By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (5-1-12) — Helix High coach COLE HOLLAND maintains that the Highlanders’ mode of operation is the short game.

That wasn’t the case in Monday’s (Apr. 30) Grossmont Hills League 7-1 victory over visiting Steele Canyon. The Highlanders (14-6, 5-1 GHL) powered home runs by BRANDON LEWIS, RAY PETERSON and FRANKIE NUNEZ. Helix has now clouted 18 home runs in 20 games.

Lewis’ second home run of the season tied the game 1-1 in the 3rd inning. After ROMELLO CARBUCCIA walked and Nunez reached on an error, Peterson blasted a game-winning home run over the left field fence to make it 4-1.

“We have decent pop,” Holland said. “We’ve hit the long ball more than I thought we would with these new bats. Home runs accounted for six of our seven runs today, but playing the short game is our strength along with pitching and defense.”

For good measure, Nunez, who usually submits to a designated hitter, rifled the knockout blow – a two-run home run over the right field fence in the 6th.

Not to be lost in the Helix power show was the pitching of senior southpaw MARK YOUNG (4-1), who allowed two hits and struck out 7 during a six-inning stint.

Young escaped bases-loaded jams in the 3rd and 6th innings.

“He pitched real well in key situations,” Holland said.

By defeating Steele Canyon (12-8, 5-2 GHL) for the second time in as many tries, the No. 9-ranked Highlanders took over first place in the GHL. They lead the Cougars and Granite Hills by one-half game.

Helix is in the midst of a string of playing five games in seven days.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” said Holland , whose side is off to a 2-0 start in that stretch.

CHRISTIAN 9, MORSE 2 — MICHAEL KAUFMAN fired a 5-hitter and struck out 11 Monday (Apr. 30) as the visiting Patriots rolled over Morse in an Eastern League game.

The Patriots, who have been struggling at the plate of late, broke loose for 14 hits against three Morse pitchers.

“We did a better job of swinging the bats today,” Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said. “We have two more games against (No. 8 ranked) Mira Mesa this week and they are really good.”

Christian (12-10, 2-4) pushed across for three runs in the 2nd inning. NICK JARVIS and Kaufman swatted back-to-back singles. JOE ROSS scored Jarvis on a sacrifice fly for his third game-winning RBI. SAM GUERRA ripped an RBI double to right field, and STEPHEN JOHNSTON eventually singled in Guerra.

Catcher AJ GREGORVIC, who threw two Morse runners out on the bases, was 3-for-5 with an RBI.

Jarvis and Ross finished with two hits and two RBI for the Patriots.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (4-29-12) — Despite all the talk about how rare the Wolf Pack’s victory over Grossmont is, the truth of the matter is that prior to this year West Hills had not beaten the Foothillers since 2003 when the ballclubs shared the Grossmont North League title.

The Wolf Pack beat Grossmont three times that year, twice during the regular season and once in the SDCIF playoffs.

Grossmont has dominated ever since.

This season, however, the Pack has beaten the Hillers in back-to-back victories, including 7-3 on Saturday (Apr. 28).

Grossmont took a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning but it didn’t stand up.

West Hills scored five runs in the next three frames to take the lead. MICHAEL CARLIN slashed 2-run doubles in the 2nd and 5th innings to propel the Wolf Pack into a lead they would not lose. He finished with four RBI.

“Beating Grossmont back-to-back is something we’ve never dreamed about,” said Carlin.

BRANDON DELANEY pitched his 4th complete game, scattering seven hits and allowing only two earned runs while striking out nine in his 6th victory in eight decisions.

“He’s not a 90-mile-an-hour guy,” West Hills coach JASON FOWLER said of Delaney, who is being courted by UC Santa Barbara. “Nor does he throw a major league curve ball. He just knows how to get people out.”

Carlin, on the other hand, is being wooed by Cal State San Bernardino.

“I think Cal State San Bernardino would be a good fit for him,” Fowler said.

One of the strengths for Carlin is his versatility. He can play multiple positions – catcher, short stop, second base, right field and center field.

“It’s a good feeling that people recognize that I can play so many positions,” Carlin said. “I’ll probably be an outfielder if I go to Cal State San Bernardino. I think that would be a perfect fit.”

Grossmont’s DEREK RUSTICH hit his first home run with two men aboard – a shot that landed in the trees beyond the right field fence.

But the lead was short-lived as host West Hills (11-10, 3-4 GHL) scored seven runs in the next five innings.

VALHALLA 3, GRANITE HILLS 2 – The up-and-down Norsemen, who refuse to relinquish their spot in the playoffs, knocked off visiting Granite Hills Saturday (Apr. 28) in Grossmont Hills League action.

RAMSEY ROMANO, who is ticketed to be the Norsemen’s closer, turned in a complete game 6-hitter for his first win of the season. The junior right-hander allowed only six hits and two earned runs while striking out three to post his first win in five decisions.

Valhalla (9-13, 2-5 GHL) broke a 2-2 deadlock in the bottom of the 6th inning on KYLE McBRIDE’s second double of the game.

The game was definitely a pitching masterpiece, as Granite Hills’ DANIEL STARWALT allowed three runs and struck out six in a 6-inning complete game effort.

EL CAPITAN 12, MOUNT MIGUEL 1 – The dreaded emotional hangover that attacked Mount Miguel coach JASON BABINEAU and his Matadors reared its ugly head Saturday (Apr. 28) when the Matadors hosted front-running El Capitan in Spring Valley.

“In the back of your head you hope it isn’t going to happen, but we came out lifeless,” Babineau said. “We showed a little spark early (thanks to three El Capitan first inning errors), but we were pretty dormant after that.”

Mount Miguel (11-7-1, 3-2) mustered up only three hits.

Tape-measure home runs by TROY CONYERS – a three-run rocket to “no-man’s land (right field)” in the 1st inning left both teams in awe. CURREN FACER followed with a parking-lot shot to left field that gave the Vaqueros a 3-0 advantage in the opening frame.

“Both of those balls were bombs,” said Babineau. “Our kids were talking about how nobody hits the ball to right.”

After those two home runs the El Capitan defense committed thee errors before handing the Matadors a run in the bottom of the 1st.

El Capitan (20-5, 5-0 GVL) finished with 14 hits.

“We have been swinging the bat better in the last three weeks,” Vickery said. “The biggest difference in our approach is we have been far more aggressive than we were early in the season.”

SANTANA 27, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 – A dozen Sultans contributed to Santana’s 21-hit attack in Saturday’s (Apr. 28) Grossmont Valley League blowout of the visiting El Cajon Valley Braves.

It was a bonanza day for Santana junior JOSH ASHWILL, who pitched three shutout innings and went 3-for-4 with two doubles, 4 RBI and three runs scored for the Sultans (5-12-1, 1-3 GVL).

DARREN DIAZ accounted for eight runs – 4 RBI and 4 scored – by going 3-for-4 with a double for Santana.

TYLER WEISS and COCO STUTZ added three hits apiece while driving in a combined five RBI. TOMMY LOGAN chipped in with two hits and three RBI.

“It’s nice to get everybody into the game and have them all contribute,” said Santana assistant coach JEFF BARRY.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (4-28-12) — It wasn’t one for the record books, but it was a sparkling Grossmont Conference ballgame between Spring Valley rivals Mount Miguel and Monte Vista Friday (Apr. 27) night at Petco Park.

Not surprisingly, the pitchers dominated, much like they do when the major leaguers frequent the venue.

JUWAN McCRAY blanked the Monarchs (9-10, 4-1 GVL) on three hits through the first six innings of Mount Miguel’s Grossmont Valley League 3-2 victory over Monte Vista.

The 6-foot-2 senior right-hander seemed to tire in the 7th inning as he issued back-to-back walks to ALAN HERNANDEZ and ANDREW POIRIER to start the final frame. He then slipped a third strike past JOHN BALAJADIA and then walked the bases loaded when he issued a pass to JOEY GONSALVES.

“I thought about making a pitching move then but Juwun is our ace pitcher and I decided to let him face Monte Vitsta’s toughest hitter (PAUL O’CONNOR),” said Matadors coach JASON BABINEAU.

O’Connor, Monte Vista’s MVP in the game, won this duel as he drilled a double into the left center field gap, scoring two runs to cut Mount Miguel ’s advantage to 3-2.

After that Babineau brought in reliever BRAD MORENO, who immediately issued an intentional walk to RICHIE BALAJADIA to reload the bases.

After falling behind in the count 3-1 to LUIS LEBRON, Moreno came back with back-to-back strikes for the second out. Moreno then retired TOMMY POIRIER on a pop fly to first base to earn the save for the Matadors (11-6-1, 3-1 GVL).

Moreno was a double threat for Mount Miguel as he accounted for three of the Matadors’ five hits. Moreno supplied the biggest hit in the game when the Matadors scored all of their runs in the 5th inning as he tripled to left-center to drive in JACOB CASTILLO (error) and JOHNNY WRIGHT (bunt single).

Moreno eventually scored on a passed ball, which proved to be the difference in the game.

McCray and Moreno were tabbed co-MVPs for Mount Miguel.

“This is a great victory for Mount Miguel High School in general, not just the baseball team,” Babineau said. “After we lost to Monte Vista 19-2 on Tuesday I was proud that we didn’t hang our heads and we came back strong. I could see it in their eyes – just watching our boys and the excitement they were exuding, I could tell we had a really got shot at winning this game.”

O’Connor was 3-for-4 for Monte Vista and also pitched one-hit relief over the final 2 2/3 innings.

“This was a great experience, not just for the boys but for myself as well,” said Monte Vista coach CHAD WILLIAMS.

Probably one of the biggest plays for the Monarchs won’t show up in the boxscore. It came in the top of the 6th inning with the Matadors leading 3-0 and a runner at first base with one out. Castillo singled to right and Monarchs’ right-fielder REILLY DIAZ took it on one hop and unleashed a perfect throw to nail FERNANDO DOMINGUEZ attempting to go from first to third.

“That was a major league throw – no doubt about it,” said Williams.

It was that kind of game.

GRANITE HILLS 4, VALHALLA 3 – When they pass out the Unsung Hero award at Granite Hills’ post-season banquet, junior pitcher-infielder SEAN WALKER would have to be considered for that honor, if not more.

The 6-foot-2 right-hander pitched five innings of 3-hit shutout relief while striking out five to earn his third win against two losses for the Eagles in Friday’s (Apr. 27) Grossmont Hills League encounter.

“ Walker just did an outstanding job for us,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS. “He’s not overpowering but he’s been really steady for us.”

Granite Hills (12-8, 5-1 GHL) snapped a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the 3rd inning. CHARLIE ST. CLAIR singled, stole second and stole third. He scored on a sacrifice fly by JORDAN VERDON.

Granite Hills took a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning on RBI singles by St. Clair and Walker.

Valhalla tied it in the top of the 2nd without benefit of a hit.

Two-out singles by ROBERT BOSTEDT, DANIEL STARWALT and JOSH ROSE put the Eagles back in front 3-2.

