Win/Win situation for Foothills, Borrego

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: May 10, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

ECS staff report

Foothills Christian 2,Borrego Springs 0

LAKESIDE – – Foothills Christian owns the final-weed bye in the Pacific League,yet needed to face an opponent iCIFn preperations for next week’s CIF-San Diego Sections plaoffs.

However, the San Diego City Conference already fills its bye dates with ballclubs from other leagues within the confer In addition, the Metro Conference (South Bay) didn’t seem yto be interested.

By coincidence, Borrego Springs needed games to mee thr CIF minimum for postseason participants, yet wanted to avoid large-division schools since they are only Division 5.

Somehow, these parties got together and closed Friday’s (May 10) final day of the regular season with a contest at Matt LaChappa Fielf.

Both sides got what they wanted in whatAndrew Burke (Sr) turned out to be an interesting affair.

Foothills Christian pitcher Andrew Burke came within one out of a complete game (due to pitch count), firing a 1-hitter to top the Rams, 2-0.

Burke sruck out nine Rams batters without a walk, then Kyler Dickenson registered the final out to garner the save.

The Knights scored singleruns in th first anfd fourthinnings,featuring an RBI double by Burke; the other run scofred on an error.

Foothills Christian (16-12) believes the “extra” game could make a difference in postseasonseedings, which are slated to be released this eekend.

Borrego Springs (14-7), champions in the Manzanita League. also benefitted, facing the type of strong pitching they will see come playoff time.

The game was the first in the series since 2014, when the Knights captred all three meetings by scoring in double-figures each time.

Western League

Patri

Point ck Henry 8, Madison 4

CLAIREMONT MESA – Three innings of scoreless baseball was quickly followed by a 6-run explosion by Patrik Henry in the fourth, eventually mounting an 8-0 cushion to wipe the Madison Warhawks.

ack Giordano smacked an RBI triple for the Patriots, while Preston Conklin posted a pair of run-scoring singles — one in each rally.

Winning pitcher Hamilton Collins went 4.2 innings, only comingh out after the shutout bid ended on an unearned run.

Patrick Henry (21-6-2 overall, 6-3-1 league) finish in second place in the Western League, one-half game behind league champion St. Augustine (7-3), and a half-game ahead of Cathedral Catyholic (6-4).

Point Loma 9, Christian 0

POINT LOMA – In a Western League series finale which meant next-to-nothing for sidwa, both home clubs come out on top on Senior Day.

Christian took a 6-3 decision on Wednesday, then Point Loma utilized the long ball to claim a 9-0 decision Friday (May 10) at Dana Middle School.

The Pointers’ Eli Montgomery smahed a 3-ru homer in the second inning, prt of 5-run rally.

Later, Griffin Ice belted a pair of homers, incuding a 2-run shot in the sxith to put the game away.

Point Loma pitcher Matt Garrison spun a 1-ht shutout through five frames, then came out to save his arm for the playoffs.

In the end, three pitchers combined on a 2-hit shutout. The lone Christian hits were by D.H. Kim and Braeden Casey,