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Lions: Eagles torpedo Torrey by run rule

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

 

East County Sports.com

Granite Hills 11, Torrey Pines 1 (6 inn.)

EL CAJON – Torrey Pines might be the defending CIF-San Diego Section champiions in the Open Division, but that’s ancient history to Granite Hills.

Not only did the top-ranked Eagles defeast the Falcons to run their unbeaten streak to 10 ballgames, they did so it a unexpected fashion.

In Thursday’s (Apr. 3) Lions Tournament semifinals, Granote Hills took out Torrey Pines by run rulem needing just six innings to send the Falcons packing, 11-1, at Granite Hills Field.

The Falcons did score once in their first trip to the plate, then the roof caved in. The Eagles socred three runs in each of their first thre trips to the plate for a 9-1 vushion, then added a marker in the sixth to invoke the “mercy” rule.

The contest was that one-sided.

Scott Russell, who pitched less than six innings all season, went three shutout frames to stop Torrey Pines and collect his first career varsity victory — he didn’t even pitch at a junior in 2024.

Brenden Lewis grabbed a share for the East County in home runs with his third “torpedo” of the season, matching the total of Valhalla catcher Mace Wheeler. Both are seniors.

Jake Ervin and Brody Vicars also added two RBI each, while Anthony Miotti was the lone player with multiple basehits.

For Torrey Pines (7-5), Liam Moran scored the lone run on a first-inning error vefore Granite Hills took over.

The Eagles (8-0-2) will open defense of their Grossmont Hills League title next week, first meeting Helix in a home-and-road series.

Christian 9, West Hills 0

EL CAJON – Christian starting pitcher Braeden Casey ried four innings of n-hit ball, then a trio of relief pitchers chipped in for the Patriots to toss a combined 2-hit shutout at the visiting West Hills Wolf Pack.

Casey, a sophomore, domiated by registered 8 of his 12 outs on strikes, just missing a perfect performance by issuing a single walk.

The ensuing string of Patriots pitching included Jacob Zacharzuk, Joey Nunez and Wyatt Thomas,

On offense, Chase Togerson and Benji Molina each belted run-scoring doubles. Five different players drove in a run, three Wolf Pack errors brought home four other runs.

The contest was the complete opposite of the teams’ first meeting, when Christian won in extra innings.

Completing Lioons Tournament play with a 4-0 record, including back-to-back shutouts, the Patriots (10-2) have bow won 6-of-7.

Christian will host Westview in Friday’s championship game for its division on Friday at 4 p.m.

West Hills (6-9) was held to one run or fewer for the sixth time this season.

 

Mount Miguel 12, Vincent Memorial 2 (5 inn.)

SPRING VALLEY – The Grossmont Conference owns such a wide diversity in teams — from Open Division to Division 5 — sometimes it’s difficult to gauge the quality of any particular program.

However, in the Lions Tournament, with so many ballclubs participating, programs are matched by similar strengths.

One side taking advantage is Mount Miguel, which movd to within a game of 500 at 6-7 overall after downing Vincent Memorial, 12-2. It was the second straight win for the Matadors.

The often overlooked key may have been base-runing. Mount Miguel stole a season-best nine bases, inclduing theee by Mike Yancy, and two more from Angel Delgado. Both are seniuors.
‘
Pierson Williams pitched 4.2 innings of 1-hido entered to register the final out.
t ball, falling one out short of a coplete game in the run-rule shortened contest. Williams struck out eight Scots batters, then Delgado entered to register the final out.

Vincent Memorial (1-7) scored twice in the first, then the Matadors offense came through with run totals of 4, 2 and 6, in the 2nf-thru-4th innings, all without the aid of an extra-base hit

Luis Luna- Ramirez and Williams finished with two RBI each. The Yancy brothers — Mike and Mekhi — both scored a pair of runs.

 

Patrick Henry 6, Vista Grande (Casa Grande, Ariz.) 2

SAN CARLOS – Knowing teams need extra itching to survive in the Lions Tournament, Patrick Henry saved senior Nate Moloney, who made his first start of the season on Thursday (Apr. 3).

Mp;pney defiitely earned future starts after firing a complete-game 3-hitter to stop the poten offense of Vista Grande (Casa Grande, Ariz.).

The Mustangs scored nine of more runs in their 13 contests entering the tournament. However, Maloney carried a shutout into the fifth inning to maintain full control.

On offense, Patriots right fielder Tyson Bobo batted 2-for-2 with a walk, slugging a 2-run homer to left field in the third for a 3-0 lead.

Robo finished with three RBI.

Rphan Brown, the catcher, added a double and a stolen base for Patrick Henry (7-5-1), Vista Grande entered the tournament with a 9-2-1 record, yet went winless in four Lions starts to slop to 9-7-1 overall.

 

Mountain Empire 10, at Crawford 6

EL CERRITO – At Crawford, Mountain Empire wonj for the third time in five starts, scoring another victory over a City Conference sc hool.

