Patriots freshman among area’s best

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

 

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

EL CAJON – Among non-pitchers, Christian High stortstop Max Villalva ranks among the leading candidates for East County freshman of the year.

Villalva posted his third multi-hit game of the season — all against Grossmont Conference schools — to raise his season average to .482 after drivinghome three runs in th Ptriots’ 10-6 decision over visiting Santana.

Included was an RBI single by Villalva to start a 7-run rally in the third inning, giving Christian an 8-2 lead.

The Patriots a;sp turned an inning-ending double play. Of course, the ball was hit to Villalva, who fed second baseman Walker Kane — another frosh — then on to first baseman Benjo Molina.

Trailing 2-1, the 7-run rally by Christian (6-1) featured a sacrificed bunt by Roman Gustin, sending Roman Gustin (hit-by-pitch) to third and eventually scoring the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly by Jake Eichhorst.

Then with the bases loaded, the next three batters finally sunk Santana.

Molina walked for a run, then center fielder Braeden Casey and clean-up hitting left fielder Chase Togerson posted consecutive 2-run singles.

Meanwhile, it was a bullpen outing for Christian pitchers, as head coach Mike “Sparky” Mitchell utilized five arms, all lasting 1.2 innins or less.

For Santana (2-5), right fielder Blake Lillard recorded a pair of RBI, matching left fielder Brandon Landers with two hits.

Helix 5, at Patrick Henry 2 (9 inn.)

SAN CARLOS – The Helix Highlanders scored in the seventh inning to pull even, then collected three runs in the ninth to squeeze past host PatrickHenry, 5-2.

The Highlanders received a second life when a one-out line drive was dropped by the Patriots infield, allowing the game-tying run to score.

Then in the 9th, a leadoff walk to Isaac Fierro and another error set the table for Helix, which then loaded the bases on a walk to
ake Johnson.

A wild pitch allowed Fierro ro plate the go-ahead run, Later, a passed ball brought in another run, then twith two out, first baseman Zack Denman lined a 2-run double to right field.

For Helix (3-4), sophomore starting pitcher Richardson tossed 5.2 solid innings, allowing just three hits in his second-career varsitry start.

Freshman Romeo Brionesfired three innings ofg shutout relief for the victory. ELijah Martinez pitched a 1-2-3 in the ninth for the save.

For Patrick Henry (5-2), starting pitcher Jimmy Gunn fired another solid effport. touched fr just a runn on five hits in six innings. But the junior came away with a no deicsion when his bullpen failed.

The leading hitter was the Scotties’ Johnson, going 3-for-4 and scoring twice.

Granite Hills 7, at Scripps Ranch 1

SCRIPPS RANCH – Granite Hills pitcher Joe Butters tossed five solid innings, then the Eagles gained shutout reliefd from underclassmen Eurijah Schutza and Scott Russell to down host Scripps Ranch, 7-1, on Friday (Mar. 21).

The Eagles scored four times in the second inning for a 5-0 lead, then coasted to remain unbeaten in five starts; the Falcons fell to 2-4.

Designated hitter Anthony Miotti rfegistered a pair of RBI singles, while third baseman Tommy Entrekin added a run-scoring triple.

Granite Hills also stole six bases, including two each by Parker Vance and Preston Hendry.

West Hills 11, at Morse 0

SKYLINE – West Hills pitcher Anthony Rosolino made his first career varisy vicvtory one to remember, tossing a 5-hit shutout atpreviously unbeaten  Morse.

Rosolono, a junior, struck out a half-dozen Tigers batters. He was backed by five Wolf Pack runs in the second inning for a 6-0 advantage.

oey Monetti paced the offense with two hits and three RBI, while Carson-Kai Lewis drove in a pair.

West Hills (3-4) has now won two straight; Morse fell to 1-4-1.

Foothills Christian 15, at Coastal 0

OCEANSIDE – At @Melba Bishop Recreation Center, Foothills Christian pitchers Jansen Granillo and Jr. Merino combined to fire a 2-hit shutout, leading the Knights past Coastal Academy. Both yielded just one hit each.

Granillo struck out three Stingrays batters iver fiur inings to collect the win; Merino did the opposite with fours K’s in three frames to garner the save.

Josh Howard paced the offense with a 3-run double, as the Knights () scored four times in both the third and fourth innings to mount a 10-0 cushion.

In addition, “Captain” Jack Morgan batted 3-for-4, scoring three times.

This was the first Pacific League victory for Foothills Christian (4-3 overall, 1-1 league), sending Coastal (4-3, 0-2) to the bottom of the table.

The shutout was the largest by the Knights since 2011, when they blitzed River Valley Charter of Lakeside, 19-0.

