Granite salvages tie; way too many 0’s

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 27, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com

Granite Hills 5, Patrick Henry 5, tie (7 inn., darkness)

SAN CARLOS – Under cloudy conditions and with darkness desneding, Patrick Henry head coach Sheldon Watkins Was running out of options in order to hand top-ranked Granite Hills its first setback of the season.

The possibility of an upset was 90 feet away at third base, but he also knew his batter at the momnent would be the game’s final before the home plate umpire would call the game.

What do you do?

Despite Brady Gunn, one of the Patriots’ top hitters holding the bat after alreadung going 2-for-3 against Granite Hills pitching, Watkins elected to attempt a surprise move with the final bullet in his gun: try to steal home plate.

With runnersw on the corners, the payer from first base took home, hoping to distract the Eagles defense and allow the runner at third to attempt a mad dash for home.

However, Eagles catcher Jody Macias was at the ready, as the senuor made the tage for the second out.

A few pitches later, Granite Hills pitcher Tommy Entrekin finished the ballgamr with a strikeout, leaving both teams with an unsatisfying 5-5 draw.

Granite Hills saw its undefeated streak end following six straight triumphs at 6-0-1. Meanwhile, Patrick Hnry looked better than its 5-3-1, needing to wait another day to prove they are a top contending ballclub.

Such a test may (or may not) comenext week, with potential weather problems forthe 75th Lions Tournament — the nation’s largest high school b aseball event.

Game stuff

The back-and-forth affair saw Granite Hills take an early 3-1 lead before Patrick Hnery scored three times ion the third.

However, the Eagles came back twice with singleruns in the fifth and sixth frames to pull even.

The first time that the Eagles tied the game was on a solo home run by Parker Vance. However, the Patriots re-claimed a 4-3 lead when Gunn lined a two-out single to right field, scdoringcatcher Ian Brooke (lead double).

However, an error allowed Brody Vicars to score an unearned run in the sixth for Granite Hills, sending both sides into “beat the clock” mode.

Brook finished with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBI, scoring three times.

For the Eagles, Vance, the right fielder, went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

Elsewhere

Christian 13, Valhalla 2

EL CAJON – Christian Patriots sophomores Xander Molina and L/J. Rook each slugged triples, part of a 14-hit attack to knovk off tyhe Vslhslls Norsemen, 13-2, at the Greenfield campus.

Chase Togerson topped all Christian batters with three RBI, while laso matching Kyler Lybarger with a double. as the Patriots scored six times in the first to eventually lead 11-2 through three frames.

The pitching win went to ackson Oman, one of seven arms to last one inning each in a bullpen outing — Christian (7-2) was playing its third contest in as nany days.

For Valhalla (3-6), senior Mace Wheeler again paced the Orange offense with three hits, including a solo home run.

Santana 12, San Ysidro 2

SAN YSIDRO – Santana left fielder Brandon Landers belted a pair of home runs, including a grand slam just fiuve batters into the contest, powering the Sultans to an easy triumph over host San Ysidro.

The blows came early, when Santana scored four times in both the first and third innings to mount a 9-1 advantage.

Cougars pitching could’ve find the plate out of the gate, as a line single by Trevor Eckis was sandwiched around a pair of hit batters.

One out later, Landers smack another line drive, Howeverm this time was ball was in te air and easily flew peyonf the barrier in left field.

Landers added his secondbomb to open the fourth, then catcher Xander Bennett added a 2-run homer in the fifth.

The ballgame saw each side hit three batters with errsnt pitches,

Santana (3-6) finished with a season-best 14 hits, including three from Trevor Eckis. San Ysidro drops to 8-6 after registered a mere three hits.

Foothills Christian 6, at Orange Glen 3

ESCONDIDO – Foothills Christian remained a full game behind powerful Escondido Charter for the Pacific League lead after stopping host Orange Glem, 6-3, Wednesdsy (Mar. 26).

The Knoghts (6-5 overall) hsve now won three straight. Orange Glen slips to 5-3 overall.

Neither side was artisitically pleasing with a combined total of 12 errors, inclujding seven by the Patriots.

Thus, all three runs off Knights pitcher Johannes Jansen Granillo were unearned, but the sophoore battled through for a complete game and his East County-lesding fourth victory of the season, allowing just five hits while striking out eight Patriots.

Josh Howard and Bruce Bailey — a pair of sophomorrs — eacj batted 3-for-4 for Foothilld Christian.

Ramona 5, Oceanside 1

RAMONA – Ramona sophomore pitcher Alex Wilson struck out a career-high 14 Oceanside batters, as the Bulldogs overcame a 1-0 deficit to plunder the Pirates, 5-1, in Wednesday’s (Mar. 26) tournament contest.

Wilson bounced back from a so-so effort in his season debut. The right-hander allowed just five hits; the lone run was unearned.

