Cameron Selik

(c) East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (12-25-06) -- Grossmont College relief pitcher CAMERON SELIK has accepted a baseball scholarship to UNLV.

A seldom-used pitcher as a senior at Patrick Henry High, Selik came on to prove himself worthy of pitching under pressure for the Griffins as a freshman reliever last season.

Recruited in the same UNLV class as outfielder Joe DiMaggio, the right-handed Selik, appeared in 19 games last year, including one start. He posted a 2-1 record with four saves in 42.2 innings for the Griffins. He struck out 26 batters and walked only 12 while posting an ERA of 3.80.

The hard-throwing Selik chose the Rebels over Texas Tech, Oral Roberts and Pepperdine.

Josh Mazzola

Mazzola to slug for Missouri St.

East County Sports.com
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (8-23-06) -- Third baseman JOSH MAZZOLA, the top power-hitter for Grossmont College last season, has accepted a scholarship to continue his collegiate career with Missouri State University.

Mazzola dusted a club-leading 14 home runs for the Pacific Coast Conference runner-up Griffins (30-18) last spring, moving the Griffins to within one round of the state championships.

The product of Santana High ranked first in RBI (48) and game-wining hits (9), second in doubles (11), and registered a solid .343 batting average. Included was an 8-for-24 effort during the postseason, with seven of his hits going for extra bases (7 doubles, 1 home run, .750 slugging percentage).

For his efforts, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Mazzola was selected to the All-PCC first team.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-31-06) -- A year ago when SEAN O'SULLIVAN was a senior at Valhalla High, he was stunned when the Los Angeles Angels chose him in the 3rd round of the 2005 June pro baseball draft.

After all, he had been led to believe by scouts and those so-called people in the know that he could be a 1st-round pick. Thus, when the first two rounds passed and his name had not been called, O'Sullivan and his family were, well, upset.

Now, after a successful season at Grossmont College, O'Sullivan and the Angels came to terms Monday night (May 29) with L.A. area scout Tim Cochran handling the paperwork.

The signing bonus of $500,000 plus $56,000 for college was similar to the Angels' original offer.

"This is a new chapter in my life," said O'Sullivan, a JC All-American who batted .408 for Grossmont College this spring with 18 doubles, eight home runs and 41 RBI. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-hander was 7-4 pitching with a 2.17 ERA and was named the Pacific Coast Conference MVP.

"I want to start rolling forward," O'Sullivan said. "I want to make it to the big leagues in three or four years."

So what was O'Sullivan's first order of business with his influx of money?

"My girlfriend (Sabrina) wants to buy a puppy," O'Sullivan said. Maybe the latest addition to the Angels' family will spring for that.

On a personal front, the rookie pitcher, who will report to the Angels' Class A Pioneer League farm club in Orem, Utah, is focused on purchasing a new car.

"Nothing too pricey, though," O'Sullivan said.

That's a practical start

East County Sports.com
FRESNO (5-28-06) -- Grossmont College freshman right-handed pitcher / designated hitter SEAN O'SULLIVAN and Palomar sophomore third baseman Jeff Tezak have been selected to the community college All-America first team.

The standouts also were selected to the All-State first team by the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association.

O'Sullivan, a Valhalla High product who was drafted in the third round of the June 2005 draft by the Los Angeles Angels, batted .408 for the Griffins with 18 doubles, eight home runs and 41 RBIs. He was 7-4 pitching with a 2.17 earned run average.

Tezak, a Mt. Carmel High alum, batted .364 for the Comets with 16 doubles, a home run, 35 RBIs and 15 stolen bases on 16 attempts. He signed with Santa Clara on May 17.

Palomar red-shirt freshman pitcher Nick Vincent (9-2, 1.51 ERA), a right-hander out of Ramona High, was selected to the all-state second team and All-Southern California first team.

East County Sports.com
CYPRESS (5-21-06) -- Instead of hanging his head in disappointment, Grossmont College's highly-successful second-year head coach RANDY ABSHIER looked to the positive points in the Griffins' 30-18 season.

Obviously, Abshier was saddened by the Griffins' elimination from the Southern California Super Regionals in Saturday's (May 20) 9-2 loss to host Cypress College.

But Abshier noted how his club made the playoffs after nearly being buried in the pack during the latter stages of the Pacific Coast Conference race. The coach was also proud of the fact that the majority of his sophomores will continue their baseball careers at four-year colleges next season.

"People tell me this is the farthest a Grossmont College baseball team has ever gone in the playoffs." Abshier said. "We were only a couple of steps away from making the state's final eight."

One thing about this Grossmont team is the Griffins had a knack for doing things the hard way. Coming-from-behind was their moniker.

After dropping a 6-1 decision to Cypress in Friday's opening round of the SoCal Super Regionals, the Griffins overcame a 6-1 deficit to send Bakersfield packing, 14-6 in Saturday's elimination game.

The Griffins raked three Renegades' pitchers for 18 hits, including home runs by JOSH MAZZOLA, SEAN O'SULLIVAN and FRANCIS FOX.

MATT POWELL and KYLE MIRVIS did not join Grossmont's home run parade, but combined for nine hits in 10 at-bats, driving in three runs and scoring three against Bakersfield (22-16).

"I wasn't all that confident during our pregame warm-ups," Abshier said. "I thought to kids looked down, flat."

That proved to be the case until Grossmont erupted for seven runs in the 6th inning to take an 8-6 lead.

"I don't think our kids were ready to go home yet," Abshier said. "They didn't like the way they were getting pounded by Bakersfield. Once we started hitting, it became contagious."

The key blow in Grossmont's turnaround inning was JEFF WOODS' bases-loaded triple that cut the Renegades' advantage to 6-4. Three consecutive walks handed the Griffins a fifth run and Powell laced a two-run single giving Grossmont a 7-6 edge.

In the second game of the day, Cypress -- the state's top-ranked team -- muzzled the Grossmont firepower. Only one of Grossmont's nine hits went for extra bases, an RBI double by Mazzola in the 3rd inning.

Still, the Griffins were in contention until the 8th inning after Woods' RBI single tied the game 2-2 in the 4th. The Chargers (39-10), who lost an earlier 2-0 decision to Grossmont, broke the game open putting up seven markers in the 8th.

"There is no shame to get eliminated by the No. 1 team in the state," Abshier said. "But we had a great club and I think we could have done better against Cypress than the scores show."

East County Sports.com
CYPRESS (5-20-06) -- One small mistake mushroomed into a lost opportunity to defeat the top-ranked community college baseball team in California. If you can even call it a mistake.

Either way, the lost play would eventually result in five unearned runs, as Grossmont College fell to No.1 Cypress, 6-1, in Friday's (May 19) opening round of the Southern California Super Regionals.

Grossmont (29-17) will meet Bakersfield (22-15) in Saturday's (May 20) challenger's bracket of the 4-team, double-elimination event, with the victor gaining a berth to the state championships. The Renegades fell to Santa Ana, 8-5, in the other opening round game, falling on a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 9th.

The play in question started in spectacular fashion in the 3rd inning.

Third baseman JOSH MAZZOLA made a diving stop of a tough one-hopper hit by Cypress right-fielder Mike Vass. The Griffins sophomore jumped back to his feet and fired the ball to the plate in an attempt to prevent a Cypress baserunner from expanding a 1-0 lead.

The ball was on target; catcher MATT POWELL made the catch and applied the tag; the umpire signaled for an out.

But Powell suddenly dropped the ball for what was charged as a rulebook error and a 2-0 lead for Cypress. A hit batsman loaded the bases for Chargers left-fielder Blaine Wilson, who slammed a 3-2 pitch well over the fence in straightaway centerfield.

"Matt felt terrible," said Griffins coach RANDY ABSHIER. "What can I say? He had the ball, but it popped out. It was just unfortunate."

Six runs. Five unearned. And the Griffins are now in desperate search for four unanswered victories to gain a berth to the state finals.

"The slam was a monster mash," added Abshier.

Powell quickly responded during Grossmont's next at-bat, bombing a one-out solo homer, his ninth of the season, to center. But the damage was already done.

"If we get the play at the plate, it's still a 1-1 game and we still could be playing," noted Abshier. "SEAN O'SULLIVAN was pitching great -- he only allowed five hits to Cypress after that -- and we felt like we were still in the game."

Except for one pitch, O'Sullivan has dominated the top-ranked Chargers (38-9) this season. He earlier tamed the Chargers 2-0 in a preseason tournament in Palm Desert. The Griffins superstar freshman right-hander has a 0.53 ERA in two starts against the state's best team.

It didn't matter on Friday.

Cypress starter Josh Tamba tossed 7 2/3 innings, registering more than 130 pitches to collect the victory in blanking Grossmont sans Powell's shot. Reliever Jason Shimizu collected the final four outs, not allowing a hit and walking one.

O'Sullivan fanned nine Cypress batters without a walk. KYLE MIRVIS hit a double, one of only five Griffins hits for the ballgame.

The winner between Grossmont and Bakersfield advances to Saturday (May 20) afternoon's challenger bracket final at 3 p.m. That winner needs to defeat the winner's bracket champion twice on Sunday to advance to the state Final Four in Fresno.

East County Sports.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO (5-15-06) -- Grossmont College climbed off the mat Sunday (May 14) to celebrate Mothers Day with a Southern California Regional sweep of No. 3-seeded Cuesta College to qualify for the Super Regionals next weekend at Cypress College.

This was not the same Grossmont team that fell on its face in Saturday's opening playoff game at Cuesta (32-14-1). This day belonged to the Griffins (29-16), who led for 17½ of the 18 innings. Grossmont received solid pitching in both games, limited their errors and supplied timely hitting as they clipped the Cougars 6-3 and 8-2.

By winning, the Griffins have reached Southern California's final eight. Grossmont opens a four-team regional playoff in Buena Park on Friday (May 19) at top-seeded Cypress College, a team the Griffins defeated 2-0 in a preseason tournament under the lights in Palm Desert.

Enough about looking ahead . . . the Griffins deserve to celebrate their latest conquest. Of the three team Pacific Coast Conference teams, Grossmont is the only one remaining. PCC champion Palomar was ousted by Rio Hondo on Sunday, while San Diego City College was eliminated in a play-in game on Tuesday (May 9).

"We had a good scouting report on Cuesta," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said. "We were told that they are free swingers who chase the breaking ball. We pitched them accordingly and it paid off."

CHRIS VAN STORY was the offensive catalyst for the Griffins in each of their two-run innings in their series-tying victory at Cuesta. Grossmont's second-game batting star was GARRETT LINGLE, who laced four doubles to drive in three runs. Van Story had only one hit in the matinee, but also drove in three run for Grossmont, which built an 8-0 lead in the opening three innings.

Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the 1st inning, the Griffins fired back as Van Story singled. He was forced out at second on JOSH MAZZOLA's ground ball, but rode home on SEAN O'SULLIVAN's eighth home run of the year.

Two innings later, Van Story started things with a single. He scored on the first of Mazzola’s two doubles to make it 3-1. After O'Sullivan was intentionally walked, MATT POWELL punched an RBI single through the infield.

Once again in the 6th, Van Story was a major part of the story as he doubled and scored on a Mazzola double. Powell put the capper on with his second run-scoring single.

SHANE KAUFMAN (10-3) worked the first five innings to post the victory. CAMERON SELIK, who did not pitch a year ago at Patrick Henry High, blanked the Cougars on two hits over the final four frames for his fourth save.

"I realized that Cameron has tremendous arm strength. So I converted him from an outfielder to a pitcher this year," Abshier said. "He was great in this tournament, as he has been for us all year. He's learned to pitch inside and has a great 12-to-6 curveball. None of the Cuesta hitters got good wood on him."

Since Selik needed only 42 pitches to close out the first game, Abshier called on his new talent in the rubber match of this best-of-three series. Selik registered two more scoreless innings to help save the win for starter JOHN LOWE. EDDIE PRYOR toiled the final inning.

:For a freshman with no pitching experience, Selik was so cool under pressure of a playoff game," Abshier said.

Grossmont put the deciding game of this playoff series on ice in a hurry. Lingle laced a two-run double and Van Story drove in two more with a base hit staking Lowe to a 4-0 advantage in the 2nd inning.

The Griffins doubled their advantage with another 4-spot an inning later.

Things only get more challenging for the Griffins as their next hurdle includes Cypress (37-9), Santa Ana (33-13) and Bakersfield (22-14) in a double-elimination affair.

East County Sports.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO (5-14-06) -- It was a bountiful beginning for the Grossmont College Griffins, but a more satisfying conclusion for the host Cuesta College Cougars. The opening round of the Southern California Community College Regional Playoffs produced a disappointing result for the Griffins, who failed to hold a 4-2 lead as they dropped the first game in a best-of-three series, 8-5, Saturday (May 13) at Cuesta College.

Now, with their collective backs against the wall, the Griffins (27-16) must clip Cuesta twice on Sunday (May 14) or face elimination. Game one begins at 11 a.m. If the Griffins are successful in that game with SHANE KAUFMAN (9-3, 2.82) making the start, JOHN LOWE (7-2, 2.27) will get the call in the rubber match that will begin somewhere between 2 and 3 p.m.

"We came out banging," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said.

The Griffins loaded the bases on singles by CHRIS VAN STORY and SEAN O'SULLIVAN and a walk to JOSH MAZZOLA with one out in the first inning of post-season play.

MATT POWELL put Grossmont on the board with a sacrifice fly and GARRETT LINGLE laced a two-run double. Lingle, however, brought the inning to an end as he was thrown out attempting to stretch his hit into a triple.

Grossmont's offense stalled after that as the only other Griffins marker came on KYLE MIRVIS' 425-foot home run to dead center in the 4th inning that gave the locals a 4-2 lead.

"Bottom line is we left too many men in scoring position," Abshier said.

Cougars' designated-hitter Josh Meagher won a nine-pitch duel with Grossmont reliever EDDIE PRYOR to smash a two-run double that snapped a 4-4 tie in the 7th inning.

Grossmont's O'Sullivan had better luck with the bat than on the mound. The freshman right-hander was 3-for-4 and scored a run. He worked six-plus innings and gave up eight hits and four earned runs while striking out six.

East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (5-9-06) -- Grossmont College freshman SEAN O'SULLIVAN, who rated among the Pacific Coast Conference leaders all season in both batting and pitching, claimed top honors when the conference coaches voted him as the PCC Player of the Year.

O'Sullivan, a third-round draft selection of the Los Angeles Angels out of Valhalla High School last summer, needed to bat 5-for-11 over the final week of the regular season to finish above the .400 mark. And he achieved that goal with a 2-run single in his final at bat last Thursday (May 4) to finish with a PCC-best average of .419. Against all-comers, O'Sullivan hit .405 with seven home runs and 39 RBI. He also led the PCC with 18 doubles.

On the pitching front, O'Sullivan also posted a 7-3 pitching season record, once working a stretch of 29 1/3 without allowing an earned run in PCC play. Overall, O'Sullivan garnered a 1.87 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 77 innings.

In addition to O'Sullivan, four other Griffins gained first-team laurels. Included are starting pitcher JOHN LOWE, catcher MATT POWELL, third baseman JOSH MAZZOLA and outfielder ZACH BARGER.

Lowe, a right-handed pitcher, went 4-2 this season with a 2.37 ERA, ranking fifth in the conference with 37 strikeouts over 59 1/3 innings. Overall, Lowe was 7-2 overall with a 2.27 ERA.

Powell rated second in the PCC with a .398 batting average and hammered seven home runs with 39 RBI overall. His batting average overall was .373.

Meanwhile, Mazzola paced the circuit with 14 home runs, which also led all of Southern California community college baseball. He batted .346 overall and was second in the PCC with 47 RBI.

Barger finished sixth in batting at .358 and was fourth in RBI with 38, one less than O'Sullivan.

Grossmont's honorable mention recognition included RHP Shane Kaufman, LHP Eddie Pryor, 1B Nick Cooper, and OF Garrett Lingle.

Other East County players honored in the PCC voting included Southwestern pitcher MIKE McLAUGHLIN (Mount Miguel HS), SDCC infielder MATT LUNA (West Hills), SDCC designated hitter DAVID DENNIS (Valhalla), and 1B-C-DH NICK MONETTE (Granite Hills) of Southwestern.

The Griffins and Cougars will play the first game Saturday 1 p.m. The second game will be played Sunday at 11 a.m., with a third game to follow if necessary.

