Monarchs’ historic sweep, first since ’03

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 25, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASRBALL

East County Sports.com

Monte Vusta 18, Steele Canyon 10

JAMUL – Although Steele Canyon plaued a handful of varsity baseball games in 2002, the first full, official season for the Cougars arrived in 2003.

In ‘3.Mon te Vista whipped Steele Canyon in all four meetings — three coming in the old Grossmont South League, to lead the series between the schools.

However, the Cougars have dominated the Monar hs every since.

Starting in ’04, when Steele Canyon posted a 3-game sweep, the Cougars went on to capture21-of-22 ballgames (the one exception was a tie) until Monte Vista broke through in 2015.

Entering this season, Steele Canyon (obviously) led the all-time series, 29-7-1.

Not:L Sorry, MaxPreps. Our records go back to 2000 (plus achieves from The Daily Californian); your only started in 2005.

No wonder the Grossmont Conference realigned into one power league and a league that wasn’t as strong in an attempt to achieve competitive balance.

On Friday (Apr. 25), the tables finally started to turn.

Monte Vista doubled into all-time mark for runs in a game against Steele Canyon, scoirng an amazing 18 rusn to take a slug-fest from the Cougars, 18-10, at the ballpark next to The Great Wall of Jamul.

The previous mark by the Monarchs was 9, coiming in the Cougars’ “expansion seasonm” when Monte Vista won by scored of 6-3, 9-0, 5-1 and 8-0,

The 18 runs scored is also the most by a Monte Vista ballclub this century (not counting games vs. ECVHS).

Game stuff

Monte Vista (4-15 overall, 2-0 GVL), which entered the week with just two victories, doubled the team’s total by taking a narrow 3-2 win only Wednesday, then pounded out 18 hiuts and took advantage of five Cougars errors in building an early 8-1 cushion.

Reuben Cabugwas scored five times, collecting four hits, including a solo home run and a double.

Two other seniors — Anthony Kephart and Damian Ordaz — both added three hits to shine for Monte Vista.

Kephart had three hits with a triple. Ordaz was joined by frosh Tanner Meyer with three RBI.

For Steele Canyon, Logan Page posted two of the ballclub’s five doubles, good for three RBI.