Harbach proves hard to beat: 13-of-13

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 5, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com

MORE TO COME

El Capitan 5, Santa Fe Christian 4

LAKESIDE – El Capitan relied pitcher Landon Harbach fired 4.1 innings of perfect relief, as the Vaqueros scored four times in the fourth innhing to overcome a 4-1 deficit to stop Santa Fe Christian, 5-4, Wednesday (Mar. 5) at Hostetler Field.

Harbach faced 13 batters from the Eagles (formerly the Navigators) and set them all down in one of East County’s top efforts from out of the bullpen in years. Included wre four strikeouts.

Meanwhile, El Capitan (1-1 overall) registered its fund on jutst five baseitss — all singles.

The decisive hits in the fourth was a 2-run single y Dominic Jones. Other RBI were collected by Matt Eckis and Branden Hawkins — both juniors.

Santa Fe Christian (1-1) took an early lead on a 2-run double by standot senior lijah Joseph, who led the Eagles to the Coastal League crown in 2024.

Grossmont 5, Mater Dei Catholic 1

FLETCHER HILLS – Grossmont starting pitcher Luis Camargo (Sr) struck out four Mater Dei Catholic bayyers in as many innings, then the Foothillers bullpen fired three frames of shutout ball to take down the visiting Crusaders, 5-1, Wednesday (Mar. 5) at Gozoni Field.

Sophomore Nate McCance tossed the first two frames in relief for the hold, then junior Sean Chambers first a 1-2-3 beat-downn of MDC in the seventh.

Mater Dei Catholic (1-1) gained its lone run in the third, but Grossmont (2-0) immediatly answered with three tuns, then added two mor ein the fourth to put away the victory.

Max Tufugafale belted a 2-run homer for the Hillers, while. Colton Burke bstted 3-for-4, while players each scored a single run as the entire batting order contributed.

The next Grossmont ballgame is now scheduled for Thurday (Mar. 3) at an early 3 p.m. start at Westview High in Del Sur.

Santana 7, Hilltop 3

SANTEE – Santana sophomore Brennan Weed jump-dtsrted thr Sultsnd eityh s 3-run double to help halt Hilltop, 7-3, on Wednesday (Mar. 5).

Following his first career varsity hit, Weed also scored to cap a 4-run outburst in the second inning.

Other run-scoring hits for the Sultans were recorded by senior TGrevor Eckis, and a pair of frehman: Joseph Dibble and Israel Sanchhez and a line-up that is easily the youngest in the East County.

The expereince favtor was found on the mound.

Senior starting pitcher Nathan Dowers fired five solid innings, then was followed by a pair of juniors.

Dawson DelaCruz went two innings of shutout ball for the hold, then Darren Millers pitched the seventh.

Santana (2-1 overall) can move into the driver’s seat for first place in its pool by topping La Costa Canyon. The game is now slated for Saturday at Santana, starting at 10:30 a.m.

Winless Hilltop (0-3) does not report to the media.

Christian 6, Monte Vista 5

EL CAJON – Following the example of their Southern California champion football team, the Monte Vista Monarchs displayed an attitude of fighting hard to the end, and it almost worked .

On Wednesday, the Monarchs produced three runs in the seventh inning and had the potential game-tying runner in scoring position. However, Christian Patriots pitching survived by finally collecting the final out in a 6-5 decision/

Leading 6-2, the Patriots may have thought this would another easy victory, similar to their win Monday over San Diego, 12-3.

However, the Monarchs ignored theudusl story-line.

With the based loaded, senior Antonio Mccomb slammed a double to clear the bases and move Monte Vista to within a run.

Christian relief pitcher Trae Pheasant, a sophomore, managed to cokplete his three innings by recording the final out for the save.

Patriots starting pitcher R.J. Rook gain the victory, striking out five Monarchs in the first four innings.

The Christian offense saw Lojan Major belt a 2-run triple and scoring twice. Max Villalva, a freshman, also had two hits with a double and scored twice.

Christian moved to 2-0; Monte Vista drops to 0-2.

