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© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (5-18-07) — In a battle of two teams on the bubble of earning a position in the San Diego CIF playoffs, visiting Santana whipped West Hills, 6-3, in a Grossmont North League game Thursday (May 18) at Wolf Pack Park.

Noting that winning this game was “very, very important” to his Sultans, coach JERRY HENSON said “When you’re talking about Division III, we are now at .500. The kids have made a great improvement over the last two weeks.

Santana (14-14-1, 6-1 GNL) won their final 4 regular season games and 7 of their last 9.

Of course Santana is a perennial playoff power. Not having the Sultans involved in the post-season is like having a peanut butter sandwich without jelly.

“We kinda like our chances right now to at least participate in the playoffs,” said Henson.

In Thursday’s must-win finale the Sultans found themselves playing catch-up early as STEVEN SCHIMPF lined his 4th home run of the campaign over the left field fence, providing the Pack with a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning.

Santana found its offense in the 4th inning, thanks to a one-out error by the Wolf Pack.

KYLE CULVER cracked an RBI double down the left-field line to knot the score 1-all. After RYAN STUTZ drew a two-out walk, DALLAS MARTIN knocked a deep fly ball to right-center field. The ball dropped in for a triple as two outfielders nearly collided. Culver and Stutz scored on the play, giving Santana the lead.

However, West Hills refused to fold its tent, scoring the tying markers in the 5th.

Two Santana errors gave the Wolf Pack a jump start in the 5th, but a strong throw by center fielder JONATHAN TIPPIN to third baseman Culver recorded the second out of the inning.

But just when it looked like pitcher Martin might escape the inning unscathed, AARON GAGNON hit a game-tying 2-run homer to left field.

A key West Hills error in the top of the 6th put JAMES NEEDY at first base. Needy moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Stutz. CHRIS RABICHAUD rapped a two-out single to put runners at the corners.

BRET SKINNER, who did not allow an earned run during his 6-inning stint, hit Tippin to load the bases. That was a costly mistake, as NICK SICA cleared the bases with a triple to right-center.

Martin, who allowed only one earned run and 5 hits during his 5 inning outing, captured his 4th victory of a long season. BRANDYN BELL provided the save with 2 hitless innings.

Valhalla's Ryan O'Sullivan

O'Sullivan tabbed for Alfac Classic © East County Sports.com SAN DIEGO (5-17-07) — Valhalla High junior RYAN O’SULLIVAN is well acquainted with the Aflac All-American Baseball Classic. His brother SEAN O’SULLIVAN, now a pitcher in the Los Angeles Angels’ farm system at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, of the Class A Midwest League, played in the 2004 Aflac game in Aberdeen, Md. The younger O’Sullivan will take part in this year’s 5th annual Aflac All-American Baseball Classic, slated for Aug. 11 at San Diego State’s Tony Gwynn Stadium. Sean and Ryan are the first siblings to both be named Aflac All-Americans. Clark Murphy, a junior pitcher-outfielder from Fallbrook High, will also represent San Diego in this year’s Aflac game. The San Diego duo will play for the West All-Stars against the best from the Eastern part of the county. The game will feature the top 38 players in the nation that are entering their senior year of high school. This game is the equivalent of the McDonald’s All-Star Prep Basketball Classic, which was held in San Diego last year. The Aflac event is making its second straight San Diego appearance. The game will be televised nationally at noon via Fox Sports. Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, who started his Major League Baseball career with the Padres from 1978-82, is the honorary chairman. Nine players from the San Diego Section have been invited to play in this national classic. Among those are Mission Bay's Matt Bush, the Padres No. 1 draft pick currently playing shortstop for San Diego’s Class A California League at Lake Elsinore.

“We had the thing won with 5 of our 12 league games remaining,” Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said proudly. “And the best part about that was even though we didn’t have to win we continued to win.”

Christian (19-4, 12-0 CNT) has won 12 straight and 17 of its last 18 regular season games. The Patriots are now focused on the playoffs, which begin on Wednesday (May 23).

“We’re hoping for the No. 2 seed,” Mitchell said. “We should get either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed.”

One thing is obvious – Francis Parker (23-5) will be seeded No. 1. Christian is battling Coronado (20-9) for that second seed. Mitchell is quick to point out that the Islanders staggered to the finish line, winning only 3 of their last 9 games.

“I think momentum has to be worth something,” Mitchell observed.

In beating Madison on Thursday (May 17) for the third time in as many tries the host Patriots built a swift 7-2 lead after three innings and never looked back.

“We had guys on base every inning,” said Mitchell. “We hit the ball well today but we had some baserunner miscues.”

But the Patriots’ shortcomings did not matter.

TAYLOR EICHHORST was 4-for-4, including a 1st inning single that gave Christian a 2-1 lead. It was short-lived as Madison tied it 2-2 in the 2nd.

The Patriots dug their heels in deeper to score 3 runs in the 2nd frame.

SHAUN DAY provided the spark with a single to left and stole second. He scored on a one-out single to center by JOHN FERREIRA. DANNY MITCHELL followed with a bunt single to extend his hitting streak to 8 games.

EDDIE YOUNG then laced a 2-run double to left-center, giving Christian a 5-2 advantage. Young, who was 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases, has an East County-best 18 game hitting streak.

It was a big day for Ferreira (3-1), who made only his second start of the year and delivered his first complete game, holding the Warhawks (8-20, 5-7 CNT) to 5 hits and one earned run. A senior right-hander, Ferreira also struck out 5. At the plate he was 2-for-2 with a double and one RBI.

It was a good day for Day as well. The sophomore third baseman was 2-for-3, including a solo home run in the 5th inning.

© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (5-17-07) — One of the hottest teams in the San Diego CIF may not qualify for post-season play. The Steele Canyon Cougars (12-14-1, 7-7-1 GSL) completed a third-round sweep of their Grossmont South League opponents by edging visiting Helix 7-6 in eight innings on Wednesday (May 16).

“I think we deserve to be in the playoffs,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY, whose Cougars are jockeying for a spot in the Division III playoffs. “We’re playing really well right now because we finally found the right combination of guys to make us click.”

Mittry and his staff had to replace seven starters from last year’s team.

“That takes time,” he said. “But we have a good mix of role players going right now. I’d like our chances against anybody.”

That could be a problem. Other teams vying for a playoff position have to realize that the Cougars are playing at the peak of their game right now, and don’t want any part of them. The best way to avoid Steele Canyon is to hope they don’t get into the playoffs.

The SDCIF playoff committee will determine post-season pairings on Friday (May 18) night.

Credit the Cougars for making their regular season finale exciting.

Helix fought back in the 3rd inning on doubles by MATT COBB and RANDY PEREZ.

A throwing error by the Cougars handed the Highlanders a 2nd run.

JORDAN HINDI, perhaps the hottest hitter in East County over the past couple of weeks, slashed an RBI single in the 4th, giving the Cougars a 4-2 advantage.

Hindi was 3-for-4 against the Highlanders, giving him 21 hits in his last 28 at-bats over the last 8 games.

“That guy has got to be first-team all-league,” Helix coach COLE HOLLAND said.

ERIC CARRILLO, the Cougars leadoff man, was 2-for-5 with 2 runs scored against the Highlanders. A prototype leadoff hitter, the speedy Carrillo finished the regular season batting .545 (12 for 22) with 11 runs scored and 8 RBI over his last 5 games.

Helix (17-11, 8-7 GSL), vying for a top four seed in Division II, tied the game in the 5th on an RBI double by MATT ELLIOT and a run-scoring single by AARON DODD-WADDINGTON.

Both teams scored single tallies in the 6th.

The Highlanders moved in front 6-5 on Dodd-Waddington’s single to right in the 7th.

Steele Canyon matched that tally on a one-out double by ANDREW BRUDER and a two-out single by ANDREW BELLATTI.

The issue was decided in the bottom of the 8th. Carrillo singled and moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Hindi, which obviously caught the Highlanders by surprise. The Highlanders tried to throw out Carrillo at second but the throw was too late, leaving 2 on and nobody out.

One out later KYLE KASTETTER, who was 0-for-4 at the time, clubbed a walk-off RBI single to left for the Cougars.

“I think this loss will cost us the No. 4 seed,” said Holland. “But Steele Canyon deserved to win – they played a better game than we did. Since we lost today, I’m thinking we’ll be the No. 5 seed so we should have a home game.”

GROSSMONT 7, WEST HILLS 4 – In their quest for a 3rd straight San Diego CIF Division II championship, the visiting Foothillers overcame an early 1-0 deficit to thwart an upset by West Hills in Wednesday’s (May 16) Grossmont North League finale.

Sophomore LEVI STEVENS pitched a complete game 7-hitter, recording his 7th win against only one loss for Grossmont (23-7, 11-1 GNL).

“We’re still playing for that No. 1 seed in Division II,” said Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS, whose Foothillers hope to become only the 6th team to capture three straight SDCIF championships.

Grossmont’s primary challenger to the top seed is Avocado League champion Oceanside , which was upset 2-1 in Wednesday’s regular season finale by Carlsbad.

“I think we deserve to be No. 1,” said Phillips, whose Foothillers finished their regular season with 11 wins in 12 games. “We only lost one league game and Oceanside lost three. That has to be worth something.”

Grossmont, as well as all of the SDCIF baseball teams, will find out where they stand on Friday (May 18) night when the playoff pairings are announced.

DEREK BAUM spearheaded Grossmont’s offense with a solo home run in the 2nd inning and a base-loaded walk in the 3rd.

JUSTIN RUTHERFORD followed Baum’s lead with a 2-run single in the 3rd inning, giving Grossmont a 4-1 advantage.

West Hills made a quick counter in the bottom of the 3rd, scoring 2 runs on only one hit.

The Foothillers followed suit in the top of the 4th, parlaying 2 walks, a hit batter, a sacrifice fly and a double by JOSH SIMMS into 2 runs.

Grossmont’s CHARLIE PIRO laced an RBI double in the 7th for Grossmont.

The Pack’s DAVID BRISTOL offset that with a run-scoring basehit in the bottom of the final frame, but West Hills (11-15, 5-6 GNL) ran out of chances.

The Wolf Pack hosts Santana on Thursday (May 18) in the final regular season game of the season. Both teams need a win to gain any chance of a playoff position.

MONTE VISTA 6, VALHALLA 5 – The host Monarchs had to enjoy playing the spoiler role in Wednesday’s (May 16) Grossmont South League finale against playoff contender Valhalla.

The Monarchs (9-17-1, 5-9-1 GSL) overcame Valhalla leads of 3-1 and 5-4 to deal the Norsemen their 3rd straight defeat and 4th in 5 games.

Monte Vista tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the 5th on two Valhalla errors, a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk and ERIC GENTRY’s check swing single to right field.

The proverbial circus continued in the bottom of the 6th. The Monarch’s JOSH KELLY was hit by a pitch and jogged to second on a passed ball. Kelly scooted to third on DAVID PALACIOS’ sacrifice bunt.

ANTHONY MARCON then hit a high chopper along the first base line that was fielded by Valhalla ’s PETE THOMAS in foul territory.

In what was a moment frozen in time, the base umpire made no call, Thomas made no play, and Palacios kept running to reach first base with an infield single.

After much debate the Monarchs ended up with runners at first and third.

With two outs MICHAEL NUSH hit a routine grounder to short that was booted for Valhalla ’s fourth error, and Kelly cruised home for what became the winning run.

“With everything that’s happened this year, I’m so happy that the last game ended up this way,” Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART said. “This has been a cohesive group that always came to practice and never complained. Most of all I’m glad that our seniors got to go out this way.”

It was a topsy-turvy finale. The Monarchs drew first blood as CORY COOPER led off the inning with a single to right and stole second. With one out MATT MORRIS hit a high bouncer over the third baseman’s head for a single that drove in Cooper.

Valhalla (17-12, 9-6 GSL) countered with 3 runs in the top of the 3rd. RYAN O’SULLIVAN tied the game with a sacrifice fly. RBI singles by DANNY HAWKSLEY and TREVOR FRANK staked Valhalla to a 3-1 lead.

Monte Vista refused to play dead, scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 4th on ERIC LaBOUBE’s bases-loaded double off the right-field fence.

The Norsemen rebounded in the top of the 5th. TOMAS KARAGIANES’s single to right tied the game 4-4 and CHRIS THOMAS scored on TYLER KEATON’s ground ball, giving Valhalla a 5-4 edge.

Despite it’s sad sack finish, the Norsemen, the SDCIF defending Division III champions, are all but guaranteed a playoff berth.

SANTANA 18, EL CAJON VALLEY 5 – Senior MATT SUMMA, the ultimate utility player for the Sultans (13-14-1, 5-6 GNL) entered Wednesday’s (May 16) final game of the regular season with only 3 hits in 16 at-bats.

Against visiting El Cajon Valley , Summa nearly doubled his pleasure with 5 hits in 5 at-bats to drive in 6 runs in Santana’s 5th win in 6 games.

Dividing his defensive time between left field, pitcher and shortstop, Summa smacked a 3-run triple in the 2nd inning, a 2-run double in the 4th and a RBI single in the 5th.

For those who like numbers, Summa raised his season batting average raised his batting average nearly 200 points in 2 hours.

