Monte Vista reverses course, stop Steele

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 24, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com

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Monte Vista 3, Steele Canyon 2

SPRING VALLEY – Monte Vista has been the come-from-behind ballclub often this season — yet always seemed to fall short.

On Thursday (Apr. 24) in the Grossmont Valley League opener, the tabled was reverse.

The MNonarchs held a 3-0 lead unti visiting Steele Canyon broke through in the seven inning. However, the Cougars was stopped just in time by Tristan Walker to preserve a 3-2 verdict.

Walker, a senior, who carried a 2-hiut shutout after six innings, finished with a 4-hitter by survived a final resurgence by Steele Canyon.

The Cougars received a leadoff double by second baseman Austin Hall, then a walk to Jonah Arens. Both came home on a one-out doube from left fielder Caden Davey, the No. 9 hitter.

However, despite the Cougars turning over the lineup card, Walker escaped with a shallow fly ball, then a strikeout.

Monte Vista scored once in the third, then two additional markers in the fifth.

Freshman third baseman Tanner Meyer led-off and as hit by a pitch.

Meyer moved around on the batting of three seniors” a bunt by Orlando Rupley, a basehit from Reuben Cabugwas, then an RBI ground single to right field by Antonio MCcomb.

Two innings later, first baseman Damian Ordaz — yet anohter senior — doubled home both Cabugwas (single) and McComb, who was pitched around for a walk after his RBI hit on his previous at-bat.

Cabugwas and McComb each fijnished with two hits for Monte Vista (3-15 overall, 1-0 GVL), which snapped a 9-game winless drought.

Steele Canyon (6-12, 0-1 GVL) , which entered with three wins in its previous four starts, has now lost 15 consecutive games in league play (GVL and GHL combined).

Grossmont Hills League

Helix 4, El Capitan 1

LA MESA – Helix Highlanders pitcher Sean Sherrod seems to be corecting a mid-season slump, firsing a complete-game, 2-hitterto stop visiting El Capitan, 2-1.

Sherrod, a senior, opned the season ast 2-0 eith victories over Erdtview and Mater Deio Catholic. Then a mild slide occureed, with scouts finding reasons to look elsewhere.

However, Sherrod looks back in form with his second sytraight triumph after striking out seven Vaqueros batters.

El Capitan starting pitcher Emilio Fearn-Flored matched Sherrod for five innings in a 1-1 deadlock. But the Scotties took control takes in the sixth.

The rakky only took three qucik swings of the bat.

Kie Smith stroked a lead single to right field, ten freshman Romeo Briones grounded a ball also to the right side.

On the very next pitch, Antoin Simpson turned on a gastball, drilling a 3-run homer to left field.

The blast was Simpson’s fourtg of the season, moving him within one of the East County lead.

Helix (10-9 overall, 2-2 GHL) now holds the inside edge to finish in second place; the Scotties have already played Granite Hills twice.

El Capitan (7-11, 2-4 GHL), down 1-0 iun the first, puled even in the fifth when Matthew Eckis (lead walk) attempted t movr to third base on an infield grounder.

However, an errpr allowed Eckie to take three bases to score.

Granite Hills 14, Grossmont 0

EL CAJON – It was a day of milestones for the Granite Hills Eagles.

1) The ballclub has now gone afull calendar year between regular-season losses.

2) With an overall record of 14-0-2, its the school’s longest unbeaten streak to open a season.

3) The ballclub has now gone 20 staright regular-season contests without a loss.

4) And one mark which wasn’t expected: the Eagles posted their largest shutout victory over Grossmont this century. posting a 14-0 thrashing of the Foothillers.

On the mound, Eagles senior Brenden Lewis was pulled after just four innings, saving his arm for more important, future endeavors.

Lewis struck out five Hillers and allowed just one hit, moving his record to 5-0. The senior left after Granite Hills scored seven times in the third inning to mount an 11-0 cushion.

Three members of the Eagles bullpen — Josh Butters, Trevor Smith and Tommy Entrekin — fired one inning each, allowing just one other basehit.

Grossmont (9-11 overall, 1-3 GHL) saw sophmore Tyler Holmes collect three of the team’sfour hits.

Note: Teams report their statistics independently.

