Grossmont ‘pen stops Southwestern

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 10, 2024

2024 GROSSMONT COLLEGE BASEBALL

ECS staff report

CHULA VISTA – Another standout performance by the Grossmont College pitching staff moved the Griffins back into the race for second place in the Pacific Coast Athlwetic Conference after dowqning host Southwestern 5-3, Saturday (Nar. 9) on the field formerly known as Apache Junction.

The contest was again moved from Grossmont’s Noel Mickelson Field as recover efforts continue following recent raqins.

Grossmont starting pitcher Zander Fox yieleded just a single earned run over 5.1 innings to stop the Jaguars.

Despite a season-long ERA of over six, Fox, a left-hander out of West Hills HS, lowered his ERA to 3.86 in conference games only, continuing to display progress in the season.

However, the Griffins bullpen did even better to prevent a Southwestern comeback.

A trio of relievers — Edward Garvey, winning pitcher Jack Baker, and the save by Marland Jorgensen — fired 3.2 innings of no-hit ball to lock the victory.

Jorgensen was particularily impressive with two full frames of standout pitching, facing just seven batters. The lone blemish was a hit batter with two out in the 8th inning.

Meanwhile, Grossmont’s offense snapped a 3-all deadlock with two runs in the eighth, set up when Nevan Noonan drilled a leadoff double, so M.J. Sweeney was hit by a picth (rather than a walk) to set-up a double play situation.

Instead, Griffins No. 3 batter Jacob Embleton surprised Southwestern with a sacrifice bunt, so cleanup batter Hayden Tregidga was intentionally walked to load the bases with one down.

The Jaguars strategy back-fired when the Griffins’ Juan Nunez grounded out to shortstop, as the ball went to first base instead of the plate. Noonan scored for a 4-3 lead.

The upset Jags pitcher then fired a wild pitch when facing Sebastian Granados to allow a second run in Sweeney to score.

Grossmont moed into a tie with San Diego Mesa into fourth place, but the early standings are misleading. Both ballclubs lost to a state Top 10 squad in Palomar, while the two schools tied for second place have not. Thus, most observors believe the Griffins and Olympians are actually tied for second place and a berth in the state playoffs.

Grossmont and Southwest meet on Tuesday (Mar. 12) at 2 p.n. The site has yet to be officially determined, tentatively marked at Grossmont.