‘X’ displays ‘Pop’ in Patriots triumph; Eagles’ Sos hits GWHR

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 10, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

EL CAJON – Thanks to an impressive throwing arm, indeed “X” marks the spot.

“Yes, we call him ‘X’ all the time,” said Christian High head coach Mike Mitchell. “He has a trendiness arm and is catching uo to everyone else on the team.”

The ‘X’ belongs to Patriots junior catcher Xavier Farnum, who owns an arm already noteworthy among college baseball scouts, including an offer from San Diego State.

“Over the summer, ‘X’ participated at the U.S. Baseball showcase in Arizona,” said Mitchell. “Among all the players aged 16-and-under, he had the No. 1 pop time.”

Pop time?

“It’s the from when the pitcher hits your glove with the ball until the time you throw it and the ball hits the secod baseman’s glove.”

Anyone with a time under two seconds raises eyebrows, but when Farnum officially clocked in at 1.94 seconds — the best time of the workouts among players in his Junior Olympics age group — the gathering of baseball talent evaluators collectively stopped talking to more closely observe the talented performer.

Even better, Farnum’s upside potential has further to grow.

“He’s just now hitting his stride,” the coach added. ‘X’ was dinged up much of last season, but now he’s starting to really hit the all.”

Thus, Farnum has been encouraged to not sign and await for additional offers — be it collegiate or pro ball.

Another Christian product who is also slightly behind the curve — yet quickly gaining ground — is corner outfielder Nate Cena.

“Nate did not participate in winter ball because he was wrestling — he was the CIF champion in his division,” said Mitchell about the San Diego Section champion at 172 pounds.; Patriots teammate Landon Bedsole also claimed an individual crown at 115 pounds.

Cena’s absence from winter ball has hardly slowed the senior. On Thursday (Mar. 9), his two hits for key for a 5-1 victory over Francis Parker in the St. Augustine Tournament action.

“People think Nate is just a regular guy, but he’s now hitting his stride, too.”

Cena provided what proved to be the game-deciding hit, singling in the first two runs of the fifth inning,when but Christian scored four times to break the contest open. Cena’s liner to center with the bases loaded brought home Farnum (single) and Hunter Kaul (walk)

Meanwhile, Patriots pitcher Ashton McCurty collected his second victory of the season. He tossed six innings of shutout ball, yielding four four hits to the Lancers.

A key to the shutout was shutting down Parker leadoff batter Trey Gudoy, who went just 1-for-5 at the plate.

“This kid’s special — he hits line drives , every, single, time,” said Mitchell, emphasizing each of his final four words. “Gudoy is one of the best hitters in San Diego and has already committed to UCLA as a freshman.”

In addition, Parker features a superior athlete in Chris Williams, a football commit to Army.

The Lancers (2-2) avoid the shutout when Adam Vandenburgh (2-for-3) scored on a two-out pinch-ht by David Zambelli.

Christian (3-1) opens a string of four games against South Bay comeititn, playing at Bonita Vista on Monday at 3:30 p.m.

Granite Hills 5, Poway 3

Camden Sos

EL CAJON – The Poway Titans held leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, ut the Granite Hills Eagles continued to grind. And when their opportunity came to the forefront, senior shortstop Camden Sos delivered with a massive 3-run bomb to left field, powering the unbeaten Eagles to a 5-3 thumpion of the Titans in Thursday’s Hilltop-Lolita’s Tournament nail-biter.

In a contest when not everything went smoothly for the defending CIF Open Division finalists, Granite Hills came off the deck towin when one silly Poway error turned the momentum and allowed the hosts too post three go-ahead runs in the sixth inning.

The decisive rally saw Trevor Smith foul off a pair of pitches before accepting a one-out walk, followed by a Brenden Lewis basehit, which was misplayed in right field to place both runners into scoring position.

The mistake between the second baseman and outfielder \was the opening needed by the Eagles.

Like Smith, Sps fouled off a pair of pitches before before sending his shot beyond the barrier in left for the ballclub’s first lead.

With his first homer of the season, Sos, the clean-up hitter, is now batting .462 in the early going.

Lewis then took the mound to close. The sophomore allowed a single, but struck out the other three Titans batters to register the save.

The Eagles remain undefeated 4-0, giving head coach James Davis, the 2014 Cal-Hi Sports State Coach of the Year, career win No. 432.

Scoreboard

Christian 5, Francis W. Parker 1
Granite Hills 5, Poway 3
La Costa Canyon 5, Santana 3
SD-Southwest 7, Mount Miguel 3
The Bishop’s 8, Ramona 1
Bonsall at Mountain Empire