Pacific Coast Conference champion Palomar (30-14) is seeded sixth among the 18 teams and will host No. 11-seed Ventura (23-20) in a best-of-three series on Saturday and Sunday. No. 18 seed San Diego City (22-17) will visit No. 15 seed L.A. Harbor (25-19) in a play-in game on Tuesday.

Cypress (35-8), Riverside (33-11), Cuesta, Long Beach (33-9) and Santa Ana (31-13) are the top five seeds.

STORY UPDATE (5-9-06, 6 p.m.)... Santa Ana appeal changes Palomar opponent again East County Sports.com SACRAENTO (5-9-06) -- Santa Ana College successfully appealed the Southern California Community College Baseball Regional pairings and Palomar now will host its original scheduled opponent, Rio Hondo, in this weekend's best-of-three first-round series. The Comets (30-14) and Roadrunners (33-9) will play at 1 p.m. Saturday at Myers Field with the second game at 1 p.m. Sunday and a third game, if necessary to follow. Palomar originally was scheduled to host Rio Hondo, but it was determined Monday that due to a clause in the state seeding guidlines Santa Ana, as the third-place finisher in the Orange Empire Conference, couldn't be seeded among the top eight teams because the Dons were not an automatic qualifier (top two finishers). Santa Ana thus was re-seeded from fifth seed to ninth seed, which resulted in a change in Palomar's first-round opponent. That ruling moved Palomar from sixth seed to fifth seed and the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association announced that the Comets would host Vengtura (23-20) in the opening round instead of Rio Hondo. Santa Ana appealed that decision, and the Commission on Athletics, the state's governing body for community college sports, upheld the appeal Tuesday afternoon -- and ordered a return to the original pairings.

East County Spiorts.com
EL CAJON (5-5-06) -- If the Grossmont College baseball team was going to miss the COA state playoffs, they still made sure they would go out with a bang.

The Griffins clouted a school-record eight home runs -- three by third baseman JOSH MAZZOLA -- to vanquish visiting Imperial Valley, 21-1, in Thursday's (May 4) Pacific Coast Conference finale.

While the confines of Noel Michelson Field were unable to contain the baseball, the opposite was true at Balboa Park's Morley Field, where Southwestern nipped San Diego City, 2-1. The loss by the Knights dropped them into a tie for second place in the final PCC standings, but Grossmont gained the automatic COA state playoff berth by virtue of winning the season series with SDCC.

"I'm really proud of the guys," said Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER. "We had our backs to the wall on several occasions, but they kept fighting."

Leading 3-1, the Griffins exploded by scoring six times over each of their final three at-bats to paste the Arabs, with Mazzola exploiting the visitor's pitching staff with a homer per inning -- two solo shots, then a 3-run blast in the 8th.

"Three jacks is three jacks -- that happens in baseball," said Mazzola in his usual understated fashion. "We needed them to win and make the playoffs and it happened -- it's a good thing."

It was Mazzola's second 3-homer game of the season, and the third in school history.

CHRIS DeMARCO (Helix-UNLV) is the only other Griffin to accomplish the feat, while MARCUS GILES (now of the Atlanta Braves) once smacked three in a doubleheader.

Meanwhile, ZACH BARGER finished one single short of hitting for the cycle for the second time this season. His 2-run triple in the 3rd gave Grossmont a pair of unearned runs for a 2-1 lead, offsetting a solo shot by IVC centerfielder Josh Patton in the 2nd.

Barger doubled and scored in the 6th, then cleared the centerfield fence for a 3-run homer in the 7th. However, in the 8th, he walked on a very high 3-2 pitch

"That's the second time I needed a single, although I almost got it during my first at-bat on that bunt," noted Barger.

Barger's first-inning bunt was barely fielded by Arabs starting pitcher Gustavo Gonzalez, who threw to first to nip the Grossmont right-fielder by a half-step.

Gonzalez was also part of a game-turning play following his 4th-inning single.

On a ground ball to the right side, Grossmont second baseman LOUIE RUSSO eventually tagged out Gonzalez, but his throw to first base was late. However, on appeal, a double play was declared because Gonzalez retreated back to first to avoid the tag -- which is illegal for a baserunner on a force play. It was one of three double plays converted by the Griffins defense.

"The defense has made a turnaround lately," noted catcher BRANDON HALEY, who followed Mazzola's 8th-inning homer with a back-to-back shot to left field, breaking the school's single-game record. "If we keep playing like this, the playoffs could be interesting."

The old single-game home run mark was seven, set in 1997 against San Diego City.

The other homers were by MATT POWELL (a solo shot in the 4th for a 3-1 lead), a 3-run blast by Russo (his second of the season and second in three ballgames), plus the first of the season by SAL BUSALACCHI (a 2-run homer in the 7th).

SEAN O'SULLIVAN pitched the first five innings, allowing just four hits to run his record to 7-3. SHANE KAUFMAN and MATT GARNER added two full innings of shutout relief each to close out Imperial Valley (8-30, 2-23 PCC) on just seven hits.

The brackets for the South Region playoffs will be announced Saturday.

East County Sports.com
IMPERIAL (5-3-06) -- It's nearing the midnight hour for the Grossmont Griffins. One game left in the regular season. No chance to win the Pacific Coast Conference championship, but a good shot at making the playoffs.

Grossmont (26-15, 15-9 PCC) came from behind to dump host Imperial Valley College (8-29, 2-22) on Tuesday (May 2), rallying from an early 5-1 deficit to rock the Arabs 18-8.

The Griffins need a repeat performance in Thursday's (May 4) regular season finale when they host the Arabs at 2 p.m. at Noel Mickelsen Field. A Grossmont victory, coupled with a Southwestern win over San Diego City, would leave the Griffins in a tie with SDCC (22-16, 16-8 PCC) for second place. Palomar (29-14, 17-7 PCC) has already claimed at least a share of the conference crown, but would have to share the laurels with SDCC if the Knights beat Southwestern and Palomar falls to San Diego Mesa.

Worst case scenario for the Griffins is they finish third with 27 wins. The Southern California power ratings rank the Grossmont No. 14, which should be good enough for entrance into Southern California's play-in round. If Grossmont ties with San Diego City the Griffins would be the PCC's designated second place team and not have to participate in a play-in round. That is due to the power ratings and the fact that Grossmont won the season series from the Knights 3-2. SDCC would then be a longshot to qualify for post-season play.

Southwestern, which lost to the Knights 3-2 on Tuesday, missed excellent scoring chances as the Jaguars left the bases loaded in the 8th and 9th innings, can only play spoiler.

"It shouldn't have come down to this," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said. "I missed making some defensive changes that hurt us early on. We could easily have won this thing if I make the right moves when I should have."

Grossmont's CHRIS VAN STORY, batting in the leadoff spot, drove in six runs with three hits, including his 6th and 7th home runs of the season.

"He should have had three (homers), but the umpire called one ball foul when it was obviously fair," Abshier said.

Ten Griffins contributed to a 20-hit attack at IVC. Player of the Year candidate SEAN O'SULLIVAN was 3-for-5 with three RBI. ZACH BARGER was 3-for-4 with three runs, two RBI, a pair of triples and a double.

Grossmont has registered four resounding victories over IVC by the composite score of 67-22. That won't carry much weight when all the pressure is on the Griffins in Thursday's finale.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-30-06) -- Grossmont College right-hander SHANE KAUFMAN came within a split-second of matching the shutout effort of SEAN O'SULLIVAN, all to the distress of Southwestern College. Boxscore

Kaufman limited the Jaguars to just five singles, throwing no-hit ball over the final 5 2/3 innings in a 7-1 complete-game verdict in Saturday's (Apr. 29) key Pacific Coast Conference ballgame. The victory moved the teams into a tie for third place, yet the Griffins (25-15, 14-9 PCC) own the tiebreaker after sweeping the two-game series.

The only run Kaufman allowed came on a grounder to the right side with runners on the corners in the 4th. The Griffins attempted to turn a difficult first-to-second-to-first double play, but Jags left fielder Jason Hinton beat the throw as the tying run scored.

The contest didn't stay even for long.

In the sixth, third baseman JOSH MAZZOLA lifted his team-leading 10th home run of the season -- a 3-run blast, and one of three homers on the day by the Griffins.

"In baseball, sometimes you get the luck of the hit," said Mazzola. "I just wanted to do my job and get a sacrifice fly. I was jammed on the pitch, but it still went out."

However, the focus remained on Kaufman, who moved Grossmont within a game of San Diego City for second place and with it a guaranteed COA state playoff berth. City closes the season with a two-game set with Southwestern, while the Griffins play a home-and-home with Imperial Valley.

"The coaches told Shane that it came down to him and this game," added Mazzola.

Kaufman struck out eight and walked one. He also hit Jaguars clean-up hitter Chris Olsen with a pitch after Southwestern smacked O'Sullivan with a fastball high on his non-pitching shoulder. Moments after the game was shortly delayed when trainers attended to O'Sullivan, Mazzola blasted his homer to left.

Ballgame.

"I got my splitty (split-finger fastball) going and did my job," said Kaufman. "So I was able to get a bunch of ground balls -- I don't even care about strikeouts -- and kept them off the bases."

Southwestern registered just three fly balls for outs all contest. The rest were on Ks or grounders, except for the final out of the game, when Griffins catcher MATT POWELL nailed former Valhalla High standout JAVIER BROWN trying to steal second base.

"I knew I had to pitch well, so I clutched up," added Kaufman. "But the defense did a great job for me, too. They clearly helped me out."

Not only were the Griffins error-free, they converted some difficult plays.

In the 3rd, Mazzola scrambled over the baseline to knockdown a potential double by NICK MONETTE, a Granite Hills product. From behind third base, Mazzola threw him out from his knees, leaving the Jags' leadoff hitter with an 0-for-4 afternoon.

Later, first baseman KYLE MIRVIS also lunged toward the line to flag down a shot by Eric Martinez, tossing to Kaufman covering the bag to end the 8th.

Meanwhile, every member of the Griffins roster seems to be contributing to the recent power surge. LOUIE RUSSO and GARRETT LINGLE became the sixth and seventh different Griffins since spring break -- a stretch covering just six ballgames -- to slug home runs. Like Mazzola's, both were no-doubters.

Russo opened the scoring with a solo shot to left in the 3rd for his first home run of the season. Lingle collected his second of the year, a crowning 2-run shot to right in the 8th to cap the scoring. The blast gave Lingle a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.

Mazzola was earlier robbed when Martinez, the Southwestern right-fielder, made a juggling catch in the corner to open the 2nd. Challenged by the fence, wind and sun, Martinez fell to the ground before finally making the grab.

Powell also went 2-for-4 for the Griffins; Olsen collected two hits, but the Jaguars only mustered nine hits and a single run in the series.

East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (4-28-06) -- SEAN O'SULLIVAN knew what was at stake as he warmed up for Thursday's (Apr. 27) Pacific Coast Conference contest at Southwestern College. When it came time to "play ball," the hard-throwing freshman right-hander rose to the occasion.

A third-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Angels last June, O'Sullivan gave a blue ribbon performance for Grossmont College as the visiting Griffins edged Southwestern 2-0.

O'Sullivan was on his game to be sure. No walks, seven strikeouts, and only four singles for the Jaguars (21-19, 14-8 PCC).

"My stuff was pretty good," O'Sullivan said. "My fastball had some zip and I was able to throw my slider, curveball and change for strikes on any count. Their hitters couldn't guess, they had to react. Most of the time it was too late."

Nice timing. Among the Angels' brass in attendance was general manager Bill Stoneman. Reports from those at the scene reported O'Sullivan's velocity was consistently between 91-to-92 mph and topped out at 94.

"I kept the ball in on their hands and they hit a lot of soft ground balls and a couple of pop-ups," added O'Sullivan, who raised his record to 6-3 and lowered his ERA to 1.88. "I felt that I was in command."

O'Sullivan's game was more than complete-game pitching. He was the thrust of a Grossmont offense that has produced only three runs in its last 24 innings.

Runs are routinely hard to come by at Southwestern, a cavernous facility that is a graveyard for power hitters. Yet, O'Sullivan doubled and scored on GARRETT LINGLE's single in the 4th inning.

For good measure, O'Sullivan, the PCC batting leader with a .407 average (59-for-145), launched his seventh home run with one out in the 9th inning.

Southwestern southpaw MIKE McLAUGHLIN (5-6), a product of Mount Miguel High, pitched well enough to win most games. Outside of O'Sullivan, he blanked the Griffins on four hits over nine innings. He struck out seven and walked none.

O'Sullivan rated his latest outing among his best at Grossmont.

"This was right up there with Cypress (a 2-0 win on Feb. 2)," O'Sullivan said. "Only this game was a lot more intense because both teams are fighting for a playoff spot."

The Griffins (24-15, 13-9 PCC), who trail third place Southwestern by one game, second place San Diego City by two and front-running Palomar by one with three to play, realize they must sweep their final three regular season games to reach the Southern California Regional playoffs.

"We're fighting to get second (place), to salvage the season," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said. "We are hoping to finish the season strongly, to win out and see what happens."

East County Sports.com
KEARNY MESA (4-26-06) -- It's difficult to believe that Grossmont College could go 15 innings and score only one run, as the Griffins did Tuesday (Apr. 25) in a critical 2-1 Pacific Coast Conference loss at San Diego Mesa College.

The Griffins, who had been held to a single run only once in 38 games this season, picked a most inopportune time to go on a hitting strike. This loss to Mesa may well cost them a shot at a berth in the Southern California Regional playoffs.

Grossmont (23-15, 12-9 PCC) stands fourth in the conference, two games behind San Diego City and Southwestern who are tied for second place and the final guaranteed playoff spot. Should the Griffins scramble to a third-place finish they would most likely gain a playoff position due to their number of wins and strength of schedule.

Bottom line: Grossmont must run the table in its final four games against Southwestern (two) and Imperial Valley (two). That's a tall order, but one the Griffins are capable of scaling.

Frustration followed the Griffins all over Mesa College on Tuesday as West Hills High alum and now Olympians' ace NICK RODIECK (7-4, 3.09 ERA) fluttered his pitches in selected locations to keep one of the state's top hitting units at bay.

Rodieck allowed only six hits, the lone run and struck out eight in an 8-inning outing. Two Mesa relief pitchers finished the job, limiting the Griffins to two hits over the final seven innings.

Grossmont avoided a shutout and sent the game into extra innings with its only score in the 8th. JEFF WOODS slapped a leadoff single, stole second and scored on NICK COOPER's base hit.

Like Rodieck, Grossmont starting pitcher JOHN LOWE deserved a better fate than a no-decision. Lowe, who permitted only seven hits in nine innings, suffered only one lapse as he gave up consecutive two-out singles to three Olympians that gave Mesa (15-24, 6-14) a 1-0 edge in the 3rd inning.

Grossmont relievers EDDIE PRYOR and LANCE JANKE blanked Mesa on one hit from the 10th through the 14th before the Olympians scored the winning tally. Janke did not get an out in the 15th as Mesa fused together a single, two bunts and a wild pitch for the run that ended the game.

"That loss will probably cost us the playoffs," sighed Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said. "The sad thing about this club is we're not playing anywhere close to our potential."

Grossmont faces a must-win situation when the Griffins travel to Southwestern on Thursday (Apr. 27) at 2 p.m.

Griffins' Josh Mazzola -- PCC Player of the Week

Mazzola claims PCC award

East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (4-25-06) -- JOSH MAZZOLA, the starting third baseman for the Grossmont College basemann team, has been named Pacific Coast Conference Male Athlete of the Week.

Mazzola, a sophomore out of Mount Miguel High, batted .700 in last week's action. He went 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI as the Griffins downed first place Palomar, 10-5. He came back two days later to go 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI in a 10-2 victory over San Diego Mesa.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-23-06) -- CHRIS VAN STORY earned one of three starting outfield berths to open the season for Grossmont College. But the opportunity didn't last for the former Monte Vista High standout

"I started the season in a slump, so I had to go to the bench and wait my turn," admitted Van Story. "Then I got my chance at the spring break tournament."

With the Griffins coaching staff looking for defensive solutions in the outfield, Van Story is now filling the role. On Saturday (Apr. 22), he demonstrated both a sharp glove and a steady bat.

The centerfielder cracked a two-run homer to mount a quick 4-0 lead and chase Mesa starter Michael Chipp after just one inning, as Grossmont cruised to a 10-2 pasting of the Olympians at Noel Mickelson Field.

