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© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-1-07) — With a little more than two weeks left in the regular season, Granite Hills solidified its hold on the Grossmont South League lead, while Grossmont pushed El Capitan a full game back in the Grossmont North during Monday’s (Apr. 30) East County baseball action.

The Eagles (17-4, 7-0 GSL) can thank senior right-hander DARREN GAY for giving his strongest pitching outing of the season in a 4-0 win over last place Mount Miguel. Grossmont (17-6, 6-0 GNL) meanwhile, rode the 4-hit shutout pitching of sophomore southpaw LEVI STEVENS to turn back host El Capitan 5-1 in Lakeside.

GRANITE HILLS 4, MOUNT MIGUEL 0 – Apparently DAVID WYNN isn’t impressed by all the press clippings garnered by No. 2 ranked Granite Hills, which has won seven straight and 12 of its last 13.

Grossmont's Levi Stevens delivers a pitch against El Capitan (top), while Bryan Haar slides past Vaqueros catcher Nathan Kirby to score in the Foothillers' 4-1 triumph. (Photos by Greg Eichelberger)

Valhalla pitchers Trevor Frank (top) and Matt Gonzales beat Monte Vista, 7-3. (Photos by Mark Gonzales)

All of Granite Hills runs, and half of the Eagles’ 4 hits, came in the 3rd inning against Wynn. It was during that frame that Wynn suffered one brief wild spell, issuing his only 2 walks and hitting a batter.

With one out BRIAN HUMPHRIES singled and then LOUIS CAZARES and TRAVIS TAIJERON walked to load the bases. Wynn then plunked slump-ridden clean-up hitter AUSTIN COLEMAN to force in a run. ERIC KRAUSE followed with a back-breaking 2-run single.

Wynn then uncorked his only wild pitch of the day to give Granite Hills a 4-0 lead. Outside of that one rocky inning, Wynn (3-4) blanked the Eagles on 2 hits over 5 innings and finished with 10 strikeouts.

Wynn ranks among the San Diego CIF strikeout leaders with 71 whiffs in 49 1/3 innings.

“Their guy pitched a good game,” said Davis . “We struggled making contact with him today. He did a nice job of keeping the ball away from us.”

It was the best of days for Gay, who smothered the Matadors (5-16, 1-8 GSL) with a nifty 2-hit shutout while allowing only one walk and striking out nine. The 6-foot, 165-pound Gay is a sometimes forgotten member of a deep Granite Hills pitching staff.

On this particular day – a Monday – where strange things seem to happen to favored teams, Gay gave the Granite Hills bullpen a timely day off.

“Gay pitched really well for us today,” Davis noted.

As well as he pitched, Wynn also accounted for half of Mount Miguel ’s offensive output with a triple.

Granite Hills’ Krause, who was the only player in the game with more than one hit, going 2-for-3, extended his hitting streak to 6 games. During his current streak Krause is batting at a .579 clip (11-for-19) with 12 RBI.

GROSSMONT 5, EL CAPITAN 1 – It’s hard to imagine that the Grossmont Foothillers have 17 wins and lead the Grossmont North – and are not included among the San Diego CIF’s Top 10.

The question concerning the Foothillers is pitching. Grossmont’s staff does own a respectable 3.37 ERA, which coupled with its .342 batting average makes the Hillers a bona fide contender in anyone’s league.

Grossmont took a 2-0 lead after three innings on the strength of a pair of KYLE SECCIANI singles.

El Capitan (13-10, 6-2 GNL) cut that lead in half and might have had more in the 5th inning.

Catcher NATHAN KIRBY signaled to left but was cut down trying to stretch his hit into a double for the first out. MARCO MARISCAL then singled to right. MATT EICHELBERGER ran for him and scooted to second on JAMES LONG’s groundout. Eichelberger scored on a Grossmont error to make it 2-0.

Grossmont put the game away with 3 runs in the top of the 7th.

“We made three errors in the 7th inning and let in three runs,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY.

JOSH SIMMS’ RBI single up the middle gave Grossmont a 3-1 advantage.

El Capitan’s second error of the inning presented the Hillers with a fourth run. To make matters worse for the Vaqueros, the El Capitan outfield played a towering fly ball into an RBI triple for BRYAN HAAR.

LEVI STEVENS earned his 5th win in 6 decisions with a complete game effort.

Despite striking out 11, El Capitan ’s KEVIN MORTON was tagged with his third loss in 8 decisions.

“Morton was masterful on the mound,” Vickery said. “But as good as Morton threw today - only gave up 5 hits, El Capitan only had three batters advance as far as second base. Stevens was dominant today.”

VALHALLA 7, MONTE VISTA 3 – The Norsemen climbed back into the Grossmont South League race by breaking a 2-2 tie with 5 runs in the 7th inning to upend upset-minded Monte Vista in Monday’s (Apr. 30) contest in Spring Valley.

Valhalla’s RYAN O’SULLIVAN keyed the last inning rally with a 2-run single and CHRIS THOMAS followed suit with a shot down the left-field line to plate two more runs.

That was enough to make a winner of sophomore pitcher TREVOR FRANK, who scattered 7 hits and allowed 2 earned runs over 6 innings to balance his season ledger at 2-2.

It was a bitter defeat for Monte Vista (7-11-1, 3-3-1 GSL) and starting pitcher JOSH KELLY. The lanky senior right-hander pitched 6 1/3 sterling innings against the Norsemen, allowing only 3 hits while striking out 9.

Kelly, however, was victimized by four Monte Vista errors, which gave Valhalla four unearned runs. Monte Vista ’s beleaguered bullpen could not produce any magic, which left Kelly with his 3rd loss in five decisions.

After suffering back-to-back shutout losses to Granite Hills, Valhalla took an early 2-0 lead over the Monarchs. The first run for the Norsemen (12-8, 4-2 GSL) scored on a single up the middle by TYLER KEATON.

Monte Vista ’s second error of the inning on a dropped 3rd strike gave the Norsemen their second run of the opening frame.

A two-out single by the Monarchs’ ANTHONY LOPEZ and CORY COOPER’s 4th home run of the year – a blast to center field – with two outs in the 5th tied the score at 2-2. Lopez accounted for 3 of the Monarchs 8 hits.

Monte Vista did not go quietly in the bottom of the 7th, but the only serious blow was supplied by Lopez, who smashed an RBI single to right.

HELIX 3, STEELE CANYON 0 – The staggering Highlanders, who had won only 3 of their previous 9, proved that they are not out of the Grossmont South League race by posting a key road victory Monday (Apr. 30) at Steele Canyon.

The focal point of the Highlanders’ victory was MAHI LaBASTIDA.

“We know we can count on Mahi every time out,” Helix coach COLE HOLLAND said of LaBastida, who spun a 4-hit shutout with 7 strikeouts to earn his 5th win against one loss.

Not that Holland is ready to throw a party, but Helix has posted back-to-back victories and appears ready for a rebound.

The Highlanders took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning. AARON DODD-WADDINGTON led off with a single and stole second base. He moved to third on MATT COBB’s groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by JEREMY PETERSON.

In the 3rd Helix advanced its lead. Consecutive singles by DERRIC MILLER and MATT ELLIOT put the pressure on the Steele Canyon defense. Miller raced home on an infield groundout and Elliot scored on an error.

Steele Canyon ’s ANDREW BRUDER pitched arguably his finest game. Only one of Helix’ runs were earned in Bruder’s complete game effort, which included 3 strikeouts and no walks.

“Mahi threw a good game, jumped ahead of almost every hitter,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. “They made the plays and we didn’t.”

Congratulations are in order to Helix assistant coach MIKE MILLER and his wife SHAUNA, who welcomed a brand new baby girl – 3 lb., 13 oz. McKENNA RAE LEE – to their family on Monday (Apr. 30).

WEST HILLS 19, EL CAJON VALLEY 1 – The visiting Wolf Pack erupted for season highs for scoring – beating its previous high mark by seven – and hits, with 24 in Monday’s (Apr. 30) drubbing against the outmanned Braves.

After a scoreless first inning, West Hills (8-11, 3-2 GNL) turned on the offense. ERIC McKNIGHT drove in a career-high 6 runs by going 4-for-6 with a grand slam, 2 doubles and a single.

“It was a poke,” said West Hills coach CHRIS BAUM of McKnight’s granny. “He hit it about 430 feet.”

Thirteen members of the Pack contributed to the school record hit total. BRENNAN TAYLOR went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. MARK HANDY also drove in 3 runs, while BRET SKINNER was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, 2 runs and 4 innings of shutout pitching to notch the win.

Skinner, a senior southpaw, blanked the Braves (3-18, 0-6 GNL) over 4 innings, allowing just 2 hits while striking out 9.

“We hit the ball hard and the defense played good,” said Baum. “When the game gets lopsided, you have to work to stay focused.”

The Wolf Pack scored all the runs it needed in the 2nd inning. Taylor singled and advanced to third on BRIAN RITAYIK’s double. One out later Handy singled up the middle to make it 2-0.

McKnight’s 2-run double was the key blow in a 5-run 3rd inning. The Wolf Pack’s leader of the pack laced his grand slam during a 7-run 6th inning.

El Cajon Valley, which suffered its state-record 116th consecutive league defeat over the last 10 years, dodged a shutout thanks to TREVOR SINES’ RBI single with two outs in the 6th inning.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-29-07) — JAMES DAVIS’ greatest fears nearly came to fruition in Saturday’s (Apr. 28) Grossmont South League game against visiting Steele Canyon.

“I knew we were ripe for an upset, so I tried to impress that upon my kids,” said the Granite Hills head coach of his pre-game speech.

For the first five innings, the No. 3 ranked Eagles (16-4, 6-0 GSL) seemed to heed the warning.

Apparently Steele Canyon (7-10-1, 2-3-1 GSL) didn’t get the memo.

The Cougars forced a 3-3 tie in the top of the 6th to put a scare into the Granite Hills dugout. But the Eagles showed why they’ve won 7 in a row and 12 of 13 as they countered with 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th to pull out a 5-3 victory.

“Our kids were pretty tight the whole game, had trouble getting an even flow,” said Davis . “But give Steele Canyon credit. They didn’t just come in here and roll over.”

For one of the few times this season, the Eagles showed a somewhat balanced attack, as in the bottom part of the order made major contributions.

Granite Hills’ number 9 hitter, JOHNNY OMAHEN, known more for his glove than his bat, broke the 3-3 deadlock with an RBI single – his second hit in three at-bats. BRIAN HUMPHRIES followed with a second run-scoring single.

“I knew this was going to be a tough game – a big challenge for us,” Davis said.

Things started out simple enough for Granite Hills, which scored 3 runs in the 2nd inning. Five of the Eagles’ 8 hits in the game came during that frame, with singles by Humphries and LOUIS CAZARES driving in runs.

Steele Canyon, bolstered by a strong pitching effort by ANDREW BELLATTI, surged back to tie the game with 3 runs in the top of the 6th.

ANDREW BRUDER belted an RBI double off reliever DEAN MILLER to foil the Eagles’ shutout bid. Then with two outs, JORDAN HINDI slashed a game-tying 2-run single.

“We didn’t play poorly, but you have to play 100 per cent to beat a team like Granite Hills,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. “It came down to execution. We couldn’t get a bunt down, and they did. It’s things like that that costs you ballgames.”

Granite Hills’ Davis wanted to point out a couple of key factors in the Eagles’ stratospheric flight of late.

The focus of his credit was to the defensive work of catcher TRAVIS TAIJERON and Eagles pitching coach MIKE WILSON.

“One thing is we’ve eliminated our opponents’ running game. That’s not by coincidence, it’s something we work on,” said Davis. “If you shut that down, it changes the complexion of their offense.”

Davis rates Wilson, a former professional baseball pitcher and Granite Hills alum, as “aces.”

“He’s done an awesome job with our pitchers. Normally I have handled the pitchers, but since he came on board two years ago, he’s taken over and done a great job,” Davis said. “Mike is always talking pitching. Probably the key to it all is that he’s much calmer than I am.”

“How well our pitchers have performed is a tribute to him,” Davis said of the 6-foot-5 Wilson.

EL CAPITAN 14, EL CAJON VALLEY 4 – El Capitan’s STEVE VICKERY is one of the winningest baseball coaches in San Diego CIF history with 413 victories under his cap. Yet the veteran Vickery finds facing off against troubled teams such as El Cajon Valley truly disturbing.

“I lose more sleep when we play El Cajon Valley than I do when we play Grossmont,” he said.

Vickery’s concern does not focus on whether his Vaqueros with win or not. It’s about being labeled bullies or accused or running up scores. The basic problem here is El Cajon Valley is totally overmatched in the Grossmont North League.

Prior to Saturday’s (Apr. 28) GNL game in El Cajon, all parties agreed that the 10-run mercy rule would be in effect. That is, if either team owned a 10-run lead after five innings, the game would be considered over.

As expected, the Vaqueros blazed out to a 12-0 lead after 2½ innings.

But the Braves came battling back with a 3-spot in the bottom of the 3rd. DOMINIC BAILEY sparked the rally with a leadoff single and scored when KEVIN CARREON tripled down the left-field line. Two hit batters and a throwing error plated 2 additional runs for the Braves.

El Capitan (13-9, 6-1) answered back with a two-out, 2-run single by MARCO MARISCAL, making it a 12-3 margin.

An RBI double by Carreon cut the El Capitan margin to 14-4 in the 4th, but a scoreless 5th ended the game.

For El Capitan, this was a chance to empty the bench. Eighteen Vaqueros participated in this 5-inning contest, and some players who have not had a lot of playing time made major contributions.

JAMES LONG laced a bases-loaded triple in El Capitan’s 7-run 3rd inning, and then the senior right-hander pitched a scoreless 5th inning to end the contest.

Sophomore catcher TANNER RUST ripped a 2-run homer, and senior first baseman DANIEL LEAVITT launched a solo shot for the Vaqueros, who won for the 7th time in 8 games.

“It was good for us to bounce back from yesterday (a 4-1 loss to Grossmont),” said Vickery, whose team trails the Foothillers by one game in the GNL race.

El Cajon Valley (3-17, 0-5), meanwhile, suffered a state record 115th consecutive league defeat.

MONTE VISTA 14, MOUNT MIGUEL 7 – The past week has been the best six days of the season for the Monarchs, who find themselves in a virtual tie for 2nd place in the Grossmont South.

Led by MICHAEL NUSH’s 5 RBI, the Monarchs mowed down the visiting Matadors in a GSL game on Saturday (Apr. 28) to complete a 3-1 week.

With his team trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the 2nd, Nush nailed a 3-run double to give Monte Vista lead it would not lose. The senior infielder added an RBI single in the 3rd as Monte Vista stormed out to a 10-3 lead.

“Michael is swinging the bat very well right now,” said Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART of Nush, the proud owner of a 9-game hitting streak – third longest of East County.

Monte Vista put the game away in 5th inning on back-to-back 2-run doubles by ERIC GENTRY and JOSH KELLY.

This was the Monarchs’ highest scoring total of the campaign. Starting pitcher ANTHONY MARCON was the beneficiary of the onslaught, picking up his 2nd win of the season.

For Mount Miguel , JAMES TREBUS launched a 3-run homer to pull that Matadors (5-15, 1-7) to within 10-6 in the 4th inning. Trebus was 2-for-4 on the day and 6-for-16 in his last four starts.

NICO CALAFATO was 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI for the Matadors. The junior shortstop is 7-for-11 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI in his last seven games.

“This has been a pretty good week for us,” Rinehart said. “Hopefully we can build on it for the remainder of league.”

Sat., Apr. 28 SULTANS 14-6, TORREYS 4-7 Game 1 Santana (8-12-1) LJCD (11-12) 100 005 8 - 14 19 2 011 020 0 - 04 08 3 KCulver, Bell (6) and Sica. Kennedy, Kusnir (6), Campbell (7) and McKenna. W-Bell (3-0). L-Kusnir (3-3). HR-McKenna (LJCD) 2:2nd, solo and 5th, one on. Game 2 Santana (8-13-1) LJCD (12-12) 001 203 0 - 6 13 5 011 401 x - 7 10 0 Needy, Pond (4), Martin (6) and Sica. Campbell, Wisenberg (5) and McKenna. W-Wisenberg (5-2). L-Pond (0-3). HR-Kusnir (LJCD) 3rd, solo. Grossmont Conference Boxscores HERE

Having scored more than three runs in six of the previous eight games, the Sultans erupted for 13 runs in the final two frames of the first game of a non-league double-header against the Torreys.

Santana (8-13-1) pounded out 19 hits as they produced their second highest scoring output of the season. The Sultans registered a 15-5 victory over Steele Canyon in the middle of March.

NICK SICA, who was 6-for-9 with 3 RBI in the twinbill, gave Santana a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the opener. Santana’s offense stalled after that, as LJCD pecked away at KYLE CULVER to lead 4-1 after five innings. For some reason, after that Santana found the “EASY” button, as their offense shifted into overdrive.

CHRIS RABICHAUD lined a single to left field to score the final 2 runs in a 5-run 6th.

A 2-run double by DALLAS MARTIN keyed an 8-run 7th inning for Santana. Martin, Rabichaud and Culver had 3 RBI apiece in the opener. Culver, JAMES NEEDY and Sica had 3 hits apiece.

Martin, batting in the leadoff spot, was 4-for-5 with 6 RBI and 4 runs scored in the two games. Culver was 4-for-6, RYAN STUTZ was 4-for-7, and Needy was 4-for-8.

For the two games the Sultans totaled 32 hits compared to just 18 for the Torreys (12-12). Yet a Santana throwing error on an attempted backdoor play allowed LJCD to break a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the 6th inning.

To make that loss even more stinging, Santana committed five errors to hand the Torreys five unearned runs.

The second game defeat bites deeper in that it marks Santana’s 9th one-run loss of the year.

“It’s the story of our life – we needed one more hit,” lamented Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “We’re one hit away from having nine more wins.”

When Henson thinks about a 9-game turnaround, he has to wince. Such a reversal would make Santana a 17-4-1 ballclub at the moment.

It was an especially tough week for Santana pitcher JOSH POND, who suffered all three losses in Santana’s 4-game week.

The Foothillers' Taylor Wohlwend pitched Grossmont to the North League lead with a 2-hitter of El Capitan in Friday's showdown of undefeated league leaders. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-28-07) — While Granite Hills was taking command of the Grossmont South League lead, the Grossmont Foothillers proved that the Grossmont North is a two-horse race that may be decided by a photo finish.

While Granite Hills was posting a second straight shutout of visiting Valhalla 3-0 on Friday (Apr. 27), the Foothillers were proving they’ll have a large say as to who wins the GNL. Grossmont snapped El Capitan’s 6-game winning streak with a 4-1 nod.

GROSSMONT 4, EL CAPITAN 1 – Steady senior TAYLOR WOHLWEND pitched arguably his finest game of the season when the Foothillers needed it most.

Wohlwend (5-1), who did not give up a hit until the 6th inning and did not allow an earned run all day, pitched a complete game 2-hitter while striking out a season-high 11.

On a day of stellar pitching performances, Grossmont's Nick Longmire crushes a pair of home runs to club El Capitan and grab the lead in the Grossmont North League. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

NICK LONGMIRE, the leading home run hitter in the San Diego CIF Section, laced his 10th and 11th home runs of the season to provide the Foothillers offensive spark.

