Eagles, Foothillers remain on GHL path

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 25, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

Compiled by Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

Grossmont Hills League

Grossmont 5, Helix 2

LA MESA – The Grossmont Foothillers, at least for one ballgame, avoided the look-ahead scenario by downing rival Helix,7-2, in Thursday’s (Apr. 25) contest.

Trailing 1-0, the Hillers tallied four times in the fourth inning to garner the keap for keeps.

The ballclub’s play against on Saturday, then Grossmont — avoding an upset by the Scotties — will play at Granite Hills on Apr. 30 for Grossmont Hills League champiuonship against the two-time defending titlists.

The Hillers attack included a solo home run by Brandon Hermosillo, his second of the season, while Caidan Lindsay posted a two-run double in gthe decisive fourth.

Winning pitcher Cody White yield one earned run on five hits over 5.2 innings, striking out nine Scotties batters.

The Grossmont bullpen, which had its shutout streak snapped by Santanaearlier in the week, responded well in bounce-back fashion. Aidan Dilgard retired all four batters he faced to garner the save.

Third-place Helix (10-11, 4-3 GHL) now rests two full games both behind second place, and two full games ahead of fourth place, needing big-time assistance to move.

Granite Hills 7, Santana 0

EL CAJON – Granite Hills pitcher Chandler Henry, in his first action in exactly a month, looked as good as ever.

Without pushing himeself, Henry lasted 4.1 innings by allowing just one hit in the Eag;es’ touchdown victory over visiting Santana, 7-0, in the first of three meetings in this series of Grossmont Hills League co-championsfrom 2023.

Henry struck out five Sultans batters, then Rowan Haynes entered to mop up, pitching no-hit ball over the final 2.2 frames to share the shutout in gaining the save.

Granite Hills (15-4 overall) scored four times in the secodn inning to tuck away the victory early.

At the top of the Eagles batting order, Jordan Mansfield singled and walked, scoring both times. The RBI leader was Brenden Lewis with two.

Pending any upsets, the GHL title could be determines on Tuesday (Apr. 30) when the Eagles host Grossmont, starting at 4 p.m. Each ballclub is tied in the loss column after splitting the league opening series.

Santana (4-17) is hoping to avoid its poorest season since 2011 (6-18-1).

Western League

St. Augustine 8, Christian 6

KEARNY MESA – In a duel for second place in the Western League, St. Augustine snapped its deadlock with Christian by rallying from a 3-0 deificit to claim an 8-6 verdictr over the Patriots, 8-6, at Hickman Field.

Christian was in good shape by leading 3-0 after the first half-inning, but the Saints answered with a three-spot, then also scored over the next three frames to mount a safety margin.

For th Saints, Mikey Ruiz posted three RBI on two hits including a double. 7 Shane Miranda added a two-run double.

Patriots catcher Xavier Farnum smacked his fifth home run of the season. The solo shot was one of his two runs scored.

Jeremiah Morgan batted 2-for-3 — both doubles — good for three RBI. Both are career highs.

St. Augsutine (18-4 overall) moved into a tie for second qwith Cathedral Catholic at 3-2, one full game behind Point Loma, which owns a soccer-like league markof 3-0-2.

Christian (10-11) sits oe game behind the Saints and Dons at 2-3 in league.

Small Schools

Foothills Christian 14, Pacific Ridge 7

LAKESIDE – Foothills Christian senior Andrew Burke drilled a pair of doubles for three runs, helping the Knights win their third straght overall by completing a two-game series sweep of the Pacific Rodge Firebirds, 14-7, at Matt LaChappa Field.

Burke batted 3-for-4 to push his season average over the ,300 plateau. It was Burke’s second 3-hit outing for the week.

Meanwhile, eremy Saucedo and Josh Howard also collected three RBI each.

Trailing 1-0 in the first, the Knights answered with two runs for the lead, then crushed the Firebirds with eight additional markers in the second for a 10-1 cushion.

Foothills Christian (15-9 overall) matched a seaso-high in wins for the third time in recent years, in search of topping a 20-12 mark from 2018.

The Knights remain a half-agem ahead of Coastal Academy for second plce in the Pacific League.

Mountain Empire 15, St. Joseph 3

SAN MARCOS – The front-running Mountain Empire RedHawks captured their seventh straight contest, surving a long roadtrip to San Dieo’s North County to crush the St. Joseph Hawks.

The Empire (10-2 overall),which earlier dumped SJA 22-2 in March, move to 4-0 in the Summit League.

No individual statistics were reported.