With its playoff hopes flickering, Santana scored 9 runs in the 1st inning and led 13-0 after two frames.

Summa contributed a double to the big 1st inning. JONATHAN TIPPIN doubled in 2 and drove in a third run with a sacrifice fly in the opening inning. DALLAS MARTIN doubled in 3 and JAMES NEEDY had an RBI triple.

It was more of the same in the 2nd frame, with Summa’s bases-clearing triple as the highlight.

KYLE CULVER blanked the Braves on 2 hits while striking out 6 in a five inning stint. He was rewarded with his 4th win in 6 decisions.

Super Summa tried his hand at pitching in the 6th inning – his first varsity outing on the hill – but found out that was not his forte. The Braves jumped on him for 4 runs and 3 hits.

“Summa had a great day. He’s always wanted to pitch so we gave him a chance,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “One thing we can say about it, it put some smiles on the Braves’ faces. It was one of those games where everybody had fun.”

Trailing 18-0, the Braves seemed glad to see Summa. ADRIAN TORRES doubled in one run and CHRIS LENCZEWSKI singled in another. A wild pitch and a passed ball added two more runs to the Braves’ total.

El Cajon Valley (3-24, 0-12 GNL) raised their state record for consecutive league losses to 122, dating back to 1997.

Granite Hills' Austin Coleman serves up his 5th homer in seven ballgames. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

The Eagles (24-5, 14-1 GSL) marched to an 11-0 lead after three innings and then breezed to their 16 win in 17 starts.

Granite Hills, a 3-time GSL champion, is hoping to land the top-seeded position of the San Diego CIF Division I playoffs. To gain that spot the Eagles probably have to hope for a Westview victory over Torrey Pines in Thursday’s (May 17) Palomar League finale.

TRAVIS TAIJERON knocked his 9th and 10th home runs of the season, driving in 4 runs for the Eagles.

AUSTIN COLEMAN, who is batting .556 over his last 8 games, was 2-for-4 with 4 RBI. Included in his totals was his 5th home run in 7 games.

DARREN GAY blanked the Matadors on one hit over four innings to chart his 6th win in 7 decisions. The senior right-hander struck out 3 and walked none, giving him a 39-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.

TRAVIS HOPPER and DEAN MILLER completed the pitching chores.

Mount Miguel avoided the shutout on NICO CALAFATO’s RBI double in the 7th inning.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (5-16-07) — It was a day of frustration for Christian High’s junior shortstop EDDIE YOUNG. Not only was he intentionally walked three times in Tuesday’s (May 14) Central League game at Madison, he also was charged with a career-high four errors.

But Young and the Patriots got the last word, pulling out a 10-7 victory with 3 runs in the 7th inning.

“We didn’t play very well but we managed to win,” said Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL, who is battling a bad cold. “I don’t know which was worse – the way we played or the way I felt.”

With the score deadlocked in the 7th, JOHN FERREIRA drew a leadoff walk and hustled to second on DANNY MITCHELL’s second hit of the game. At this juncture, rather than walking Young for a fourth time, the Warhawks (8-19, 5-6 CNT) elected to pitch to him.

Bad decision.

Young, who had his East County-best 16-game hitting streak on the line, drilled a double over the left fielder’s head, scoring Ferreira and Danny Mitchell. That blow gave the Patriots a 9-7 lead and extended Young’s hitting streak another notch.

Nash also had an RBI double in the 3rd inning to give Christian a 2-0 lead.

It was a typical Christian seesaw affair. The Patriots helped dictate policy by pounding out 10 hits and committing 8 errors.

The Patriots broke a 2-2 tie in the 4th on BRYAN MITCHELL’s infield single and Eichhorst getting hit by a pitch with bases loaded.

Madison answered back with 4 in the bottom of the 4th. Daniel Moreno supplied the key blow with a 2-run triple.

Trailing 6-4 the Patriots regained the lead using their M&M power with 3 runs in the 5th inning. Danny Mitchell’s 2-run single to center tied it and Bryan Mitchell’s base hit to right put Christian in front again.

Madison, a young squad but easily the Patriots’ biggest challenger in the Central League, made it 7-7 with a pair of 2-out singles and an error in the bottom of the 6th.

The victory was Christian’s 11th straight and 16th in 17 games.

“We’re just trying to keep it rolling to go into playoffs,” said Mitchell, who’s Patriots could land the No. 2 seed ahead of Coronado, which concluded its regular season with a stunning upset loss to San Diego.

After leaping high to snag an errant throw, Highlanders first baseman Matt Cobb finds himself in the base path, as Monte Vista's Michael Nush can't avoid the crash. He was out in Monday's triumph by Helix. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-15-07) — It’s been a record-breaking year for the Granite Hills Eagles, yet nobody in the Columbia Blue and White believes that the Eagles have reached the pinnacle.

Although the San Diego CIF’s two major polls are divided – one has Granite Hills on top, the other has Torrey Pines at No. 1 – the Eagles proved they can win a game in dire straits.

Granite Hills did all of its scoring in the top of the 7th to stun host Valhalla 5-2 in a Grossmont South League clash Monday (May 14).

Valhalla (17-11, 9-5 GSL), which has lost three of its last four, appeared to have an upset of the top-ranked Eagles well in hand. In fact junior right-hander RYAN O’SULLIVAN was only one strike away from registering a 2-0 win.

All of a sudden O’Sullivan lost track of the strike zone.

After giving up a leadoff single to TRAVIS TAIJERON – who eventually stole second base – O’Sullivan hit JOSH QUERIONES and walked TYLER WINTERS to load the bases.

O’Sullivan then plunked MARK ANDERSON to score Taijeron, cutting the Norsemen’s 2-0 lead in half.

With JOHNNY OMAHEN at the plate on a 1-2 count, the Eagles caught the Norsemen by surprise.

“There were two outs, two strikes and bases loaded – and I decided to try to steal home,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS. “I felt I had no choice, so I rolled the dice. O’Sullivan threw a belt-high fastball and Omahen connected on it.”

In what could almost have been interpreted to be a squeeze, Omahen almost took Queriones’ head off as he knocked a single to left field. The Valhalla left-fielder misplayed the ball on the bounce and allowed it to roll past him. All three runners scored and Omahen ended up at third.

For good measure, BRIAN HUMPHRIES singled to right center to score Omahen.

ERIC KRAUSE pitched his East County-leading 8th complete game, scattering 3 hits and allowing only one earned run. The hard-nosed right-hander stuck out 14 and collected his 10th win in 11 decisions.

It was a Granite Hills-record 30th career win for Krause. He ranks among the SDCIF leaders with 99 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings.

It was a tough loss for O’Sullivan, who is one of two players who will represent the SDCIF in the Aflac All-American All-Star game in August. O’Sullivan, a 3-year varsity veteran, accounted for one of Valhalla ’s 3 hits against Krause.

Valhalla freshman PETE THOMAS produced the other two.

“Ryan pitched a heckuva game, we just couldn’t pull out the win for him,” said Norsemen interim head coach ROBERT WILSON. “It was probably one of the best games we’ve played all year. The guys were into it.”

Call the dentist

Somebody must've missed a sign as Granite Hills batter Johnny Omahen (5) swings while Josh Queriones heads for home. Whether it was a straight steal or a failed squeeze play, Omahen's drive to left field missed Queriones -- and his teeth -- resulting in an RBI basehit in the Eag;es' 5-2 victory at Valhalla. (Photo by Mark Gonzales)

The Foothillers' Nick Longmire slugs a 2-run homer against El Capitan. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

The Foothillers (22-7, 10-1 GNL) swept perennial primary challengers El Capitan and Santana in three-game league series this year to secure their fourth title in six seasons.

Even though El Capitan (17-12, 8-4 GNL) took charge early on with a 5-3 edge after three innings, the Foothillers scrambled back with a 4-run 4th to take control and seal the deal.

A walk to LEVI STEVENS set the stage for San Diego CIF home run leader NICK LONGMIRE’s 14th home run to knot the score in the 4th inning. The Hillers’ rally seemed to cause El Capitan ’s defense to melt from the heat.

A one-out walk to BRYAN HAAR kept the Foothillers offense in motion. DEREK BAUM singled up the middle and the ball kept on rolling as the El Capitan outfield failed to impede the progress. Haar scored one run, and by the time the Vaqueros retrieved the ball at the base of the centerfield wall, Baum came around and scored.

“We had a real nice comeback,” said Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS. “It doesn’t matter where you are in March or April. We’ve played well in May – and I think we deserve the No. 1 seed (in the SDCIF Division II playoffs).”

Grossmont hopes to become only the sixth team to capture a third championship since the SDCIF began keeping records in 1962.

Grossmont baserunner Derek Baum (14) is out at the plate, courtesy of a block and a tag from El Capitan catcher Nathan Kirby. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

“ Taylor didn’t have his best stuff today and we were thinking of taking him out after the 3rd inning,” Phillips said. “It was really gutsy on his part – uncharacteristic for him to give up that many runs early. He kept it close through sheer determination.”

Stevens pitched a scoreless 7th to notch his first save.

For El Capitan , BRYSON LUKACIK’s 3-run double gave the Vaqueros a 5-1 lead in the 3rd inning.

“We had them 5-1 and just kicked the ball around,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. “We gave them four unearned runs. We had our opportunities to win the ballgame. The biggest thing was Grossmont never panicked, kept putting the pressure on. They beat us three times - no excuses.”

STEELE CANYON 8, MOUNT MIGUEL 1 – Riding the crest of a 4-game winning streak, Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY has to wonder whether his Cougars (11-14-1, 6-7-1 GSL) have begun their playoff drive too late.

“I look at this game now and I tell myself Gosh, I wish the season was just starting,” said Mittry. “We’re playing pretty good baseball right now and I hope we can continue for a few more games.”

The Cougars’ problem is they have only one regular season game left – the finale will be Wednesday (May 16) against Grossmont South League rival and playoff-hungry Helix in Rancho San Diego.

No question, the Cougars’ offense is cooking. Senior shortstop ERIC CARRILLO – the leadoff man – is providing the spark.

In his last four games Carrillo is 10-for-17 (.588) with 9 runs scored and 8 RBI. He teed off on Mount Miguel pitching, cranking out his first two homers of the season. He finished with 3 hits and 4 RBI.

Carrillo’s first home run followed an RBI double by NOLAN MURRAY in a 5-run 2nd inning. MARK BELLATTI chipped in an RBI single. Carrillo’s second homer – over the left field fence – staked Steele Canyon to a 6-0 lead.

Junior JORDAN HINDI, who has been as hot as any player in the San Diego Section of late, was a quiet 1-for-2 against Mount Miguel (5-21, 1-13 GSL). Hindi is batting .750 (18-for-24) over his last seven games.

“Carrillo has been kind of overlooked with Hindi being on a hot streak lately, but he’s been hitting the ball well in the last four games,” said Mittry. “He’s really come on strong. Carrillo has been hot the last four games.”

CODY KLOPP and ALEX CEBALLOS combined to limit Mount Miguel to 3 hits and no earned runs while striking out 14.

Two of Mount Miguel ’s three safeties came off the bat of JAMES TREBUS.

WEST HILLS 17, EL CAJON VALLEY 3 – While the Wolf Pack (11-14, 5-5 GNL) of first-year head coach CHRIS BAUM hangs onto a possible playoff berth by their fingernails, first baseman ERIC McKNIGHT continues his assault on the West Hills record book.

Baum realizes the Pack must win its final two games over Grossmont and Santana to stand any chance of gaining entrance into the 12-team San Diego CIF Division II playoffs.

“We had a really rough week last week (losses to El Capitan , Santana and Patrick Henry),” said Baum. “Today’s win kind of got us back on track. I told the guys you’ve got to take care of our own business to get into the playoffs. It’s nice to get out of a really rough week to boost our morale a little bit. It was good to see smiles back on their faces. We’re still playing for our playoff lives.”

McKnight is batting .556 over his last five games. More than that though, is 9 of his 10 hits during that stretch have gone for extra bases. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior has clubbed 5 home runs and 4 doubles during than span. He’s accounted for 19 runs, including 11 RBI.

McKnight broke the West Hills season record for doubles with 15 during Monday’s (May 14) Grossmont North League rout of El Cajon Valley. He surpassed the record set by CLAY COULTER in 2003. McKnight’s 8 home runs are one shy of another Coulter season mark.

Against the Braves (3-23, 0-11 GNL), Mighty McKnight hammered 2 homers and a pair of doubles, driving in 5 runs and scoring 4.

DAVID BRISTOL belted a 2-run homer and finished 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. MARK HANDY also drove in 3 runs with a pair of hits.

Although he didn’t have much success on the mound, EFFRIN PADILLA was 3-for-4 for the Braves.

The Highlanders' Caleb Schumaker (15) receives congratulations from assistant coach Dennis Conyer (16) following his hoime run. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

Senior catcher ZACH TANIDA, a defensive nugget behind the plate, is also Mr. Clutch when it comes to providing game-winning hits.

After supplying the Highlanders (17-10, 8-6 GSL) with a game-winning double to beat Valhalla last Friday, Tanida snapped a 3-3 tie with a 2-run double in the 6th inning to beat the visiting Monarchs (8-17-1, 4-9-1 GSL).

