Lions: Granite Hills again fit to be tied

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 1, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com

Granite Hills 4, San Marcos 4, tie (7 inn.)

SAN MARCOS – Not even an International Tiebreaker utilized in the Lions Tournamnt would help, as Granite Hills and San Marcos could only last seven innings before this key Open Division Pool D could be decisdse.

Granite Hills didn’t get the opportunity to meet San Marcos in last season’s Lions championship game. Meanwhile, the host Grizzlies jad something to prove to overcome what was later determined to be a faux pas (i.e., goof) by the coaching staff.

The more upset ballclub was Mission Hills, allowing a 4-0 vushiomn tp disappear when the unbeaten Eagles stormed back with four runs in the sixth inning.

Grizzlies starting pitcher Isaac Esquer, a left-hander, was firing a 3-hit shutout through five frames, striking out 11 Eagles batters. But couldn’t escape in the sixth.

Granite Hills, which holds a soccer-like 6-0-2 overall record,

Following just two early hits, Tommy Entrekin and Parker Vance opened with basehits, then pinch-hitter Brody Vicars took a one-out walk to load the bases, ending the day for Esquer.

The Eagles then called for another pinch-hitter in Westin Pace, who fouled off a pair of 2-2 pitches before earning a two-out walk to snap the shutout.

Jody Macias, the Eagles’ third consecutive pinch-hitter, followed with a 2-run, line single to left to trim the deficit to 4-3.

Turning over the lineup card, Brandon Lewis singledto re-load the bases. Then the Grizzlies bullpen completely imploded when center fielder Trevor Smith walked on five itches to force home the game-tying run.

Lewis, Granite’s starting pitcher, struck out five Grizzlies batters in his four innings. Yet like every other pitcher, cs, came away with s no-decision.

Mission Hills (6-2-1) took an early lead thanks to a 2-run homer by shortstop Max Farrell in the third.

Granite Hills will host Patrick Henry at 4 p.m. Wednesday, in a re-match of last week’s 5-5 draw in another tournament.

Elsewhere

Christian 6, Lone Peal (Highland, Utah) 4

EL CAJON – Playing as the visiting team on their home field, the Christian Patriots were in a major jam despite holding a 2-run lead.

The Knights of Lone Pie (Highland, Utah) placed the game-tying runners pn in the bottom of the seventh inning, with the heart of their batting order coming up.

However, Patriots second baseman Benji Molina promptly gobbled up a ground ball to ignite a game-ending double play, giving Christian a 6-4 victory in the first of two Lions Tournament contests on Tuesday (Apr. 1).

Molina made the toss to shortstop Max Villalve, then the freshman fired to first baseman Walker Kane.

The victory was the third straight for Christian (8-2); Long Peak fell to 7-6.

Leading 4-3, Christian utilized was gifted a pair of runs in the sixth.

Villalva walked with the bases loaded to force in a run, then Molina lifted a sacrifice fly to left field.

The runs proved important when Lone Peak center fielder Chris Christensen bomed a two-ut home in the inning’s home half.

However, Patriots starting pitcher R.J. Rook registered the third out, then reliever Trae Pheasant survived two hits in ther seventh to garner the save. Both are sophomores.

The top third of the Christian batting order — Molina, Villalva and center fielder Braeden Casey — all regustered two hits.

In addition, third baseman Roman Gustin collected a double and stole a pair of bases.

Meanwhile, Bowen Barners, the Lone Peak third baseman, went batted 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Christian 6, Green Valley Henderson, Nev.) 0

EL CAJON – Christian Patriots senior Logan Major fired a 3-hit shutout to stop the Green Valley Gators of Henderson, Nev., 6-0, in the Pats’ second Lions Tournament ballgame on Tuesday (Apr. 1).

Major struck out six Gators batters, facing just six batters above the minimum.

Again, the Pats were the visiting team, scoring in their initil trip to the plate.

Molina lined a single to right, advanced on a swaalow ground out, then scored on Kane’s two-out, line basehit to centeer.

Major then took over, allowing inly nerunners to reachthird base all contest.

Pheasant, now playing first base, smacked a double for the team’s lone extra-base hit.

Molina went 3-for-4 and scored twice, while Villalva, now at second base, aded two hits and drove in a paur f runs.

Christian (9-2) has now won four straight. The Pats can clinch their Lions Pool with a win Wednesday against Westview. The Wolverines (6-4) will plat twice, first meeting the Green Valley (10-8) at 1 p.m.

Grossmont 5, Rancho Bernardo 3

FLETCHER HILLS – Win or lose, the seventh inning always seems to deliver a dramatic conclusion for the Grossmont Foothillers.

In Tuesday’s (Apr. 1), Lions Tournament ballgame. at least the solution was satisfactory.

Rancho Bernardo ended the shutout bifdby Hillers pitcher Jacob Holman, then moved into position to take the lead for the first time. However, Grossmont hung on for a 5-3 verdictf over the Broncos at Gizoni Field.

Holmes fired six shutout innings, but when tiring in the seventh, he failed to register an out, exiting after th shutout was extinguished.

