© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (05-01-08) — A third-place finish in the Eastern League is within reach of the Christian High Patriots. It is by no means, however, a lock for the Patriots who moved up from the less competitive Central League to tangle with more aggressive foes in the Eastern circuit.

Patriots coach MIKE MITCHELL admitted his preseason hopes were to earn at least a split of the 12 Eastern League games, and possibly pull of a 7-5 finish. So far, pretty good.

ADAM NASH and BRYAN MITCHELL combined for five hits and five RBI to lead the Patriots past visiting Serra, 7-2, in Wednesday’s (May 1) Eastern League action.

The victory vaulted the Patriots (17-7, 5-4 EL) into 4th place in the seven-team Eastern League race with three games remaining, including two against front-running Mira Mesa (May 7 and 9). Christian also plays at Serra (18-7, 4-5 EL) on Friday (May 3) at 3 p.m.

In its latest outing, Christian snapped a 2-2 tie with three runs in the 3rd inning against the Conquistadors. The Patriots loaded the bases on an error, a single by NIKO KANAKARIS and a muff of a sacrifice bunt.

MICHAEL POTEET’s sacrifice fly scored SHAUN DAY with the go-ahead run from third base. An infield single by MICHAEL GRUBER reloaded the bases for pinch-hitter Nash, who slashed a two-run single to left field.

Nash and Mitchell added run-scoring singles in the 5th inning for the Patriots.

“After that horrible loss at Scripps Ranch a week ago, we were about as down as we could get. So we held a team meeting,” the younger Mitchell said. “Since then, we’ve been able to turn things around.”

Mitchell, the Patriots’ senior second baseman who has gradually been raising his season average, was 3-for-5 with two RBI.

“I adjusted my swing, widened my stance,” Mitchell said. “I think I’ve been doing a better job of going the other way, taking the ball to right field.”

In his latest outing, Mitchell distributed singles to left, center and right.

“This was a big win for us,” the younger Mitchell said. “We have four games left (the regular season finale is at Coronado on May 14). We’d like to get 20 wins. If we keep playing like we have these past two games we have a shot. But all four of those we have left are going to be tough.”

Christian senior right-hander JOHN GEE turned in a complete-game four-hitter, striking out 7 in the process.

© East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (4-30-08) — When it comes to pitching, the Grossmont North, the Grossmont South and the Palomar League all claim they have the best dealers in the San Diego CIF. All have a pretty good argument.

No question any game involving Santana is going to be a low-scoring affair because the Sultans definitely have a solid pitching staff. So does El Capitan, which seems to be bolstering its staff as the season reaches the peak stage.

It was all about pitching once again when No. 7 ranked El Capitan edged host Santana 2-1 in a key Grossmont North League game on Tuesday (Apr. 29).

The Vaqueros’ MARCO MARISCAL turned in a masterful 2-hitter, but could easily have come up on the short end had it not been for ANDY HALE’s 2-run single with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 6th inning.

“That’s definitely the biggest hit I’ve had,” said Hale, who has been frustrated with a .255 (14-for-55) batting average.

Despite his less than spectacular average, Hale has driven in 16 runs, including two game-winners for El Capitan (18-6, 5-1 GNL).

Hale hit the ball on the button in all three of his at-bats against Santana right-hander JAMES NEEDY.

“The first two times I hit two absolute shots,” said Hale.

Both of them resulted in outs. That’s the kind of luck the senior first baseman has had throughout the campaign.

Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the 6th the Vaqueros greeted Needy with consecutive singles by KEVIN MORTON and MILES REAGAN. One out later designated CANNON NIKZAD walked to load the bases.

Needy then recorded his second strikeout of the inning to set up his game-on-the-line showdown with Hale.

“I’m not kidding myself, I’ve been struggling all year,” Hale said. “But I really wanted this one.”

With the count 1-1 Needy challenged Hale with a fastball in the inside part of the plate.

“No question Needy brought some of his best stuff today,” Hale said. “But when he came in with that fastball all I wanted to do was go right back at him.”

And so he did. Hale whistled a basehit right past Needy’s glove into center field, scoring Morton and Reagan.

That would be all Mariscal needed to roll his record to 4-2 while logging his second complete game in six starts.

“Mariscal pitched the game of his life at a time when we really needed it,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. “It was just a great display of pitching on his part.”

“We’ve been talking about adding and subtracting off his fastball. He changed speeds so well that nobody could square off against him. They just couldn’t time his fastball, and his curveball… well, he was just tremendous with it. Like I said, that’s the best I’ve ever seen Mariscal pitch.”

El Capitan , which is tied with Grossmont for the GNL lead, hosts the Foothillers on Thursday (May 1) at 4 p.m.

Santana (15-9, 3-5 GNL), which has suddenly fallen out of the league race, must now focus on improving its record for the playoffs.