Once again, Valhalla (8-13, 1-5 GHL) counter-punched on a single by RAMSEY ROMANO and a double by AUSTIN HENSLEY. Romano accounted for half of Valhalla ’s six hits.

EL CAPITAN 13, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 – After breezing through the Grossmont Valley League unscathed last year, El Capitan is trying to make another go at the same feat to put a ribbon on head coach STEVE VICKERY's historic career as their mentor.

When they took the field Friday (Apr. 27) against visiting El Cajon Valley they were on the cusp of another 20-win season and thanks to ten different Vaqueros (20-5, 5-0 GVL) registering hits they didn't disappoint their long-time skipper as they rocked the Braves 13-0.

CURREN FACER blasted a two-run homer in the 4th and TROY CONYERS went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI, but also mixed in a stolen base to his line score.

“We started out real slow,” Vickery said. “I wanted to get the wheels spinning and try to create something for us and luckily for me it worked.”

CHUCK MOORMAN registered a triple and MATT DE ROSIER and SHANE COLEMAN also chipped into the Vaqueros attack with doubles.

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN df. OCEAN VIEW CHRISTIAN by forfeit – Citrus West League forfeit win. Field was too wet to play and the decision was made by Ocean View Christian not to reschedule.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-26-12) — It is becoming a repeat that Christian High coach MIKE MITCHELL is getting tired of watching.

“Our problem is us, not the team we are playing,” said Mitchell after watching the Patriots suffer a 6-5 non-league loss to the visiting White Tigers of Escondido Charter. “We were awful. We thought because we were playing a team most of these kids never heard of all we had to do is show up.”

Christian (11-10) outhit Escondido Charter (9-10) by an 11-5 count. But sloppy defense allowed the White Tigers to push across five unearned runs.

“Like I told our kids, we are not good enough to take anybody lightly,” Mitchell said.

“I know I’ve talked about this before, about how young a team we are. But that’s getting old. We’ve played enough games now that it’s time for us to step up and play like varsity ballplayers. It’s time for us to get better because if we don’t we’ll be an embarrassment in the (Division V) playoffs.”

Christian overcame a 4-0 deficit, taking the lead with four runs in the 4th inning. KYLE HARRIS, who was 2-for-3, slashed a 2-run triple to give the Patriots a 4-3 edge. He scored on a single by A.J. GREGOROVIC.

Harris also doubled and scored in the 3rd inning and accounted for two of Christian’s six stolen bases.

After that the Christian offense went dormant.

STEPHEN JOHNSTON, who pitched two shutout innings in relief, was 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases.

VISTA-CALVARY CHRISTIAN 7, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 0 – DEREK BROWN’s single with one out in the 6th inning of Wednesday’s (Apr. 25) Citrus West League game denied Vista-Calvary Christian’s Isaac Conover a no-hitter at Sportsplex Santee.

Conover, a 6-foot-4 senior, survived early wildness by changing his approach by making the breaking ball his primary pitch instead of the fastball.

It was a successful conversion as Conover struck out 10.

“The biggest difference in this game was defense – especially in the outfield,” said Foothills Christian coach DAVE LEWIS. “They made plays and we didn’t. It seems like they caught everything we hit.”

Sam Sheehan drove in three runs with three hits for the Lions (16-4, 3-0 CWL).

Knights pitchers ZACH TOMLIN and ERIC CANNON were victimized by four unearned runs.

© East County Sports.com
SAN CARLOS (4-24-12) — After falling behind 4-1 in the first two innings, the visiting Christian High Patriots battled back to force Monday’s (Apr. 23) Eastern League game into extra innings.

The bottom line though, is Patrick Henry’s Alberto Bulcao drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded to give Henry a 5-4 victory.

Bulcao pitched the final three innings for first-place Henry (14-6, 6-0 EL) to record his county-leading 7th win in nine decisions.

Christian sent the game into extra innings on KYLE HARRIS’ solo home run with two outs in the 7th inning that tied the game 4-4.

The comeback by Christian (11-9, 1-4 EL) began in the 4th inning.

A.J. GREGOROVIC doubled to left center field. Back-to-back walks to MICHAEL KAUFMAN and TYLER LESLIE loaded the bases. JOE ROSS then hit into a fielder’s choice, allowing Gregorovic to score. SAM GUERRA then ripped a single up the middle to score Kaufman, shaving Henry’s lead to 4-3.

Five errors undermined solid pitching by Kaufman and Harris, who allowed only two earned runs. Kaufman struck out seven in his 8-inning start.

“We actually never had a 1-2-3 inning,” said Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL.

“We just couldn’t get any hits with guys on base. We can get them on but we can’t get them in.”

© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (4-22-12) — A pair of East County streakers faced off in Saturday’s (Apr. 21) Grossmont Hills League battle at Steele Canyon.

Picked to finish last in the East County Sports.com preseason predictions, the Cougars have suddenly fused together a six-game winning streak, including a convincing 12-1 romp over visiting Grossmont. The Cougars (11-6, 4-0 GHL) stand alone atop the league, while the Foothillers (8-10, 0-3 GHL), who have lost eight in a row, tumbled into fifth place.

Leadoff man TANNER PERRY, one of four sophomore starters for coach TODD SNYDER’s squad, went 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBI.

“He must be leading the county in batting,” Snyder said.

Perry carries a .571 average (20-for-35 with five extra-base hits, 13 runs and a dozen RBI.

“Being picked to finish last really upset us at first,” Perry recalled. “It’s a motivation factor.”

“It’s bulletin board material for sure,” added Snyder.

Perry ignited Steele Canyon’s 1st inning two-run rally with a lead off single.

“I like batting leadoff, because you see more fastballs,” the Steele Canyon shortstop said. “It is a lot different than when I batted third at Christian last year.”

Perry said he is a “line-drive hitter with power.”

“I’ve tried to be more aggressive early in the count lately,” he said. “It’s paid off.”

Steele Canyon pounded out 15 hits, including MICHAEL RANDEL’s RBI double in the 1st and two-run triple in the 5th.

Right-fielder MACKEY BOWERS – another of Steele Canyons’ star sophomores – drove in two runs with a pair of hits and classmate BERNARDO ARIPEZ was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI.

“Aripez has the best hands I’ve ever seen,” Snyder said of his second baseman.

FRANK CALIFANO and T.J. CARLYON combined to shut the Foothillers down on six hits. Califano struck out five and got his 3rd win in four decisions.

“I’ve probably had better teams and better players, but I really like this team,” Snyder said. “Top to bottom, everybody wants to be out there, and that makes it pleasant for everybody.”

Grossmont avoided the shutout in the 6th inning as NICK ROCHESTER doubled and scored on a single by TRENT GALKOSKI.

HELIX 10, GRANITE HILLS 5 – It’s hard to believe that a senior standout the caliber of Helix’s KACY SMITH is without an athletic scholarship offer. Oh sure, a handful of regional schools have approached Smith but nothing has come of it.

“Nobody’s making any concrete offers – they’re just feelers,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND.

“Kacy is the best baseball player in San Diego County with no place to go,” Holland added. “Somebody has to have a scholarship for this kid, who has a 3.95 gpa to boot. I don’t know what they’re looking at but people are just missing out.”

Smith was 2-for-4 with his 3rd home run of the season and 3 RBI as the Highlanders (12-5, 3-0 GHL) knocked visiting Granite Hills (10-8, 3-1 GHL) out of a share of the Grossmont Hills League lead Saturday (Apr. 21) in La Mesa.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Smith who was an All-County performer in football as well as baseball, might be getting overlooked because of his size.

That’s lack of judgment and shows signs of college recruiters not spending enough time scouting this guy, who has hit three home runs this season – two of them across the street at Helix. One of the balls was believed to travel more than 450 feet with today’s pencil-neck bat.

The Highlanders snapped a 1-1 tie in the 3rd inning. DIEGO REYNOSO led off with a home run and AUSTIN HOPWOOD laced a two-out double to make it 3-1.

“For some reason we were playing old fashioned baseball today,” noted Holland of the game which featured five home runs.

JOSH ROSE whacked his 5th home run of the season for Granite Hills with nobody aboard in the 5th inning to cut the Helix lead to 4-2. After winning pitcher ROMELLO CARBUCCIA doubled in a run for the Highlanders in the 5th, Smith launched his 3-run shot into the street to all but decide the issue.

“To sum it up for Kacy, he’s a winner,” Holland said. “He’s been so for three years.”

Helix roughed up the Eagles ace DANIEL STARWALT for six earned runs and seven hits in four-plus innings.

On the bright side for the Eagles TRENTON BROOKS blasted a 3-run homer in the 7th inning.

WEST HILLS 10, VALHALLA 1 – BRANDON DELANEY checked visiting Valhalla on a complete game 6-hitter as the Wolf Pack snapped a 4-game losing streak in Saturday’s (Apr. 21) Grossmont Hills League action in Santee.

Delaney rolled his record to 5-2 while charting his 3rd complete game.

“Nothing comes easy in this league,” said West Hills coach JASON FOWLER. “Delaney had a couple of sketchy outings but it’s good to see him get back on track.”

West Hills (9-9, 1-3 GHL) actually had to come from behind against the Norsemen (7-12, 0-4 GHL).

Valhalla took the lead without benefit of a hit as CONNOR HOPKINS was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by AUSTIN HENSLEY.

“That inning could have been a whole lot if it wasn’t for a couple of great plays by my centerfielder DJ LEWIS,” said Fowler. “He made a diving catch in the gap that would have been a double and an RBI for sure, and then went back to about five feet in front of the left-center field fence to make an over-the-shoulder catch.”

The Wolf Pack made a counterpunch in the bottom of the 1st with three runs. FRANK MELLO led off with a single and HAYDEN SCHILLING walked. MICHAEL CARLIN flied deep to right field, allowing Mello to advance to third where he eventually scored on a wild pitch.

STEWART FORRESTER doubled and TY SOTELO reached base on an infield error. That set the stage for GARRETT SCHILLING’s 2-run double to right-center field.

The Pack piled on four more runs in the 2nd inning. Lewis walked and Mello singled, and Hayden Schilling picked up his third RBI of the night with a basehit. Carlin and Forrester hit back-to-back triples with Carlin notching 2 RBI and Forrester one.

West Hills added two runs in the 3rd on RBI by Carlin and Sotelo. The final Wolf Pack tally came in the 4th on a groundout by Hayden Schilling, giving him a total of 4 RBI for the night.

EL CAPITAN 6, SANTANA 1 – Even after KYLE GASNER’s RBI single staked visiting Santana to a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning, few in the audience of Saturday’s (Apr. 21) Grossmont Valley League game believed that an upset was in the offing.

However, the Sultans’ ZACH COOK made that one run stand up for three innings before the Vaqueros capitalized on a Santana wild streak to score four times in the 4th inning.

TROY CONYERS was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on CURREN FACER’s double. That was the only hit in the inning. The Sultans served up two more walks, hit two more batters and allowed a sacrifice fly to JAVIER GONZALEZ.