Senior pitcher JEREMY PETERSON twirled 6 innings to post his 7th win against only 3 losses. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound right-hander broke a scoreless tie with his 4th home run in the bottom of the 4th. Peterson also had a double in the contest.

CALEB SCHUMAKER’s 2-run homer in the 5th inning – one of 3 circuit shots hit by the Highlanders during Monday’s (May 14) hard-fought Grossmont South League conquest of Monte Vista – broke a 1-1 tie.

“We swung the bats real well in the 4th, 5th and 6th innings,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “We didn’t do much the first three innings. But on the high side, eight of our nine guys got hits.”

Playing catch-up throughout the afternoon, the Monarchs staged a 2-out rally in the 5th as SPENCER REED singled and ANTHONY MARCON doubled him home to tie it 1-1.

Trailing 3-1 entering the top of the 6th, the Monarchs got a leadoff double from CORY COOPER and a pinch hit home run from ERIC LaBOUBE.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (5-13-07) — It seemed like a good idea at the time when West Hills rookie head coach CHRIS BAUM invited his alma mater – Eastern League power Patrick Henry – to Wolf Pack field for a late season Saturday (May 12) afternoon game.

Baum, who was the Patriots’ junior varsity head coach a year ago, knew what he was getting into. Unfortunately, his spunky West Hills squad wasn’t quite as fired up as he was.

Patrick Henry (19-6) put up multiple scoring digits in each of the first four innings and then breezed to a 10-1 knockout at West Hills.

“Any time you have as many errors as you do hits and runs combined, it’s not a recipe for success,” Baum said.

West Hills (10-14), which is scrambling for a San Diego CIF Division II playoff berth, produced just four hits against a quartet of Patriots pitchers. The Pack’s lone tally came in the 1st inning, courtesy of a Patrick Henry error.

The closest thing the Pack had to an offensive threat was AARON GAGNON, who walked in all four of his at-bats and scored his team’s only run. ERIC McKNIGHT also had a double for West Hills.

Steven Triolo pitched four powerful innings to pick up his 5th win in six decisions. He also slugged a 2-run homer. Austin Green was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI for the Pats.

“I really believe we’re still in this thing,” said Baum. “We’re gonna need help, but the main thing we need to do is take care of our own business.”

West Hills closes the regular season with Grossmont North League home games against El Cajon Valley, Grossmont and Santana.

“If we want to go to the playoffs, we need to sweep those three games,” said Baum.

Santana's Nick Sica (right) receives kudos from teammate Kyle Romero following his 3-run homer in the 1st inning vs. El Capitan. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

© East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (5-12-07) — For the Santana Sultans, the 10th time was the charm. A victim of nine 1-run losses this season, the Sultans (12-14-1, 4-6 GNL) finally got the upper hand in Friday’s (May 11) Grossmont North league nail-biter, knocking off host El Capitan 4-3.

Santana coach JERRY HENSON and his Sultans had to hold their collective breath in the bottom of the 7th inning with two outs and two on when ANDY HALE sliced a deep fly ball into the right field corner.

It was obvious if Hale’s ball had cleared the fence or landed on the bank, El Capitan would have had a major victory and Santana’s series of close-call disappointments would have continued.

Santana right fielder CHRIS RABICHAUD had his own ideas. The 5-foot-8 junior raced up the dirt embankment to spear Hale’s bid to be a hero, and saved the victory for Santana.

“When I saw the ball leave the bat, I knew he hit it well,” Rabichaud said. “So I just turned my back and ran toward the fence. El Cap is a very unusual field and it’s tough to play for an outfielder. The bank is soft out there and since it was about 6 p.m., you have to battle the sun as well.”

Valhalla basreunner Anthony Gonzales motors toward second base, but is tagged out by Scotties second baseman Matt Elliot to complete the pickoff from pitcher Mahi LaBastida to 1B Jeremy Peterson to Elliot. (Photos by Adolfo Villanueva)

“Once I got up to the top of the bank I reached out with my (non-glove) hand to find the fence,” Rabichaud explained. “It wasn’t like I was camped under the ball because I had to move a few feet more to make the catch. I’d be lying if I didn’t say my heart was really thumping.”

Rabichaud’s game-saving catch was probably the emotional high point of the season for Santana.

“Yeah, the guys were pretty excited about it,” Rabichaud said. “Me, well I was just glad I could make the catch.”

A modest man, that Rabichaud, as this was no routine grab.

“Rabichaud made the catch of the day out on the bank in deep right field,” said Henson. “I’ve been playing Vick (coach STEVE VICKERY’s Vaqueros) for 16 years and have never seen a kid go up the bank like that, especially to win a ballgame. It’s usually to fetch a ball, not to catch a ball and win a game. We only play them three times a year so it’s unique in that we don’t get to practice in that kind of situation.”

Struggling Santana did all of its scoring in the 1st inning, following El Capitan ’s pre-game Senior Day celebration.

DALLAS MARTIN opened the game with a walk and darted to second on Rabichaud’s single to right. One out later NICK SICA laced a home run over the left field fence and into the parking lot. The Sultans added a fourth run as KYLE ROMERO doubled and scored on an error.

That left El Capitan (17-11, 8-3 GNL), which no doubt was looking forward to Monday’s (May 14) showdown at Grossmont, to play catch-up against the Sultans.

“I was pleased that our kids battled but they just weren’t focused in the 1st inning,” said Vickery. “We’re going to have to bounce back and compete against Grossmont on Monday.”

The Vaqueros banged back-to-back doubles by TANNER RUST and RYAN INVERSO off Santana starter BRANDYN BELL in the bottom of the 1st. A quick start for the Vaqueros, but Bell tightened his belt after that.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander set down the next 10 batters and allowed only one hit over the final four innings of his 5-inning stint. Bell was rewarded with his 5th win in six decisions, thanks to reliever Martin and Rabichaud’s web-gem catch.

“ Bell was outstanding on the hill,” said Henson. “And our defense played well today.”

Down to its last out, Inverso drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the 7th. MILES REAGAN, who hammered a 2-run homer an inning earlier, then singled, sending Inverso to third.

A photo finish for El Capitan , however, was not forthcoming.

“It was a really exciting game for our kids and it was nice to be on the other side of a 1-run game,” Henson said.

STEELE CANYON 8, GRANITE HILLS 5 – Some might call it East County ’s biggest upset of the season.

Obviously the struggling Cougars, who have put together their finest week of the season, were not surprised that they knocked off top-ranked Granite Hills in Friday’s (May 11) Grossmont South League contest on the Eagles’ diamond.

Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS was not pleased by the performance of his Eagles on Granite Hills’ Senior Day. Despite the fact that the Eagles had already wrapped up their third Grossmont South League title, Davis realized that this untimely loss may cost his club the No. 1 seed in the San Diego CIF Division I playoffs.

On the other side of the coin, Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY has to be pleased by the momentum his Cougars have generated in their last three games.

“This has been quite a week for us – it’s the first time we’ve beaten Valhalla and only the second time we’ve ever beaten Granite Hills,” said Mittry, who has been the only baseball coach in Steele Canyon’s brief five-year history.

“We jumped out early today, Mittry said.

Indeed they did.

The Cougars loaded the bases on consecutive singles by ERIC CARRILLO, JORDAN HINDI and MARK BELLATTI in the 1st inning. A base hit by ANDREW BRUDER plated one run, and a groundout by ANDREW BELLATTI made it 2-0. NOLAN MURRAY capped the opening frame with a 2-run single.

Despite the fast start by the Cougars, Granite Hills (22-5, 12-1 GSL), which had won 13 in a row, spent the next three innings tying the game at 4-all.

With two outs in the Granite Hills 1st, TRAVIS TAIJERON doubled and scored on a single by ERIC KRAUSE. Sloppy defense by the Cougars gave the Eagles a run in the 2nd.

A walk to Taijeron and AUSTIN COLEMAN’s 10th home run of the season – and his 4th in five games – tied the game in the 3rd frame.

“I thought we were going to pull this thing out,” Davis said. “But you’ve got to give Steele Canyon credit. They’re playing great baseball right now and they deserve to be a playoff team.”

The Cougars edged back in front in the 4th. DONNIE FRANKS singled and scored on a double by Carrillo. Hindi then singled in Carrillo.

Hindi, who is on a white-hot hitting streak with 17 safeties in 22 at-bats over his last six games, drove in 2 runs with a basehit in the 5th to give the Cougars a comfortable lead.

Carrillo, batting in the leadoff spot, is on a hitting bender of his own. The senior shortstop is 7-for-12 (.583) with 7 runs scored and 4 RBI this week.

“Like I told the kids after the game, it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t win on Monday and Wednesday,” Mittry said. “If we win, we should sneak in the back door of the playoffs somehow.”

Taijeron launched his 8th home run in the 7th but it was too little too late for Granite Hills.

Although he committed two errors, Coleman continues to swing a hot bat. In his last six games the Eagles third baseman is batting .700 (14-for-20) with 4 home runs, 6 doubles, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored.

“I still think we’re worthy of least the No. 2 seed,” said the Eagles’ Davis. “I think if you look at our record we’re still worthy of the No. 1 seed.”

Helix pitcher Mahi LaBastida struck out 10 batters in his 2-hit shutout of Valhalla. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

The LaBastida pitching line shows him with 7 walks, which in most circles would be considered well above the safety zone. In the case of the Helix ace, that number proved lucky.

“There were certain hitters I had to look out for,” said LaBastida, who completed a 2-hit shutout of the Norsemen. “I had to be selective and hit my spots.”

In the case of Valhalla ’s RYAN O’SULLIVAN, that meant three consecutive intentional walks. LaBastida also issued two walks to GREG GARCIA, who in his only chance to swing the bat, cracked a leadoff double in the 4th.

“I was throwing fastballs in to TOMAS (KARAGIANES) and Greg,” said LaBastida. “I was able to throw my off-speed, my curve and my slider for strikes, and that kept them guessing.”

Highlanders pinchrunner Steven Perez scores the game's lone run in the 5th. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

It was a bitter defeat for Wilkins, who allowed only three runners to advance past first base in his complete game effort.

In the 7th inning RAUL RITCHIE singled to left and JEFF ROSENTHAL ran for him, moving up 90 feet on a groundout by AARON DODD-WADDINGTON. Rosenthal advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was stranded there as Wilkins retired the final two Helix batters.

Valhalla left five runners in scoring position as the Norsemen suffered their fourth shutout loss of the season.

The Norsemen narrowly missed a miracle finish when Helix third baseman Ritchie made a laid out grab of DANNY HAWKSLEY’s line drive with fleet-footed Karagianes at first base to end the game.

“My first thought when Hawksley hit that ball was it was going to roll to the fence and they were going to tie the game,” said LaBastida (6-1). “I looked and saw Ritchie make a crazy dive and he came up with the ball. I couldn’t believe it.”

Helix celebrates a 1-0 road triumph over Valhalla. Included are (l-r) shortstop Randy Perez, catcher Zach Tanida, Mike Andrade and third baseman Raul Ritchie. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

LaBastida was not questioning Ritchie’s ability to catch the ball, he was more pleased that he got away with a pitch that he would rather have had back.

“We finally got that timely hit,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “We lost to them 4-3 and 2-0. It was about time that things went our way.”

“Ritchie started every game for us as a sophomore at third base,” Holland said.

He talked about the contrasting styles of the two pitchers, LaBastida and Wilkins.

“On their side, that guy just rears back and throws,” said Holland of Wilkins, who had several major league scouts measuring his speed – which was around 90 mph according to scouts from the Cubs and Brewers.

Despite losing, Wilkins’ marks were solid. He allowed only four hits and no earned runs while striking out five.

“On our side, we have a guy who just pitches,” Holland said of LaBastida. “He doesn’t have an overpowering fastball but he can throw four pitches for strikes.”

MONTE VISTA 4, MOUNT MIGUEL 3 – The Monarchs snapped a 6-game losing streak Friday (May 11) with their 3rd victory in as many tries against Spring Valley and Grossmont South League rival Mount Miguel.

Monte Vista (8-16-1, 4-8-1 GSL) erased a 1-0 Mount Miguel lead with three runs in the bottom of the 3rd.

ERIC GENTRY ignited the Monarchs’ rally with a leadoff walk and advanced to third on SPENCER REED’s double. MICHAEL NUSH then doubled in both runners, staking Monte Vista to a 2-1 edge. One out later CORY COOPER singled to score Nush.

The Matadors (5-20, 1-12 GSL) scored 2 unearned runs in the 5th to tie the game at 3-all.

ANTHONY LOPEZ set the Monarchs’ offense into motion with a triple. He scored on BO AGUILAR’s groundout. The Monarchs missed a chance at another run when AARON GOSSMEYER was cut down at the plate on a relay from right-fielder MICHAEL KOESTERER to second baseman RICKY SOLORZANO, who fired to catcher TONY ALVAREZ for the out.

ERIC LaBOUBE and JOSH KELLY combined to stop the Matadors on 4 hits while surviving 7 walks and striking out 11 between them.

Mount Miguel ace DAVID WYNN was once again impressive for the Matadors. He struck out 8 in six innings and was also the leader at the plate with 2 hits in 4 at-bats.

