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Granite Hills senior Jenny Lahitte in action from the Cougar Classic at Kit Carson Park. (File photo by Suzy Lahitte)

An 8th Lahitte no-hitter
Sets conference career record

© East County Sports.com
VISTA (3-20-10) — You must admire the attitude of the Granite Hills Eagles.

Less than 24 hours after getting bounced by not-so-neighborly Christian High, the Eagles collected their thoughts, re-focused, then went back out on the road Friday (Mar. 19) and drilled host Vista, 2-0.

Most of the focus goes to senior pitcher JENNY LAHITTE, who established a Grossmont Conference career record with her 8th no-hitter; her second of the season. Among the 21 outs registered by the Panthers, a mere 20 – all but one – were on strikeouts to equal the East County record for a regulation (non-extra inning) ballgame. She retired 21 of the 22 batters she faced.

WOMEN'S FASTPITCH
For Griffins, spring break comes early
School-record 5 homers extends win streak to 14

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IMPERIAL (3-20-10) — In one of the biggest power display in school history, third baseman ALYSSA TAYLOR smashed a pair of home runs, while designated player KELLEY SEITZ homered and drove in five runs Friday (Mar. 19), as Grossmont College finished with a school-record five homers in demolishing host Imperial Valley, 17-0 in five innings, in Pacific Coast Athletic Conference action.

For the Griffins (16-1), their record winning streak extended to 14 straight, while the team's 2.5-game lead in the PCAC standings is also their greatest margin ever.

© East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (3-19-10) — Even with the ace of the starting pitching staff on the mound, Grossmont College failed to get back into the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference pennant race.

Griffins starter GREG LaBARRE was unable to get out of the 5th inning, when the Jaguars scored five times to post an 8-3 victory Thursday (Mar. 18) at Jaguar Junction. It was the first setback of the season for LaBarre (4-1), who was out-dueled in a complete-game effort by Southwestern's BRANDYN BELL.

PREP FASTPITCH
• Granite Hills 2, Vista 0 (J.Lahiite, GH: conference record 8th career no-hitter)
• El Cajon Valley 17, SD-Southwest 0
• Grossmont 7, Fallbrook 4 (8 inn.)
• Christian 15, San Diego 0
• Serra 9, Helix 7 (12 inn.)

COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOFTBALL
• Grossmont College 17, Imperial Valley 0 (GC: school-record 5 HRs; school-record 14-game win streak)

PREP BASEBALL
• No games scheduled

Vaqueros gain title berth

© East County Sports.com
KEARNY MESA (3-19-10) — El Capitan pounded its way into the finals of the Hilltop-Lolita’s Tournament on Thursday (Mar. 18) by smothering St. Augustine, 17-4, at Hickman Field.

The Vaqueros will take on Cathedral Catholic in the championship game of one of the most prestigious preseason tournaments on Saturday (Mar. 20) at Hilltop at 11 a.m.

BROOKS NOBLE crashed a home run and three singles to log five RBI as the Vaqueros smacked the Saints (3-4).

The game, however, was decided in the 1st inning when the Vaqueros sent 11 men to the plate with 8 of them scoring. The key blow was SHELDON GABRIELS’ grand slam home run to left-center.

CHARLES MOORMAN, Noble and CURREN FACER also contributed RBI singles in the big inning. ERIC LOZANO took one for the team as he was hit by a pitch to account for the other RBI.

Burkett gains D-2 offer

© East County Sports.com
JACKSON, Tenn. (3-16-10) — El Capitan running back MATT BURKETT, a second-team All-East County selection this past season, has received a scholarship to play for Lambuth University.

Another fast Sultans start

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SANTEE (3-20-10) — For the second straight contest, Santana High scored right after the opening faceoff, but this time the goal held up in Friday's (Mar. 19) 10-8 triumph over visiting Chula Vista at Santee Community Stadium.

ROY RICHARD fired a hockey-style goal just 23 seconds into the game, firing a ball sitting on the ground past the Spartans goalie. For Richards, it was the first of his four goals, while teammate DEREK BAIRD also posted a hat trick with three tallies in the team's first victory in five starts.

Monarchs turn the beat around

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SPRING VALLEY (3-18-10) — A year ago, Helix High took a 2-0 lead on Monte Vista, only to see the Monarchs romp back to claim a 5-set stunner.

"And I thought they'd flip the script on us," said Monte Vista coach MICHAEL SKIBBE. "It got pretty heated out there."

On Wednesday (Mar. 17), it was the Monarchs' turn to give back a 2-0 advantage, but this time the scenario failed to completely repeat. Thanks to a late defensive adjustment, Monte Vista held on to win in five sets, 25-18, 25-11, 24-26, 22-25, 15-8, over the Highlanders.

© East County Sports.com
PHOENIX (3-17-10) — It took a lot longer than expected, but the new baseball program at Academy of Art University in San Francisco finally owns its first-ever baseball victory. And the winning pitcher hails from East County.

Valhalla seeks girls basketball coach

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-17-10) — Valhalla High is seeking a varsity basketball coach. Interested applicants can send their resume to athletic director ROBERT WILSON. Position will close Wednesday (Mar. 24). The opening was created following the resignation of VALLI LOPEZ, who guided the Norsemen for one season.

"Our area is dominated by youth volleyball and soccer clubs," noted Lopez. "And a local basketball league for middle-school players was recently cancelled. So there is a definite need, with lots of players who want to play basketball. This league will fill that need."