EAGLES CONTINUE TO SOAR, DEFEAT BARONS

By David Dickens
Updated: May 24, 2018

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

By Dave Dickens

EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON (5-23-2018) – After defeating the Christian Patriots almost 24 hours earlier, the Bonita Vista Barons traveled to El Cajon to face the 10th ranked Granite Hills Eagles.

The Barons came into the contest ranked 15th. A Division 1 battle, forecasted to be a close one.

Granite decided to spark the offense early as sophomore TK PARKER doubled sharply to left.

Junior SEAN McGREW grounded out, advancing Parker to third base.

Senior TREVOR HAZELHURST hit a sacrifice fly to first, picking up yet another RBI, scoring Parker, 1-0 Eagles.

Bradley Harris lined out, as the next two-and-a-half innings remained scoreless.

Sophomore pitcher CLAY FORDHAM had another flawless performance as a true starter in the spectacular trio of senior TREVOR HAZELHURST, Fordham, and senior JAKE FENN, who would ultimately close the game out after Fordham went 6 innings.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, after a few walks and a couple of fly balls, McGrew on a heads up play, stole home, 2-0 Eagles, heading into the top of the fifth inning.

With Fordham still on the mound, he strikes out one and a batter is hit by a pitch for the Barons, which was the only hiccup for Fordham, as the next two Barons lined out with the score remaining, 2-0, heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.

Heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles decided to turn on the afterburners and put their first postseason appearance of 2018 away.

Granite Hills’ Fenn flies out to right, junior BRIAN SMITH singles on a bunt towards third, TK PARKER walked as Smith advances to second base, a perfect set up, runner on first and second, Mcgrew base hit to left, RBI for McGrew as Smith scores, Parker to second, still only 1 out, 3-0 Eagles.

Parker is thrown out at third base, time for the fireworks Granite fans.

With 2 outs, senior Trevor Hazelhurst crushes a fly ball to right, scoring McGrew also to add yet another RBI to Trevor’s total, the score now reads Granite Hills 5-0 over Bonita Vista (14-16).

“Yeah, their pitchers threw curveball after curveball all game and I knew they were gonna misplace it and eventually they did, so I crushed it,” said Eagles pitcher Hazelhurst.

Eagles pitcher, Fenn, came in to relieve a spectacular performance from starter Fordham, who was pitching a shutout and started to pitch the seventh walking the first batter.

Sophomore ERIC NAKANO doubles to right, GUSTAVO PEREZ advances to third.

In comes a fresh Fenn for the Eagles, with no outs.

On a 1-2 count, Granite catcher, Smith, is unable to block the ball, Bonita Vista’s Perez and Nakano both score on the error, Fenn strikes out the batter at the plate, 1 out, however, the score was now 5-2, Granite Hills (16-11).

Fenn’s only hiccup, a base hit by ALEC BRUCE, and two groundouts, 5-2 final.

“Today I had a really good slider and sinker working,” Fordham said. “They were my two go-to pitches. I really had the motivation to finish what I started, but regardless of a 5-run lead, I did my part to give us a chance to win and Jake coming in to close it out is as reliable as it gets. My team all around backed me up with the bats and especially on the defensive side. That was outstanding today. This gives us the momentum we want rolling deeper into the playoffs. The celebrations are always awesome and we only look to have bigger and better ones as we continue.”

“We were familiar with Santana,” Fordham said. “We’ll just be ready to come out with the same intensity as today and play hard.”

“My fastball is all I needed,” Fenn said. “Clay was doing a great job and thrown an awesome game.”

“Fordham pitched a heck of a game, used all three pitches well,” said Granite Hills skipper JAMES DAVIS. “We got some big hits when it counted. The Bonita Vista pitcher was tough. But we were able to piece it together. “