The Sultans took a 1-0 lead against Mariscal in the 2nd inning as BRANDYN BELL blooped a single to right field and advanced to second when the ball was kicked around in the outfield. Bell scooted to third on MATT CHARLEBOIS’ groundout and scored on KYLE ROMERO’s sacrifice fly.

Needy accounted for Santana’s only other hit – a single to left in the 1st inning – while RYAN STUTZ saw his East County-best 22-game hitting streak come to an end. The Sultans’ CHRIS RABICHAUD also saw his 11-game hitting streak snapped by Mariscal.

“It was the same old story – we beat them for at least six innings then gave it up,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “Today we played ‘three flies and yer out.’ We had 10 fly balls with outs. We got them on base but only got them over and in on one run. Otherwise we flew out.”

“Needy threw well enough to win, we just didn’t have any run support for him.”

Vickery agreed.

“Needy’s a pretty darn good pitcher right now but he’ll be one of the best – if not the best – in the county next year,” Vickery said.

Just check the San Diego CIF statistics – in 51 innings Frank has struck out 58 and walked only one.

Probably no pitcher in the state can match that ratio.

Frank, in fact, can’t even remember issuing that lonely walk. At this point it really doesn’t matter. The 5-foot-10, 152-pound right-hander survived a 2-run home run by DYLAN GARCIA as the No. 12 ranked Norsemen upset the No. 2 ranked Eagles in Tuesday’s (Apr. 29) Grossmont South League game at Granite Hills.

“I never got to pitch against Granite Hills last year,” said Frank, a 3-year varsity veteran who had to watch from the bench as the Eagles posted a 3-game sweep. “So this was pretty exciting.”

Valhalla (17-7, 7-2 GSL) scored the winning run in the 7th inning as ANTHONY GONZALES, who had entered the game an inning earlier as a defensive replacement at second base, led off the decisive inning with a double down the right field line.

Two outs later it appeared that Granite Hills starter DEAN MILLER was going to escape unscathed.

But MATT GONZALES – cousin of Anthony – singled to center for his third hit of the game.

Valhalla ’s MIKE WILSON, head coach and third base coach, was waving Anthony Gonzales around third.

When Granite Hills centerfielder BRIAN HUMPHRIES came up with the ball and made a strong throw to the plate, Wilson threw up a stop sign for his baserunner.

“As I put on the brakes to stop,” said Anthony Gonzales, “I saw that Humphries’ throw was on the money. I know I’d have been out.”

With runners at the corners and RYAN O’SULLIVAN at the plate, Eagles pitcher Miller uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Anthony Gonzales to score what proved to be the winning run.

“I saw it kick away from the catcher so I went for it,” said Anthony Gonzales.

However, Granite Hills catcher TYLER PONCIANO pounced on the errant pitch and fired to Miller, who was covering the plate.

“I knew it was going to be close so I dove in and caught the plate with my hand,” said Anthony Gonzales.

Frank retired the Eagles in the bottom of the 7th to post his 5th complete game in seven starts.

“There’s nothing magic about my control, I just try to hit my spots,” said Frank. “I was doing a pretty good job of jamming the hitters today.”

Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS noted that Frank had a trio of 3-ball counts but never gave in.

“What can I tell you? Frank did a great job, moved the ball around the strike zone,” Davis said. “He did a great job of keeping the ball down.”

Said Frank, “I try to stick with my fastball for as long as I can. My 2-seamer was going pretty good but I think it was my changeup that kept them guessing. People think my changeup is a knuckleball because it has such a natural drop to it. All I know is it’s effective.”

Valhalla took a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning. With one out Matt Gonzales singled and O’Sullivan followed with a double. Gonzales came home on DANNY HAWKSLEY’s sacrifice fly and O’Sullivan rode home on JOSH AUSTEL’s base hit.

“The way Granite Hills handled us last year gave us great motivation for this year,” said Matt Gonzales. “Trevor was flawless except for that one home run pitch. But then too, you’ve got to give Dean credit. He got in on me all three pitches (that Miller got hits on). I was just fortunate to find the holes.”

Anthony Gonzales agreed with his cousin concerning the work of Miller.

“It seemed to me he had us on our heels all day,” Anthony Gonzales said.

These same two teams that tied for the Grossmont South League lead will meet again on Thursday (May 1) at Valhalla .

Glenn, who was 3-for-4 in the game, later scored on a sacrifice fly by winning pitcher MIKE ANDRADE in the same frame.

“This 6-game losing streak has been tough, so getting a win is nice,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “We have just got to continue to play hard.”

Helix (7-14, 2-7 GSL) scored in five of the seven innings against two Monte Vista pitchers. Scoring seven runs matches the Highlanders’ second highest output of the season.