Borrego Springs 6, Mountain Empire 5

BORREGO SPRINGS – The Borrego Springs Rams completed a home-and-home series sweep of the previously undefeated Mountain Empire RedHawks following Friday’s (Mar. 21) 6-5 triumph.

The Rams (3-1) earlier took an 11-7 decision on Tuesday (Mar. 18), giving them a series lead of 6-2 in the teams’ previous 8 on-field meetings. The Empire is now 2-2 overall.

Ramona 7, Mission Vista 6 (8 inn.)

RAMONA – The Ramona Bulldogs rallied with two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to pull even, evetually out-lasting the Mission Vista Timberwolves, 7-6, in 8 innings.

The T-Wolves scored four times in the second inning, eventially lesading 6-1. But the Dawgs bullpene held the visitors scoreless over the final 3.2 frames, including the frinal two frames by winning pitcher Justin Jarrett.

In the 8th, leadoff batter Blake Hollopeter was pitch by a pitch, moving to third base on a double to left field by Derek Taylor.

Justin Jarrett was intentionally walked, but following a T-Wolves strikeout, sophomore first baseman Tallon Ogilive singled through the left side for the game-winning BRI.

Holloway and Taylor, the top two members of the Ramona batting order, each batted 3-for-4.

Pinch-hitter Seth Gaines collected a pair of RBI on a double in the 5th. An inning later, sophomore Zack Nightingale pulled Ramona even with his own 2-run doubl to right field.

Ramona (2-2-1 overall) kept Mission Vista winless in six starts.

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Mira Mesa 4, Valhalla 3

MIRA MESA – In a battle between ballclubs with identical 3-3 records, Mira Mesa moved above the .500 plateau by nipping Valhalla.

The Marauders scored three times in the fifth inning to move in front, while the pitching staff allowed just ne hit over the final three innings — but it wasn’t that easy.

Zerek Zamora tossed six innings for the victory, but Caleb Gerlack survived pitching the seventh after walking three Norsemen to load the bases before collecting the final out.

Mira Mesa sophomore Ziggy Avinion finished with three RBI.

Fir Valhalla, second baseman Josh Rivera drove in two runs, while first baseman Jackson Newman and catcher Mace Wheeler each collected two hits.

San Ysidro 9, El Capitan 6

SAN YSIDRO – Tied at 3-all, San Ysidro tallied five times in the fourth inning to lasso El Capitan, 9-6. The decisive trip to the plater included four walks and a pair of errors.

Cougars first baseman Gil Salgado drove in three runs, but it was a double to rught field by Axel Reyes which move San Ysidro (7-5) in front for keeps.

El Capitan’s chance to rally in the seventh saw three baserunners, but two were wiped out on a double-play grounder.

The hitting standout for the Vaqueros (3-3) was Matthew Eckis, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

Francis W. Parker 6, Monte Vista 5

LINDA VISTA – Monte Vista scored two runs in the seventh, with the potential game-tying and go-ahead runners on base, but Francis Parker escaped to register its first victory of the season in three starts.

Monte Vista (1-6) received a two-run double from Reuben Cabugwas, while Orlando Rupley scored twice. Both are seniors.

Madison 14, Grossmont 0

CLAIREMONT MESA – Once holding a 4-1 overall record, Grossmont (now 4-3) are now clinging to an above-.500 record following a terrible week.

After falling at home to Christian, 0-1, the Hillers were embarrassed by host Madispn, 14-0, on Firday (Mar. 21).

The Warhawks (6-3) won their third straight behind a combined 5-hitter by Colin Gallagher (5 IP) and Travay Centeno (2 IP). Gallagher struck out seven Grossmont batters.

This ballgame was decided early after Madison scored 3 in the firstl 5 in the third, then 6 inm the 6th.

Once again, Madison’s leading hitter was Jack O’Toole. The senior went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI.

Grossmont (4-3) has been out-scored, 23-1, n its last two outings.

 

University City 2, Steele Canyon 0

UNIVERSITY CITY – Centurions left-hander A.J. Currey was hot, tossing a spicy 4-hit shutout to back University City past Steele Canyon, 2-0.

Curry, a junjor, struck out 12 Cougars batters — one short of a career high — to move his record to 3-0 wit a stellar 0.37 earned-run average in three starts.

Steele Canyon starting pitcher Logan Page fired three frames of 1-hit ball, but exited after three innings, as the Cents (6-1 overall) scored their runs against the bullpen in the fourth and fifth innings.

The first run came on a triple by Josh Kaplan, scoring on a basehit by Van Zucker to end the 2-gae win streak of the Cougars (2-5).

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