ROUNDUP: Three Hillers homer in win

By Ramon Scott
Updated: February 28, 2019

DREW RITIYAK at the plate against Coronado on Wednesday.

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

VISTA – The Fourth-ranked Grossmont Foothillers put its power on dispaly in a 13-0 shutout over Vista in an Aztec-Foothiller Classic game on Wednesday.

Three home runs and a solid pitching effort for the Hillers got them back to .500 (2-2).

“We swung it really well today,” Grossmont head coach JORDAN ABRUZZO said. “That’s the type of team we can be. Our focus just has to be on getting better everyday.”

Seniors MAX FORD, KEONI VALDEZ, and VITO FOWLER had circuit clouts in the blowout.

“The pitcher just threw into my wheelhouse and I was able to drive the baseball,” Fowler said. “I think my team played great and aggressive in response of how the Eastlake game went. We were ready to play the game hard and the car ride was indeed a happy one.”

Valdez had five RBI in the contest. Valdez and Ford hit their home runs back-to-back in the third inning, as the Hillers led 9-0 after the frame.

“It was a lot of fun and we played a great game,” Valde said. “Their pitcher was doing a good job of mixing up pitches but we just came out ready to play. The base running aspect finally came around after all the work and it was just a good job by everyone overall and today was a team win.”

Grossmont scored four in the first without hitting a home run. ZAK FARRIS had an infield single during the rally.

JACK HYDE, Grossmont’s USD-bound senior, pitched five innings, striking out six while allowing three hits for the win.

“My whole mindset was to leave everything out on the mound today and just compete,” Hyde said. “My slider was very effective today, and I really wanted to challenge hitters with my fastball. I established early fastballs for strikes and was able to keep them off balance with the slider, which was my go-to put away pitch. My teammates played great and helped me out of some tight spots, and they gave me all the run support I could ask for.”

VALHALLA 19, SAN DIEGO 2 – LUKE CLARK and AUSTIN SCRIBNER both drove in three runs for Valhalla in an Aztec-Foothiller Classic game against the Cavers on Wednesday (Feb. 27).

Valhalla improved to 4-0 on the young season, as Clark had four hits and Scribner added three hits.

RILEY O’SULLIVAN had two hits, an RBI and a run scored for Valhalla.

NICHOLAS LANCIERS went the distance for the win, striking out seven.

Valhalla scored six in the third to take command but tacked on 10 more in the top of the seventh.

EASTLAKE 9, HELIX 2 – Highlander Jordan Thompson kept up his hot hitting with two hits, including a home run, but the fifth-ranked Tians downed the No. 1-ranked Scotties at the Aztec-Foothiller Classic.

Helix’s Adam Martinez had an RBI groundout, but the Titans led big early.

Helix’s stay atop the rankings will be short-lived. The Highlanders fell to 2-4.

CORONADO 6, WEST HILLS 0 – Along the Silver Strand, a terrific pitchers’ duel was snapped in the 6th inning when the host Islanders scored five times to take Wednesday’s (Feb. 27) Aztec-Foothiller contest from the Wolf Pack.

Coronado remains unbeaten at 3-0-1. West Hills slipped to 1-2.

Islanders senior Dylan Miller, who lost his first game in two seasons last week, bounced back to toss 2-hit shutout ball over six innings. He struck out seven batters. Jon Tessier, another Islanders senior, completed the shutout with a scoreless 7th inning in the combined 4-hitter.

A year ago, both pitchers helped Coronado (25-6) capture the CIFSDS Division III championship.

West Hills starting pitcher Kai Dennis, a junior, nearly matched Miller, going five solid innings and striking out six Island boys. The 4th-inning run allowed was earned.

Among Wolf Pack batters, starting left fielder Gavin Kondyra and catcher Andrew Ritayik both registered base hits to extend their respective hitting streaks.

SOUTHWEST (SD) 5, CHRISTIAN 3 – Senior PEYTON BERROTH had two hits, including a triple, two RBI and scored for the Patriots, but the Raiders won the Sweetwater Invitation game which was postponed by rain from Feb. 21.

Patriot junior CALEB LEONARD allowed a pair of runs over 4 2/3 innings for Christian.

“We played hard with room to improve all around,” said Patriot junior MICHAEL POHLE, who went 2-for-4 in the game. “Between our play against Escondido and our play today, it just came down to not executing at the plate as a team.

“I try to come with the same intensity day in and day out. Keep in mind, we are a young team with a great group of guys that work hard and strive to get better every day.”

LINCOLN 13, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 – Senior Robert Verdugo had the Braves’ only hit of the afternoon.

Verdugo also struck out nine batters over 4 2/3 innings.

EastCountySports.com