However, sophomore Jacob Holman, the second relief pitcher, entered the retired the final two batters with the go-ahead run at the plate on a strikeout and a foul pop out to third baseman Colton Burke.

The Hillers’ early 5-0 lead came courtesy of first baseman Max Tufugafale, who drove in thrtee runs.

The first RBI came on a first-inning single, then Tufugafale slugged a 2-run homer to left field in the third when the Hillers scored three times for a 4-0 advantage.
Designated hitter Durante Martinez also knocked in a run for Grossmont (5-5). RB dropped to o4-6.

Helix 5, Classical 1

LA MESA – While Grossmont (see above) ballgame are often decided in the final at-bats, the opposite seems tro be true for Classical Academy of Escondido.

Most games involving the Caimans are one-sided, including their win over the Foothillers over the weekend.

As predicted, Tuesday’s Classical game was anything by a classic after Helix toer apart an early pitchers’ duel with runs over the final three trips to the plate, taking a 6-1 verdict in Tuesday’s (Apr. 1) Lions Tournament pairing.

After Highlanders starting pitcher Maddon Richardson, a sophomore, exited following four solid innings, he became the fortunate recipient of his first varsity win when Helix (the visiting team) scored twice in the top of thefifth.

The Scotties (4-6) took the lead on consecutive RBI ingles by the top of the order, as center fielder Jake Johnson send a grounder through the right sidfe of the infieldl then shortstop Ben Williams line the ball to left field.

Setting up the rally was the bottom of the Helix line-up: catcher Isaac Fierro and right fielder Angel Watkins,

An inning ater, a trio fo walks loaded the basses, but a ground ball woudl allow Classical to escaoe with a double play. Instead, a Caimans effor allowed a pair of runs to score for Helix (4-7).

Valhalla 11, Scripps Ranch 4

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – The drowsy Valhalla offense woke up with a pair of multiple-run innings Tuesday (Apr. 1). The Norsemen tallied six times in the second inning to secure a 7-2 lead, then added four runs in the fifth to foil the Falcons of Scripps Ranch, 11-4, in Lions action.

Valhalla (4-6) snapped a 5-game skid, thanks to the top two batters in the batting order.

Shortstop Josh Rivera and catcher Mace Wheeler each drover home three runs. Wheeler and first baseman Jackson Newman also stroked RBI doubles.

Everyone contributed in the second inning eruption, which featured dic consecutive batters reaching base on fur singles andf a pair of batter plunked by pitches.

Meanwile, Orange pitcher Jesse McCormick survived a difficult opening inning to toss a complete game for the victory. McCormick struck out 10 Falcons batters, dropping Scripps Ranch to 2-9 overall.

Mountain Empire 14, VCanyon Hills 6

EL CERRITO – St Crawford High, Mountain Empire registeredwhat could br considered the biggest upset so far inthis season’s Lion Tournament, torpedoing Canyon Hills, 14-6, on Tuesday (Apr. 1).

Clean-up hitting catcher (No24) knocked in four runs for the RedHawks, while first baseman (No.1) collected three RBI, as the RefHawks tallied 20 runs inthe bottom of the first inning to embarfrass the school formely known as th Conquistadors.

The RedHawks (4-4) did not supply a roster.

Murrieta Mesa 9, Santana 8 (* inn., ITB)

SANTEE – Santana soared back from a 4-0 deficit to pull even with powerful Murrieta Mesa. But when the Sultans took leads in both the seventh and reigth innings,the Rams showed they could come back, too, taking a deicision in 8 innings in Tuesday’s (Apr. 1) Lions Tournament nail-biter.

The ballgame was decided utilizing the International Tuebreaker.

The first comeback centered around frehsman Joe Dibble, as the third baseman dubled home Nate Dowers (safe on error), then scoring on a ground out.

An inning later, after a run scored on an error on a double-steal, Dibble again came thrugh with an RBI single to left to knot the score.

Santaa then (the visiting team) then tooka 7-4 lead in the 7th, then 8-7 in the 9th, but the Rams answered. They won on a sacrifice fly by senior Quintin Diaz, then a game-winning double by pinch-hitter Elijah Resendiz, as Santana elected to pitch to the senior power hitter despite an open base with two down.

For Santana (3-7), Dibble and Dawson DelaCruz each finished with two RBI.

For the Rams (8-1), Tanner Blackmon and Mason Freedman eaach went 3-for-4 with two RBU and a run scored.

Otay Ranch 6, West Hills 1

OTAY – West Hills was eliminated from championship competition in the Premier Division of the Lions Tournament after falling to the Otay Ranch Mustangs, 6-1.

Wolf Pack senior Joey Hamilton drove home Joey Monetti in the third inning to cut the Otay Ranch ;ead in half, but the Pack only mjustered thtree additional hits the rest of the day off the Mustangs (8-4).

Among the five hits by West Hills (4-7), Monetti collected two of them off Otay Ranch pitcher Fernando Tovalin, who fired a complete game with six strike outs.