GROSSMONT 25, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 – The Foothillers wrapped up their 4th Grossmont North League championship in six years Friday (May 11) by trouncing the hapless Braves at El Cajon Valley.

Grossmont (21-7, 9-1 GNL) scored in six of seven innings, pounding out 23 hits on its way to a season-high scoring total.

Grossmont started with a bang as NICK LONGMIRE singled to left and scored on BRYAN HAAR’s double. The first of four El Cajon Valley errors put Foothillers at second and third. JUSTIN RUTHERFORD ripped a single to right center, giving Grossmont a 3-0 lead.

Grossmont blew the game open with eight runs on eight hits in the second inning. DEREK BAUM, who was one of three Hillers to collect a trio of hits, contributed a 2-run triple, and Haar chipped in a 2-run double.

The onslaught continued all afternoon. Rutherford finished 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI. JUSTIN MASON was 3-for-4 with 2 runs and an RBI.

Grossmont reserve BRENNAN GEARY was 2-for-2 with 2 RBI as was ANDREW FORD.

ALEX LEON, JOE WINGERDEN, MATT SILVA and JOSH SIMMS combined for the 3-hit shutout, striking out 8 among them.

The Foothillers, who have won 9 of their last 10 this season, are seeking a third straight San Diego CIF Division II championship. Grossmont is battling Avocado frontrunner Oceanside for the No. 1 seed in this year’s playoffs, which begin on Tuesday (May 22).

For the Hillers to have any chance to nose out the Pirates they must conclude the season with victories over El Capitan on Monday (May 14) and West Hills on Wednesday (May 16).

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (5-11-07) — Christian High’s sophomore sensation, TAYLOR EICHHORST, was only 1-for-7 in the two games leading up to Thursday’s (May 10) Central League outing at Hoover.

If there was any doubt that Eichhorst’s .500 batting average for the first two-thirds of the season was a fluke, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound first baseman reestablished that he can hit the ball with authority.

Eichhorst smashed a grand slam home run – his 5th of the season – and added a pair of doubles to his totals as Christian clobbered the Cardinals 10-1.

Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said Eichhort’s home run over the fence in right-center “was crushed. We play on some big fields in our league – ours might be the smallest. Hoover has a big field and it went over the “R” in the Hoover sign and that’s 360 feet away and 25 feet high.”

Christian (17-4, 10-0 Central), which has already clinched the Central League title, is riding a 10-game winning streak. The Patriots have won 15 of their last 16 and figure to gain no less than a No. 3 seed in the San Diego CIF Division IV playoffs.

“What we’d really like to have is that No. 2 seed,” Mitchell said. “We all know that Francis Parker (21-5) is going to be No. 1. I’d like to think because we are a league champion that we’ll be considered for the No. 2 seed. But I know that the Western League people think that their league is one of the best in town, and that Coronado (20-8) believes it should be No. 2.”

Christian’s offense has been running at peak mode throughout the Central League season. They proved that again at Hoover.

EDDIE YOUNG opened the game with a triple to stretch his East County-leading hitting streak to 16 games. After two walks loaded the bases, ADAM NASH slashed a single to right field to make it 1-0.

Freshman catcher MICHAEL GRUBER then laced a single to left for an RBI. SHAUN DAY drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, and BRADLEY JOHNSTON capped the 5-run 1st with a 2-run single to right-center.

Christian tacked on another run with two outs in the 2nd. Eichhorst ripped a double to left and scored on a basehit by Gruber.

Leading 6-1 entering the 3rd, the Patriots put this one on ice courtesy of Eichhorst’s grand slam.

Not to be overlooked was the pitching of JOHN FERREIRA and BRAD ROBERTSON. The Patriots duo limited the Cardinals (4-20, 3-7 CNT) to five hits. Ferreira worked the first five to pick up his second win in three decisions. Robertson finished the job with two innings of hitless relief.

Mitchell’s Patriots conclude the regular season with a home-and-home series against Madison.

© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (5-10-07) — While top-ranked Granite Hills was clinching its second straight Grossmont South League championship Wednesday (May 9) by dunking host Helix 10-2, Eagles pitcher ERIC KRAUSE was adding to his record run and teammate AUSTIN COLEMAN was continuing his torrid hitting streak.

Krause, who posted his 9th win in 10 decisions this season and extended his Granite Hills career record to 29 wins, dug deeper into the record world.

He blanked the Highlanders for the first 2 2/3 innings on Wednesday (May 9), which stretched his string of scoreless innings to 35 1/3, breaking the Grossmont Conference mark and tying him with Cole Hamels for third on the all-time San Diego CIF list.

Only Padres pitcher David Wells, who spun 42 consecutive scoreless inning for Point Loma in 1982 and Hilltop’s John Rule (35 2/3 innings) put together more zeroes in SDCIF history.

But Krause, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior, has another eye-catching mark. That would be stringing together 70 innings without allowing an earned run against Grossmont South League competition.

It seems like Santana's Ryan Stutz fully completed his swing before the pitch even arrived to home plate. Actually,the ball is bouncing upward after Stutz fouled it off home plate in the Sultans' 11-8 victory. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

“All of this talk of records has impacted my mind,” acknowledged Krause. “I’d like to tell you that my main concern in this last game was to get that win so we could clinch the championship. But deep down inside I was aware of those records.”

His Granite Hills teammates admitted that Krause – a happy-go-lucky type – was subtle about the records, yet they all knew that those marks were important to him.

As for the GSL scoreless string, Krause could not even recall the last time he gave up an earned run, which was in the 7th inning against Steele Canyon on May 11, 2005.

What Krause did talk about was his regret of the crucial pitch he threw to LaBastida.

“I think it was a 1-1 count,” said Krause. “I threw a fastball on the inside that caught too much of the plate (LaBastida turned on it and hit a floater to left-center field.) At first I thought it might die at the fence, but it carried a little farther than I thought.”

It was LaBastida’s second homer of the season.

“I can’t tell you how much I’d like to have that pitch back,” Krause said. “But at least I know we accomplished the major goal, which was to win the league championship.”

Krause, the odds-on favorite to be named East County Player of the Year, notched his 7th complete game. He allowed 5 hits, one earned run, struck out 8 and walked none.

“Krause is as close to automatic as you can get for a high school pitcher,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND.

Another Granite Hills standout is senior third baseman AUSTIN COLEMAN. After being mired in a midseason slump, Coleman has been on a tear of late. He came into Wednesday’s game batting at a .615 clip.

“The first half of the season I was hitting .400 or above with no problem,” said Coleman. “Then all of a sudden I went into a slump. I don’t know why, but I’ve never been in a slump of that magnitude. Things got so bad that I couldn’t even hit the ball.”

That’s all behind him now. Coleman was 3-for-4 with his 9th home run and 3 RBI. In his last five games he’s batting .647 (11-for-17) with 3 home runs, 6 doubles, 11 RBI and 10 runs scored.

“When you’re in a slump, you have the urge to change things,” he said. “You start guessing and you swing at bad pitches.”

Most of Coleman’s struggles came when he was batting in the cleanup spot for the Eagles (22-4, 12-0 GSL), who have won 13 straight and 17 of 18.

“I don’t know if batting 4th was mental or not,” Coleman said. “All I now is I was taking good batting practice, but once I got into the game I started gripping the bat too tight.”

Coleman was on the beam against the Highlanders (15-10, 6-6 GSL) as he followed an RBI double by Krause with a 2-base run-scoring hit of his own.

Coleman clubbed his 9th home run of the season over the left field fence to make it 3-0 in the 3rd. A 2-run homer by LOUIS CAZARES gave Granite Hills a 5-1 advantage in the 5th.

The Eagles broke the game open with 5 runs in the 6th. The key blow was BRIAN HUMPHRIES 2-run double. Coleman also had an RBI double in that frame.

STEELE CANYON 15, MONTE VISTA 5 – Remember the name JORDAN HINDI. He’s been hotter than the weather.

The Steele Canyon junior left fielder can swing the bat with authority, as he’s proven over the last five games. During that stretch, Hindi has 13 hits in 17 at-bats (.765).

“Hindi is on one of the best hitting runs I’ve ever seen,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY, who has witnessed back-to-back 15-run scoring bursts by his Cougars (9-14-1, 4-7-1 GSL). “I think he’s only made three outs in our last four games.”

Hindi reached base in all five of his at-bats, driving in a career-high six runs with two singles and a three-run home run against the Monarchs (7-16-1, 3-8-1 GSL).

“That home run by Hindi wrapped around the left field foul pole,” noted Mittry. “It’s not all that deep, but I can honestly say that’s the first time I’ve seen anybody hit one like that in the four years we’ve played on this field.”

Hindi’s homer extended Steele Canyon ’s lead to 11-4 in the 5th inning.

“Today I just felt good, more confident with my friends in the stands screaming for me,” Hindi said. “It’s so exhilarating to hear the people in the crowd shouting my name.”

Steele Canyon took a 2-0 lead in the opening inning. Hindi provided the spark with a leadoff walk. He scored on a single by KYLE KERSTETTER. Faulty fielding by the Monarchs handed the Cougars a second tally.

“Every time coach Mittry put me in the lineup I struggled,” said Hindi. “I so much wanted to prove myself. But it was the preseason and I was new to the varsity, so nervous and shaking every time I went to the plate.

“It’s a whole lot different now. I am a lot more relaxed, more mellow.”

Hindi credited assistant coach DAVE LEWIS for helping him to lock into a hitting groove.

“Coach Lewis pointed out my hitting flaws,” Hindi said. “He told me I was dropping my hand and crouching when I swung. Now I’m doing a better job of keeping my hands back and standing tall at the plate.”

During his recent batting spree, Hindi has driven in 10 runs and scored seven times.

“I think it’s a matter of confidence,” Hindi said. “I feel good every time I go to plate. The more hits I get, the more I want.”

Steele Canyon scored five runs in the 4th inning to snap a 3-3 tie. ERIC CARRILLO, who was 3-for-4 in the game, knocked a bases-loaded single to give the Cougars the lead for keeps.

Hindi followed with an RBI single and winning pitcher MARK BELLATTI drove in two more with a base hit.

“Seems like all of our hitters had a good approach today, laid off the bad pitches,” said Mittry, referring to eight walks offered by Monte Vista pitching.

Kerstetter led off a 4-run 6th inning with an opposite field homer to right. DONNIE FRANK chipped in an RBI double and Hindi closed the deal with a 2-run single.

Obviously elated by his Cougars sudden offensive breakout, Mittry handed out praise to several players, including sophomore NOLAN MURRAY who was 2-for-3 against the Monarchs.

“We needed help at second base so we brought him up from JV,” said Mittry. “We got a lot more than we bargained for. He’s been a real spark for us – given us a lot of energy.”

VALHALLA 15, MOUNT MIGUEL 1 (5 inn.) – Adversity has been stalking the Valhalla Norsemen for the past few days. So much so that the Norsemen had to play without head coach STEVE PERDUE in Wednesday’s (May 9) Grossmont South League game at Mount Miguel.

Perdue, who guided the Norsemen to the SDCIF Division III championship a year ago, missed this game due to illness.

Assistant coaches TROY PERDUE, RYAN JAMESON, along with Valhalla athletic director ROBERT WILSON stepped in as the Norsemen proved that Monday’s lopsided loss to Steele Canyon was little more than a fluke.

“Everything happened so fast that we weren’t sure who was going to be in charge in the dugout for this game,” said Wilson, a former pitcher at Granite Hills.

“The big thing is we were able to rebound from that bitter loss at Steele Canyon. Actually we put on quite an offensive display. We were playing loose and doing the little things it takes to win a ballgame.”

Valhalla (17-9, 9-3 GSL) produced 13 hits, led by the 3-for-4 performance of leadoff hitter TOMAS KARAGIANES.

Mount Miguel (5-19, 1-11 GSL) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st. Speedy leadoff man DAVID WYNN walked and then stole second and third before coasting home on NICO CALAFATO’s single to right.

Valhalla tied it in the 2nd inning on an RBI single by ANTHONY GONZALES. But that was just the beginning for the Norsemen, who pulled away with 3 runs in the top of the 3rd.

GREG GARCIA led off with a walk, stole second and scored the go-ahead run on RYAN O’SULLIVAN’s basehit to right field. After that Mount Miguel ’s defense fell apart in that inning, handing the Norsemen two additional runs.

Valhalla found nirvana in the 4th inning, scoring a season-high nine runs. Key hits in that inning included 2-run singles by PETE THOMAS and Anthony Gonzales.

TREVOR CAHOON, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound sophomore right-hander, pitched a complete game 4-hitter for Valhalla and struck out 6 in a game that was called after five innings.

“We all know that Cahoon is going to have a great future for us,” said Wilson. “I think his best inning was his last inning.”

El Capitan's Miles Reagan (left, with helmet) gets congratulated following his grand slam to power the Vaqueros past El Cajon Valley. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

El Capitan ’s rash of doubles broke the former school record established by the 1992 Vaqueros of eight set against Crawford. Better yet, the latest bounty of 2-base hits tied the Grossmont Conference record set by Granite Hills against Mount Miguel in 1994.

The San Diego CIF record of 14 doubles in a game was set by Christian against La Jolla Country Day in 1977.