They defeated El Cajon Valley 7-1 on Apr. 5 after belting Beaumont , Colo. 10-4 in the Lions Tournament on Mar. 19. To be blunt, scoring runs has been a real struggle for the Highlanders. They came into Tuesday’s game averaging less than three runs per game.

The Highlanders took a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning. JEFF ROSENTHAL and ANTHONY DIAZ singled, advanced to third on a passed ball. Rosenthal scored on Glenn’s groundout.

Helix started to pull away in the 2nd inning as VINCE CRISE was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by THOMAS BRYAN. Bryan eventually cruised home on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

MATT MORRIS’s RBI single in the bottom of the 2nd brought the Monarchs’ (6-16, 1-8 GSL) to life.

Monte Vista tied the game an inning later on ADAM TIMANUS’s bases-loaded single.

After Helix pushed across two runs in the 5th, a Monte Vista error allowed the Highlanders to make it 6-3 in the 6th.

Diaz put the crowning touches to the Helix win by leading off the 7th inning with his 4th home run of the season.

Although Holland wasn’t throwing a party over the victory, he had to be pleased that his Highlanders moved a game ahead of the Monarchs in the battle to escape the GSL cellar.

“The outcome has less value, but we always have something to play for,” said Holland .

GROSSMONT 15, EL CAJON VALLEY 3 – If the Grossmont Foothillers were looking ahead, it wasn’t evident in Tuesday’s (Apr. 29) Grossmont North League victory at El Cajon Valley . Winning for the fifth straight time, the No. 4 ranked Foothillers (19-5, 5-1 GNL) did all of their scoring in the first six innings as they prepared for Thursday’s (May 1) two-game showdown against El Capitan .

The Hillers and Vaqueros are tied for the GNL lead at 5-1. Game 1 of the series will be played in Lakeside at 4 p.m., and the second tilt will be at Grossmont’s Joe Gizoni Field on Saturday (May 3) at 11 a.m.

Grossmont jumped on top against the Braves with back-to-back doubles by JOSH SIMMS and CHARLIE PIRO in the 1st inning. The Braves (8-15, 0-6 GNL) tied it in the bottom of the opening frame as ANTHONY VROLIJK doubled and scored on EFRIN PADILLA’s single up the middle.

It wasn’t close after that.

Winning pitcher LEVI STEVENS gave the Hillers a 2nd inning lead with a double to left-center field. He eventually scored on BRENNAN GEARY’s groundout.

Two El Cajon Valley errors helped the Hillers score three unearned runs in the 3rd on singles by BRYAN HAAR and ROBERT REYES.

Grossmont brought out the longball in the 4th inning. After Piro singled to right, DEREK BAUM powered his 4th home run over the fence in left-center to make it an 8-1 game.

El Cajon Valley coach MIKE RUPP made a pitching change at that point but it didn’t help as Haar greeted the reliever with his 5th home run over the left field fence.

Stevens limited the Braves to four hits and one run while striking out five and posting his 5th win in eight decisions.

Piro continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-3 effort, extending his hitting streak to 16. Over his current hitting bonanza, Piro has three doubles, three homers, 12 RBI and eight runs scored.

Baum, who was 2-for-5 with four RBI against the Braves, is hitting .444 (8-for-8) in his last five games.

For El Cajon Valley ABEL CERVANTES was 2-for-3, cranking his SDCIF-leading batting average up to .608 (45-for-74).

LUTHERAN 9, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 8 – Foothills Christian took an early 5-run lead in Tuesday’s (Apr. 29) Citrus West League meeting with rival Lutheran.

It was short-lived, however, as Lutheran took a 6-5 lead in the 3rd inning and never let go.

Trailing 8-5 entering the top of the 6th Foothills tied the game on three errors and JOE CANTER’s sacrifice fly.

Lutheran snapped the tie in the bottom of the 6th on Willie Heiens’ inside the park home run.

“Lutheran’s field is about 430 feet to center and Heien really hit a bomb,” said Foothills Christian coach JAMES McHUGH. “The ball still fell about 40 feet short of the fence, but Willie has great speed and was able to circle the bases.”

TRAVIS GEORGE was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI for Foothills Christian (7-10, 0-7).

After MATT DELMORE singled in the top of the 2nd, BRANDON JAROSIN clubbed an inside the park home run. Canter chipped in a 2-run single in the 5-run inning.

“This was another in a long line of frustrating losses for us,” said McHugh. “How you can consistently lose games in which you have more hits and less errors than the other team? I don't know, but we manage to do it.”

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-29-08) — After MIKE MITCHELL’s tirade following last Friday’s (Apr. 25) loss at Scripps Ranch, the Patriots players were probably taken aghast by the coach’s frustration.

Whatever.

