Another shutout by Scotties’ Wirschem

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 23, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREPASEBALL

ECS staff report

LA MESA — Helix Highlanders pitcher Leyton Wirschem is now the main staple in two of the Scotties’ three shutouts this season, going five solid innings to blank visiting Steele Canyon, 3-0, to jump back into the Grossmont Hills League pennant race.

Wirschem, who went the first four innings in a no-hitter of San Ysidro earlier this season, this time was joined by two frames from Wyatt Laub to earn the save. Laub earned the win earlier in the week to knock Granite Hills out of first place.

Helix (10-8 overall), by winning to avoid falling back to .500, has allowed two runs or less in nine of its 10 victories. So when the arms of the Scotties are no, opponents better be aware.

The third inning proved to be decisive, as both ballclubs had major opportunistic, but only Helix could push across a run — with some assistance.

Steele Canyon, with two runners on base, elected for a sacrifice bunt y Weston Clark to advance both runners into scoring position.

However with two now down, Helix countered by intentionally walking power-hitting Tommy Molina ad face anybody else in the Cougars batting order. The defensive strategy worked as Wirschem coaxed an infield pop-out to first baseman James Whitman.

On Helix’s turn, the Scotties also elected to bunt,, but with no one down, following a basehit by Anthony Matthiesen , who was moved along on David Blome’s bunt.

Then with two outs, Whitman was walked, with Scotties’ power-hitter Ben Haar due next. Even though the open base was at third, the Cougars elected to pitch to Haar.

The strategy also worked, in theory, as Steele Canyon pitcher Branden Jackel coaxed a ground ball. However, the ball was booted to allow Matthiesen and Whitman to break the scoreless contest. Both runs were unearned.

The only other run came inthe sixth on a two-out rally.

Trevor Young was hit by a 2-1 pitch, Demarae Woods singled to the ledt side, then Gabe Lainer lined an RBI single to left field.against the Cougars bullpen.

Otherwise, Steele Canyon allowed just four total hits to Helix. Scotties pitched yielded just five safeties.

Helix stayed within two games of Santana at 2-2 in GHL play. Steele Canyon fell to 12-9 overall, 1-5 in GHL.

Santana 6, Grossmont 1

FLETCHER HILLS – Santana High senior Koda Alto raised his East County win total to six, yielding just one run on four hits to fuel the Sultans to a 601 triumph over Grossmont in GHL action Thursday (Apr. 21).

Alto, who coaxes a variety of either ground balls or popups, struck out just one Hillers batter, but with just a single walk, kept Grossmont off the bases throughout his complete-game effort.

Alto was given a 2-0 lead before he hit the mound, then it was 5-0 though three innings.

Caleb Harris delivered a two-out triple to score Jayden Agramont (single), with Harris coming home on a wild pitch.

Two innings later, Agramont led off with a homer run to right field to make it 3-0. The blast also started a string of four straight hits, continued by freshman Cody Cappelletti (double), Harris (single), and and catcher Landon Bailey (RBI single). Later, a slow ground ball by Zander Allen-Fox allowed Harris to score for a 5-run cushion.

Santana’s leadoff batters continued Grossmont’s troubles in the fifth. A lead double by was followed bya run-scoring basehit by Elijah Reber.

Grossmont snapped Alto’s shutout bid in the sixth, when catcher Joaquin Baez bunted his was on base for a lead single, then took three bases to score on a two-down double by designated hitter Barron Zamora.

Santana (15-3 overall) are in first place at 4-0. Grossmont (7-12-1) remained tied with Granite Hills in GHL play.