Holmes lands hook, KO’s El Capitan, 7-6

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 25, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASRBALL

East County Sports.com

Grossmont Hills League

Grossmont 7, El Capitan 6 (walk-off)

FLETCHER HILLS – Grossmont Foothillers sophomore yler Holmes looked like former heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes.

The first baseman delivereda major blow — a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning — sneding the Hillers to a dramatic 7-6 decision over El Capitan.

The blast was a 2-run shot to left field at Gozoni Field, coming moments after another sophomore, No. 9 batter Nate McCance, opened the rally by lining the first to center for a basehit.

Over the first six innings, Holmes was a key figure, but onthe other side of the ledger.

Holmes started a pair of rallies, once on a double, finishing with three runs scored.

Holmes crossedthe plate twice in the first two inning,giving Grossmont a 5-0 lead.

But when El Capitan fought back with six runs in the fifth, panic crossed the minds of the Hillers.

The half-dozen runs were unearned, as the firstthree batters were going to be out, but one reached on a dropped third strike.

The defense then posted two additionaql errors, while center fielder David Vera stroked a two-run double.

Thus, Grossmontpitcher Max Tufugafale, who was inn linefor an easy win, was pulled after 4.2 innings and was looking at a hard-luckloss — until the Holmes homer.

The victory went to McCance in relief, who fired a 1-2-3 seventh.

Grossmont (10-11 overall, 2-3 GHL) remains a full game behind ancient rival Helix for second place in GHL action.

El Capitan (7-12, 2-5 GHL) finished with just four basehits, including two by junor right fielder Branden Hawkins.

Helix 4, Valhalla 2

LA MESA – The Helix Highlanders wqs breezing through six innings, tossing a 2-hit shtuout at Valhalla.

However, the seventh-inning failed to go by textbook fashion.

Dcotties pitchers allowed two additional hits, hit a batter, and two batters, with both base-on-balls forcing in runs.

Althouigh the Helix bnch swallowed hard when the next batter his a fly ball to left field — some were thinking it was a potential grand slam.

But when the ball landed into the glove of defender Kie Smith, the Highlanders grabbed sole possession of second place in the Grossmont Hills League following a tight 4-2 verdict over visiting Valhalla.

Helix (11-9 overall, 3-2 GHL) remains one game ahead of Grossmont. Valhalla (5-14), which already upset the Hillers, stand at 1-4 inn GHL play.

The Scotties needed just four batters to secure a quick 2-0 advantage.

Jake Hohnson drilled the first pitch for a singleto right field. Smith walked, bot both advancing ijnto scoring position on a ground ball to the rigth side by Romeo Briones, a freshman now batting third.

Third baseman Antoin Simpson fikiwed by slaming the ball overthe head ofv the Valhalla center fielder for the 2-0 lead.

The rally could’ve been greater on a Norsemen error, but an Orange double play kept the defici at two.

Howeverm Helix also picked up runs in the second on an error on a fauled pick-off play, then another in the sixth on a two-out double by center fielder Angel Watkins, the No. 9 hitter.

Watkins and Jett Gottlieb led with two basehits each for the Scotties.

Valhalla catcher Mace Wheeler also collected a pair of hits, giving him hits in sox of his last seven outings.’
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Wheeler leads all GHL batters in average *,548), slugging percentage (1.143), on-base percentage (.667), and tied for first in home runs (5)

Pacific League

Foothills Christian 19, Calvin Christian 3

ESCONDIDO – Calvin Christian entered the Pacific League season with the best non-league r4ecord among the seven schools.

However, the compeitionj level may not have been as tough than the one faced by Foothills Chistian.

The Knights finished the week by bombing gthe Crusaders for 38 totals runsd — 19 in both contests — including Friday’s (pe. 25) 19-3 demolition of Calvin Christian (lovated one long bkock north of Escondido High School).

Foothills Christian (11-11 overall, 6-3 league) also swept the 3-game season series, posting a pair of shutouts.

Calvin CHristian actually took a 2-0 lead in the first innings, but the Knights responded with four runs in the third, eventually eating their popcorn by racing away with nine runs in the fifth.

The numbers: Jack Morgan belted two of the Knights six doubles, driving in five runs on 3-for-4 hitting, while scoring three times.

Jr Merino was next with three RBI, followed by two each fromRFoman Temple, Jonah Nottoli and Josh Howard.

The pitching victory went to “Captain” Jack Morgan, who struck out seven Crusaders batters over five frames. Merino posted 3 K’s in his two innings to close.

Grossmont Valley League

West Hills 15, Mount Miguel 8

SPRING VALLEY – In what seemed like a typical NBA basketball game, West Hills took the early lead,saw Mount Miguel come back to pull even, then the Wolf Pack responded.

Moments after the Matadors scored three times in the fifth inning to catch the catch the Pacj at 5-all, West Hills answered with fours run in the sixth, then doubled its score with nine runs in the seventh to take an 18-5 decision in Friday’s (Apr. 25) Grossmont Valley League contest.

First baseman Joey Monetti keyed the final rally with a grand slam to left field for his four RBI.

In front of Monettyi was leadoff batter Carson-Kai Lewis, who finiushed with three RBI and scored three times.

In addition, third baseman Ethan Vergne collected a triple and a double.

The final inning got so out of hand, West Hills allowed Mount Miguel’s defense to turn a double play to end the 35-minute trip to the plate.

Mount Miguel’s rally ti tie started on a single and three walsk for a run. Mekhi Yancy then added an RBI single, fololowed by a game-tying run came on a sacrifice fly from Emilio Lopez.

West Hills (9-10 overall, 2-0 GVL) is tied for the league lead with Santana and Monte Vista, Mount Miguel (7-10) is now 0-2 in league play.

Santana 16, ECVHS 1 (6 inn.)

SANTEE – Leading 6-1, the Santana Sultans rolled up 10 runs in the fifth innings, eventually winning by a sportsmanlike 161- in six innings after allowing the Braves a final trip to the plate.

Junior pitcher Christian Levesque went four frames, registering 11 of his 12 outs on strikes.

Trevor Eckis pitched two innings without allowing a hit. Eskis struckout fivr, giving the Sultans 16-of-187 outs on Ks, which equals the Grossmont Conference record.

Santana (9-10 overall, 2-0 GVL) offenss: Joe Dibble with 3 RBI and a double; Greg Ryan, 2 hits, 2 RBI, with a triple; Ryder Davey, 2 RBI.

ECVHS (0-12) received an RBI double from Matias Herrera, bringing home Daniel Felix in the third.

Valley League

Ramona 19, at Escondido 4

ESCONDIDO – The Ramona Bulldogs scored their highest run total in a Valley League ballgame in more than 10 years, ripping league-leading Escondido, 19-5.

The last time that the Dawgs did such damage was also against the Cougars, 20-4, on Apr. 6, 2015.

Ramona (12-7 oiverall, 4-2 league) move to within a half-game of the front-running Cougars (15-4, 4-1), which suffered their biggst setback since 2009, falling to La Costa Canyon, 25-0.

With the Dawgs leading after the second inning, Justin Jarrett was also to relax and toss a leisurely complete game.

Jarrett struck out six Cougars batters, then was allowed to pitch the seventh when Ramona scored 10 times in the top half of the final frame.

Justin Jarrett drove in four runs thanks to a pair of doubles.

Three other Dawgs — James Knowd, Zach Nihtinggale and Blake Hollopeter — finished with three RBI each. Nihtinggale collected four hits and scored four times — both season highs.