Longmire, who was 3-for-3 in the game, launched his first rocket in the opening inning, handing Wohlwend an early 1-0 lead. Two innings later Longmire followed a two-out walk to JOSH SIMMS over the Hillers’ home run porch, giving Grossmont a 3-0 advantage.

A dropped fly ball in the 4th inning that followed a two-out walk to ANDY HALE presented El Capitan with its only run of the game.

JUSTIN MASON accounted for 2 of Grossmont’s 7 hits against hard-luck loser LUCAS WHITMORE (2-5).

“Whitmore only made two mistakes and it cost us three runs,” Vickery said.

GRANITE HILLS 3, VALHALLA 0 – As slick as the Eagles have been of late, the main concern of Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS following a key victory over Valhalla on Friday was a Saturday (Apr. 28) makeup game with visiting Steele Canyon.

“Yeah, we’re all excited right now about how well things have been going for us,” Davis said. “But I gathered the team and tried to instill how important the Steele Canyon game was going to be.”

As solid as No. 3 ranked Granite Hills has been of late – 11 wins in its last 12 games – Davis can’t get comfortable even though his club owns a 2-game edge over second place Valhalla (11-8, 3-2).

“There’s a lot of baseball still to be played,” said Davis , noting that the Eagles and Norsemen both have seven league games remaining.

A major cog in Granite Hills’ 2007 success story is the emergence of sophomore southpaw TRAVIS HOPPER. The soft-tossing Hopper stymied the over-aggressive Norsemen, holding Valhalla hitless until TREVOR FRANK’s leadoff single in the 6th.

“When you throw strikes and work fast, the defense is going to stay alive,” Davis noted.

And the Eagles’ defense was alert, playing error-free baseball. Of the five Norsemen to reach base, three were eliminated on the base paths. Hopper helped himself by picking a runner off first base and received a couple of defensive nuggets from TYLER WINTERS and shortstop JOHNNY OMAHEN.

Even though Valhalla starter and loser RYAN O’SULLIVAN (6-2) retired 15 batters in a row over one stretch, he was burned in the 1st and 6th innings.

Granite Hills parlayed an error, a LOUIS CAZARES double and a base hit by TRAVIS TAIJERON into a 1-0 first inning lead. The Eagles would then go hitless until the 6th inning.

Granite Hills loaded the bases on singles by BRIAN HUMPHRIES and Cazares and an intentional walk to Taijeron. One out later Norseman nemesis ERIC KRAUSE whistled a 2-run single into right field.

O’Sullivan, who deserved a better fate, finished with 8 strikeouts.

“We’ve got to do more to help out offensively and do less to help (the Eagles) out defensively,” said Valhalla assistant coach TROY PERDUE, who was pointing out Valhalla ’s three base-running blunders. “We ran ourselves out of innings a couple of times, and you can’t do that against a quality opponent like this.

“There are things that we can control but we didn’t do that today.”

HELIX 8, MONTE VISTA 2 – Pitcher MIKE ANDRADE had his season put on hold last month, but it wasn’t by choice. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-hander was stricken by an appendicitis attack which resulted in emergency surgery.

“We’ve been bringing him back gradually,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “And he’s almost there. We need him to be our No. 2 (pitcher) down the stretch.”

Andrade pitched 5 strong innings in Friday’s (Apr. 27) Grossmont South League game at Monte Vista. He allowed only 2 hits and 1 earned run, and was rewarded with his 2nd victory in three decisions.

MAHI LaBASTIDA, the Helix senior stalwart, blanked the Monarchs over the final two frames, striking out 4 to notch his 3rd save.

“We really needed this,” said Holland after the Highlanders (12-8, 3-4 GSL) snapped a 4-game losing streak. “We’ve been thin in pitching, but we knew that. For awhile there we were really hitting the ball.”

That has not been the case lately.

“We’ve left 24 guys on base in our last two games – more than half of them in scoring position,” Holland added. “That’s been our biggest frustration, not being able to get a key hit.”

Although the Highlanders hammered out 13 hits against three Monte Vista pitchers, they were unable to put the game away until the final inning.

Helix broke a 2-2 tie in the 6th and JEREMY PETERSON doubled down the right-field line and scored on an error. CALEB SCHUMAKER was injured that inning, breaking his nose, as he tripped while running to first base on the ball that Monte Vista booted.

Helix finally enjoyed a breakout inning in the 7th, scoring 5 runs on 6 hits. MATT COBB struck the key blow as he doubled over the head of the center-fielder, driving in 2 runs. Peterson added an RBI single, LaBastida doubled in a run, and RANDY PEREZ capped the scoring with a single.

On the bright side for Monte Vista (6-10-1, 2-2-1 GSL) third baseman MICHAEL NUSH extended his hitting streak to 8 games with an RBI single in the 2nd inning.

STEELE CANYON 11, MOUNT MIGUEL 3 – For one of the few times in a long time Steele Canyon sprinted out to an early lead in Friday’s (Apr. 27) Grossmont South League encounter against visiting Mount Miguel.

MARK BELLATTI led the charge with an RBI double in the 1st inning and a 2-run double in the 2nd, helping the Cougars (7-9-1, 2-2-1 GSL) take a 6-0 lead after two panels.

“We came out ready to play for a change,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. We jumped out early and never let up. I just hope we keep it up the rest of league.”

Bellatti finished the game 3-for-4, as did ANDREW BRUDER.

KYLE KERSTETTER clubbed a 2-run homer in the 1st inning – his 3rd of the season and his 2nd in as many games.

Mount Miguel (5-14, 1-6 GSL) chipped away at the Steele Canyon lead on a run-scoring single by BRYANT SHIMIZU and an RBI double by NICO CALAFATO in the 3rd inning.

The Matadors took another step closer an inning later as DAVID WYNN doubled, stole third and scored on MICHAEL KOESTERER’s squeeze bunt.

However, Steele Canyon took the wind out of the Matadors’ capes by scoring three times in the bottom of the 4th. A hit batter, an error and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Bruder singled in one run and ANDREW BELLATTI singled in 2 to make it 9-3.

CODY KLOPP and NICK TODARO handled the pitching chores for Steele Canyon.

WEST HILLS 12, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 – It was an eventful day, but an uneventful game. The Wolf Pack rolled over the visiting Braves in Friday’s (Apr. 27) Grossmont North League play with a 14-hit attack and a combined one-hit pitching of BRIAN RITAYIK, BRENNAN TAYLOR and DAVID AGUIRRE.

The 3-pack pitchers totaled 12 strikeouts, with Ritayik leading the way with 7.

DAVID BRISTOL was 2-for-2 with a double, 4 RBI and a stolen base, while senior MARK HANDY went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored.

“Handy has been playing real well since the Lions Tournament, and Bristol has been working real hard on his own time and it really shows,” said West Hills coach CHRIS BAUM.

Senior BRET SKINNER also scored 3 runs, stole a base and had 2 hits in 3 at-bats.

“Skinner had a nice breakout day. Three of his balls were hit really hard,” said Baum. “That’s been our one spot that we needed to improve on. The kids put together a string of hits today and it was a real morale booster.”

El Cajon Valley’s only hit of the game came on a single by RAY AQUININGOC.

The Braves played the contest without head coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN, who stepped down from his post Thursday following nearly eight full seasons with the program, the first two as an assistant before taking over the reins from FERDY REED prior to the 2002 season.

Weightman, 58, was responsible for building a coaching staff from just himself to six coaches for the varsity and junior varsity ballclubs, while also putting thousands of dollars and countless hours in improving the El Cajon Valley ballpark, which now features new fencing and backstop, plus the removal of dangerous wire grass from the playing surface.

Weightman, an advanced 'A' level racquetball player when not playing on high-level amateur baseball teams, will be replaced by assistant KURT VETTERLING on an interim basis for the balance of the season.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (4-27-07) — Sometimes even when you win, a game can last so long that it almost seems endless. The visiting Christian Patriots punched out 15 hits and capitalized on 15 walks to steamroller Crawford 23-8 in Thursday’s (Apr. 26) Central League action.

The Patriots (12-4, 5-0 CNT) scored in all seven innings en route to their 5th straight win and 10th in 11 outings.

“It was a long day,” said Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL, who’s Patriots won an earlier meeting with the Colts 13-4. “We were playing station-to-station by the 4th inning.”

Even though the Patriots’ league season isn’t even half over, Christian is a leadpipe cinch to capture their 2nd Central League title in four seasons. Three of the five teams, including Crawford, are tied for 2nd place with four losses.

Eleven Patriots batted in the 1st inning as Christian captured a 5-0 lead.

EDDIE YOUNG led off the game with a walk and proceeded to steal second and third. He scored on BRYAN MITCHELL’s sacrifice fly. But that was only the beginning as things rapidly got worse for the Colts (4-16, 3-4).

“You pretty much get the idea of what kind of game it’s going to be when you score 5 runs and get only 2 singles,” coach Mitchell said. The Colts chipped in five walks in the opening frame.

Christian sent 14 batters to the plate in an 8-run 6th inning. Sophomore TAYLOR EICHHORST contributed a single and a 2-run double in that inning alone, as the Patriots extended their lead to 22-5. Eichhorst, who has hit safely in all 16 Christian games, lifted his season average to .508 with 4 hits in 6 at-bats. The first baseman finished with 4 RBI and 3 runs scored as well as a pair of doubles.

Young, the Patriots junior shortstop, accounted for 7 runs in the leadoff spot. He collected 3 singles, 3 steals, scores 3 runs and drove in 4.

Catcher MICHAEL GRUBER was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and 3 runs scored.

SHAUN DAY knocked an RBI single in the 1st inning to stretch his batting streak to 11 games.

ADAM NASH scored 3 runs and walked 3 times but failed to get a hit, which snapped his hitting streak of 10 games.

JOHN GEE allowed the Colts 5 hits and no earned runs in the first 4 innings to pick up his 4th win without a loss.

Only three of Crawford’s runs were earned, as Christian committed five errors.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-26-07) — Granite Hills senior ERIC KRAUSE is taking giant strides toward establishing himself as the leading candidate for East County Player of the Year.

The gritty right-hander with the Greg Maddux-like poker face blanked host Valhalla 5-0 in a key Grossmont South League contest on Wednesday (Apr. 25).

Krause allowed only 2 harmless singles while walking one and striking out 10.

It was Krause’s East County leading 7th win in 8 decisions and an Inland best 6th complete game. His 64 strikeouts also lead area pitchers. Krause’s spin on the Eagles’ current surge of 5 straight wins and victories in 10 of their last 11 outings, is paramount.

Granite Hills' Travis Taijeron sends a shot over the fence in left for a 4th-inning, solo homer, then accepts congratulations at home plate. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

Krause’s mark also ranks 8th in San Diego CIF history. Padres pitcher David Wells owns the record with 42 consecutive scoreless innings, set while pitching for Point Loma in 1982.

Another big name on the SDCIF list is Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels, who ranks 3rd for having thrown 35 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings for Rancho Bernardo in 2002.

During his current streak, Krause has allowed only 11 hits while striking out 36. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Krause is 5-0 during that 5-game span, which includes 4 starts and one relief appearance.

“All of this is pretty crazy,” said Krause. “I’ve never been in a groove like this. I’m not doing anything different, but that’s a lot of innings. I’m just hitting my spots, nicking the corners, pitching backwards and doing what I need to do to win. Basically it’s the same routine every inning.”

The last run Krause allowed was a solo home run by Grossmont’s KYLE SECCIANI March 29 at Joe Gizoni Field.

Krause has added a new dimension to his game, that being as a hitter. For the first time in his high school career he has been given a chance to bat on a regular basis. In his last two games Krause is 5-for-7, including his first career home run and 6 RBI.

“I have as much confidence in my hitting as I do in my pitching right now,” Krause said. “I’m doing a better job of going ‘oppo’ (opposite field). Just having a bat in my hands feels good right now.”

It was Krause’s home run with one out in the 2nd inning that gave the No. 3-ranked Eagles (14-4, 4-0 GSL) the early lead.

Catcher TRAVIS TAIJERON tagged his 6th homer leading off the 4th to make it 2-0. It was the 28th career homer for Taijeron, a Granite Hills record.

Taijeron also contributed an infield single that loaded the bases in the 5th frame where Granite Hills eventually doubled its lead thanks to a Valhalla error.

The Eagles final tally came in the 6th inning as JOHNNY OMAHEN singled, stole second and third and scored on a single by LOUIS CAZARES.

It was a tough day for Eagles’ leadoff batter BRIAN HUMPHRIES who went hitless in four at-bats, which snapped his 14-game hitting streak.

It wasn’t much better for the Norsemen (11-7, 3-1 GSL), who were limited to singles by TOMAS KARAGIANES and PAT THOMAS.

EL CAPITAN 4, SANTANA 3 (10 inn.) – After a lackluster start, the Vaqueros of El Capitan are proving that they are a worthy contender for the Grossmont North League pennant.

El Capitan posted its 6th straight victory with a come-from-behind effort against host Santana Wednesday (Apr. 25) in Santee.

After the Sultans (7-12-1, 0-5 GNL) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, the Vaqueros were relegated to playing catch-up. El Capitan was up to the challenge.

Bolstered by 5 innings of one-hit shutout relief from MILES REAGAN, the Vaqueros finally decided the issue in the 10th inning.

NATHAN KIRBY sparked the rally with a leadoff single. MATT EICHELBERGER ran for him and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by MARCO MARISCAL. Eichelberger scooted to third on KEVIN MORTON’s sacrifice bunt. Eichelberger then scored the winning marker on a wild pitch.

LUCAS WHITMORE, normally a starter, pitched a scoreless 10th to gain his first save.

“It was an outstanding played ballgame,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. “Santana had the go-ahead run on base in almost every inning and hit right to our guys.”

It was the 7th one-run loss suffered by the Sultans, who have yet to win a league game in five starts. To make matters worse, Santana has suffered a pair of 2-run losses and endured an 11-inning tie. They are that close to being a primary contender.

“It’s not like we as coaches are just sitting in the dugout watching the game,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “We are making changes every day and analyzing every pitch. It’s just frustrating.”

That frustration was magnified in the 5th inning of Wednesday’s game against the league-leading Vaqueros (12-8, 5-0 GNL).

“We had the bases loaded with nobody out and had our 3-4-5 hitters coming up,” Henson said. “All we needed was a fly ball, but we couldn’t hit the ball out of the infield.”

Vickery agreed that the Sultans’ failure to connect was a key point in the game.

“We put Reagan in to pitch and he coaxed a pop-up, a strikeout and a groundout. That right there was the turning point,” said Vickery.

Reagan accounted for half of the El Capitan hits with a 3-for-4 effort, including a 2-run homer and a double. Nevertheless El Capitan could have lost in regulation had it not been for ANDY HALE’s 2-out homer that tied the game 3-3 in the 6th.

Then reality set in. The Matadors hit the skids, losing 12 of their next 13 games. Given their unstable history over the past few years, it could have been a case of abandon ship. But the affable Grigsby convinced his Matadors not to quit.

Mount Miguel snapped an 8-game losing streak by clipping the visiting Cougars in a see-saw Grossmont South League battle on Wednesday (Apr. 25) in Spring Valley.

The Matadors (5-13, 1-5 GSL) snapped a 35-game league losing streak when DAVID WYNN lined a single to right field scoring BRYANT SHIMIZU with two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning.

The last time Mount Miguel won a league game was in the 2004 finale when the Matadors edged Helix 2-1 for a 6-9 loop finish.

“Wynn has started to come alive at the end of the season,” noted Grigsby, who was pleased at the low numbers (4) left on base by the Matadors.

There were no unearned runs in this game.

Freshman JULIAN CHARLES drew a 2-out walk in the 3rd inning to lay the groundwork for a 3-run rally for Mount Miguel, which was trailing 2-0 at the time.

JAMES TREBUS followed with a single, sending Charles to third. After Trebus stole second, Shimizu laced a 2-run double.

“Every time Charles leads off, we score,” said Grigsby.

NICO CALAFATO followed Shimizu with a double, giving Mount Miguel a 3-2 edge.

Steele Canyon (6-9-1, 2-1 GSL) tied the game 3-3 in the 4th inning on ANDREW BELLATTI’s 3rd home run of the season.

After Mount Miguel took the lead on a passed ball in the 5th inning, KYLE KERSTETTER hit a home run in the 6th to knot the score at 4-4.

“All of Mount Miguel ’s runs came with 2 outs,” Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY reported. “But they didn’t get down, just kept battling.”

All Mount Miguel ’s offense came from the top four hitters who were a combined 7-for-11. Shimizu accounted for three of the hits.

“The kids worked hard in this game,” said Grigsby. “They are finally learning the game of baseball. We went back to playing street ball where you have to hit everything up the middle or to the right side to advance a runner. They are finally finding a way to put runners in scoring position and clutching up when they need to.”

MONTE VISTA 6, HELIX 2 – Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART keeps searching for the right combination. He knows he has the players, it’s just a matter of putting them in the right order.

Rinehart rolled a winning hand in Wednesday’s (Apr. 25) Grossmont South League victory at Helix.

In his quest for a winning combination, Rinehart placed SPENCER REED in the leadoff spot for the Monarchs (6-9-1, 2-1-2 GSL). The junior right-fielder drove in 3 runs – two coming on his 3rd home run of the season – as the Monarchs posted their second straight GSL victory.

“We knew that Reed has been struggling, but he has the speed and the power to be an effective leadoff man,” said Rinehart. “By putting him at the top of the order, we realize that if he puts the ball in play his speed gives him a chance to get on every time he makes contact.”

The Monarchs’ 4-run lead after two innings was more than enough for senior JOSH KELLY, who pitched a complete game 5-hitter.

“We’ve been looking for him to be our leader on the mound, and now he’s doing that,” said Rinehart. “He came to me in the 6th inning and asked how many pitches he’d thrown, and wondered whether I’d let him finish the game. I told him I have a pitch count on all of my pitchers, and he was getting close to his limit. And he said ‘Coach, I want to finish the game.’”

A 7th inning double play helped Kelly achieve that goal as he balanced his record at 2-2.

A couple of key errors handed the Monarchs two runs in the 2nd inning and sent Helix (11-8, 2-4 GSL) reeling for its fourth straight loss.

“I’ve never been so frustrated as a coach in my entire life,” lamented Helix coach COLE HOLLAND.

GROSSMONT 13, EL CAJON VALLEY 3 – Four Foothillers enjoyed multiple-hit games as Grossmont squashed visiting El Cajon Valley in Wednesday’s (Apr. 25) Grossmont North League encounter.

The Foothillers (16-5, 4-3 GNL) loaded the bases in the opening frame on a single by JOSH SIMMS and walks to NICK LONGMIRE and BRYAN HAAR. One out later AUGIE WILLIAMS doubled to right-center, giving Grossmont a 2-0 lead.

KYLE SECCIANI added a 2-run single to left-center, giving the Foothillers all the runs they would need.

El Cajon Valley (3-15, 0-3 GNL) staged a comeback in the 3rd inning. KEVIN CARREON ignited the rally with a one-out single to left field. EFFRIN PADILLA walked and both runners advanced on a balk. With two outs RAY AQUININGOC and MATT THOMAS followed with back-to-back singles up the middle, cutting Grossmont’s lead in half.

El Cajon ’s pitchers lost the strike zone in the 3rd inning and surrendered 3 runs without benefit of a hit. Included in that Grossmont rally was the second of Haar’s four walks in the game.

Grossmont put the game away in the 4th inning. After loading the bases, the Foothillers’ DEREK BAUM laced a single to left field to make it 5-2. Williams followed suit to make it 6-2. Secciani drove in the third run of the frame with a sacrifice fly, and JUSTIN RUTHERFORD ripped an RBI double to right-center to stake Grossmont to an 11-2 lead.

