GVL road ballclubs mount the pressure

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 25, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL / GVL, Summit

ECS staff report

EL CAJON – It was a day for the visiting team, after the road warriors captured two games and nearly posted a major upset in the third to highlight Tuesday’s (Apr. 25) Grossmont Valley League baseball games.

Valhalla 5, at Mount Miguel 4

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – Going back to 2009, Mount Miguel owned just a single victory over Valhalla in 19 meetings, but the past meant little after the Matadors scored once in the sixth inning to draw even with the host Norsemen.

However, Valhalla was able to answer with a go-ahead run in the sixth, then stave off Mount Miguel in the seventh to barely stay in the GVL pennant chase.

Both ballclubs scored three times in the first inning, then the pitchers took over before both sides managed a series of single runs.

The sequence started in the fifth when Valhalla first baseman Julian Jerjees stroked a two-out, RBI single to bring shortstop Jesse McCormick (leadoff single) home with the tie-breaking run.

The Matadors responded even when sophomore Israel Gonzalez was plunked by a pitch, coming around on a sacrifice bunt by Charlie Sandoval, then Julean Sanchez bombed a two-out, RBI double.

Sanchez, a right fielder, batted 3-for-3 with three RBI in his best outing of the season. He also slapped a two-out, two-run single in the first.

However, Valhalla again reclaimed the lead after loading the bases with a single, sandwiched around a pair of hit batters, with right fielder Tanner Lough eventually scoring on a passed ball.

Mount Miguel developed one final chance, starting with a pair of one-out singles by senior Davis Keller and junior Tyler Kelly.

Norsemen relief pitcher Matt Ibrahim coaxed a shallow fly ball for the second out, so the Matadors attempted to catch the defense asleep by calling for a double-steal.

However, instead of throwing the ball to third base, Valhalla catcher fired to second baseman Nate Moulton to end the ballgame.

Ibrahim saved the game for Norsemen starting pitcher Tanner Lough, who shook off a poor start with 5.1 innings of shutout ball. In his six full innings, Lough struck out nine Matadors batters.

For Valhalla (13-7 overall,3-2 GVL), Jerjees batted 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI.

Mount Miguel (5-14, 0-5 GVL) received three hits from both Sanchez and Kelly.

West Hills 5, at Monte Vista 3 (8 inn.)

SPRING (state-record?) VALLEY – When it comes to West Hills baseball, once again it pays to reflect on Valhalla and its current streak of winning 14 straight extra-inning games. During the streak — CalHiSports was asked, and although there is no such record kept, officials cited they have never heard of such an incredible run — the Norsemen went three consecutive games by winning in “overtime.”

Such a streak for the Wolf Pack is now at two.

Twenty-four hours after nipping Otay Ranch 3-2 in 8 innings, West Hills again took an 8-inning decision, stopping host Monte Vista, 5-3.

Monte Vista tallied all of its runs in the fourth inning before both pitching staffs kept the contest even until extended play.

In the eighth, an error, single, and sacrifice bunt placed runners in scoring position. Eron Drake followed with a go-ahead, RBI single, and brought home Braeden Stevenson. Then another Monarchs bobble allowed Nate Hikes to score on a single. The sac bunt was performed by Conner Tanga.

Monte Vista ended the inning by turning a double play, with the momentum carrying over to place the potential game-tying runs on base on a walk to Oscar Ortega and a David Aceron single.

However, Wolf Pack starting pitcher Shane Stevens finished his eight-inning, complete game by coaxing a fielder’s choice grounder to Stevenson at second base for the victory. Stevens yielded just three hits with all three runs unearned.

West Hills (12-8-1 overall) was able to avenge a 3-1 loss to the Monarchs from Apr. 12.

For Monte Vista (11-9), it was a tough loss for pitchers Gavin Daley and Caleb Taa-Jones, who combined on a 4-hitter, as all five runs were unearned.

El Capitan 14, at ECVHS 0

EL CAJON – El Capitan pitchers Preston McMillin (5 IP) and Nick Barnes (2 IP) combined on a 4-hit shutout of host El Cajon Valley in a 14-0 decision on Tuesday (Apr. 25). The combo recorded 13 strikeouts.

The Vaqueros (14-6 overall) received a pair of triples from Wyatt Carrillo, and doubles from Nick Barnes, Jett Hayes and Landon Harbach. Four players shared laurels with two RBI each — Aidan Terrones, Jaylin Padilla, Barnes and Harbach.

The hits for El Cajon Valley (3-9) were by Alfonso Araizaga and Rikki Ortiz.

Liberty Charter 4, Mountain Empire 2

ALPINE – A trio of first-inning runs was enough for Liberty Charter to increase its East County-best record to 8-3 after stopping Summit League rival Mountain Empire, 4-2, Tuesday (Apr. 25).

Run-scoring doubles by Josh Hyler and Andrew Gosinex proved to be the difference. Tyler Peet also registered an RBI for the Lions, while Hyler batted 3-for-4 and registered two of the ballclub’s eight stolen bases.

On the mound, Jaxon Adrain pitched the first six innings, allowing just three hits while the run was unearned. Adrain struck out 11 Red Hawks batters.

The save went to Godinez, as his run allowed was also unearned.

Liberty Charter, the Summit leaders at 4-0, travel to Chula Vista High Tech on Thursday, then host Bayfront Charter on Saturday.

Mountain Empire (5-6 overall, 3-4 league) did not report.

Scoreboard

Grossmont Valley League
Valhalla 5, Mount Miguel 4
West Hills 5, at Monte Vista 3 (8 inn.)
El Capitan 14, at ECVHS 0
Grossmont Hills League
Santana 5, at Grossmont 5
Helix 2, Steele Canyon 1
Avocado League
Oceanside 12, at Ramona 6
Rancho Buena Vista 5, at Mt. Carmel 0
San Dieguito 3, San Pasqual 1
Summit League
Liberty Charter 4, Mountain Empire 2
Western League
Patrick Henry 2, St. Augustine 0
Cathedral Catholic 2, Point Loma 1
Eastern League
Scripps Ranch 10, Clairemont 0
Coronado 6, at La Jolla 4