"I have to keep hitting to stay in the lineup," noted Van Stiory, who also boomed a double off the left-field fence and scored twice, keeping his average at .500 in Pacific Coast Conference games since returning to the batting order. "I have to go out and set the pace."

Van Story's home run was one of three shots by Grossmont (23-14, 12-8 PCC) as part of a 15-hit onslaught against four Mesa pitchers, backing another strong effort by Griffins starter SHANE KAUFMAN. The sophomore, right-hander out of Santana High allowed just two hits through six innings, eventually leaving in the seventh with five strikeouts and a 7-2 lead to gain the victory.

In tandem with JOHN LOWE and SEAN O'SULLIVAN, it was the third superior performance by a Grossmont starter this week, moving the Griffins into strong position to make a run for second place in the PCC, and with it a COA state playoff berth.

"There is no No. 1 starter on this staff -- we all do about the same," said the San Diego State bound Kaufman (8-3), who has won four of his last five starts. "If we just come out and pitch and hit like we can, we'll definitely make it."

JOSH MAZZOLA fueled the offense with three hits over the first five innings to lift Grossmont to a 7-1 lead. Included was an RBI double to score ZACH BARGER with the game's opening run. Mazzola scored on MATT POWELL's single, then Van Story went deep.

Mazzola later stroked a one-out single in the third, eventually scoring on BRANDON WHEELER's two-out basehit.

In the fifth, Mazzola maintained his recent hot streak. He lined a two-run single down the left-field line to score NICK COOPER and Barger, giving the Griffins third baseman six hits in his last seven at-bats (.857) when runners on base. With three RBI against Mesa, Mazzola has driven home nine runs in his last two contests.

Powell later hit the scoreboard in left with a lead homer in the seventh, then Barger just missed the scoreboard with his one-out pop in the eighth to cap a 3-for-5 outing. Barger scored three times.

"Sometimes you hit the ball; sometimes you don't hit the ball," Barger said giving his best 'Nuke' LaLoosh impression from the 1988 movie Bull Durham. "I'm just trying to hit 'em where they pitch 'em and get the job done."

The Grossmont bullpen then took over with 2 1/3 innings of shutout ball, allowing just one hit. CAMERON SELIK set down all four Olympians he faced, then EDDIE PRYOR struck out two to close the Griffins' sixth victory in their last eight PCC outings.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-21-06) -- A pair of important cogs to the Grossmont Griffins got back on track Thursday (Apr. 20) in a significant ballgame to get back into the hunt for a COA state playoff berth.

Third baseman JOSH MAZZOLA drove home six runs with his third multi-homer output of the season, while SEAN O'SULLIVAN -- now with a healthy hamstring -- gained just his second pitching victory in almost seven weeks, powering the Griffins past Pacific Coast Conference leading Palomar College, 10-5.

Mazzola snapped an 0-for-17 streak with four hits, each of them driving in one or more runs. Included was a go-ahead, solo homer in the 3rd just moments after ZACH BARGER tied the ballgame at 3-all with a 2-run blast to straight-away centerfield. Mazzola later added his own solo shot in the 6th, then capped Grossmont's attack with a 2-run single in the 7th.

The homers, both line drives over the fence in left field, were Mazzola's first since equaling the school record with three blasts off Southwestern on Mar. 28, also accounting for six RBI.

Meanwhile, O'Sullivan, who was tagged for two early runs due to a pair of bad bounces, did not allow an earned run over his final six innings of work. He struckout five Comets in seven frames, giving O'Sullivan his second victory since also defeating Palomar back on Mar. 3.

The top four batters in the Grossmont lineup combined to rattle Palomar pitching at a sizzling 10-for-16 clip as part of a 15-hit attack. The experiment to place first baseman NICK COOPER at the top of the order continues to bear fruit, especially at home. Since the switch, Cooper is batting at a .421 clip (8-for-21) at Noel Mickelson Field, reaching base four times with two singles, a walk and getting hit by a pitch.

The result: Cooper joined Barger by scoring three times against the Comets, as O'Sullivan (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Mazzola continuously came to the plate with runners on base.

Despite the triumph, the two teams ahead of the Griffins (22-14, 11-8 PCC) also won Thursday. However, both San Diego City and Southwestern still need to play Palomar two more times, while the Griffins have concluded their season series, with the Comets barely taking a 3-2 advantage.

GRIFFIN GRAFFITI -- Palomar's Danny Flannery slugged a pinch-hit, RBI double in the 9th. Flannery, the son of former San Diego Padres favorite and team broadcaster TIM FLANNERY, is expected to join Comets assistant coach MIKE LORD as the first player to sign a baseball scholarship by month's end for the 2007 debut program at El Cajon's San Diego Christian College. Lord will be the program's first manager.

The now fourth-place Griffins (21-14, 10-8 PCC) trail the first-place Comets (28-9, 16-2) by six games in the PCC race with seven to play.

"We're still in this thing," insisted RANDY ABSHIER, Grossmont's second-year skipper. "We're playing for the playoffs right now."

A second-place finish in the PCC would guarantee Grossmont a post-season spot. At the moment, the Griffins trail San Diego City and Southwestern -- now tied for the No. 2 slot -- by one game. The Griffins have no games left with SDCC, but do have a pair against Southwestern remaining.

"If we did finish third, we would get into the playoffs by virtue of our power-rating," Abshier said. "Our goal, though, is to get second."

Lowe (7-2) gave up four runs (two of them unearned), pitching the first seven innings before leaving the game for LANCE JANKE, who retired the Comets in order in the 8th.

As has been their biggest problem all season, the Griffins helped beat themselves with sorry defensive execution. This time, they committed three errors, two of them in the 1st inning when Palomar took a 1-0 lead and another in the 5th when a dropped sacrifice fly led to three Comets' tallies.

Vincent, a red-shirt freshman right-hander from Ramona High School who is 8-1 on the season with a 1.28 earned run average, stopped the Griffs with a complete-game four-hitter, striking out seven and walking one.

ZACH BARGER singled in the 5th inning to drive in the Grossmont run. CHRIS VAN STORY led off the inning with a single, went to second on BRANDON WHEELER's sacrifice bunt and to third on JEFF WOODS' groundball out. After Vincent plunked NICK COOPER with a pitch to put runners at the corners, Barger plated Van Story with a single to right.

However, Palomar right fielder Nick Burke threw out Cooper trying to advance from first to third on the play.

SEAN O'SULLIVAN, who led Palomar's Gordon Stevens by one point (.408 to .407) to top the conference in hitting going into the game, remained red-hot as he had two of the Griffins' four hits off Vincent. He singled in the 1st inning and again to lead off the 6th. He also reached base as a hit batter in the 4th.

Vincent retired the last 12 Grossmont batters, including five of the last six by strikeouts.

The Griffins and Comets play again on Thursday (Apr. 20) at 2 p.m. at Grossmont's Noel Mickelsen Field.

East County Sports.com
FULLERTON (4-14-06) -- Grossmont College sophomore ZACH BARGER finished off a stellar three-game stint in the Fullerton Tournament Thursday (Apr. 13) by driving in three runs with a bases-loaded double to cap a five-run 8th as the Griffins outlasted the hosting Hornets 11-9.

Although the Griffins (21-12) lost two of their three games in the tournament, Barger maintained a .583 batting pace (7-for-12).

With the score knotted at 6-6 in Thursday's finale, a hit batsman and singles by NICK COOPER and GARRETT LINGLE loaded the bases in the 8th inning.

Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER then executed a baseball rarity. A Super Double Squeeze. No, that's not a fast food meal. Rather an ingenuous move as it turned out.

Abshier called for and received back-to-back squeeze bunts by BRANDON WHEELER and JEFF WOODS. The successful bunts came on consecutive pitches, which has to be some kind of record. Better yet, both bunts went for base hits and RBI.

The precision execution of the short game gave Grossmont a 7-5 edge. Then Barger banged one off the boards to plate three more runs.

Grossmont got off to a swift start as Cooper slashed a two-run single in the top of the 1st inning.

Fullerton countered with four. A triple by Woods and sacrifice fly by Lingle in the 2nd pulled the Griffins back to within two.

The Griffins eventually tied matters in the 3rd as MATT POWELL singled and SEAN O'SULLIVAN whacked his sixth homer of the season.

Fullerton regained the upper hand with a run in the 4th, but Powell's fifth home run made it a 6-6 ballgame in the 5th.

Four Grossmont pitchers were utilized to secure this victory, which snapped a three-game losing skid. SHANE KAUFMAN toiled 4 2/3 innings to pick up his seventh win in 10 decisions. EDDIE PRYOR struck out the final two batters to log his eighth save.

O'Sullivan finished the day 3-for-3, giving him four consecutive hits over the past two games. He leads the Griffins in home runs and RBI (31).

Grossmont returns to Pacific Coast Conference activity on Tuesday (Apr. 18), taking on front-running Palomar in San Marcos at 2 p.m.

East County Sports.com
SANTA ANA (4-13-06) -- The Grossmont College Griffins keep finding more ways to mentally torture themselves. In Wednesday's (Apr. 12) second round of the Fullerton Tournament, the Griffins out-hit the hosting Dons 14-6 and still came home 6-4 losers to Santa Ana College.

Double plays, three of them, spoiled Grossmont's offensive effort.

ZACH BARGER continued his torrid hitting for the Griffins with four singles and two RBI in five trips. LOUIE RUSSO was also 3-for-4 with two runs scored for Grossmont.

One puzzle Grossmont couldn't solve was the batting of Santa Ana right fielder Nick Mahin (2-for-4, 4 RBI). Mahin was a one-man wrecking crew, tying the game 4-4 in the bottom of the 6th with a two-run single to left. He then provided the game-winning blow with a two-out, two-run home run off reliever EDDIE PRYOR in the bottom of the 8th.

The Griffins (20-12), who have lost three in a row, still had a chance with two outs in the 9th as MATT POWELL came to the plate representing the winning run. The freshman designated hitter, who singled in three of his previous four at-bats, lined out to left field to end the game.

It was the 14th save for Kris Medlen, who ties former Santa Ana and current New York Mets' reliever Heath Bell for the most saves in school history.

This marked the second time Grossmont has lost to Santa Ana (25-9). The Dons won 8-3 at Noel Mickelsen Field on Feb. 14.

Pryor (0-4) suffered the loss giving up two runs on two hits in three innings. Starter JOHN LOWE limited the Dons to just two hits over the first four innings before surrendering four runs on two hits and three walks in the 5th. He struck out five.

Grossmont concludes its tournament season with a trip to Fullerton College for the third day of the Fullerton Tournament on Thursday (Apr, 13) at 2 p.m.

East County Sports.com
RIVERSIDE (4-12-06) -- It was supposed to be a chance for the Grossmont College Griffins to shine. A chance to show off their talents.

Let's just say the Griffins did not get rave reviews in a 9-4 loss to the No. 2-ranked team in Southern California -- the Riverside College Tigers -- in Tuesday's (Apr. 11) opening round game of the Fullerton Tournament.

Grossmont's fielding was shaky at best. But that's been the case most of the season. The pitching was less than spectacular and the hitting was nothing to shout about.

Such things do not bode well when playing against a high-powered outfit such as Riverside.

"It's not like we can't play with these guys," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said. "Our club is capable of playing this caliber of baseball. But we are making too many excuses instead of going out and playing the game the way we know we can."

The Tigers (24-9) jumped on Grossmont starter SEAN O'SULLIVAN for seven runs (four earned) and nine hits in three innings to take a five-run lead.

Game over.

"Our starting pitching in these last few games has let us down," Abshier said. "It's not what it was a couple of weeks ago. We need to get back on track."

Grossmont (20-11), ranked No. 13 in Southern California, struck first against the Tigers as NICK COOPER singled and scored on an O'Sullivan double in the opening frame.

The Griffins had another tally in the 2nd as GARRETT LINGLE singled, stole second and scored on JEFF WOODS' double.

But Grossmont could not overcome Riverside's relentless peppering, which consisted of 14 singles and one triple.

"When you add four errors and a balk, it's hard to keep up," Abshier said.

Nearly half of Grossmont's 11 hits went for extra bases. Lingle was 3-for-4 with two doubles.

Grossmont travels to Santa Ana on Wednesday (Apr. 12) for a 2 p.m. Fullerton Tournament contest before closing out the three-day event against the host Hornets, Thursday at 2 p.m.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-8-06) -- Pancakes are not part of the vernacular in baseball, especially Friday (Apr. 7), when the Grossmont Griffins came out flatter than a... you know.

Collecting a mere three hits all contest, Grossmont was run off its own field early when San Diego City College pushed across five runs in the second inning en route to an especially easy 9-2 conquest over the Griffins in the battle for second place in the Pacific Coast Conference at Noel Mickelson Field.

Except for a brief flash when the Griffins scored their lone runs in the fifth inning, City pitchers Eric Billings and Matt Luna poured plenty of syrup on Grossmont's plodding offense. Billings struck out six batters over 6 1/3 innings, allowing all three hits before Luna, the starting second baseman for the Knights, came on in spotless relief by retiring all eight batters he faced.

"They both pitched great for us, while Grossmont showed no patience at the plate," said third baseman Dante Love, who keyed City's offense with three hits and four RBI. "They were first-ball swinging all day which made everything easy for us."

Love delivered the key blow to the Knights' early outburst, stroking a 2-run single. And when designated hitter David Dennis legged out a rare infield single for another run, it was 5-0. Love later capped the victory with a 2-run homer to left in the 9th, the first homer of the season for the former Crawford High standout.

"We were putting the bat on the ball and doing things with it," added Love.

The cavalry came too late for Grossmont.

CAMERON SELIK entered in relief in the third, settling down the first 11 batters he faced, and 15 of the first 16, as the lone SDCC baserunner during the stretch was caught stealing on a solid throw by Grossmont catcher MATT POWELL.

Nevertheless, the offense of the Griffins went AWOL.

The only hits were a JOSH MAZZOLA single in the first, although he was later erased on a double play grounder, and a pair of fifth-inning doubles by GARRETT LINGLE and JEFF WOODS.

Lingle's double to the right-field corner opened the frame while down 6-0, moving to third on a failed pickoff throw. Two outs later, pinch-hitter CHRIS VAN STORY walked, then tried to steal second, as Lingle scored when the throw went through the infield for the first Grossmont run on the double-steal.

One pitch later, Woods stroked a double off the wall in left to score Van Story.

Billings tired in the seventh, walking three straight batters. Luna entered to strike out two batters to escape the jam, then quietly sat Grossmont down in order over the final pair of at-bats.

Along with Love, shortstop Louis Templeton and catcher Kevin Hofmockel (two doubles, two RBI) collected three hits each in the Knights' 12-hit attack.

The victory by SDCC snapped a second-place deadlock between the teams, as the Knights (17-13, 11-7 PCC) now hold a one-game advantage over both Grossmont (20-11, 10-7 PCC) and Southwestern (15-17, 10-7 PCC).

Grossmont will play at the Fullerton Tournament during spring break next week, opening a string of three contests in as many days on Tuesday (Apr. 11) at Riverside, the top-ranked ballclubs in California. The Griffins then play at Santa Ana on Wednesday, then the host Hornets on Thursday; all three games start at 2 p.m.

GRIFFIN GRAFFITI -- Pitcher MATT GARNER, who earlier committed to play at NAIA nationally ranked Avila University, will be joined in Kansas City by sophomore outfielder CHRIS VAN STORY, who also committed to play for the Eagles earlier in the day.

East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (4-05-06) -- Freshman catcher MATT POWELL pounded in four runs with a pair of doubles Tuesday (Apr. 4) to lead Grossmont College to an 8-5 Pacific Coast Conference victory over San Diego City College at Balboa Park's Morley Field.

While the victory allowed the Griffins (20-10, 10-6 PCC) to pull into a tie for second place with SDCC (16-13, 10-6 PCC) in the conference race, Grossmont's focus and dedication took place long before the first pitch.

Former Grossmont College baseball coach ED OLSEN informed some of the players who are enrolled in his classes that his 103-year old father had passed away only hours earlier Tuesday morning.

The players responded with the respect that they have for the Griffins' all-time winningest baseball coach.

"They used a silver Sharpie pen to write the No. 12 (Olsen's unform number) on their baseball hats," said current Grossmont coach and former Olsen assistant, RANDY ABSHIER. "Then we all sat together before the game and talked about dedicating this one to the skipper's dad."

Powell broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run double in a five-run 7th inning as the Griffins pulled away. Powell later scored in that inning as the Griffins attempted a double steal that resulted in GARRETT LINGLE being caught in a rundown and eventually tagged out.

