Another shutout in the ‘East Zone’

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 2, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

Compiled by Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

EL CAJON – Nobody seems to enjoy the “East Zone” when it comes to pitching by arena ballclubs.

Christian and Granite Hills hiugh schools, ocated less than a quarter-mile from each other, continues to haunt the visitors, terrorising them with shutout pitching.

On Tuesday (Apr. 2), Christian’s Peter Zacharzuk took his turn with seven solid innings, tossing a two-hitter to strangle Braley, 1-0, in the ballclub’s final game prior to league play.

Zacharzuk turned the trick on three strike outs of Wildcats batters, fcing a mere 22 batters — one above the minimum. The fround ball specialist registered 16 of his outs to the infield.

“Peter did a great job mixing his pitches,” said Patriots head coach Mike Mitchell. ” “He kept Brawley off balance. Five of his seven innings were 12-2-3.”

Not only was the right-hander backed by a double play, two other Wildcats were out on the basepaths. One runner failed on a stolen base attempt, while another was out attempting to stretch a single into a double.

The Patriots offense provided two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to seal the victory.

Sophomore Benji Molina supplied most of the damage with a pair of doubles, diring in two runs. One of the blows came after Xavier Farnum also doubled, who scored the lone run needed by Zacharzuk.

Farnum, the ctacher, finished 3-for-3 and a pair of runs scored.

Patrick Henry 1, Bonita Vista 0 – Another picthers’ duel sae Patrick Henry’s Cody Cappelletti and Nico Lopez combine on a 3-hittterto stop visiting Bonita Vista, 1-0,in what believe will be a playff preview.

Cappelletti won the ballgame with four innings of relief after the Patriots scored in the fifth inning to finally top a 2-hit coplete game by Barons pitcher Ismael Castanon (9 K’s, buty 4 walks).

One of the walks was issued to sophomore Alex Mestman, who scoredon a two-out sun-aided triple by Cappeletti.

One only other hit by the Patriots (13-3) was by ack Giordano. Bonita Vista fell to 9-4-1 after its 2-game win streak was snapped.

ECVHS 15, Chula Visya Learning 5 – El Cajon Valley’s Matias Herrera knocked in four runs, while Christopher Cosio drove home three others, as the Braves charmed the host Cobras of Chula Vista Learning Community Charter.

The Braves tallied seven times in the second inning, with the lead growing to 11-0 before the Cobras finally answered.

Herrera equalled his career-best in RBI on judt two hits, while, Cosio collected three hits.

In addition, Eduardo Cazarez posted three hits for a pair of RBI, and Paul Rodriguez Pelayo raked a double in a 15-hit Braves attack.

A trio of ECVHS [itchers allowed five runs (four earned), but CV-LCC was credited with just one basehit.

For El Cajon Valley (9-4 overall), the 15 runs scored were a season high. CVLCL fell to 1-3.

Ramona 2, El Capitan 1 – The El Camino Wildcats scored once n the third inning, but the Ramona Bylldogs answered with two in the fourth to caputre this Valley eague opener up on the mountain.
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DerekBrayden Santa (Jr) amd frejman Taylor collected consecutive RBI singles to garner the win

Ramona starting pitcher ait Karlson fell just one out short of a complete game (based on pitch count), but freshman reliever Alex Wilson came out of the bullpen o register the final out for the save.

Ramona moved to 8-5 overall; El Camino fell to 9-5. In the other Valley League opember, Mission Vista topped Escondido, 7-5, while VBalley Center had the bye.

Scoreboard

Tue, Apr 2
Christian 4, Brawley 0 (2-hit shutout)
ECVHS 15, CV-LCC 5 (1-hitter)
Patrick Henry 1, Bonita Vista 0 (2-hit shutout)
Ramona 2, El Camino 1
Warner at Julian