Harbach leads Monarchs; Pats ready for Islanders

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

 

By Ramon Scott

EastCountySports.com

 

EL CAPITAN 3, MONTE VISTA 1 — Sophomore Landon Harbach delivered a complete game three-hitter, striking out eight along the way, leading El Capitan to the Grossmont Valley League win on Thursday.

The Vaqueros’ sensation not only did the job on the mound, but he also drove in a pair of runs with a double in the fifth to extend El Capitan’s lead to 3-0.

Junior veteran Andrew Conyers had four hits for El Capitan and scored a run.

Junior Brody McAuliffe had a pair of hits, including a double, and scored twice.

Monte Vista junior Gavin Daley hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

 

CHRISTIAN 5, LA JOLLA 2 – The Patriots won the critical Eastern League contest on Thursday, thanks to a four-run sixth inning.

Christian improved to 8-1 in the Eastern League, currently with a two-game cushion for the league banner.

The score was tied at 1-all heading into the sixth.

Hunter Kaul’s sacrifice fly drove in pinch-runner Steven McDonald to give Christian the lead.

Nate Cena, a senior, singled home Vaughn Major with a pinch-hit RBI.

Shane Bailey later added a run-scoring single to drive in Cena, while Ashton McCurty singled to cap the four-run rally, scoring junior Landon Reid.

La Jolla scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first on a solo home run from sophomore Hank Hansen.

The Patriots answered with a run in the top of the third on an RBI single from Xavier Farnum.

The win gave Christian (17-8) a three-game sweep of the Vikings heading into next week’s crucial league-title-deciding series with the Coronado Islanders. The Pats, winners of four straight, handed the Vikings their sixth consecutive loss.

 

SANTANA 10, HELIX 5 — An eight-run third propelled the Sultans to the Grossmont Hills League win over the Highlanders.

In fact, the Sultans led 10-0 before Helix scored their five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Senior Alex Giles had three hits, including a home run and four RBI for the Sultans. Giles’ two-run shot in the third extended the lead to 3-0.

Luke Nash, a senior, added a pair of RBI for the Sultans, including driving the game’s first run in the top of the second.

Helix junior Jake Hopkins drove in a pair of runs in the seventh with a single.

 

GRANITE HILLS 4, STEELE CANYON 0 — Granite Hills senior star Nico Tomasello delivered a two-hit shutout, striking out five and walking none to lift the Eagles to the Grossmont Hills League win on Thursday.

Granite Hills scored in the second inning on an error.

The Eagles made it 2-0 in the fourth on an RBI groundout from sophomore Tommy Entrekin, scoring senior Luke McDonough, who had a one-out double.

Senior Colin Riley had a pair of hits and scored a run.

Cougar sophomore Hunter Haase pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out a pair.

 

WEST HILLS 10, MOUNT MIGUEL 0 — Junior Braeden Steveson and senior Ryan Smith each drove in a pair of runs as West Hills won the Grossmont Hills League game in Santee on Thursday.

Sophomore Joey Monetti had three hits, scored two runs, and had an RBI.

Leadoff man John Leija, a junior, had three hits, scored a run, and drove in a run.

Steveson, Braden Wilson, and senior Nate Sykowski each had two hits for West Hills.

West Hills racked up 19 hits in the contest.

 

VALHALLA 10, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 — Valhalla’s Tanner Lough delivered a complete game three-hitter, and the Norsemen scored four runs in the first in the Grossmont Valley League win at El Cajon Valley on Thursday.

Lough allowed just one walk, while striking out eight. He also was a home run away from the cycle. He scored twice and drove in a run.

Sophomore Mace Wheeler drove home two runs and had three hits. He also scored a run.

Leadoff man Nate Moulton had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. He scored a run as well.