ROUNDUP: Nine teams claim Saturday wins

By Bill Dickens
Updated: March 12, 2017

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

By Bill Dickens
© EastCountySports.com

CHULA VISTA (3-12-17) — The Grossmont Foothillers were apparently not impressed with the San Diego Section rankings. That is, the Foothillers (3-1) claimed a 5-4 victory over Eastlake in 12 innings on Saturday (Mar. 11) in the Aztec-Foothiller Tournament to put their mark on who ranks where.

“You know, it’s like if you beat a team that is ranked No. 1 in the county, you have to think a lot about that,” said Grossmont coach JORDAN ABRUZZO. “Our kids realize that this is a key win, but it’s only one. The rest of the season is still ahead of us.”

The Foothillers had to go extra frames to upend previously undefeated Eastlake.

Trailing 2-0 in the 3^rd inning the Foothillers ignited a rally on a base hit by KANNON ROMERO. AUSTIN ODOM followed with a base hit, but the Titans rolled a double play. Despite the twin killing, GIOVANI GIGANTI singled in a run.

Eastlake expanded its advantage to 4-1 after five innings, but the Foothillers scrambled back in the top of the 6^th.

Odom walked to lead off the frame. MAX FORD singled and Giganti singled to load the bases with nobody out. CHRIS GIOVENGO then slashed a 2-run double to make it 4-3.

Grossmont then tied the game on a sacrifice fly by KALEB TEDOKON.

The game remained deadlocked until the top of the 12^th. It was Grossmont’s turn to scrap out the winning run as Ford singled, advanced to second on a stolen base and to third on a wild pitch. Giovengo struck out and JOE WILLIAMS singled to drive in the go-ahead run.

It was a big-time show for Williams, who pitched two shutout innings in relief and had three strikeouts to record his first varsity win.

Giovengo was 3-for-6 with 2 RBI for the Foothillers. Odom was 2-for-4 as the Foothillers walked away with the victory.

WEST HILLS 8, MATER DEI CATHOLIC 7 – It seemed only appropriate for West Hills High to allow several non-starters to gain the opportunity to get into the lineup against a winless Mater Dei Catholic club who have been outscored, 22-2, in three starts this season.

But after trailing by as many as five runs, the Wolf Pack needed to place many of the starters back into the line-up,. The starring cast returned just in time to eventually subdue the visiting Crusaders, 8-7, Saturday (Mar. 11) at Wolf Pack Park.

Senior second baseman BRADEN SANFORD came through with a go-ahead, 2-run double in the 6th inning to finally erase a 7-2 deficit.

“I’m seeing the ball real well right now, obviously, but I’ve worked hard,” said Sanford, who posted his fourth multi-hit game of the year. It’s my senior year, so I want to leave it all on the field.

“We’ve made a good turn for the better, with the seniors on this team pulling us through right now, plus a great leader in MICKEY (DEUTSCHMAN, the head coach) pointing us in the right direction.

Entering the season, Sanford was on few college watch lists. That will soon change.

“We’ll be making some calls to (college) coaches about Braden,” said Duetschman. “He’s going to be a player four-year schools want.”

Sanford is now batting .727 (8-for-11) on the season, with a .786 on-base percentage and nine stolen bases, including three thefts against the Crusaders.

The base hit also made a winner of pitcher NOAH QUINTANA, who tossed the final four innings in relief. He allowed one earned run upon entering, then capped his outing with 3 2/3 innings of shutout ball.

Quintana now leads the entire CIF-San Diego Section with three victories following just over a week of play.

“Crazy. That’s crazy to think. I never thought I would be able to say anything like that, honestly,” said Quintana. “At the point it was 7-2, I was kind of (mentally) out of it, but the rest of my team picked me up and got us back into the game.

“At first, I couldn’t locate my pitches, but I bared down and hit my spots.

“Also, surprisingly, DAVE (PALET, the pitching coach) told me not to sleep on my arm,” he added. “That has actually helped me a lot.”

In the 5th, the bottom of the order again came through. No. 8 hitter TOMAS GAGLIANO singled home one run, with another run scoring on an error to trim the margin to 7-5. He also added a sacrifice fly in the 4th for a 2-RBI outing.

Sophomore GAVIN KONDRYA followed with an apparent 2-run single to tie the score, but the Wolf Pack rally hit a snag after TREVOR COMMERFORD scored from third base, with Gagliano following close behind.