DANIEL LEAVITT, NATHAN KIRBY, and ANDY HALE contributed 2 doubles apiece to the record total. MILES REAGAN, TAELOR WORRELL, JAMES LONG and JAMES GROSS completed the record tally.

Reagan drove in half of El Capitan ’s 10 runs in the opening inning with an RBI double and a grand slam. Worrell also chipped in 2 RBI in the 1st inning.

Lucas Whitmore (22) of El Capitan is safe at first base when El Cajon Valley first baseman Ray Aquiningoc failed to handle a low throw. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

“It was a really well-hit ball,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY of Worrell’s home run. “In the last game Worrell hit a double with bases loaded.”

It was a career day for Leavitt, who was 3-for-3 with 2 doubles, his 3rd home run and 4 RBI.

ANDREW CHANDLER was among the 13 Vaqueros contributing to a 21 hit attack. The junior leftfielder was 2-for-2, including a run-scoring triple.

El Capitan, which has won four straight, is very much in the running for the Grossmont League title. The Vaqueros need a victory over Santana on Friday (May 11) in Lakeside to set up a showdown at Grossmont for the GNL banner.

For El Cajon Valley, the 5 runs against the Vaqueros matched their highest offensive output for the year.

KEVIN CARREON was 3-for-4 to lead the Braves’ (3-21, 0-9 GNL) 11-hit attack.

After safely sliding into third base, Santana's Dallas Martin is part of a 3-player pile-up at the plate after teammate Chris Rabichaud and West Hills catcher Aaron Gagnon got tangled on a failed bunt play. Santana won, 11-8. (Photos by Adolfo Villanueva)

SANTANA 11, WEST HILLS 8 -- The host Santana Sultans kept their flickering San Diego CIF playoff hopes alive by knocking off crosstown rival West Hills on Wednesday (May 9).

Santana (11-14-1, 3-6 GNL), which struggled offensively through the middle of the season, appears to have found its scoring punch.

The Sultans led 10-2 after four innings looked to be on their way to an easy victory. It didn’t pan out that way.

West Hills (10-13, 4-5 GNL) scored five times in the 6th inning – a frame capped by ERIC McKNIGHT’s 3-run homer – his 6th of the season and third in three games. But Santana reliever JAMES NEEDY managed to hold the fort to keep the Sultans alive for a possible post-season berth.

The first three inning were all about Santana. RBI singles by JONATHAN TIPPIN and NICK SICA helped Santana claim a 3-1 lead after the opening frame.

Tippin sparked a 4-run 2nd inning with a solo homer. But it wasn’t until the Sultans rang up three more in the 3rd frame that they could breathe easier. In that inning Needy hit an RBI double and RYAN STUTZ singled in another run.

West Hills, which has eyes for gaining a Division II playoff berth, self-destructed with five errors that handed the Sultans six unearned runs.

Although Santana senior sensation DALLAS MARTIN has seen better pitching days without reward, he collected his 3rd win in nine decisions against the Wolf Pack.

“We’re just glad to win a ballgame,” said Henson. “The kids were focused. It’s always that rivalry – we’re friends in life but competitors in sport."

West Hills' Mark Handy makes a diving stab of a wide throw, yet has no chance at tagging out Santana base- runner Anthony Moreno in the Sultans' win. (Photos by Adolfo Villanueva)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-9-07) — Now that the Christian High Patriots have secured the Central League championship, coach MIKE MITCHELL must find a way to keep his team focused on the remaining three games they have in the regular season.

Winning their 9th straight game and 13th in 14 starts, the Patriots are now focused on the playoffs. The main thing is to keep their winning streak intact, if not for a higher seeding position, but for momentum going into the San Diego CIF post-season.

“It wasn’t pretty. We didn’t play particularly well, but what can you say about this game? We won,” Mitchell said.

The Patriots (16-4, 9-0 Central) erased a 1-0 deficit with a 5-run 2nd inning. DANNY MITCHELL’s RBI single tied the game. Mitchell eventually scored on a throwing error. Two more Hoover errors handed the Patriots an additional two runs. MICHAEL GRUBER capped the sloppy inning with an RBI double.

Refusing to fold, Hoover jumped on Christian ace JOHN GEE for three runs in the 3rd. The key blow in that frame was Daunte Haynes’ 2-run home run for the Cardinals, shaving Christian’s lead to 5-4.

The Patriots answered back with a 6-run bottom of the 3rd. Danny Mitchell plated a run with a swinging bunt single and later scored on a error and a wild pitch.

Sophomore TAYLOR EICHHORST, who has been fighting a mild slump, then unloaded a 3-run home run that landed just short of the swimming pool beyond the left-center field fence.

That home run – Eichhorst’s 4th of the season – pretty much decided the issue.

Christian pitcher Bradley Johnston (in blue) successfully steals second base, as the ball skips past the Kearny shortstop. The Patriots won easily, 8-5, Monday, to clinch the Central League championship with 3 games remaining. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-8-07) — Christian High clinched the Central League championship, Granite Hills moved within one win of claiming the Grossmont South League title, and El Capitan scored a major rally in the bottom of the 7th – capped by RYAN INVERSO’s walkoff home run – to keep the Vaqueros’ title hopes alive in the Grossmont North during Monday’s (May 7) East County baseball action.

Somewhere in the middle of this flood of Vaqueros is Ryan Inverso, who slammed a 2-run, walk-off homer for El Capitan in Monday's Grossmont North League triumph. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

Skinner’s teammates, however, gave him 3 insurance runs in the top of the 7th as ERIC McKNIGHT – who slugged a solo home run in the 1st inning – sparked the late rally with a base hit to left field. One out later BRIAN RITAYIK hammered a home run over the left-center field fence to make it 3-0.

A base hit by DAVID BRISTOL, a groundout by Skinner and a pinch-hit single by BRENNAN TAYLOR gave West Hills what appeared to be an insurmountable 4-0 advantage in the 7th inning.

West Hills pitcher Bret Skinner (top) tossed six innings of shutout ball vs. El Capitan. (Photos by Greg Eichelberger)

Apparently El Capitan did not get the memo.

The Vaqueros (16-10, 7-2 GNL) did all of their scoring in the bottom of the 7th inning to post their third straight win and 10th in their last 12 games.

The major blow was struck by TAELOR WORRELL – a bases-loaded double off the left-center field bank, cutting West Hills’ lead to 4-3.

TANNER RUST then singled up the middle, scoring Worrell with the tying run.

That set the stage for Inverso’s heroics as he lifted a 2-run home run over the right field fence onto Ashwood Avenue. It was the 2nd home run for Inverso, who returned to the lineup only a couple of weeks ago after missing the majority of the season due to injury.

“There was just pandemonium there at the end,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY.

“West Hills played a great game and just couldn’t close it,” said Vickery. “They come to play every game, they play the game tough. It was a tough loss. Nobody in the world wants to play those guys at the end of the season. They are a scary team, they play so hard.”

While Inverso was the hero, Worrell’s clutch hit was equally as important. The senior designated hitter has driven in 6 runs in his last 12 at-bats. Not bad for a guy who was primarily a pinch runner a year ago.

West Hills' Eric Knight with a home run swing (top), but Ryan Inverso stole the show with a walkoff, 2-run open to power El Capitan past the Wolf Pack at Hostetler Field in Lakeside. (Photos by Greg Eichelberger)

“Bottom line was Morton threw as good over the first 6 innings as he’s thrown all year long,” said Vickery. “Skinner was masterful for 6 innings, but seemed to tire in the 7th. He kept us off balance.”

West Hills (10-12, 4-4 GNL), which is scrambling for a playoff spot, has some pretty interesting credentials. The Wolf Pack has impressive victories over No. 1 ranked Granite Hills, Valhalla and Grossmont North leader Grossmont.

“I’m so proud of my boys,” said West Hills coach CHRIS BAUM. “They go toe-to-toe with anybody. If we make it into the No. 12 seed, the No. 5 seed is in trouble.”

Registering one of the major shock waves in East County baseball this season, PHIL MITTRY’s usually light-hitting Cougars (8-14-1, 3-7-1 GSL) devoured host Valhalla in Monday’s (May 7) Grossmont South League action.

After TOMAS KARAGIANES gave Valhalla (16-9, 8-3 GSL) a 1-0 lead with a leadoff homer – his 4th – the Norsemen’s offense went flat.

Led by MARK BELLATTI’s 5 RBI, the Cougars went on a rampage, scoring in each of the final five innings to reach their season high. After ERIC CARRILLO RBI single tied the game 1-1, Bellatti slugged a 2-run single, giving Steele Canyon a lead it wouldn’t lose.

ANDREW BRUDER, who pitched a complete-game victory, allowing only one earned run and 5 hits while striking out 7, ignited a 6-run 4th inning for the Cougars with a leadoff single.

“Bruder was working his off-speed pitches really well. He looked good today,” Mittry said. “And we finally played a little bit of defense behind him.”

JORDAN HINDI and KYLE KERSTETTER each chipped in with a 2-run single. Sophomore NATHAN MURRAY also mashed an RBI double.

Hindi, the Cougars’ junior left fielder, accounted for 4 runs as he went 3-for-5 in his last four games. He is batting at a .700 clip (10-for-14).

Credit Mittry for moving the speedy Carrillo to the top of the Steele Canyon batting order. Carrillo was 3-for-5, scored 4 and drove in 2.

“We found some holes and hit two bleeders through the holes,” said Mittry. “We got a few breaks and balls fell in for us. We’ve been playing well over our last six games and we finally got some breaks.”

Nevertheless, this victory snapped a 5-game losing streak for the Cougars against a Valhalla squad that had won 5 in a row.

It appears Valhalla secxond baseman Greg Garcia received the ball in time, but Steele Canyon baserunner Nolan Murray (6) was ruled safe with the stolen base, as the Cougars stunned the Norsemen, 15-3. (Photo by Mark Gonzales)

The Patriots' Danny Mitchell (8) beats the ball to the bag for an infield single against Kearny. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

Although the league season is only two-thirds complete, the Patriots can hoist the league championship banner after clipping host Kearny on Monday (May 7) afternoon.

Never one to unduly showcase his sons, coach Mitchell could not help but realize this was a 3-M day.

Junior BRYAN MITCHELL, the Patriots junior shortstop, was 2-for-2 with 4 RBI, and his senior brother DANNY MITCHELL, Christian’s centerfielder, was 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored.

Papa Mitchell was just plain proud.

“The Mitchell boys led us today,” the coach/father said. “They are both hitting .500 in league, tied for second behind EDDIE YOUNG (.519 in league).”

No question, the Komets (6-18, 3-7 Central) are sick of seeing the younger Mitchell.

Christian shortstop Eddie Young makes the turn at third base (top), then barely scores in the Pats' 8-5 win at Kearny's Alan Trammell Field. (Photos by Adolfo Villanueva)

Sure, Young scored in the highlights above, but did Christian's Michael Gruber score? Check out this 8-photo sequence: ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT

In Monday’s meeting, Young led off the game with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Bryan Mitchell’s base hit up the middle.

Christian loaded the bases an inning later on a base hit by BRADLEY JOHNSTON, a bunt single by Danny Mitchell and a walk to young.

Much to Kearny’s dismay, next up was Bryan Mitchell, who slashed a 2-run single to left to make it 3-0 Patriots.

Clinging to a 3-2 lead after four innings, the Patriots scored 2 runs in the 5th without benefit of a hit. A lead walk to Bryan Mitchell sparked the rally.

After Kearny cut the deficit to one, Christian went back to work in the 6th.

A Komets error opened the door and Danny Mitchell followed with a base hit to left field. Kearny pitcher Robert Neeleman plunked Young to load the bases. Bryan Mitchell followed with a sacrifice fly to right. Two Kearny errors handed the Patriots two additional runs.

Probably the biggest chore ahead for the Patriots (15-4, 8-0 Central) is to maintain their poise over the final four league games in hopes of landing a top four seed in the San Diego CIF playoffs. That shouldn’t be a problem for the Patriots, who have won 8 straight and 13 of their last 14.

GROSSMONT 7, SANTANA 4 – Senior AUGIE WILLIAMS is regarded as the unofficial leader of the Grossmont Foothillers.

The voice of the veteran center-fielder can be heard above all others when the Foothillers are in the field, and that’s saying something considering Williams hangs out about 340 feet from home plate.

Although Williams does not boast hefty batting numbers he has hit some key hits in the last couple of games, including Monday’s (May 7) Grossmont North League encounter against visiting Santana (10-14-1, 2-6 GNL).

Williams’ 5th home run of the season and 2nd in as many games gave Grossmont a 2-1 lead in the 4th inning. His RBI double in the 6th capped the scoring. But Williams is the kind of player who wants to share the limelight.

On this day one of the Foothillers’ co-stars was JUSTIN RUTHERFORD, who contributed RBI singles in the 4th and 5th innings. His second hit gave Grossmont (20-7, 8-1 GNL) a 4-3 lead it wouldn’t lose.

Grossmont catcher DEREK BAUM drove a key single to right-center field, scoring 2 and extending Grossmont’s lead to 6-3 in the 5th.

That was enough firepower to give Grossmont its 8th win in 9 games.