“Even though we were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, we did a good job of taking advantage of their mistakes,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY.

Senior right-hander KEVIN GINKEL limited the Sultans to seven hits while striking out 10 and recording his 3rd complete game and 5th victory in seven decisions.

“Ginkel finished strong, striking out seven of the last nine batters he faced,” Vickery said.

JOSH ASHWILL, who had been sick all week, was 3-for-3 for the Sultans and allowed one hit and one run while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings.

MONTE VISTA 26, EL CAJON VALLEY 4 (5 inn.) – Junior GEORGE DENNY was a double threat in leading visiting Monte Vista into first place in the Grossmont Valley League Saturday (Apr. 21) by walloping El Cajon Valley.

As a batter Denny was 3-for-5 with a double, 5 RBI and two runs scored. On the mound he struck out nine and allowed only three hits over 3 2/3 innings.

“Denny did a good job throwing, had a solid strikes-to-balls ratio,” said Monarchs’ coach CHAD WILLIAMS.

Junior KYLE BEDSOLE followed in Denny’s footsteps by spinning 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief. He was also 3-for-6 with 5 RBI, a double and two runs scored.

Steady PAUL O’CONNOR was 2-for-3 with 4 RBI and four runs scored for the Monarchs (8-9, 3-0 GVL).

DEVIN PICKETT, a junior second baseman, chipped in with three hits and four runs scored for the Monarchs.

The Monarchs are riding a 5-game winning streak.

El Cajon Valley scored runs on a double by ABRAHAM GARCIA and singles by CARLOS MEJIA and BRANDON RUMLEY.

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (4-20-12) — Steele Canyon High stretched its winning streak to five games Thursday (Apr. 19) by blistering visiting West Hills,
7-1, to maintain a share of the Grossmont Hills League lead with Granite Hills at 3-0.

MACKEY BOWERS drove in three runs, including two on a single in the 4th inning that helped stake Steele Canyon (10-6) to a 6-0 lead in the 4th.

FRANK CALIFANO, known more for his pitching and a superb pickoff move, was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI for the Cougars.

Steele Canyon’s GARRETT GANDOLFO slugged a solo homer in the 5th.

AMEER HINDI picked up his second pitching win in four decisions by checking West Hills on 5 hits and one run in five innings. JON HAROLD picked up the pace with two shutout innings and three strikeouts.

“To be 3-0 at this point is all I can ask,” Steele Canyon coach TODD SNYDER said. “Ameer got behind too much in the early going, but always seemed to get out of trouble by making a key pitch. He’ll battle out there and give us a chance to win. We had to take him out because of a high pitch count.”

West Hills leadoff man FRANK MELLO was 3-for-4, including a 5th inning RBI.

HAYDEN SCHILLING added two hits to the 8-hit attack for the Wolf Pack (8-9, 0-3 GHL).

HELIX 5, VALHALLA 3 – MARK YOUNG and FRANKIE NUNEZ combined to pitch a 4-hitter as the Highlanders dusted off visiting Valhalla in Thursday’s (Apr. 19) Grossmont Hills League contest.

Young worked the first five innings for Helix, allowing four hits and only two earned runs as he ran his record to 3-1.

Nunez proved two innings of hitless relief to earn his first save for the Highlanders (11-5, 2-0 GHL).

A 2-run single by AUSTIN HOPWOOD in the 3rd inning gave Helix a 5-0 lead. Hopwood finished with 3 RBI as the Highlanders won their third straight game.

“I thought Mark Young did a great job through the first four innings,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “He got in a little trouble but then Frankie Nunez came in and did a great job coming out of the pen. He turned up a double play.”

EL CAPITAN 16, SANTANA 0 – Senior JAVIER GONZALEZ was the ideal leadoff man for El Capitan as the Vaqueros mowed down visiting Santana in Thursday’s (Apr. 19) Grossmont Valley League encounter.

The Vaqueros’ middle infielder was 5-for-5 with a double, a triple, three runs scored and 5 RBI.

“He had a day,” El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY declared.

As a team, El Capitan (16-5, 1-0 GVL) rifled out 19 hits, including a 3-for-4 effort with four RBI by SPENCER NIELSEN.

MATT De ROSIER, who has made his biggest impact out of the bullpen, was 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI for El Capitan.

CURREN FACER ripped a two-run double to give El Capitan a 1st inning lead it would not lose. It was the first of two doubles he produced.

“Our guys were aggressive at the plate 1-through-9,” Vickery said.

TOMMY LOGAN was the closest thing Santana (4-11-1, 0-2 GVL) had to offense as he went 3-for-3 in the Sultans five-hit attack.

MONTE VISTA 23, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 – All 17 Monarchs who came to the plate contributed to the scoring in Thursday’s (Apr. 19) Grossmont Valley League blowout over the Braves.

MYCHAL LOPEZ was 4-for-5 with two runs and a pair of RBI for the Monarchs (7-9, 2-0 GVL), who have won their last four.

Monte Vista received a further boost as PAUL O’CONNOR and KYLE BEDSOLE each drove in three runs.

RILEY DIAZ made a rare start for Monte Vista, surrendering only three hits and striking out 9 during a 4-inning stint in the game that ended after 4 ½ innings.

The Monarchs put together a pair of 9-run innings in the 1st and 4th frames.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-19-12) — Thirteen Matadors contributed to visiting Mount Miguel High’s 14-0 Grossmont Valley League rout of host El Cajon Valley on Wednesday (Apr. 18). In the 2-game series, the Matadors registered a 37-3 runs advantage.

The Matadors (10-5-1, 2-0) took the early lead by a 10-0 count after three innings.

JUWUN McCRAY slashed a two-run single in the 2nd inning to make it 7-0. JOSE ORTEGA ripped a pair of singles and drove in a run in Mount Miguel ’s 4-run 6th inning in a game that was halted after six frames due to a mercy rule.

McCray drove in three runs and JOHNNY WRIGHT played a pair for Mount Miguel.

McCray, DOMINIC SAWYER, and FERNANDO DOMINGUEZ blanked the Braves (1-12, 0-2 GVL) on four hits.

Half of the El Cajon Valley safeties belonged to ELMER RAMIREZ. ABRAHAM GARCIA and BRANDON RUMLEY each had a hit as well.

CHRISTIAN 9, MORSE 2 – When host Christian took a 1-0 edge in the 1st inning of Wednesday’s (Apr. 18) Eastern League encounter, Patriots coach MIKE MITCHELL uttered, “I think that has been our first lead in like a month.”

Maybe so, but it was short-lived as the Tigers tied it in the 2nd frame.

Christian (11-7, 2-2 EL) put together a pair of 4-run innings in the 4th and 6th frames to turn the game into a rout.

TAYLOR LESLIE snapped the 1-1 tie with a solo home run leading off the 4th. A two-run single by STEPHEN JOHNSTON capped the big inning, staking Christian to a 5-1 advantage. Johnston finished with three runs and three RBI.

Five hits in the 6th innings allowed the Patriots to break the game open. MICHAEL KAUFMAN, who keyed the 6th with a two-run home run, pitched 6 1/3 innings and struck out 7 as he posted his 4th win in five decisions.

Kaufman finished 2-for-4 with three RBI.

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 9, TRI-CITY CHRISTIAN 2 – ZACH TOMLIN pitched a complete game 4-hitter with 9 strikeouts as the Knights clobbered Tri-City Christian in Wednesday’s (Apr. 18) non-league contest.

It was Tomlin’s 4th win in eight decisions.

TREVOR TINNEY speared the Foothills Christian (10-5) attack with three hits, while batterymate DANIEL LUCKETT laced a two-run double as the Knights broke the game open with three runs in the 6th inning.

“TCC is rated ahead of us because they beat us early in the season,” coach DAVE LEWIS said. “That is why this was an important win for us.

“Tomlin kept us in the game with a great changeup and keeping the ball low. He is a battler who is going to take us to the playoffs.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (4-18-12) — Visiting Steele Canyon made it be known that the Cougars expect to challenge for the Grossmont Hills League championship in Tuesday’s loop opener.

GARRETT GANDOLFO drove in two runs with a single, double and home run on 5 RBI as Steele Canyon (9-6, 2-0 GHL) mowed down host West Hills, 12-5.

TANNER PERRY was 3-for-5 with 4 RBI and two runs scored. MACKEY BOWERS contributed a double to the winning cause.

CASEY BALIKIAN pitched a shaky 4 1/3 innings to pick up his 4th straight win without a loss, and FRANK CALIFANO earned his first save.

For West Hills, STEWART FORRESTER and GARRETT SCHILLING each had two hits and an RBI and DJ LEWIS drove in a run. But that would be all the Wolf Pack could muster on this day.

GRANITE HILLS 8, GROSSMONT 1 – Junior TRENTON BROOKS pitched a 3-hitter as the Eagles smothered host Grossmont on Tuesday (Apr. 17) in a 7-1 Grossmont Hills League win over the Foothillers.

JOSH ROSE ripped a three-run home run as the Eagles scored three runs in a five-run 6th frame that broke the game open.

While Rose provided the thunder in the Eagles’ batting order, JORDAN VERDON slashed a 2-run single with two outs in the 2nd frame to give the Eagles a lead they would not lose.

DANIEL STARWALT rifled a solo home run over the right-center field fence to make it 3-0 Granite Hills in the 3rd.

JAYSON ROSE laced a 2-run double in the 5-run 6th inning to set up the knockout home run by his brother.

“We’re starting to play ball and I like our energy,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS.

Grossmont avoided the shutout with two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning on an RBI single by HUNTER STRATTON.

“I thought that when we were 8-2 we were going to be okay,” said Grossmont coach JIM EARLEY, who has since seen his team lose six straight. “I can’t remember – as a player or a coach – when Grossmont has lost six games in a row.”

MONTE VISTA 6, SANTANA 2 – As far as Grossmont Valley League goes, Monte Vista coach CHAD WILLIAMS is pleased with the Monarchs’ opening effort on Tuesday (Apr. 17) against visiting Santana.

Monte Vista ’s PAUL O’CONNOR held the Sultans hitless through four innings, but five walks cost him two runs. Yet, O’Connor (4-2) came out a winner thanks to three shutout innings in relief by LUIS LEBRON. The two Monte Vista pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts.

The Monarchs (6-9, 1-0 GVL) did all their scoring in the first two innings.

A two-out rally was keyed by RBI singles by Lebron and CARLOS GUERRERO that, coupled with an error, gave Monte Vista a 3-2 edge after one inning.

Monte Vista put the game on ice an inning later as O’Connor banged an RBI single, RICHIE BALAJADIA hit his second double to drive in a run and a run-scoring single by Lebron.

Santana (4-10-1, 0-1) took a 2-0 edge in the 1st inning on a pair of unearned runs.

Credit Santana reliever ZACH COOK for blanking the Monarchs on one hit over the final four innings.

MOUNT MIGUEL 23, EL CAJON VALLEY 3 – In the first outing of what figures to be an ugly round of Grossmont Valley League play, host Mount Miguel buried the Braves with a 23-hit attack on Tuesday (Apr. 17) in Spring Valley.