For good measure CASH McCLELLAN belted his first varsity homer to begin the 5th. Rutherford added an RBI single that capped the Foothillers’ scoring.

Four Grossmont pitchers combined to limit the Braves to 5 hits. ALEX LEON pitched a shutout 4th and was awarded his first varsity win.

Sophomore AARON GRIFFIN, brother of 2006 SDCIF Player of the Year A.J. GRIFFIN (now at USD), made quite a splash in his varsity debut. The younger Griffin blanked the Braves on one hit while striking out 3 over the final three innings to notch the save.

© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (4-24-07) — The visiting Valhalla Norsemen used a left-right knockout punch to capture a key Grossmont South League victory over Helix on Monday (Apr. 23).

TOMAS KARAGIANES and RYAN O’SULLIVAN hit two home runs apiece as the Norsemen (11-6, 3-0 GSL) edged the Highlanders 4-3 in 9 innings.

Karagianes, who will attend Arizona on a baseball scholarship next season, clobbered a mammoth home run with two outs in the top of the 7th on a 3-1 pitch off of Helix ace MAHI LaBASTIDA, giving Valhalla a 2-1 edge.

“I knew once he got behind 3-0 (in the count) that he was going to come in with a fastball,” said Karagianes.

Norsemen pitcher Trevor Frank delivers against Helix, yielding just one run in six innings but left with no decision. (Photo by Mark Gonzales)

Helix (11-7, 2-3 GSL) came back in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game on ZACH TANIDA’s sacrifice fly with the bases loaded, to create extra innings.

O’Sullivan led off the 8th inning with a line drive home run over the left-field fence, staking the Norsemen to a 3-2 advantage.

Helix answered back when JEREMY PETERSON powered a fly ball over the right-field fence to send the game into the 9th.

With 2 outs and nobody on, Karagianes came up big for the second time in the contest as he hammered one over the right-center field fence, which proved to be the difference in the game.

Neither Karagianes nor O’Sullivan could recall the last time Valhalla had hit 4 home runs in a game.

The Norsemen have hit only 8 home runs in their first 16 games.

“There wasn’t much wind but both my homers came on 3-1 counts,” said Karagianes. “Even my Mom thought this was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever been involved in. It seemed like it came down to every pitch.”

Valhalla's Ryan O'Sullivan pulls the ball to left field for the first of his two home runs. Tomas Karagianes also homered twice to lift the Norseman past host Helix, 4-3 in 9 innings. (Photo by Mark Gonzales)

“In my first home run, Mahi threw an off-speed pitch for a strike,” O’Sullivan said. “Then he came back with a fastball and I was ready. I hit it right down the (left field) line.”

O’Sullivan burned LaBastida a second time in the 8th inning.

O’Sullivan, who doubled his home run total to 4, labeled the victory over the Highlanders “a huge win for us – one that gives us a great momentum boost.”

The focus O’Sullivan had in mind was that it kept the Norsemen tied with Granite Hills for the Grossmont South League lead heading into a 2-game series between the two, beginning on Wednesday (Apr. 25) at Valhalla.

The teams will play a second time on Friday (Apr. 27) at Granite Hills.

It was a bitter defeat for the Highlanders, who have dropped three straight key league decisions.

“I wasn’t happy leaving 11 on base,” Helix coach COLE HOLLAND said. “We missed 3 sac bunts, and I wasn’t happy about that either. But we’ll be all right.”

Santana left-fielder Anthony Moreno gets airborne to make the catch vs. El Capitan. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

Those who doubt the Vaqueros’ ability to run for the roses should take another look.

KEVIN MORTON pitched a 3-hitter as host El Capitan (11-8, 4-0 GNL) won a crucial victory over visiting Santana (7-11-1, 0-4 GNL).

“It’s the best Morton has thrown in a month. He was able to throw all three pitches for strikes,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY.

While Morton was pitching his second complete game of the season, he was left no margin for error.

Santana started fast as DALLAS MARTIN hit the second pitch of the game with a solo shot into the El Capitan parking lot for his 7th home run of the season.

Morton regrouped quickly as he did not allow another hit until the 5th inning.

Santana’s BRANDYN BELL, who pitched a complete game 5-hitter, stumbled only in the 2nd inning.

El Capitan first baseman Andy Hale rises high on his toes to haul in this throw for the out, helping the Vaqueros nip Santana, 2-1. (Photos by Chris Edwards)

Neither team displayed much offense. The two teams combined for only 8 hits.

For slumping Santana it was the Sultans 9th loss in 11 games. Santana must find its offense to earn a Division III playoff position.

GRANITE HILLS 14, STEELE CANYON 5 – The visiting Eagles took another flight towards landing their 3rd straight Grossmont South League title on Monday (Apr. 23) as they crushed the Cougars.

Senior ERIC KRAUSE led the 3rd-ranked Eagles’ offensive charge with a 2-run double, an RBI single and a sacrifice fly.

BRIAN HUMPHRIES was 3-for-4 in the Granite Hills leadoff spot, extending his batting streak to 14 games in a row.

DARREN GAY was the beneficiary of Granite Hills’ 15-hit attack as he allowed the Cougars only 5 hits and one earned run over 5 innings for his third win in four decisions.

TYLER WINTERS contributed a 2-run double in the 4th inning for the Eagles, while JOSH QUERIONES slapped a 2-run single in the 1st and an RBI single in the 4th.

AUSTIN COLEMAN clubbed a 2-run triple in the Eagles 5-run 6th inning to turn the game into a rout.

“It was not a stellar day for the top of the lineup,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. “We didn’t play defense. We came out slow and sluggish. We need to figure some things out before we get too deep in league.”

GROSSMONT 16, EL CAJON VALLEY 1 (5 inn.) – BRYAN HAAR broke out of a soft slump with four hits in five at-bats to lead the visiting Foothillers to Monday’s (Apr. 23) Grossmont North League blow out.

Haar hammered his 7th home run of the season – a solo shot – to make it 7-0 in the 2nd inning and added an RBI single in the 4th. His infield single in the 5th scored an additional run. The four-hit batting spree raised Haar’s season average to .439.

First baseman JUSTIN RUTHERFORD also drove in three runs for the Foothillers (14-6, 3-0) with a 2-run single in the 1st and a sacrifice fly in the 2nd.

CASH McCLELLAN, TAYLOR WOHLWEND, LEVI STEVENS combined to limit the Braves to one hit in a game that was called after five inning by mutual consent.

Competing in the Grossmont North League has not been a healthy situation for the Braves (3-14, 0-2). Fact is, they’ve lost a state record 112 league games in succession, dating back to 1997.

MONTE VISTA 7, MOUNT MIGUEL 5 – In a battle of Grossmont South League Spring Valley rivals, the visiting Monarchs and the Matadors traded late inning leads before Monte Vista finished on top in Monday’s (Apr. 23) encounter.

Trailing 3-0 entering the 6th inning the Monarchs (5-9-1, 1-1-1 GSL) put together a 6-run outburst to take command.

BO AGUILAR’s double made it 3-2 and MICHAEL NUSH’s bases-loaded walk tied the game. A MATT MORRIS single to left gave Monte Vista a 4-3 edge.

“(MIKE) HOLDREN-HATCH pitched a good game,” said Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART, “and (ANTHONY) MARCON did a good job in relief. The guys are starting to come around.”

Although being tagged for 6 runs (5 earned) in 5 innings, Mount Miguel starter DAVID WYNN struck out 8 to push his season total to 58, which ranks among the elite in the San Diego Section.

“Wynn pitched a good game,” noted Rinehart. “They are a really improved ballclub.”

Valhalla's Tomas Karagianes (24) cracks his second home run of the game -- a game-winning solo shot in the top of the 9th inning -- in a 4-3 decision. (Photo by Mark Gonzales)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-20-07) — When it comes to baseball championships in the Central League it’s all about Christian and Madison. In the last three years it’s been mostly about Madison, as the Warhawks were outright champions the past two seasons after sharing the 2004 title with the Patriots.

The Patriots (11-4, 4-0 CNT) pounced on the visiting Warhawks to take a 6-0 lead after two innings in the first of three meetings between the two league powers Thursday (Apr. 19).

Christian went on to claim an 8-1 victory behind the pitching of BRADLEY JOHNSTON and JOHN FERREIRA, who limited Madison (6-11, 3-1 CNT) to 9 singles and one unearned run.

“We wanted to come out here and just smash them down,” said Christian sophomore TAYLOR EICHHORST. “When we came out here for the final game in league last year they were all cocky. I remember they were all yelling at us.”

The noise generated by the conquerors from Madison was probably more of a celebration than a dig at the Patriots. But it stung nonetheless and left a ringing in Eichhorst’s ears.

“I remember making the final out of that game and it’s just stuck in my mind,” Eichhorst said. “I want to beat ‘em every time I see them now.”

Eichhorst was 3-for-4 and scored 2 runs in the Patriots’ latest victory, which extended his East County-leading streak to 15 games.

“It’s going to be like it has for awhile now, the winner of the Christian-Madison series will win the league,” Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said.

Mitchell likes to believe that the Patriots were the league champions in 2004 although they posted the same record as Madison.

“Hey we beat them 2 out of 3, so that makes us champions in my book,” Mitchell said.

Having won 9 of its last 10 games, Christian doesn’t plan on losing any games against Central League foes this season. That, of course, would leave no doubt as to which team is king of the hill.

“ Madison got us the last two years but now we think it’s our turn again,” Mitchell said. “There’s a feeling of wanting to take out the frustrations of the last two years. We play them the last two games of the (regular) season. We know it’s going to come down to that, but it feels really good to get this first one.”

“We’re in the position that we want to be in because now they have to come and get us,” he added.

The Patriots came out of the gate swinging in the 1st inning. After a one-out walk to BRYAN MITCHELL, Eichhorst singled to put runners at the corners. Eichhorst then stole second base. ADAM NASH singled home Mitchell for the first run. MICHAEL GRUBER followed with a double down the left-field corner, scoring Eichhorst. SHAUN DAY sliced a double down the right-field line to score two more runs, staking Christian to 4-0 1st inning advantage.

In the 2nd frame Mitchell walked, Eichhorst singled and Nash nailed a double to the fence in left field to score both runners, extending Christian’s lead to 6-0.

“We’re tough to beat at home,” said Coach Mitchell, whose Patriots are 6-1 at Christian.

The usual suspects

Granite Hills slugger Travis Taijeron (18) is greeted en masse following his 3-run homer, helping the host Eagles paste Helix, 10-1. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-19-07) — During his 3-year career, pitcher ERIC KRAUSE has won more games than any pitcher in Granite Hills history.

Krause, who is in the lineup as the Eagles first baseman in this particular game, proved he can be a force with a bat.

“Most of my career has been about pitching,” said Krause (6-1). “I would just sit and wait for my turn in the rotation. It’s nice to be able to swing the bat this year.”

The Eagles pitching responsibilities were handled by TRAVIS HOPPER, a sophomore left-hander who mesmerized the Highlanders (11-6, 2-2 GSL) with a variety of off-speed pitches.

Pitch, hit and run

Granite Hills uses a three-prong attack to defeat Helix, including (from top) the pitching of Travis Hopper, Eric Krause's 2-run double, and a stolen base from Josh Queriones. (Photos by Greg Eichelberger)

Krause struck out 17 and blanked the Highlanders over 10 innings in a 1-0 Granite Hills win earlier this week.

“He is the ultimate thumber,” Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said.

Holland and the Highlanders would hardly contest the point. “He lulls you to sleep and rolls over a lot of ground balls,” the Helix coach said.

Hopper, who needed only 58 pitches to complete 6 innings, walked none and struck out one.

“He really messed us up,” Holland said. “This time he was good – effectively up in the strike zone. We just kept popping the ball up.”

The only solid connection Helix had was AARON DODD-WADDINGTON’s home run leading off the 4th.

“I know I can’t blow the ball by anybody, so I just try to hit my spots and keep the ball down,” said Hopper (4-1). “I think people tend to over-swing against me. They try to pull the ball and I try to keep it away from them.”

Granite Hills put the game on ice early on as TRAVIS TAIJERON belted a 3-run homer in the 1st inning.

BRIAN HUMPHRIES, the Eagles’ leadoff hitter, reached base in 3 of his 4 at-bats, scoring 3 times. He included a pair of singles in his totals to stretch his hitting streak to 13 games in a row.

LOUIS CAZARES broke out of a lengthy slump with a single and a double in 3 official at-bats.

As Helix prepares for a 2-game series against Valhalla, Holland expressed concern about the Highlanders’ lack of offense.

“Our offense has left us. We scored 2 runs in 17 innings against Granite Hills,” said Holland . “You’re not going to beat anybody doing that. We need to pick it up right away to keep ourselves in this thing.”

WEST HILLS 4, SANTANA 2 – Upstart West Hills refuses to go away.

While the other four members of the Grossmont North would like to consider West Hills an easy mark, the Wolf Pack (7-10, 1-2 GNL) of coach CHRIS BAUM is insistent on earning a share of the pie.

The Wolf Pack’s hunger has not been fed as yet. The visiting Pack slapped the Sultans (7-10-1, 0-3 GNL) in a key Grossmont North League contest on Wednesday (Apr. 18).

BRET SKINNER turned in probably the best pitching performance of his career. The senior southpaw allowed only 7 hits and 2 walks as he recorded a complete game victory – his second in 5 decisions.

“Skinner threw the best game I’ve ever seen him throw,” said Baum. “He located his pitches real well – got out of two or three really big jams. I’m really proud of him. He wanted the ball and he gave it everything he had.”

West Hills broke out in front in the opening inning as DAVID BRISTOL lined a 2-run single to right-center. STEVEN SCHIMPF took one for the team (hit by a pitch) with the bases loaded to force in a run and make it 3-0 in the 3rd inning.

An inning later BRENNAN TAYLOR doubled down the left-field line and scored one out later on a base hit to center by RYNE BARKLEY.

Stuck in slumber mode for the first four innings, Santana finally came to life in the 5th.

Base hits by ANTHONY MORENO and BRANDYN BELL, followed by a wild pitch and RYAN STUTZ’ groundout, gave Santana its first run.

The Sultans came back for more in the 6th. DALLAS MARTIN ignited the rally with a walk and wrapped around to third on NICK SICA’s base hit to right. KYLE ROMERO, who was 3-for-3 on the day, singled up the middle to score Martin.

But the Santana offense stalled after that.

In the 7th inning Skinner struck out the side – all looking.

“Neither Skinner or I could get the smiles off our faces after that,” Baum said. “I’m real happy with the way the pitching staff has been throwing this year.”

STEELE CANYON 3, MONTE VISTA 0 – Given the circumstances of the last couple of weeks, the Monte Vista Monarchs were happy to just be able to host a game. Thieves nearly destroyed the Monarchs’ varsity diamond by clipping off all the sprinkler heads, which made it impossible to irrigate.

Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART has had to spend the majority of his time attempting to remedy the situation. He believes the Monarchs should be back to business as usual by Monday (Apr. 23).

What the Monarchs hadn’t planned on was dealing with Steele Canyon’s sophomore ANDREW BELLATTI.

Bellatti bested Monte Vista’s JOSH KELLY in a pitchers’ duel.

“We played good defense for a change,” said Mittry. “ANDREW BELLATTI threw inside and pitched away. He threw a great game. We didn’t score a whole lot of runs but when you goose egg up, you don’t need to score more than one.”

Steele Canyon (6-7-1, 1-0-1 GSL), broke into the scoring column in the 4th inning. With one out MARK BELLATTI walked, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on ANDREW BRUDER’s base hit.

Steele Canyon padded its lead in the 6th inning. JORDAN HINDI led off with a double and eventually scored on Bruder’s sacrifice fly. A double steal, lead by Mark Bellatti and trailered by KYLE KERSTETTER, finished the scoring.

ANTHONY LOPEZ and MICHAEL NUSH had 2 hits apiece for Monte Vista (4-9-1, 0-1-1 GSL).

“I’ve been here five years and I’ve never seen the wind blow in from right field,” Rinehart said. “I’m not saying that it decided the game, but it was a factor. Both teams hit some shots that would have on a normal day been hit in the gap for extra bases. But for some reason on this particular day, the wind stood them up and they wound up being outs.”

VALHALLA 15, MOUNT MIGUEL 0 (6 inn.) – Junior RYAN O’SULLIVAN pitched a 2-hit shutout and struck out 10 during a 6-inning stint as host Valhalla mauled the Matadors in Wednesday’s (Apr. 18) Grossmont South League action.

The victory was O’Sullivan’s 5th against one loss.

The game was for all intents and purposes was over after the 1st inning when the Norsemen pushed across 10 runs in the bottom of the 1st.

TOMAS KARAGIANES set the tone with a leadoff home run. One out later GREG GARCIA walked and CHRIS THOMAS doubled. After DANNY HAWKSLEY walked to load the bases, TYLER KEATON followed with a 2-run single.

The hinges fell off for Mount Miguel (4-12, 0-4 GSL) after that. Two errors and a hit batter handed the Norsemen (10-6, 2-0 GSL) three additional runs.

Batting for the second time in the opening frame, Karagianes walked to load the bases with 2 outs. Garcia then laced a bases clearing double to make it 8-0. O’Sullivan then lined a 2-run homer just inside the left field foul pole to cap the big inning.

A 2-run single by GARRETT GILES lifted Valhalla ’s lead to 13-0 in the 3rd.

Mount Miguel ’s offense consisted of a triple by DAVID WYNN and a single by BRYANT SHIMIZU.

EL CAPITAN 20, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 (6 inn.) – Based on the Vaqueros’ sluggish preseason start of 4-6, most prognosticators were not viewing El Capitan as a legitimate contender in the Grossmont North League race this season.

Don’t look now but coach STEVE VICKERY’s Vaqueros appear to be gaining momentum with six wins in their last eight outings.

MILES REAGAN drove in 4 runs with a single and a triple as the visiting Vaqueros (10-8, 3-0 GNL) swept to the lop-sided win over El Cajon Valley on Wednesday (Apr. 18).

The Vaqueros 18-hit attack featured inside-the-park home runs by BRYSON LUKACIK and JAMES LONG. Lukacik’s first home run of the year made it 5-0 in the 3rd inning. Long’s first homer of the season added 3 runs to the Vaqueros’ total in the 6th.

MARCO MARISCAL, known more for his pitching, contributed 2 singles, a triple and scored 3 runs in 4 at-bats. Designated hitter DANIEL LEAVITT enjoyed his finest day as a varsity player with a double, 2 singles and 2 RBI in 4 at-bats.

Nearly lost in the offensive onslaught was the pitching of JOSH SODEN and Long. Soden blanked the Braves on one hit over 5 innings before Long closed out the 6th in 1-2-3 fashion.

Soden, primarily a reliever, needed only 41 pitches to earn his first varsity win. His teammates supported his effort by rolling 2 double plays.

“What Soden did was incredible, throwing so few pitches,” said Vickery. “He had a no-hitter going for four innings. And he’s our 5th pitcher. I was really happy for him to get his first varsity win.”

El Cajon Valley’s ADRIAN TORRES broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the 5th inning.

Norsemen third baseman Anthony Gonzales gets horizontal, but just misses snaring a hot grounder hit down the line by Mount Miguel. Valhalla won, 15-0. (Photo by Mark Gonzales)

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (4-18-07) — After beginning the Central League season with two free-for-all scoring fests, the Christian High Patriots got back to playing baseball Tuesday (Apr. 17) at Hoover High’s newly refurbished field.

