ROUNDUP: No. 1 Helix gets first win

By Ramon Scott
Updated: February 26, 2019

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

LA MESA – Before the Helix Highlanders could get their just-due prior to the start of the 2019 prep baseball season, the Scotties were already handed a suspended game followed by a loss.

Helix, named as the preseason No. 1 team in the local media poll on Monday, got in the win column on by getting a 9-0 shutout win over Mater Dei Catholic later in the day.

Helix junior ALONZO RICHARDSON pitched five innings of one-hit ball with seven strikeouts.

“It was a big bounce-back game,” said Richardson. “I tried to set the tone for the game and for the rest of our season. Hopefully, after this win, we can flip the switch and start doing a lot of damage.”

Senior JUSTIN CERVANTES had two hits and two RBI for the Highlanders.

“We pitched well and swung it much better today,” Helix head coach COLE HOLLAND said.

Richardson, junior NOAH LANE and senior ERIC SMELKO (double) each had two hits and an RBI.

“Coach Holland really wanted us to take the time to focus on each pitch and win each pitch,” catcher Smelko said. “Alonzo Richardson, Carlos Michel, and Jordan Thompson did a great job pitching today. They hit their spots and pitched to contact.

Michel and Thompson both threw one scoreless inning.

“We had really good approaches at the plate and hit the ball in play,” Smelko said. “The rain has affected teams around the county and as Coach Holland said, “we all will get better with more games,'”

The Highlanders were also ranked 25th in the state in the Cal-Hi Sports preseason poll.

VALHALLA 4, SAN YSIDRO 3 – At the Aztec-Foothiller Classic, Valhalla outfielder Trey Henige preserved the victory by taking away a home run in the seventh inning with a great leaping catch just above the top of the fence.

The Norsemen improved to 3-0 as Anthony Young pitched five scoreless innings of relief, allowing five hits and striking out four.

Valhalla starting pitcher Joseph Ingrassia went 2-for-2 with a triple. He also scored twice.

Valhalla’s Riley O’Sullivan had a double and drove in two runs, while Luke Clark drove in a run, as well, with a sacrifice fly in the third inning.

Norsemen junior Ryan Perot drew three walks and scored twice.

San Ysidro scored three runs in the second inning.

MONTE VISTA 7, FALLBROOK 0 – Monarch senior ANDREW SAVOY pitched a complete-game five-hitter, striking out three and walking one to earn Monte Vista’s first victory of the season.

Savoy also drove in a pair of runs with a single to center to cap a three-run third as Monte Vista took a 3-0 lead.

Senior RAMON VARELA also drove in a pair of runs for Monte Vista (1-2).

EASTLAKE 7, GROSSMONT 2 – The Titans won the matchup between two of the top five teams in the county media poll in az Aztec-Foothiller tournament matchup.

Grossmont had had six hits to Eastlake’s three and two of the Foothillers’ hits were home runs.

Max Ford completed his return to the field for the Foothillers as had a home run in the fourth inning, while teammate Justin Brown went deep in the fourth inning.

Eastlake scored five runs in the second inning.

Zak Farris threw four innings in his first varsity appearance on the mound. He allowed just one run.

Brodie Romero went 2-for-3 for Grossmont.

“I think everyone is in the same boat,” Grossmont head coach Jordan Abruzzo said. We’re all trying to knock the rust off.

“We walked 10, hit two guys and had an error. I can tell you one thing, we will never win a game doing that.

“We are going to be fine. I like our club but we have to get better.”

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