Monarchs control own destiny in D-4

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: May 18, 2024

202 EAST COUNTY PTRP BASEBALL
CIF-San Diego Section Championships

ECS staff report

SPRING VALLEY – “Elimination Saturday,” covering the first weekend of thr CIF-San Diego Section baseball championships, is usually known for one thing: a lack of pitching resulting in run totals reaching double figures.

However, this pasrticiular seasons, scores were still reasonable, so other ways were needed to survive to advance to Tueday’s winners bracket final.

One thing still remains: if you played (and won) on Saturday, you need two victories (including a “playback final” on Thursday) to p;lay for th section championship.

Division 4

Monte Vista 8, Escondido Charter 4

SPRIG VALLEY – Monte Vista launches its offense early with four runs in the first inning, combining 14 hits into an 8-4 decision over Escondido Charter in the Division 4 challenger bracket final.

The Monarchs inflicted their damage with the bats, all without the aid of an extra-base hit,

Gavin Daley led the hit parade with three, driving in a run each time to finish with three RBI. Included were keys hits in the first, then again in the fifth when Monte Vista scored three times after the White Tigers crawled to within 5-4.

Daley was joined by David Aceron (3 hits) and Reuben Cabugwas (3 hits) by scoring twice.

In addition, Jacob Schweizer added a 2-run basehit.

Monte Vista found its power on the mound, as a trio of arms — all who pitched earlier in the week — combined on a 3-hitter.

Following a 2-inning stint as starter by Schweizer, the victory went to Trevor Gonzales, who rossed three frames of no-hit baseball.

Gonzales was touched for an unearned run due to errors, then Justyn Stone garner the save with two innings of 1-hit ball.

Despite the hit allowed, Stone only faced the minimum number of batters as the Monarchs defense turned a pair of double plays, both involving second baseman Reuben Cabugwas.

For Escondido Charter, Joey Seavello smacked a 2-run single in the second to lead the comeback charge.

Monte Vista, the second-seed, receives two chances at home to get through the tournament’s lower bracket, seeking revenge against the Imperial Tigers.

Top-seeded University City is still aliv in the D-4 upper bracket.

The Monarchs

Division 5-AA

Liberty Charter 9, Borrego Springs 3

BORREGO SPRINGS -Despite the third game in the week for both sides, thus leaving all with limited pitching, Liberty Charter snapped a surprising pitchers’ duel with four rus in the fourth inning to down host Borrego Springs, 8-3, in the Division 5-AA vhsllrnhre bracker final on the edge of the desert.

The Rams, just like Escondido Charter (see above) rallied back to within a run, but the Lions added four additional runs in the seventh to gain a berth to the winners bracket final.

For Liberty Charter, Isaac Anderson and Andruw Godinez both posted a pair of RBI, including a double by Godinez.

Meanwhile, Jaxon Adrain batted 2-for-4 plus a walk, scoring all three times to equal a season high.

Winning pitcher Brody Harris struck out five Rams batters in as many innings. The save went to Jaxon Adrain with a pair of no-hit frames, adding three strike outs.

Borrego Springs completes its successful campaign with a record of 15-9.

Meanwhile, the Lions (10-16) keeps their late-season run going, advancing to the final round of their bracket by needing to twice defeat Calvin Christian (one block north of Escondido High football stadium).

The Lions led the series, 3-1, but this was the first meeting held in the back country.

Division 2

Bonita Vista 3, Helix 2

BONITA – A disappoint postseason run for both teams would end earlier than expected for one of them, as Bonita ista kept its slim Division 2 hopes alive by narrowing eliminating Helix, 3-2, in Saturday’s (May 18) CIF San Diego Section contest.

The Highlanders scored both of their runs in the fifth inning to grab a 2-1 lead. However, the Barons answered with single runs in the fifth and sixth for the comeback win.

The decision avenged Helix’s win in Wednesday’s first day of the double elimination phase of the event.

Bonita Vista (20-10-1), which reached the 20-win plateau for the first time since 2019, received a trio of clutch hits to win.

Providing RBI doubles were Harry Shin, Ismael Castanon and Luis Sosa. Sin’s blow went over the head of the Helix left fielder with two down in the sixth, allowing Luis Cubillas to score the go-ahead run.

Castanon batted 2-for-2 and was hit by a pitch. The Barons also turned a double play.

Helix (14-16) took its lone lead on an RBI single by Jake Hopkins, and a ground ball to the right side by freshman Angel Watkins.

The Highlanders held a series of other chance, gaining fives hits and four walks from Barons starting pitcher Demarco Rojas over 4.2 inninhs.

Thus, the win went to Bonita Vista releiver Landon Wales, who yielded two hits over the final 2.1 frames.

Division 5

Army-Navy df. Mountain Empire, forfeit

BUCKMAN SPRINGS – The Mountain Empire RedHawks was slated to play a home game with Army-Navy Academy, with the victor advancing to the upper bracket final round in the CIFSDS Division 5 baseball championship.