LEVI STEVENS (6-1) pitched the first 5 innings to pick up the win, and TAYLOR WOHLWEND closed it out for his East County-leading 4th save.

For Santana, which lost two earlier meetings by one run, it was a story of more tough luck.

The wind was tricky Monday at Joe Gizoni Field, blowing in rather than its customary out. Sultans KYLE CULVER and DALLAS MARTIN hit balls to left field that might have gone out under normal conditions, but the wind knocked them down.

“We had an answer to every time they scored,” said Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS. “That’s something we haven’t been doing lately. It was hot today - 96 degrees. Both teams were kinda lackluster.”

Three of Santana’s 7 hits went for extra bases, including a solo home run by ANTHONY MORENO in the 6th. CHRIS RABICHAUD ripped an RBI triple in the 5th – his third 3-base hit in two games. NICK SICA slugged a ground rule double in the 4th which cost him an RBI as JONATHAN TIPPIN would have easily scored on the play. Tippin, however, did eventually score on KYLE ROMERO’s single, which tied the game 1-1 at the time.

“It was disappointing,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “Our kids played hard and we had chances to win the ballgame, just didn’t get it done.”

GRANITE HILLS 16, MONTE VISTA 6 – No team in the San Diego CIF is hotter than the Granite Hills Eagles at the moment. Perhaps that’s why coach JAMES DAVIS’ ballclub is ranked No. 1 in the most prominent poll in the section.

The Eagles (21-4, 11-0 GSL), who have won 16 of their last 17, put the visiting Monarchs away early, scoring 15 runs in the first two innings of Monday’s (May 7) league encounter.

The magic number for Granite Hills to secure its third straight Grossmont South League title is one – that is, any combination of Eagles victories and Valhalla losses adding up to one will assure them of nothing less than a tie.

A 2-run double by ERIC KRAUSE keyed a 5-run 1st inning for Granite Hills. The Eagles were even more explosive an inning later. Krause pitched in an RBI double, but the big hammer in the 2nd inning was TRAVIS TAIJERON, who drove in 3 runs with a double and a single.

Not to be overlooked in the Granite Hills onslaught was AUSTIN COLEMAN, who clubbed a 2-run homer – his 8th of the season. In his last four games Coleman has batted at a .462 clip with 6 of his 8 hits going for extra bases. During that span he has driven in 9 runs and scored 9.

Part-time starter, TYLER WINTERS, is making a strong bid for permanent duty. He was 4-for-4 in the Eagles’ latest romp, scoring twice.

“We jumped out early and played well. We had a couple of lapses in defense but other than that we did OK,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS.

Monte Vista ’s ANTHONY LOPEZ, who has had his pitching opportunities limited due to back spasms, proved he can still swing the bat. The senior first baseman was 4-for-4 with 3 RBI for the Monarchs (7-15-1, 3-7-1 GSL).

Although he allowed 14 hits for the Monarchs, DARREN GAY worked through 6 innings to post his 5th win against one loss. DEAN MILLER pitched a scoreless 7th inning, striking out 2.

The Monarchs’ BO AGUILAR extended his Grossmont Conference leading hitting streak to 9 games with 2 hits and 2 RBI in 4 at-bats.

HELIX 7, MOUNT MIGUEL 1 – There is something about the Mount Miguel Matadors that brings out the best in Helix Highlanders. At least this year.

Coach COLE HOLLAND’s Highlanders have been inconsistent offensively except for when they see red – as in the red and black of Mount Miguel.

The Highlanders (15-9, 6-5 GSL) scored six times in the 5th inning to break open a close game and continue to complete a 3-game Grossmont South League sweep of the Matadors (5-18, 1-10 GSL).

Helix outscored Mount Miguel 31-4 in the three games. But Monday’s (May 7) win was the one Holland wanted most.

“This was a game we had to win,” Holland emphasized.

Senior pitcher JEREMY PETERSON pitched a powerful 7 innings, taking a no-hitter into the final frame on his way to his 6th win in 9 decisions.

“He’s kinda struggled in his last couple of outings so it was nice to see him bounce back,” said Holland. “He did a good job today – threw his off-speed for strikes.”

BRYANT SHIMIZU ended Peterson’s no-hit bid with a leadoff single in the 7th. NICO CALAFATO followed with a double. But Peterson put the brakes on after that.

Even though Peterson rallied to retire three in a row, the Matadors were able to spoil the shutout as Shimizu scored on TONY ALVAREZ’ groundout.

MATT COBB supplied the key blow in the Highlanders’ big inning with a 2-run single.

The victory was Helix’ 4th in its last 5 starts.

Monte Vista second baseman David Palacios (left) applies the tag, but Granite Hills' Tyler Winters was ruled safe on the first of his two stolen bases. The Eagles swept the GSL twinbill. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

© East County Sports.com
SPRING VALLEY (5-6-07) — In some circles there are those who believe that Granite Hills is the best baseball team in the San Diego section this year.

Definitely a bold statement, considering no team has stepped up as a dominant force. Yet it’s hard to ignore the fact that the Eagles (20-4, 10-0 GSL) have won 11 in a row and 15 of their last 16 games, including an impressive Grossmont South sweep of Monte Vista 15-1 and 17-2 on Saturday (May 5) in Spring Valley.

One of the main cogs in the Granite Hills offensive arsenal is senior third baseman AUSTIN COLEMAN. Dogged by a mid-season slump, Coleman seems to have broken out. In his last three games Coleman is batting .700 with 5 of his 7 hits going for extra bases. During that same three-game stretch he has driven in 6 and scored 8.

“It’s nice to see that he’s found his stroke again,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS. “I think he can see the sun again. I think finally his mindset is free from the dark cloud that he was in for awhile. He’s no longer fighting it.”

Granite Hills second baseman Louis Cazares strokes a ground-rule double to the opposite field in the first game of Saturday's sweep of a doubleheader by the Eagles, 15-1 and 17-2. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

Wohlwend to join Big South champions © East County Sports.com ASHEVILLE, N.C. (5-6-07) -- Grossmont High senior TAYLOR WOHLWEND, who leads all Grossmont North League pitchers with a 6-1 record, hopes to continue his winning ways by accepting a scholarship to pitch for North Carolina-Asheville next season. The Bulldogs, the 2006 Big South Conference champions, signed four San Diego County players. Also joining the NCAA Division I program are 2B Kory Smith and OF Beau Zinman (Rancho Buena Vista), and LHP Chris Brookey (La Costa Canyon). Wohlwend, a right-hander, was part of a club team which played in Georgia over the summer. UNC Asheville coach Willie Stewart was looking at another player, then hit the jackpot by signing the entire quartet. "The area is overloaded with talent, but not a lot of places to play. There are so many more places for a kid to play in college out here," said Stewart, himself a former Bulldogs standout. The challenge is convincing athletes they will fit in at a place far away from what they know. Stewart said having a piece of home around all the time can be the difference for someone deciding whether to play out of state. "I definitely think it helps. We recruited four or five out there originally, and three of them committed together," Stewart said. "A big part of that is, it's a long way from home, but you have a couple of guys there with you. It's actually helped us get a couple of others from out that way." Wohlwend was a second-team All-Grossmont North League performer as a junior, helping the Foothillers receive a final ranking of 9th in the West by USA Today after claiming a second consecutive CIF-San Diego Section Division II title. After winning their first Big South title in 2006, the Bulldogs are 18-33 (8-10 Big South) this season, needing an influx of talent after dropping 10 of their last 11 heading into the final week of the regular season. UNCA lone alum in the Major League is infielder Ty Wigginton, who now plays for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Wigginton, a product of Chula Vista HS, is the only player to have his number retired by the Bulldogs.

Eagles leadoff hitter BRIAN HUMPHRIES was 5-for-10 with a double, 4 runs scored and 2 RBI in the twinbill. He now has 40 hits on the season and 124 for his career, which breaks SEAN BISCHOFBERGER’s Granite Hills career record of 121 set in the seasons 1995-98.

Humphries, a junior, also owns the Eagles’ career mark for doubles which he set earlier this season.

Speaking of records, Granite Hills pitcher ERIC KRAUSE pitched one shutout inning in the second game, stretching his string of scoreless frames to 32 2/3 innings. He ranks 7th on the all-time San Diego CIF charts and is only two scoreless frames behind Grossmont Conference record holder KENNY HALLIN (Monte Vista, 1975).

Krause, of course, would rather talk about his hitting these days. He cracked a 3-run double to give Granite Hills a 6-1 lead in the second game against Monte Vista after plating a run with a sacrifice fly in the opening frame.

Overall the Eagles scored 32 runs on 37 hits in the span of 6 hours.

“I like the way we’re swinging the bats,” said Davis, who has a flair for the obvious.

Almost lost in the Granite Hills offensive onslaught was another pitching masterpiece by Eagles pitcher TRAVIS HOPPER. The sophomore southpaw gave up 8 hits but only one run as he used only 70 pitches to post his 6th win in 7 decisions in Saturday’s opener.

Another unsung hero for Granite Hills was TYLER WINTERS, who collected 5 hits, 4 runs and 3 RBI in 9 trips to the plate.

VALHALLA 4-5, STEELE CANYON 2-3 – Scoring runs in bundles has not been Valhalla ’s forte this season. But timely hitting and consistent pitching has kept the Norsemen in contention for the Grossmont South League title.

The Norsemen (16-8, 8-2 GSL) needed a sweep of the Cougars on Saturday (May 5) in Rancho San Diego to keep pace with the front-running defending champion Granite Hills. Valhalla trails the Eagles by two games with five games left.

Coach STEVE PERDUE’s Norsemen are going to need help, as they have only one game remaining with the Eagles – May 14 at Valhalla.

One thing for certain is Valhalla is not prepared to throw in the towel. The Norsemen are riding a 5-game winning streak and have won 8 of their last 10.

Steele Canyon (7-14-1, 2-7-1 GSL), however, did not roll over in Saturday’s double-header.

The Norsemen took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the 7th in the opener.

Steele Canyon ’s ERIC CARRILLO led off with a single to left and then stole second. ANDREW BRUDER hit a ground ball that the Valhalla third baseman could not handle, allowing Carrillo to score and bringing the tying run to the plate.

But that’s where the Cougars’ rally stalled.

Credit TREVOR FRANK, who had 5 saves as a freshman, for slamming the door on Steele Canyon ’s comeback bid. The sophomore right-hander allowed only 3 hits and no earned runs over the final two frames.

“We left 11 runners on base and 6 in scoring position,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY.

On the offensive end in Game One, Valhalla stole a run without benefit of a hit in the 2nd inning. RYAN O’SULLIVAN, who pitched the first 5 innings and struck out 10 to pick up his 7th win, led off with a walk. DANNY HAWKSLEY hit a ground ball to first base that was handled unassisted for an out. But O’Sullivan caught the Steele Canyon defense napping and kept running, advancing to an uncovered third base on the play. O’Sullivan then scored on a ground out by TYLER KEATON.

The Norsemen picked up another freebie in the 3rd, thanks to a throwing error by the Cougars.

Steele Canyon fought back in the 4th. Bruder singled and scored on a two-out double to the right-center field gap by ANTHONY NAVARRSKI.

The Norsemen made it 3-1 in the 5th. TOMAS KARAGIANES singled to left, advanced to second on a balk and moved to third on a dropped third strike. With two outs GREG GARCIA singled to right to bring in Karagianes.

In a game that was still hanging in the balance, Garcia led off the 7th with a long home run – his 5th – over the right field fence.

Steele Canyon started fast in the second game, scoring 2 runs in the opening frame. JORDAN HINDI walked, MARK BELLATTI doubled and KYLE KERSTETTER walked to load the bases with one out. Hindi scored on a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly by Bruder plated the second run.

Valhalla fought back in the 3rd. Singles by MARK COATS and Karagianes, coupled with a walk to Keaton loaded the bases. It appeared that Steele Canyon starting pitcher CODY KLOPP would escape unscathed as he retired Garcia and O’Sullivan on routine pop-outs. CHRIS THOMAS foiled the plan as he belted one of Klopp’s deliveries off the left-center field fence to clear the bases and giving Valhalla a 3-2 edge.

In the 5th Garcia doubled and pranced to third on a single by O’Sullivan. With runners at the corners, the Norsemen executed a double steal, with Garcia scoring from third. Hawksley then singled in O’Sullivan to make it 5-2 for Valhalla.

The final run of the game came in the 5th inning when Steele Canyon ’s Mark Bellatti hit a solo homer over the right-field fence.

Three Valhalla pitchers divided the second game pitching, with TREVOR CAHOON pitching the middle 3 innings to pick up his first varsity win. The suddenly versatile JAKE BOEKAMP pitched the final frame to pick up his first varsity save.

On the bright side for Steele Canyon , which has lost its last five, is the hitting of Hindi. He’s 7-for-9 over his last three games.

Not a drastic statistic but one that had to cause some concern with coach STEVE VICKERY and his staff.

The Vaqueros came out swinging in Saturday’s (May 5) non-league double-header at Eastlake and belted four home runs to complete its sweep of their South Bay hosts.

“Our mission was to get some momentum for our final four league games,” said Vickery. “The emphasis was to come out of our shoes swinging the bat. Too much of this season we’ve been too picky at the plate, and that’s hurt us.”

