Mount Miguel sends ‘Orphans’ packing

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 9, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS staff writer

SPRING VALLEY — Except for many (not all) tournament championship games, high school baseball games in the county are rarely played on neutral sites.

On Tuesday (Mar. 8), one of those exceptions took place as the “host” Mount Miguel Matadors — the ballgame was held on their ballpark — staved off a late rally to nip the “visiting” Foothills Christian Knights, 7-6, in non-league action.

Mount Miguel leadoff batter Jeremiah Castillo and clean-up batter Matt Acevedo each drove in two runs, then Matadors relief pitcher Daniel Guzman survived an extended stint from out of the bullpen to barely hang on for his first varsity victory.

Foothills Christian, along with several adult leagues, San Diego Christian College and the San Diego Stars summer collegiate program, all lost their home field after the Barona Nation of Kumeyaay Indians closed its facility and banned all non-reservation play for what they called “future development.”

Thus, new home parks were needed for the orphaned ballclubs, with Foothills Christian making an arrangement with Mount Miguel.

So far the Matadors and Knights, it’s been beneficial and highly competitive, with this MMHS victory evening the series at 3-3 since the merger.

For Foothills Christian, it;s a short trek down State Hwy 125 for games instead of 15 miles up the mountain, while Mount Miguel can play a “road” game at home and save money on transportation costs and normal home team expenses like paying for baseballs and umpires (when they on’t split the fees).

Meanwhile, Guzman needed to enter in the fourth inning, when the Knights tallied four times to bounce back from an early 3-0 deficit.

Later, with Guzman,running on fumes, saw Foothills Christian register two runs in the seventh before recording the final out. The junior left-hander only struck out one batter over three innings,then Josh Hollis registered the final out for the save, as the Matadors evened their record to 3-2 overall.

The Matadors early lead saw Acevedo drive in a pair of runs with a single in the first,

An inning later, Cash Morgan doubled home the game-tying run. FCHS (2-4) later loaded the bases, taking the lead when Colby Johnson was struck by a pitch.

Mount Miguel re-claimed the lead with four runs in the sixth.Three singles and a sacrifice fly by Johnathan Trader tied the contest, Castillo then registered game-winning hit with a 2-run double to right field with two outs.,

Johnson double in a run in the seventh, then eventually scored on a Billy Temple basehit before Guzman closed the door..

For the Matadors, J.J. Ortega, Eric Sandoval and Costillo all contributed two basehits.

The Knights also saw two hits from Johnson, who reached base four times (walk, HBP).

SCOREBOARD
Mount Miguel 7, Foothills Christian 6
ECVHS 14, at SD-High Tech 5
El Capitan 10, Hoover 0 (6 inn.)
Scripps Ranch 6, Grossmont 5
Liberty Charter at Coastal Academy