A 10-run 3rd inning made sure that the Matadors (9-5-1, 1-0 GVL) would have no difficulty capturing their league opener.

JUWUN McCRAY was 5-for-5 with a pair of RBI and three runs and two stolen bases for the Matadors.

Mount Miguel mashed out 23 hits, including three apiece by JOHNNY WRIGHT, DOMINIC SAWYER and FRANCO LUNA as well McCray.

LUIS AMEZQUITA drove in three runs for El Cajon Valley (1-11, 0-1 GVL). ELMER RAMIREZ had two hits and CARLOS MEJIA accounted for another. LARRY DENNISON had a stolen base for the Braves.

© East County Sports.com
KEARNY MESA (4-17-12) — Christian High coach MIKE MITCHELL must feel like putting out an APB on a case concerning stolen bats. This isn’t a police matter, however, but a virtual hijack.

“We just can’t buy a clutch hit,” the Patriots coach said. “We hit the hard all day. But if they don’t fall in, they don’t count.”

No. 8 ranked St. Augustine (16-4, 2-0 EL) claimed its second straight Eastern League win over the Patriots, 7-0, Monday (Apr. 16 ) at Hickman Field. The Patriots (10-7, 1-2) have been outscored 31-2 over their four games.

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RANCHO SAN DIEGO (4-15-12) — Although the weather spoiled most of the action around the county on Saturday (Apr. 14), there was no chance that Steele Canyon was going to let Mother Nature ruin the opportunity to strike first blood against its neighborhood rival Valhalla.

A few Cougars players showed up at 8:30 in the morning, but the vast majority came around 10 to work on their field in hopes of giving them a chance to play at least one game of a scheduled Grossmont Hills League opening double-header on an overcast and blustery afternoon.

When the intermittent showers resumed the players retreated to the dugout to wait it out and some even took naps. Parents delivered food to the team during their 7-hour stint of field preparation, but once the Cougars were finally granted the opportunity they packed the last punch of the day, nipping the Norsemen, 5-4 in eight innings.

“I've been out here since 9 o'clock and we got one break for lunch,” said senior AMEER HINDI. “Just to get this game in was a challenge, knowing how important it was for us to win. I think we are all completely drained right now.”

MICHAEL RANDEL plated COLE FLINT on a two-out single in the Cougars 1st inning, but the Norsemen fired back sparked by JORDAN QSAR’s triple in the 3rd. ANTHONY MANUPELLA, CONNOR HOPKINS and RAMSEY ROMANO all drove in runs to take a 3-1 lead.

FRANK CALIFANO, MACKEY BOWERS and Hindi singled to start off the Cougars 4th and TANNER PERRY tripled just below the 375 mark in left-center field to put Steele Canyon back in front 4-3.

Hindi then shut the Norsemen down striking out 6 in three innings on the mound.

The game was knotted when Hopkins doubled to right in the 7th on a lazy fly ball that sent the game into extra innings in what was already an extraordinarily long day for the Cougars.

Steele Canyon’s TAYLOR VUKOTICH singled and Bowers doubled to leave NATHAN MURRAY a chance, even though he had been struggling recently.

With both the infield and outfield drawn in Murray smashed an opposite field drive over the outfielders' heads to claim the victory.

“Coach had the confidence to put me in and I just knew I had to put the ball into play,” said Murray. “It just felt great to come through for all my teammates. Especially against our rivals in the league opener.”

“He has almost too quick of hands. He's too anxious and wants to just fly open,” coach TODD SNYDER said. “So I was glad to see he finally waited on one and we can all go home with smiles on our face.”

— Andrew Smith

GRANITE HILLS 14, WEST HILLS 2 – It was all about Granite Hills senior DANIEL STARWALT who was a double-threat in Saturday’s (Apr. 14) rain-soaked Grossmont Hills League season opener against visiting West Hills.

Starwalt was a complete menace as he went 4-for-4 with two runs and pitched five innings to post his third win in five decisions.

It was a full house for Granite Hills as 21 Eagles participated.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever played that many kids in a game before,” said Eagles coach JAMES DAVIS.

The Eagles pounded out 20 hits, including a 3-for-4 effort by JOSH ROSE, who scored three and drove in three with a double and his third home run of the season.

After taking a 4-1 lead in the first frame Granite Hills (8-7) scored in all six of its turns at bat to turn the game into a rout.

Twelve Eagles contributed to the Granite Hills offense.

CHARLIE ST. CLAIR, who is coming off a broken wrist, was 2-for-3 with two runs and a pair of RBI.

Defensively the Eagles turned four double plays.

West Hills avoided the shutout in the opening frame as STEWART FORRESTER hit into a forced play to score FRANK MELLO.

Mello also scored in the 5th inning on a double by TYLER SOTELO.

EL CAPITAN 4, LA JOLLA COUNTRY DAY 3; LA JOLLA COUNTRY DAY 1, EL CAPITAN 0 – El Capitan continued to struggle offensively in Saturday’s (Apr. 14) non-league doubleheader at La Jolla Country Day. But the Vaqueros’ pitching continued to sparkle as they held the Torreys to four hits in two games, which was good enough to give the Lakesiders a split.

“I know La Jolla Country Day is a small school but they’re a fine ballclub,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. “They have five or six really good players and a leader (John Edman) that knows how to coach so they are definitely a challenge. I’d be stunned if they’re not in the SDCIF Division IV championship game.”

In the opening game the Vaqueros erased a 1-0 deficit in the 5th frame. CODY REILLY singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by JAVIER GONZALEZ. Walks to ERIC LOZANO and CHUCK MOORMAN loaded the bases. TROY CONYERS laced a single to center to tie the game 1-1.

CURREN FACER then ripped a 2-run single to give El Capitan a lead it would not lose.

In the 6th inning with two outs Gonzalez got a base hit to right, Lozano singled and the Torreys made a two-base throwing error, allowing Gonzalez to score which would extend the Vaqueros’ lead to 4-1.

LJCD scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the 6th before El Capitan’s MATT DE ROSIER pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings to earn his 4th save of the season. KEVIN GINKEL pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing only one earned run while striking out seven to post his 4th win in six decisions.

The second game could have been played in a library as the Torreys won 1-0. Tommy Edman was hit by a pitch and proceeded to steal second, then third. While Edman was running wild on the bases, Alfonso Rivas got caught in a rundown between first and second.

Before the Vaqueros could tag out Rivas, Edman scored the only run of the game.

The hardluck loser for the Vaqueros was SHANE COLEMAN (4-1), who allowed only one hit in a complete game performance.

Dustin Hughes spoiled Coleman’s gem bid as he accounted for three of the Torreys’ four hits.

“We were pitiful hitting with runners on base,” said Vickery. “In the two games we were 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position. What made it even more frustrating was seven times we had a runner on third base with less than one out and couldn’t get him in.”

Foothills Christian's Trevor Tinney (right) with one of his East County record-tieing six stolen bases in Saturday's 10-1 triumph at Calvin Christian.. (Photo by Chuck Post)

East County Record Book Most Stolen Bases, Single Game

SB Player, School Opponent, Year 6 6 6 6 6 Frank Carey, Granite Hills Larry Sims, Helix Robert Cannon, Mount Miguel Duret Gray, Christian Trevor Tinney, Foothills Chr. Monte Vista, 1983 Monte Vista, 1984 Grossmont, 1985 Clairemont, 1993 Calvin Chr., 2012

Tinney’s burglary report ties him with Granite Hills' FRANK CAREY, Helix’ LARRY SIMMS, Mount Miguel’s ROBERT CANNON, and Christian’s DURET GRAY.

Talk about a fast crowd!

Tinney also pitched three hitless innings of relief and struck out 7 to earn his first save.

Tomlin, meanwhile, allowed one hit and no earned runs in 4 innings as he posted his third win.

DANIEL LUCKETT led the Foothills Christian offensive charge with a double and a single to drive in three runs.

Vaqueros head coach Steve Vickery moved into second place on the CIF-San Diego Section career victory list after gaining his 630th win Thursday. (File photo by Frank Price)

Point Loma at El Capitan PHOTOS HERE

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (4-13-12) — El Capitan High veteran coach STEVE VICKERY could hardly walk to his chair inside the Vaqueros’ dugout for Thursday’s (Apr. 12) seemingly meaningless non-league game against visiting Point Loma.

“I think I have a pinched nerve in my back,” Vickery revealed.

Those who attended last week’s Lions Tournament Classic Division championship game against Cathedral Catholic at Point Loma Nazarene University recall Vickery dodging a line-drive off the bat of Vaqueros catcher CHUCK MOORMAN. It brought back memories of former Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Tommy Lasorda avoiding a broken bat in the 2001 All-Star Game while he was coaching third base.

In both cases, the coaches were knocked flat on their back.

“That’s what a lot of people say caused it,” Vickery said ruefully. “I don’t know about that except it hurts.”

For one of the few times in his 33-year career Vickery sat in a chair instead of coaching third in El Capitan’s 9-2 romp over Point Loma.

Given his physical condition Vickery could have easily taken a sick day. But that’s not his style, especially not on this particular afternoon. The victory for the Vaqueros (14-4) was number 630 in Vickery’s coaching career, which vaulted him into 2nd place ahead of Mission Bay’s Dennis Pugh, who totaled 629 before he moved on to coach at Cal State San Marcos.

Vickery trails only Rancho Bernardo’s Sammy Blalock who has 794 San Diego CIF victories.

“Posting more victories against a coach the caliber of Dennis Pugh is real special,” Vickery noted. “Coaches who compile this many victories usually do so because they’ve been hanging around a long time and have surrounded themselves with great players and great coaches.”

Vickery had nothing but praise for Pugh.

“He elevated the game of baseball in San Diego County ,” Vickery said. “He forced you to get better as a team and get your kids to play better.”

El Capitan has certainly followed that prophecy. In the victory over Point Loma the Vaqueros’ ace, TROY CONYERS who is bound for USD, turned in another overpowering performance with a complete game 4-hitter and 12 strikeouts. That effort raised his record to 4-1.

El Capitan's Eric Lozano scored on a wild pitch. (Photo by Frank Price, youatplay.com) VIEW / PURCHASE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

“You know, when the game started, Conyers was actually too fresh, which caused him to over throw,” said Vickery. “He hadn’t pitched in 10 days so it took him a little bit longer to settle in. He always gives his best and he pitches with so much pride. He is always so well prepared and that’s rubbing off on our other pitchers.”

Conyers was also 2-for-2 with a double, 3 RBI, two runs and two walks.

“This game wasn’t about me, it was about Coach Vickery,” Conyers said. “He’s a very humble guy when it comes to stuff on that side of the fence.”

El Capitan broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 1st on a 2-run single by SPENCER NIELSEN.

The Vaqueros extended their advantage to 4-2 in the 3rd inning on a double by Conyers and a basehit by ADRIAN MONTIJO.

