canyon High found a way to capture a third consecutive Grossmont South League crown.

Backed by another shutout by LORENA KLOPP, the Cougars skated past visiting Helix, 4-0, Friday (May 9), becoming the first Grossmont Conference school to capture three outright league titles in a decade.

West Hills last completed the "3-peat" in the Grossmont North League from 1996-98, while Valhalla took three pennants -- one was a co-championship -- from 2003-05.

"It's been amazing -- and it's been the toughest of the three because so many teams are so much better," said third baseman JAZMIN DAIGLE, one of the Cougars' team captains. "Granite Hills is tough and Helix got a lot better. Every game is tough."

Hard-luck losing pitcher TERESE DIAZ dropped her third decision in four starts in May despite carrying a no-hitter through three innings. However, she trailed 1-0 at the time on an unearned run, then allowed two additional runs in the 4th despite the ball barely clearing the infield just once as Steele Canyon continues to discover ways to win.

"I like how my team grows as the season goes on and we peak at the end, as opposed to some teams which peak too soon," noted Cougars head coach JULIE BOHE. "It's all about (winning) league and CIF."

"This league title was the toughest of the three, absolutely -- this is not an easy league."

IRENE BLUMENSTOCK registered the first Cougars hit on a one-out bunt. Left-fielder JAYME JARVIS walked, with both advancing on a grounder to the right side by catcher KELLY CASH.

Diaz thought she escaped the 4th-inning jam by inducing a ground out by MICHELLE BEASLEY. But Diaz' run of recent bad luck continued when a 2-hopper to the second baseman bounded high for a bad-hop single. And with two outs, the runners were both moving and scored easily, giving Beasley a pair of RBI.

Meanwhile, Klopp finished with 11 strikeouts, giving her 28 over the past two ballgames. Diaz collected seven strikeouts in her four innings of work.

"Lorena's very consistent and very fast," added Blumenstock, the No. 2 pitcher for the Cougars. "She's taught me to never get down, even if you walk someone or give up a hit, and to always stay positive."

Steele Canyon (19-5-1, 8-1 GSL) closes the regular season at Monte Vista.

Nelson ignited the comeback from a 4-2 deficit with an RBI double in the 4th, bringing home shortstop GABBY NAIDAS, who scored three times on the afternoon (Fri., May 9). Naidas then led off the 6th with a walk, with Nelson following by depositing a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left field.

Valhalla overcame an early 2-0 deficit by scoring twice in both the 1st and 3rd innings.

Freshman TORREY ROOK tied the ballgame with a 2-run double to right-center. Two innings later, a double by JODIE SCHMEHR gave the Norsemen the lead, with AMBER REARDON tacking on by driving Schmehr home on a basehit to the right-center gap.

This time, Monte Vista was beaten on a solo home run by Eagles catcher JESSICA SCHATZ, who belted a one-out shot over the barrier in left field for the game-winning run.

A solo homer by Monarchs senior KAITLIN McMILLAN seemed destined to stand up. Her 2nd homer of the season carried deep over the fence to left in the 2nd.

However, the Eagles finally equalized in the 6th on an error.

With Schatz at second base, KYLEE WILSON lofted a fly ball to right field. Schatz tagged and took third, but when the throw skipped past all of the defenders to the fence, the senior took the extra base to knot the ballgame.

Winning pitcher BRITTANI BERTUSSI registered 11 strikeouts.

Grossmont North League
El Capitan 12, El Cajon Valley 2 (6 inn.) -- An element missing from the arsenal of the El Capitan Vaqueros all season has been power hitting, but it made a triumphant return Friday (May 9) when they powered three home runs -- including a pair by LESLIE KUHNE -- to get past the host Braves.

Kuhne jump-started the Vaq Pack with a 2-run shot in the 1st inning, then added a 3-run shot in the 6th to complete a 5-RBI performance. In between, KELSEY MOODY tagged a 2-run shot in the 5th for a 7-0 advantage.

The Braves averted the shutout with single markers over their final two plate appearances.

In the 5th, EMILY RAWLS collected a run-scoring single, set-up on a walk to DESIREE GARCIA and a basehit by ALYSSA GARCIA. In the 6th, following an El Cap double play, ECVHS collected consecutive doubles by DEENA FORD (to centerfield) and Desiree Garcia (left-centerfield).

Santana 11, Grossmont 2 -- With the Foothillers still within range in a 5-2 ballgame, the Sultans pulled away with a 6-run, 6th inning, featuring a grand slam by shortstop RACHEL FAILLA to clinch at least a tie for the Grossmont North League title.

Grossmont was on the verge of escaping the 6th when first baseman ADRIANNA NAU fielded a sharp grounder, throwing home to catcher MADI HILL for a force out. But Failla followed with her shot to left-centerfield.

AMANDA CARPENTER again was in the middle of the offensive attack, as the centerfielder batted 2-for-3 with a double, stole two bases and scored three times. Meanwhile, JESSIE OWENS batted 2-for-4 with three steals. Both Sultans also registered an RBI to power a 9-hit attack.