Junior JOHN GEE was a whiz, shutting out the Cardinals 5-0 on a 3-hitter. Gee, a right-hander who came into the game with a 5.25 ERA, walked one and struck out 8 as he improved his personal record to 3-0 with his second complete game in 6 starts.

“Gee pitched a great game – got stronger as the game went along,” said Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL.

The Patriots (10-4), who have won 8 of their last 9, will host Madison (6-10, 3-0) in a battle of Central League co-leaders on Thursday (Apr. 19) at 3 p.m.

While Gee was muzzling the Cardinals (1-15, 0-3 CNT), the Patriots’ usually-potent offense struggled against the offerings of Michael Geraci. Part of Christian’s problem honing in on Geraci was he was effectively wild, walking 7 and hitting one.

Steady TAYLOR EICHHORST slashed an RBI single to right field, scoring DANNY MITCHELL to give Christian a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning. That blow extended Eichhorst’s East County-leading hitting streak to 14.

Christian doubled its advantage with a 2-out rally in the 6th inning. JOHN FERREIRA walked and stole second base. He scored on Danny Mitchell’s double down the left-field line.

An inning later the Patriots produced a second 2-out rally. ADAM NASH doubled to center field to extend his hitting streak to 9. After that Geraci lost the strike zone as he served up consecutive walks to MICHAEL GRUBER, SHAUN DAY and BRADLEY JOHNSTON to make it 3-0. COLIN RYAN then put the game away with a 2-run single up the middle.

This was not one of Christian’s finest offensive outings, as only No. 9 hitter, Danny Mitchell, garnered more than one hit.

None of that mattered as the Patriots are in position to take sole possession of the Central League.

© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (4-17-07) — Early prognostications concerning the Grossmont South League pennant race did not include Helix as a primary contender. A dark horse, maybe, but nothing more.

West Hills' Tony Spears (16) slides into second base, successfully kicking the ball out of the glove of El Capitan shortstop Tanner Rust. Spears was ruled safe, but El Cap won 5-0. (Photos by Greg Eichelberger)

“It was a good old-fashioned East County pitching duel,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “We didn’t swing the bats real well, but MAHI (LaBASTIDA) did a good job – pitched 8 innings and gave up no runs.”

LaBastida’s biggest problem was he was swapping pitches with Eagles ace ERIC KRAUSE.

The winningest pitcher in Granite Hills’ history, Krause blanked the Highlanders over 10 innings, allowing just 2 hits while striking out a career-high 17.

“Krause spotted his pitches nicely,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS. “Both teams had outstanding pitching. LaBastida did a great job. Both pitchers were on today.”

Krause’s control was pinpoint perfect. He allowed harmless singles to JEREMY PETERSON and CALEB SCHUMAKER. Two Highlanders walked but both were by choice, as Krause issued intentional passes.

It was Krause’s East County-leading 5th complete game and his 6th win in 7 decisions.

LaBastida, the Highlanders’ ace, held Granite Hills in check on 5 hits while striking out 8 and walking 2 in 8 innings.

“It was probably the best pitched game I’ve ever seen as a coach,” Davis said.

Granite Hills’ BRIAN HUMPHRIES was the only offensive threat for either team, as he collected 3 hits in 5 at-bats to extend his batting streak to 12 games.

Ironically, Humphries struck out in the 10th inning with a chance to win the game after KENNY BELZER was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by JOHNNY OMAHEN.

The Highlanders had a chance to smash Granite Hills’ emerging rally, but booted a ground ball by LOUIS CAZARES to put runners at the corners with two down.

Belzer eventually scored on a passed ball, which gave the No. 6 ranked Eagles (11-4) the hard-fought victory.

“We’ll take it any way we can get it,” Davis said.

These teams will meet again on Wednesday (Apr. 18) at Granite Hills at 4 o’clock.

While Lucas Whitmore (top) tosses a 3-hit shutout at West Hills, El Capitan shortstop Kevin Morton applies the tag on the Pack's Chris Gagnon for the successful pickoff. (Photos by Greg Eichelberger)

The Vaqueros of coach STEVE VICKERY have not bowled over their preseason competition, but there is a rumbling to those who have a keen sense of hearing.

Don’t count these guys out.

El Capitan completed a 2-game sweep of dark horse contender West Hills Monday (Apr. 16) as LUCAS WHITMORE pitched the finest game of his career.

Whitmore, who suffered 4 straight hard-luck losses to begin his senior season, was neat and tidy against the Wolf Pack (6-10, 0-2 GNL). The 6-foot, 165-pound southpaw limited host West Hills to 3 singles while striking out a career-high 13.

“The bottom line is for a Monday game we got a solid pitching performance – Whitmore was dominating,” said Vickery. “We tell our kids championships are won on Mondays. If you play well on Monday, you have a chance to win a championship.”

Pollsters have virtually ignored El Capitan, but better take notice of the groundswell that has the Vaqueros tied with Grossmont for the GNL lead.

The Vaqueros, who have a modest 3-game winning streak going, can thank West Hills for a 1st inning error that staked them to a 1-0 lead.

Although El Capitan out-hit West Hills 7-3, the Vaqueros were fortunate that the ball bounced their way.

A high hopper (infield single) by CANNON NIKZAD in the 2nd inning scored RYAN INVERSO, who had walked, to make it 2-0.

El Capitan tacked on its final run in the 5th. Back-to-back singles by TANNER RUST and Whitmore began the one-out rally. MILES REAGAN walked to load the bases. Rust scored on ANDY HALE’s groundout.

GROSSMONT 3, SANTANA 2 – This has been a season of frustration for Santana senior standout DALLAS MARTIN. It seems no matter what the versatile Sultan does, he comes out second best.

Case in point was Monday’s (Apr. 16) Grossmont North League contest against archrival Grossmont in Santee.

Martin and the Sultans were cruising 2-0 after 4 innings. Then Santana’s infield reacted in a fashion that is not reflected in box scores.

The Foothillers’ BRYAN HAAR hoisted a pop-up in the middle of the infield to lead off the 5th inning. All of the Sultans infielders charged in as if they were going to make the catch. Almost simultaneously they all froze, allowing Haar’s seemingly harmless pop-up to land for a gift double.

DEREK BAUM followed with his third home run of the season over the left field fence to tie the game 2-2.

Grossmont (13-6, 2-0) snapped the deadlock in the 6th inning as JUSTIN RUTHERFORD led off with a double to right-center field and scored on a base hit by NICK LONGMIRE.

“That one play of the pop-up was really the key to the whole ballgame,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “Everybody came in and the ball dropped between them. That’s not coaching – it just happens in baseball.”

For the Sultans’ Martin, unquestionably one of the top players in East County, it was another woeful result. Martin spun a complete game 5-hitter and struck out 6, but he also saw his 12-game hitting streak end.

Grossmont sophomore LEVI STEVENS, who may be the key to the Foothillers’ season, held the Sultans to 2 hits over 5 innings. TAYLOR WOHLWEND pitched 2 innings of shutout relief to earn his 3rd save.

MONTE VISTA 8, STEELE CANYON 8 – Talk about a game of mixed emotions, this one fits the bill.

The Monarchs (4-8-1) took an 8-1 lead in Monday’s (Apr. 16) Grossmont South League opener at Steele Canyon. No doubt that had to make Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART happy.

But Rinehart’s joy faded fast, as the Cougars (5-7-1) scrambled back to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Because the game started a half hour late at 4:30 and the pace of play was anything but swift, darkness halted the proceedings after 7 innings. Both Rinehart and Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY hoped to continue the game in Wednesday’s scheduled meeting at Monte Vista.

Based on similar situations in the past, chances of that happening are remote. Most likely the game will end in a tie.

CORY COOPER’s bases-loaded triple helped spike the visiting Monarchs to a 4-run 1st inning. In the 3rd inning after Steele Canyon starter ALEX CEBALLOS sandwiched a Steele Canyon error around a pair of walks to load the bases, Monte Vista third baseman MIKE HOLDREN hammered a grand slam over the right-field fence, staking Monte Vista to an 8-run lead.

After that Monte Vista’s offense went silent.

Down but not out, the Cougars clawed back. KYLE KERSTETTER sliced a 2-run homer over the right field fence in the 3rd to signal to Monte Vista that Steele Canyon was still alive. ANDREW BELLATTI’s 2-run single in the 5th allowed the Cougars to creep closer.

Monte Vista helped out in the 6th with a walk and a throwing error to hand the Cougars an unearned run. Steele Canyon, which had hit only one home run in its previous 12 games, hit 2 against the Monarchs, including Bellatti’s solo blast to left field leading off the 7th.

JORDAN HINDI’s sacrifice fly scored TOMMY HOYT with two outs in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game.

“Those two hits that scored 8 runs (in the 1st and 3rd innings) killed us,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. “We came out flat. That first inning was an abomination – a throwing error gave them 4 runs. But we came back – we were down 8-1 and came out and tied it up. We’ve got to get away from the slow start.”

Kerstetter paced the Cougars with a 3-for-3 effort, including a double and a home run.

VALHALLA 8, MOUNT MIGUEL 2 – The visiting Norsemen opened the Grossmont South League in cakewalk fashion as they scored all of their runs in the opening two frames to improve their overall mark to 9-6 Monday (Apr. 16) in Spring Valley.

The early scoring outburst helped sophomore pitcher TREVOR FRANK to his first win in three decisions. Primarily a reliever a year ago, Frank is adjusting to his role as Valhalla ’s No. 3 starter. He had one of his better days at the expense of the Matadors (4-11, 0-1 GSL).

In 4 1/3 innings Frank scattered 6 hits, allowed one run, one walk and struck out 10. He gave the ball to another sophomore, 6-foot-3, 190-pound TREVOR CAHOON to finish off the Matadors.

Valhalla capitalized on the early wildness of Mount Miguel starter JAMES TREBUS to score a 1st inning run without benefit of a hit.

TYLER KEATON picked up the game-winning RBI with a bases-loaded walk.

It was more of the same in the 2nd inning, only this time Mount Miguel, which committed six errors in the game, helped fuel a 3-run Valhalla rally.

After ANTHONY GONZALES reached base on an error, TOMAS KARAGIANES delivered a hit-and-run single to right to put runners at the corners with one out.

The Norsemen then executed a double steal as Gonzales scored when the Matadors went after Karagianes at second.

Valhalla continued to take advantage of Mount Miguel ’s miscues. After Karagianes advanced to third on a wild pitch, GREG GARCIA drew his second walk in as many innings. As Karagianes kept creeping down from third to dare the Matadors to make a play on him, Mount Miguel catcher TONY ALVAREZ made a pickoff throw to third base but the ball wound up in left field, allowing Karagianes to score and Garcia took second. Garcia skipped to third on a wild pitch and scored on RYAN O’SULLIVAN’s groundout.

The Norsemen finally put the aluminum to the ball in the 3rd inning. DANNY HAWKSLEY and Anthony Gonzales hit back-to-back singles. After more Matadors defensive lapses in the field handed the Norsemen two more runs, Garcia put the game out of reach with a 3-run shot over the right field fence.

For Mount Miguel Trebus had more success with a bat than he did on the mound, collecting 3 hits in 4 at-bats.

JULIAN CHARLES was 2-for-3 with the bat and blanked the Norsemen on 2 hits over the final 3 1/3 innings.

© East County Sports.com
BONITA (4-15-07) — Watch out for the El Capitan Vaqueros. Although they have an unspectacular record of 8-8, they may be the team to beat in the Grossmont North League pennant race.

You Make The Call

Grossmont's Josh Simms hustles down the line in an attempt to beat-out an infield grounder. But did Simms make it? Answer HERE. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

Following a basehit by Augie Williams (4, in background), Grossmont's Levi Stevens tests Mission Bay's outfield by attempting to take an extra base, but did he make it? Answer HERE. (Photos by Chris Edwards)

“This was our best game of the year,” Vickery said Saturday (Apr. 14) after the Vaqueros bopped host Bonita Vista 13-3 in a non-league encounter. “It was one of those days where everything we hit had eyes. But we also hit the ball very hard. And on top of that, our pitching was solid and our defense was perfect.”

It was also a crowd-pleasing performance for the El Capitan faithful as Vickery used all 19 players.

The Vaqueros zoomed to a 9-0 lead after 3 innings. That was more than enough for the pitching trio of MARCO MARISCAL, JOSH SODEN and MILES REAGAN who limited the Barons (12-6-1) to 7 hits and no earned runs.

Mariscal pitched the first 5 innings to garner his 3rd win in 4 decisions.

“He just flat located his fastball on both sides of the plate,” said Vickery. “Of the 5 hits he gave up, 3 were of the infield variety.”

LUCAS WHITMORE launched a 1st inning rally with a triple to right field. He scored on a base hit by Reagan. After ANDY HALE doubled, BRYSON LUKACIK lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

In the 2nd frame NATHAN KIRBY doubled to right center and scored on a base hit by CANNON NIKZAD. After Nikzad scooted to second on a wild pitch, TANNER RUST ripped the first of his 2 doubles to make it 4-0.

El Capitan broke the game open in the 3rd inning and recorded a little bit of unrecorded history.

After an RBI single by RYAN INVERSO and a run-scoring double by Nikzad, KEVIN MORTON executed a perfect squeeze bunt. Not only did Kirby score on the play, but Morton also reached first base safely.

“If you know me you know I don’t believe in the squeeze,” Vickery said. “I’ll betcha that’s the first time I’ve called for a squeeze in about 10 years.”

An RBI double by Rust and a run-scoring single by Whitmore capped the 5-run 3rd frame.

Having a healthy Inverso should put a charge in the El Capitan offense. With the hard-throwing Reagan rounding into form can only bolster the Vaqueros pitching staff.

The Vaqueros, who travel to West Hills on Monday (Apr. 16) in search of their second league win in as many starts, could be 4-0 by the end of the week. For El Capitan it could turn out to be ‘catch-us-if-you-can.’

Grossmont senior Augie Williams sends the ball deep over the Gizoni Field fence in left, but Mission Bay swept the Hillers. (Photos by Chris Edwards)

To the coach JERRY HENSON and his visiting Sultans, it was a game of importance.

“The way things have been going for us lately, this was a key ballgame for us – one that we needed to win,” said Henson.

The victory snapped a 3-game losing streak, but it was only the 2nd game in 8 games for the Sultans (7-8-1).

A 5-run 1st inning outburst gave Henson hope, but not comfort in the early going at Otay Ranch. DALLAS MARTIN’s single scored Santana’s first run. A 2-run single by RYAN STUTZ capped the gala first inning.

But it wasn’t until the 6th inning that Henson could breathe easy. Leading 6-4 at the time, the Sultans finally pulled away on an RBI single by Martin and a 2-run single by KYLE ROMERO.

Senior KYLE CULVER limited the Mustangs (10-8) to 5 hits and 2 earned runs over 5 innings as he collected his 3rd win against a single loss. Culver struck out 4, walked one and had to survive 6 Santana errors.

JOSH POND got the final 5 outs to secure the win for Santana.

The game ended on a strange note. Otay Ranch appeared to have put runners at the corners with 2 outs on a pair of singles.

“I have to give credit to Stutz for being heads-up,” Henson said. “He noticed that the Otay runner going to third missed second base. He called “time” and made an appeal to the base umpire, and threw the ball to Martin, who touched the bag for the game-ending out.”

Oh yeah, Henson wanted to make sure that he praised the base ump for being alert.

Sat., Apr. 14 Non-League SULTANS 9, MUSTANGS 5 Santana (7-8-1) Otay Ranch (10-8) 510 003 0 - 9 12 6 211 001 0 - 5 07 3 KCulver, Needy (6), Pond (6) and Sica. Ruiz, Debod (6) and Aguirre. W-KCulver (3-1). L-Ruiz. VAQUEROS 13, BARONS 3 El Capitan (8-8) Bonita Vista (12-6-1) 225 022 0 - 13 13 0 000 100 2 - 03 07 2 Mariscal, Soden (6), Reagan (7) and Kirby, Gross (6). Apalategui, DeOcampo (3), Marquez (3), Norris (6) and Shields, Apalategui (3). W-Mariscal (3-1). L-Apalategui (1-1). BUCCANEERS 13-8, FOOTHILLERS 7-5 Game 1 Mission Bay (13-4) Grossmont (12-5) 250 330 0 - 13 09 2 340 000 0 - 07 12 0 Morgan, Long (5) and Croce. Mason, McClellan (2), Longmire (4), Wingerden (6), Leon (7) and Baum, Wright (6). W-Morgan. L-Longmire (2-1). Sv-Long. HR-Sagun (MB) 1st, solo, Stonecipher (MB) 2: 2nd, slam, 5th, solo; Croce (MB) 5th, solo. Game 2 Mission Bay (14-4) Grossmont (12-6) 210 320 0 - 8 10 2 111 020 0 - 5 07 1 Stokes, Santos (3), and Croce, Black (4). Silva, Wohlwend (3), Haar (4), Stevens (6) and Baum, Wright (7). W-Santos (1-0). L-Haar (0-2). HR-Long (MB) 2nd, solo; Williams (G, 3) 2nd, solo; Baum (G, 2) 3rd, solo.

No. 4 ranked Mission Bay came to Joe Gizoni Field on Saturday (Apr. 14) to sweep a non-league double-header. The Foothillers – since their fast start – are a .500 club, having split 12 decisions.

Grossmont pitching, which has been respectable for most of the season, was little more than batting practice for the visiting Buccaneers (14-4). The Hiller hurlers made matters worse by issuing 15 walks in the two games – 8 of the free passes were cashed in for runs.

In their last three games the Foothillers have watched teams convert 11 walks into runs. It’s numbers like those that question whether Grossmont is capable of capturing a third straight San Diego CIF Division II championship.

The opener of the twinbill had a wild beginning as the score was tied 7-7 after two frames. LEVI STEVENS’ 2-run double, followed by AUGIE WILLIAMS’ sacrifice fly, gave the Hillers a 3-2 edge after one inning. DEREK BAUM’s 2-run single capped a 4-run 2nd for Grossmont.

The Foothillers’ offense ran out of gas after that, generating only 4 hits over the final 5 frames.

Mission Bay bombed the hosts with 4 home runs, including 2 by Sequoyah Stonecipher. His first was a 2nd inning grand slam. His most impressive shot, however, was a 5th inning solo blast.

The nightcap produced a similar start as the two clubs sparred back and forth for three innings, which left the game tied 3-3 at that point.

Mission Bay then jumped on reliever BRYAN HAAR for 5 runs and 6 hits over the ensuing two innings.

On the high side for Grossmont was the hitting of NICK LONGMIRE, who went 4-for-6 with 3 runs scored, and JOSH SIMMS, who was 4-for-8 with 2 runs and an RBI.

Mission Bay gained a 5-2 home run edge over their hosts. Williams and Baum hit solo homers for the Hillers.

© East County Sports.com
LINDA VISTA (4-13-07) — Life in the topsy-turvy Central League doesn’t figure to be any picnic for the heavily favored Christian High Patriots.

The hot-and-cold Patriots turned in a typical performance in Thursday’s (Apr. 12) 15-10 victory at Kearny that took eight innings and 3½ hours to complete.

“We can score runs, but we just can’t put people away,” Patriots coach MIKE MITCHELL said. “I think Kearny is in a similar situation – all three of their league games so far have gone extra innings, but they’ve won only one.”

