Monarchs end Raiders’ win streak

By ECS Staff
Updated: March 13, 2019

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

MONTE VISTA 2, SOUTHWEST (SAN DIEGO) 1

East County Sports staff report

NESTOR (3-13-2019) – When it comes to strong pitching staffs, East County isn’t limited to just one “big fish” like Grossmont High after Monte Vista took another giant step forward on Tuesday (Mar. 12).

The Monarchs received their third consecutive standout performance, ending one of the longest winning streaks in the CIF San Diego Section so far this season by nipping host SD-Southwest, 2-1, in a GMC Tournament contest.

Senior starting pitcher Andrew Savoy shook off an early unearned run in allowing just five hits over 6 1/3 innings, then sophomore Andy Canedo retired both batters he faced to gain the save.

“Our team struggled a little bit at the plate today even our best hitter but we still managed to come on top,” Canedo said. “Andrew pitched a great game as he always does and our defense is always behind him.

Canedo also provided all of the ballclub’s scoring with a go-ahead, 2-run home run in the 5th inning.

“When a pitcher makes a mistake that’s when we are taught we make them pay and the outcome of that was a great hard hit ball that went out of the ballpark and caused the momentum to fall in our hands and lead us to a victory,” Canedo said.

The triumph was the third straight ballgame for Monte Vista pitchers allowing just a single run and extended the win streak of the Monarchs (5-3) to four straight. Meanwhile, the Raiders (7-3) saw their 7-game win stretch get snapped.

“Today was a hard fought win,” Savoy said. “Everyone played hard even after giving up a run the the first inning. Everyone knows how to pick up each other.”

Savoy struck out 4 batters, but better, yielded just two fly balls all afternoon to frustrate Southwest batters and keep the Monte Vista defense busy. And after a pair of 1st-inning errors, they responded the rest of the way.

An example came in the 3rd. Following a leadoff double by the Raiders, Monte Vista shortstop Ernie Arambula extended into the hole to flag down a ground ball ticketed for left field. The sophomore got only grabbed the ball, he was able to throw to Canedo at third base to nail the lead runner.

“(Second baseman) David (Vega) and Ernie were key components on defense today,” Savoy said.” They had a lot of balls hit to them today and they made each play. They were huge. And as always, our catcher, Jacob (Savoy), called a great game behind the plate. Southwest is a tough opponent and plays hard to the last pitch. It was a great team win today.”

Conversely, Southwest registered an inning-ending double play in the 4th, but the Monarchs offense broke through in the 5th.

With one out, first baseman Abraham Sanchez was struck by a pitch. Canedo, the cleanup batter followed and took a 1-2 pitch deep for his homer to right-center field. was one of just two base hits by the Monarchs — center field Cam Schuler had the other in the 6th — off hard-luck losing pitcher Enrique Cañedo (no known relation), who struck out 9 in his complete-game effort.

“We feel that we play all three parts of the game very well,” Andrew Savoy said. “If we continue to play our game, we feel like we have a good chance at winning each game.”

Southwest designated hitter Arian Tirado, the No. 9 batter, went 2-for-3 as the contest’s lone player with multiple hits.

EastCountySports.com