Changing of guard: Foothills rides on

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 23, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

ECS staff report

LAKESIDE – Although the feat is rare, about once in every generation an area high school baseball team will open the season on a horrible losing streak, yet finish the season with a .500 record.

Foothills Christian moved into position to achieve the virutally unthinkable. After starting the schedule going winless in nine contests, the Knights could reach the cherished .500 plateau at this time next week after posting a pair of home-field victories over the weekend.

On Friday (Apr. 21), Foothills Christian garnered a Pacific League victory over Pacific Ridge, taking an 11-5 decision to complete a sweep of the two-game set. Then on Saturday (Apr. 23), it was the annual battle of East County private schools with Foothills Christian taking an 11-1 decision over Foothills Christian.

Foothills Christian 11, Pacific Ridge 5

SPRING VALLEY – Foothills Christian mounted a 6-0 lead through two innings, then pushed the advantage into double-figures entering the fifth inning to complete a series sweep of Pacific Ridge, 11-5.

Knights pitcher Colby Johnson carried a five-hitter into the seventh inning, but finally needed to walk away after 6.2 innings and the pitch limit to just miss a complete game.

Johnson struck out 13 Bobcats batters, with just two of the runs being earned. He also received a ton of early support by the offense.

Ezra West drove in three runs, while Jeremy Saucedo had two RBIs, as FHHS scored twice in the first, then four more markers in the second to secure an early triumph.

West, the third baseman, also paced the offense with three hits, including a double. In addition, Zach Ortiz provided a two-bagger.

Until the seventh, Johnson was only in mild trouble once after allowing a one-out single in the first. However, Knight second baseman Saucedo, fielded a hard grounder to start an inning-ending double play.

The Knights responded on offense. Dustin “Dusty” Baker accepted a lead walk, and moved to second on a ground ball to the right side by Johnson. Then a base hit by Ezra West turned out to be the game-winning RBI.

Foothills Christian 11, Liberty Charter 1

LAKESIDE – An unknown fact or tale of trivia: name the East County high school with the best record in baseball?

The answer is: Liberty Charter (7-2 overall), even though they dropped Saturday’s (Apr. 22) contest to Foothills Christian, 11-1, held at El Capitan’s Hostetler Field.

Knights pitchers Joe Famolaro and Andrew Burke combined on a one-hitter, giving their team a ninth victory in their last 11 outings.

Famolaro struck out 11 Lions batters, only yielding a triple to Jaxon Adrain. Or was it a hit?

The computer system utilized by Foothills Christian indicated they did yield a two-out triple to Adrain in the fifth. However, the computer outlet which mirrors the original site gives no hint of a hit, and thus shows a no-hitter.

Stupid computers!

The play-by-play record shows that the ball hit to center field (hardly a sun field at El Capitan’s ballpark, especially since it was a morning contest), was a line drive, not a high fly that may (or may not) have been lost in the sun.

Burke took the mound after Famolaro reached his pitch limit, with the reliever posting a 1-2-3 finish with a pair of strikeouts and a soft line out to Nathan Bott, shortstop.

Stephan Janik (Sr) and “Captain” Jack Morgan each collected three RBIs. Zach Ortiz registered another double. West and Morgan posted two hits each.

Foothills Christian, the leader of the Pacific League at 4-0, can reach .500 in a home-and-road series with last place Tri-City Christian of western Vista hosting the Eagles in the opener on Tuesday at 4 p.m.