Talk about living on the edge… The Patriots failed to hold leads of 5-0 and 10-6 before finally putting the game away with a 5-run outburst in the 8th inning.

“The games we’ve played so far this year are about as strange as I’ve ever been involved in,” Mitchell commented.

Junior BRYAN MITCHELL paced the Patriots (9-4, 2-0 CL) with 3 hits, 4 RBI and 3 stolen bases.

TAYLOR EICHHORST extended his East County-best hitting streak to 13 games with a 2-run homer and an RBI double. Eichhorst added a 4th RBI in the fray with a sacrifice fly.

ADAM NASH nailed a 2-run home run and was 2-for-3 on the day to push his hitting streak to 8 games. EDDIE YOUNG was 3-for-5 with a double and 2 stolen bases to extend his batting string to 8 games as well.

“Obviously offense is not our problem,” Mitchell noted. “Honestly I think it may be a lack of concentration. I don’t know but it seems like once we get a lead we go to sleep.”

At times Mitchell is mystified how his Patriots can do so many detrimental things to put the pressure on themselves.

The Patriots could easily have lost in regulation. A hit batter and a triple allowed the Komets (4-11, 1-2 CL) to tie the game at 10-apiece in the bottom of the 7th. Christian escaped defeat by picking the potential winning run off third base, which caused the game to continue into extra innings.

“We picked two guys off and threw out two guys attempting to steal,” Mitchell said. “That kind of stuff becomes real important when your pitchers allow the leadoff guy to reach base for six straight innings.”

This game could have easily been a walk in the park for the Patriots had they not bungled a double play ball in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

“We were like a pinball machine in that one,” Mitchell said. “You know, where the ball bounces off one guy and hits another guy… and everybody’s safe.”

Matters got worse in that inning when two Patriots collided attempting to catch an infield fly rule pop-up. Kearny scored a run off that.

“I don’t know what it is about this team,” Mitchell pondered. “But it seems like every time we get a lead, we find ways to squander it. On the upside we have the ability to keep coming back.”

The Patriots have won 7 of their last 8 games.

GRANITE HILLS 4, ESPERANZA 3 – Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS has been around baseball most of his life. But the Eagles skipper said he’s never been challenged more as a coach than he was in Thursday’s (Apr. 12) third place game of the Phil Nevin National Classic at El Dorado High.

“We had a 40 mph wind blowing straight in to the batters’ faces,” said Davis. “I’m not exaggerating – that wind was constant, not gusting. Even the Esperanza coach, who’s been around these parts for 10 years, said he’s never seen it blow straight in from center field like it did today.”

Thus the strategy in the game had to change. The long ball was out.

“This had to be one of the weirdest games in Granite Hills history,” Davis said. “I mean, the wind was howling and we had to play small ball like we’ve never done before.”

The uncharacteristic statistic of the game credited Granite Hills with 4 sacrifices compared to just 3 hits.

“Can you believe that? Davis queried.

Believe this. The No. 8 ranked Eagles (10-4) had only one hit but were tied 3-3 with the Aztecs of Esperanza after 6 innings.

“It was evident from the outset that you were not going to bang your way to a win,” Davis said. “I have to give my kids credit for going along with our Plan B.”

Two of Granite Hills’ hits came in the decisive bottom of the 7th inning. Senior TYLER WINTERS provided the spark with a bunt single.

“I can’t say enough good things about Winters,” Davis said. “He came through with the pressure on, did exactly what I asked of him.”

JOHNNY OMAHEN advanced Winters to second with a sacrifice bunt. A balk advanced Winters another 90 feet.

BRIAN HUMPHRIES then decided matters when he singled up the middle to score Winters. It was Humphries’ 2nd RBI of the game. He tied the game 1-1 in the 3rd inning with a groundout.

TRAVIS TAIJERON went hitless for the first time in the 4-game tournament, but he hit a mammoth sacrifice fly, giving Granite Hills a 2-1 edge in the 3rd inning.

“Travis just crushed that ball,” Davis said. “But the wind held it up so he had to take what he could get. On a normal day that ball probably would have made it out.”

As it was, Taijeron – who was named to the All-Tournament team – batted .545 (6-for-11) with 2 homers, a pair of doubles, 7 RBI and 5 runs scored.

ERIC KRAUSE, normally a starter for the Eagles, pitched a shutout 7th inning in relief against Esperanza. It was hardly smooth sailing as the Aztecs loaded the bases against Krause with only one out. But Krause got the next two batters out and wound up with his 5th win in 6 decisions.

Krause, who was 2-0 and did not allow an earned run in the tournament, was also named to the All-Tournament team.

Granite Hills’ only loss in this prestigious tournament was to Riverside Poly, which is ranked No. 23 in the nation and No. 7 in the Western Region by USA Today.

Thurs., Apr. 12 Phil Nevin National Classic EAGLES 4, AZTECS 3 Esperanza (14-5) Granite Hills (10-4) 100 110 0 - 3 7 7 002 100 1 - 4 3 2 One out iwhen winning run scored. Lu, Holt (5) and Berbert. Gay, Krause (7) and Taijeron. W-Krause (5-1). L-Holt. MONARCHS 11, NORSEMEN 4 Valhalla (8-6) Mater Dei (13-5) 001 100 2 - 04 04 5 119 000 x - 11 11 4 Karagianes, Gross (3), McAllister (5) and Ruiz, Cady (5). Blanchard, Venegas (6), Carrig (7) and Schaeper, Armijo (6). W-Blanchard. L-Karagianes (0-1). Central League Click HERE for Boxscore.

Although the Norsemen’s 8-6 record isn’t all that attractive, this ballclub will be a power to be reckoned with during the Grossmont South League race and beyond.

Senior second baseman GREG GARCIA was an offensive tower of strength for Valhalla, generating 7 hits in 16 at-bats for a .438 average during the tournament. Garcia’s totals included 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 4 RBI and 7 runs scored. He was named to the All-Tournament team.

Valhalla’s week-long run included an 8-5 victory over Newbury Park, which is ranked No. 25 in the nation according to USA Today. One of the Norsemen’s losses was to Palm Beach Central (Fla.), the eventual tournament champion.

In Thursday’s (Apr. 12) consolation finale, the Norsemen appeared to be out of gas. They saw a 2-1 game swell to an insurmountable 11-1 deficit after the Monarchs (13-5) scored nine runs in the 3rd inning.

The two apparently weary teams combined to commit 9 errors, which led to 9 unearned runs. Wipe those off the board and Mater Dei wins 6-0.

A positive note in the lop-sided finale for Valhalla is that the Norsemen turned 4 double plays. That deserves a gold star, no matter what the score.

Valhalla’s offense consisted of 4 hits – 2 of them by Garcia.

Vaqueros left-hander Lucas Whitmore (top) makes the delivery to the plate Wednesday, while Brian Ritayik of West Hills offers this fastball from the right side in GNL action. (Photos by Greg Eichelberger)

West Hills' Blaine Hoffard scores as the ball skips past El Capitan catcher Nathan Kirby. The Vaqueros rallied for a 6-4 victory in the teams' Grossmont North League opener. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

© East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (4-12-07) — Anyone expecting the El Capitan Vaqueros to do anything less than contend for a Grossmont North League pennant, doesn’t know STEVE VICKERY.

El Capitan opened the league season with a come-from-behind 6-4 victory over visiting West Hills Wednesday (Apr. 11) afternoon.

The Vaqueros (7-8, 1-0 GNL) overcame a 4-1 deficit to deny the upstart Wolf Pack of a potential upset.

El Capitan tied the game 4-4 on TANNER RUST’s RBI single to center field in the 6th inning. After LUCAS WHITMORE singled to right, MILES REAGAN tripled off the center field bank to plate 2 runs and break the tie.

It was a big day for Whitmore, who pitched in relief and got the final 4 outs to earn his first varsity victory in two seasons. Whitmore also contributed at the plate, going 3-for-3 and scoring 2 runs.

As well as Whitmore did with the bat, Vickery’s focus for praise was on his pitching. With West Hills leading 4-3 entering the 6th inning, Vickery credited Whitmore for making game-change pitches.

“Whitmore came in with two outs in the 6th inning with a 2-1 count on (TONY) SPEARS and did an outstanding job on getting him to fly out to left,” said Vickery. “It was a great day for him. He pitched into a ton of tough luck so it was nice to see him get a win next to his name.”

El Capitan out-hit the Wolf Pack 11-7.

“We got guys on base early in the game, just couldn’t come up with quality at-bats,” said Vickery. “Our pitching kept us in it.”

KEVIN MORTON toiled the first 5 2/3 innings for the Vaqueros, allowing 7 hits and 3 earned runs while striking out 7.

On the West Hills side of the ledger, BLAINE HOFFARD was the only member of the Pack to collect a multiple hit game with a 2-for-3 effort.

RBI singles by STEVEN SCHIMPF and ERIC McKNIGHT gave West Hills an early 2-0 lead. DAVID BRISTOL then tomahawked a 2-2 pitch that Vickery said “was probably above his eyes” for a 2-run single and a 4-1 West Hills lead in the 5th.

GROSSMONT 8, SANTANA 7 (8 inn.) – Amid the barrage of 7 home runs it was a couple of key defensive plays that nearly cost host Grossmont the victory in Wednesday’s (Apr. 11) Grossmont North League opener between these teams.

The defending GNL champion Foothillers won the slugfest on BRYAN HAAR’s solo home run in the bottom of the 8th – an exciting finish to a game that the Foothillers appeared to have in hand early on.

Grossmont built a 6-2 lead after the first three innings over its Santee rival.

That advantage gradually deteriorated, and Santana’s DALLAS MARTIN’s leadoff home run in the top of the 7th inning tied the game 7-7 and sent it into extra innings.

In the bottom of the 7th the Foothillers (12-4, 1-0 GNL) were in prime position to pull out a victory, but failed to do so thanks to Santana’s defense.

JUSTIN MASON led off the inning with a drive off the right-center field fence that fell about five feet short of being a game-winning homer. Mason was limited to a single on that play. BRENNAN GEARY ran for Mason and advanced to second on JUSTIN RUTHERFORD’s sacrifice bunt.

JOSH SIMMS then laced a single to left center that Santana center fielder JONATHAN TIPPIN took on one hop. Geary, who waited to see if Tippin would catch the ball on the fly, then broke for the plate.

Tippin unleashed a strong throw to catcher NICK SICA, who took the peg on one bounce and slapped the tag on Geary for the second out. That snuffed out Grossmont’s chance to win it in regulation.

The Sultans (6-8, 0-1 GNL) committed 4 errors but still came up with key defensive plays to deny Grossmont’s scoring chances.

In the 4th frame Grossmont’s NICK LONGMIRE attempted to score from third on an apparent wild pitch. But the Sultans’ cat-quick catcher Sica pounced on the errant toss and threw to pitcher Martin who was covering at the plate to slap the tag on Longmire for the out.

LEVI STEVENS, the only sophomore on the Grossmont roster, drove in 3 runs with his 2nd and 3rd homers of the season.

“I think they tried to challenge me because I’m only a sophomore,” said Stevens. “I saw a lot of fastballs, and that’s fine with me.”

Grossmont has hit an East County-leading 27 home runs and that was the difference on Wednesday.

“We played ball with them every inning, but we just couldn’t put them away,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “I can’t tell you how many 1-run ball games we’ve been on the wrong side of.”

Let the record show 5 of Santana’s 8 setbacks have come by a 1-run margin. Another run came by a 2-run spread.

“Yeah, it’s been frustrating, but it shows that we’re not that far away from being one of the (SDCIF’s) better ballclubs,” Henson added.

Wed., Apr. 11 Phil Nevin National Classic BEARS 11, EAGLES 6 Granite Hills (9-4) Riverside Poly 002 010 3 - 06 05 3 230 600 x - 11 10 0 Queriones, McCalmont (2), Miller (4), Belzer (6) and Taijeron. Castro, Abundis (6) and Marisnick. W-Castro. L-Queriones (0-1). HR-Taijeron (GH, 4) 5th, solo. WARRIORS 8, NORSEMEN 6 (12 inn.) Riverside (S.C.) Valhalla (8-5) 010 000 120 004 - 8 16 0 000 200 020 002 - 6 13 2 Kish, Daniels (7), Nester (10) and Nester, Cook (10). Frank, MGonzales (8), Cahoon (9), Gross (12), McAllister (12), Karagianes (12) and Hawksley. W-Nester. L-Gross (0-1). HR-Garcia (V, 3) 8th, solo. Grossmont Conference Click HERE for Boxscores.

HELIX 13-11, MOUNT MIGUEL 0-3 – The Helix Highlanders wanted to make one thing perfectly clear during Wednesday’s (Apr. 12) Grossmont South League opener at Mount Miguel – they are contenders for the crown.

In executing the sweep the Highlanders (11-4, 2-0 GSL) pounded out 31 hits, including a 7-for-9 effort by AARON DODD-WADDINGTON. A junior right-fielder, Dodd-Waddington drove in 5 runs and scored 5 while including a double, a triple and 2 stolen bases in his totals.

Helix leadoff hitter RANDY PEREZ produced some impressive numbers as well. The senior shortstop was 5-for-7 with 6 runs scored, 4 RBI and the first home run of his career in the two games.

RAUL RITCHIE was 5-for-9 with 4 RBI and 3 runs scored, while MATT COBB was 4-for-9 with 4 RBI for Helix.

Nearly overshadowed by the Helix offensive onslaught was the Highlanders’ pitching. MAHI LaBASTIDA and GREG SHELBY combined to no-hit the Matadors in the opener while striking out 12.

In the nightcap JEREMY PETERSON, MIKE ANDRADE and BLAZE McENTEE combined to twirl a 6-hitter. Peterson worked 4 shutout innings to earn his 5th win in 6 decisions.

Mount Miguel (4-10, 0-2 GSL) avoided the shutout by scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th in Game 2.

NICO CALAFATO had the key hit, a 2-run single in that inning.

“I feel that we’re going to be playing for a league championship in the next two weeks,” Helix coach COLE HOLLAND said. “This (double-header) was a nice tune-up for us.”

RIVERSIDE (S.C.) 8, VALHALLA 6 (12 inn.) – In perhaps one of the most exciting games of the Phil Nevin National Classic the Norsemen fell short against the Warriors of South Carolina on Wednesday (Apr. 11) at Champions Sports Park in Placentia.

In a seesaw battle the Norsemen lost a 2-1 lead in the 7th inning but rebounded from a 4-2 deficit in the 8th. Even after falling behind 8-4 in the 12th, Valhalla (8-5) fought back with 2 runs and brought the tying run to the plate before exhausting their supply of outs.

“Losing to Riverside, South Carolina, in 12 innings today was devastating in so many ways, but so rewarding to see a never-say-die team play to its last out,” said Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE. “We are a better team now than when we left San Diego (at the beginning of the week). We have more heart, grit, determination and character. We came up here to become a better team and we have done that.”

TOMAS KARAGIANES, GREG GARCIA and RYAN O’SULLIVAN, the top third of the Valhalla batting order, have been terrifically productive over the last two games. The trio is batting at a .423 clip (11 for 26) with 7 RBI and 9 runs scored.

Garcia hit his 2nd home run in as many games and his 3rd of the season against the Southerners. O’Sullivan was 3-for-6 with 3 doubles, 2 RBI and 2 runs. Karagianes – the Norsemen’s leadoff man – was 2-for-5 to extend his East County-best hitting streak to 13 games.

Valhalla broke a 1-1 tie on GARRETT GILES’ RBI single to center in the 4th inning.

Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the 8th, the Norsemen staged a 2-out rally. Garcia ignited the comeback with a blast over the right-field fence. O’Sullivan came within inches of matching Garcia’s shot as his ball hit the top of the right-field fence for a double. CHRIS THOMAS then singled to right to score O’Sullivan and allow the game to continue.

Riverside snapped a 4-4 tie in the 12th inning with a grand slam home run.

Although shocked by the sudden turn of events, the Norsemen came storming back. PETE THOMAS (3-for-5) led off with a single but was forced out on Karagianes’ ground ball. Garcia then doubled off the left field fence. O’Sullivan then hit his 3rd double of the day, scoring both runners and cutting Riverside ’s advantage in half.

The Norse offense stalled at that point.

Perdue paraded a season-high 6 pitchers to the mound. Starter TREVOR FRANK should have been rewarded with a win as he allowed only 2 runs and 7 hits over 7 innings. Reliever TREVOR CAHOON pitched 3 innings of 1-hit shutout relief for Valhalla.

The Norsemen conclude the tournament on Thursday (Apr. 12) against Mater Dei at Esperanza High at 2 p.m.

RIVERSIDE POLY 11, GRANITE HILLS 4 – The 8th ranked Eagles missed a shot at some prime time coverage when they were riddled by Riverside Poly in Wednesday’s (Apr. 11) semifinals at the Phil Nevin National Classic at Cal State Fullerton.

The Bears jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings and increased that advantage to 11-2 by the close of the 4th.

“I’m disappointed with our effort early in the game,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS. “Our mental approach for the game was not right.”

In other words, the Eagles (9-4) came out flat.

Granite Hills made the most of 5 hits, including a double and a triple by AUSTIN COLEMAN, which plated 3 runs.

TRAVIS TAIJERON tagged a solo homer in the 5th inning and drove in a second run with a sacrifice fly in the 7th. Taijeron’s circuit clout was his 4th of the season and extended his Granite Hills career home run record to 26.

The Eagles’ final tally in a 3-run 7th inning came across on ERIC KRAUSE’s single.

In spite of the disappointing outcome, the Eagles were able to establish another Granite Hills career record on BRIAN HUMPHRIES’ run-scoring double in the 7th.

That 2-base hit was the 30th of Humphries’ career, breaking the Granite Hills mark set by ERIC NELSON (1992-94).

Granite Hills will place for third place against Esperanza at El Dorado High at 2 p.m. Thursday (Apr. 12).

© East County Sports.com
FULLERTON (4-11-07) — If the Granite Hills Eagles and the Valhalla Norsemen post victories in Wednesday’s (Apr. 11) third round of the Phil Nevin National Classic, they will both be featured in the tournament’s final day live web cast.

However, a semifinal sweep by the two Grossmont South League rivals would not create a face-to-face meeting.

Here’s the situation:

A victory over Riverside Poly in the semifinal at Cal State Fullerton at 7:15 p.m. would send the No. 8 ranked Eagles (9-3) into Thursday’s championship game against the Esperanza-Palm Beach Central (Fla.). The finale will also be played at Cal State Fullerton, only at 7:30 p.m.

Valhalla (8-4) needs a semifinal win over Riverside (SC) to earn a berth in the consolation championship game on Thursday at 5 p.m. The Norsemen would play the winner of Mater Dei-Cottonwood (Utah) at Cal State Fullerton.

Live coverage of both the consolation and the championship games will be webcast by vootage.com.

GRANITE HILLS 7, EL DORADO 5 – The Eagles bounced back from an early 2-0 deficit to eliminate the host team from title contention in Tuesday’s (Apr. 10) second round of the Phil Nevin National Classic.

The key blow was BRIAN HUMPHRIES’ 2-run single during a 4-run 2nd inning that gave Granite Hills the lead for keeps. Humphries’ blow followed an RBI single by KENNY BELZER. LOUIS CAZARES capped the outburst with a run-scoring double.

JOHNNY OMAHEN’s RBI double with two outs in the 3rd extended Granite Hills’ advantage to 5-2.

