Lions: GHL bats are Missing-In-Action

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 13, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

ECS staff report

KEARNY MESA — In a vase of “Could you imagine this?,”East County’s five schools from the Grossmont Hills League all fell in Tuesday’s (Apr. 12) second pool-play round of the 71st annual Lions Tournament.

And the most far-fetched “imagine” ballgame saw 13 runs scored in a contest that was scoreless through five full innings before host St. Augustine was able to out-last Santana, 7-6 in 9 innings, at Hickman Field.

Following a scoreless duel between the starting pitchers, it wasn’t a factor of turning the page, both teams elected to completely change books (Parents: please explain to your youngsters what a book is/was).

The Sultans posted three runs in the sixth and seventh innings. St. Augustine countered with two in the sixth and four in the bottom of the seventh to delay dinner another hour before finally winning two frames later.

Santana (13-3 overall) saw its 8-game winning streak snapped, that previous loss coming against defending CIF San Diego Section Open Division champion Eastlake.

St. Augustine (11-4-2) snapped a 3-game losing streak, which included a pair of league contests to Scripps Ranch, then an 8-3 Lions loss to La Costa Canyon..

LCC next plays at Santana on Wednesday to complete pool play, so a Sultans could forge a 3-way tie for the pool title with a victory to advance to Thursday’s flight championship.

For the Saints, Franklin Carney led with three RBI, and scored the game-winning run.

Individual information on Santana was not report.

Cathedral Catholic 4, Helix 3 (8 inn.)
CARMEL HIGHLANDS — The Helix Highlanders went to San Diego County’s “highlands” area east of Del Mar, but fell to Cathedral Catholic, 4-3 in 8 innings to the host Dons.

Converse to the Santana ballgame, all of the runs in this one were scored inthe first two innings before “Uni” finally won on an unearned run.

With the sun setting with heavy glare from coastal clouds, Stevie Castillo landed at third base on a single and a two-base error.

On the next pitch, Anthony Perritano also singled home the walk-off winner. All four Dons runs were unearned,

A trio of Helix pitchers — Trevor Morgan, Armando Nuanez and Leyton Wirschem — each fired two innings, allowing fjrst four hits and no earned runs.

Meanwhile, Cathedral Catholic pitchers combined for a 2-hitter. Starter Jack McWilliams allowed just one earned run, then Dylan Murphy gained the victory with four frames of no-hit relief.

The Scotties saw Ben Haar being handed a two-out walk in the first, but Wyatt Laub followed with a double, with Haar scoring on an infield error on a ball hit by Gabe Lainer for a 2-0 lead.

An inning later, Helix scored an earned run following a one-out walk to Cameron Tarling, who stole second base, then scored on a basehit by James Whitman.

The Dons got even on an RBI double by first baseman Johnny Rocco, followed by an error.

Helix (7-7 overall), hasn’t won an extra-inning game since 2019, owns just three hits through a pair of Lions outings.

Cathedral Catholic (8-8) next plays Rancho Bernardo,with a Borncos win (and a Helix win) forging a three-way tie for the pool title, leaving tie-breakerrs to determine the ballclub which advances to the flight title game.

Del Norte 3, Steele Canyon 2
RANCHO SAN DIEGO — Del Norte Nighthawks pitcher Chris DiPrim came within one batter of a complete game before the pitch count caught him, but teammate Gavin Cook came in to register the final out in a 1-hitter over Steele Canyon.

Del Norte broke a 1-1 contest with two runs in the third inning, Senior Kyle Becker delivered a 2-run double to snap the deadlock.

Steele Canyon (10-7 overall) received its lone hit from catcher Tommy Molina. The senior opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first, then

Del Norte (13-3) saw K Becker hit an RBI double for a 3-1 lead in the third.

Poway 3, Grossmont 1
POWAY — The Poway Titans tallied twice in their first trip to the plate, then rode the arm of Ryan Kroepel to stop visiting Grossmont on a 3-hitter.

Kroepel struck out five Highlanders batters in his complete-game effort.

How fast did Poway score? How about the very first pitch, knocked out f the park by Nick Cook. An error made it 2-0.

Both clubs exchanged runs in the fourth.

Koepel’s shutout bid was ruined as a pair of walks were sandwiched around an error, allowing the Hillers’ Barron Zamora to score.

The Titans got the run immediately back on a pair of walks, a double-steal and a ground ball intentionally hit to the right side of the infield by Everett Wisdom.

Poway (8-8) next meets San Marcos (13-1-1) for the pool title and a berth in the final. Grossmont falls to 6-10-1.

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Torrey Pines 3, Granite Hills 1
CARMEL HIGHLANDS — Except for one game, there was a common theme among GHL ballclubs on Tuesday: giving up runs in the first inning.

In this case, Torrey Pines rode two early runs to a 3-1 verdict over visiting Granite Hills.

Falcons pitcher Grayson Bonanno hurled a 3-hitter, striking out five Eagles batters although he walked four.

The early difference came on defense. After Torrey Pines ended the first inning with a double play, the Eagles opened the home-half of the inning on an error.

Two outs later, center field er and cleanup batter Ryan Flather pumped a two-run homer to left, the lone mistake by Eagles pittcher Chandler Henry.

In fact, Henry did not allowed an earned run in his complete-game, 5-hitter.

The lone Granite Hills (13-3 overall) run saw Brenden Lewis accept a two-out walk inthe second, scoring on an error.

Sage Creek needs to beat Torrey Pines (12-4)in Wednesday to give the Eagles a shot at a tie=breaker to advance pout of the pool.