An inning earlier, Powell blasted a double to score SEAN O'SULLIVAN (double) to tie the game at 2-all.

"Powell has been so consistent swinging the bat," Abshier said.

Grossmont closed the 7th inning with back-to-back triples by ZACH BARGER and BRANDON WHEELER to take a 7-2 advantage. Barger had two triples in the game.

O'Sullivan, who was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI, rationed the Knights to three hits and one earned run in seven innings on the mound. He struck out only four, but did not issue a walk.

"Sean did what he needed to do to win," Abshier said. "He did not have great velocity, but his control was sharp and he was able to spot his pitches."

Grossmont relievers EDDIE PRYOR and CAMERON SELIK combined to blank the Knights on one hit over the final 1 2/3 innings while striking out 3. Selik logged his third save.

The Griffins will continue to display the No. 12 on their hats for the remainder of the season, which is slated to continue on Thursday (Apr. 6) when Grossmont hosts San Diego City College at 2 p.m. If the field conditions are too wet at Noel Mickelsen Field due to the latest rain, the game will be pushed back to Friday (Apr. 7) at 2 p.m.

Grossmont will vie in the Fullerton Tournament during spring recess (Apr. 11-13). The key game of that tourney is the final round contest between top-ranked Riverside City College and the Griffins on Thursday (Apr. 13) at Fullerton College at 2 p.m. The scouts are sure to flock to that game as O'Sullivan matches his skill against the best team in community college baseball.

GRIFFIN GRAFFITI -- Grossmont relief pitcher MATT GARNER has accepted a scholarship to NAIA institution Avila University in Kansas City, Mo. Garner (6-3, 210) is a sophomore right-handed pitcher out of University City High. Garner posted a 3-2 record and a 3.18 ERA as a freshman. He hasn't pitched as much as this season, but is the third Grossmont pitcher to sign a scholarship this season, joining teammates JOHN LOWE (Point Loma Nazarene) and SHANE KAUFMAN (SDSU).

Grossmont's Jeff Woods

Off the pine comes Woods Boxscore

East County Sports.com
IMPERIAL (4-2-06) -- For much of the season's first half, Grossmont College freshman JEFF WOODS has been more of an onlooker than a participant. He did not openly complain, but was obviously eager for a chance to show what he can do.

Woods was inserted into the lineup at shortstop three games ago in hopes that he could help plug up a leaky Grossmont defense. Woods, a product of Santana High, was able to handle the job.

And now the talented gloveman is making major contributions with his bat. Woods drove in four runs with three hits Saturday (Apr. 1) as the Griffins crushed host Imperial Valley 16-1 in a Pacific Coast Conference game.

"His hitting is a bonus," said Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER of Woods, who is 6-for-14 with five RBI since becoming a starter. "His fielding, that's been stellar. Together I think those two aspects of the game have raised his confidence level."

SEAN O'SULLIVAN had some nice cuts against IVC (6-22, 0-15 PCC), driving in three runs with a 4-for-6 batting effort that included a pair of doubles.

Catcher MATT POWELL was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBI after BRANDON HALEY made the start behind the plate and went 2-for-4 with an RBI double for the Griffins (19-10, 9-6 PCC).

Thirteen Griffins contributed to a 21-hit attack, which has become common against IVC, a team Grossmont is averaging more than 16 runs per outing against.

JOHN LOWE (7-1) breezed through 5 1/3 innings to pick up the pitching win. TAYLOR MONJO, CAMERON SELIK and EDDIE PRYOR finished the job. The Grossmont quartet combined for 11 strikeouts.

"They had excellent pitching," IVC coach Jim Mecate told the Imperial Valley Press.

"We are definitely a pitching team," Abshier told the same publication. "We are leading the conference in pitching with the best ERA, and that is what wins us games."

Grossmont heads into another key week in its quest for the playoffs. The Griffins take on San Diego College (16-12, 10-5 PCC) Tuesday (Apr. 4) at Morley Field and then hosts the Knights on Thursday (Apr. 6). Both games start at 2 p.m.

Griffins' Shane Kaufman commits to the Aztecs.

Grossmont's John Lowe headed for PLNU.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-31-06) -- A few hours after verbally committing to pitch for San Diego State in 2007, Grossmont College starter SHANE KAUFMAN again demonstrated what the Aztecs will be gaining for their depleted staff.

Kaufman tossed eight strong innings Thursday (Mar. 30), running his record to 6-2 to pace the Griffins to a 10-3 triumph over Imperial Valley at Noel Mickelsen Field.

"I verbally committed this morning," noted Kaufman, who plans to major in criminal justice. "A lot of schools talked to me, but no one gave me an offer until San Diego State put one on the table -- so I took it."

In addition to Kaufman, JOHN LOWE, another Grossmont starting pitcher, agreed to play for Point Loma Nazarene University on scholarship next season. Lowe owns a 6-1 overall record, entering the week ranked first in the Pacific Coast Conference with 50 strikeouts, and third with a 1.75 earned run average. Kaufman is fifth at 2.58, with both pitchers tied for first in innings pitched.

With Kaufman dominating Arabs' batters, a relaxed Griffins defensive unit turned a pair of double plays and did not commit an error. The victory moved Grossmont within a game of second-place San Diego City -- the teams meet twice next week in an important series to determine postseason berths.

"It might be the most important series of the year," said head coach RANDY ABSHIER. "And since they are our only games next week, we'll have our entire pitching staff available."

"However, we still need to play at Imperial Valley on Saturday. And we have to be careful, because funny things can happen in the valley, and IVC is really only a player or two away from being a really good team."

Grossmont (18-10, 8-6 PCC) scored in seven of its eight trips to the plate to slowly pull away. The offense was paced by a 3-for-5 outing by second baseman BRANDON WHEELER, who slugged a pair of doubles and his first home run of the year -- a 2-run shot in the fourth to mount a 7-1 advantage.

Wheeler is now batting .435 (10-for-23) in his last six ballgames since snapping an 0-for-10 skid at the plate.

NICK COOPER, who is batting at a .471 tear (8-for-17) since moving into the leadoff spot, added three more hits and reached base on all four of his trips to the plate. Included was a lead double in the first, as four of Grossmont's first five batters registered hits for a quick 2-0 lead.

GARRET LINGLE, the former shortstop now playing left field, posted two hits, as did JEFF WOODS, his replacement in the infield, including an RBI double by the Santana High product in the second for a 4-1 cushion.

For the contest, Grossmont pounded out seven doubles while Imperial Valley (6-21, 0-14 PCC) was limited to seven singles among its eight hits.

"I had three pitches I could throw for strikes today," noted Kaufman. "I think that's one of the things the Aztecs were looking for when (SDSU assistant coach) Rusty Filter was looking at me."

Javier Gonzalez hit a solo homer for the Arabs in the fifth, then added a run-scoring single in the eighth to cap a 3-for-4 outing. The right-fielder also scored in the second following a lead infield single, later scoring on a single by catcher Ezekiel "Zeek" Garcia.

Grossmont's Josh Mazzola

Mazzola pumps three homers
to dissolve Southwestern Boxscore
Sans O'Sullivan, Griffins smack 5 homers, 2 triples

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-29-06) -- When SEAN O'SULLIVAN, the most celebrated player on the Grossmont College roster, was forced from Tuesday's (Mar. 28) ballgame just one pitch into the second inning, it was up to the rest of the Griffins to stand tall to get back into the Pacific Coast Conference pennant race.

And more than a half-dozen players came forward.

Backed by a school record-tying three home runs by third baseman JOSH MAZZOLA and 4 2/3 innings of superior emergency relief by LANCE JANKE, Grossmont parlayed five homers and two triples into a demolition of the Southwestern College pitching staff, at one point scoring 10 straight runs to race away with a 13-8 triumph at Noel Mickelsen Field.

O'Sullivan, the starting pitcher and designated hitter, felt a tinge in his left-side hamstring just one pitch into the second inning. Although it was unclear whether it was the pitch or running out a single in the first that did the damage, O'Sullivan asked to remain in the ballgame to at least hit only. Fortunately, his bat wasn't needed.

"It's a slight hamstring pull," said Griffins coach RANDY ABSHIER. "It's nothing serious but we don't want to take any chances with him. I expect Sean to make his next start on Tuesday (Apr. 4) (against San Diego City at Morley Field, 2 p.m.)."

After the Griffins scored three times in the fourth to tie the game, including a lead homer by catcher MATT POWELL on an 0-2 pitch, Mazzola later blasted a 3-run homer to cap a 6-run outburst to secure the lead for keeps.

Mazzola went on to smack a lead homer in the sixth for his second multi-homer outing of the season (two vs. Santa Ana), then crowned his six RBI performance with a shot to straightaway center for two additional runs in the eighth. Mazzola leads Grossmont with eight homers, one shy of the nine roundtrippers he slugged in 2005.

Meanwhile, a pumped-up Janke overcame some recent distractions to focus on replacing O'Sullivan's arm. Escaping several potential jams, he allowed just three runs (two earned) to raise his record to 2-1. CAMERON SELIK added two innings of set-up work, then EDDIE PRYOR registered the final four outs -- three on strikes -- for his seventh save of the season.

In addition to Mazzola's big outing at the plate, Powell, ZACH BARGER and CHUCK BAIRD added two hits each in a 12-hit attack, accounting for 31 total bases. Barger hit a 2-run triple in the fifth, then Baird hit his first homer of the campaign on the very next pitch to boost the Griffins' lead to 10-3.

Granite Hills product NICK MONETTE went 2-for-5 with a double for Southwestern (11-16-1 overall, 6-6-1 PCC), which fell a half-game behind Grossmont (17-10, 7-6) for third place in the conference. Also, Jaguars second baseman JAVIER BROWN (Valhalla) went 1-for-4 with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly.

East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (3-26-06) -- This is a recording . . . Lack of defense beats the Grossmont College Griffins. It's becoming routine for the Griffins to make a costly boot when the game is on the line. That is why Grossmont is lingering in the middle of the Pacific Coast Conference pack, some fourgames behind first place Palomar.

Defensive jitters handed host Southwestern four unearned runs and a 7-3 victory over the visiting Griffins Saturday (Mar. 25) in the South Bay.

"I wish I could figure it out," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said. "We work on this stuff in practice and then come game time we fall apart."

Two infield errors and an RBI single by Valhalla High alum JASON HINTON staked Southwestern (11-16-1, 6-6-1 PCC) to a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning. Two more Grossmont errors plated another pair of unearned runs for Southwestern in the 6th.

In between, the Griffins (16-10, 6-6 PCC) picked up a run in the 4th inning. They got the minimum out of their batting effort, which included four singles and a walk. The Jaguars stymied the Grossmont bid for a big inning when JOSH MAZZOLA led off with a single, but was erased by one of three Southwestern double plays.

Despite that back-breaking twin-killing, the Griffins kept coming. They stroked consecutive singles by MATT POWELL, ZACH BARGER and CHRIS VAN STORY for a run. A walk to BRANDON WHEELER loaded the bases, but SAL BUSALACCHI popped on the first pitch to end the inning.

Grossmont loudest offensive noise came in the 7th when SEAN O'SULLIVAN lined a two-run double off the right field fence to bring the Griffins to within one run of the Jaguars at 4-3.

The Griffins wasted a strong pitching performance by JOHN LOWE (6-1), who gave up only two earned run in 7 1/3 innings.

The key blow in the game was a three-run double by Kiko Hermosillo off Grossmont reliever EDDIE PRYOR in the 8th inning.

"It was a line burner," Abshier said. "It was about two inches fair. But give the guy credit, he made a nice inside-out swing."

A trio of Grossmont Conference graduates handled the pitching chores for Southwestern. WARD MINICH (Monte Vista) started and scattered seven hits over five innings and picked up the win. The Griffins slapped Grossmont High product DONNIE SNOW around for two runs in as many innings, before Granite Hills High alum DONNIE ANDERSON hurled two shutout innings to earn the save.

These same two teams meet again Tuesday (Mar. 28) at Grossmont's Mickelsen Field at 2 p.m.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-25-06) -- NICK COOPER may not be the prototypical leadoff hitter, but with the tall, muscular first baseman taking over at the top of the Grossmont College batting order, a sudden infusion of cohesiveness in the Griffins lineup saw SEAN O'SULLIVAN clout a pair of home runs Friday (Mar. 24) to knockout San Diego Mesa, 10-4, in a Pacific Coast Conference ballgame at Noel Mickelson Field.

Cooper, who catches when not playing defense at first, may not be the speed-burner most managers look for in the No. 1 spot. Yet the sophomore from Henderson, Nev., did something the revolving-door of Griffins failed to do -- he hit the ball hard.

"He went up there and smashed a double his first time up there," said Grossmont hitting coach MIKE BUTTERFIELD. "And he hit it hard. So even though he didn't score, he sent a message to get everyone in the lineup involved."

Two innings later, Cooper shocked the Olympians -- and maybe himself -- by bunting for a basehit, setting the stage for a 2-run rally. Not bad for someone who had never batted leadoff at any level of the sport.

"I've been playing baseball for 15 years -- like all of my life -- and it's my first time ever batting leadoff," admitted Cooper. "But if I keep getting two hits and we win, that's all I care about."

Meanwhile, O'Sullivan's power is coming around along with the warming weather. Ranked among the team's leaders in batting average all season, he drilled three extra-bases hits off Mesa pitching, first delivering a 2-run double to left in the third to stake Grossmont to a 2-0 advantage.

Then in the sixth, with no runners on and two out, the Grossmont coaches gave O'Sullivan the green light, so the freshman from Valhalla High lifted a pitch to the opposite field in right for an 8-3 lead.

Although there was chatter about the ball simply being carried over the fence due to a friendly breeze, O'Sullivan silenced the critics in the eighth, tearing a liner over the fence in left for a pair of insurance runs. O'Sullivan, who finished the day batting 3-for-5 with four RBI and 10 total bases, now owns five homers this season.

Less than 24 hours after a variety of Grossmont errors allowed Mesa to score a pair of unearned runs to take the first game of the two-game series, the Olympians were equally as generous in the rematch.

After Mesa tied the game, 2-2, on run-scoring singles by Brandon Peters and Lloyd Moseby in the fourth, a pair of errors allowed Grossmont to break the tie with an unearned run in the fourth, then four more freebies helped to break open the contest in the fifth.

GARRETT LINGLE, one of six Griffins to register at least two hits in a 16-hit attack with the new batting lineup, singled to center to give the hosts the lead. During the team's next at-bat, the flood gates opened on three straight run-scoring plays. A grounder by CHRIS VAN STORY scored one, BRANDON WHEELER's double plated a pair, then SAL BUSALACCHI, who received the start at third base, send a soft liner to left for a 7-2 lead.

Meanwhile, the Griffins received another quality effort from starting pitcher SHANE KAUFMAN, who struck out seven in as many innings.

"My last two starts were a little shaky," noted Kaufman, who allowed just six hits, three runs (two earned) to collect his fifth victory of the season and snap a mild two-game losing streak. "I definitely concentrated harder and used all of my pitches well today."

CAMERON SELIK tossed the final two innings to save the bullpen and keep it fresh for Saturday's (Mar. 25) noon contest at Southwestern. In the contest, Grossmont will go with undefeated right-hander JOHN LOWE (6-0), who formerly was on the pitching staff of the Jaguars.

The Griffins (16-9 overall, 6-5 PCC) will start the day one game in front of the Jags (10-16-1, 5-6-1) in the standings. Mesa (10-15-1) fell to fifth at 3-7-1.

East County Sports.com
KEARNY MESA (3-24-06) -- Grossmont College gave away another baseball game Thursday (Mar. 23) afternoon. And they did it with defense, or a lack of it.

Leading 3-2 entering the bottom of the 8th inning with SEAN O'SULLIVAN on the mound, the Griffins helped beat themselves committing a leadoff error, turning a sacrifice bunt into a hit and permitting the tying run to score on a passed ball. Keith Johnson brought in the winning run when he singled with two outs for the 4-3 Mesa victory.

"This is another game we had won and lost it in the last inning," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said. "Our defense just isn't getting it done."

O'Sullivan gave Grossmont a 1-0 advantage in the 6th when his two-out double scored GARRETT LINGLE, who began the inning with a single.

Mesa grabbed the lead on Brandon Peters' two-run home run in the bottom of the 6th.

