Wipe-out Wednesday wins arrive early

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 9, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

Compiled by Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

EL CAJON – The chances of any lower echlon ballclub raking a ride to challenge for a league title webt completely sideways on Tuesday (Apr. 9), as the preseason favorites al dominated to comfortable victories.

Grossmont Hills League

Granite Hills 12, Steele Canyon 0

At Rancho San Diego – Eagles starting pitcher Brenden Lewis gained a share of the East County lead in victories by firing 2-hit ball over six innings to overwhelm host Steele Canyon.

Lewis struck out six Cougars to collect his fifth win of the season, equalling the mark by surpring co-leader Christopher Cosio of El Cajon Valley.

Brenden Lewis

Meanwhile, Lewis extended his leadership in earned run average to a crystal 0.77 mark.

Speaking of leaders, Jake Gaeir — his uncle is the principal at Mount Miguel — now shared the GHL lead in home runs.

Gaeir smacked his third bomb of the season, moving even with Helix catcher Gabe Lanier.

Gaeir also finished with tqo RBI for the contest, as did Phillips Jones, but Trevor Smith was the team leader by driving in three runs.

Smith finished with three hits and scored twp times. Also crossing the plate two times were 2 Anthony Miotti and
Noah Figuered (2 SBs).

Granite Hills (11-4 overall, 2-1 GHL) is now tied for first place — via games behind — with Helix.

Steele Canyon did(4-13, 0-3 GHL) not report its three hits.

Helix 7, at Santana 3

At Santee – The winner of this ballgame would share first place with Granite Hills, as Helix made its league debut by humping to a 5-09 advantage to take down host antana.

The Scotties (7-8 overall, 1-0 GHL) share the top spot via games begibdm but the leader by percentage are the Highlanders.

While Helix pitcher Lincoln Wirschem allowed just one until deep into the fifth inning, gs, the offense saw ntoin Simpson belt a solo home run.

In addition, Gehrig Syms supplied two hits inckuding a double, while oJo Aguon added two hits and a pair of RBI.

The contest became a bit sloppy late, as Santana’s runs were aided by six walks and a pair of wild pitches.

The lone Sultans bright spot was a long homer by Phillip Phillips.

Grossmont Valley League

Valhalla 16, at Mount Miguel 1 (5 inn.)

At Spring Valley – Mount Miguel tossed in the towel following five innings, giving Norsemen pitcher Colton Stinkeoway a complete-gane triuo after tossing a 3-hitter.

Stinkeoway struck out eight Matadors batters, while the one run allowed was unearned in the third inning after Valhalla mounted a heakthy 10-0 cushion through two frames.

Among the batters, Mace Wheeler belts trile among his two hits, scoring both times and driving home four runs to lead Orange Nation. Stinkeoway added three RBI.

In GVL play, onlt two contests have been playedm with the Norsemen winning both to open a full game lead in the standings.
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Non-League

Monte Vista 12, West Hills 5

At Spring Valley – Monte Vista scored in ther first three innings, but made up for a shutout in the fourth with five markers in the fifth to turn a tight 7-5 contest into a wipe-out of West Hills in Tuesday’s )Apr. 9) GVL contest.

A total of five different Monarchs — Damian Ordaz, Justyn Stone, Jacob Schweizer, Diego Cortez and Caleb Taa Jones — each registered two RBI. Included were two-run doubles from Ordaz and Stone.

Monte Vista (10-4-1) s now 8-2-1 at home, boucing back after watching its 7-0-1 streak at home come to an end.

West Hills fell to 5-10 overall despoite three hits and a pair of RBI by Shane Stevens.

Summit League

Liberty Charter 11, Ocean View Christian 0(5 inn.)

At Alpine – The Liberty Charters Lions, following the lead of ballclubs like Santana and Grossmont, overcame tough times in the preseason to capture their league opever, whipping Ocean View Christian in a Summit stampede at Joan MacQueen Middle School.

Lions pitcher Brody Harris fired a 1-hit wshutout ver his four innings, then reliever Christian Slayton tossed a 1-2-3 in the fifth inning to close-out the landslide win.

Four runs in the first , then six more in the third made it 11-0 to allow the visiting Patriots to resign erly.

Harris also posted twothree RBI and a pair of his, while the Lions’ Jaxon Adrain added a two-run double.

Manzanita League

Borrego Springs 21, Warner 0 (5 inn.)

At Borrego Springs – The Warner Wildcqats surrendered after five innings, not allowing host Borrego Springs to establish a school record.

In the 21st Century, the Rams’ bigest shutout victory is 23-0 against Victory Christian of Chula Vista in March 2016.

Senior pitcher Adrian Marin tossed four frames of 1-hit ball to garner the triumph. Marin struck out eight Wildcats batters, then Mauricio Rodriguez struckout a pair in a 1-2-3 outing to seal the deal.

Borrego Springs (6-5 overall)( moved to 3-0 to led the Manzanita League.

On offense, Brody White and Chris Alcaraz posted three RBI, while four others drove in a pair of runs.