Bottom line is Christian’s Patriots had a little more bounce in their step Monday (Apr. 28) when they slapped visiting Scripps Ranch, 9-3, in their second and final Eastern League meeting between the two ballclubs.

“You could tell when we were taking infield that we were a more focused ballclub today,” Mitchell said. “This is one of the few times I’ve ever been happy playing a Monday game.”

Christian (16-7, 4-4 EL) jumped on the Falcons (7-13, 2-6 EL) for seven runs in the 2nd inning and never looked back.

MICHAEL STOWERS started the scoring shower with a one-out single and stole second. After MICHAEL POTEET walked, MICHAEL GRUBER singled to load the bases.

Then, in his first varsity at-bat, sophomore KEN JENKINS slashed a line drive over the head of Scripps Ranch shortstop Jason Ross for a two-run single.

EDDIE YOUNG, who was 4-for-4, followed Jenkins’ lead with a two-run triple to center field. After BRIAN MITCHELL walked, TAYLOR EICHHORST hammered his eighth home run of the season over the fence in left field.

A two-run double by SHAUN DAY capped the Christian scoring in the 6th inning. Day, who injured a shoulder in a sliding mishap during the Lions Tournament, was 3-for-4 in his first action in six weeks.

“Day is our No. 4 hitter and having him back changes a lot of things in our offensive strategy,” Mitchell said.

BRAD JOHNSTON pitched a complete game 7-hitter, allowing just two earned runs to post his third win in four decisions.

© East County Sports.com
SPRING VALLEY (4-27-08) -- Mount Miguel High senior JAMES TREBUS pitched a dominating ballgame, striking out 13 batters. He even hit a home run. But Trebus' biggest factor in Saturday's (Apr. 26) Grossmont South League contest may have been his baserunning.

"I was going home on the bunt, but then I saw the pitcher at the plate," recalled Trebus. "I'm not the fastest runner -- I was worried."

However, the throw was late to allow Trebus to open the scoring. And when JULIAN CHARLES added a 2-run basehit moments later, the Matadors were well on their way to a 4-1 triumph over host Monte Vista.

"I was able to slide around him and get my hand on the plate," Trebus added, managing to slip past Monarchs pitcher NICK SABO on the squeeze bunt by RICKY SOLORZANO.

Charles then sent a ball through the infield to the right side for the Matadors' lone hit of the inning. But with TONY ALVAREZ and Solorzano scoring for a pair of RBI for Charles, Trebus had all the run support he needed.

"It hasn't been my best year hitting, so I was just trying to get a good swing," said Charles. "I've been working on it and hit the ball right where I needed to."

With basehits in high demand, it proved to be enough.

Monte Vista's only run came on a Trebus wild pitch, allowing designated hitter MATT BOELTER to score. Boelter opened the 4th with a ground-rule double that hopped over the fence in left-center field, then moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by CODY MORRIS.

However, Trebus got the run back by smacking his 4th homer of the season to the same spot -- but 40 feet farther -- as Boelter's drive. Then on the mound, Trebus seemed to get stronger as the 98-minute ballgame came to a close, striking out the final five Monarchs he faced to finish with a career-high strikeout total.

"It was my best game pitching in high school," he noted. "My cut fastball was working really good."

Trebus survived a shaky start by walking three of the first four batters he faced. He escaped the jam by registering all three outs via strikes, then he started a 1-6-3 double play to get out of the 2nd inning unscathed.

While the Matadors' future may be now with a large crop of seniors on the roster, Monte Vista caught a glimpse of good times in upcoming seasons.

Sabo, a freshman, made his starting pitching debut for the Monarchs, overcoming his one poor inning with a complete-game performance. Sabo finished with a 4-hitter, striking out eight Matadors.

"I pitched pretty well for most of the game," explained Sabo, who had been playing at first base of late upon gaining a berth in the Monte Vista lineup. "I just have to keep working hard and hit my spots.

Mount Miguel (11-10, 4-4 GSL) moved above the .500 plateau with the victory, while Monte Vista (6-15, 1-7 GSL) remaining in a deadlock with Helix to fall three games behind the Matadors.

EL CAPITAN 6, SANTANA 1 – When it comes to Saturday games it’s almost automatic for El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY when he selects his starting pitcher. All the veteran skipper has to do is remember a helpful little motto: “S-O-S – Soden on Saturdays.”

A 6-foot-7, 215-pound senior right-hander, JOSH SODEN has gone undefeated this season, but four of his victories have come on the last four Saturdays. That includes a complete game effort against Grossmont North League rival Santana on Saturday (Apr. 26) in Santee.

“There’s nothing fancy about Soden,” Vickery said. “He just throws strikes, minimizes his pitch count and has an uncanny ability to keep the opposition off balance.”

It was the 5th straight win for No. 9 ranked El Capitan (17-6, 4-1), which has won eight of its last nine.