PARKER CRAFT accepted a lead walk, then headed home on a double by Quintana. but Ruiz again gathered a long throw from the outfield for the out.

After a second out, SAM HUGHES walked, then took second base on indifference. Sanford followed with his go-ahead drive to right field.

West Hills finished with 11 hits, including three by Sanford and a pair from outfielder CHRIS “LARRY” SCHROEDER. In addition, RYAN TRIVOLI slugged a double in his first at-bat of the campaign, scoring the ballclub’s first run in the 2nd when Commerford followed with a base hit.

SANTANA 6, GRANITE HILLS 0 – In a Hilltop/Lolita’s Tournament showdown between two of the best teams in East County, Santana’s NOAH NUNEZ spun a complete game, 4-hit shutout as he rolled his record to 2-0. He surrendered 4 hits and one walk in the outing.

On the offensive end, Santana knocked out 11 hits to go along with its 6 runs.

In the 1^st inning COLTON CALVERT slugged a grand slam which launched the Sultans into a 4-0 lead.

The Sultans kept pounding away and added two more runs in the 3^rd. TRISTAN SALINAS singled and stole second. Calvert singled to score Taylor, and ANDERS TOLHURST singled. TC SIMMONS singled to drive in Tolhurst.

It was a tough day for Granite Hills. The one bright spot for the Eagles was a single by DARIEN COSSIO in the 1^st inning. That’s about all they could gather against the pitching of Nunez, who earned the win without allowing a run.

HELIX 3, MIRA MESA 1 – The undefeated Helix Highlanders jumped in front of Mira Mesa in the 3^rd inning when AUSTIN KRETZCHMAR doubled into left center, and ERICK SMELKO drew a walk in Saturday’s (Mar. 11) Aztec-Foothiller Tournament encounter. A groundout moved the runners up 90 feet.

CONNOR KONISHI walked to load the bases. The Marauders booted a ground ball hit by ROMAN PADILLA to score Kretzchmar for a 1-0 Helix lead.

In the 6^th inning Konishi singled, advanced to second on a passed ball and stole third. Mira Mesa kicked the next ground ball hit by CARLOS OQUITA for a 6-3 error. AUSTIN KOVALCHECK flied to center, and ZACK OWENS then hit into a fielder’s choice to give Helix a 3-1 lead that they wouldn’t lose.

Konishi pitched five innings to log his 3^rd win, and Smelko picked up the save.

CHRISTIAN 12, SAN DIEGO 9 – The Christian High Patriots played a series of longball as they clipped the San Diego Cavers in Saturday’s (Mar. 11) Aztec-Foothiller Tournament game.

Christian recorded nine runs in the 3^rd inning to crush the Cavers.

ZACH HOGUIESSON was the big stick for the Patriots, who submarined San Diego 12-9. Hoguiesson clubbed his second and third home runs of the season, both in the 3^rd inning with one on.

“We may end up leading the county in home runs,” commented Patriots coach MIKE MITCHELL. “We’ve had at least one in every game.”

Christian knocked out 9 hits, including a double and a triple by GARRETT NIELSEN, who also has 2 home runs on the books.

JAKOB BECK chipped in with 3 hits and 2 RBI to the onslaught.

Five Patriot pitchers paraded to the mound. BRAD JEREMIAH led the way with five innings, allowing only 2 hits, one run and striking out 4. He also got the win.

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 11, TRI-CITY CHRISTIAN 5 – There’s new excitement at Foothills Christian on the baseball diamond this season. The Knights’ bats came alive in Saturday’s (Mar. 11) Bully’s East Tournament action.

Trailing 5-2 after two frames the Knights erupted for 7 runs in the 3^rd inning. JALANI BROWN doubled and BAILEY LINK was hit by a pitch. JOSH GATES singled, as did JUSTIN EICHER, who drove in Brown and Link. BAILEY LEWIS drove in Gates and JOE KANG singled to load the bases.

TREVOR SMALLWOOD scored Eicher with a single, and a passed ball brought home Lewis. BRADLEY BROWN hit a 4-3 groundout, scoring Kang. CHRIS STALLARD’s sacrifice fly scored Smallwood.

In the 4^th inning Link was hit by a pitch. Gates and Lewis both walked to load the bases. Kang singled to score Link and Smallwood singled to score Gates.

Kang finished 3-for-4 and Lewis was 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored.

