Knights fall one short; Pack clinch

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: May 11, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

ECS staff report

ESCONDIDO — Foothills Christian pitchers Seth Gilbody and John Popka combined on a 1-hit shutout, as the Knights clinched second place in the Pacific League by slapping host Orange Glen, 14-0, Tuesday (May 10). The Gilbody-Popka combo missed a perfect game by just one batter.

Gilbody struck out nine Patriots batters without a walk, retiring 11 straight batters before yielding the basehit. Popka then retired all six batters he faced, fanning four batters.

Gilbody carried a no-hitter deep into the fourth inning before Orange Glen senior Ethan Nye grounded a two-out basehit up the middle. But by then, the Knights already held an 11-0 lead, thanks to a 10-run explosion in the second.

Gilbody’s bat also started the 10-run outburst with a lead double, immediately scoring on a basehit by Taylor Casey.

The first nine runs were earned. The inning included three doubles — Colby Johnson and Casey in his second at-bat had the others.

Casey, the first baseman, finished with four RBI,while Elijah Morr and Colton White drove in two runs each.

Foothills Christian (14-13 overall, 5-2 league) also saw Dustin “Dusty” Baker collect a double. They will cap the regular season on Thursday for Senior Fay n the back-end of a home-and-home series to cap the regular season, to be held at Mount Miguel.

Orange Glen (2-25, 0-7) lost its 21st consecutive contest following a 2-4 start.

West Hills 17, ECVHS 0
SANTEE — West Hills High officially clinched its out-right league championship in school history after pasting visiting El Cajon Valley, 17-0, Tuesday (May 10) at Wolf Pack Park.

The only previous crown in school history came in 2003, when they tied with Grossmont for the title of the old Grossmont North League. West Hills began varsity baseball in 1990.

West Hills needed the victory to avoid a one-game showdown with second-place El Capitan. They now hold a 2-game lead with one to play, yet still need the bonus win to become the fifth Grossmont Conference school (either league) to post a perfect league record this century.

Eron Drake collected the pitching victory, allowing all three Braves hits over five innings, recording eight strikeouts. Thomas Seebold and Connor Evans added one inning each of no-hit ball.

T.K. Madera finished with four RBI, while Bryce Smith drove in three.

West Hills (19-7-1 overall, 90 GVL) saw Evans, the center fielder, bat 3-for-5.

El Cajon Valley (4-16-1, 0-9 GVL) received hits from Joesph Johnson and Cosio brothers — Ruben and Chris.

Monte Vista 10, Mount Miguel 2
.SPRING VALLEY — Monte Vista hopes its immediate future is strong thanks to Justyn Stone. The sophomore pitched five solid inning and knocked in three run, leading the Monarchs past visiting Mounty Miguel, 10-2, in Tuesday’s (May 10) Grossmont Valley League contest.

Stone registered an RBI double to cap a 3-run rally in the first inning, then added run-scoring singles in the third and fourth to lead the offense.

On the mound, Stone allowed just four hits with both runs coming unearned. H struck out six Matadors batters over his five innings, then Tyler Lemen and David Rodriguez each pitching one inning of shutout relief.

Leading 4-2, Monte Vista pulled away with six runs in the fourth, as two of the fuirst four batters eached on error.

Monte Vista (10-17 overall, 4-5 GVL) clinch fourth place in league.

Mout Miguel (5-22, 1-8 GVL) saw left fielder Paul Maxwell bat 2-for-3 with a walk, reaching base on all three of his trips to the plate.

El Capitan 4, Valhalla 1
NO GAME REPORT RECEIVED
LAKESIDE — The El Capitan Vaquero defeated the Valhalla Norsemen, 4-1, in Tuesday’s (May 10) Grossmont Valley League contest at Hostetler Field.

The victory gives El Cap no worse than second-place finish in the GVL.

El Capitan (16-11 overall, 7-2 GVL)is assured a wining record for the second styraighht season following four sub-.500 season (pandemic year not included).

Valhalla dropped to 12-15, (6-3 GVL).