ROUNDUP: Owens drives in 6 for Helix

By Ramon Scott
Updated: March 8, 2018

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report (3-8-2018)

WEST HILLS 5, MONTGOMERY 3 – At Santee, Following the virtues of the West Hills High defense in the ballclub’s opener, Game No. 2 could’ve allowed Wolf Pack pitcher Gavin Kondyra to falter in frustration.

Despite eventually firing a complete-game 3-hitter, Kondyra trailed most of the afternoon against visiting Montgomery, trailing 3-0 on a trio of unearned runs by the Aztecs in the second inning.

However, the Pack took advantage of an error in the fifth inning, then tacked on four additional runs, grabbing the lead for keeps on a 2-Foothiller Tournament action on Wednesday (Mar. 7).

“Errors happen, but as long as we get our bats going, we can win,” said Kondyra.

Although it took longer than desired, the Wolf Pack (1-1) collected half of their 10 hits in the pivotal frame when they scored all of their runs.

Of course, an error started the rally, but the next four runs were earned against a trio of pitchers for Montgomery as the Pack batted around.

Second baseball Peyton Honick opened the frame with a hot shot at third base, but an excellent back-hand grab prevented an easy, down-the-line double. However, the throw to first base was wide.

Moments later, Cody Pedrero pulled a deep drive to the right-center field gap, circling around for an RBI triple and getting West Hills on the board. Two pitches later, Pedrero came home on a Joe Thrailkill sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 3-2.

The next three batters reached base to knot the contest.

Catcher Andrew Ritayik legged out a slow roller to second base for a scratch single, moving to second on Kondyra’s line single to left-center, then scoring when a drive by Devin Bevilacqua short-hopped the fence in left to leave the teams even.

The Aztecs answered with a strikeout which should’ve ended the inning. Instead with two outs, Kai Dennis went to right-center field with a 2run triple to take the lead for keeps.

That re-energized Kondyra then set down 6-of-7 batters to finalize his complete-game victory, surviving a one-out walk in the 7th with an ensuing ground ball and a pop out. The junior left-hander struck out three.

GROSSMONT 5, MATER DEI 1 – Juniors ZAK FARRIS and KEONI VALDEZ both drove in a pair of runs as the county 14th-ranked Foothillers scored three in the fourth and two in the fifth to win in the Aztec-Foothiller Classic.

Both of the Hillers stars doubled and scored a run in the contest. Valdez also drew a pair of walks.

Senior CHRIS GIOVENGO was awesome over five innings on the hill, striking out eight, while allowing three hits and no runs.

Junior ZACH ZOLINA delivered two innings of shutout relief, striking out four.

Senior AUSTIN ODOM also had an RBI for Grossmont.

The Foothillers (1-1) face top-ranked Eastlake at home on Friday at 3 p.m.

HELIX 12, SAN YSIDRO 1 – ZACK OWENS drove in six runs on three hits, including a pair of doubles, and JOSIAH ESTRADA got the win for the county sixth-ranked Highlanders at the Aztec-Foothiller Classic.

ERICK SMELKO drove in three runs, had two hits and scored a run for Helix.

CARLOS OQUITA also drove in a pair of runs for the Highlanders.

Owens drove in a pair of runs with a first-inning single.

Helix scored five in the second as Oquita tripled, Smelko singled and Owens doubled as part of the outburst.

Estrada went three innings, striking out five, while Smelko led the bullpen with two innings of work.

MADISON 8, CHRISTIAN 7 – The Warhawks won on a walk-off hit at the Aztec-Foothiller Classic.

Christian, which held a 7-3 lead in the fourth inning, led 7-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

TRENT NIELSEN singled in two runs in the first inning for CHS for a 2-1 lead.

Nielsen also had a double.

Senior BRAD JEREMIAH drove in two runs with a second-inning double. He also walked three times and scored twice.

CARLSBAD 5, STEELE CANYON 2 – Junior ELI PAGE had a pair of hits and an RBI in the contest for Steele Canyon.

Junior BILLY TELLOUS hit a solo home run for the Cougars (0-2), who travel to face Valley Center on Thursday at 3:15 in the Pirate-Falcon Classic.