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Nielsens’ ratings are through the roof
- Updated: April 9, 2018
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
EL CAJON – The ratings are in and the Madison Warhawks became the latest local high school baseball game to get Nielsen’d on Monday afternoon.
Christian High senior GARRET NIELSEN drew a bases-loaded walk with no outs in the bottom of the tenth inning, giving the Patriots a 3-2 victory over the county’s 12th-ranked team to open the Western League season.
“We tried everything in our power to lose that game today, but sometimes the baseball gods smile on you,” Christian High head coach MIKE MITCHELL said. “High school baseball can be a crazy game.”
.The win was the Patriots’ sixth straight, including a walk-off grand slam home run in the previous game against Valhalla by freshman TRENT NIELSEN.
“I felt the team didn’t give up,” Garret Nielsen said. “A couple guys got frustrated with a couple plays, but I am super happy with the team. We are a scrappy team and have played that way to earn those six (consecutive) wins.”
The Nielsen duo is hitting around .385 each and they have combined for five home runs and 20 RBI this season.
“(My) brother had been playing well and I am so proud of him,” Garret Nielsen said. “He’s always been a great hitter and now he is proving to be a great competitor, too.”
The Patriots’ OWEN EASLEY led off the bottom of the tenth with a walk and advanced to third on back-to-back errors.
Garret Nielsen worked a full-court after taking strike two, but the ensuing pitch was a fastball too far down and away, finally forcing an end to the marathon.
“As for the walk-off, it was wasn’t exciting but got the job done,” Garret Nielsen said. “All day I was just missing the ball and the last AB just made me feel good.”
A scoreless game through four, Madison scored single markers in the fifth and seventh inning to take a 2-0 lead.Christian High tied the game with two runs in the last of the seventh.
Christian High tied the game with two runs in the last of the seventh.
Trent Nielsen led off with a walk, then JAKOB BECK reached on an infield single and ALEX MARKOWICZ walked to load the bases with no outs.
Easley drew a bases-loaded walk for the first run and a double-play grounder tied the contest.
Markowicz started the game and lasted six innings, allowing two runs while striking out seven.
“My defense helped a lot making the routine plays,” Markowicz said. “My slider was definitely working, just set it up with changeups and fastballs. Great team win coming into league.”
TRACE RAMOS threw four innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits, to get the win.
“Alex Markowicz really battled today,” Mitchell said. “He matched a really good pitcher pitch-for-pitch. Trace Ramos came in big in relief for us.”
Mitchell is proud of his team battling back from a rough start in the win-loss column, though the Patriots’ confidence never seemed to waver.
In particular, the coach that recently surpassed 500 coaching victories, pointed to the young talent on the squad. Always something that keeps a veteran mentor interested in the future.
“Other than our seniors, our catcher CONNOR OHTON, Markowicz, and Ramos are all sophomores that are all making a big impact. Trent Nielsen is one of the best freshmen in the county.”
Trent Nielsen is nearly a carbon copy of his older brother statistically so far this season, but the younger Nielsen has been more responsible for driving in runs, while the veteran is one of the county’s top run scorers.
“All the hard work I’ve done is showing on the field, but I still have to keep on improving as a player and stay humble,” Trent Nielsen said. “I thank my coaches for being supportive and my older brother for showing me how to do it and helping me persuade a career past the high school level.”
The freshman Nielsen had a hit and drew a walk in the win over Madison (8-7), a team that has appeared in the county top ten this season.
“The extra innings were tough but we knew we had it in us to pull through and come out with the win,” Trent Nielsen said.
It doesn’t get any easier this week for the Patriots to open the Western League, as they will travel to face No. 5 Cathedral Catholic on Wednesday at 3:30.
The Dons (9-5) won their league opener, 2-0, over Scripps Ranch on the road on Monday.