Although the final score may indicate otherwise, this was hardly a cruise to the finish line for Soden, who surrendered nine hits before registering his third complete game in six starts.

It was a one-run ballgame until El Capitan broke loose for four runs in the top of the 7th. TANNER RUST’s 2-run homer was the key blow in that inning. The almost always stable Santana pitching corps issued three walks and allowed two runs to score on wild pitches in the same frame to put the game all but out of reach.

Rust was center stage in the Vaqueros opening inning rally as he singled to right and eventually scored on MILES REAGAN’s base hit, giving El Capitan a 1-0 lead it would never lose.

The Vaqueros picked up a second run in the 3rd inning when TYRONE WIGGINS scored on a wild pitch.

Santana cut the lead in half in the 5th inning. ANTHONY MORENO singled and maneuvered his way to second base while the Sultans were making two outs. After CODY SMITH walked, RYAN STUTZ laced a double to left field to score Moreno . Stutz’ shot bounced over the fence for a ground rule double, which actually cost Santana the tying run as Smith was sent back to third.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Smith would have scored if the ball had remained in play,” Vickery said.

The return of Reagan has rejuvenated what has been an El Capitan sporadic offense. After missing five games due to a shoulder bruise Reagan has hit .750 (12-for-16) with five extra base hits, five RBI and 11 runs scored. Reagan has also earned the opposition’s respect in a hurry, drawing six walks over that stretch.

It was another day of frustration and missed opportunities for Santana (15-8, 3-4 GNL).

“It seems like we get the hits but not when we’re in scoring position,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “We had nine hits today. We need some kids to step it up in order for us to win ballgames. Most of the games we have played we’ve outhit our opponents, just have not hit in pressure situations.”

Santana leadoff hitter CHRIS RABICHAUD was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Moreno and Stutz also had two hits apiece for the Sultans.

Tellez doesn’t perform like a ninth-grader when he’s on the mound, as indicated by his 4-2 record and 2.97 ERA. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound southpaw turned in a key complete game effort on Saturday (Apr. 26) at Helix to keep the Norsemen just one game behind three-time defending Grossmont South League champion Granite Hills.

“I felt great out there,” Tellez said. “I was just throwing strikes and having fun.”

Tellez said he noticed from the outset that the Helix batters crowd the plate.

“I threw mostly fastballs and tried to keep them on the middle inside,” said Tellez, who scattered six hits while walking one and striking out four. “My job is to keep us in it – give us a chance to win.”

Catcher BRYCE MOSIER, the other half of the Valhalla freshmen battery, was a double threat. Not only did he go 2-for-3 with a bat, he did a quality job working with Tellez.

“I really enjoying catching Cisco,” Mosier said. “He always hits his spots and moves the ball around.”

The feeling is mutual.

“Mosier knows what pitches I have and when to call them,” Tellez said. “It seems like we’re always on the same page.”

Valhalla coach MIKE WILSON is pleased with the combination, no doubt realizing the Norsemen have a bright outlook for the future.

"I was very impressed with our freshmen battery today," said Wilson . "Cisco had great command locating both his fastball and off-speed pitches. And Bryce made some great plays and blocks behind the dish today, not to mention hitting two hard linedrive singles."

Valhalla took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. RYAN O’SULLIVAN walked and stole second. After DANNY HAWKSLEY walked, JOSH AUSTEL singled to left, bringing in O’Sullivan.

Helix (6-14, 1-7 GSL), which has lost its last six, refused to go down easy. The Highlanders tied the game in the 3rd inning.

MARCOS SALINAS singled and advanced to second on BENNY GUERRERO’s bunt. BRONSON RUNIONS singled to left, putting runners at the corners. JEFF ROSENTHAL also singled to left, bringing in Salinas to tie it at 1-1.

Valhalla scored what proved to be the winning run in the 5th inning.

WILL COOMBS doubled. When MATT GONZALES attempted to bunt Coombs over to third, the Highlanders made a throwing error to leave runners at first and third.

A few pitches later Gonzales broke for second in an apparent attempted steal. Helix caught him in a pickle. Credit Gonzales for dancing between the bases long enough to allow Coombs to score the decisive run when he sprinted home from third.

GROSSMONT 12, EL CAJON VALLEY 1 – CHARLIE PIRO has a 5-game hitting streak going but it’s nothing he cares to brag about.

Make no mistake about it though, Grossmont’s Piromaniac is one hot hitter.

During his recent hitting spree the Foothillers’ senior slugger has gone 12-for-19 (.632 average) with three home runs, two doubles, 11 RBI and six runs scored.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Piro accounted for six runs in the Foothillers Grossmont North League romp over visiting El Cajon Valley on Saturday (Apr. 26).