El Capitan broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the 6th. Not surprisingly, Conyers contributed a 2-run single. ERIC LOZANO also doubled in a run and Point Loma mishaps helped add to the rally.

“I felt like I only got one good pitch to hit and that was a fastball up in the zone,” said Conyers.

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 14, OCEAN VIEW CHRISTIAN 5 – Foothills Christian pounded out 16 hits, including an inside-the-park 3-run home run and a triple by ZACH TOMLIN as the Knights smoked Ocean View Christian in a Citrus West League game Thursday at Sportsplex USA in Santee.

Nine Knights contributed to the onslaught.

DEREK BROWN was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI to lead the supporting cast for the Knights (8-5, 1-0 CWL). Brown also stole two bases and scored two runs as the only senior on the team.

Making his first varsity start, junior ERIC CANNON had a no-hitter for four innings and did not allow an earned run over five frames while striking out 10.

Tomlin’s inside-the-park home run came during the six run 6th inning and scored three runs. An inning earlier he tripled in a run.

“We are a freshman-laden team but I can’t wait for next season,” said Knights coach DAVE LEWIS.

FRANCIS PARKER 7, CHRISTIAN 1 – The Patriots of Christian High continue to struggle offensively. In their latest non-league outing on Thursday (Apr. 12) at Alliant University , they produced a mere six hits – two of them doubles by KYLE HARRIS.

Harris’ first double set-up the tying run which was driven in on a single by NICK JARVIS in the 4th inning.

The Lancers rolled up back-to-back three-run innings in the 5th and 6th to put the game out of reach.

“When you don’t score any runs, you don’t win any games,” said Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL.

© East County Sports.com
SPRING VALLEY (4-12-12) — The Mount Miguel Matadors and Eastlake Titans wrestled to the longest East County baseball game in the last 15 years on Wednesday (Apr. 11). It wasn’t long enough to declare a winner, however, as darkness halted the game at 3-3 after 14 innings.

Three Mount Miguel pitchers combined to limit Eastlake to six hits. Star of the trio was JUWUN McCRAY, who struck out 13 in 10 shutout innings.

“McCray was dominating,” Matadors coach JASON BABINEAU said. “He was in full command of all his pitches. He had the will to control every batter he faced.”

McCray has pitched 17 consecutive scoreless innings.

BRAD MORENO finished up with two hitless innings and a pair of strikeouts for Mount Miguel.

For the Matadors (8-5-1) it was a come-from-behind effort as Eastlake claimed a 3-0 lead after three innings. Mount Miguel tied matters in the bottom of the 7th on an RBI single by DOMINIC SAWYER.

It was the second tie in three days for Eastlake (8-6-2), which tied Santana 8-8 in 8 innings on Tuesday (Apr. 10).

The longest extra-inning game in San Diego CIF history was an 18-inning battle between Santana and El Cajon Valley that actually took two days to complete in 1975. In 1998, Santana knocked off Coronado 13-9 via a walk-off grand slam in the 15th frame.

Mount Miguel also scored in the 4th inning. DUSTIN BURKE singled, stole second and advanced to third on an infield out. He scored on a base hit by FERNANDO DOMINGUEZ in the 6th inning.

“This was a positive game for us,” Babineau said. “I think it is going to be an interesting ( Grossmont Valley ) League race.”

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (4-11-12) — At least one thing can be said about the Santana Sultans – they have a flair for the dramatic.

Santana (4-9-1) sprung a 7th-inning uprising and eventually settled for an 8-8 tie in a non-league game against Eastlake (8-6-1) that was halted after eight innings due to darkness.

“Honestly, there are no moral victories just for playing teams tough,” Santana coach TIM BARRY said. “It just doesn’t matter unless you beat teams.”

None the less, Barry believed that Santana’s comeback against Eastlake was special.

“To be the one to ride the emotional high road heading into the beginning of league (Saturday, Apr. 14) is the big thing,” he said.

Barry sent four consecutive pinch-hitters to the plate to begin the pivotal bottom of the 7th. TIM HUSON led off with a single on an 0-2 pitch, MATTHEW HUDSON followed with a walk and CORY CONNER singled to load the bases. COLTON “ Coco ” STUTZ was hit by a pitch to force in a run.

TYLER WEISS followed with an RBI single. BRIAN ASHWILL then doubled in three runs and the Sultans still had nobody out, with the tying run at the plate.

One out later CODY CONNER drew a one-out walk. TOMMY LOGAN laced what appeared to be a double into the left field corner, which would have scored both runners and tied the game.

“We’re doing all this celebration, we’re patting each other on the back because we thought we’d tied the game,” said Barry. “But the umpire had called it foul all along. We just didn’t see it.”

Eventually Logan walked to load the bases.

Batting for the second time in the inning Huson slashed a 2-run single to score Ashwill and Cody Conner to tie the game.

“I thought we had them right there,” Barry said, “because we had runners at first and second with one out.”

But Eastlake ’s bullpen put the brakes to any further Santana damage, sending the game into extra innings.

The Titans loaded the bases in the top of the 8th, but Ashwill put out the fire.

In the bottom of the 8th – as the sun was setting – Ashwill drew a two-out walk. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a passed ball.

But Eastlake reliever Isaac Vargas got a game-ending strikeout.

“We were 90 feet away from pulling off a significant victory,” Barry said.

“I feel comfortable with our defense and we have a good 1-2 pitching punch with Ashwill and ALAN STRONG.”

Strong blanked Eastlake on one hit while striking out four in 3 1/3 innings of relief.

“For us it’s just a matter of finding enough hitting,” Barry added. “Those four guys who came off the bench in the 7-run 7th are to be commended. That’s the kind of spark we need.”

© East County Sports.com
LINDA VISTA (4-10-12) — The Monte Vista Monarchs seem to have found their offense. After finishing up the Lions Tournament by scoring 12 runs in a victory over Santa Fe Christian, coach CHAD WILLIAMS’ club came out swinging in Monday’s (Apr. 9) non-league 9-1 victory at Kearny..

Junior PAUL O’CONNOR was a double threat for the Monarchs (5-9). He allowed just four hits, no earned runs and struck out 8 in five innings. At the plate, he stroked an RBI single during a four-run 2nd inning and capped a three-run 5th with a two-run double.

ANDREW POIRIER and MYCHAL LOPEZ added two hits apiece for the Monarchs, who totaled 12.

GEORGE DENNY pitched two shutout innings in relief to finish the job for Monte Vista.

“The Lions Tournament can be a grind,” Williams said. “So I thought our kids looked pretty good for the first time out (since the tourney).”

ST. AUGUSTINE 10, CHRISTIAN 0 – Opening the Eastern League season the day after Spring Break figured to be a challenge. And it was... for the host Christian High Patriots.

“We looked like a team that had been on vacation for a week,” Patriots coach MIKE MITCHELL said of Monday’s (Apr. 9) contest. “We haven’t practiced for ages and we have three more games this week.”

STEPHEN JOHNSON and ANDREW GREGOROVIC accounted for the only two hits for the Patriots (10-5).

© East County Sports.com
POINT LOMA (4-6-12) — Not that he cared about personal achievements, but El Capitan High coach STEVE VICKERY would no doubt loved to have knocked off Cathedral Catholic in Thursday’s (Apr. 5) Classic Division championship game of the 62nd annual Lions Tournament at Point Loma Nazarene University.

The Vaqueros’ offense was caged in by the fences at PLNU as four fly balls appeared to have home run distance in the battle with the Dons, who came away with a 4-1 victory.

“It would have been sweet to win this one – for a lot of reasons,” said Vickery, who, if had been successful would have passed former Mission Bay coach Dennis Pugh for the most coaching victories in San Diego CIF victories.

At the moment Vickery and Pugh are tied at 629 for the most coaching wins in the San Diego Section.

“Dennis told me ‘You’re gonna pass me,’” Vickery recalled. “I told him “If I don’t break your record it will be a bad year for us.’”

Let’s put it this way. Vickery is a sure thing to be No. 2 behind SDCIF kingpin Sammy Blalock of Rancho Bernardo, who is about to cross over the 800 win mark.

El Capitan garnered only 4 hits and one earned run against Cathedral pitcher German Sugiura, who pitched a complete game after only throwing three frames earlier in the season.

“We hit four balls as hard as they could be hit,” said Vickery. “They made it to the warning track but they didn’t go out.”

Sugiura agreed that those balls could have been gone in a high school ballpark.

On the high side, El Capitan received four powerful inning of relief pitching from SPENCER NIELSEN, who allowed one hit and no earned runs in a four inning stint.

EL CAPITAN 5, GRANITE HILLS 4 – For the second time this season the Vaqueros scuttled the Eagles in Thursday’s (Apr. 5) Classic Division semifinal at Point Loma Nazarene University.

SHANE COLEMAN pitched a complete game 7-hitter to earn his 4th win without a loss for El Capitan.

JESSE BURNS applied the key blow for the top-ranked Vaqueros with a 3-run homer in the 2nd inning.

After that it was a game of catch-up for Granite Hills (7-7), which shaved the deficit to 5-4 on a 2-run homer by JOSH ROSE in the 5th inning.

Coleman’s effort included 6 strikeouts and 2 walks.

For El Capitan CURREN FACER collected 2 hits as did TROY CONYERS.

ROBERT BOSTEDT hoisted a home run in the 3rd inning for the Eagles.

OCEANSIDE 4, WEST HILLS 3 – After falling behind the Pirates 4-0 by the 3rd inning, the Wolf Pack (8-6) scrambled back and nearly pulled out a last inning victory in Thursday’s (Apr. 5) Division 5A Lions Tournament semifinal at Cathedral Catholic.

STEWART FORRESTER slashed a 1-2 pitch into left-center field to drive in two runs, but the Pack came up a buck short after that. Forrester finished the contest 3-for-4.

ALEX PARSONS was 2-for-4 and D.J. LEWIS also had 2 hits in 3 at-bats.

Vista-CALVARY CHRISTIAN 3, CHRISTIAN 2 – The Patriots’ MIKE MITCHELL has been coaching for a long time, but he said he’s never seen a twin killing like he witnessed in Thursday’s (Apr. 5) Division 3A semifinal at Alliant International University.

Lightning struck twice against the Patriots in the 2nd inning against Vista Calvary Christian as the Lions scored three runs, which they made stand up for the victory.

“I’m not one to complain about umpires, but there were some controversial calls in that 2nd inning that just killed us,” Mitchell said.

Ironically, they came on the same play.

“We were leading 2-0 and they hit a deep fly ball to left-center field,” Mitchell said. “Our freshman center fielder, WILLIAM HAIL, made the catch although the base umpire wasn’t sure that he did. It was a tough call, but the ball bounced off of Hail’s glove and then he hit it up with his bare hand and it went back into the glove. It bounced off again and he caught it as he ran into the fence.

“Then he jogged off the field toward the dugout. Everybody was yelling “Throw the ball, throw the ball!”

“The umpire said the ball hit the fence, and I said if that happened, then why is the kid jogging off the field thinking he’d made the third out instead of throwing the ball back?”

Mitchell’s ire continued on a play at the plate on the same play.

