Good Knight, now; Griffins topple City

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 2, 2024

2024 GROSSMONT COLLEGE BASEBALL

ECS staff report

FLETCHER HILLS – The first week of Pacific Coast AthleticConference play, which started poorly, turned out to be quite refreshing when the Grossmont Griffins beat the rain to defeat San Diego City College, 8-6, Friday (Mar. 1) at Noel Mickelson Field.

The victory gave the Griffins a series split, leaving them just one game out of first place. The leaders are Palomar, a Top 10 program in California, and Southwestern, which swept a pair from lowly Imperial Valley. Thus, the G-House feels good as the best among the rest in early PCAC play.

San Diego City did score in six of its nine at-bats, but all were just single runs off an improving Griffins pitching staff.

Meanwhile, the Grossmont offense placed “crooked” numbers on the scoreboard three times, including three in the first inning to give them the lead for the rest of the afternoon.

The contest was moved up 24 hours in anticipation of a possible Saturday rain-out.

After City scored an unearned run in the first, Grossmont immediately bounded back with the first three batters reaching base.

Nevan Noonan walked, M.J. Sweeney singled, then Grossmont quickly tied it on a line single by Jacob Embleton.

Two outs later, Juan Nunez deliver a 2-run single, which turned out to be the game-winning hit.

Grossmont also scored twice in the third and seventh innings.

The first came on a pair of ground outs to the right side to score runners from third base.

Later, after City movef to within 7-5, Hayden Tregidga slugged a 2-run homer.

Grossmont’s Sebastian Granados earned the save with 4 innings of soid relief.

The Griffins (7-8 overall) return home Tuesday (Mar. 5) in a two-game, home-and-home series with Palomar.