Piro drove in runs in each of his first three at-bats – one coming on his 7th home run of the season, giving Grossmont a 4-0 lead in the 3rd inning. He also chipped in an RBI double in the Hillers four-run 4th.

LEVI STEVENS snapped out of a lengthy slump with a leadoff home run in the Grossmont 4th. CONOR MEREDITH capped that inning with a 2-run double.

No. 4 ranked Grossmont (18-5, 4-1 GNL) totaled 12 hits in the contest, including two by catcher DEREK BAUM, who also stole four bases.

The offensive output was more than enough for Grossmont starter and winning pitcher AARON GRIFFIN, who needed only 58 pitches to blank the Braves on two hits over five innings for his 7th win without a loss.

Reliever NICK GASPAR finished the job, allowing only one unearned run and two hits while striking out four in his two inning’s work.

For only the second time in 22 games this season El Cajon Valley ’s ABEL CERVANTES, who began the day batting better than .600, went hitless in two at-bats.

© East County Sports.com
SCRIPPS RANCH (4-26-08) — Christian High coach MIKE MITCHELL was fuming following Friday’s (Apr. 25) loss at Scripps Ranch. And that’s unusual for the unflappable Mitchell.

“It’s been 10 years since I’ve been this upset over a loss like the one we had today,” said Mitchell, who has coached for more than two decades. “It’s like I told our kids, we will not win another game if we go out with the approach and attitude like we did today. It was pathetic – no thought process whatsoever.”

In spite of the dismal outing, the Patriots (15-7, 3-4 EL) trailed by only one run entering the bottom of the 6th inning.

“When we got to the Scripps Ranch ballpark today our guys were talking about the 345 foot fence in centerfield,” Mitchell said. “All we wanted to do was hit home runs… or should I say, try to hit home runs… since we didn’t hit any. We were swinging from our heels all day. There are too many guys that are selfish on this team, and as a unit we were just bad.”

After falling behind the Falcons (7-12, 2-5 EL) 4-0 after the first two innings, the Patriots who totaled only five hits for the game, rallied for three runs in the 6th. They loaded the bases on a walk to BRYAN MITCHELL, a double by TAYLOR EICHHORST and a walk to ADAM NASH. NIKO KANAKARIS then grounded a single to the right side, scoring Mitchell and Eichhorst. Nash would eventually score on a double play ball, and then the Patriots’ offense went silent the rest of the way.

In the bottom of the 6th Christian’s defense collapsed.

“It should have been a 1-2-3 inning,” Mitchell said. “But no. We commit two physical errors and then play a soft line drive into a 2-run triple. This inning was kinda typical of the whole day.”

There are some coaches in the Eastern League that believe Christian doesn’t belong – that they should be playing at a less competitive level.

“Our kids wanted to take the challenge of playing in a tougher league (leaving the Central circuit for the Eastern League),” Mitchell noted. “It doesn’t matter what league we’re in if we’re going to have a lousy attitude and our enthusiasm is lousy.”

“Right now, I don’t think we have an all-league selection.”

Mitchell hopes his Patriots take heed and make a better showing when Scripps Ranch visits Christian on Monday (Apr. 28) in a 3 p.m. Eastern League game.

Earlier in the season No. 4 ranked Grossmont whipped the Titans twice. It was No. 9 ranked El Capitan’s turn to topple the Titans in a non-league game Friday (Apr. 25) in Lakeside.

Eastlake did not go quietly, however, taking a 6-3 lead after two innings.

After a rocky start El Capitan senior right-hander KEVIN MORTON (5-2) settled down to pitch his fourth complete game, scattering nine hits and allowing just three earned runs.

Morton was also a force on offense, driving in three runs with a double and two sacrifice flies. It was his fly ball that followed singles by MILES REAGAN and KORBIN KRUGER that tied the game 6-6 in the 5th inning.

El Capitan (16-6) put the game away in the 6th. TYRONE WIGGINS doubled off the top of the centerfield fence to begin the frame. He advanced to second on a TANNER RUST groundout and scored on a single by pinch-hitter CANNON NIKZAD. MARCO MARISCAL ran for Nikzad and eventually scored on a fly ball by Morton.

Reagan was 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored. He’s knocked out 11 hits in his last four games.

After Eastlake took a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning, Rust stole home with two outs and the bases loaded, tying the game. ANDY HALE followed with a 2-run double, but the lead was short-lived as Eastlake scored five runs in the 2nd.

© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (4-25-08) — The BELLATTI brothers were apparently not impressed by Granite Hills’ No. 3 ranking in the San Diego CIF. Perhaps known more for their pitching, the Bellattis kept their arms at their sides and their hands on the bats as they combined for seven hits, five runs and four RBI to lead host Steele Canyon to a Grossmont South League 9-8 upset in 8 innings Thursday (Apr. 24).

