ROUNDUP: Eagles, Highlanders get Lions wins

By ECS Staff
Updated: April 16, 2019

The team from Bingham, Utah, before the game at Granite Hills on Monday.

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

69TH LIONS TOURNAMENT

EastCountySports.com staff report

EL CAJON – Granite Hills junior Connor Swann drove in three runs and the Eagles defeated Bingham (Utah) in the Open Division of the 69th Lions Tournament on Monday.

Swann had two hits, including a double, from his No. 9 slot in the batting order on a team looking for more hitters to step up at the plate.

“We swung it today,” Granite Hills head coach James Davis said. “Bingham was a good hitting team. Connor Swann hit well today.”

Clay Fordham earned the win with 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven.

“A day where you give up four runs on the mound it always helps to have an offense back you up and put up 11 runs so I’m proud of my guys for that,” Fordham said. “I had some really good defense which made some clutch plays for me when I needed it.

“Outside of one inning, it was a good outing but I want to be better for my guys. I’m glad we came out on top.

“(Bingham) definitely had a little bit of pop in their lineup so we needed to show up on the other side of the ball and we got it done. We just want to keep this momentum going right now.”

The Eagles got a nice effort out of the bullpen from junior Eric Hogan, who closed out the visitors with 1 1/3 innings, striking out three.

Leadoff man Ryan Fenn had two hits and drove in a couple of runs for Granite Hills (10-9), which hosts Oaks Christian in the Lions Tournament on Tuesday.

HELIX 7, ELK GROVE 1 – The Highlanders won their Open Division matchup with visiting Elk Grove as Carlos Oquita belted a two-run home run in the first inning and Alonzo Richardson added a three-run shot in the fourth.

“In the first inning the pitcher made a mistake and I was able to get a hold of it,” Oquita said. “It feels good to start off the Lions tournament with a win.”

Helix was ranked ninth in the latest county media poll.

“It was a great team win,” Oquita said. “We got off to a good start hitting and we kept it going the whole game. I think we scored in 5 out of 7 innings so the offense was good.

Highlander Chris Paruleski continues to pitch well, going five shutout innings in the start, striking out three.

“It was a big weight off my shoulders with both Carlos Oquita and Alonzo Richardson hitting home runs to get our team a big lead,” Paruleski said. “Our defense was also phenomenal making plays all day. I was confident in locating my fastball and the curveball wasn’t too far behind it.”

Thomas Caneday and Noah Lane closed it out with an inning apiece.

“The pitching staff did a great job from Chris to Thomas to Noah,” Oquita said.

Helix (12-8) will face Cathedral Catholic on Tuesday at 3:30 in the Open Division of the Lions Tournament, weather permitting.

NEWBURY PARK 7, GROSSMONT 3 – Newbury Park (12-12) scored all seven runs in the fourth inning thanks to a rather long series of Hiller miscues.

Brodie Romero, Keoni Valdez and Austin Wittmayer drove in runs for Grossmont (11-10).

CLOVIS EAST 3, SANTANA 1 – At the Fresno Easter Tournament, the Sultans managed just four hits in their tournament opener.

Tyler Glowacki pitched five innings, allowing one earned run, and drove in the run.

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