AUSTIN COLEMAN, one of the leading home run hitters in the San Diego CIF, put the final stamp on the victory with a 2-run home run in the 4th inning. It was Coleman’s 6th homer of the season, which ranks him 4th in the SDCIF.

“The good thing about this tournament so far is we’ve been hitting the ball consistently,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS after watching all nine starters contribute to an 11-hit attack. Belzer and KYLE JOHNSTON each led the way with 2 hits apiece.

Sophomore southpaw TRAVIS HOPPER toiled 5 innings to run his record to 3-1.

“Hopper did a good job,” said Davis. “He gave up two home runs in the 1st inning but battled through it. He kept his composure.”

DEAN MILLER blanked the Golden Hawks on one hit over the final two frames to earn his first save.

VALHALLA 8, NEWBURY PARK 5 – After falling behind 3-0 in two innings, the Norsemen’s anemic offense found a transfusion in the batting of GREG GARCIA during Tuesday’s (Apr. 10) second round of the Phil Nevin National Classic at Champions Sports Park in Placentia.

After TOMAS KARAGIANES extended his East County-leading hitting streak to 12 games with a leadoff single in the 3rd inning, Garcia laced a double – one of 3 hits he had in the game.

RYAN O’SULLIVAN brought in Karagianes with an infield grounder, and Garcia scored on a CHRIS THOMAS sacrifice fly to center, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

For one of the few times this season, Valhalla scored in back-to-back innings with 3 runs in the 4th. Actually, it was back-to-back-to back scoring innings for the Norsemen.

In the 4th WILL COOMBS led off with a single to right field. TREVOR FRANK followed with a tapper back to the mound. The Newbury Park pitcher went after Coombs at second base but threw the ball into center field, leaving Norsemen runners at second and third with nobody out.

After a walk loaded the bases, PETE THOMAS drove a ground ball back through the middle, scoring Coombs to tie it at 3-3. Then with two outs Garcia hit a booming double to the fence in center field, driving in 2 runs for a 5-3 Valhalla lead.

After Newbury Park tied it with 2 runs in the top of the 5th, the Norsemen fought back in the bottom of the frame.

Chris Thomas led off with a walk and DANNY HAWKSLEY followed with a single up the middle. MARK COATS ran for Thomas and Valhalla attempted a double steal. The Newbury Park catcher accommodated Valhalla with a throwing error, allowing Coats to score.

Valhalla put the game away in the 6th. Once again Garcia was the point man as he led off with a towering home run over the right-field fence. But the Norsemen weren’t through.

O’Sullivan reached base after being hit by a pitch with one out. Freshman Hawksley then executed a perfect hit-and-run single to right field, putting runners at the corners. A Newbury Park error allowed O’Sullivan to score an insurance run.

From a pitching standpoint, this was not vintage Valhalla. Despite gaining his 4th win in 5 decisions, O’Sullivan gave up 5 earned runs in 5 innings. He did strike out 6 but needed to be rescued by relievers MATT GONZALES and Frank. A sophomore known mostly for his pitching, Frank earned his second save.

CHRISTIAN 13, CRAWFORD 4 – Not many teams can be labeled a heavier favorite than Christian High in the Central League this season. Prior to the start of league play this week, the Patriots’ overall victory total was only one less than that of their four circuit rivals combined.

The Patriots wasted little time in proving their dominance in Tuesday’s (Apr. 10) league opening rout of visiting Crawford. Christian scored 10 runs in the 1st inning and led 13-0 after two frames.

At that point coach MIKE MITCHELL pulled the majority of his starters out of the game.

“It’s obvious that we had the game under control so there’s no sense rubbing their faces in it,” said Mitchell.

Earlier in the day Patriots junior middle infielder EDDIE YOUNG made a surprising verbal commitment to UC Riverside.

“For a long time there Eddie insisted that the last place he wanted to go was UCR,” Mitchell said. “I guess he wanted to blaze his own trail or something.”

Mitchell said Young wanted to do his own thing and not follow the paths of his uncles RONNY and DONNIE YOUNG, both of whom played baseball at UC Riverside in the late 1980s.

College recruiters were just starting to notice the talents of Eddie Young. University of San Diego and Stanford had both shown interest. Subtle pressure from his uncles convinced Eddie Young to take a recruiting trip to UCR.

That’s when the Highlanders’ veteran head coach Doug Smith persuaded the youngest Young that UC Riverside was the ‘right place’ for the Patriots’ second baseman to begin his college career (in 2009).

The Highlanders of Riverside are currently flirting with national rankings at 21-12. That includes Tuesday's 8-7 victory over No. 21 USD. Smith’s record for success includes coaching more than 150 all-conference players and 30 All-Americans. Smith has seen close to 100 of his players sign professional contracts – including Donnie Young.

Tue., Apr. 10 Phil Nevin National Classic EAGLES 7, GOLDEN HAWKS 5 El Dorado (9-6) Granite Hills (9-3) 200 030 0 - 5 07 0 041 200 x - 7 11 2 Woods, Chavez (2), Cardenas (4) and Hall. Hopper, Miller (6) and Taijeron. W-Hopper (3-1). L-Woods. S-Miller (1). HR-Ertle (ED) 1st, solo; Hall (ED) 2: 1st, solo, and 5th, one on; Coleman (GH, 6) 4th, one on. NORSEMEN 8, PANTHERS 5 Newbury Park (12-5) Valhalla (8-4) 300 020 0 - 5 7 3 002 312 x - 8 9 0 Sheffy, Montenegro (4) and Schwartz. O’Sullivan, MGonzales (6), Frank (7) and Hawksley. W-O’Sullivan (4-1). L-Montenegro. Sv-Frank (2). HR-Garcia (V, 2) 6th, solo. Central League PATRIOTS 13, COLTS 4 Click HERE for Boxscore.

UC Riverside is an offensive-minded team that plays in the prestigious Division I Big West Conference.

“Eddie wants to go to a place where he can play right away,” Mitchell said. “I think he’ll get that opportunity at UCR.”

Seemingly relieved at having cast his future, Young collected a single, 2 walks and a pair of RBI in an abbreviated performance in Christian’s victory over Crawford.

TAYLOR EICHHORST extended his East County-leading hitting streak to 12 games when he launched a 3-run homer over the left-center field fence in the 1st inning against the Colts (1-13, 0-1).

ADAM NASH chipped in a 1st inning double to stretch his hitting streak to 7 games. Young has also hit in 7 straight.

Christian’s 10-run 1st inning onslaught began with two outs and nobody on base.

MICHAEL GRUBER lashed a 2-run double in the wild 1st. BRYAN MITCHELL also logged 2 RBI with a bases-loaded single.

© East County Sports.com
PLACENTIA (4-10-07) — Less than 48 hours after winning the Home Run Derby at the Phil Nevin National Classic, Granite Hills catcher TRAVIS TAIJERON went on a hitting jag in the Eagles’ opening round 11-0 victory over Central Private (Baker, La.).

Taijeron went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a grand slam to vault the No. 8-ranked Eagles (8-3) to a surprisingly easy win over the 20-3 Rebels.

Taijeron’s home run – his 3rd of the season – capped a 6-run 4th inning that gave the Eagles an 8-0 lead.

The Granite Hills list of baseball alumni is as impressive as any team in the San Diego CIF. More than half a dozen players have made it to the major leagues, including Padres second baseman MARCUS GILES.

While at Granite Hills (1994-96) Giles set the school record with 24 career home runs. Taijeron – now in his third year of varsity competition – eclipsed that mark with his back-breaking slam against the Rebels.

“Apparently Travis likes this ballpark,” Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said of the El Dorado High School field. “He really crushed that ball today. It would have been gone out of any high school park that I know of.”

Davis went on to note that the dimensions at El Dorado are 310 feet down the lines and 360 to dead center.

“That helped him a little in the Home Dun Derby, but like I said, that ball that he hit today would have been gone anywhere.”

The Granite Hills skipper figured there were probably a dozen scouts on hand to see Taijeron’s best offensive showing of the young season. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior has certainly raised some eyebrows.

BRIAN HUMPHRIES, batting in the leadoff spot, went 2-for-3 with a double, 2 runs and 2 RBI for Granite Hills.

JOSH QUERIONES was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI, including a 2-run single in the 7th. Junior KENNY BELZER chipped in a pair of hits and scored a run as the Eagles raked two Central Private pitchers for 14 hits.

Not to be overshadowed in the Granite Hills onslaught was the 3-hit shutout pitching of ERIC KRAUSE. The senior right-hander struck out 7 in 6 innings as he posted his 4th win against only one loss.

“Krause pitched a good game,” said Davis. “We just kept chipping away at them. We had some key hits and good pitching and turned a couple of double plays.”

Junior AARON McCALMONT pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to finish the job.

Events of this caliber traditionally attract a bevy of scouts.

“I can’t say for sure but I’d be willing to bet that every club has a representative here,” Davis said. “Word is there will be about 70 scouts to watch this kid Tanner Robles (a 6-4 left-hander who throws 93 mph) pitch for Canyonwood, Utah on Tuesday (Apr. 10).

The Eagles’ second round game will be against the host team El Dorado on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Mon., Apr. 9 Phil Nevin National Classic EAGLES 11, REBELS 0 Granite Hills (8-3) Central Pvt., La. (20-3) 011 610 2-11 14 0 000 000 0-00 03 0 Krause, McCalmont (7) and Taijeron. Crane, Vernardo (7) and Tarter. W-Krause (4-1). L-Crane. HR-Taijeron (3) 4th, slam. BRONCOS 4, NORSEMEN 0 Valhalla (7-4) Palm Beach Central, Fla. (4-1) 000 000 0 - 0 1 1 000 013 x - 4 7 1 Wilkins, Frank (6) and Hawksley. Gipson and Kane. W-Gipson. L-Wilkins (4-1).

With two outs in the 6th inning Valhalla (7-4) collected its only hit of the game. The Arizona-bound TOMAS KARAGIANES beat out a slow bouncer to shortstop to break out the no-hit bid by Mike Gipson of Palm Beach Central (Wellington, Fla.).

Karagianes’ hit extended his hitting streak to 11 games, tying him with Christian’s TAYLOR EICHHORST for the East County lead.

However, Karagianes had little time to celebrate as Gipson picked him off first base to end the inning.

Valhalla’s hard-throwing right-hander BOBBY WILKINS blanked the Broncos (4-1) from the Sunshine State for 4 1/3 innings before the Broncos scored the first run of the game.

Gipson walked, stole second and scored on Richie Erath’s single to right.

Wilkins, who retired 9 of the first 10 batters he faced using only 33 pitches, was tagged for 3 runs and 6 hits in 5-plus innings as he suffered his first loss in five decisions.

Gipson chalked up 9 strikeouts to go with his complete game pitching performance.

Valhalla takes on the Newbury Park Panthers (12-4) in Tuesday’s (Apr. 10) second round at Champions Sports Park in Anaheim at 1 p.m. Newbury Park lost its opener to St. Johns of Washington, D.C. 5-0.

© East County Sports.com
PLACENTIA (4-8-07) — Granite Hills senior catcher TRAVIS TAIJERON is the unassuming sort. Unflappable.

And productive.

With a scout-laden crowd of 600 looking on, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Taijeron won the Phil Nevin National Classic Home Run Derby Saturday (Apr. 7) at El Dorado High School.

Taijeron, who hit 15 home runs as a junior, has hit only two after 10 games this season. That wasn’t a problem at El Dorado as he belted 18 round-trippers to edge Steve Conley of Palm Beach Central ( Fla. ) by one homer.

“I was a little nervous at first,” Taijeron said. “Then, when the crowd started getting into it, things got pretty exciting. It was a lot of fun.”

The 32-player event went two rounds of elimination to pare the competition down to the two finalists.

All contestants were afforded six outs (any swing that is not a home run is considered an out) in the opening round. Taijeron advanced by hitting five balls over the fence.

In round two, he clubbed eight homers before reaching his limit of 10 outs.

Taijeron smacked five home runs in the final round to claim the championship.

Serving as his batting pitcher was Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS, a former pitcher at San Diego State.

So who was more excited by Taijeron’s conquest in the power game?

“I had a lot of fun with it,” Davis admitted. “Travis had the crowd oohing and aahing.”

Valhalla’s RYAN O’SULLIVAN, who also hit off Davis, finished with three home runs the Eagles’ coach said.

The tournament begins on Monday (Apr. 9) when the Eagles take on Central Private of Los Angeles at 10 a.m. and Valhalla meets Palm Beach Central at 2 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-6-07) — For one of the rare times in the 57-year history of the Lions Baseball Tournament there were no East County teams that advanced past the semifinals.

In the Premier Division El Capitan came up short against Mission Bay, falling 6-1 at USD.

Meanwhile, Helix lost to Oceanside 3-1 in a 5A Division game at Westview.

The only one of the three teams to take to the field on Thursday (Apr. 5) was Grossmont, which outslugged Bakersfield Liberty 12-9 in a Premier Division consolation contest at Joe Gizoni Field.

For the record, two of East County’s better teams – Valhalla and Granite Hills – did not participate in the Lions Tournament. Both squads will compete in the Phil Nevin National Classic in Fullerton beginning Monday (Apr. 9).

MISSION BAY 6, EL CAPITAN 1 – Things started out well enough for the Vaqueros (6-8) as they took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. With one out ANDY HALE singled to center and hopped over to second when JAMES LONG walked.

CANNON NIKZAD then singled to left, scoring Hale.

Other than that, El Capitan collected only 4 singles in 6 turns at bat.

El Capitan’s “hardluck poster boy” LUCAS WHITMORE collected a third of El Capitan ’s 6 hits and pitched 5 respectable innings. Yet, when he left the diamond, he was saddled with his fourth loss in as many decisions.

Nikzad, a junior designated hitter, also had 2 hits for the Vaqueros.

“We had opportunities but never got a hit with anybody in scoring position,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. “We’ve have improved our level of play, playing a little better defense. Overall we had a pretty good week.”

Another bright spot for the Vaqueros was the return of MILES REAGAN to the pitching arena. Although he gave up a walk and a base hit, he escaped the 6th inning unscathed by striking out the side.

For only the second time this season, El Cap’s BRYSON LUKACIK went hitless, which snapped his East County-best 12-game hitting streak.

OCEANSIDE 3, HELIX 1 – Sophomore MIKE ANDRADE, who underwent an emergency appendectomy a couple of weeks ago, turned in a positive pitching performance for the Highlanders.

Outside of the three runs he allowed in the 2nd inning – courtesy of Johns Hotta’s home run – Andrade was sterling. He gave up only 4 hits in 5 innings but showed signs of wildness as he walked 4.

Junior BLAZE McENTEE picked up for Andrade in the 6th and pitched 2 shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out 3.

The Highlanders (9-4), who only two days ago were sitting on a 7-game winning streak, suffered back-to-back losses for the first time all season.

Pitching continues to be Helix’s strength, but the offense is sporadic. The Highlanders loaded the bases with nobody out in the 5th inning, but came away with only one run.

RAUL RITCHIE, had the Highlanders’ only extra base hit with a double, also logged the RBI on an infield groundout.

“We had seven line drives hit right at people for outs,” said Highlanders coach COLE HOLLAND. “We actually swung the bats real well but everything we hit was right at them.”

Thurs., Apr. 5 57th annual Lions Tournament PREMIER DIVISION -- Semifinals BUCCANEERS 6, VAQUEROS 1 El Capitan (6-8) Mission Bay (10-3) 010 000 0 - 1 6 1 001 320 x - 6 9 0 Whitmore, Reagan (6) and Kirby. Long and Croce. W-Long (1-0). L-Whitmore (0-4). 5A DIVISION -- Semifinals PIRATES 3, HIGHLANDERS 1 Oceanside (9-5) Helix (9-4) 030 000 0 - 3 5 1 000 010 0 - 1 4 1 Casteneda, Rodriguez (6) and Tialavea. Andrade, McEntee and Schumaker. W-Casteneda (1-0). L-Andrade (1-1). HR-Hotta (O) 2nd, two on. Consolation FOOTHILLERS 12, PATRIOTS 9 Bakers.-Liberty (9-10) Grossmont (11-4) 300 303 0-9 12 2 700 041 x-12 6 2 Lewis, Layne (1), Sanders (7) and Berg. Wingerden, Longmire (2), Silva (4), McClellan (5), Simms (6), Haar (6) and Baum. W-Longmire (2-0). L-Lewis (0-1). Sv-Haar (1). HR-Williams (G, 2) 1st, slam.

Two Foothillers made their pitching debut, neither one of them particularly impressive.

Liberty (9-10) scored three times in the 1st inning to put the pressure on the Foothillers (11-4) right off the bat.

Grossmont wasted little time counter attacking. They had plenty of help from Liberty ’s pitchers, who served up 5 walks, hit a batter and uncorked 2 wild pitches.

Senior center fielder AUGIE WILLIAMS, who was batting ninth in the Grossmont order, must have gotten tired of watching all that walking around. So the Hillers veteran hammered his second home run – this one a grand slam and the first hit of the inning – to put Grossmont on top 7-3.

The two teams continued to spar throughout.

KYLE SECCIANI accounted for 2 of Grossmont’s 6 hits in the contest, including an RBI double in the 5th. CHARLIE PIRO popped an RBI single, as did BRENNAN GEARY.

NICK LONGMIRE, known more for his hitting than his pitching, twirled 2 shutout innings and was awarded his second victory in as many decisions.

BRYAN HAAR blanked the Patriots over the final 1 2/3 inning to earn his first save.

El Capitan's Kevin Morton pitches the Vaqs past Palisades, gaining a Premier Division semifinals berth in the Lions Tournament. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-05-07) — Three East County baseball teams survived to play another day – the final day, Thursday (Apr. 5) – in the 57th annual Lions Tournament.

El Capitan (6-7) will face Mission Bay (9-3) in the semifinals of the Premier Division at the University of San Diego at 12:30 p.m. If successful, the Vaqueros will square off against the winner of Rancho Buena Vista (11-3) and Spring Valley, Nev. for the division title at 3:30 p.m. That game will also be played at USD.

Elsewhere, Helix (9-3) will take on Oceanside (8-5) in the semifinals of the 5A Division at Westview at 10 a.m. The Highlanders need a victory to qualify for the 2 p.m. final where they will face the winner of the Carlsbad (6-7) - Coronado (12-2) winner.

In a Premier Division consolation contest Grossmont (9-4) will host Bakersfield Liberty at 1 p.m.

The Vaqueros overcame a 2-1 deficit with a 4-run outburst in the 4th inning.

BRYSON LUKACIK started things off with a walk, and one out later scored on a double by JAMES LONG. A base hit by CANNON NIKZAD sent Long to third where he eventually scored on a wild pitch. TANNER RUST capped the pivotal inning with a 2-run single.

Rust continued his big day with a 2-run double in the 5th that extended El Cap’s advantage to 8-2.

A 6th-inning RBI double by Lukacik extended his East County-leading hitting streak to 12 games.

“The biggest thing offensively is we put on a lot of offensive pressure,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. “We got clutch hits and guys in scoring position today.”

Vickery was pleased by the contributions of some new faces.

“Long got his first start of the year in left field and went 2-for-2 with 2 RBI, and Nikzad got his first start at DH and went 3-for-5 with an RBI,” Vickery noted.

Not to be lost in the offensive shuffle was the pitching of KEVIN MORTON, who toiled 6 innings to post his 4th victory for the Vaqueros.