It was a fitting conclusion for the Cougars (11-8, 5-2 GSL) as they closed to within one game of the front-running Eagles (17-4, 6-1 GSL).

Trailing 8-7 as they entered the bottom of the 8th, the Cougars’ JESSE JENNER reached base on an error to open the final frame. MARLON PORTER sacrificed him to second base. MARK BELLATTI then laced a single to score Jenner and tie it at 8-8.

JORDAN HINDI walked and then, with two outs, ANDREW BELLATTI delivered the game-winning single to score his brother from second base.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous when I came up for that last at-bat,” said Andrew Bellatti, who was facing Granite Hills reliever KENNY BELZER.

Belzer jumped ahead in the count 1-2, but then hung a tantalizing curveball to Bellatti.

“He crowded me with some fastballs. I fouled off an inside 1-2 fastball so I thought he might come back with a curveball,” Bellatti said.

And that’s what he did. Bellatti lined a hanger down the left field line, allowing his brother Mark to jog home uncontested with the decisive marker.

“This was a major win for us,” said Andrew Bellatti, who will undoubtedly be the starting pitcher when the Cougars contest the Eagles on Saturday (Apr. 26) at Granite Hills.

Mark Bellatti, who was 4-for-5 to anchor Steele Canyon ’s 13-hit attack, noted that the bottom of the 7th was the pivotal point of the game. Bellatti slugged a solo home run – his 7th of the season – to shave Granite Hills’ lead to 7-5.

The biggest play of the game came with two outs and nobody on base when Steele Canyon ’s DONNIE FRANK lifted a pop fly into short left field that eluded Eagles shortstop JARED HUNT.

“I thought the game was over,” said Mark Bellatti. “Then all of a sudden I saw the ball fall into no-man’s land. I knew we’d gotten a reprieve and we couldn’t let it go.”

Andrew Bellatti followed with a base hit and NOLAN MURRAY, who has been delivering clutch hits by the handfuls, came through again with a 2-run double down the right-field line to make it 8-8 after seven innings.

“Letting that routine pop fly fall in just killed us,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS. “That ball has to be caught.”

Steele Canyon coach TODD SNYDER likes where his Cougars stand at the moment.

“We are at the point where we can control our own destiny,” he said. “If we beat Granite Hills on Saturday we know we’ll be tied for first place.”

That kind of excitement has his players hyped to a new level.

“We like to talk about how people don’t have any respect for us,” said Mark Bellatti. “But that’s our problem. We haven’t proved anything to anybody in the past. But we’re changing that this season and we’re on the verge of doing something big.”

SANTANA 2, WEST HILLS 1 (12 inn.) – It’s not like CODY SMITH is afraid of the dark, but the Santana sophomore realized that daylight was running out on the host Santana Sultans in Thursday’s (Apr. 24) Grossmont North League game against West Hills.

“I figured this is going to be the last inning,” admitted Smith, who was 2-for-4 for the Sultans (15-7, 3-3 GNL). “But it wasn’t like I was thinking I’ve gotta hit a home run.”

No doubt that thought crossed his mind, however, as he led off the bottom of the 12 inning with the scored tied 1-1. The left-hand hitting Smith stepped in against West Hills reliever BRANDON HAMILTON, who had blanked the Sultans on three hits over the previous three innings.

Hamilton immediately took control of the count, putting Smith in a one ball, two strike hole.

“I was just hoping I could put the ball in play at that point,” Smith said.

Hamilton served up a 1-2 knuckleball.

“It was right over the plate,” said Smith. “I didn’t swing hard but I knew I hit it pretty good and I ran hard out of the box. When I rounded first base I saw the right fielder (BRENNAN TAYLOR) turn his back and run for the fence. Then I saw him stop – I knew the ball had gone out.”

It was Smith’s second home run of the season.

“This is the greatest accomplishment I’ve had in baseball,” he said. “Not just because I hit a home run, but because it gave us a win that we needed to have.”

Smith’s walk-off homer made a winning pitcher of JAMES NEEDY, who blanked the Wolf Pack on five hits over the final 5 1/3 innings.

“At first when I saw him hit it I thought Oh, it’s a routine fly ball,” said West Hills coach CHRIS BAUM. “Then the wind seemed to catch it and I thought Oh no, it’s going out.”

Santana sophomore starter KYLE HAYES limited the Wolf Pack to one run and one hit over four innings. Reliever RYAN STUTZ shut out the Pack over the next 2 2/3 innings on two hits.

West Hills (10-12, 3-3 GNL) didn’t have a hit until the 4th inning, and only had one hit going into the 6th.

“We’ve been struggling a little at the plate,” said Baum. “Our pitching has been superb, but you’re not going to win a whole lot of games by scoring one run in 12 innings.”