On the same play, the umpires gouged Mitchell again, only this time it was on a rule interpretation – and the Patriots have video of the play.

“I don’t believe, but I can accept that the umpire – who was out of position – said that the ball bounced off the fence before my kid caught it. But the play at the plate was a complete misapplication of the rule,” Mitchell added.

“The plate umpire said the runner was safe because my catcher didn’t catch the ball. That’s because the runner ran into my catcher, which is clearly against the rule, and he dropped the ball.

“But the umpire insisted that my catcher was inside the baseline, which had nothing to do with the play.

“Let’s just say it was controversial, but I’m very upset about it,” Mitchell fumed.

Consolation
Las Vegas-GREEN VALLEY 6, GROSSMONT 3 – It has been a long time since a Grossmont High baseball team has lost five games in a row. And, of late, the Foothillers (8-7) are on such a slide.

The Hillers woes are centered around hitting with runners on base. They left the bases loaded in the 6th and 7th innings in the loss to Green Valley.

For the four-game (winless) Lions Tournament, Grossmont left the sacks full without scoring a run.

What has to annoy Grossmont coach JIM EARLEY the most is the Foothillers were the highest scoring unit in the San Diego CIF Division I before stepping on the banana peel in the Lions event.

HELIX 21, SAN YSIDRO 0 – After staggering to a 1-2 finish in pool play of the Lions Tournament Classic Division at Helix, the Highlanders closed out the holiday event with an impressive lopsided victory San Ysidro on Thursday (Apr. 5)

In a Lions Tournament Classic Division consolation game, the Highlanders’ offense came out swinging as they totally dismantled the Cougars' pitching.

Leading the way was sophomore GEORGE GARCIA and senior ROMELLO CARBUCCIA as they each collected 5 RBI.

“With KACY SMITH and RAY PETERSON batting in front of him and getting on so much since they both can absolutely fly, I would be upset if he wasn't producing the way he has,” said coach COLE HOLLAND.

Garcia smashed a two-run homer in the Highlanders 13-run half of the 4th and Carbuccia matched him with a grand slam in the same frame and hopes to get his team rolling after this romp.

“Hopefully this is a momentum changer for our team from this point on,” Carbuccia asaid. “We haven't played up to our potential yet and we are more than capable of putting together a big-time run the rest of the way.”

Smith ended with a pair of doubles to go along with Peterson's pair of singles and they combined to cross home plate 6 times.

DIEGO REYNOSO also doubled and senior BRANDON LEWIS went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored.

— Andrew Smith

Helix' Kacy Smith slides safely into home while the catcher from Cathedral Catholic leaped but missed the overthrow to the plate. The visiting Dons captured the Lions game, 4-3 in 8 innings. (Photo by Tony Bordine)

62th annual LIONS TOURNAMENT
El Capitan-Granite Hills highlights
championship day of Lions Tourney

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-5-12) — Eight East County teams will be involved in Thursday’s (Apr. 5) final day of the 62nd annual San Diego Lions Tournament. Six of those ballclubs qualified for the semifinals in the seven-division tournament.

At the top of the list is a Classic Division showdown between top-ranked El Capitan (12-3) and Granite Hills (7-6) at 9 a.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University diamond. The winner of that game will face the Cathedral Catholic-Torrey Pines semifinal winner for the championship at PLNU at 3 p.m.

In the Premier Division Valhalla will face Temecula Chaparral at Grossmont College at 9 a.m. If the Norsemen (5-8) are successful, they will play for the Premier crown at the Griffins Noel Mickelsen Field at 3.

Meanwhile in Division 5A, West Hills (8-5) – which posted a three-game pool sweep – will take on Oceanside in a semifinal at Cathedral Catholic at noon. If the Wolf Pack wins, it will bid for the division title at 3.

Upstart Christian (10-3), which also executed a three-game pool sweep, takes on Vista Calvary Christian in a Division 3A semifinal at Alliant University at 9 a.m.

In Thursday’s Consolation action, Grossmont (8-6) will face Green Valley at Madison at 10:30 a.m., while Helix (8-5) will host San Ysidro at 3.

GRANITE HILLS 10, POWAY 1 – Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS finally saw the Eagles team he expected to view in Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) pool play of the Classic Division of the Lions Tournament.

“It was the most complete game we have played all year,” Davis beamed. “We played good solid baseball today. We pitched, played good defense and hit.”

Eight of the Eagles starters contributed to a 12-hit attack.

Senior DANIEL STARWALT was a double threat as he was 3-for-3 with a double, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. But the highlight of his performance was a complete game 2-hitter on the mound. He struck out 5 and walked 3 while balancing his record at 2-2.

The Eagles broke the game open with seven runs in the 6th inning. Front and center was Starwalt with a 3-run double. JORDAN VERDON and TRENTON BROOKS added RBI singles, while JOSH ROSE doubled in a run.

EL CAPITAN 3, GREEN VALLEY 2 (8 inn.) –– MATT DE ROSIER was ticketed to be the Vaqueros “Trevor Hoffman,” but El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY asked him to make a start in Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) Classic Division pool play final of the Lions Tournament.

“De Rosier has been our most pleasant surprise during the first third of the season,” Vickery said.

De Rosier, who has 3 saves, pitched seven innings and allowed only one run in his first start.

SPENCER NIELSEN moved off the infield to throw a hitless 8th inning to record his first save.

“We just got ourselves out today. Right now we hit too many pop-ups. We don’t have a really good approach at the plate offensively. This was a typical game for us this year. Pitching-wise we’ve been A+, offense a C, and defense a D, if I had to give us a grade. We are certainly making it difficult on ourselves.”

Nevertheless, the Vaqueros are in line for another tournament medal effort.

\VALHALLA 5, PACIFIC PALISADES 1 – Hidden in the shadows of the Valhalla pitching staff most of the year, SEAN FLANNERY came up big when the Norsemen needed him most in Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) Lions Tournament Premier Division pool play game, carrying his team into Thursday morning’s semifinals.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior pitched a complete game victory over Pacific Palisades, allowing only 2 runs and 5 hits.

JORDAN QSAR keyed a 3-run 3rd inning with a 2-run single. KYLE McBRIDE and RAMSEY ROMANO also had RBI singles.

CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 4, HELIX 3 (8 inn.) – In a battle of Top 10 teams in Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) final round of Lions Tournament Classic Division pool play the Helix Highlanders (8-5) raced out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the 1st inning as AUSTIN HOPWOOD capped the early uprising with a 2-run double.

After that the No. 4 ranked Highlanders’ offense went silent as No. 3 ranked Cathedral Catholic (12-3) scored single runs in the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th innings to post the victory and qualify for the Classic semifinals.

Helix starting pitcher ROMELLO CARBUCCIA allowed only two earned runs in seven innings, but left with no decision.

“There’s no question Carbuccia pitched well enough to win,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “But we left eight runners in scoring position and you can’t do that against a quality team.”

RAY PETERSON was 3-for-3 with a run scored in the losing effort. KACY SMITH was 2-for-5.

MONTGOMERY 7, GROSSMONT 1 – Coach JIM EARLEY can’t remember the last time his Foothillers lost four games in a row, including coming up empty during pool play of the Classic Division of the Lions Tournament.

But that’s what happened to the struggling Hillers as they played at Montgomery on Wednesday (Apr. 4), generating little to no offense in a lopsided loss.

The high point for the Foothillers was the hitting of nationally acclaimed corner infielder DEREK RUSTICH. He slugged a pair of singles against Montgomery, which left him with a .600 batting average (9 for 15) in his last four games.

STEELE CANYON 15, MISSION BAY 0 – The Cougars offense had a field day against the Buccaneers in the Division 6A Lions Tournament final round of pool play. They pounced for 16 hits and behind the support of senior FRANK CALIFANO's pitching gem, they cruised to overwhelming victory by the bay.

Califano threw a complete game 2-hitter to go along with 10 strikeouts for his best start of the season.

"I was really hitting my spots today," Califano said. "I couldn't have done it without my defense though as a whole team. My main focus was just throw strikes with the big lead. Not to be cliché, but it really was a total team effort"

“Frank pitched a heck of a game for us,” coach TODD SNYDER said. “We were a lot more comfortable at plate and we just kept putting pressure on them.”

TANNER PERRY had 4 hits in the lead off position and after he scored the first run for the Cougars in their initial at-bat, they had the game in hand, as 14 more runners found their way home in the blowout.

“He did a great job for us at the top of the order today and hopefully we can build off this momentum heading into league play,” said Snyder.

The first 5 batters in the Cougars’ lineup accounted for 13 hits as they knocked around the Bucs all day in what seemed like an extra batting practice session.

MONTE VISTA 12, SANTA FE CHRISTIAN 4 – Head coach CHAD WILLIAMS knows his team is better than their record shows so far this year and is just waiting for them to prove it. In the final round of the Division 6A Lions Tournament his Monarchs started a trend he hopes they can build upon.

JOEY GONSALVES had 3 hits and RICHIE BALAJADIA knocked out two, along with senior catcher CRUZ GUERRERO as they introduced the Eagles to a designated egg in the win column.

"It was nice to have a good game offensively," said Williams. "Hopefully we can get the bats going just in time for league play."

Junior KYLE BEDSOLE had a base-clearing 3 RBI double in his only trip to the plate for extra run support as JOHN BALAJADIA, REILLY DIAZ and LUIS LEBRON grounded the Eagles’ potent offense.

WEST HILLS 12, MAR VISTA 5 – Ten of West Hills’ first 11 games were decided by two runs or less and the Wolf Pack gained a split.

Talk about playing it close to the vest... all five of those early Pack victories came by a one run margin.

After gaining a one-run nod over El Diamante of Visalia on the opening day of Lions Tournament Division 5A pool play, the Wolf Pack erupted for 34 runs in the final two pool play Lions encounters, including a 12-5 nod over Mar Vista.

“The last time that I was involved in this tournament was 16 years ago,” said West Hills coach and alum JASON FOWLER. “I was a junior on that team and we lost to St. Augustine in the finals. It’s a big deal for us.”

“The last two games we have really swung the bats well,” he added. “Our pitching has done well and I think it sets up well for tomorrow.”

Pitchers CAMERON HOWELL and WILLIAM BENNETT combined for a 7-hitter, allowed 3 runs and struck out 8.

GARRETT SCHILLING was 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI to spearhead the Wolf Pack’s 17-hit attack.

MICHAEL CARLIN was 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and TYLER SOTELO was 3-for-4 with an RBI.

SANTANA 10, OLYMPIAN 2 – After dropping eight in a row the Sultans closed out pool play in the Division 4A of the Lions Tournament with back-to-back victories, including Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) knockout of Olympian.

“We played some serious “D,” said Santana coach TIM BARRY. “We’re kinda playing more like we expected. With the way we started out at it gave us a little sense of security. Today was our third straight game with complete game pitching. Pitching and defense is definitely coming around to where we expect to be.”

Santana (4-9) took a 5-0 lead in the first two innings and never let go.