Wed., Apr. 4 57th annual Lions Tournament PREMIER DIVISION FOOTHILLERS 7, TITANS 0 Eastlake (7-7) Grossmont (10-4) 000 000 0 - 0 5 3 000 430 x - 7 6 1 Torres, Kruse (4), Meads (5) and Petacksil. Stevens and Baum, Wright (6). W-Stevens (2-1). L-Torres (0-3). VAQUEROS 14, DOLPHINS 6 El Capitan (6-7) Palisades (9-7) 100 432 3 - 13 14 1 002 010 5 - 06 09 3 Morton, Long (7), Reagan (7) and Kirby. Roseburg, Jones (4), McGee (6), Sklar (7), Evans (7) and Champion. W-Morton (4-2). L-Roseburg. 6A DIVISION WOLF PACK 5, PIONEERS 4 Canyon Springs (Nev.) West Hills (6-8) 001 201 0 - 4 04 0 021 101 x - 5 10 2 TSmith and BSmith. Hoffard, Skinner (4) and Lobahl, Bristol (5). W-Skinner (2-3). L-TSmith. 5A DIVISION WOLVERINES 19, COUGARS 3 Harvard-Westlake (8-7) Steele Canyon (5-7) (13)4002-19 16 0 00300-03 06 4 Turley, Shultz (5) and Katz. Klopp, Bartley (1), Navarrski (3), MBellatti (5) and Lewis. W-Turley. L-Klopp (1-1). HR-Wilson (H-W) 2nd, one on. BULLDOGS 7, HIGHLANDERS 2 Ramona (6-6-1) Helix (9-3) 111 400 0 - 7 11 0 001 000 1 - 2 03 5 Murren and Vasquez. McEntee, Shelby (4), LaBastida (5) and Tanida. W-Murren (2-0). L-McEntee (0-1). 3A DIVISION MONARCHS 8, TIGERS 5 Monte Vista (4-8) Morse (1-12) 014 201 0 - 8 13 1 103 001 0 - 5 06 1 Marcon, Palacios (3), Frieling (5), MMorris (7), Lopez (7) and Cooper. Salom, Medina (6) and Toomey. W-Palacios (1-0). L-Salom. S-Lopez (1). HR-Verduzco (Mor) 3rd, two on. BRAVES 5, MATADORS 2 Mount Miguel (4-8) El Cajon Valley (3-12) 002 000 0 – 2 6 1 010 103 x – 5 8 0 Wynn, Charles (5), Solorzano (6) and Alvarez. JTorres and APadilla. W-JTorres (2-2). L-Charles (0-1). 2A DIVISION COUGARS 5, PATRIOTS 4 San Ysidro (9-6) Christian (7-4) 000 230 0 - 5 16 0 120 010 0 - 4 10 0 Valenzuela, Salgado (7) and Benitez, Guzman (4). Robertson, Johnston (5) and Gruber. W-Valenzuela. L-Robertson (1-1). Sv-Salgado. HR-Young (Chr,2,3) 1st, solo and 5th, solo. Blazer Sports Spring Bash, Las Vegas BULLDOGS 3, SULTANS 1 Santana (6-7-1) LV-Centennial (11-6) 000 000 1 - 1 06 2 012 000 x - 3 10 1 Needy, Pond (5) and Sica. Wagner and Hulley. W-Wagner. L-Needy (1-2). HR-Weber (C) 2nd, solo.

GROSSMONT 7, EASTLAKE 0 – For the first three innings Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS must have wondered where his offense had gone during Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) Premier Division final pool play game of the Lions Tournament.

Up until then both Eastlake (7-7) and Grossmont (9-4) did nothing but shoot blanks.

In the bottom of the 4th Grossmont finally popped the lid open for a 4-run rally. The key hit in that big inning was a 2-run double to left-center by sophomore LEVI STEVENS.

Feeling their oats, the Foothillers went back at it in the 5th. JOSH SIMMS and ROBERT REYES contributed RBI singles in that frame.

One thing about the Foothillers, when they’re on their game they are as good as any team in the San Diego CIF. The Hillers were operating at that pinnacle against Eastlake.

Stevens was masterful on the mound, scattering 5 hits while striking out 7 in a complete game shutout.

In his last two games Simms, the Hillers’ leadoff man, is 4-for-7 with 2 stolen bases, 2 runs and a pair of RBI.

RAMONA 7, HELIX 2 – The Highlanders can thank themselves for bringing an end to their 7-game winning streak in Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) final round of Lions Tournament 5A Division pool play at Helix.

“We made five errors and left half of La Mesa on base, and hit into three double plays. Game over,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND.

Fortunately for the Highlanders, they will get another chance, unlike coach Ramona DEAN WELCH’s Bulldogs (6-6-1).

“We really got it handed to us,” said Holland, who saw his offense grow dormant with only 3 singles. One of those base hits produced an RBI by RANDY PEREZ in the 3rd inning.

Helix’s final run came in the 7th inning on a sacrifice fly by DERRIC MILLER.

MONTE VISTA 8, MORSE 5 – The Monarchs unleashed a 13-hit attack as they tamed the Tigers in Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) 3A Division Lions Tournament game at Kearny.

AARON GOSSMEYER paced the Monte Vista attack with an RBI single in the 1st and a 2-run triple in the 3rd.

BO AGUILAR went 3-for-4, scored 3 runs and drove in another for the Monarchs (4-8).

The Monarchs, who barely missed advancing to the 3A Division finals when they dropped a 1-run, extra inning to Santa Fe Christian on Tuesday, extended their advantage over Morse (1-12) with 2 runs in the 4th.

ANTHONY LOPEZ doubled and scored on a base hit by Aguilar. Aguilar then rode home on CORY COOPER’s double.

Monte Vista ’s final run came in the 6th when Aguilar doubled and scored on Cooper’s single.

Even though the sometimes explosive Monarchs offense was running at top performance, coach LARRY RINEHART’s pitching-by-committee needed one final boost in the bottom of the 7th. And Lopez provided that punch when he came on in relief to throw one pitch that resulted in a game-ending double play.

“As great a game as we played against (previously undefeated Santa Fe Christian) the day before, I think our kids rebounded very well after a tough loss,” Rinehart said.

WEST HILLS 5, CANYON SPRINGS 4 – West Hills first baseman ERIC McKNIGHT took on the Lions Tournament with a roar, pounding 7 hits in 9 at-bats during a 3-game 6A Division tournament set that concluded Wednesday (Apr. 4) at Escondido.

McKnight’s batting spree raised his season average to .475, which includes 2 home runs and 14 RBI in 14 games.

McKnight had a hand in three of West Hills’ four scoring inning against Nevada ’s Canyon Springs. He singled and scored on a 2-run double by MARK HANDY in the 2nd inning. He slammed an RBI double in the 3rd, giving West Hills a 3-1 edge. In the 6th inning McKnight doubled, advanced to third on NOLAN PETERSEN’s bunt single and scored on DAVID BRISTOL’s sacrifice fly for the winning run in the bottom of the 6th.

While McKnight was going 3-for-3 with 2 doubles against Canyon Springs, Handy was going 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI. Bristol also had a triple.

“Handy smoked the ball today. He played great defensively, just flawless. He had 6 putouts today,” said West Hills coach CHRIS BAUM. “McKnight is really starting to come on now.”

EL CAJON VALLEY 5, MOUNT MIGUEL 2 – JOSE TORRES needed only 90 pitches to throw a rare complete game, as El Cajon Valley snapped a 12-game losing streak in Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) 3A Division Lions Tournament game.

Torres, a junior right-hander, scattered 6 hits and struck out 6 while walking only one for the Braves (3-4).

It was sweet revenge for El Cajon Valley, which dropped a 7-0 decision at Mount Miguel on March 28.

RAY AQUININGOC led the Braves’ charge with a 2-run single in the 6th inning. EFFRIN PADILLA chipped in an RBI single. ADRIAN PADILLA and NERLIN CARREON also contributed an RBI apiece.

NICO CALAFATO went 3-for-3 for Mount Miguel, with a triple and one RBI.

“The key was keeping Calafato from scoring more than once, (BRYANT) SHIMIZU and (JAMES) TREBUS off the bags except one time, and our putting the ball in play,” said El Cajon Valley coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN. “It’s something to build upon with the Braves making no errors in 16 defensive plays.”

SAN YSIDRO 5, CHRISTIAN 4 – Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL is no doubt growing tired of watching his Patriots blow leads, as they did in Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) 2A Division game of the Lions Tournament at Montgomery.

Christian built a 3-0 lead after three frames and then gave up 5 runs in the 4th and 5th, as they saw their 5-game winning streak come to an end.

Although the Patriots (7-4) were denied by the Cougars (9-6) a chance to play for the 2A championship, they had to relish the return of EDDIE YOUNG’s batting stroke. Young was 4-for-4, including his 2nd and 3rd home runs of the season.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, both of Young’s home runs were solo shots. He also singled in a run in the 2nd inning.

TAYLOR EICHHORST hit the ball hard all day but finished 1-for-4 with a double to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

“Eichhorst hit rockets – right at the shortstop – twice into double plays and another shot at the end of the game,” said Mitchell.

BRADLEY ROBERTSON contributed an RBI double that gave Christian a 3-0 lead in the 2nd inning.

San Ysidro collected 16 hits off two Christian pitchers, which was too much for the Patriots to overcome.

HARVARD-WESTLAKE 19, STEELE CANYON 3 – The Cougars got blindsided by a 13 run 1st inning handed their way by Harvard-Westlake in Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) final round of 5A Division pool play of the Lions Tournament at Helix.

Obviously, highlights are few and far between for the Cougars (5-7).

Perhaps the high point of the day belonged to ANDREW BRUDER, who collected 2 of Steele Canyon ’s 6 hits. Bruder’s biggest blast was a 2-run double that followed MARK BELLATTI’s RBI single in the 3rd inning.

“They hit the fastball and it was the only thing we could throw,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY, who’s five pitchers were tagged for 16 hits. “Not a good day for the staff as a whole. When you can’t hit your spots with the off-speed stuff, it’s pretty bad. Hopefully we’ll learn from the last couple of days and move ahead.”

LV-CENTENNIAL 3, SANTANA 1 – The slumping Sultans concluded their Las Vegas stay by dropping a frustrating decision to Las Vegas-Centennial in Thursday’s (Apr. 5) final day of the Blazer Sports Spring Bash. It was the fifth loss in the last six starts for Santana (6-7-1).

“We had opportunities all over the place,” said Santana skipper JERRY HENSON. “We just couldn’t get the key hit with runners in scoring position.”

Santana avoided a shutout with a run in the 7th. BRANDYN BELL singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After JONATHAN TIPPIN was hit by a pitch to bring the tying run to the plate, PRESTON CULVER got on on a fielder’s choice to load the bases.

NICK SICA lined a single to left, scoring Bell, but the rally stalled after that.

Santana pitchers JAMES NEEDY and JOSH POND gave up 10 hits but only one earned run.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (4-4-07) — No question, the hottest team in East County right now is the Helix Highlanders.

Helix rallied from an early 1-0 deficit to down host Westview 6-1 in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) 5A Division pool play contest of the 57th annual Lions Tournament.

The Highlanders’ current streak has involved only two one-run victories. The other five wins have come by an average margin of 7-1.

“Again, we played solid defense, had good pitching and timely hitting,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “We have gone six or seven straight games doing this, so it’s working for us.”

JEREMY PETERSON, who plans to attend Santa Barbara City College next year, scattered 5 hits during a 6 inning stint to post his fourth win in five decisions.

GREG SHELBY pitched a hitless 7th and struck out 2 for the Highlanders.

Although in the driver’s seat, Helix needs a home victory over Ramona on Wednesday (Apr. 4) to assure itself of a semifinal berth in Thursday’s 5A Division tournament playoff.

Helix welcomed back senior DERRICK ANCRUM to its lineup against Westview. Andrum came through with 2 hits in 4 at-bats – the biggest being a 2-run single to break a 1-1 tie in the 3rd inning. Ancrum added an RBI single in the 5th.

ZACH TANIDA capped the Helix scoring with an RBI double in the 6th.

SANTANA 7, SIERRA VISTA (Nev.) 0 – The inconsistent Sultans continued their up-and-down mode during Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) second round of the Blazer Sports Spring Bash in Las Vegas.

The Sultans rose early to face off against Nevada Sierra Vista (10-3) at 8 a.m. Maybe the early wake-up call could be the key for the Sultans.

Singles by CHRIS RABICHAUD, DALLAS MARTIN and KYLE ROMERO and a passed ball helped Santana take a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st.

Santana broke the game open with 5 runs in the 5th. The key blow was a disputed triple by RYAN STUTZ.

The Sultans’ KYLE ROMERO was 2-for-4 with a pair of run-scoring singles.

BRANDYN BELL pitched a 3-hit complete game shutout while striking out 6 with no losses to push his record to 2-0.

“Sierra Vista is a big school of 4,000 kids – bigger than any school in San Diego,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “But our kids are starting to play pretty good ball. Bell pitched an outstanding game today – threw all three pitches for strikes, definitely kept them off balance. He did a great job on the hill today.”

NARBONNE 2, SANTANA 1 – The Sultans wasted their second strong pitching performance of the day, this one by KYLE CULVER, in the Blazer Sports Spring Bash in Las Vegas on Tuesday (Apr. 3).

Culver was burned when Narbonne nailed his second pitch of the game for a solo home run.

After that, though, he was in control, pitching 5 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run. He struck out 5 and walked none.

Santana’s offensive support was meager, to say the least. The Sultans’ lone run came in the 3rd inning when MATT SUMMA scored on a wild pitch.

“This was another large school that we played,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “We played ball every inning with them, just made two errors at the wrong time.”

Those miscues in the 5th inning – along with a squeeze bunt – gave Narbonne the winning edge.

CHRISTIAN 6, IMPERIAL 5 – While sophomore TAYLOR EICHHORST continues to terrorize Christian’s opposing pitchers, ADAM NASH stepped into the feature role as the Patriots scored a valuable victory over Imperial in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) 2A Division game of the Lions Tournament in Coronado.

Eichhorst’s double in the 5th inning extended his hitting streak to 10 games. His groundball to shortstop in the bottom of the 7th scored EDDIE YOUNG to give the Patriots (7-3) the victory. It was Eichhorst’s 4th game-winning hit – tops in East County.

Nash, the Patriots’ junior designated hitter, nailed a 2-run homer in the 1st inning to erase a 1-0 Imperial lead.

With the score tied 2-2 in the 4th, it was SHAUN DAY’s turn to play hero, as he hit a two-out, booming home run off the weight room beyond the left field fence, giving Christian a 3-2 edge.

Trailing 5-3 entering the bottom of the 5th the Patriots once again staged a 2-out rally. BRYAN MITCHELL walked, Eichhorst doubled him to third and Nash lined a two-base hit down the right-field line to tie the score at 5-all.

The game-winning rally in the 7th included back-to-back one-out singles by Young and Bryan Mitchell. When Eichhorst followed with a roller to shortstop, Imperial’s play went to the plate but it was too late to get Young.

“Our first four hitters got 7 of our 8 hits,” said Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL. “We played well defensively. Adam Nash had a big day.”

Although the Patriots are 2-0 in pool play, they need a victory over San Ysidro Wednesday (Apr. 4) at Montgomery to secure a semifinal playoff berth on Thursday.

MONTCLAIR PREP 5, EL CAPITAN 2 – The Vaqueros’ offense stalled after the 2nd inning as El Capitan dropped a Premier Division game in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) Lions Tournament.

Things started out OK for the Vaqueros (5-7) as TANNER RUST walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on MILES REAGAN’s single and scored on ANDY HALE’s ground ball.

El Capitan doubled its lead when NATHAN KIRBY hit the first pitch over the left-field fence for his second home run of the season.

The Vaqueros could muster only 4 more hits the rest of the way. But they still have a chance of advancing to the Premier Division semifinals if they can beat Pacific Palisades in Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) final round of pool play.

El Capitan ’s BRYSON LUKACIK was 1-for-3 to extend his season-long hitting streak to 12 games.

“(Montclair Prep) is a very tough team and we’re in a very tough pool,” observed El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. “All the teams are 1-1 (in pool play) so tomorrow is really going to be interesting. We didn’t attack the ball very well today and there were plays in the field that we should have made and didn’t.”

SANTA FE CHRISTIAN 6, MONTE VISTA 5 – The Monarchs narrowly missed a chance to take out the only remaining undefeated team in the San Diego Section in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) 2A Division game of the Lions Tournament.

Monte Vista (3-8) could not maintain leads of 1-0, 2-1, 4-3 but did erase a 5-4 SFC advantage with a run in the 6th.

It was arguably Monte Vista’s finest game of the season.

Santa Fe Christian’s Matt Hubbard foiled the Monarchs upset aspirations with a home run in the 8th inning, giving the Eagles their 12th win without a loss.

BO AGUILAR delivered RBI singles in the 1st and 3rd innings to give Monte Vista a 2-1 advantage.

In the bottom of the 4th, with Santa Fe Christian leading 3-2, CORY COOPER led off with a home run over the center field fence to tie the game. It was Cooper’s second home run in as many games and third of the season. It also stretched his hitting streak to 7 games.

The Monarchs were not done in the 4th. They took a lead on AARON GOSSMEYER’s sacrifice fly.

“They’re a good team,” commented Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART. “We had a lot of chances and did some good things, but we’ve got to do more things correctly.”

SWEETWATER 4, WEST HILLS 3 – For one of the few times this season, West Hills lived up to its billing as an inexperienced team during Tuesday’s (Apr. 3)

6A Division game of the Lions Tournament in Santee.

After fighting back from a 3-1 deficit on BRET SKINNER’s 2-run single up the middle in the 3rd inning, the Wolf Pack gave the game away to the Red Devils (5-8) in the final frame.

A 2-base throwing error, a bunt single and two walks handed Sweetwater the victory.

Things started well enough for West Hills (5-8) as BRIAN RITAYIK doubled to left center and scored on DAVID BRISTOL’s single to right field.

TONY SPEARS sparked West Hills 3rd inning comeback with a double down the left-field line. Sweetwater chipped in two walks and Skinner did the rest.

The hardluck loser for West Hills was sophomore BRENNAN TAYLOR, who limited Sweetwater to 4 hits and did not allow an earned run. He struck out 8 in his complete game effort.