The Griffins (15-9, 5-5 PCC) regained command in the 8th when Lingle walked and scored on JOSH MAZZOLA's fifth home run of the season.

O'Sullivan allowed only two earned runs while striking out seven in a complete-game effort.

Grossmont hosts Mesa on Friday (Mar. 24) at 2 p.m. The Griffins travel to Southwestern on Saturday (Mar. 25) for a PCC game at noon.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-17-06) -- After allowing three runs in the first inning, Grossmont College rallied and eventually placed the game-tying runners on base in the ninth Thursday (Mar. 16), but Palomar reliever Kevin Wilson registered his seventh and final strikeout to cap 2 2/3 innings of work for the save to lift Pacific Coast Conference leading Palomar to a 6-4 decision over the Griffins at Noel Mickelson Field.

"It was a good ballgame and we played well," said Grossmont skipper RANDY ABSHIER. "But we fell behind early, although we did fight back and gave ourselves a chance."

Comets leftfielder Nick Burke stroked a 2-run single in the first, then an error allowed another run to score for a 3-0 lead. Burke later added an RBI triple in the sixth, then scored on a basehit by Cameron Penney to propel Palomar to a 6-1 advantage.

However, the Griffins made it exciting down the stretch, gaining seven of their 11 hits over the final three frames.

In the seventh, MATT POWELL and NICK COOPER opened with consecutive singles, with Powell scoring on a sacrifice fly by KYLE MIRVIS to chase Palomar starter Nick Vincent.

Wilson entered and got out of the jam, but in the 8th, he allowed four consecutive basehits to score a pair of runs, capped by run-scoring hits by SEAN O'SULLIVAN and Powell. Both Griffins went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Grossmont also placed two runners on in the 9th, as BRANDON WHEELER (2-for-4) singled and ZACH BARGER walked. But Wilson got another strikeout to escape just as the heart of the Griffins batting order was coming around.

JOSH MAZZOLA paced Grossmont with three hits.

Grossmont fell into third place in the PCC as San Diego City edged ahead by virtue of Thursday's win over San Diego Mesa.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-16-6) -- The re-vamped Grossmont College lineup continued to pileup results from all positions in the batting order.

On Wednesday (Mar. 15), it was the bottom third which compiled seven hits and scored four times, as second baseman BRANDON WHEELER and shortstop GARRETT LINGLE each batted 3-for-4 to pace the Griffins past San Diego City, 8-3, in a Pacific Coast Conference rain makeup contest at Noel Mickelson Field.

Meanwhile, starting pitcher JOHN LOWE was strong in 8 1/3 innings of work, striking out six and yielding just two earned runs to lift his ledger to a perfect 6-0 this season.

"Johnny did a great job in keeping his pitches low," said Lingle, who smacked an RBI double in the 2nd to push the Griffins to a 2-1 lead. "He made them hit 'em right to where we were playing."

Early on, there were warning signs for a calamity, yet for the defense of Grossmont College, clearing skies led to an imperative victory. The Griffins overcame an odd, two-error play when teammates both couldn't pickup a simple ground ball leading to an unearned run, playing flawless defense over the remaining eight frames.

However, the defense was perfect over the remaining eight innings for Grossmont, including a stellar dive for a ball behind the mound by Wheeler in the 8th, who made the play to first to keep the Knights' leadoff batter off the basepaths.

San Diego City also overcame a pair of early errors to turn a pair of double plays, including one off a Lingle grounder which still produced an insurance run in the 8th.

"(I'm) just trying to put everything together -- everyone's getting the concept and is hitting the ball," noted Lingle, who smartly placed the ball to the right-side of the infield. "We're just trying to manufacture runs."

Such execution allowed Grossmont to bust the ballgame open with four runs in the 7th after holding a slim 3-2 advantage.

Wheeler led off with a bunt single, then Lingle and ZACH BARGER followed with hit-and-run basehits -- both perfectly hit behind the defender covering second base -- to score one run.

JOSH MAZZOLA continued with the small ball with a bunt single to load the bases, as Lingle was then forced home when SEAN O'SULLIVAN was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to chase City starter Tim Acheson without retiring any of five batters in the frame.

However, the Knights bullpen did little better, as catcher MATT POWELL lifted a sacrifice fly to right, then NICK COOPER lined an RBI single to center.

"We all did well in hitting the ball where it was pitched," added Lingle.

The victory lifted Grossmont back into a second-place deadlock with SDCC, with first-place Palomar coming to town for Thursday's 2 p.m. showdown.

"I told the team this win means nothing if we don't also beat Palomar and finish off the week," said Griffins skipper RANDY ABSHIRE. "We can't keep splitting games and expect to catch up, otherwise, Palomar gets the opportunity to win it on its own."

KEVIN PATTERSON, the No. 7 hitter, completed the strong outing by the Griffins' bottom third by going 1-for-3 plus a sacrifice fly to back a 15-hit attack.

SDCC designated hitter David Dennis batted 3-for-4 among the Knights' 11 hits.

East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (3-14-06) -- Grossmont College finds itself two games off the pace in the Pacific Coast Conference race Tuesday (Mar. 14) after seeing a one-run lead go by the boards in the bottom of the ninth inning and losing to first-place Palomar, 6-5.

"We're in a must-win situation these next two games," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said.

Grossmont (14-7, 4-3 PCC) hosts San Diego City College (11-9, 5-2 PCC), in a conference makeup game Wednesday (Mar. 15) at 2 p.m. in a battle for second place. The Griffins host first-place Palomar (16-6, 6-1 PCC) at Noel Mickelsen Field on Thursday (Mar. 16) at 2 p.m.

Grossmont brought its offense to Palomar's Myers Field, getting a solo home run from MATT POWELL in the second inning and banging out 10 hits against three Comets pitchers. NICK COOPER (3-for-4), Powell (2-for-4) and ZACH BARGER (2-for-5) led the way for Grossmont.

But Palomar, led by Cameron Penney (3-for-4, double, three RBI) knocked out15 hits of its own against three Grossmont pitchers. The Comets got to Grossmont starter SEAN O'SULLIVAN for 11 hits in seven innings and his first four earned runs of the year in 37 innings in the bottom of the third.

But O'Sullivan led 5-4 when he left the game after the seventh, thanks to
the Griffins' four-run sixth inning that featured RBI singles by Cooper and
Barger and bases-loaded walks to FRANCIS FOX and pinch hitter KYLE MURVIS. On Barger's go-ahead single, Fox was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from second base to end the inning.

"It was a bang-bang play," Abshier said.

The Comets left the Griffs standing in the bottom of the ninth when they compiled a walk, an error on a fielder's choice, Penney's run-scoring opposite-field double, an intentional walk and a wild pitch, all with one out.

East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (3-10-06) -- Defense once again betrayed the Grossmont College Griffins, who succumbed to San Diego City College by handing out six unearned runs in a 10-6 Pacific Coast Conference game Thursday (Mar. 9) at Morley Field. The knockout by the Knights pulled them into a second-place tie with the Griffins (14-6, 4-2 PCC), one game behind first place Palomar.

A 7-run fourth inning by the Knights (10-9, 4-2 PCC) wiped out a 4-1 Grossmont lead. Two infield errors by Grossmont kept the inning alive for former Valhalla High product DAVID DENNIS, who launched a booming three-run homer that gave SDCC an 8-4 advantage.

"We were way ahead in the count to Dennis and threw the wrong pitch right down the middle," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER sighed. "That ball he hit would have landed on the (I-125) freeway at our place."

Stanley Hill, who was 4-for-4, contributed a two-run triple in the Knights' big inning.

The wind didn't help the Griffins. Two balls hit by SEAN O'SULLIVAN that easily would have been home runs at Grossmont's Mickelsen Field, were warning-track outs at Morley Field on Thursday. Despite the unfavorable weather conditions, O'Sullivan still managed a double and a single in five at-bats.

Sophomore ZACH BARGER was Grossmont's top offensive weapon, driving in two runs with a double and a pair of singles despite a sore hand.

Grossmont's JOSH MAZZOLA drove in three runs with a sacrifice fly in the third and a two-run single in the 9th.

"The middle of our lineup is hitting fine." Abshier said. "But we are struggling in the leadoff position and with our Nos. 8 and 9 spots."

Sophomore Eric Billings pitched eight innings to get the win for SDCC.

Weather permitting, the Griffins host red-hot Arizona Western in a non-conference contest Friday (Mar. 10) at 2 p.m.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-9-06) -- You have to give credit to those smart folks at Arizona Western College. Because of the school's isolation in the southwest corner of Arizona in Yuma, it's often difficult to find opponents to play. So they search, and they search and they search some more.

And these crafty Matadors noticed that Grossmont College's Feb. 18th contest against Irvine Valley, which was postponed due to rain, can not be re-scheduled since both baseball programs don't have a common open date available -- but the Matadors do.

Thus, AWC will head to Fletcher Hills for a non-conference ballgame against the Griffins (14-5) on Fri., Mar. 10, starting at 2 p.m. at Noel Michelson Field.

The teams have already met once in Yuma this season, with Western rallying late for a 6-5 victory, giving the G-House, the Pacific Coast Conference co-leaders with Palomar, a chance at redemption.

Arizona Western (17-7) enters with an 8-game winning streak, including Tuesday's (Mar. 7) 2-1 and 3-2 doubleheader sweep of Yavapai College.

standing third in the 13-team Arizona State Conference (ACCAC) at 11-3.

East County Sports.com
IMPERIAL (3-8-06) -- The wind was howling and the Grossmont College offense was purring in the desert Tuesday (Mar. 7) at Imperial Valley College. The Griffins pounded out 23 hits -- 12 of them for extra-bases -- as they registered a 23-10 Pacific Coast Conference rout of the Arabs.

"We really worked on our hitting (Monday)," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said.

And the results were positive, especially since the Griffins produced those numbers without two of their top four hitters.

CHARLES BAIRD led the Grossmont onslaught with three doubles, two singles and six runs scored. GARRETT LINGLE accounted for nine runs, scoring five and driving in four. Included in his totals was a two-run home run.

KYLE MIRVIS drove in five runs with a double and a pair of singles for the Griffins, who took a 5-0 lead in the 1st inning. CHRIS VAN STORY capped that opening rally with a three-run homer, his second of the season.

Grossmont's NICK COOPER got only two swings in the game, but made the most of them with a double and a triple good for three RBI and two runs scored.

Freshman JEFF WOODS collected his first collegiate hit with a double and finished the contest 2-for-4 for Grossmont.

JOHN LOWE scattered 10 hits over five innings to pick up his fifth win in as many decisions for the Griffins.

"The (weather) conditions were really strange," Abshier said. "It was clear and cold. The wind was gusting up to 50 mph. It was blowing so hard that it almost knocked Lowe (6-5, 215) off the mound. Balls would start off foul and the wind would blow them into fair territory. It was a tough day to play defense."

The victory allowed Grossmont (14-5, 4-1 PCC) to maintain its share of the conference leadership with Palomar (14-6, 4-1).

Grossmont's leading hitter SEAN O'SULLIVAN (ill) and No. 3 hitter ZACH BARGER (injured) did not make the trip. O'Sullivan is slated to pitch in Thursday's (Mar. 9) game against San Diego City College at Morley Field at 2 p.m.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-5-06) -- Ever hear about the adage that things come in groups of three?

That's exactly the "problem" with the Grossmont College baseball team. For the fourth time this season, the Griffins saw yet another 3-game winning streak snapped, as Southwestern scored twice in the eighth inning -- including an unearned go-ahead run -- to knock off the Pacific Coast Conference leaders, 4-3, Saturday (Mar. 4) at Noel Mickelsen Field.

Following seven strong innings from starting pitcher SHANE KAUFMAN, the bullpen failed on a rare occasion with another defensive mistake, costing Grossmont (13-5 overall) a victory in all five of its losses this season. Thus, the Griffins fall back into a first-place deadlock with Palomar at 3-1.

"And everyone else is bunched up behind us, too," said Grossmont skipper RANDY ABSHIER. "That's why, after the Palomar victory, it was important for us to get past Southwestern and Imperial Valley to have the lead through the first round of league. Now that can't happen."

Kaufman struck out five and yielded just four hits to the Jaguars (6-12, 1-2). But after allowing a lead walk in the eighth, the bullpen was called.

However, Southwestern first baseman Eric Quintero registered his second RBI on the day with his second double of the ballgame. Catcher Chris Olsen followed with a single to move Quintero to third, but when the outfield bobbled in picking up the ball, Quintero scored the unearned run to take the lead.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars' Mike McLaughlin reached upwards of 130 pitches, yet finished with a complete-game, striking out nine. Only Grossmont designated hitter SEAN O'SULLIVAN could solve the left-hander, registering three of the Griffins' six hits.

"There were several situations when we just couldn't come up with a key hit," noted Abshier. "You have to credit McLaughlin for his effort. We thought he was done after seven innings because of his pitch count, but he stayed out there and kept Southwestern in the ballgame."

Both starters finished strong, as Kaufman set down eight Jags in order during one stretch, while McLaughlin nailed the final seven Griffins to complete his victory.

The see-saw contest saw Grossmont score in the first on yet another two-out RBI single by JOSH MAZZOLA to score CHRIS VAN STORY, who opened with a walk.

The Jaguars answered with two in the third on an RBI single by Eric Martinez and a ground ball out to the right side by Quintero, but Grossmont answered with single runs in the fourth and sixth to again take the lead.

NICK COOPER stroked a 1-out single, then moved to second on a passed ball. ZACH BARGER struck out on a pitch in the dirt, as Cooper moved to third on the throw to first. But when the first baseman fired a ball past the third baseman in an attempt for an unorthodox double play, Cooper scored.

The go-ahead run was more bizarre.

With runners on second and first, O'Sullivan popped down the right-field line. The first baseman and right-fielder bumped as the ball barely hit the defenders in fair territory.

BRANDON WHEELER, the runner at second, was sent home, while trail runner CHARLES BAIRD received the stop sign, but both runners headed home for a rare "Major League" motion picture-like double play.

The throw by Thomas Schagene was in time to nail Wheeler on the dugout side of the line, so Baird took the infield route to home while just feet behind Wheeler, avoiding the tag for the tie-breaking run.

The Griffins open a two-game roadtrip next week, playing at Imperial Valley on Tuesday (Mar. 7), then San Diego City on Thursday, both at 2 p.m. The ballclub returns home next Saturday at noon against City College to complete the home-and-home series.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-4-06) -- It was just one game in a long process, yet a game the Grossmont Griffins definitely desired to win.

In a battle of early co-leaders in the Pacific Coast Conference, SEAN O'SULLIVAN registered 11 strikeouts in seven innings of work, then LANCE JANKE allowed just one hit in a pair of shutout innings of relief, lifting the Griffins into sole possession of first place after nipping visiting Palomar, 2-1, during a misty Friday afternoon (Mar. 3) at Noel Mickelson Field. The ballgame was the make-up from Tuesday's postponed contest.

O'Sullivan continued to make small adjustments with his delivery to offset conditions which looked ripe for another rain-out by the 5th inning. But once he was able to spot his pitches, O'Sullivan registered four of his strikeouts in called strikes, including three straight batters over the 4th and 5th frames. The only run he allowed was unearned.

"Everything was a little slippery -- even my hat was wet -- so I couldn't get my thumb under the ball," said O'Sullivan, who allowed his first earned run of the year in 30 innings of work (0.30 ERA). "But I was able to throw my curveball, which helped keep their batters off balance."

Janke then came in and retired six of the seven batters he faced, as an infield single with two out in the 8th was the lone blemish in another solid effort by Grossmont's closers.

O'Sullivan also accounted for what seemed to be the game's only run after slamming a two-out double to the fence in right-centerfield, then scoring on a single up the middle for the RBI by MATT POWELL.

However, the weather partially cleared, allowing Palomar a chance to tie the game in the sixth. A walk and a double placed runners in scoring position, then Ben Caple hit a grounder which was misplayed at third to tie the game,

The ball clipped Grossmont's JOSH MAZZOLA glove then to his eyebrow, yet the banged-up third baseman bounced back to score the go-ahead run in the team's next at-bat.

Mazzola, who went 2-for-3, slammed a double to the wall in center field. And when the defender saw the wet ball squeeze from his hand and flipped about 30 feet towards left field instead of the cutoff man, Mazzola took third base to lead off the inning.

Hot-hitting catcher NICK COOPER, who played first baseman to get his bat into the line-up, continued crushing the ball, hitting a hard grounder to deep shortstop. The only play was to first as Mazzola scored.