After openbing Lions Tournament play with a loss to Morse, then a victory over Cabyon Hills, the RedHawks moved to 2-1 agaist “the City” by corraling the Crawford Colts.

Trailing 4-2, the Empire scored four times in the fourth to take the lead for keeps.

A pair of RedHawks juniors — Luis Cardoso and Mike Nobel — each posted three hits, including 2-run doubles to spur the comeback ansd munt A 10-4 cushion.

Overcoming a slow start, starting pitcher Jacob Arnold tossed a complete game. The sophomore struck out eight batters from Crawford (6-6).

Elsewhere

Classical 12, at Steele Canyon 4

JAMUL – The Caimans of Classical Academy handed Steele Canyona third straight Lions Tournament setback, taking an easy 12-4 along the Great Wall (in left field) of Jamul.

Steele Canyon (3-10) allowed a massive 24 baserunners on 19 hits by the Caimans, plus three errors, a walk and a hit batter, as none of the Cougars pitchers could find the corners of the strike zone.

Classical (3-7) received home runs from first baseman Trevor Hoff and shortstop Landon Falk. Both are juniors for the Caimans, which snapped a 3-game losing streak in the tournament.

Second baseman Able Lopez, the No. 9 hiter, registered two RBI for the Cougars.

Scripps Ranch 8, at El Capitan 3

KAJESIDE – Scripps Ranch took an 8-0 lead after two innings before El Capitan answeredwith three runs inthe third. After that, it was all about the bullpens in the Falcons’ 8-3 Lions Tournaent triumph at Hostetler Field.

The comeback attempt by the Vaqueros (5-7) center around Matthew Eckis, who dfrilled a two-run triple, then scored on an intentional ground ball to the right side of the infield by Landon Harbach.

Scripps Ranch (3-10) has lost eight straight, including an 0-3 runs in Lions play until Thursday (Apr 3).

Mission Hiulls 6, at Valhalla 4

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – Valhalla took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning, but Mission Hills answered with two runs in the sixth and a bonus run in the seventh to rally past the Norsemen in a Lions Tournament consolation contest.

Although allowing an inherited runner to score, Grizzlies relief pitcher Nate Sheriff tossed three innings of 1-hit ball to gain the victory.

Sheriff and starter Greg Ontiveros each struck out four Norsemen batters.

The Orange (4-8) snapped a 3-all deadlock on a Jackson Newman sacrifice fly, allowing Mace Wheeler (lead duble) to score from third base.

However, Mission Hills (5-7) belted three doubles in the sixth to rally. Included were ng consectuvie, two-out blows for RBI by No. 9-hitting second baseman Zeke Munoz and leadoff batter Cayden Smith, the shortstop.

Eastlake 9, Grossmont 0 (6 inn.)

FLETCHER HILLS – In a re-match of the 2021 CIFSDS championship game, the Eastlake Titans are a bt in front f Grossmont in rebuilding their respective programs, takng a 9-0 decision at Gizona Field.

Grossmontg (7-6) managed just three hits off Titans pitching in the 6-inning affair.

J.P. Conerobekted a two-run homer for Eastlake (7-5).

 

Linfield Christian 6. at Santana 0

SANTEE – The Lions of Linfield Christian (Temecula) allowed jusst four basehit to shutout the Santana Sultans.

Jase “Jazz” Brenier, normally the first baseman, struck out five Sultans in his complete-game effort for the Lions (10-3-1).

Santana cdnter fielder Dominic Tavolazzi, the No. 9 batter, batted 2-for-2 for Santana (4-8).

 

Otay Ranch 13, Monte Vista 3 (6 inn.)

OTAY – A pair of Otay Ranch runs in the sixth inning ignited the run rile, allowing the Mustangs to take a 13-3 win over visting Monte Vista.

The Mustangs (11-3), winners of three straight and 5-of-6, saw Victor Bennett drive in three runs on a paor pf basehots.

For Monte Vista (2-11), freshman Diego Vega clubbed an RBI double.

 

Pacific Ridge 16, at Liberty Charter 6 (5 inn.)

ALPINE – Talk aboout extremes.

Liberty Charter went from posting two shutout victories on Wednesday to losing by run rule onThursday, in a 5-inning setback to Pacific Ridge.

The Firebirds (4-6) from Carlsbad mounted a 9-0 by the middle of the second inning.

Mike Fredericks finished with three RBI, while four other “Birds drove n two each.

Liberty Charter (5-6) did mount a comeback with five runs in the home-half ov the second, but moved no closed.

 

San Jacinto 13, at ECVHS 0 (5 inn.)

EL CAJON – The Tigers of San Jacinto (two miles north of Hemet in SW Riversdie County)

The Tigers (8-11) went 3-1 in Lions action. ECVHS is 0-10.

= Compiled by Nick Pellegrino

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