That wasn’t the case in these two games.

In round one MARCO MARISCAL mashed a 3-run homer and RYAN INVERSO and MILES REAGAN followed with solo shots to make a winner of pitcher LUCAS WHITMORE (3-5).

Things were a bit more tame in the second game, but leadoff hitter TAELOR WORRELL buggy-whipped a long drive over the right-center field fence for his first home run to help Mariscal to his first win in five decisions.

El Capitan (15-10), which has won 9 of its last 11, raked Eastlake pitching for 20 runs and 21 hits. Nine of those safeties went for extra bases.

ANDY HALE was 4-for-8 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored for the Vaqueros. Worrell, who only a year ago was relegated to a role as a pinch runner, was 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and 3 RBI.

Inverso, who missed more than half of the season due to injury, was 4-for-8 in the twinbill, with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Reagan was 3-for-6 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI.

“We had a lot of things on our plate today, factors that could have disrupted things, but didn’t,” Vickery said. “The big thing is we had our Senior Prom coming up after the game, but I have to credit our seniors for keeping their focus and poise on baseball.”

The Vaqueros trailed early in the opener until a single by Hale, an Eastlake error and a booming home run by Mariscal to left field put the Vaqueros on top 3-1 in the 2nd.

An inning later Inverso and Reagan hit back-to-back homers to give El Capitan a 5-1 lead. A 2-run single by ANTHONY LYBARGER in the 5th and a 2-run double by BRYSON LUKACIK in the 6th turned the game into a rout.

In the nightcap the Vaqueros took the lead in the 2nd inning on back-to-back doubles by Lukacik and NATHAN KIRBY. DANIEL LEAVITT plated another run with a sacrifice fly, and an RBI single by Worrell made it 3-0.

Mariscal handled things from there, allowing only 5 hits and no earned runs over 5 2/3 innings. Reagan finished the job, allowing one unearned run and 2 hits in an inning and a third.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-5-07) — First-year West Hills head coach CHRIS BAUM has repeatedly stated that his Wolf Pack is a resilient bunch. Perhaps still smarting from a hard-fought, 9-inning loss to Grossmont two days earlier, the Pack came out snarling for Friday’s (May 4) Grossmont North League rematch at Joe Gizoni Field.

West Hills (10-11, 4-3 GNL) built up a 7-0 lead in the first 4½ innings and then held on to beat the Foothillers 7-6 for the first time in four years.

Grossmont (19-7, 7-1), which leads the Grossmont North by one game over El Capitan with four games to play, had collected 15 victories in a row from West Hills.

“This was probably the biggest regular season win for this school,” said Baum. “I don’t remember when they last beat Grossmont. And we are one strike away from having two wins against them. This is really big because they are the dominant team in Division II baseball. Our kids just don’t give up. They will go toe-to-toe with any team, even if they know they are the underdogs.”

Before Friday’s nail-biter, West Hills’ last conquest of Grossmont was a 12-8 nod on May 17, 2003. For the record, West Hills defeated Grossmont twice that season, claiming an 11-6 win on Apr. 24, 2003.

Valhalla baserunner Ryan O'Sullivan (12) does the ol' "slide and dive" to avoid the tag by Scotties second baseman Raul Ritchie. The Norsemen won their third straight with Friday's 2-0 triumph. (Photos by Greg Eichelberger)

Prior to Friday’s loss Grossmont had defeated West Hills in 24 of 27 games since 2000.

It was heroes aplenty for West Hills. A key relay by the Wolf Pack cost the Foothillers the tying run in the bottom of the 7th. Then senior pitcher BRYAN RITAYIK recorded a pair of strikeouts to save the win for the Pack.

From a West Hills stance, the bottom of the 7th should not have been so exciting. Refusing to go quietly, the Foothillers began their comeback on back-to-back walks to NICK LONGMIRE and BRYAN HAAR. Then KYLE SECCIANI got a basehit to right to set runners in motion.

West Hills’ countered with a heads-up defensive play, catching Haar napping as Ritayik – the right-fielder at the time – fired the ball to first baseman ERIC McKNIGHT, who wheeled and fired to shortstop TONY SPEARS who applied the tag. That left Grossmont runners at the corners with one out.

“I stopped Longmire at third, and Haar didn’t see the stop sign and got caught in a rundown between second and third,” Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS said.

“If that hadn’t happened, AUGIE WILLIAMS’ home run (on the next at-bat) would have been a grand slam and it would have tied the score at 7.”

As it was, Williams blasted a shot over the right field wall for 3 RBI, leaving the Foothillers one shy of a tie.

“We couldn’t close the deal. We had a chance to close out league and didn’t get it done,” said Phillips. “If we had won today we would have beaten everybody twice. That would have been huge.”

Longmire, the section’s home run leader attempted to revive Grossmont with his 13th homer of the season, a 3-run shot in the 5th.

West Hills started fast as McKnight followed a one-out single by AARON GAGNON with a home run to right-center in the 1st inning.

In the 4th inning one-out singles by RYNE BARKLEY and Ritayik set the stage for a booming 3-run homer by DAVID BRISTOL, giving West Hills a 5-0 lead.

The Wolf Pack tacked on two more runs in the 5th on a run-scoring double by Gagnon and an RBI single by Barkley.

Norsemen pitcher Bobby Wilkins. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

Utilized primarily as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement, the 5-foot-10, 165-pound Boekamp saw his name in the Valhalla lineup batting 9th as the starting right-fielder. He made the most of the opportunity.

As he stepped to the plate in the 2nd inning – hitless in seven previous varsity at-bats – Boekamp laced a bases-loaded double to the left-center field gap, driving in the only two runs of the game.

“That was a clutch hit, and to get it from a first-time starter made it that much more special,” said Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE. “Our big guys are struggling a little bit so we needed somebody to pick them up.”

Boekamp’s blow came with one out after the Norsemen had loaded the bases on two errors and a PETE THOMAS single.

Bouncing back and forth between the JV and the varsity, Boekamp was the right man in the right spot to help the Norsemen (14-8, 6-2 GSL) post their third straight win and remain in the league race.

“He made our varsity because he hustles and plays hard,” Perdue said. “He’s giving himself a chance. He’ll be with us the rest of the year.”

Senior right-hander BOBBY WILKINS made Boekamp’s blast stand up as he fired a complete game 3-hit shutout for the Norsemen. Wilkins struck out 10 and walked 4 as he raised his record to 5-2.

This game was originally scheduled for April 20 but was postponed by rain. The game was switched a couple of other times before finally being contested on Friday.

“We’ll be playing five games this week,” said Perdue. “We made that decision so we can make our pitching match up better.”

Perdue was including Saturday’s (May 5) Grossmont South League double-header at Steele Canyon.

For Helix (14-9, 5-5 GSL) it was a bitter defeat, considering Highlanders pitchers GREG SHELBY and MAHI LaBASTIDA did not allow an earned run and only 4 hits.

“We only had one 1-2-3 inning the entire game. We kicked the ball around and made four errors,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “In the 1st inning we left runners at second and third with one out, and in the 2nd we left a runner at second with no outs. Then we got a guy picked off at second in the 5th inning. In close games these things just get magnified. If you don’t get key hits it hurts you.”

Catching his breath, Holland added “ Shelby did a great job. This was his first start of the year. Unfortunately, we didn’t play very good defense behind him.”

SANTANA 16, EL CAJON VALLEY 1 – Although Santana’s veteran coach JERRY HENSON isn’t about to toot the Sultans horn, he is no doubt elated that his club has finally relocated its offense.

Masters of the one-run loss most of the season, the Sultans (10-13-1, 2-5 GNL) have outscored their opponents 51-13 in the last four games. Granted the last two lop-sided victories came at the hands of hapless El Cajon Valley (3-20, 0-8 GNL), including Friday’s (May 4) rout.

The Sultans steam-rollered to a 13-1 advantage during the first three innings and then jogged to the finish line.

“We didn’t go out and try to embarrass anybody,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “The kids were focused and hopefully both sides had some fun.”

An RBI triple by CHRIS RABICHAUD, followed by a JONATHAN TIPPIN double gave Santana a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning.

El Cajon Valley cut that margin in half in the bottom of the 1st without benefit of a hit. The run scored on EFFRIN PADILLA’s groundout.

RBI singles by RYAN STUTZ, Rabichaud and Tippin inflated Santana’s lead to 5-1. NICK SICA tacked on a sacrifice fly and KYLE ROMERO’s RBI double capped the 5-run uprising to make it 7-1.

The game was all but over in the third after Stutz doubled in two and Rabichaud tripled in a pair. Sica’s run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly by KYLE CULVER ballooned Santana’s lead to 13-1.

DALLAS MARTIN, the Sultans’ hardluck senior pitcher, pitched four innings of one-hit ball against six losses. Culver and JAMES NEEDY combined for three shutout innings to finish the job. The Santana trio totaled 10 strikeouts and did not allow a walk.

Martin had a no-hitter going into the 4th until ADRIAN PADILLA hit a single to center.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-4-07) — Sometimes when it’s obvious that one team is superior and is a decisive favorite to win a league championship, living up to that billing is often tougher than it might appear.

Such is the case of the Christian High Patriots. None of the Patriots four Central League rivals play on the same level as do they. So every time the Patriots take the field, it’s a mental challenge.

“It was a very workman-like game – we came out and got the lead and then hung on,” said Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL after the Patriots clipped visiting Kearny 6-2 on Thursday (May 3).

With five games remaining in the regular season, Christian High has all but assured itself of capturing the Central League title. Mathematically speaking, the Patriots’ magic number is one.

What that means is any combination of Christian victories or Hoover losses adding up to one would secure no worse than a co-championship for the Patriots (14-4, 7-0 CNT). Of the other four teams chasing Christian, only Hoover has any chance of nosing out Christian for the league title.

Let’s put it this way – Mitchell should have no fear of sending an order for championship badges. His Patriots have won 7 in a row and 12 of their last 13 games.

In the latest outing against Kearny the Patriots punched out a 6-0 lead after four innings and then cruised to the finish line.

The Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame on a pair of walks, a single by BRYAN MITCHELL and a ground ball by ADAM NASH. An RBI single by DANNY MITCHELL and a run-scoring groundout by EDDIE YOUNG pushed the Patriots’ advantage to 3-0 an inning later.

Nash picked up the offensive torch from there. He drove in a run with a single in the 3rd and plated two more with a base hit in the 4th.

Christian starting pitcher JOHN GEE checked the Komets on 3 hits and one earned run over 5 frames to post his 5th win without a loss. BRAD ROBERTSON pitched in with 2 innings of one-hit shutout relief.

“Every time Gee pitches we know we are going to get five good innings from him, and we did today,” Mitchell said.

Robertson needed only 17 pitches to seal the victory.

The only chink in the Christian armor was sophomore slugger TAYLOR EICHHORST went hitless for the first time all season.

© East County Sports.com
SPRING VALLEY (5-03-07) — The shutout mastery of Granite Hills senior pitcher ERIC KRAUSE continued Wednesday (May 2) as No. 2-ranked Granite Hills clubbed host Mount Miguel 15-8 in a Grossmont South League contest.

The final score in this one is totally misleading.

When Krause left the mound after tossing five innings of two-hit shutout ball, the Eagles were breezing 10-0.

Krause earned his East County-leading 8th win in 9 decisions and upped his Granite Hills career record victory total to 28. His 75 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings also tops Inland hurlers.

Even higher on the scale of Krause’s current escapade is he has toiled 31 2/3 consecutive shutout innings in his last six pitching appearances. That string ranks 2nd in Grossmont Conference history behind Monte Vista’s KENNY HALLIN who put together 34 2/3 scoreless innings in 1975.

Krause’s latest effort leaves him 7th on the San Diego CIF historical ladder. Padres pitcher David Wells owns the record with 42 consecutive scoreless frames spun while pitching for Point Loma in 1982.

Valhalla pitchers Trevor Cahoon (top) and Tomas Karagianes helped top Monte Vista. (Photos by Mark Gonzales)

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

“Krause was really good today,” Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said. “He threw 51 pitches, and only 4 of them were balls.”

Even his first year swinging the bat has proven lucrative for Krause, who is emerging as a primary candidate for East County Player of the Year. His two hits against the Matadors extended his current batting streak to seven games. Krause, a first baseman when he’s not on the hill, is batting at a .591 clip (13 for 22) during that streak.

The Eagles (18-4, 8-0 GSL) banged out a season-high 21 hits against two Mount Miguel pitchers. LOUIS CAZARES led the charge with a 3-for-4 effort, including his 5th home run, giving Granite Hills the 2-0 lead in the opening frame. Catcher TRAVIS TAIJERON ripped a solo shot in the first inning, which was his 7th for the season.

Cazares added an RBI single in the 4th, advancing the Eagles advantage to 5-0.

A half-dozen Eagles put together multiple-hit games. Slump-ridden AUSTIN COLEMAN broke loose with a double and a single to go with 2 RBI.

“Coleman got off the schnide and got a couple of hits,” Davis said.

Say whaaat?

For Mount Miguel (5-17, 1-9 GSL), DAVID WYNN slugged a 2-run single as Mount Miguel jumped on Granite Hills’ relief corps for 4 runs in the 6th inning.