O'Sullivan now owns 26 strikeouts in 30 innings this season. He also collected two of Grossmont's seven hits, raising his batting average to .339 for the season.

On defense, when the Griffins commit one error or less, they are undefeated. And with only one error Friday, that ledger improved to 8-0, including a pair of nice throws by Powell, the catcher. He caught a runner who strayed too far off second base in the third, then threw out a runner trying to steal second base in the fourth.

Grossmont (13-4 overall, 3-0 PCC) returns to action at noon Saturday (Mar. 4), hosting Southwestern College. Palomar fell to 12-6, 2-1.

East County Sports.com
KEARNY MESA (3-3-06) -- Grossmont College coach RANDY ABSHIER made a couple of shifts in his defensive alignment prior to Thursday's (Mar. 2) Pacific Coast Conference game at San Diego Mesa College.

It seemed to work. The Griffins committed only one error and sophomore right-hander JOHN LOWE (4-0) held the Olympians hitless through six innings as visiting Grossmont pounded out a 5-1 victory.

"It's quite simple -- when we don't make errors, we win," said Abshier, whose Griffins (12-4, 2-0 PCC) host Palomar (12-5, 2-0 PCC) in an early-season showdown between conference leaders Friday (Mar. 3) at 2 p.m.

Lowe toiled eight innings, striking out nine while scattering four hits and allowing only a solo home run to Brandon Peters in the 7th inning. EDDIE PRYOR pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the victory.

Freshman catcher MATT POWELL provided the offensive muscle for Grossmont. The Mission Bay High product had a hand in all four Griffins' rallies.

In the 2nd inning, Powell singled and scored on JOSH MAZZOLA's double. Powell launched a solo home run -- his second of the season -- to make it 2-0 in the 4th.

Grossmont scored twice in the 6th inning. At the forefront was Powell with a walk and stolen base. He scored on a single by NICK COOPER to make it 3-0. Cooper eventually scored on a base hit by KEVIN PATTERSON.

Powell doubled home ZACH BARGER for Grossmont's final run in the 9th.

"Powell is legit," Abshier said. "He's been a big plus for us."

East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-26-06) -- More shoddy fielding and limited hitting nearly spoiled Saturday's (Feb. 25) Pacific Coast Conference opener for the Grossmont College Griffins.

However, solid pitching by SHANE KAUFMAN and EDDIE PRYOR along with a timely 9th-inning hit by MATT POWELL allowed the Griffins to escape Morley Field with a 3-1 victory over San Diego City College.

Kaufman checked the Knights on three hits and did not permit an earned run in 8 innings, as he rolled his season record to 4-0. He struck out four and walked two, but could easily have been saddled with his first loss.

The Griffins (11-4, 1-0 PCC), who committed six errors and mustered up just four hits, finally pushed across three runs in the 9th inning.

GARRETT LINGLE started the rally with a walk and FRANCIS FOX pinch ran for him. Fox was balked to second and advanced to third on a base hit by CHARLES BAIRD. After LOUIE RUSSO walked to load the bases, Fox scored the tying run on a passed ball.

Powell then blasted a single into left-center field, scoring Baird and Russo.

Pryor came on to earn the save, setting the Knights (6-8,0-1 PCC) down in order in the bottom of the 9th.

JOSH MAZZOLA accounted for Grossmont's other hits with a pair of singles.

"It wasn't very pretty," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said. "I've got to make some changes to shore up our defense. And for some reason, we decided to stop hitting."

"I know we have a great ballclub here. It's up to me to put the pieces in the right places."

Weather permitting, Grossmont will host Palomar (11-5, 1-0 PCC) on Tuesday (Feb. 28).

By Charles Rich
News-Press and Leader
Special to East County Sports.com
GLENDALE (2-24-06) -- Situations involving two outs with runners in scoring position haven't always brought out the best in Glendale College's Zareh Sohbatian.

Sohbatian didn't know how many times he'd failed to capitalize in such situations this season, but he was rather impressive in two opportunities in Thursday's (Feb. 23) non-conference game against visiting Grossmont College.

Sohbatian had a pair of two-out hits and drove in three runs to lead Glendale Community College to a come-from-behind 9-7 victory against Grossmont College at Stengel Field. Of greater significance, the Vaqueros (5-10) snapped their seven-game losing streak.

Grossmont, which opens the Pacific Coast Conference season Saturday (Feb. 25) against San Diego City at Morley Field, fell to 10-4.

What added to the Griffins' agony was knowing they had beaten Glendale with relative ease 11-3 at home on Feb. 16.

"Our defense killed us again," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said. "The errors aren't coming on balls we're diving for, just routine balls. This is stuff we practice everyday. Then we come here today and give them five unearned runs (officially six)."

Meanwhile, Sohbatian, a starting shortstop and former All-Area first-team selection during his playing days at Glendale High, also scored two runs to help lead Glendale College to the victory.

"You just want to try to make something happen," Sohbatian said. "I've been so-so in those kind of situations.

Thanks to Sohbatian and relief pitcher Clay Young, the Vaqueros won for the first time since early February. Closer Chris Warters, who began the game at third base, ended the game when he induced Matt Powell to fly to shallow right with a runner on first.

Young (1-0) went three innings to pick up the victory. The St. Francis High graduate struck out two and scattered three hits.

Grossmont scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Then Sohbatian delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the inning to give the Vaqueros a 3-2 lead.

The Griffins got four sixth-inning runs, capped by ZACH BARGER's two-run single to take a 6-4 lead. Grossmont had six hits in the inning, which led to the departure of Glendale College starting pitcher Mike Reed.

Sohbatian had another two-out single in the bottom of the sixth to give the Vaqueros an 8-6 lead.

"I was interested to see how we'd react after we gave up those four runs in the sixth," Sohbatian said.

Glendale College Coach Chris Cicuto said recording a string of clutch hits hasn't happened much throughout most of February.

"We've talked about taking aggressive swings and we knew that Grossmont wasn't strong defensively," Cicuto said. "We haven't gotten that key hit with runners on second and third with two outs.

"Then you get that kind of hit and it loosens you up. We figured we could make things happen if we could come back when it's just as easy to fold it up."

The Vaqueros got three hits from center fielder Josh Grady and two each from St. Francis High graduate Andy Marquardt and Graham Miller.

Grossmont finished with 13 hits, including two each from CHARLES BAIRD, Powell, JOSH MAZZOLA and Barger.

Another high spot for Grossmont was the pitching of starter SEAN O'SULLIVAN, who pitched two hitless innings and struck out three.

"It was Sean's day to throw bullpen and he was throwing gas," Abshier said.

O'Sullivan's next start is penciled in for Tuesday (Feb. 28) when the Griffins host Palomar,

East County Sports.com
COMPTON (2-18-06) -- The visiting Grossmont Griffins built an 8-0 lead after 5-½ innings and then the rains came in Friday's (Feb. 17) non-conference game at Compton College's Jackie Robinson Stadium. The game continued, as did the rain, and Grossmont's hitting resulted in an 11-6 victory for the Griffins (10-3).

Weather permitting, Grossmont will host Irvine Valley Saturday (Feb.18) at noon at Mickelsen Field. SEAN O'SULLIVAN is penciled in as the Griffins' starting pitcher.

The Griffins knocked out 16 hits in the romp over the Tartars. NICK COOPER was 3-for-3 with a double, two walks, two runs and an RBI for Grossmont. KEVIN PATTERSON also had three hits, including a triple and an RBI.

O'Sullivan drove in three runs with a single and a double, while LOUIE RUSSO was 2-for-5 with a double and three runs scored.

Sophomore right-hander SHANE KAUFMAN (3-0), who pitched seven innings, was tagged for six hits and six runs (4 earned) and wasn't helped by the sloppy infield conditions. He struck out five and walked three.

CAMERON SELIK pitched two hitless innings to finish the job. He struck out 2.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (2-17-06) -- More than a half-dozen assistant general managers and talent cross-checkers from Major League Baseball clubs were on hand Thursday (Feb. 16) to watch the Grossmont Griffins baseball team play at Noel Mickelsen Field.

They had to come away impressed.

Behind eight solid innings by starting pitcher JOHN LOWE (2-0), the offense delivered with production from throughout the lineup in sweeping past visiting Glendale College, 11-3, in a non-conference game. Lowe allowed just two runs -- both unearned -- and struck out eight Vaqueros without issuing a walk.

The numbers were impressive, but Griffins skipper RANDY ABSHIER still frowned on the way the team boosted their record to 9-3 overall.

"I'm happy with the win, not with the overall performance or the overall effort," noted Abshier. "This is a very talented team -- they know they have a ton of talent -- but they are not playing fundamental baseball."

And with more scouts expected for Friday's (Feb. 17) road game at Compton at 2 p.m., then Saturday's noon start at home with Irvine Valley, the manager wants his players to sparkle, not just go through the motions.

"We have several draftable players, plus others who could get scholarships," added Abshier. "But if we can't make basic plays, they'll have no reason to ever come back to watch us."

Once again, errors on basic plays allowed a pair of unearned runs to score. However, the offense already placed nine runs on the board in the first four innings.

In the second inning, SEAN O'SULLIVAN and ZACH BARGER stroked back-to-back doubles to key a 3-run rally. Then in the third, JOSH MAZZOLA and O'Sullivan clouted back-to-back home runs to build a 7-0 advantage. Mazzola's was a 2-run shot and his third in two games. O'Sullivan has three homers on the season.

Glendale received a gift run in the fourth, but the Griffins took advantage of a pair of Vaqueros errors for two runs, which included an RBI single by KYLE MIRVIS.

O'Sullivan then capped a 3-for-4, three RBI performance with a run-scoring basehit in the eighth. Mirvis went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.

Meanwhile, Lowe scattered five hits while striking out the side in the fifth. Freshman TAYLOR MANJO pitched the ninth to close out Grossmont's eighth win in its last 10 starts. Glendale fell to 4-9 overall.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (2-15-06) -- A single errant toss cost Grossmont College three unearned runs, allowing visiting Santa Ana to score six times in the eighth inning to squeeze past the Griffins, 8-7, in Tuesday's (Feb. 14) non-conference game at Noel Mickelsen Field.

The Dons (8-2) were ranked second in Collegiate Baseball 's California Community College Southern California Pre-Season Poll. Grossmont fell to 8-3 after seeing its three-game winning streak snapped.

Leading 6-2, Grossmont's bullpen allowed a pair of runs, but a ground ball should've produced a double play to end the threat. Instead, the ball sailed into the outfield and the inning continued, as Santa Ana's Nick Mahin followed with a game-tying sacrifice fly to the warning track in right, then clean-up hitter Pat Murray belted a deep two-run homer to left.

Grossmont third baseman JOSH MAZZOLA answered with a two-out, solo homer in the ninth -- his second blast of the contest -- but Dons closer Kris Medlen ended the contest on a called strike three to save the game for reliever Mike Bolsenbroek.

Meanwhile, Griffins starter LANCE JANKE finished with a hard-luck no-decision after allowing just two runs and striking out seven batters in seven innings, leaving the ballgame with a four-run advantage.

Murray, who batted 2-for-5 with three RBI, drove home Medlen in the first to open the scoring, but Mazzola bombed a two-run homer to center field, as the ball landed in the glove of Santa Ana outfielder Manny Caceres, but bounced over the 410-foot marker as he crashed shoulder-first into the fence.

The Dons tied the game in the fourth on back-to-back double by Nick Tanos and Wes Pascolla, but Grossmont took the lead on doubles by Mazzola and ZACH BARGER.

Grossmont later scored three times in the sixth, the first two runs coming without the aid of a basehit. Following a pair of walks to chase Dons starter Paul Canedo, a ground ball pushed both runners into scoring position, with the runners scoring on a wild pitch and a balk. Griffins centerfielder CHARLES BAIRD then added an RBI single to left.

Mazzola finished 4-for-4 with a walk, scoring four times and driving home three. Baird added two hits, while the bottom third of the Griffins lineup contributed five hits, including two each by BRANDON WHEELER and GARRETT LINGLE.

Griffins pitcher Sean O'Sullivan lets loose with a fastball in Friday's 4-1 triumph over Chaffey to open the Jaguar Classic. (Photo by Travis Downs)

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (2-12-06) -- Two tournaments. Two championships.

Indeed, it's been a solid start to the 2006 season for the Grossmont College baseball team, running its record to 8-2 after collecting two more victories Saturday (Feb. 11), downing College of the Desert, 4-2, and previously undefeated Orange Coast, 4-1, to finish as the lone unbeaten ballclub in the Jaguar Classic.

Solid pitching and timely hitting again were trademarks to the team's fast start, but the defense also bounced back from a shaky start with several keys plays.

"I guess they didn't like me," mused KYLE MIRVIS, who isn't exactly a small target while manning first base, but was often seen running to the fence to retreive errant throws. "But the team is putting it together, so all three of these games really were team wins."

Grossmont 4, Desert 2 Boxscore -- The Griffins only collected four hits, but three went for home runs including a pair by ZACH BARGER, helping the hosts rally from an early 2-0 deficit against the winless Roadrunners (0-8).

Barger halved the lead with a solo shot with two-out in the fifth to snap the no-hitter effort by COD pitcher Michael Eisenhauer, who walked the first batter he faced, then set down 14 straight batters before Barger smashed the telescope dome beyond the right-field fence -- Earth science students will notice a large dent in the dome when classes resume, courtesy of the blast.

In the seventh, following a lead single by pinchhitter SAL BUSALACCHI, Barger went to the opposite field for a two-run poke and a 3-2 advantage.

"I just got the bat off my shoulder," said Barger, who was called out on strikes in first at-bat, yet finished going 2-for-3 and three RBI. "It was just following the pitcher's sequence-- he pretty much did the same thing all game, so I'm surprised we didn't get more hits off him."

Barger, better known as "Goldie Locks" to teammates for his flowing blonde curls, is enjoying his role as the Griffins' right-fielder following his transfer from an NCAA Division I school.

"I was told I would be a starter at Long Beach State, but one of their players decided to return so I didn't get much playing time," said Barger, who prepped at Valhalla High. "It was just the luck of the draw, so I came home."

The only other Grossmont hit was a solo homer by SEAN O'SULLIVAN with two out in the eighth for an important insurance run, miking life easier for closer EDDIE PRYOR to earn the save after starter JOHNNY LOWE tossed eight strong innings of 3-hit ball, allowing just one earned run.

"Zach's homer kept me in the game," noted Lowe, who struck out nine and walked just one. "I saw we weren't getting many hits, so it made me work that much harder so the game wouldn't get out of hand."

Grossmont 4, Orange Coast 1 Boxscore -- The visiting Pirates scored twice in the eighth, but after starting pitcher SHANE KAUFMAN escaped the jam with a pop out and his fourth strikeout, the contest was called for darkness, with the score reverting back to the seventh-inning ledger.

Thus, Kaufman officially finishes with a 7-inning complete game, allowing just a run and five hits with three strikeouts. And the defense came through with a near flawless performance, quickly making up for its lone error by completing an inning-ending double play on the very next batter to end the second inning.

Grossmont's offense immediately seized the momentum created by the defense with the game's first run. A sacrifice fly by Barger scored catcher NICK COOPER, who joined Mirvis with back-to-back lead singles. Barger went 1-for-1 with a pair of walks, finishing the twinbill going 3-for-4 with three RBI, a sac fly and reaching base on five of his other six at-bats.

"The defense played great," noted Kaufman, a sophomore out of Santana. "Then we delivered right away -- the way you're supposed to."

"I was mostly using my fastball, then I went back to my off-speed pitch because now I know my defense is behind me."

Orange Coast's Taylor Loop answered with a sac fly to score Eric Oliver in the fourth, but the Griffins regained the lead on an RBI double by Cooper, plating CHARLES BAIRD who leadoff with a walk.

Grossmont secured two important insurance runs on three hits in the seventh.

Following back-to-back singles b Baird and BRANDON WHEELER to place runners on the corners, O'Sullivan hit a slower ground to the right side of the infield for a 3-1 lead. Pinchhitter KEVIN PATTERSON then doubled to the gap in left-center for another run.

The Griffins are now 8-2 this season, while OCC fell to 7-1.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (2-11-06) -- Still far from perfect, at least it was the best defensive effort of the season by Grossmont College. And with starting pitcher SEAN O'SULLIVAN, who always seems much closer to perfect, delivering another solid performance, the Griffins skated past Chaffey, 4-1, in Friday's (Feb. 10) opening round of the Jaguar Classic.

