Matadors win at home; Patriots rock

SPRING VALLEY —- Which team holds the home-field advantage when Foothills Christian meets Mount Miguel in baseball? Both ballclubs share the same diamond, eith the “visiting” Knights dominating in two previous meetings.

How quickly things can change.

Mount Miguel tallied for its runs in the third inning, then made them stand up in Monday’s (May 3) triumph over Foothills Christian, 4-2, in the teams’ third-and-final non-league meeting of the regular season.

Foothills Christian already posted victories of 20-1 and 4-0, not giving up an earned run in the process. So, the Matadors went with their senior aces to avoid a hat trick.

Thomas Ringer fired four innings of three-hit ball for the victory, which was saved by Eddie Delgado with just two hits allowed over the final three frames, leading Mount Miguel over Foothills Christian, 4-2, in Monday’s (May 3) non-league contest.

Ringer, who ranks second in the Grossmont Valley League in earned-run average (1.52, behind only Dean Landers of Santana)  registered six strikeouts

Conversely, Knights pitcher Seth Gilbody also posted six strikeouts in his complete game, but a pair of errors contributed to the only inning Mount Miguel scored.

Four straight hits opened the scoring, including book-end doubles from Daniel Landry and Johnathan Trader. to make it 3-0. A pair of defensive miscues also allowed runners to take extra bases.

Foothills Christian avoided the shutout on a bases-loaded, double play in the fourth, then was handed a chance to get even in the seventh. Cameron Nicks was hit by a pitch, took third base on a Kip Famolaro base hit, then was allowed to score on a Colby Johnson grounder to the right side for the RBI.

However, Delgado crowned the victory by fielding a comeback for the final out.

For Mount Miguel (6-11 overall), Jeremiah Castillo and Darian Garcia each had two hits among seven by the Matadors.

“Coach (Frank Coit) will always be happy with a win,” Castillo said. “(Gilbody) is a really solid pitcher but I was just jumping on the fastball and making solid contact. My idea was to just put the ball in play.”

Foothills Christian (9-8), which received two hits and a stolen base from Famolaro, has dropped five straight following a 9-3 start to the season.

Christian 22, San Diego 0

SAN DIEGO – Christian High’s leadoff man Shane Bailey went 5-for-5 with five RBI and four runs scored as the top four in the Patriots’ lineup went 14-for-20 in the rout of the Cavers.

In addition to Bailey, No. 2-hitter Vaughn Major drove in four runs, No. 3 batter Xavier Farnum had three hits and drove in three, and cleanup man Eric Markowicz had four hits, drove in three, and scored three times.

“The bats were hot,” Bailey said. “Markowicz was smoking the ball to the opposite field. It was a great performance by the team.”

The Patriots did all this damage, and more, with 19 hits – 17 of them for singles.

“Shane and I had a first-pitch approach,” Markowicz said. “Feels really good to come back and win in this fashion.”

Not to be overlooked as the Christian pitching, which allowed just one hit and struck out 12, led by starter Major, who went five innings, allowing the lone hit, while K-ing nine.

“The slider was working very well today with many swings and misses, as well as, thrown for strikes,” Major said. “I had good command of my fastball and let them know I had my curve, as well. My pitch count was low and I was getting better as the game went on.”

Nate Cena K’d a pair in his inning of work for CHS.

Christian High scored six runs in each of the first two innings.

“We’re going to come back and beat San Diego again this week then La Jolla after that,” Bailey said. “Next week is going to be different than last time we played the Vikings.”

Hunter Kaul drove in two runs and scored three times.

Josh Meekins drove in a pair of runs, garnering two hits on the day.

“Our offense has been good and needs to stay strong,” Major said.

Patrick Henry 13, Clairemont 1

DEL CERRO —- Moments after Patrick Henry first baseman Ron Ellis accepted a bases-loaded walk to open the scoring, third baseman Brady Hull registered a hat trick with a 3-run triple, as the Patriots tallied five times in the first inning to rout visiting Clairemont, 13-1, in Eastern League action on Monday (May 3).

The early rampage made life easy for Pats pitcher Dylan Dyresen, who struck out  10 Chieftains batters over six innings to gain the victory. He opened the contest by retiring the first eight batters he faced before the No. 9 Clairemont batter reach on an error.

Reliever Carson Dudley recorded three grounders for outs in the seventh, moving Henry (9-7 overall, 1-1 EL) into a four-way tie for second place during the opening weekend of the league slate.

Patrick Henry shortstop Max Shabestari was the only player for either ballclub to register multiple hits. The Pats only had nine hits but were aided by a half-dozen walks.

Patrick Henry (9-7 overall, 1-1 EL) can take the league-opening series when they return to Clairemont on Wednesday at 4 p.m. They curently sit a half-game behind front-running Coronado, which dropped University City.

Clairemont (6-9, 1-1 EL) avoided the shutout on a two-out base hit by pinch-hitter Davis Burns in the sixth.