SPORTS BRIEFS
SOFTBALL Holtville goes down vs. Sweetwater
NATIONAL CITY — On Monday the Holtville Vikings defeated the Royal Knights of Calvary Christian Academy, 9-2, in a CIF-SDS Division IV 12-seed vs. 12-seed play-in game in Chula Vista.
They got to ride high on that for all of 24 hours before having to head back out San Diego way to face off against the Sweetwater Red Devils for a chance to advance into the double-elimination portion of the bracket.
There was reason for optimism among Holtville fans that things would go well here — the Vikings had beaten the Devils twice over the course of the regular season (11-8 on March 22 and 10-7 on April 6) — but the third time turned out to be the charm for Sweetwater as they jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning of Tuesday’s game, going on to win 13-5.
A shoddy defensive effort doomed the Vikings.
Sweetwater hitters didn’t exactly hulk out on any pitches but, per Viking coach Melissa Snyder, “They just kept putting the ball in play … nothing hard,” giving the Holtville defense plenty of opportunities for errors.
It was just one of those games where, “anything and everything happened,” said Snyder.
Still the lackluster end to the season doesn’t diminish what has in many ways been a positive campaign for the green and gold.
“We had a lot of firsts this year,” said Snyder, alluding to the Vikings first IVL win since 2012 and a midseason tournament win. “There were a lot of small victories. … Now we just have to continue to build on that foundation.”
Eagles upset 3rd-seeded Mission Hills, 9-1
SAN MARCOS — The Southwest Eagles are OK with having to improvise, it seems.
With rain in the forecast for Thursday, their first non-play-in opponent in the CIF-SDS Division II playoffs, the Mission Hills Grizzlies, decided it was necessary to bump the game between the two teams up a day.
The Eagles proceeded to take this scheduling curveball and dump it over the rightfield fence, stomping the third-seeded Grizzlies, 9-1, to advance to face the winner of Brawley vs. Del Norte on Saturday.
Everybody on Southwest seemed to have whatever the opposite of a hangover is after their win over Otay Ranch on Tuesday.
All Sadriena Rodriguez did on zero days’ rest was to go out and toss a one-hitter, striking out 10.
The one hit she gave up was a solo homer, but that wasn’t enough for Mission Hills to hang.
Southwest banged out 10 hits, led by Jaelyn Niebla who went 3-for3, with a triple, a double and three RBI.
Melissa Flores knocked in two, and Illiana Manzano, Arianna Izaguirre and Adriana Molina each drove home one.
The good news (aside from the win) is that whatever happens between Brawley and Del Norte, the Eagles next game will be in the Valley.
If Brawley wins, they’ll face the Eagles at home.
If Del Norte wins, Southwest will host them.
Tigers fall to La Costa Canyon in CIF opener
CARLSBAD — On Tuesday afternoon, the Imperial High School softball team played in its first game of the 2019 postseason, a CIFSDS Division II contest against La Costa Canyon High.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, their first game of the 2019 postseason also turned out to be their last, as they fell to the Mavericks, 6-1.
Imperial couldn’t get anything going against La Costa Canyon sophomore Angelina Russo, who held the Tigers to just two hits across seven innings of play — allowing just one unearned run (in the top of the third inning) while striking out eight.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, had a minor field day at the bat, touching up Tiger pitching for 13 hits (including two doubles, a triple and a home run) at a .448 clip.
The loss ends Imperial’s season, giving them a final record of 16-13 (7-5 IVL). La Costa Canyon advances to play top-seeded Patrick Henry on Thursday.
PhysIcals All-Valley sports screening to be held at Southwest
EL CENTRO — Athletes in need of physicals for the 2019-20 school year will have an opportunity to check that box this Saturday when, according to a release by the Southwest High School Athletic Department, the school will be hosting a mass screening from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. in its gymnasium.
The physicals will be open to current students from any local school, grades 8-11. The cost is $15.
All student-athletes will receive an electrocardiogram in addition to the traditional physical.
Participants are advised to wear loose-fitting clothing, bring any corrective lenses worn, and avoid consuming caffeinated beverages for four hours prior the screenings.
—aaron Bodus, abodus@
ivpressonline.com