O'Sullivan tossed eight solid innings, allowing just four hits and striking out four. EDDIE PRYOR collected the save with a perfect 1-2-3 ninth, striking out a pair of Panthers, as the two Grossmont pitchers combined to set down the final 11 Chaffey batters.

"The word is already out that we're a good-hitting, good-pitching team," noted Grossmont skipper RANDY ABSHIER. "But our defense is not as good as we practiced."

Following a lowly 30 errors in their first seven outings, the Griffins committed just one error against Chaffey, yet quickly erased it by completing an inning-ending double play to cap the second. Two other infield throws were headed wide of first base, however, Grossmont first baseman KYLE MIRVIS bailed out his teammates, including a swipe tag to nail the potential baserunner.

Meanwhile, O'Sullivan cruised with another strong outing, allowing just one run on a wild pitch in the fourth. But by then, Grossmont already built a 4-0 lead in leading wire-to-wire.

"We were a little antsy; a little nervous," noted O'Sullivan about his defenders. "But we worked it out -- we seem ready to explode."

The bats exploded for three runs in the first, capped by a two-run homer by JOSH MAZZOLA, sending a blast over the 410-marker in dead-centerfield. Mazzola batted 2-for-3 plus a walk.

"He couldn't get his curve over so I just waited for the fastball," said Mazzola. "I couldn't be more happier than that."

ZACH BARGER also added two hits for Grossmont (6-2), including a lead triple in the second, later scoring on a wild pitch by losing pitcher Gilbert Palacios. Chaffey fell to 2-6, also dropping a morning tournament contest to Arizona Western, 5-4, at Morley Field.

Mazzola also made a nice defensive play to end the eighth, charging hard on a slow tapper by the Panthers' Bryan Sothern, throwing across his body and delivering the ball on target to Mirvis.

Otherwise, the only Panthers batter to solve O'Sullivan was designated hitter Stephen Kohatsu, who scortched a pair of singles through the box before Pryor locked him up on a curveball for a called strike three to open the ninth.

Grossmont continues tournament play with a doubleheader Saturday (Feb.11), hosting College of the Desert at 10 a.m., then Orange Coast at 2 p.m., both at Noel Mickelsen Field.

East County Sports.com
YUMA, Ariz. (02-08-06) -- The bottom fell out of the Grossmont College defense in the eighth inning Tuesday (Feb. 7) at Arizona Western College, as the Matadors scored four unearned runs to stun the Griffins, 6-5.

Grossmont was tagged with six errors in the game, which left Griffins coach RANDY ABSHIER fuming.

"We should be 7-0 right now, not 5-2," Abshier said. "We came into this game with a team ERA of 1.33. The errors are killing us."

SAL BUSALACCHI's two-run home run gave Grossmont a 2-1 lead in the second inning. Catcher MATT POWELL added a two-run shot in the eighth, staking the Griffins to a 5-2 advantage.

Powell was 2-for-3, scored 3 runs and threw out a runner attempting to steal. SEAN O'SULLIVAN was 2-for-4.

Grossmont wasted the 8-hit pitching of LANCE JANKE (6 innings, 5 hits, 1 ER, 3 BBs and 6 Ks), MATT GARNER and EDDIE PRYOR.

The Griffins will try to shore up their defense in time for Friday's (Feb. 10) opening game of the Jaguar Classic. O'Sullivan will start on the mound against Chaffey in the 2 p.m. affair at Mickelsen Field.

Grossmont will host College of the Desert at 10 a.m. and Orange Coast College at 2 p.m. when the tournament continues on Saturday (Feb. 11).

East County Sports.com
PALM DESERT (2-5-06) -- Grossmont College took advantage of strong pitching by SHANE KAUFMAN and MATT GARNER along with some generosity by host College of the Desert on Saturday (Feb. 4) to beat the Roadrunners, 3-2 in 11 innings, to capture the COD Tournament championship at Ted Hamilton Field.

"It was a good weekend for us," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said after his Griffins completed a three-game desert sweep to improve their season record to 5-1. "Our guys played these first two tournament games like we should be ranked. Then, in this championship game, we played 19 guys and still came out on top."

Kaufman, a sophomore right-hander out of Santana High, scattered 5 hits, struck out 10 and allowed only one unearned run in 8 1/3 innings that required 115 pitches. Reliever Garner (1-0) gave up three hits and one unearned run over the final 2 2/3 frames.

Grossmont took a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning as FRANCIS FOX singled, stole second and scored on SEAN O'SULLIVAN's base hit.

COD tied the game with an unearned run in the ninth inning and took a 2-1 lead with another unearned marker in the top of the 11th.

The Griffins parlayed three walks and an error into two runs in the bottom of the 11th to seize the championship trophy.

Grossmont collected nine hits in the game, a large chunk coming off the bat of shortstop GARRETT LINGLE, who was 4-for-4.

Next up for the Griffins is another trip to the desert, this time Yuma, Ariz, where Grossmont takes on Arizona Western Tuesday (Feb. 7) at 2 p.m.

East County Sports.com
PALM DESERT (2-4-06) -- After falling behind 4-0 to the Skyline College Trojans of San Bruno Friday (Feb. 3), the Grossmont College Griffins unleashed an 11-run onslaught in the middle three innings and continued on to an 11-5 victory in the second day of the College of the Desert Tournament.

Grossmont scored three runs in the 4th, and four in 5th and 6th innings to earn its fourth win in five outings.

Sophomore KEVIN PATTERSON drove in four runs with a home run, a triple and a double, becoming the second Grossmont player to fall a single short of hitting for The Cycle this season.

First baseman KYLE MIRVIS went 4-for-5 with 2 RBI and scored twice for the Griffins, while GARRETT LINGLE added 3 hits and an RBI. SEAN O'SULLIVAN joined the hit parade with a 2-for-4 effort plus an RBI.

"Obviously, we hit the ball well," Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER said. "Our pitching was decent. A couple of early errors hurt us, but overall I'm happy with how well we are playing."

So much so that he took the team to the local Hometown Buffet in Palm Desert -- his treat.

Starter JOHN LOWE (1-0) worked five innings, allowing just one earned run as he got the win for the Griffins. LANCE JANKE and CAMERON SELIK each pitched two innings of relief to complete the job.

Grossmont concludes the COD tourney Saturday (Feb. 4) taking on the host team at Ted Hamilton Field, starting at 2:30 p.m.

East County Sports.com
PALM DESERT (2-3-06) -- This could well have been billed "The Showdown in the Desert." Grossmont College was throwing its pitching ace SEAN O'SULLIVAN against the best No. 3-ranked Cypress had to offer in Thursday night's (Feb. 2) opening round of the College of the Desert Classic at Hamilton Field.

None of that was lost on the professional baseball community.

"There were about 20 scouts, three national cross-checkers and one scouting director at the game," said Grossmont coach RANDY ABSHIER. "I think Sean made some money tonight."

O'Sullivan, a third-round pick of the Anaheim Angels out of Valhalla High School in last June's draft, pitched a complete-game 3-hitter as Grossmont (3-1) edged the Chargers, 2-0. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-hander needed 107 pitches to finish all nineinnings, as he struck out eight and walked only one.

"The scouts stayed for the whole game," Abshier said. "And that is unusual."

CHRIS VAN STORY gave Grossmont a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly in the third inning. The Griffins (3-1) doubled the margin in the sixth frame as LOUIE RUSSO singled, advanced to second on a balk and to third on a ground out. Russo scored on a single up the middle by O'Sullivan.

Russo, a freshman out of El Capitan High, led the Griffins with two hits in three swings, with one of them being a double. He scored both runs, sending Cypress to its first loss in three starts.

Abshier was impressed as much with second baseman Russo's glove as he was with his bat.

"Louie played a stellar second base," the coach said. "And having GARRETT LINGLE at shortstop helped solidify our defense that much more."

Grossmont takes on Skyline College of San Francisco in Friday's (Feb. 3) second round at 11 a.m. and then closes out the event against host COD on Saturday (Feb. 4) at 2:30 p.m.

Grossmont's Sean O'Sullivan belts his first collegiate homer against San Bernardino Valley, then taps helmets with Josh Mazzola (9) for congratulations at home plate. (Photos by Travis Downs)

Griffins starting pitching solid
in split of twinbill with Wolverines

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (1-29-06) -- Three games into the season may not be enough to make a complete judgment, but several items of interest became quite apparent after Grossmont College split Saturday's (Jan. 28) non-conference doubleheader with San Bernardino Valley, taking two of three games in the season-opening weekend set.

Among the ballclub's two strengths, starting pitching proved to indeed be solid. However, the Griffins' defense may still need some fine-tuning. Both were key factors to decide both contests, as the Wolverines took the opener, 6-5 (Boxscore), before Grossmont bounced back in the rubber game to mount a 10-2 advantage before holding on for a 10-8 (Boxscore) triumph at Noel Mickelsen Field.

"Our defense is something we thought would be a strong part of this ballclub," noted Griffins second-year skipper RANDY ABSHIER. "But we need to work on the easiest plays -- they're the hardest."

The defensive faux paus -- four errors in the opener; six for the twinbill -- cost Grossmont starter SEAN O'SULLIVAN a victory in Game One, giving San Bernardino Valley a pair of unearned runs in the fourth to dig the Wolverines out of a 4-2 hole.

In Game Two, SHANE KAUFMAN (Santana) pitched five strong innings and was out of the contest before problems with the gloves returned, allowing SBVC to push across six runs in the eighth inning before reliever EDDIE PRYOR (West Hills) got out of the jam to close out the nightcap.

"The starters pitched well," added Abshier. "They did what they're supposed to do."

O'Sullivan, the all-county and all-East County Sports.com performer out of Valhalla, sailed along for three innings, allowing just two hits. But in the fourth, a pair of errors set-up a two-run double by Robert Ibarra to give up the lead.

Grossmont first baseman JOSH MAZZOLA (Santana) stroked an RBI triple in the first to open the scoring, as O'Sullivan scored following his two-out double.

SBVC countered with a pair of runs in the third, but Mazzola answered with an RBI single to tie the game. CHARLES BAIRD, who went 5-for-8 on the day, followed with a double, as both runners scored when catcher BRANDON HALEY stroked a double to the wall.

In the nightcap, Kaufman allowed just two runs (one earned) to earn the win, striking out two batters. O'Sullivan overcame his hard-luck pitching effort by batting 2-for-4, including his first collegiate homer, tagging the ball some 430 feet and over the center-field fence.

Baird (Grossmont HS) went 4-for-5 to help stake Grossmont to an 8-run lead, while ZACH BARGER (Valhalla), JOEY GARCIA and LOUIS RUSSO (El Capitan) added two hits each, as the bottom four batters in the Grossmont lineup combined to bat 9-for-18 with six RBI.

Grossmont next competes in the College of the Desert tournament in Palm Desert with three games over three days, starting on Thursday (Feb.9) against powerful Cypress at 6 p.m. The Chargers have won state titles four of the past nine seasons.

East County Sports.com
SAN BERNARDINO (1-28-06) -- Sophomore right fielder ZACH BARGER fell a single short of hitting for The Cycle Friday (Jan. 27) as the Grossmont College Griffins opened the season with an 8-2 victory at San Bernardino Valley College.

The same two teams meet in a Saturday (Jan. 28) doubleheader at Grossmont College's Mickelsen Field beginning at 10 a.m.

Barger belted a home run, a triple, a double, stole a base and drove in two runs in his Grossmont debut. Barger played his freshman season at Long Beach State after prepping at Valhalla High.

Freshman SEAN O'SULLIVAN went 3-for-5 with a double, 2 runs and an RBI, while CHRIS VAN STORY was 2-for-6 with a home run and 2 runs scored.

Grossmont totaled 12 hits in the victory. LANCE JANKE picked up the pitching win.

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (1-26-06) -- A strong pitching staff and a leak-proof defense will be the trademarks of the Grossmont College Griffins baseball team this season.

Sophomore right-handers SHANE KAUFMAN (4-2. 3.94 ERA) and JOHN LOWE (6-foot-5, 215) and freshman standout SEAN O'SULLIVAN (Valhalla High) will be the starting pitchers when the Griffins open the season with a three-game series against San Bernardino Valley. The opener will be played in San Bernardino on Friday (Jan. 27) at 2 p.m. The teams meet in a Saturday (Jan. 28) doubleheader at Grossmont's Noel Mickelsen Field beginning at 10 a.m.

Returning veterans MATT GARNER (3-2, 3.18) and LANCE JANKE (2-3, 1 save) bolster the bullpen. Left-hander EDDIE PRYOR (West Hills), a transfer from Eastern Arizona JC, figures to contribute in late-inning relief.

O'Sullivan, drafted in the third round (103rd player picked overall) by the Anaheim Angels last June, won 32 games and posted a career 2.08 ERA in 277 2/3 innings for the Norsemen. He struck out 312 and walked only 33 as a prep hurler.

But O'Sullivan's value to the Griffins doesn't stop there. His bat will be in the lineup when he pitches and as a DH when he's not on the hill. O'Sullivan launched 36 home runs and posted a career batting average of .452 that included 166 hits and produced 151 RBI.

All three of the Grossmont starting pitchers may be pitching professionally next season, Griffins coach RANDY ABSHIER believes.

Others slated to pitch for the Griffins are sophomore ROB WOODS and freshmen TAYLOR MONJO (University City) and 6-4, 230-pound CAMERON SELIK (Patrick Henry).

"The staff is well balanced with velocity and with location guys," Abshier said of his nine pitchers.

Former Mission Bay/Helix High standout MATT POWELL is battling Santana freshman BRANDON HALEY (.301, 23 RBI, 15 steals) for the start behind the plate.

"Both have above average arms and work extremely well with the pitchers," Abshier noted.

Another veteran KYLE MIRVIS appears to have the starting edge at first after batting at a .359 clip as a freshman. Freshman MATT PASSANISI (.412) out of Grossmont High may see some time at first base as well.

Second base should be a Grossmont stronghold with El Capitan freshman LOUIE RUSSO (.352, 7 HR, 23 RBI) and Coronado's BRANDON WHEELER dueling for the job.

"They both have good range and can turn double plays well," Abshier said. "And Russo showed good power in the fall."

JEFF WOODS, a four-year stalwart at Santana, is locked in on playing third base at Grossmont. "This is a new position for him, and Jeff is adapting very well," said Abshier of Woods, an aggressive.375 career hitter who also pitches.

The shortstop position will be handled by sophomore transfers GARRETT LINGLE (Arizona Western JC/ Mission Bay) and JOEY GARCIA (Southern Nevada).

Perusing the outfield posts, the Griffins look to be solid. Returning sophomore JOSH MAZZOLA (.308, 9 HRs, 28 RBI) and transfer Palomar JC transfer KEVIN PATTERSON have a bead on left field.

In center, the Griffins look to CHRIS VAN STORY (Monte Vista) -- the staple of this group -- and Grossmont High freshman FRANCIS FOX. Van Story was a starter in center field at Grossmont in 2003, posting a .396 batting average. He is a defensive stallion.

Right field features a talented duo in Long Beach State transfer ZACH BARGER (Valhalla) and Grossmont College returnee CHUCK BAIRD (.331, 4 HRs, 12 steals).

Abshier, whose Griffins -- 16-21 a year ago -- figure to tangle with state finalist and defending Pacific Coast Conference champion Palomar and Southwestern for the PCC crown, believes the long ball will remain part of Grossmont's 2006 game. The Griffins have been the circuit's top home run hitting club for the past 10 years.

"We'll still have our share of power," the second-year head coach said. "But we've added speed and strengthened our pitching and defense. It should be an interesting year."

East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (1-22-06) -- It was merely an intrasquad scrimmage dubbed the 2nd annual Green-White game, but Grossmont College baseball coach RANDY ABSHIER liked what he saw in Saturday's (Jan. 21) friendly battle at Noel Mickelsen Field.

Details on encounters such as these are sketchy, but SEAN O'SULLIVAN (Valhalla High), a third-round pick of the Anaheim Angels, was 2-for-4 with a double and a home run and garnered the win while twirling three innings and striking out five.

Coronado High alum BRANDON WHEELER was 3-for-5 with a double and one RBI, while Santana graduate BRANDON HALEY was 2-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice fly.

KYLE MIRVIS was 2-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBI.

For the record, the White won, 9-4.

The Griffins will open the season on Fri. (Jan. 27) at San Bernardino Valley at 2 p.m. The teams play a twin-bill here Saturday.

