Band of brothers: Hillers’ Open run ends

By Bill Dickens
Updated: June 3, 2016

Jaime Arreola at the plate for Grossmont on Thursday against Eastlake.

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com

EASTLAKE (6-3-16) — The Grossmont Foothillers deserved a better fate in Thursday’s (June 2) San Diego Section Open Division semifinal.

Fact is the Foothillers (23-12), who compiled a 1.97 team ERA, came within one game of qualifying for the Open Division championship game. Instead, Eastlake (29-4), by virtue of eliminating the Foothillers 5-1 in the semifinal on Thursday, will face Cathedral Catholic (24-9) on Saturday (June 5) at USD’s Fowler Park at 7 p.m. for the crown.

Eastlake claimed a 2-1 edge against Grossmont in post-season activity.

Grossmont’s Jackson Hulett prepares to throw to first after fielding a ball on Thursday in the San Diego CIF Open Division semifinals against Eastlake.

“This is the first year Grossmont has ever been in the Open Division finals,” said senior CALVIN FARRIS. “By the end of the day this is not where we wanted to be. But overall we accomplished a lot.

“I think we were swinging at a lot of bad pitches (against sophomore pitcher Grant Holman),” Farris added. “He had a good off-speed pitch and we couldn’t connect. I think we were over aggressive.”

The Foothillers took the early lead in the first inning as KYLE PINEDA singled up the middle and advanced to second and third on ground outs, and scored on Farris’s RBI single.

After that however Grossmont’s offense went stale. Following Farris’s clutch single Grossmont could not muster another hit until STEVEN OUELLETTE slapped a 2-out single in the sixth.

Grossmont had to settle for three hits in the contest.

Grosssmont’s Kyle Pineda awaits a pitch on Thursday.

Eastlake took a 2-1 lead in the second inning. Brian Leonhardt led off with a double. Riley Reyes then followed with a walk. Pitcher Holman then supplied a knockout blow with a 2-run single that gave the Titans a 2-1 lead.

Eastlake added a third tally in the fourth frame as Julian Escobedo tripled to right center field. The Grossmont outfielders were scrambling to pick up the ball but by the time the ball reached the catcher Escobedo had already crossed the plate.

The hardluck loser for Grossmont was JACKSON HULETT. The St. Mary’s College junior recruit pitched 5 2/3 innings, surrendered 8 hits, 5 runs – 2 earned – struck out 2 and walked one.

“You know, Hulett is tough as nails,” said Grossmont coach JORDAN ABRUZZO. “He pitched great for us all season and gave us a chance to win today.”

SDCIF Division I – Fifth Round
Thur., June 2, 2016 
TITANS 5, FOOTHILLERS 1
Grossmont      ab r h bi Eastlake         ab r h bi
Pineda 2b       3 1 1 0  Escubedo cf       3 1 1 0
Ouellette ss    3 0 1 0  Pizzila-Wiggs lf  4 0 1 0
ALopez 3b       3 0 0 0  Ramirez ss        4 1 1 0
Farris dh       3 0 1 1  Schmidt 3b        3 0 0 0
Hulett p-lf     2 0 0 0  Jones 3b          2 0 1 0
Garcia 1b       2 0 0 0  Nunez rf          0 0 0 0
Lombardo rf     3 0 0 0  Alvera 2b         2 0 1 0
Tedokon c       2 0 0 0  Leonheart 1b      3 1 1 0
Buchanan cf     1 0 0 0  Reyes c           2 1 0 0
Arreola cf      1 0 0 0  Holman p          3 0 2 1
Van Every lf    0 0 0 0  Espinoza p        0 1 0 0
Romero p        0 0 0 0
TOTALS         23 1 3 1  Totals           26 5 8 1

  Grossmont (23-12) 100 000 0 – 1 3 2
  Eastlake   (29-4) 020 102 x – 5 8 0

GWRBI-Holman.
E-Lombardo, Tedokon. DP-East 1. LOB-Gro 3, East 8. 
2B-Leonheart, Holman. 3B-Escubeda. S-Escobedo, Alvera.

PITCHING SUMMARY
Grossmont        ip  h  r er bb so
 Hulett  L(6-2) 5.2  8  5  2  3  1
 Romero         0.1  0  0  0  0  0
Eastlake 
 Holman   W     6.0  3  1  1  1  2
 Espinoza Sv    1.0  0  0  0  1  1
HBP-by Holman (Hulett 2).