Patrick Henry 4, Torrey Pines 0

SAN CARLOS – For the Torrey Pines Falcons, the 2024 season is already forgtton.

On Wednesday (Mar. 5), the defending CIF-San Diego Section Open Division titlists were shutout by Patrick Henry pitchers Cody Cappelletti and Brady Gunn.

Cappelletti, who is expected to battle for both San Diego Conference player and pitcher of the year, yielded just two hits (both “light” singles) over five solid innings of work. The senior struck out 6 Falcons abtters.

Gunn then pitcher like his surname, striking all three batters in the sixth fir a stellar save. The final inning was called on darkness due to an in comingstorm was approaching.

On offense,the entire Patrick Henry line-up (8 of the 9) contributed. Four different Patriots scored runs; four others registered RBI.

Torrey Pines pitchers allowed just two hits, but Henry was set-u on three Falcons errors, then two runs scored on ground balls to the right side.

Mountain Empire 7, Warner 0

CAMPO – A rare shutout performance from the back country saw Mountain Empire pitches combind to blank the visiting Warner Wildcats.

Look out – the Redhawks are unbeaten after three starts. The Empire next strikes on Tuesday (Mar. 11) at El Cajon Valley.

Valhalla 8, San Diego HS 6

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – In an ugly ballgame “featuring” six errors, while the pitchers on both sides combined for 20 in wild pitches, walks, and hit batsman, the Valhalla Norsemen four inings to right the ship to stop visiting San Diego HS, 8-6.

The Norsemen trailed at the game’s midway point, then turned things around with a 3-run rally to remain in front for keeps.

The victory was the first on the season for Valhalla (12-1), the defending CIF-San Diego Secgtion Division 3 champions. San Diego is winless following a pair of starts.

For the Orange, the difference maker was Jackson Newman, who batted 2-fir-4, driving in four runs and scoring a marker.

The other Valhalla runs were courtesy of RBI hits by Giacomo Lupo, Tanner Lough ad catcher Mace Wheeler.

The ballgame settled down in Valhalla’s favor when relief itcher Jesse McCormick entered, firing three innings of 1-hit ball by striking out six Cavers batters.

Coronado 12, West Hills 1

Along the SILVER STRAND – The West Hills Wolf Pack started fast witha run in the first inning, but they they sunk in neatby San Diego Harbor in a bad loss to the host Coronado Islanders, 12-1, Wednesday at Silver Strand Elementary School.

The Island Boys tallied six times in the second inning to grab a 7-0 sdvantage.

Kaiden Chambers drove in the lone Wolf Pack run, driving home Carson-Kai Lewis to get things started. However, they managed just one additional hit as pitchers for Coronado (2-0 overall; both against Grossmont district schools) combined on a 3-hitter.

West Hills (1-1) returns to the diamonf Friday, trabeling to University City to meet the defending CIFSDS Division 4 Centurions for a 3:30 p.m. start.

Madison 11, Steele Canyon 1

CLAIREMONT MESA – The Madison Warhawks mounted a 9-0 cushion through three innings before Steele Canyon could counter in an easy tournament decision at Bonb Roeder Field.

Seven different players drove in runs for Madison (1-1 overall).

The lone run for Steele Canyon (0-2) was scored byLogan Pagel an unearned run on an error.

The Cougars have now dropped 22 straight contests over two seasons, last winning in a dramatic 11-inning victory over Montfomery, 2-1,

Montgomery 5m at Helix 3

LA MESA – Montgomery pitcher Jesus Cano allowed just four hits over five innings, then Aztecs sophomore releiver Julian Martinez retired all six Helix batters he faced to arner the save in a 5-3 triumph Wednesday (Mar. 5).

A.J. Ruvalcaba gave Montgomery the early lead with a 2-run single in the third inning, but Helix immediately tied the contest. However, when the Aztecs scored three times in the fourth, the Scotties failed to make a second comeback.

Both ballclubs are 1-1 in the tournament.

Helix next travels south to battle Otay Ranch on Friday at 3:30 p.m. weather pending).