Central League: New home of the Braves?

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 18, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS staff writer

EL CERRITO — There was a time not so long ago when the Grossmont Conference considered allowing El Cajon Valley to join the City Conference, more specifically, the Central League, a circuit of schools which often lack the resources — both on and off campus — for player development.

Instead, with the advent of the CIF power index, ECVHS often plays these schools in non-league contests to greater equalize the chances for success by either club.

If the Braves were members of the Central League this season, you might have to consider them co-league champions.

On Thursday (Mar. 17), El Cajon Valley ran their record to 2-0-1 against Central opposition by boat-racing host Will C. Crawford High, 14-1, at “The Corral.”

Sixty years ago under legendary coach Bill Sandback, Crawford was a multiple CIF-San Diego Section titlist, covering all divisions and of baseball and not some current-style lower divisions — the Colts were the best of the best.

However, it’s now the Braves turn to contend for the present-day Division V title. Their lone blemish against the Central was a wild 14-14 draw with Kearny. The Komets of General S.W. Kearny (3-3-1 overall) own the best mark among Central schools.

Should the story-line hold, the Braves and Komets could be on course to meet once more when playoff time arrives in May.

Against Crawford, the Braves quickly trailed 1-0, then ran off 14 unanswered runs, starting with a 5-spot in the third inning.

The support was more than plenty for Braves pitcher Alvaro Alvarado in his complete-game, 6-inning effort bwfore the ballgame was called. He allowed just five hits and struck out nine Colts batters.

The offense was spurred by catcher Ruben Cosio, who equaled a school mark with three doubles — just one shy of the East County record. For the contest, he went 3-for-3 with a walk, one RBI and scored three times.

Rikki Ortiz and Eduarado Cazarez also knocked in two runs, giving the center trio of the ECVHS batting order a nice composite 5-for-8 outing, good for seven RBI.

There was a time those numbers would be read on the opponent’s side of the Braves scorebook.

El Cajon Valley (2-1-1) will complete play in the Bill Dickens Memorial/GMC Tournament on Friday at 3:30 p.m., hostng Sweetwater (5-2) to commence a 4-game homestand.

After meeting the Red Devils, ECVHS will host Calipatria Hornets from Imperial County, the Liberty Charter Lions of Lemon Grove, and the Escondido the Charter White Tigers.

Morse 9, Mount Miguel 5
SKYLINE .— In a see-saw affair, Morse came back from a 3-0 deficit to secure a 4-3 lead. But when Mount Miguel got even in the fifth inning, the Tigers immediately answered with a 5-run rally to slide past the Matadors, 9-5, in a pool play game of the Bill Dickens Memorial/GMC Tournament.

It was also a hit-or-miss game for both defenses, which each turned an early double play yet committed multiple errors per side.

Mount Miguel stepped off the bus and immediately scored three times after two were down in the first. Consecutive RBI hits came from Castillo, .Joseph Ortega (double) and Eric Sandoval.

However, the club would record just four more hits off Morse pitchers Edwin Alba and Vicente Mora.

Tied at 4-all, the Tigers grabbed the lead for keeps on a line double to left by Marcus Gonzales , scoring Alex Leyva (lead single).

Morse followed with a pair of walks, then a Tim Nelson basehit to blow it open after arms from the bullpen became a hit weary.

“We only gave up four hits while we got 10 hits, but we committed six errors,” said Matadors coach Frank Coit. :Obviously, the tale of the game: your pitching staff throws a 4-hitter, you should win that game, not give up nine runs.”

“We started off great by scoring three in the first inning, but our defensive wheels fell off.”

For the Matadors, Steve Gulley batted 2-fir-4 with two runs and an RBI.

Leyva, Gonzalez and Nelson posted two hits each for Morse (4-5 overall).

Mount Miguel (4-4) has altered its schedule over the balance of the week. Instead of playing at Hoover on Friday, the Matadors will instead play at Lincoln.

Hoover was forced to forfeit its Thursday contest with Hilltop and may drop the sport for the rest of the current season due to a lack of ballplayers.

Meanwhile, Lincoln fell at home on Thursday (Mar. 17) to El Capitan, 15-7

Elsewhere
El Capitan 15, at Lincoln 7
No report was received from the Vaqueros (4-5) on downing the winless Hornets (0-6).