Santana scored twice in its first two at-bats.

In the 1st, Failla had a chance at another grand slam, but was hit by a pitch to force home a run and give her the first of her five RBI for the contest. MICHELLE BRAMLAGE followed with a sacrifice fly to score Carpenter.

In the 2nd, Owens singled home BRITTY BALOUGH -- the winning pitcher who tossed a 4-hitter -- then BRITTANY FENN walked with the bases loaded to plate AMANDA GRABLE.

But whenever Santana scored, the Foothillers would immediately answer.

In the 2nd, KAITLYN NICKS slugged a solo homer, then Hill scored after she walked, coming around on consecutive basehits by KATHARINE MIRANDA and KELSEY ALVAREZ.

© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (5-8-08) -- The topsy-turvy season for the Valhalla Norsemen lists impressive victories over Top 10 ballclubs in Scripps Ranch and Steele Canyon, but blowout defeats to Escondido, Santana and Helix.

The difference in all those contests was simply: When the Norsemen receive solid pitching, they somehow find a way to push across enough runs to win.

On Wednesday (May 7), following an embarrassing 8-1 loss to Helix in the first round of the Grossmont South League schedule, Valhalla gained its revenge.

Backed by a solid pitching effort by freshman TORREY ROOK, Norsemen first baseman KYLA BRANSFORD found a way to register both of the two hits allowed by Helix pitcher TERESE DIAZ, the first good for two runs in the 2nd inning which stood up in a 2-1 road triumph.

"It was my lucky day, I guess. But no offense, you can hit pitchers like Terese once you get used to her," said Bransford, who plans to move to Oregon over the summer. "It was an outside pitch and I just went with it to right field."

Bransford's basehit brought home AMBER REARDON and ANGELA UY, who both walked.

The rest was up to Rook, who scattered seven hits, but made her most important outs in the 7th, setting Helix down in order to leave the Scotties' power hitters in ALYSSA DRONENBURG and Diaz on deck without an opportunity to save the day.

"I think Torrey is awesome -- it was amazing," said Norsemen catcher KELLEY SEITZ, who caught a pair of pop-ups in foul territory in the 7th to preserve the win. "She's doing really well for a freshman."

Dronenburg went 2-for-3, including an infield single to start the 6th, eventually scoring on consecutive two-out singles by ALYSSA BRITSCHGI and KAILAH CANO-RUE. Otherwise, Rook made an assortment of pitches to blank Helix.

"I went out to talk to her after Helix got runners in scoring position," noted Seitz. "I said, "Okay, just focus now,' and for every pitch -- I don't know if you noticed -- she took a really deep breath. Every time she did that, she focused on my glove and hit her spots right on."

Helix second baseman JESSICA FERNANDEZ batted 2-for-4 with a double to the wall in left, while Cano-Rue also collected a pair of hits. Diaz finished with nine strikeouts, yet suffered another hard-luck defeat with the Highlanders' offense stuck in Padres-like mode, eliminating them from GSL title consideration.

Valhalla remains in a tie for second with Granite Hills, yet are two games down to front-running Steele Canyon with two to play, with last-place Monte Vista still remaining on the Cougars' schedule.

"Our record is better than it's been over the past two seasons," boasted Bransford. "Oh, and Kelley runs like a gazelle."

Rook now owns victories over Steele Canyon (its lone GSL setback), West Hills and now Helix, running her record to 6-3.

Dronenburg noted she plays to attend Cal State San Marcos next year, while Seitz will head for Grossmont College , the two-time defending Pacific Coast Conference champions.

Steele Canyon 3, Granite Hills 0 -- The Cougars shocked the host Eagles by scoring three times in their opening trip to the plate, reducing their magic number to one to clinch a third consecutive Grossmont South League crown.

"It's not over yet -- we still need to keep working hard," said Steele Canyon coach JULIE BOHE. "We've got Helix up next and they're a very good team, so we haven't won anything until we've won it."

LORENA KLOPP struck out 17 Granite Hills batters in spinning a 1-hit shutout in her strongest performance since a mid-season injury.

"Lorena is obviously back," added Bohe. "I think Granite only made contact maybe 5-or-6 times."

All but four of the outs were on strikes, with the lone hit coming in the 6th when JEN LAHITTE followed a one-out walk with a clean basehit up the middle. However, Klopp escaped the minor jam by registering a pair of strikeouts with the potential game-tying run at the plate.

The Cougars scored all three runs in the 1st inning to chase the Eagles' starting pitcher, quickly collecting four of their seven hits.

VANESSA ADAME opened with a clean single, then was sacrificed 60 feet by a GABRIELLE BEASLEY bunt. Klopp walked, with HANNAH ROST inserted as the courtesy runner.

Then the fireworks began with a series of hits.

KELLY CASH singled to center to plate Adame, JAYME JARVIS singled to load the bases, then a NICOLE RANDEL