WHatever the reason, the Wolf Pack ffense does poorly in Lions playing, scoring just four tuns in their five previous contests in the historical event — the oldest andf largest in America.

Crossroads (Santa Monica) 7, Mount Miguel 3

SPRING VALLEY – The Crossroad Roadrunners of Santa Monica, which opened the season witha 2-5 mark, moving above the .500 plateau for the first time this seaspm. dpwning host Mount Miguel to gain their fourth consecutive victory.

Trailing 4-0, Mount Miguel (4-7) marched back to within 4-3 by the fourth inning, but Roadrunners pitchers allowed just one hit the rest of the way, including 1.2 perfect inning for the save by Leo LeBlanc.

In the sixth, Mount Miguel placed two runnersd on base, but LeBlanc entered and recorded his five outs facing just fur batters.

LeBlanc first picked a runner off base, then recorded an inning-ended sgtrike out before retiring Mount Miguel in order in the seventh.

For the Matadors, first baseman Angel Delgado colected two hits and scored a run. Shortstop Emilo Lopez recorded the ballclub’s lone RBI.

Montgomery 7, Monte Vista 0

OTAY MESA – The Montgomery Aztecs, coming off a shutout setback to Mater Dei Catholic, reversed their fortunes by blanking visiting Monte Vista, 7-0, in Lions’ Premiere Division action on Tuesday (Apr. 1).

Aztecs senior Juan Ińiguez tossed a 3-hitter,strikinh ouy right Monarvhd bastters opposed to just one wa;l.

Chris Carrillo posted a pair of run-scoring singles for Montgomery (5-6).

Monte Vista (2-9) has dropped three straight, despite two hits byt seniuor shortstop Reuben Cabugwas.

Mission Hills 6, Steele Canyon 1

SAN MARCOS – Steele Canyon, the 2023 Classic Division champions of the Lions Tournament, is off to a poor start after registering more errors than hits ina loss to the Mission Hills Grizzlies.

Jaxson Jenkins pitched five innings of 4-hit ball for Mission Hills (4-6).He was followed by wo perfect innings of relief by Nate Sheriff, who struck out five Cougars of the six batters he faced.

Trailing 6-0, Steele Canyon (3-8) aqnswered in the fourth inning when center fielder Tommy Rimoldi (lead walk) scored a gift run.

After Rimoldi advanced to third base, a dropped third strike and ensuing error by the Mission Hills first baseman plated the run.

El Camino 5, El Capitan 2

LAKESIDE – At Hostetler Field, El Camino snapped a tie ballgame with three runs in the seventh inning to stop upset-minded El Capitan, 5-2, in Lions Tournament play Tuesday (Apr. 1).

Vaqueros starting pitcher Landon Harbach kept the CIFSDSranked Wildcats at bay fir 5,1 solid innings, but he finished with no decision when the bullpen and a pair of errors allowed El Camino (9-2) to avoid the upset and capture its ffith straight.

For El Capitan (4-6), David Vera slugged a double, while Emilio Fearn-Flores added an RBI basehit.

Valley Center 8, Foothills Christian 0

LAKESIDE – In the schools first-ever meeting, Valey Center pitcher J.D. Marquwz fired a 1-huit shutoyt to lead the Jaguars, 8-0, over Foothills Christian at Matt LaChappa Field.

Marquez, a junior, struck out only f=ur Knights batters, registering most of outs on ground balls.

Valley Center (8-3) collected five doubles, with six different players driving home a run.

The lone hit for Foothills Christian (7-7) was collected by sophomore first baseman Johanes Jansen Granillo, a one-out double to left field in the fifth

The Rock 7, Liberty Charter 4

ALPINE – Liberty Charter (the visiting team) mounted an early 4-1 advantage, but The Rock tallied six unanswered runs to take Tuesday’s (Apr. 1) Lions Tournament contest.

The Warriors (8-2), which is one vicvtory short from the best start in school history (9-2 in 2019), moved to within 4-3 from the Lions, then added four runs in the fifth inning to lift thetheir win strek to three straight.

The Lions (3-5) received two hits, including a double, from first baseman Isaac Anderson, good for a pair of RBI.

Meanwhile, freshman right fielder Asher Johnson, the No. 9 batter, led the Lions with three basehits after opening his career on a 1-13 skid.

Vincent Memorial 15, ECVHS 5 (6 inn.)

EL CAJON – In a comntest between winless ballclubs, Victory No. 1 went to the Scots of Vincent Memroial Catholic of Calexico by run-rule over the El Cajon Valley Braves.

Braves catcher Matias Herrera was the game’s top perforer, slugging a triple, then torpedeoing the first ECV home run of the season.

However, it was more thaan an ordinary homer. Herrera’s drive to center bounced awy from the defender, so Herrera turned on the jets for an inside-the-park homerwith one out in the top of the sixth — ECV was the visiting team).

For Vincent Memorial (1-), junior Rosrigo Maldonado also belted a homer and a triple, giving the left fielder four RBI.

Compiled by Nick Pellegrino