Wolf Pack knocking off top tier teams

By Ramon Scott
Updated: February 29, 2020

2020 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

LA MESA – The Grossmont Foothillers scored six runs in the third inning to blow open a 2-0 lead to win at the Aztec-Foothiller Cassic against the visiting Coronado Islanders, 8-0,

Trey Concepcion doubled, had a sac fly, and finished with three RBI.

“I had a good day and was feeling really good but I feel like our offense is starting to come together and often,” Concepcion said. “We’re really gonna beat up on teams. We take a lot of pride in our defense so that will always be a Focus and we’re throwing some good leather to start.”

Evan Vasiliou, a junior, went six innings, scattering five hits while striking out four and walking just one.

“I think my pitching has come a long way since freshman year,” Vasiliou said. “I’m throwing way harder and have good movement on my off-speed.

“The other in our rotation is sophomore Jake Romero, who throws hard. I think our pitching staff is very good and can compete with any other team in the county. We all can locate very well and command the zone.

“The only weakness is that we are young, not having one senior in the pitching staff.

Senior Stephen Frey drove in a pair of runs for Grossmont.

“Really good start to the season,” Grossmont head coach Jordan Abruzzo said. “Vasiliou was outstanding for us this week on the mound. He had a save Monday and a great outing today.

“We have played errorless baseball in three games and continue to take quality at-bats. We just have to try and continue to get better. That’s our focus.”

Anthony Mata had three hits, drove in a run and scored a run.

“Hitting a baseball is a hard thing to do, so as a team we try to simplify at the dish and trust in our abilities,” Mata said. “Our focus is always hitting the ball and that’s what we did as a team. We took quality at-bats and that is the result of playing good baseball as a team.”

Senior Brodie Romero had a hit, a run, and an RBI.

“Danny Yanez, Anthony Mata, and Gio Giganti are gonna have a big offensive year,” Concepcion said.

WEST HILLS 7, WESTVIEW 6 – West Hills sophomore Connor Evans drove in three runs and the Wolf Pack defeated its second Division I team in-a-row on Friday.

West Hills scored four runs in the first inning and led 7-3 after four frames.

Senior Joe Thrailkil had two hits and scored a pair of runs for West Hills.

Senior Andrew Ritayik and junior Kyle Boyns both had a hit and scored a run for the Wolf Pack.

VALHALLA 3, MADISON 2 (8 inn.) – Kyle Casper recorded a steal of home in the top of the eighth inning to provide the go-ahead run in the win over the 12th-ranked Warhawks at the Aztec-Foothiller Classic.

Casper also earned the victory with 1 1/3 innings of relief work.

Joseph Ingrassia allowed one hit and struck out 14 Madison batters in 6 2/3 innings. He also had a pair of hits at the plate.

Senior Luke Clark had two hits, a walk and scored once for 19th-ranked Valhalla.

STEELE CANYON 5, MONTGOMERY 3 – The Cougars won the Aztec-Foothiller game against the visiting Aztecs as junior Sebastian Granados hit a solo home run, doubled, and scored a pair of runs for Steele Canyon.

“I’m just getting my pitches and taking advantage of it,” Granados said.

Granados also dealt two scoreless innings for the save, striking out four.

Senior Jalen Smith had a double and an RBI for the Cougars.

Senior Michael Myers doubled and had two RBI for SC, which gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second.

Cody Landy got the win.

Paolo Medina and Jake Entrekin also had doubles for the Cougs.

EASTLAKE 7, HELIX 4 – In a matchup of the top two teams in the initial county media poll, the defending Open Division champs defeated the second-ranked Highlanders at the Aztec-Foothiller tournament.

Alonzo Richardson hit a solo home run for Helix.

Junior Aiden Perez doubled and drove in three runs for Helix.

Sophomore James Whitman had three hits and scored a run for the Highlanders.

Junior Jack McMann pitched four scoreless innings for Helix in relief.

Eastlake led 7-0 after 5 1/2 innings.

MATER DEI CATHOLIC 5, MONTE VISTA 2 – The Monarchs trailed 4-0 after two innings.

The Monarchs scored twice in the top of the seventh inning.

Abraham Sanchez, a senior, had three hits in the game and drove in the two runs.

Junior Chris Leask had a pair of hits for the Monte Vista Monarchs.

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