Helix escapes cellar; Monarchs share top

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 22, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

ECS staff report

JAMUL – Do opposites really attract?

If you ask the Helix Highlanders, they certainly do.

The Scotties, facing the top arm from the Steele Canyon pitching staff, posted season highs in both runs and hits to overtake the Cougars, 8-3, sending the hosts to the bottom of the GHL standings.

Trailing 3-1, Helix scored in each of the final four frames to escape the cellar.

Helix second baseman Wyatt Laub,the leadoff batter, provided a game-tying, two-run single in the fourth inning. An inning later, designated hitter Grant Yturralde grounded a go-ahead single to left field.

Moments later, Scotties catcher Gabe Lainer — in his first varsity appearance of the season – clouted a two-run homer toward the “Great Wall of Jamul”in left field. for a 6-3 advantage.

Helix (3-13 overall, 1-4 GHL) later added single runs in the sixth and seventh frames in the runaway victory.

Meanwhile, Steele Canyon (10-10, 1-5 GHL) saw starting pitcher Branden Jackel last just three innings, but kept his four-game win streak in tact with a no-decision.

Instead, the winning pitcher was Helix’ Lincoln Wirschemwho lasted a season-best 5.2 innings.

Scotties senior Nate Swearington registered the final four outs, tossing no-hit ball in retiring each of the four Cougars he faced.

Grossmont Valley

Monte Vista 21, El Capitan 3

LAKESIDE – El Capitan opened the scoring with two runs in the first, then closed with a run in the seventh.

In between, well, the first-placeVaqueros would rather forget about it,

Monte Vista rang up 21 consecutive runs, including a humongous 13 in the fifth inning, to knock off tEl Capitan, 21-3, Friday (Apr. 20) at Hostetler Field.

Niko Heidt and Justyn Stone, both drove in four runs., leading the list of nine Monarchs to post an RBI. Stone also had a game-nest four hits among the season-best 20 by Monte Vista.

David Aceron and Jacob Schweizer had three RBI, with a triple for Aceron and a pair of doubles for Schweizer.

Monte Vista (11-8 overall) is now 4-1 in league play, avenging a 2-0 non-league loss to El Cap from late March.

El Capitan (13-6) is also 4-1 in league play, falling into a deaadlock for the top spot with Monte Vista,

Valhalla 19, ECVHS 0

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – The Valhalla Norsemen follow a motto which doesn’t involve a sword: “Live by the shutout, die by the shutout.”

On Friday (Aug. 21), Orange Nation participated in their 10th shutout of the season, wining for the seventh time by blanking visiting El Cajon Valley, 19-0.

Valhalla (12-6 overall) utilized five different pitchers in tossing a combined 4-hitter, collecting 12 strikeouts.

The Norsemen built an 11-0 lead through three frames, then added eight runs in the sxith despite playing station-to-station baseball and not advancing on stolen bases, eild pitches or passed ball.

Junior left fielder Dan Baker and sophomore catcher Michael Hedges each drove in three runs.

For El Cajon Valley (3-9, 0-2 GVL), senior shortstop Rikki Ortiz collected two of the Braves four hits, pushing his batting average to a club-leading .348.

West Hills 15, at Mount Miguel 6

SPRING VALLEY – No game report on Game Changer, MaxPreps or direct contact to East County Sports.

West Hills (8-8-2 overall); Mount Miguel (5-12).

Noteworthy: The atomic number of 15 is the element phosphorus.

Scoreboard

Grossmont Hills League
Santana 7, Grossmont 0
Helix 8, at Steele Canyon 3
Bye – Granite Ho;;s
Grossmont Valley League
Monte Vista 21, El Capitan 3
West Hills 15, at Mount Miguel 6
Valhalla 19, ECVHS 0
Pacific League
Foothills Christian 11, Pacific Ridge 5
Del Norte 3, Ramona 1
Manzanita League
Julian at Borrego Springs