BRIAN ASHWILL keyed a 3-run first inning with an RBI single. Winning pitcher ALAN STRONG drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the early uprising.

In the 2nd inning the key blow was struck by TYLER WEISS, who doubled in a run and eventually scored on an error to give Santana one of its biggest leads of the year.

For Santana Ashwill was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. On the bump Strong, who has been used exclusively in relief, turned in a complete game 4-hitter to earn the win.

HILLTOP 6, MOUNT MIGUEL 0 – Although Mount Miguel went 2-1 in the Lions Tournament Division 4A, they did not qualify for Thursday’s semifinals.

But first-year head coach JASON BABINEAU was hardly disappointed as his Matadors raised their season record to 8-5 despite their exit following pool play.

Hilltop knocked the Matadors off the blocks early as the Lancers scored five runs in the 1st inning and never looked back.

DOMINIC SAWYER accounted for two of the Matadors seven hits, which were all singles.

“Hilltop came out aggressive with the bats in the 1st inning, just crushed the ball and we had a hard time stringing hits together throughout the game,” said Babineau. “Other than that 1st inning we played well.”

CHRISTIAN 8, CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN 5 – The short-handed Patriots finished off an improbable run through pool play in the Division 3A Lions Tournament thanks to their heart of the order.

“We're essentially down to 8 varsity players after an injury,” coach MIKE MITCHELL said. “Our kids just keep finding a way to win though.”

ANDREW GREGOROVIC, DAVID SUDA and NICK JARVIS each collected 2 hits. Suda doubled and accounted for 2 RBI while Jarvis notched three markers on a pair of well-timed singles.

STEPHEN JOHNSTON stayed perfect on the year by extending his hitting streak to 13 games and also saved the game on the mound, protecting SAM GERSHOW's first win of the season.

MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 4, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 2 – It took Foothills Christian six innings to find its offense in Wednesday’s (Apr. 4) final round of the Division 1A Lions Tournament pool play.

But the Knights (7-5) in the final frame scored two runs, which were only half as many as they needed against the Redhawks (9-4).

The key hit was a double by losing pitcher TREVOR TINNEY. DEREK BROWN singled to put runners at the corners. Tinney scored on a balk and Brown scored on a fielder’s choice, but the Knights ran out of time.

Tinney pitched a complete game 6-hitter while allowing only 2 earned runs and striking out three.

SD-SOUTHWEST 15, EL CAJON VALLEY 1 – No further information reported.

Defense ruled the day in Christian's 3-0 shutout of The Bishop's School in Lions Tournament play with a running catch in the outfield, then the Pats' third baseman knocks down the ball with his body. (Photos by Frank Price, youatplay.com) VIEW / PURCHASE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

By Bill Dickens and Andrew Smith
© East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (4-4-12) — Junior right-hander CASEY BALIKIAN of Steele Canyon High is probably known more for his basketball expertise, at least for the time being.

A master at the 3-point shot on the court, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Balikian is starting to make his mark as a pitcher for the Cougars.

In Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) Division 6A second round game of the Lions Tournament Balikian shut down El Camino, 10-1, to run his record to 3-0, as he pitched a complete-game 2-hitter without allowing an earned run.

“Early in the game, I struggled with location,” Balikian said. “At that point all I was trying to do was keep us in the game. I didn’t have a good handle on my fastball or my curveball. But my cutter – a new pitch I’m working on – was there and I was able to make two key pitches, one of them a strikeout, with it.”

Balikian admits he’s not a fireballer.

“I don’t have nasty stuff,” he said. “It’s all about spotting the ball. You have to recognize what the umpire is going to give you and realize what the other team is going to swing at.”

For one of the rare times this season Balikian was pitching with a sizeable lead by the middle innings as the Cougars (6-6) took a 5-1 lead through the 5th inning and broke the game open with a 5-spot in the 6th.

Catcher MICHAEL RANDEL paced Steele Canyon ’s 12-hit attack, driving in 3 runs with a pair of doubles and a single. Leadoff man TANNER PERRY also had 3 hits, while COLE FLINT had a triple, a single, a stolen base and 2 RBI.

Batting in the 9th spot, NATHAN MURRAY collected his first 2 hits of the season, including a double.

HELIX 8, Fresno-BULLARD 2 – After being shutout in the opening round of the Lions Tournament the Highlanders wasted no time sending a statement to the rest of the Classics Division on Tuesday (Apr. 3) against Fresno-based Bullard that they could swing the sticks with the best of them.

DIEGO REYNOSO hit a first pitch fastball for a single with one out in the Highlanders 1st and junior RAY PETERSON followed with a two-run homer to left.

“I saw Diego blast the first pitch he saw so I went up there knowing the pitcher would probably try to do the same to me,” Peterson said. “I was actually out in front of it a bit, but I was lucky enough for it to clear the fences.”

BRANDON LEWIS and AUSTIN HOPWOOD followed with singles and once KRAIG FAHRER singled home Lewis the 3-run cushion would be more than enough they needed.

Not only did they knock the seams off the ball for 8 runs total, but they limited the visiting Knights to only one hit on a bunt over six innings behind the lefty arm of senior MARK YOUNG.

“Any time you can hold the opposition to one hit in the Lions tourney you know you are absolutely dealing it,” skipper COLE HOLLAND boasted.

Clinging to a one run lead in the 6th it was senior KACY SMITH who finally said “Good Knight” to Bullard as he blasted a 3-run homer off the apartment building across the street in right field.

“It felt really good off the bat,” he admitted. “It was a 3-1 count so I knew he was going to try and throw a strike by me. I really was just trying to pop one up to the outfield because my job was to get the guy in from 3rd, but I guess I got a lot more of it than I thought.”

LA COSTA CANYON 3, EL CAPITAN 2 – It was a case of really bad hops at the wrong time for the visiting Vaqueros in the second round of the Classic Division of the Lions Tournament as they were booted 3-2 by the host Mavericks.

Senior catcher CHUCK MOORMAN blasted a 2-run dinger in the top of the first, and El Capitan held the lead the entire game until a couple of bounces went in favor of La Costa Canyon as they plated 2 runs in their half of the 6th to claim the victory.

With one out, an error put a runner on 2nd and after veteran coach STEVE VICKERY intentionally put the next man on, momentum seemed to turn back in the Vaqueros’ direction once KEVIN GINKEL picked the runner off at second base. However the next hitter blooped one into right field and it took a funny bounce to turn into a three-base hit.

“It's a ball we have a good chance of catching and it ends up being a triple,” Vickery fumed. “What are you gonna do?”

The offense for the Vaqueros didn't help things much as they struck out 13 times and every batter was guilty of at least one infraction.

“It's frustrating because we're a much better offensive team than we have showed,” said Vickery. “We have the talent to do it, but just haven't put enough offensive pressure on opponents this year, especially to win games like this where a weird bounce cost us.”

WEST HILLS 21, CALEXICO 2 (6 inn.) – When head coach JASON FOWLER decided to switch things up in his lineup card he wasn't expecting the kind of results that his Wolf Pack produced in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) second round of the Lions Tournament Division 5A game.

An 8-run blitzing in the first inning, highlighted by a TYLER SOTELO 2-run homer, would be more than enough offense for senior BRANDON DELANEY to collect his 4th victory of the season against one defeat.

ALEX PARSONS and D.J. LEWIS were both moved on the scorecard to mix things up and they combined to go a perfect 7-for-7 with 7 runs scored and 6 RBI for West Hills (7-5). Parsons played pepper with the fence all day as he blasted 4 doubles with three of those just inches away from being round trippers and Lewis singled in all 3 plate appearances.

Parsons’ 4 doubles tied a San Diego CIF record shared by five others, including El Capitan ’s KEVIN NULTON (1997) and Christian’s JIM HINTON (1977).

The red hot duo weren't the only ones taking a bite out of the Bulldogs pitching as 11 batters collected hits for the Wolf Pack.

“We hit the ball well today,” Fowler said. “The last few weeks we've been averaging about 11 men left on base and today we did a good job of getting those crucial hits.”

FRANK MELLO and MICHAEL CARLIN collected 3 hits and 3 RBI apiece. Backup catcher ALEX WAGNER also had 2 hits and 3 RBI for West Hills.

The Pack is now one victory away from reaching Thursday’s (Apr. 5) Division 5A semifinal round. But first they have to deal with Mar Vista on Wednesday.

SANTANA 1, PALM SPRINGS 0 – JAMES DOHERTY has had some rocky times as a pitcher for the Santana Sultans. A three sport senior letterman who also played football and basketball, Doherty is coming into his own on the baseball team.

In his previous start (Doherty 1-3) was roughed up by the Helix Highlanders for 5 runs in the 1st inning but then slammed the door for the next 5 2/3 frames. That momentum carried over to Tuesday’s (Apr. 2) Lions Tournament Division 4A second round game against Palm Springs.

Doherty has allowed only one unearned run in his last 12 2/3 innings.

“I think the key to the game was Doherty throwing three pitches for strikes,” said Santana assistant coach JEFF BARRY. “He threw 78 pitches today. It was pitching and defense. I felt like Doherty really stepped up and kept us in the ballgame.”

The two teams were saddled with only one error.

“(Third baseman) CAMERON GARCIA made a couple of really nice plays on defense,” Barry added. “To end the game, with two outs and a runner on first base the leadoff batter bunted a ball down the third base line. Garcia barehanded the ball and on the run throws and got the runner by a step. That was the final out of the game.”

Santana scored the only run of the game on a double by TOMMY LOGAN, who eventually rode home on a wild pitch in the 3rd inning.

GRANITE HILLS 2, Granada Hills-KENNEDY 1 – DOUG BRANNVALL has not compiled massive individual stats but he knows how to deliver in the clutch.

The 6-foot-2, 217-pound Brannvall was a double threat as the Eagles snapped a four game losing steak by knocking off Granada Hills Kennedy in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) second round of the Lions Tournament Classic Division.

All of the scoring came in the 6th inning and involved Brannvall.

After surrendering a run in the top of the 6th, Brannvall capped a two-out rally in the bottom of that frame when TRENTON BROOKS singled, CHARLIE ST. CLAIR was hit by a pitch and Brannvall doubled to left-center field to score both runners.

“The best thing about Brannvall is he’s a clutch performer,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS. “To pitch a 5-hitter and issue no walks against the caliber of teams that we’re playing now is impressive.

“He got a complete game because he hiked his velocity up a notch in the 7th and stranded the tying run at second base by coaxing back-to-back comebackers.”

MOUNT MIGUEL 11, LINCOLN 5 – The Magical Matadors pounded out 13 hits and scored all 11 runs in the first four innings as they lynched Lincoln in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) second round of the Division 4A Lions Tournament.

Leadoff hitter BRAD MORENO stroked 4 hits, including 3 doubles and scored 3 runs to pace the Matadors (8-4) against the Hornets.

DUSTIN BURKE was 2-for-2 with 2 runs and 2 RBI, while FRANCO LUNA stroked a double and drove in 2 runs.