“Hitting is contagious. If we can just get a couple guys going I think we’ll start swinging it like we were earlier in the season.”

Santana coach JERRY HENSON, whose Sultans have struggled at the plate even more than the Wolf Pack, noted that each team left 12 runners on base.

“We’d get them in position to score but just couldn’t get them in,” said Henson.

Santana actually scored in the 1st inning as CHRIS RABICHAUD led off the game with a base hit to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Smith laid down a sacrifice bunt, which due to his lightning speed, turned into a single. The runners advanced 90 feet as the Sultans surrendered two outs.

ANTHONY MORENO then lined a singled to left field to score Rabichaud, staking Santana to a 1-0 lead.

West Hills countered with a two-out rally in the 4th as ERIC McKNIGHT walked, GABRIEL ZEHNER was hit by a pitch and Taylor singled down the right field line to drive in McKnight with the tying run.

MONTE VISTA 17, MOUNT MIGUEL 6 — Even when it might appear that a team with little to play for could be ready to cash it in, the Monte Vista coaching

staff must be credited for doing a quality job of preparing the Monarchs for Thursday’s (Apr. 24) duel against Mount Miguel ’s sophomore pitching sensation RUDDY ACOSTA.

Never in his brief varsity career has Acosta been treated so rudely. A dozen Monarchs contributed to an 18-hit attack. Acosta was rocked for 13 runs (9 earned) and 10 hits and was chased from the mound after facing five batters in the 3rd inning without recording an out.

This was by far Monte Vista’s finest offensive output. Only once time previous had the Monarchs scored as many as 12 tallies. This is a club that has been shut out five times.

The key against the hard-throwing Acosta was preparation. Monte Vista pitching coach RYAN JAMISON, a former Division I college and minor league professional pitcher, gave the Monarchs’ hitters a taste of what they might see from the 6-foot-6, 160-pound Acosta.

“Hitting off coach Jamison in BP like we did gave us a lot of confidence,” said Monte Vista catcher ANTHONY MARCON, who was 2-for-5 with 3 RBI against the Matadors. “We were ready for (Acosta).”

Ready, I guess. Monte Vista (6-14, 1-6 GSL) scored 9 runs in the opening frame and never looked back in winning for only the second in 12 games. It got so bad for Mount Miguel that junior TONY ALVAREZ was flagged for catcher’s interference twice in the opening inning.

“It seemed like everything he threw was hard stuff,” Marcon said of Acosta.

Monte Vista leadoff man ERIC GENTRY agreed.

“He was trying to blow every pitch past us,” Gentry said. “His fastball had a little bit of a tail to it, but it was easy to anticipate. The way it looked to me is everything he threw he left on the table.”

Gentry slashed a 2-run single in the wild first inning as did SPENCER REED. Gentry also keyed a 4-run 3rd inning with a base hit and stolen base. ADAM TIMANUS’ two-run single gave Monte Vista a 12-3 bulge in the 3rd before MATT BOELTER’s sacrifice fly and back-to-back doubles by MATT MORRIS and NICK SABO made it an 11-run spread.

Marcon tacked on a 2-run single to swell Monte Vista’s advantage to 16-3 in the 5th.

“We’ve always been a team that could hit,” Marcon said. “It’s a matter of being more consistent both with the bats and in the field.”

Monte Vista did not commit and error at Mount Miguel (10-10, 3-4 GSL).

The Matadors did not roll over after surrendering the nine-spot in the 1st inning as JAMES TREBUS whacked a two-run triple. Trebus added an RBI single in the 7th but it was nowhere near enough to defuse the Monte Vista onslaught on this afternoon.

ERIC LaBOUBE went the distance to log the pitching win.

EL CAPITAN 18, EL CAJON VALLEY 11 – Maybe the El Cajon Valley Braves can’t find a way to snap their state-record of 126 consecutive losses reaching back to 1997. But one thing is certain, coach MIKE RUPP’s boys are putting up a stout fight every time out of the box this spring.

This is not just fluff talk. Case in point was Thursday’s (Apr. 24) Grossmont North League loss to visiting El Capitan (15-6, 3-1 GNL), currently the No. 9-ranked team in the San Diego CIF. The Braves fell behind 10-2 in the 3rd inning but fought back to cut the deficit to two runs by the close of the 4th frame.

The Braves (8-13, 0-4 GNL) battered three El Capitan pitchers for 16 hits and 11 earned runs. Senior ADRIAN PADILLA drove in a career-high 6 runs for El Cajon Valley, while ABEL CERVANTES raised his San Diego CIF batting average to.623 (43-for-68) with three hits and 4 runs scored. Cervantes extended his current hitting streak to 16 games, and has hit safely in 20 of 21 games.

“It was one of those games where we had to keep pushing it,” said El Capitan coach STEVE V