Tue., Apr. 3 57th annual Lions Tournament PREMIER DIVISION MOUNTIES 5, VAQUEROS 2 El Capitan (5-7) Montclair Prep (7-6) 110 000 0 - 2 6 2 031 010 x - 5 9 1 Soden, Long (6) and Rust. Naveede and Hirsch. W-Naveede. L-Soden (0-1). HR-Kirby (EC, 2) 2nd, solo. LONGHORNS 7, FOOTHILLERS 4 Grossmont (9-4) Rancho BV (10-3) 200 011 0 - 4 09 0 002 014 x - 7 12 0 Ragsdale, Saldana (7) and Fletes. Wohlwent and Baum. W-Ragsdale (1-0). L-Wohlwend (3-1). Sv-Saldano (3). HR-Longmire (G,8) 1st, solo; Riedel (RBV) 6th, two on; Haar (G, 5) 2, 1st, solo, 6th, solo. 6A DIVISION RED DEVILS 4, WOLF PACK 3 West Hills (5-8) Sweetwater (5-8) 012 000 0 - 3 8 3 030 000 1 - 4 4 0 No outs when winning run scored. Taylor and Bristol. Bachniak and Sanchez. W-Bachniak. L-Taylor (1-3). 5A DIVISION HIGHLANDERS 6, WOLVERINES 1 Helix (9-2) Westview (6-6) 012 021 0 - 6 8 1 100 000 0 - 1 5 2 Peterson, Shelby (7) and Schumaker. Collins, Hachadorrin (3), Shaver (6) and Fowler. W-Peterson (4-1). L-Collins. HR-Wanda (W) 1st, solo; Schumaker (H, 2) 2nd, solo. VIKINGS 7, COUGARS 0 Viewmont Steele Canyon (5-6) 301 002 1 - 7 10 2 000 000 0 - 0 05 3 Wright, Rupp (7) and Exon. Ceballos, ABellatti (4), Davidson (7), Navarrski (7) and Kerstetter. W-Wright. L-Ceballos (1-2). 3A DIVISION KOMETS 3, BRAVES 2 El Cajon Valley (2-12) Kearny (3-8) 000 002 0 - 2 6 1 300 000 x - 3 5 2 Bralla and Pernicano. Mansfield and JTorres. W-Bralla. L-Mansfield (0-2). CHIEFTAINS 6, MATADORS 2 Mount Miguel (4-7) Clairemont (6-5) 000 020 0 - 2 7 2 022 020 x - 6 5 1 Vanderhyde, Calafato (6) and Alvarez. Chapin and Leone. W-Chapin. L-Vanderhyde (1-1). HR-Trebus (MM, 1) 5th, one on. EAGLES 6, MONARCHS 5 (8 inn.) Santa Fe Chr. (12-0) Monte Vista (3-8) 010 202 01 - 6 09 2 101 201 00 - 5 11 1 Bralla and Pernicano. Mansfield and JTorres. W-Bralla. L-Mansfield (0-2). 2A DIVISION PATRIOTS 6, TIGERS 5 Imperial (5-6) Christian (7-3) 101 030 0 - 5 8 1 200 120 1 - 6 8 0 Havens, Pitones (7) and Buesch. Gee, Johnston (6) and Gruber. W-Johnston (3-1). L-Pitones. HR-Nash (Chr,2) 1st, one on; Day (Chr,2) 4th, solo; Benson (I) 5th, one on. Blazer Sports Spring Bash SULTANS 7, MOUNTAIN LIONS 0 Santana (6-6-1) Sierra Vista (10-3) 200 050 0 - 7 9 0 000 000 0 - 0 3 0 Bell and Sica. Krumme, Geckler (5) and Claus. W-Bell (2-0). L-Krumme. GAUCHOS 2, SULTANS 1 Santana (5-6-1) Narbonne (9-8) 001 000 0 - 1 5 3 100 010 x - 2 5 1 KCulver, Pond (6) and Sica. Park and Lupe. W-Park. L-KCulver (2-1). HR-Avila (N) 1st, solo.

KEARNY 3, EL CAJON VALLEY 2 – There are two ways of looking at El Cajon Valley ’s Division 3A Lions Tournament pool play game at Kearny on Tuesday (Apr. 3).

You could say the game started an inning too early, or it lasted an inning too long.

By either account, the host Komets (3-8) did all of their scoring and collected 4 of their 5 hits in the 1st inning. Two of those blows were triples.

After that KEVIN MANSFIELD slammed the door, holding the Komets to just a 5th inning single over the final five frames. Mansfield needed only 74 pitches to complete the six innings.

El Cajon Valley (2-12) made a comeback bid in the 6th inning. ERIC PADILLA punched a one-out double to right-center. ADRIAN PADILLA reached base on an error and stole second. RAY AQUININGOC then tripled on a 3-2 pitch, cutting the Komets’ lead to 1.

The Braves, however, were unable to score Aquiningoc and suffered their twelfth straight loss.

“Close game today! We out-hit Kearny, but their clutch hits came with runners in scoring position in the 1st inning,” said El Cajon Valley coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN. “ Kearny ’s two singles and two triples in the first inning made the difference in the game.”

RANCHO BUENA VISTA 7, GROSSMONT 4 – The Foothillers hit 3 solo home runs – 2 of them by BRYAN HAAR – as they fell on their face against visiting Rancho Buena Vista in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) Premier Division game of the Lions Tournament.

NICK LONGMIRE rifled his San Diego CIF-leading 8th home run over the right-field fence with 2 outs in the 1st inning. Haar then hoisted a solo shot to right-center, staking the Hillers to a 2-0 lead.

After that Grossmont (9-4) struggled against the deliveries of the Longhorns Kevin Ragsdale, who was promoted from junior varsity to make the start.

The Hillers collected 9 hits, but failed to put much together. They scored in the 5th inning on a single by JUSTIN MASON (ANDREW FORD ran for him), a passed ball and JOSH SIMMS’ single. That gave Grossmont a 3-2 lead.

But the Longhorns scored 5 runs in their final two at-bats to roll their record to 10-3.

Grossmont’s TAYLOR WOHLWEND pitched his second complete game, but was tagged for 7 runs and 12 hits. He did not strike out a single batter.

VIEWMONT (Utah) 7, STEELE CANYON 0 – It was a long day for the Cougars as they fell behind the Viewmont Vikings from Bountiful, Utah, 3-0 in the 1st inning of Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) 3A Division pool play game of the Lions Tournament at Coronado.

“It was a lackluster effort,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. “We left runners in scoring position. We were flat – ironing board flat. We booted the very first ball of the game and that set the tone for the whole day. If we can get all this out by league, that’s what’s important.”

ANDREW BRUDER was 1-for-3 with 2 stolen bases against Viewmont.

“ANDREW BRUDER played a good third (base) today,” noted Mittry. “He pitched well yesterday – personally it’s been a good tournament for him.”

CLAIREMONT 6, MOUNT MIGUEL 2 – JAMES TREBUS slugged a 2-run homer to cut Clairemont’s early lead in half in the 5th inning of the 3A Division game of the Lions Tournament on Tuesday (Apr. 3).

The Matadors (4-7) wasted the 5-hit pitching of ALEX VANDERHYDE and NICO CALAFATO. Two of Clairemont’s runs were unearned.

Trebus also had a double as did Calafato and Vanderhyde.

The Matadors are probably licking their chops, as they take on El Cajon Valley on Wednesday (Apr. 4) in the final round of Lions pool play at Kearny. Mount Miguel ’s last victory was a 7-0 nod over the Braves on Mar. 28.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-3-07) — Grossmont High’s JUSTIN MASON was probably glad to see an unfamiliar opponent on the mound in Monday’s (Apr. 2) Premier Division game of the 57the annual Lions Tournament.

After a fast start with the bat against non-league, Mason found himself on the rocks when the Foothillers began the Grossmont North-South Tournament. Mason went hitless in the five conference tournament games.

Perhaps that is why Mason was happy to see a stranger on the mound. Entering the Lions Tournament, Mason was batting an unspectacular .281. But then he went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI against Canyon Country, as the Foothillers won 8-3 to raise their season record to 9-3.

Mason’s first RBI came in Grossmont’s 4-run 1st inning when he chipped in an RBI single. BRYAN HAAR’s East County-leading 11th double scored NICK LONGMIRE (walk) with Grossmont’s first run. Haar eventually scored on a wild pitch. AUGIE WILLIAMS’ bases-loaded walk accounted for the other run.

Mason followed a LEVI STEVENS double with an RBI single in the 3rd inning, giving Grossmont a 5-0 lead.

Haar led off the 5th inning by hitting the first pitch over the left field fence for his 3rd home run of the year

MATT SILVA came out of the Grossmont bullpen to pitch 3-1/3 innings of 1-hit shutout relief to earn his 3rd victory without a loss.

HELIX 6, TIMPANOGOS (Utah) 1 – The hottest team in East County are the Helix Highlanders who began Monday’s (Apr. 2) Division 5A opener of the 57th annual Lions Tournament by trumping visiting the Timpanogos Timberwolves of Orem, Utah. It was the first loss for the Utah 9.

Helix’ success once again focused on the pitching of MAHI LaBASTIDA, who twirled a complete game 1-hitter and struck out 8 for his 3rd win in four decisions.

The 5-foot-9, 160-pound right-hander has had a hand in five of the Highlanders victories with 3 wins and 2 saves.

“LaBastida gave a strong pitching performance,” said Holland.

Helix received an uncharacteristic offensive boost as four of the Highlanders’ runs scored on wild pitches.

CALEB SCHUMACHER capped the scoring with a 2-run homer in the 6th inning.

MONTE VISTA 4, LONGMONT (Colo.) 3 – The Monarchs, who have been struggling all season, could easily have thrown in the towel after falling behind Longmont, Colo., 3-0 after four innings of Monday’s (Apr. 2) 3A Division opener of the 57th annual Lions Tournament.

Credit coach LARRY RINEHART’s crew for climbing off the floor to pull out an impressive come-from-behind victory.

In the 5th inning ANTHONY LOPEZ stroked a leadoff double and rode home on CORY COOPER’S home run over the right field fence. It was Cooper’s third homer of the season and extended his current hitting streak to 6 games.

An inning later the Monarchs (3-7) capitalized on a Longmont error to open the 6th inning. DAVID PALACIOS reached base on an error, advanced to second on SPENCER REED’s sacrifice bunt and skipped to third on BO AGUILAR’s groundout. Lopez singled in Palacios to tie the game.

A walk to Cooper put two Monarchs on the base paths. While MIKE HOLDREN was at bat Cooper got caught in a rundown. As Cooper was bobbing back and forth in a pickle, Lopez stole home to give Monte Vista the winning edge.

ERIC LeBOUBE scattered 7 hits and struck out 5 as he pitched a complete game for the Monarchs.

“LeBoube pitched a great game. I don’t like to go over 90 pitches this early in the season and he was at 91 pitches to start the 7th. I told him he had until 105 to get the job done. He was throwing the ball so well that I wanted to give him a chance for his first complete game.”

EL CAPITAN 5, OTAY RANCH 2 – MARCO MARISCAL and KEVIN MORTON combined to throw a 6-hitter at visiting Otay Ranch in the Premier Division opener of the 57th annual Lions Tournament on Monday (Apr. 2).

“Mariscal threw a real nice game,” said Vaqueros coach STEVE VICKERY.

NATHAN KIRBY, who had only 2 hits in his first 20 at-bats, had a breakout game against the Mustangs (5-6). His batting line was kind of the long and short of it.

Kirby drove in the first run of the game with a slash bunt in the 4th inning to score pinchrunner MATT EICHELBERGER.

With the Vaqueros hanging onto a 3-2 lead, Kirby followed a walk to MILES REAGAN with a 2-run homer to left field in the 7th inning.

A bunt single by El Capitan ’s BRYSON LUKACIK extended his East County-leading hitting streak to a season-long 11 games.

CHRISTIAN 12, CALVARY CHRISTIAN 2 – Christian High harbors one of the best-kept secrets in the San Diego Section. His name is TAYLOR EICHHORST.

A 6-foot-2, 225-pound sophomore, Eichhorst went 2-for-2 with 2 RBI as the Patriots (6-3) tamed the Lions (9-4) in Monday’s (Apr. 2) 2A Division of the 57th annual Lions Tournament.

EDDIE YOUNG led off the game with a single and one out later Eichhorst tripled to center field, giving Christian a lead it wouldn’t lose.

Eichhorst, who has hit safely in 9 straight games, is now batting at a .515 clip (17 for 33). He now has 2 triples, which ties him for the East County lead.

Another key blow for Christian was struck by unsung hero KURT METCALFE – a 3-run double in the 3rd inning that gave Christian a 10-0 lead.

COLIN RYAN pitched all 5 innings in a game that was halted by the 10-run rule. He limited the Lions to 4 hits and struck out 5 as he posted his first win of the year.

CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 5, WEST HILLS 2 – Although No. 3-ranked Cathedral Catholic was pelting host West Hills with 13 hits in Monday’s (Apr. 2) 6A Division game of the 57th annual Lions Tournament, the Wolf Pack was not without its notable moments.

West Hills junior ERIC McKNIGHT flirted with hitting for the cycle. He tied the game 2-2 in the 2nd inning when he lined a home run to left field with TONY SPEARS (single) aboard. McKnight also singled in the 6th as the Wolf Pack (5-7) loaded the bases with two outs, but failed to score.

The power-hitting first baseman also doubled in the 1st inning, putting runners at second and third with two outs, but the Pack also missed that scoring opportunity.

The 3-for-3 batting burst by McKnight raised his season batting average to .441.

West Hills catcher AARON GAGNON proved that he has one of the better throwing arms in the section. He threw a Cathedral runner out attempting to steal in the 5th and picked runners off second base and third base in the 7th inning.

Mon., Apr. 2 57th annual Lions Tournament PREMIER DIVISION FOOTHILLERS 8, COWBOYS 3 Grossmont (9-3) Canyon Country (7-6) 401 010 2 - 3 10 2 002 100 0 - 3 05 0 McClellan, Silva (4) and Baum. Duncombe, Engel (1), CoJens (7) and Weinstein. W-Silva (3-0). L-Duncombe (2-2). HR-Haar (G, 3) 5th, solo. VAQUEROS 5, MUSTANGS 2 El Capitan (5-6) Otay Ranch (5-6) 000 300 2 - 5 9 1 000 101 0 - 2 6 1 Mariscal, Morton (7) and Rust, Kirby (7). Marchena and Aguirre. W-Mariscal (2-1). L-Marchena. Sv-Morton (1). HR-Kirby (EC, 2) 7th, one on. 6A DIVISION DONS 5, WOLF PACK 2 Cathedral (10-3) West Hills (5-7) 011 012 0 - 5 13 0 002 000 0 - 2 06 0 Wilkins and Wilson. Ritayik, Aguirre (6) and Gagnon. W-Wilkins (2-0). L-Ritayik (3-2). HR-McKnight (WH, 2) 3rd, one on. 5A DIVISION SCOTTIES 6, TIMBERWOLVES 1 Timpanogos (UT) (5-1) Helix (8-2) 000 010 0 - 1 1 2 100 122 x - 6 5 2 Fowler, Jimenez (6) and Foster. LaBastida and Tanida. W-LaBastida (3-1). L-Fowler. HR-Schumaker (H, 1) 6th, one on; Stewart (T) 5th, solo. LANCERS 5, COUGARS 4 Carlsbad (4-7) Steele Canyon (5-5) 200 210 0 - 5 8 4 000 400 0 - 4 6 2 Shackleford, Dawson (5) and Talley. Bruder and Kerstetter. W-Shackleford. L-Bruder (1-3). Sv-Dawson. 3A DIVISION MONARCHS 4, TROJANS 3 Longmont (CO) Monte Vista (3-7) 201 000 0 - 3 7 2 000 022 x - 4 3 2 Disney and Bergren. LeBoube and Morris. W-LeBoube (1-1). L-Disney. HR-Cooper (MV, 3) 5th, one on. KOMETS 11, MATADORS 6 Mount Miguel (4-6) Kearny (2-8) 001 410 0 - 06 09 2 401 312 x - 11 07 0 Solorzano, Trebus (1), Calafato (3), Wynn (5) and Alvarez, Solorzano (2). Kearny battery N/A. W-N/A. L-Solorzano (0-1). CHIEFTAINS 10, BRAVES 3 El Cajon Valley (2-11) Clairemont (5-5) 000 300 0-03 09 3 235 000 x-10 10 2 ATorres, APadilla (3), EPadilla (6) and Sanchez, Catlett (4), Roe (6). Leone, Molina (5), Stant (6) and Zabala. W-Leone. L-ATorres (0-1). 2A DIVISION PATRIOTS 12, LIONS 2 Calvary Chr. (9-4) Christian (6-3) 000 20 - 02 04 8 154 2x - 12 11 1 Rogers, Moore (4) and Reichenecker. Ryan and Gruber, Day (4). W-Ryan (1-0). L-Rogers. Blazer Sports Spring Bash CAVALIERS 7, SULTANS 4 Santana (5-5) Cleveland (CA) (11-4) 020 200 0 - 4 12 4 104 110 x - 7 08 0 Martin, Pond (4) and Sica. Alison and Ramirez. W-Alison. L-Martin (1-4). HR-Broudsky (C) 1st, solo; Strias (C) 5th, solo.

MARK BELLATTI’s 2-run double was the key blow in the comeback. KYLE KERSTETTER’s sacrifice fly plated the tying run.

After that, however, Steele Canyon ’s offense went dormant.

It was a day of frustration for the Cougars (5-5).

“We had a runner thrown out at the plate,” said Cougars coach PHIL MITTRY. “We were over-aggressive on both offense and defense. Instead of giving them a single we tried to make a spectacular play. We just need to stay within ourselves defensively and take what they give us. Offensively we lost a run on a double-play – overslid the bag and touched the relay man. It took the run away.”

CLEVELAND (CA) 7, SANTANA 4 – In Monday’s (Apr. 2) opening round of the Blazer Sports Spring Bash at Las Vegas the visiting Sultans were bounced by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Santana took an early 2-1 lead on an RBI double by RYAN STUTZ and an RBI single by JAMES NEEDY in the 2nd inning.

The Cavs (11-4) countered by battering Santana ace DALLAS MARTIN for 4 runs in the 3rd and a 5-2 lead they wouldn’t lose.

Santana (5-5-1) scrambled back to cut the deficit to a single run by scoring a pair in the 4th. Singles by BRANDYN BELL, KYLE CULVER and CHRIS RABICHAUD accounted for one run. Cleveland balked in a second.

The problem for the Sultans was they couldn’t put a cork in the Cleveland offense. It had to be a bitter defeat for the Sultans, who out-hit the Caveliers 12-8.

Culver, Needy, Rabichaud and KYLE ROMERO had 2 hits apiece for the Sultans, who are ticketed for a double-header on Tuesday (Apr. 3) beginning at 8 a.m. Even though it was a long day for Martin, he did manage to stretch his hitting streak to 7 games.

“We hit the ball better, just didn’t play very good defense,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON, noting that his Sultans committed four errors compared to none by Cleveland. “We’ll do better tomorrow.”

CLAIREMONT 10, EL CAJON VALLEY 3 – By the time the Braves found their offense, the host Clairemont Chieftains (5-5) had built a 10-0 lead after three innings in Monday’s (Apr. 2) 3A Division game of the 57th annual Lions Tournament.

Instead of just rolling over and playing dead, the Braves struck back for 3 runs in the 4th inning.

Consecutive singles by ADRIAN PADILLA, DAVID SANCHEZ and MATT THOMAS produced one run. A dropped fly ball in the outfield and a bases-loaded walk to KEVIN CARREON plated a second El Cajon Valley run. EFFRIN PADILLA, who was 2-for-3 in the game, lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring the third Braves run.

The Braves (2-11) loaded the bases with two outs in the 5th but came away empty.

Adrian Padilla, Thomas and ADRIAN TORRES also had 2 hits apiece to pace the Braves.

KEARNY 11, MOUNT MIGUEL 6 – The Matadors supplied plenty of offense but their chances for a victory were lost when their four pitchers combined to issue 13 free passes in Monday’s (Apr. 2) 3A Division opener of the 57th annual Lions Tournament at Clairemont.

Two errors didn’t help Mount Miguel ’s (4-6) cause, and three of the Komets’ (2-8) runs were unearned.

On a more positive pitching note, the Mount Miguel quartet struck out a dozen, including 5 by DAVID WYNN over the final two innings.

On the offensive side JAMES TREBUS, MICHAEL KOESTERER, ALEX VANDERHYDE and RICKY SOLORZANO contributed 2 hits apiece as Mount Miguel out-hit Kearny 11-7.