POSTSEASON SCORES
State Championships (At Fresno)
Sat., May 27
Long Beach 7, Sierra 3
Cypress 9, Sacramento 2

Sun., May 28
Sacramento 11, Sierra 9 (Sierra elimintaed)
Long Beach 12, Cypress 7
Sacramento 8, Cypress 6 (Cypress eliminated)

Mon., May 29
Sacramento 12, Long Beach 4
Playback Final: Long Beach 8, Sacramento 1 (Sacramento eliminated)
2006 State Champion: Long Beach City College

Sat., May 20
Grossmont 9, Bakersfield 2
Santa Ana 9, Cypress 3
Cypress 9, Grossmont 2

Sun., May 21
Cypress 10, Santa Ana 7
Playback final: Cypress 4, Santa Ana 1

Thurs., May 4
Grossmont 21, Imperial Valley 1
Southwestern 2, San Diego City 1
Palomar 4, San Diego Mesa 1

Tue., May 2
Grossmont 18, Imperial Valley 8
San Diego City 3, Southwestern 2
San Diego Mesa 8, Palomar 5

Sat., Apr. 29
Grossmont 7, Southwestern 1
Palomar 10, San Diego City 3
Imperial Valley 9, San Diego Mesa 8

Thurs., Apr. 27
Grossmont 2, Southwestern 0
San Diego City 6, Palomar 2
Imperial Valley 8, San Diego Mesa 7 (11 inn.)

Tue., Apr. 25
San Diego Mesa 2, Grossmont 1 (15 inn.)
San Diego City 12, Imperial Valley 0
Southwestern 2, Palomar 1

Sat., Apr. 22
Grossmont 10, San Diego Mesa 2
Southwestern 3, Palomar 0
San Diego City 15, Imperial Valley 5

Thurs., Apr. 20
Grossmont 10, Palomar 5
Southwestern 13, Imperial Valley 0
San Diego City 4, San Diego Mesa 2

Tue., Apr. 18
Palomar 4, Grossmont 1
San Diego Mesa 5, San Diego City 3
Southwestern 7, Imperial Valley 0

Sat., Apr. 15
Mt. San Jacinto 9, San Diego City 2

Thurs., Apr. 13
Grossmont 11, Fullerton 9
Citrus 14, San Diego Mesa 2
Santa Ana 13, Southwestern 4 (Santa Ana turns school-record five double plays)
Palomar 15, Mt. San Jacinto 1
Chaffey 3, Palomar 2 (11 inn.)

Wed., Apr. 12
Fullerton Tournament
Santa Ana 6, Grossmont 4
San Diego Mesa 6, L.A. Valley 4
Fullerton 5, San Diego Mesa 4
Souhwestern 4, Citrus 2
Palomar Tournament
Mt. San Jacinto 11, Palomar 10

Tue., Apr. 11
Fullerton Tournament
Riverside 9, Grossmont 4
Southwestern 4, Fullerton 3
Palomar Tournament
Palomar 4, Orange Coast 2

Fri., Apr. 7
San Diego City 9, Grossmont 2

Thurs., Apr. 6
San Diego City at Grossmont, ppd., wet grounds (Apr. 7)
Palomar 17, Imperial Valley 3
Southwestern 7, San Diego Mesa 4

Tue., Apr. 4
Grossmont 8, San Diego City 5
Palomar 8, Imperial Valley 0
Southwestern 8, San Diego Mesa 4 (make-up from Mar. 9 suspended tie contest)
Southwestern 6, San Diego Mesa 5

Sat., Apr. 1
Grossmont 16, Imperial Valley 1
Palomar 8, San Diego Mesa 1
Southwestern 7, San Diego City 2

Thurs., Mar. 30
Grossmont 10, Imperial Valley 3
Palomar 6, San Diego Mesa 1
San Diego City 7, Southwestern 4

Tue., Mar. 28
Grossmont 13, Southwestern 8
Palomar 5, San Diego City 0
San Diego Mesa 13, Imperial Valley 1

Sat., Mar. 25
Southwestern 7, Grossmont 3
San Diego City 7, Palomar 4
San Diego Mesa 16, Imperial Valley 0

Fri., Mar. 24
Grossmont 10, San Diego Mesa 4
Palomar 3, Southwestern 1

Thurs., Mar. 23
San Diego Mesa 4, Grossmont 3
Palomar 2, Southwestern 1 (10 inn.)
San Diego City 6, Imperial Valley 4

Wed., Mar. 22
Southwestern 10, San Diego Mesa 8
San Diego City 12, Imperial Valley 4

Tue., Mar. 21
San Diego Mesa at Grossmont, ppd., rain (Mar. 24)
Palomar at Southwestern, ppd., rain (Mar. 24)
Imperial Valley at San Diego City, ppd., rain

Sat., Mar. 18
San Diego Mesa at Southwestern, ppd. (Mon., Mar. 22, 2 p.m.)
Johnson County (Kan.) at San Diego City, DH, ccd., rain

Fri., Mar. 17
Palomar 17, Imperial Valley 13
Santa Ana 17, San Diego Mesa 5

Thurs., Mar. 16
Palomar 6, Grossmont 4
San Diego City 17, San Diego Mesa 5
Southwestern 12, Imperial Valley 1

Wed., Mar. 15
Grossmont 8, San Diego City 3

Tue., Mar. 14
Palomar 6, Grossmont 5
San Diego City 11, San Diego Mesa 7
Southwestern 5, Imperial Valley 1

Sat., Mar. 11
San Diego City at Grossmont, ppd., rain (Mar. 15)
Palomar at Imperial Valley, ppd., rain (Mar. 17)
San Diego Mesa at Southwestern, ppd., rain (Mar. 18)

Fri., Mar. 10
Arizona Western at Grossmont, ccd., rain

Thurs., Mar. 9
San Diego City 10, Grossmont 6
Palomar 12, Imperial Valley 1
Southwestern 3, San Diego Mesa 3, tie (11 inn., darkness)

Tue., Mar. 7
Grossmont 23, Imperial Valley 10
San Diego City 4, Southwestern 3
Palomar 5, San Diego Mesa 1

Sat., Mar. 4
Southwestern 4, Grossmont 3
Palomar 16, San Diego City 3 (correted score)
San Diego Mesa 7, Imperial Valley 0

Fri., Mar. 3
Grossmont 2, Palomar 1
San Diego City 10, San Diego Mesa 9

Thurs., Mar. 2
Grossmont 5, San Diego Mesa 1
Palomar 11, Southwestern 1
San Diego City 9, Imperial Valley 0

Wed., Mar. 1
Southwestern 15, Imperial Valey 2

Tue., Feb. 28
Palomar at Grossmont, ppd., rain (Mar. 3rd)
Imperial Valley at Southwestern, ppd., rain (Mar. 1st)
San Diego Mesa at San Diego City, ppd., rain (Mar. 3rd)

Sat., Feb. 25
Grossmont 3, San Diego City 1
San Diego Mesa 11, Southwestern 1 (correct score)
Palomar 12, Imperial Valley 1

Fri., Feb. 24
Pasadena 4, Imperial Valley 3 (10 inn.)

Thurs., Feb. 23
Glendale 9, Grossmont 7
Irvine Valley 10, San Diego Mesa 8
Palomar 12, Mt. San Jacinto 1

Tue., Feb. 21
Saddleback 9, San Diego Mesa 5
Orange Coast 6, Palomar 5

Sat., Feb. 18
Non-Conference
Irvine Valley at Grossmont, ppd., wet grounds
Long Beach 2, San Diego City 1
San Diego Mesa 16, College of the Desert 10
Mt. San Jacinto 9-6, Imperial Valley 1-11
Orange Coast 10, Southwestern 3
Palomar Invitational
Palomar 12, Los Angeles Pierce 4

Fri., Feb. 17
Non-Conference
Grossmont 11, Compton 6
College of the Desert 7, San Diego Mesa 4
Cypress 8, San Diego City 2
Golden West 4, Southwestern 3
Palomar Invitational
Cerro Coso 7, Palomar 5

Thurs., Feb. 16
Non-Conference
Grossmont 11, Glendale 3
San Diego Mesa 5, Mt. San Jacinto 2
Long Beach City 1, Southwestern 0
Orange Coast 11, San Diego City 10 (11 inn.)
Palomar Invitational
L.A. Pierce 15, Palomar 4

Wed., Feb. 15
Palomar Invitational
Palomar 6, Mt. San Antonio 3

Tue., Feb. 14
Non-Conference
Santa Ana 8, Grossmont 7
Cypress 9, Southwestern 3
Imperial Valley 4-4, Barstow 2-1

Sun., Feb. 12
Southwestern Tournament
Southwestern 4, East Los Angeles 3
Bakersfield Tournament
San Diego Mesa 12, Moorpark 7

Sat., Feb. 11
Southwestern Tournament
Grossmont 4, Desert 2
Grossmont 4, Orange Coast 1
San Diego City 3, East Los Angeles 2
San Diego City 6, Chaffey 3
Bakersfield Tournament
Bakersfield 6-8, San Diego Mesa 2-6
Mt. San Antonio Tournament
Mt. San Antonio 3, Palomar 2
Non-Conference
Imperial Valley 12-13, Barstow 9-14

Fri., Feb. 10
Southwestern Tournament
Grossmont 4, Chaffey 1
El Camino 9, Southwestern 4
Southwestern 11, Desert 0
San Diego City 7, El Camino 3
Mt. San Antonio Tournament
Palomar 11, San Bernardino Valley 2
Palomar 7, Glendale 1
Bakersfield Tournament
L.A. Pierce 11, San Diego Mesa 2

Thurs., Feb. 9
Mt. San Antonio Tournament
Palomar 10, Citrus 3
Non-Conference
Mt. San Jacinto 5, Imperial Valley 4t
Southwestern 6, Riverside 1

Tue., Feb. 7
Non-Conference
Arizona Western 6, Grossmont 5
Saddleback 5, Southwestern 2
San Diego Mesa 5, Mt. San Jacinto 2

Sun., Feb. 5
Non-Conference
Santa Ana 5, Southwestern 3 (11 inn.)

Sat., Feb. 4
College of the Desert Tournament
Final -- Grossmont 3, College of the Desert 2, 11 innings
Cypress 4, San Diego City 1
Palomar-SD Mesa (Palomesa) Tourney
Palomar 10, Sacramento 3
San Diego Mesa 3, Cerritos 0
Non-Conference
Orange Coast 7, Southwestern 4
Victor Valley 15-18, Imperial Valley 2-2

Fri., Feb. 3
College of the Desert Tournament
Grossmont 11, Skyline 5
San Diego City 8, College of the Desert 6
Palomar-SD Mesa (Palomesa) Tourney
Palomar 10, Ventura 4
Non-Conference
Imperial Valley 6, Victor Valley 5

Thurs., Feb. 2
College of the Desert Tournament
Grossmont 2, Cypress 0
San Bernardino Valley 13, San Diego City 3
Palomar-SD Mesa (Palomesa) Tourney
San Diego Mesa 6, Sacramento 5
Non-Conference
Southwestern 9, Irvine Valley 3

Wed., Feb. 1
Palomar-SD Mesa (Palomesa) Tourney
Palomar 6, Cerritos 5
Non-Conference
San Diego Mesa 5, Chaffey 4

Sun., Jan. 29
Caballero Classic, Yuma, Ariz.
Arizona Western 12, SDCC 6

Sat., Jan. 28
Non-Conference
San Bernardino 6-8, Grossmont 5-10
Imperial Valley 8-0, Compton 4-12
Cypress 9, Palomar 8
Southwestern 3-2, Chaffey 2-13
Caballero Classic, Yuma, Ariz.
San Diego City 2-2, Eastern Arizona 1-1
Citrus 4-10, Arizona Western 9-3

Fri., Jan. 27
Non-Conference
Grossmont 8, San Bernardino Valley 2
Palomar 5, Santa Ana 4
Cypress 8, San Diego Mesa 2
Fullerton 7, Southwestern 4
Compton 6, Imperial Valley 4
Caballero Classic, Yuma, Ariz.
Arizona Western 8, San Diego City 2

Grossmont College Athletics Website

Commission On Athletics

Pacific Coast Conference

Baird cf
Patterson lf
OSullivan dh
Powell c
Mazzola 3b
Mirvis 1b
Barger rf
Wheeler 2b
Lingle ss
.
.
.

VanStory cf
Fox ph-cf
Wheeler 2b
Templetn ph
Russo 2b
Baird lf
Mirvis 1b
Passanisi 1b
Mazzola 3b
OSullivan dh
Barger rf
Haley c
Lingless

Harms cf
Buss lf
Johnson c
Peters 1b
Brigham dh
Klopp rf
StAmore 3b
Glaze ss
Price ss
Phillips 2b
Mineo ph

VanStory cf
Baird lf
O'Sllvn p-dh
Powell c
Mazzola 3b
Cooper 1b
Barger rf
Wheeler ss
Russo 2b
.
.
.

PB-Powell. HBP-by Duffy (Powell).
T-2:26.

VanStory cf
Baird lf
OSullivn-dh
Powell c
Mazzola 3b
Cooper c
Mirvis 1b
Barger rf
Garcia 2b
Wheeler ss
Pattersn ph

Kaufman faced 1 batter in the 8th.
WP-McLaughlin. PB-Olsen. HBP-by McLaughlin 2 (Van Story, Mirvis).
T-2:35.

Snyder cf
BMendza ss
Ramirez ss
Magna 3b
GGonzlez 1b
JGonzlez rf
Chase dh
Adams lf
Lopez lf-p
Garcia c
Navarro ph
Patton 2b
MMendza ph

HBP-by Selick (Chase), by Romo (Powell 2), by Ruiz (Haley). PB-Haley 2, Garcia 4. BK-Romo.
T-2:43.

Templeton ss
Hofmockel c
Willis 1b
Dennis dh
Love 3b
Reynolds rf
Lizarraga lf
Hill cf
Molina 2b
Chapelone ph

HBP-by Janke (Lizarraga, Reynolds), by Luna (Patterson), by Kaufman (Hill). PB-Hofmockel

Perkins cf
Tezak 3b
Chavez c
Wideman c
Stevens lf
Fandel lf
Caple rf
Penney 1b
Deering 2b
Ednoff ss

WP-Pryor.

Barger cf-rf
Mazzola 3b
OSullivan dh
Powell c
Cooper 1b
Murvis rf
Fox cf
Patterson lf
Wheeler 2b
Lingle ss

Acheson faced 5 batters in the 7th.
WP-Lowe, Acheson, McCavitt. HBP-by Lowe (Hofmockel).
T-2:14.

Barger cf-rf
Mazzola 3b
OSullivan dh
Powell c
Van Story pr
Haley c
Cooper 1b
Mirvis rf
Fox cf
Baird ph-cf
Patterson lf
Wheeler 2b
Lingle ss

WP-Janke. HBP-by Janke (Caple).
T-2:42.

Harms cf
Brigham rf
Buss lf
Klopp rf-cf
Peters 2b
Mineo dh
Johnson c
Moseby 1b
St. Amour 3b
Rush ss

HBP-by Doss (Powell, Van Story). PB-Powell.

Cooper 1b
Mazzola lf
O'Sullivan dh
Powell c
Barger rf
VanStory cf
Wheeler 2b
Busalacchi 3b
Lingle ss

San Diego Mesa
Chipp L,1-5
Baker
Grossmont
Kaufman W,5-2
Selik

WP-Selik 2.HBP-by Kaufman (Peters).
T-2:47.

Monette c
Hermosillo ss
Martinez rf
Schagene ph
Olsen dh
Perez 3b
Quintero 1b
Brown 2b
Hinton lf
Miles cf

Grossmont
Lowe L,6-1
Pryor
Southwestern
Minich W
Snow
Anderson S,1

HBP-by Lowe (Hinton). WP-Pryor. PB-Powell.

Cooper 1b
Mazzola 3b
OSullivan p
Mirvis dh
Powell c
Lingle lf
VanStory pr
Barger cf
Wheeler 2b
Russo 2b
Baird rf
Woods ss

Southwestern
McLaughlin L,2-5
Anderson
Baker
Paukovits
Anda
Grossmont
O'Sullivan
Janke W,2-1
Selik
Pryor Sv,7

Paukovits faced 1 batter in the 8th.
WP-McLaughlin, Selik. HBP-by McLaughlin (Cooper), by Pryor (Olsen).
T-2:58.