After taking a 2-1 lead when both sides scored in the fourth, an inning laster, Zack Nightingale registered an RBI single,

Two batters later, Justin Jarrett slugged a two-run homer to leftfield, moving Ramona back to .500 at 3-3; Oceanside slipped under the plateau at 4-5.

Mountain Empire 6, at The Rock 4

OCEAN BEACH – Following a scolding for dropping a pair of games in the Battle of the the Back Country to Borrego Springs, the Mountain Empire RedHawks bounced back on its tip to the beach in defeating The Rock Academy, 6-4, Wednesday (Mar. 26) at Presidio Little League.

Five runs in the fourth inning helped overcome a 1-0 deficit , but when the RedHawks (3-2) added a bonus run in the seventh, it proved important when the Warriors come back, yet fell one run short.

The big hit for the Empire was a 2-run basehit by sophomore Michael Nobel. Meanwhile, Jacob Arnold , another sophomore, led with three hits and stole a base.

On the mound, Luis Cardoso — yet another soph. — pitched six steady innings, striking out five Warriors batters to collect the victory.

After The Rock scored in the seventh and placed the potention game-tying and winning runners on base,Jacob Arnold entered the contest, needing to register just one final out foe the save, which he did with a game-ending strikeout. Yes,, he, too, is a soiphomore, maing the future for te RedHawks look promising.

The Rock may 95-2), which had its 5-game win streak snapped, have been looking ahead, getting ready to meet undefeated North County-High Tech (5-0) on Friday in a showdown for the early leadership in CIFSDS Division 5-AA.

The next RedHawks game will be their Lions Tournament opener at Morse on Monday (Mar. 31), with a special, early 1 p.m. start from Skyline.

Mission Bay 3, West Hills 2 (9 inn.)

PACIFIC BEACH – West Hills scored twice in the fifth inning to pull even with powerful Mission Bay. But with only four hits to show for this tournament contest, it was only a matter of time before the Buccaners moved to a sectgion-best 10-0 with a victory in 9 innings at Dennis Pugh Memorial Field.

It’s the best start by the Bucs this century, as they attempt to top Pugh’s 2006 squad which opened with a 13-1 mark.

The Wolf Pack (4-5) were gifted their two runs after Joey Monetti and Roy Ruz bith sungles, then scored on an error.

However, the offense was then shut down by Mission Bay releiver Kaden Jones, who fired three no-hit innings to gain the victory. He faced just one batter above the minimum (a walk).

The game-winning hit went to sophomore Vince Kasunich, who finished with two RBI.

Way Too Many 0’s

Madison 2, Steele Canyon 0

CLAIREMONT MESA – The pitchers from Madison combined on a 2-hit shutout at Roeder Field. The Warhawks (8-3) struck out six Steele Canyon batters.

For the Cougars (3-7), Austin Hall and Jonah Arens recorded the ballclub’s lone basehits.

Madison has captured seven straight contests against Grossmont Conference schools following an opening day setback to West Hills. Included are two victories over Steele Canyon.

Coronado 4, Helix 0

Along the SILVER STRAND – Coronado Islanders pitchers combined to toss a 2-hit shutout of Helix in a tournament contest held at Silver Strand Elementary School

The hits for the Highlanders (3-6) were collected byIsaac Fierro and Kie Smith.

Since getting shutout by Granite Hills, Coronado (7-3) has won three straight.

The Islanders O nā keikikāne (boys) struck out six Scotties batters.

University City 4, El Capitan 0

UNIVERSITY CITY – Centurions pitcher Travis Lee registered his own version of “Barbershop Freestyle” for four innings, then Caron Hildebrandt tossed the final three frames for the save in a 2-hit blanking of El Capitan.

Lee (not the famous musician) cut down 4-of-7 Vasqueros batters on strikes.

El Capitan (4-4) received hits from Landon Harbach and Branden Hawkins.

The Cents (8-1) have won five straight. Their lone loss was by a 1-0 count to Grossmont on Mar. 17.

Mira Mesa 5, Grossmont 0

MIRA MESA – Mira Mesa sophomore Dylan Pham threw a complete-game 3-hitter, striking out five Grossmont batters in the Marauders(5-4) tournament win over the Foothillers.

Grossmont (4-5) received doubles from Tyler Holmes andTrey Crawford.

Clairemont 10, Monte Vista 0

CLAIREMONT -A trio of pPitchers from CLairemont, led by five innings fromJake Robins, combined to toss a 2-hit shutout against Monte Vista.

Robins recorded nine of the Chieftains 11 strikeouts.

The Chieftains snapping a scoreless pitchers’ duel with five runs in the furth inning. “Ridgmont’s record moved to 3-5.

Reuben Cabugwas and Ben Kurtz collected the basehits for the Monarchs (2-8). Meanwhile, Damian Ordaz stole another base, gving him three for the season, already reaching half of his total in 2024.

= Compiled by Nick Pellegrino