ALEX VANDERHYDE contributed an RBI single in the 6th, and then capped Mount Miguel ’s 4-run 7th inning burst with a 2-run double. Vanderhyde finished the day 3-for-4.

GROSSMONT 4, WEST HILLS 3 (9 inn.) – Although Grossmont has dominated the all-time series of Grossmont North League rival West Hills, the Wolf Pack always seem to get the Foothillers riled.

The Wolf Pack (9-11, 3-3 GNL) was one strike away from knocking off the Hillers in Wednesday’s (May 2) showdown in Santee. But BRYAN HAAR, who had struck out in three of his four previous at-bats, hammered a tape measure shot over the center-field fence to tie the game 3-3 in the 7th.

“We were one strike away from death,” said Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS. “And then Haar hit a shot to dead center – way over the 383 foot sign.”

Haar’s 9th home run of the season came on a 1-2 pitch off starter BRIAN RITAYIK, clearing the scoreboard and two cars parked behind it and landed in the middle of the parking lot. Those in attendance estimated Haar’s homer measured 420 feet.

It was a disheartening blow to first-year coach CHRIS BAUM and his upset-minded Wolf Pack.

“Haar had been chasing that pitch all day without connecting,” Baum said. “But he hit a ball up in his eyes and smoked it to center field. He got his top end on that one and hit it a ton.”

Although the focus was on Haar’s clutch homer, the game was not decided until two innings later.

Grossmont (19-6, 7-0 GNL) generated the winning marker in the 9th as JOSH SIMMS reached base on a bunt single and scored on NICK LONGMIRE’s double to left-center field.

“After our great game against Montgomery (a 14-5 win on Tuesday), we came out with no intensity and fell on our faces,” said Phillips. “We knew West Hills would be totally primed and ready to come after us.”

“We played like a team that was in its third game in three days. We weren’t very good but a lot of that has to go to that West Hills pitcher (Ritayik), who did a great job against us.”

Speaking of sparkling pitching, Grossmont senior right-hander TAYLOR WOHLWEND threw 136 pitches to go the full 9 innings for his 6th win against one loss. The crafty Wohlwend rationed the Wolf Pack to 5 hits and no earned runs while striking out 10.

West Hills took a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning on a hit batter, a base hit by GARY JACOBI and two Grossmont errors on a RYNE BARKLEY bunt. The Pack tacked on a third run ignited by a Grossmont error and an RBI single by TONY SPEARS in the 2nd inning.

“They were pretty hyper after that,” said Phillips. “I think they figured they had us.”

But anyone who knows Phillips’ coaching style and those who play under him are aware that his teams don’t go down easily.

“We just needed to get on the boards,” Phillips said. “I figured once we did that, we could break their spell.”

Grossmont broke into the scoring column in the 6th inning. DEREK BAUM drew a one-out walk and advanced on a base hit by CHARLIE PIRO. AUGIE WILLIAMS banged a double into the left field corner, scoring Baum. JUSTIN RUTHERFORD’s sacrifice fly plated Piro to make it a one-run game.

“Our boys can smell it,” said coach Baum. “We had them, and then let them off the hook. But we get another shot at them at Grossmont on Friday (May 4). Our kids are so resilient. They don’t lay down for anybody.”

HELIX 4, STEELE CANYON 3 – If you see Highlanders baseball coach COLE HOLLAND fumbling around in the science lab at Helix High School these days, he’s trying to develop a formula for “senioritis.”

“If I could do that, I’d be a multimillionaire,” Holland declared.

Holland speaks out of frustration, even though his Highlanders (14-8, 5-4 GSL) are riding a modest 3-game winning streak.

“I love these kids,” said Holland. “We’re mostly a senior team and I know that at our school at this time of year they are working on their senior projects, thinking about the prom and graduation. Even so, it makes it tough on us spring coaches.”

The Highlanders, who seek a Top 4 seed in the San Diego CIF Division II playoffs, can ill afford to stumble in their final six games. Helix overcame a 3-1 6th inning deficit on ZACH TANIDA’s walk off single in the bottom of the 7th.

Tanida, one of the cornerstones of this Helix team, would have had a 3-RBI double on his game-winning hit that came with the bases loaded, but Helix needed only MATT ELLIOT to score from third to end the game.

“Tanida hit an 0-2 pitch into the right-center field gap that would easily have easily have been a double,” Holland noted. “But hey, we won the game, and that’s what counts.”

As a rule, walk-off blows usually create a World Series-type celebration near the home plate area. While the Highlanders did swap some high-fives, hand shakes, knuckles, etc., Holland was surprised that the excitement was contained as much as it was.

“That’s the nature of this team,” he said. “We’re kind of a ho-hum team. We have no fireplug. Nobody on our team says a whole lot. It’s kind of weird. But I know these guys want to win.”

Helix broke a scoreless tie in the 3rd inning when Elliot walked, stole second and scored on RANDY PEREZ’ double. The Highlanders’ 6-foot-6, 240-pound right-hander, JEREMY PETERSON, made that 1-0 margin stand up for 5 innings.

Steele Canyon (7-12-1, 2-5-1 GSL) began to flex its muscles in the 6th inning.

A one-out single to ERIC CARRILLO got things started, and JORDAN HINDI followed with a walk. MARK BELLATTI, ANDREW BRUDER, and ANDREW BELLATTI gave the Cougars a 3-1 lead with groundball singles through the right side.

“It was unbelievable. All three of those guys hit the ball through the same hole,” Holland commented.

Not that Holland should complain.

The Highlanders generated the tying run in the bottom of the 6th on 3 walks, 2 groundouts and Peterson’s opposite-field single.

Steele Canyon had one final shot to break the tie in the top of the 7th. A walk to ANTHONY NAVARRSKI and a base hit to Hindi put runners at the corners with one out. Helix doused that smoldering rally when Tanida picked Navarrski off third in what was to be a delayed double steal.

MIKE ANDRADE, who picked up for Peterson (9 strikeouts in 6 innings), got an inning-ending strikeout to leave the game tied.

In the bottom of the 7th Elliot singled. DERRIC MILLER, who was attempting to sacrifice Elliot into scoring position, laid down a bunt that was booted by the Cougars, leaving two runners on with nobody out. A bunt single by RANDY PEREZ loaded the bases to set the stage for Tanida’s game-winning hit.

It was a bitter defeat for Steele Canyon.

“We wasted a great effort by MARK BELLATTI,” Cougars coach PHIL MITTRY said. “They just executed a little bit better than we did today. You have to play flawless to beat teams like Helix.”

On the bright side for the Cougars is the red hot hitting of junior right-hander Hindi. He’s had 7 hits in his last three games, and is 5-for-6 in his last two.

VALHALLA 6, MONTE VISTA 2 – In terms of being an athletic standout, there’s not much that Valhalla senior TOMAS KARAGIANES can’t do. Whether it’s operating as a quarterback, a running back or a safety for the Norsemen football team in the fall or running down fly balls and stealing bases for coach STEVE PERDUE’s baseball team in the spring, this guy’s a gem.

Perdue’s playoff-conscious Norsemen needed a pitching boost during Wednesday’s (May 2) Grossmont South League against visiting Monte Vista. He gave the ball to Karagianes.

The rest – as they say – is history.

The smooth-throwing southpaw blanked the Monarchs on one hit and struck out 4 over the final four innings to earn his first victory in two decisions.

It’s performances like this that keeps Valhalla in the running to defend the San Diego CIF Division III championship that the Norsemen won a year ago.

Karagianes, one of the top leadoff hitters in the county, began the bottom of the 1st with a leadoff walk and stole second. TYLER KEATON singled to put runners at the corners. One out later RYAN O’SULLIVAN hoisted a sacrifice fly to cut Monte Vista’s early lead to 2-1.

Valhalla moved in front in the bottom of the 2nd. DANNY HAWKSLEY slapped a one-out single to set the Valhalla offense into motion. ANTHONY GONZALES was hit by a pitch and Karagianes walked to load the bases.

A Monte Vista throwing error on a routine groundball scored 2 Valhalla runs.

Once again, in the 4th inning it was Karagianes providing the spark when he drew his 3rd walk of the game with one out. Not one to stand motionless, Karagianes immediately stole second, then skipped to third on a wild pitch. He scored on O’Sullivan’s two-out single to left.

Santana right-hander Brandyn Bell helped the Sultans to their initial GNL victory. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

CHRIS THOMAS doubled into the left-center field gap to bring in O’Sullivan with the final run of the game.

Monte Vista ’s offensive output was limited to the 1st inning. A single by SPENCER REED, followed by an ANTHONY LOPEZ double, put runners in scoring position. Reed scored on a base hit by CORY COOPER and Lopez came home on a base hit by BO AGUILAR.

The Monarchs (7-12-1, 3-4-1 GSL) were blanked on 3 hits over the final six innings.

Santana's Kyle Culver rips a double, helping the Sultans gain their initial GNL triumph. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

DALLAS MARTIN, NICK SICA and KYLE ROMERO collected 3 hits apiece, with Martin pounding 2 doubles and driving in 4 runs.

Both of Martin’s doubles came in the opening inning. The versatile senior led off the bottom of the 1st with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on JONATHAN TIPPIN’s single. Tippin stole second and scooted home on a single by Sica.

BRANDYN BELL and KYLE CULVER chipped in RBI singles. A 5th run scored on a balk before Martin capped one of Santana’s few big innings of the year with a 2-run double down the left-field line.

El Cajon Valley (3-19, 0-7 GNL) countered with its only run of the game in the 2nd inning. JOSE TORRES led off with a single and reached second on a Santana error. He eventually scored on a wild pitch.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-2-07) — On the surface, it was just a non-league game when Montgomery visited Grossmont on Tuesday afternoon (May 1). But realistically speaking this duel could play a major part in determining which team will be given the No. 1 seed in this year’s Division II playoffs.

Grossmont (18-6, 6-0 GNL), the two-time defending Division II champion, displayed its intentions by mauling Montgomery 14-5.

The Foothillers launched 4 home runs, including a 3-run shot by SDCIF leader NICK LONGMIRE – his 12th – which turned out to be the winning blow. Longmire, who was 3-for-3 with a pair of singles and 3 runs scored, was robbed of a 2-run homer in the 5th inning when the plate umpire called an obviously fair ball foul as it cleared the left-field fence.

“When I hit it I thought it was going to be way foul,” said Longmire. “But as I got to first base and looked to left, it sure looked fair to me.”

Some might view Longmire’s dozen homers as being tainted due to the short distance to right field at Grossmont’ Joe Gizoni Field. Although there is no sign posted, it’s 292 from home plate to the right field foul pole. But Longmire, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior, is a right-handed hitter. The majority of his home runs have gone to left field or left-center.

Longmire described his game-winning homer.

“The pitcher left the curve ball up in the zone and I just turned on it,” he said.

His second homer, of which he was denied by the plate ump, came on a “fastball, up and in.”

This was no one-man show, however.

Senior BRYAN HAAR drove in 5 runs with a 2-run triple and a 3-run homer on the offensive side, and then pitched 3 innings of one-hit relief to chalk up his second save for the Foothillers.

“As far as seeding goes, this game was pivotal,” said Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS, whose team has won 6 straight and 9 of 11. “I think it’s going to come down to Oceanside , Mt. Carmel , Montgomery , Helix, Point Loma and possibly West Hills or Mission Hills. We think we’re good enough to be the top seed, but we have to go out and prove it.”

Christian's Eddie Young (top) is safe after sliding under the Crawford catcher, then Danny Mitchell later turns for home to score another run in the Patriots' 6-4 triumph. (Photo by Susan Cooper Photography)

CHRISTIAN 6, CRAWFORD 4 – Having hammered Central League rival Crawford by a combined 36-12 football-like in two previous meetings, the Patriots must have been stunned when they found themselves trailing in Tuesday’s (May 1) third meeting 4-3 entering the bottom of the 5th.

But the heavily favored Patriots (13-4, 6-0 CNT), who have won 6 straight and 11 of their last 12 put together the winning combination in the 5th frame.

JOHN FERREIRA singled to right to start the comeback. The Patriots senior designated hitter then stole second base and advanced to third on DANNY MITCHELL’s bunt single. EDDIE YOUNG plated Ferreira with a crisp single to right field.

Then Crawford (4-17, 3-5 CNT) bungled a relay where they seemed to have the Patriots’ Mitchell trapped on the bases, allowing Christian to score the go-ahead run.

“It was a great head’s up play by Young,” said Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL, whose Patriots own a three-game lead with six games to play midway through the season.

TAYLOR EICHHORST’s RBI single in the 3rd inning, which gave Christian a 3-2 lead extended the Patriots sophomore first baseman’s season-long hitting streak to 17 games.

Young was 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored in the Christian’s leadoff spot, while Ferreira was 2-for-3.

A pair of Brads held things together for Christian. That is Christian pitchers BRADLEY JOHNSTON and BRAD ROBERTSON checked the Colts to one earned run. Robertson worked the final three frames to collect his second win in three decisions.

“Actually we didn’t play very well,” said Mitchell. “We had 14 fly outs – 7 pop-outs to the infield and 7 fly outs to the outfield – and only 3 ground ball outs.”