New face becomes new leader in victories

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 8, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBAL

East County Sports.com

Foothills Christian 2, Mount Miguel 1

LAKESIDE – There is a new East County leader in pitching victories, and it’s not Brenden Lewis or Luke Bailey of Granite Hills. Nor is it Logan Major of Christian or Jacob Holman of Grossmont.

Now ranking a surprising first entering the first full week of April is a sophomore: Johannes Jansen Granillo out of Foothills Christian.

On Monday (Apr. 7), Jansen Granillo fired a complete-game 2-hitter, leading the Knights to a 2-1 conquest of Mount Miguel in non-league action at Matt LaChappa Field.

With his effort which included striking oout eight Matadorsd batters without issuing a walk, Jansen Granillo now has five victories, just one short of the lead in the entire CIF-San Diego Section.

Jansen Granillo was tagged for an unearned run in the fourth inning, making a 2-run Knights rally in the second inning stand up.

Jonah Nottoli, another Knights sophomore, supplied an early 2-0 lead Following an error to open the scdoring, Nottoli sent a sharp basehit up the middle to bring home cleanup hitter Trevor Cochrum, who is also in the 10th grade.

The hard-luck losing pitcher was thr Matadors’ Alfredo Rodriguez who did not allow an earned run in his wn 6-inning, complete-game effort. “A-Rod” only allowed four hits.

Foothills Christian enters Pacific League competition with an 8-9 overall record. Mount Miguel, which had an opportunity to reach the .500 plateau, instead fell to 6-8.

Mt. Carmel 3, Valhalla 1

RANCHO PENASQUITOS – Valhalla High again executed a surprised bunt single with two outs, as second baseman Tanner Lough– the Norsemen lead-off batter — hussled to be safe at first base and allow right fielder Noah Connor to tie this non-league game at 1-all in the second inning.

However, the Orange only managed three additional hits the rest of the way in falling to the host Mt. Crmerl Sundevis.

Senior right-hander Shane Carter fired a complete-game, 6-hitter for Mt. Carmel, striking out seven battersfrom Valhalla (4-9).

Mt. Carmel (9-4) received an RBI single from second baseman Eric Coyle with two down in the first.

In the third, the Sundevils tallied twice for the winning margin. The go-ahead run on an error, then a sacrifice fly by freshman Nate Godbold.

Del Norte 7, Santana 4

SANTEE – Santana senior PO Trevor Eckis registered three hits and drove in the run, but the remainder of the Sultans managed just two basehits in a 7-4 home setback to the Del Norte Nighthawks.

Del Norte 5-7) equaled a season-high 15 hits, including a solo home run by Richie Moore, plus three hits by sophomore Griffen Gusich (one was a triple).

The back-and-forth contest saw Santana take a 4-3 lead, but the Hawks answered with four runs in the seventh inning to win.

Santana (4-9) starting pitcher Brandon Landers went 5.1 steady innings,but the bullpen allowed the lead to slip away.

History: Del Norte’s nickname was coined by their original football coach (and former Santana coach) Jerry Ralph, for the 2010 season.

Unfortunately, it was later determined that the nickname wasn’t that unique: Madison once had a night school program that played volleyball in 1976-77, and they were the Nighthawks (instead of the day school’s moniker of Warhawks).