CHRIS STALLARD picked up his first win on the mound.

MOUNT MIGUEL 17, MORSE 5 – The Mount Miguel Matadors blazed out of the gate with 20 hits as they mauled Morse 17-5 in the Bully’s East Tournament on Saturday (Mar. 11).

ANDREW MONTIJO was 4-for-5 with 2 runs scored and 4 RBI, including a triple to set the burning pace for the Matadors.

Red-hot hitting CONNOR WHITE was 3-for-4 with 4 RBI as he hit a grand slam in the 2^nd inning. He also slugged a 1^st inning double and another in the 2^nd.

The Matadors batted around eight times in the first two frames. AUSTIN ORTIZ walked and singled, and RUBEN PRECIADO-TEJADA singled.

CAMERON BEAUZEC singled and scored in the 2^nd inning. ERIK KELLY had a single and a double in the 2^nd.

In the 6^th inning Ortiz walked followed by a base hit by Preciado-Tejada, and Montijo tripled, scoring both baserunners. NICO CAMACHO walked and EMILIO SOLIS walked, then Ortiz walked to load the bases. Preciado-Tejada hit a base hit to score Camacho.

TREVOR DARBY was 2-for-4 with 4 RBI and a run scored.

Morse struck out the side in the 7^th inning, ending the Matadors scoring.

STEELE CANYON 7, EL CAMINO 3 – Steele Canyon upended El Camino in Saturday’s (Mar. 11) Pirate Baseball Classic in North County.

After falling behind host El Camino 2-0 the Cougars came to life for 4 runs in the 2^nd inning. DANNY YANEZ singled and stole second. TREVOR DICKEY singled in a run. After three straight walks AARON TAYLOR slashed a 2-run double, tying the game at 2 apiece.

MATTHEW BRINKMEIER singled in a run, and JOSH ESQUIBEL doubled in a run to give the Cougars a 4-2 lead.

In the 5^th inning Esquibel and Brinkmeier had back-to-back hits, then LUKE ARIAS hit a sacrifice fly and BILLY TELLOUS doubled in a run.

MONTE VISTA 7, SD-SOUTHWEST 4 – Look out for the Monte Vista Monarchs. This is a team that was lost in the clouds last year but seems ready to make a move this year.

First-year head coach CRAIG NEU led his team to a 5-3 lead after two innings of Saturday’s (Mar. 11) Bully’s East Tournament game against San Diego Southwest.

The Monarchs bolted out of the gate for 5 runs in the first two innings. KRYSTIAN CAMACHO walked and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. After Southwest booted one, Camacho sprinted to third base. JORDAN FRANKEN got on base on a Southwest error, and DIEGO SANDOVAL singled in Camacho for a 4-0 lead. IVAN PLAZOLA followed with a base hit to score Franken, for a 5-3 lead.

In the 6^th inning ANDREW GONZALES singled, and two outs later DAVID GARCIA doubled. Sandoval had a 2-run double to score Gonzales and Garcia.

CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 10, VALHALLA 4 – The Valhalla Norsemen saw their Lolita/Hilltop Tournament game slip away in the 4th inning vs. Cathedral Catholic at Hilltop on Saturday (Mar. 11).

The Dons scored a pair of runs in each of the first two innings and 5 in the 4th and a run in the 5th.

Valhalla tallied 2 in the third on singles by LEWIS DIRKES and JAKE BARBER. After a wild pitch moved the runners up 90 feet, RILEY O’SULLIVAN put the Norsemen on the board with a sacrifice fly. A triple by KYLE CASPER added another run.

The Norsemen added 2 more in the 5th on a walk to Riley O’Sullivan, a double by Casper and a single by MAX HAGEMAN.

CALEB ST. CLAIR took the loss for Valhalla while Casper and JONAH ST. CLAIR led the Norsemen’s 13 hit attack.

Valhalla falls to 1-2. The Norsemen will travel to El Capitan Tuesday (Mar. 14) to face the Vaqueros (1-3) at 3 p.m.

LA COSTA CANYON 13, EL CAPITAN 0 – For El Capitan it was an ugly afternoon on Saturday (Mar. 11) in a Hilltop/Lolita’s Tournament game.

The Vaqueros mustered 5 hits but it was not near enough to shut down La Costa Canyon, which steamrollered the Lakeside crew.

TYLER LINDSAY was the only Vaquero to collect more than one hit, and he had 2.

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