City :eague

Mira Mesa 10, Christian 7

EL CAJON – Mira Mesa tallied five times in the second inning, but when Chrisian closed the gap to 5-4, the Maraudersoffense re-ignited to take a 10-7 deicison in City League play Thursday (Apr. 24) at Christian.

Shortstop Nathaniel Widelski stroked a pair of run-scoting doubles for Mira Mesa, including one as the second batter of the ballgame to give the Marauders a gate-to-wire vivtory.

Widelski joined teammates Blake Rothrock and Caleb Gerlach with three hits each, allowing Mira Mesa to take two ballgames in the 3-game series.

For the Patriots gained two RBI from Logan Major, yet never recorded an extra-base hit among their seven knocks all afternoon.

Mira Mesa (9-10 overall, 2-1 league) moves into a virtual three-ay tie for first place with Coronado and Madison(both 4-2).

Next weekm Christian (123-8, 2-4 league) meets last-place University City, needing a sweep to stay in title contention.

Western League

St. Augustine 10, Patrick Henry 0

SAN CARLOS – St. Augustine right-handed onny Haskett might have saves the season for the Saints, firing a 1-hit shutout to stop Patrick Hnry, 10-0, in Western League action.

Haskett, who dtruck out six Patriots batters, allowed his team to “split” this week’s 3-game series. Both ballclubs went a soccer-like 1-1-1 followig a tie game due to darkness on Tuesday.

The lone Patrick Hnery (12-7-2 overall, 3-2-1 league)was registered by Sal Gagliano, with a two-out single to left field in the third.

The Saints (13-7-1, 3-2-1) received a 3-run homer from University of Texas-bound senior Grayson Boles.

Drake Konja also registered three RBI, including a two-run double.

Grossmont Valley League

West Hills 7, Mount Miguel 1

SANTEE – West Hills pitcher Rosolino was coming out of the bullpen as recently as last week, going four innings to stop Monte Vista.

So, Wolf Pack coaches elected to give Rosolino the start — and with golden resulys.

Rosolino, an occasional starter, finished with a complete game in stopping Mount Miguel, 7-1, in GVL action Thursday (Apr. 24) at Wolf Pack Field.

Thge junior struck out eight Matadors batter sfor his third win of the season. He earlier defeated Morse, then last week’s ballgame with Monte Vista (improperly listed asd a save)_.

West Hills (8-10 overall, 1-0 GVL), following a first-inning run, scored three times in the third andf fifthframes to mount a 7-cushion.

Riley Kulak stroked a two-run double, while Joey Monetti posted two hits, including an RBI double to lead the offense, giving the Pack a 3-game win streak.

Mount Miguel (7-9, 0-1 GVL) avoided the shutout in the sixth, when Easton Sanchez brought home Angel Martinez.

Santana 23, El CajonnValley 1 (5 inn.)_

EL CAJON – The Santana Sultans scored seven times in the second inning, eventually building a 210-0 lead by the third in downing host El Cajon Valley.

The Sultans utilized a “bullpen” game, with five pitchers going an inning each. Thus, starter Brandon Landers gaine dthe victoryin the combined 3-hitter.

The RBI leader was freshman shortstop Gavin Kelly with four, followed by center fielder Nathan Dowers (3) and left fielder Brady Johnson (2), as 10 players drove in runs.

ECVHS’ Luis Espinoza registered two hits, including an RBI single in the third to bring home Alex Vargas.

The ballgame was the GVL debut for Santana (8-10 overall, 1-0 GVL). The Braves (0-11, 0-1 GVL) saw their league streak reach 91 ballgames (since 2015).

Summit League

Mountain Emoure 27, Bonsall 2 (5 inn.)

BUCKMAN SPRINGS – Mountain Empire moved into position for its highest run total this century, but when you only are allotted four trips to the plate, such records are dubious.

Looking to eclipse the 2007 mark of 30 runs against Vincent Memorial, the RedHawks scored inning totals of 5, 14, 8 and 1 before the Scots called it quits.

The Empire (11-4 overall, 3-0 league) extendedtheir Summit League lead to a full game over idel Liberty Charter (2-1), which doesn’t play again unjtil Monday when they host CV-High Tech.

The Legionnairs fall to 5=8 )1-3league).