GHL-leading Sultans survive Hiller bid

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 27, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY REP BASEBALL

ECS staff report

SANTEE — The annual baseball series between Santana and grossmont high schools is tight, highly-contested and unpredictable.

In fact,going back to 2015, the series is now even at 7-all following Santan’s walk-off victory, 3-2, in Tuesday’s (Apr. 26) Grossmont Hills League nail–biter.

The victory allowed the Sultans momentum their GHL lead by a full game over idle Granite Hills. All that Grossmont, the defending league champion, can do is again look into the mirror and wonder what happened yet again.

The deciding run came on old baseball axiom: if you walk the lead batter, that player will score.

However, driving Grossmont crazy was that the walk went to the No. 9 batter, Bradley Phillips, while turning over the lineup card.

Elijah Reber singledd Phillipes to third base. One out later, he scored on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Cody Cappelletti, a rare freshman starting in the GHL.

The ballclubs exchanged single runs in the first, then Santana took its first lead in the .fourth. Two batters reached on errors, then Alex Giles sent a dribbler down the first -base line, leaving the pitcher with no play except to first base.

Grossmont drew even in the sixth on a lead homer by 6-foor-4 first baseman Barron Zamora.

Otherwise, it was a day for the pitchers between the Hillers’ Skyler Sasena-Ruth and the Sultans’ Caleb Harris. However, the victory went to David Rodriguez with one inning of shutout relief.

For Santana (16-3 overall, 5-0 GHL), Jayden Agramont collected two of the team’s five basehits.

Grossmont (7-13-1), saw Zamora also belt a double in a 2-for-3, two RBI outing.

Helix 5, Steele Canyon 3
RANCHO SAN DIEGO — The suddenly hot Helix Highlanders broke open a tight 2-2 deadlock with three runs in the seventh inning, taking a 5-3 decision over host Steele Canyon in Grossmont Hills League action on Tuesday (Apr. 26).

Moments after the Cougars got even when Tommy Molina accepted a lead walk, then came home on a two-out single by Caleb Entrekin in the sixth, the Scotties quickly answered.

Anthony Matthiesen reached on an error, David Blome bunted him to second base, which turned over the batting order.

Cameron Tarling and James Whitman followed with consecutive RBI singles for a 4-2 lead. For Tarling, his hit caped a.3-for-4 performance.

With an open base, Ben Haar was intentionally walked , then pinch-hitter Ryan McMahon lifted a sacrifice fly for the third run. McMahon batted for Wyatt Laub, one of the Highlanders’ top hitters who alrady has two hits on the day, but he was in the bullpen to pitch the seventh for a save.

McMahon’s RBI proved important as Steele Canyon got one run back before Laub closed out the triumph.

Helix 11-8 overall, 3-2 GHL) now owns a 3-game winning streak. Steele Canyon (12-6, 1-5)was officially eliminated from the GHL pennant chase.

Grossmont Valley League
Mount Miguel 13, ECVHS 0 (5 inn.)
SPRING VALLEY — The Mount Miguel Matadors escaped the Hen House by snapping an unsightly 16-game losing streak by bouncing El Cajon Valley, 12-2 in five innings, in Tuesday’s (Apr. 26) Grossmont Valley League contest. The victory snapped a tie for fifth place between the schools.

The contest was over after one trip to the plate, when Mount Miguel plated 10 runs.

Meanwhile, a trio of Matadors pitchers — Josh Hollis, Jr. Ettleman and Daniel Guzman — combined on a 2-hit shutout with 8 strikeouts. Holis collected the victory with four Ks over the first three innings (CIF sportsmanship rule on pulling starters in romps).

Steve Gulley paced the offense with three RBI, Johnathan Traded drove in two, and five others knocked in on each.

The Matadors also stroked an array of doubles — Miles Emerick, Julian Lopez, Eric Sandoval and Gulley,

Mount Miguel (4-17 overall, 1-4 GVL) also stole six bases, including a pair by Daniel Guzman.

ECVHS ((4-13-1,0-5 GVL) received a double by Rikki Ortiz and a basehit y cleanup batter Joseph Johnson.

Valhalla 8, Monte Vista 1
RANCHO SAN DIEGO — Monte Vista needed just three batters to score, but host Valhalla responded with eight unanswered runs to capture the teams’ Grossmont Valley League ballgame Tuesday (Apr. 26).

.Norsemen junior Riley Hughes belted a pair of doubles as part of a three RBI outing. Hughes, the third baseman, stroked a tie-breaking, 2-run ball to right field in the third inning, then capped the scoring with a shot to left in the sixth.

Winning pitcher Colton Stinkeoway overcame the slow start without allowing another hiut over his 4.2 innings. He struck out four Monarchs batters while yielding just one hit and a pair of walks.

Hughes entered in relief,also allowing just one hit over his 2.1 frames on the mound for a combined 2-hitter.

Monte Vista’s run came unearned when leadoff batter Caleb Ta’a-Jones reached on an error, was bunted along by second baseman Tyler Lemen, Left fielder Isaiah Hilke followed with a basehit, bring home Ta’a-Jones, the Monarchs third baseman.

For Valhalla (.10-13 overall, 4-01 GVL) finishes the first round in second place behind West Hills. The ballclubs meet Friday to probably decide the league championship.

Monte Vista (8-15, 2-3 GVL) received its other basehit from right fielder Jacob Schweizer.

West Hills 8, El Capitan 2
SANTEE — The GVL leading West Hills Wolf Pack slided past visiting El Capitan in Tuesday’s (Apr. 26) contest at Wolf Pack Park.

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