Mount Miguel pitchers JACOB CASTILLO, ALEJO CARDENAS and JOHNNY WRIGHT combined to spin a 3-hitter while striking out 11.

“We won the game but if we are going to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves, we need to play better,” said Matadors coach JASON BABINEAU.

CHRISTIAN 3, THE BISHOP’S 0 – STEPHEN JOHNSTON extended his season-long hitting streak to 12 straight games, and MICHAEL KAUFMAN pitched a 3-hit shutout in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) Division 3A of the Lions Tournament.

“Michael Kaufman (3-0) did a great job on the mound and at the plate,” said Patriots coach MIKE MITCHELL. “He threw 89 pitches – 65 strikes and 24 balls.”

It was the third win without a loss for Kaufman, who walked one and struck out seven. He also laced an RBI double in the 4th inning as the Patriots scored all their runs in that frame.

Another plus for the Patriots was the hitting of NICK JARVIS, who was 3-for-3 with a run scored.

Freshman pinch hitter CHRISTIAN MEZA went 1-for-1 in his first varsity at-bat.

Christian, which has won three in a row, needs a victory over Capistrano Valley Christian to assure itself a berth in Thursday’s (Apr. 5) semifinals.

EL CAMINO REAL 3, GROSSMONT 2 – The host Foothillers suffered from a dearth of energy in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) second round of the Lions Tournament Classic Division.

They stranded 13 runners on base. Worse than that, they left the bases loaded four of the seven innings, leaving the bases full in three consecutive innings.

Although the game was played at Joe Gizoni Field, Grossmont was designated the visiting team via the customary pre-game coin flip.

The Foothillers came out swinging as NICO MAIDA and ALEX CONNOR singled. BRETT STONE doubled to left center, scoring Maida. ERIC ECKLEY walked to load the bases but the Foothillers faltered after that.

After falling behind 2-1 Grossmont (8-5) tied the game in the 4th inning on singles by Stone, Eckley and NOAH BUCHANAN.

But El Camino jumped reliever BROOKS O’HAVER with the winning run in the bottom of the 7th inning.

Despite suffering the loss this was one of O’Haver’s better outings as he allowed only one run and two hits in 3 2/3 innings.

EASTLAKE 4, VALHALLA 3 – The host Norsemen scored end-to-end with two runs in the 1st inning to take a lead and one run in the 7th to tie it during Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) second round of the Premier Division Lions Tournament game against visiting Eastlake.

But the Titans (8-4) pulled out the victory on a sacrifice fly by Arturo Hurtado in the bottom of the 7th.

Valhalla took the lead in the 1st inning when CONNOR HOPKINS walked and advanced to second on a wild pickoff throw by Eastlake ace Josh Palet. KYLE McBRIDE hit a ground ball that was booted at second base. AUSTIN HENSLEY followed with a double to score Hopkins, but the centerfielder made a wild relay throw to allow McBride to score and Hensley to take third.

KEANTE BALELO hoisted a sacrifice fly in the opening frame, giving Valhalla a 2-0 edge.

ANTHONY MANUPELLA tripled to lead off the 2nd inning but was stranded there.

The Norsemen put the leadoff man on base in five of their seven at-bats, but only twice did they convert.

“That’s kind of stuff that makes the game so frustrating,” said Valhalla coach MIKE WILSON. “We left 5 guys in scoring position. We’re still looking for that big hit.”

Valhalla wasted a strong pitching performance by ROBBIE SCHMIDT, who scattered 9 hits, allowed only 2 earned runs and struck out 8 in a six-inning stint.

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 15, CRAWFORD 10 – Foothills Christian pounded out 12 hits to hold off the Colts in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) Division 1A Lions Tournament pool play game.

Seven of the Knights contributed to the 12-hit total, including TREVOR TINNEY who was 3-for-6 with 2 doubles, 3 stolen bases and an RBI.

“Tinney is involved in every time we score,” noted Knights coach DAVE LEWIS. “He’s an incredible baseball player. He is fast and he adjusts at the plate. He bats left and sets the table and the tone the way he hustles. He is the catalyst for our team.”

RYAN QUINN was 2-for-4 with 3 runs scored and a pair of RBI, while freshman TIM GRAY was 2-for-5 with a double and 2 RBI.

“Tim Gray barely played at the beginning of the season, but he’s worked hard and is playing well now,” Lewis said.

RANCHO BUENA VISTA 5, MONTE VISTA 2 – No. 6 ranked Rancho Buena Vista had to scramble to defeat upset-minded Monte Vista (3-9 in Tuesday’s (Apr. 3) Division 6A second round of the Lions Tournament.

After falling behind 2-0 in the 2nd inning the Monarchs tied the game when PAUL O’CONNOR scored on a passed ball in the 4th inning and JOHN BALAJADIA singled in JOEY GONSALVES in the 6th inning to make it 2-2.

The Monarchs couldn’t muster much out of three hits but were tied going into the bottom of the 6th inning at the North County school.

Monte Vista ace O’Connor limited the Longhorns to 9 hits and 4 runs in 5 1/3 innings.

“We played pretty well today,” said Monarchs coach CHAD WILLIAMS. “We struggled a little bit on the offensive side. Paul threw a good game. We did a good job playing defense behind him.”

BRENTWOOD 9, EL CAJON VALLEY 2 – No further information reported.

© East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (4-3-12) — When it comes to pitching not many teams have more depth than the top-ranked El Capitan Vaqueros, as they proved in Monday’s (Apr. 2) opening round of the Classic Division of the 62nd annual Lions Tournament.

Senior southpaw TROY CONYERS pitched an overpowering game against Sacramento-Elk Grove, limiting the Thundering Herd to two hits while claiming a 1-0 victory. He walked one and struck out 10 to increase his record to 3-1.

“It was one of the better games Troy has thrown based on the quality of teams he’s faced,” said Vaqueros coach STEVE VICKERY. “I was tickled to death at the way he competed.”

The Vaqueros broke a scoreless deadlock in the 5th inning. AUSTIN CURO-RUIS, who had the game-winning double in the Bill Dickens Classic, ignited this rally with a one-out single to right. CURREN FACER followed with a two-out single and Elk Grove contributed an error that moved both runners up 90 feet.

ERIC LOZANO followed with a single to left field to score Curo-Ruis with the only run of the game.

Facer and CHUCK MOORMAN paced El Capitan ’s 9-hit attack with two hits apiece.

TORREY PINES 3, GROSSMONT 1 – In a battle of Top 10 teams, the No. 2 ranked Falcons (10-1-1) rode the powerful pitching of Luc Rennie to Monday’s (Apr. 2) Classic Division opener of the 62nd Annual Lions Tournament at Joe Gizoni Field.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander scattered 7 hits, walked none and struck out 7 as he ran his record to 4-0.

Grossmont’s ALEX CONNOR also coined a complete game for the Foothillers (8-4), allowing only 6 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 6.

Grossmont scored its only run in the 4th inning as DEREK RUSTICH ripped his second double in as many at-bats. BRETT STONE singled sharply to left, sending Rustich to third. ERIC ECKLEY then hit a roller to third base, allowing Rustich to score, which at the time cut Torrey Pines’ lead to 2-1.

Grossmont made its final threat in the 6th inning as NICO MAIDA reached base on an infield single and Connor singled to center. That’s as far as the Foothillers would get as Rennie retired the next three batters in order.

Las Vegas-SILVERADO 8, GRANITE HILLS 6 – Not that Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS was pleased following Monday’s (Apr. 2) Classic Division opener of the 62nd Annual Lions Tournament against Las Vegas-Silverado, but he had to acknowledge that his team found its offense. The problem is the Eagles lost their defense.

After scoring only two runs in the previous three games, the Eagles (5-6) shaved a 5-0 deficit to 5-4 heading into the final frame.

Granite Hills hammered out 11 hits, including a double and a single by leadoff hitter JOSH ROSE, who scored twice and drove in three.

DANIEL STARWALT, TRENTON BROOKS, ROBERT BOSTEDT and NOAH CUMMINGS also had two hits apiece for the Eagles.

But the bottom line is Granite Hills committed six errors, which handed Silverado (11-5-1) five unearned runs.

“We’re just making too many mistakes,” said Davis. We have some talented players but we’re just in a funk right now.”

RANCHO BERNARDO 4, HELIX 0 – The Highlanders wasted a strong pitching performance by BRANDON LEWIS in Monday’s (Apr. 2) opening round of the Classic Division of the Lions Tournament.

Lewis, the quarterback of the Helix state champion football team, allowed only 7 hits and one earned run in a complete game effort against Rancho Bernardo.

Rancho Bernardo’s Parker Bugg, 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, limited the Highlanders to singles by KACY SMITH and GEORGE GARCIA. He struck out seven and walked none as he improved his record to 3-0.

“We didn’t do a very good job of making in-game adjustments,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND.

VALHALLA 11, POINT LOMA 7 – The Norsemen, who had scored 20 runs in their first 10 games, erupted for 11 runs in Monday’s (Apr. 2) Premier Division of the Lions Tournament at Valhalla to post its 4th win in their last five starts.

Norseman sophomore FOSTER McNARY was 2-for-4 with 5 RBI including a bases-loaded triple.

“We finally grouped our hits and that makes a difference,” said Valhalla coach MIKE WILSON. “McNary’s triple was huge.”

PATRICK HENRY 6, MONTE VISTA 1 – The Monarchs hammered out 10 singles but could generate only one run in Monday’s (Apr. 2) Division 6A Lions Tournament game at Mission Bay.

JOEY GONSALVES, who was 3-for-4, drove in Monte Vista’s only run on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the 7th to avoid the shutout.

JOHN BALAJADIA and ANDREW POIRIER also had two hits apiece for Monte Vista (3-8).

“We didn’t get off to a very good start – walked five guys in the first 2 1/3 innings and three of them scored runs,” lamented Monarchs coach CHAD WILLIAMS. “We didn’t play good defense early. We hit pretty well today, just didn’t get the clutch hits.”

Alberto Bulcao pitched a complete game victory for Patrick Henry (7-4).

TEMECULA VALLEY 3, STEELE CANYON 2 – The Cougars of Steele Canyon turned a school record five double plays but it wasn’t enough to turn back Temecula Valley, which squeezed out a victory in Monday’s (Apr. 2) opening round of the Division 6A Lions Tournament.

Steele Canyon left nine runners stranded and had the bases loaded in the 7th inning but couldn’t bring anyone in.

WEST HILLS 5,Visalia- EL DIAMANTE 4 (8 inn.) – West Hills pitchers BRIAN COMMERFORD and JORDAN KUNZ combined to pitch a 5-hitter and allowed only one earned run in Monday’s (Apr. 2) opening round of the Division 5A Lions Tournament as the host Wolf Pack knocked off Visalia’s El Diamante Miners in 8 innings.

Kunz was overpowering in relief, spinning 3 hitless innings while striking out 6 and walking none to earn his first varsity win.

FRANK MELLO keyed West Hills’ rallies in the 1st and 8th innings with a pair of singles.

In the opening frame MICHAEL CARLIN and ALEX PARSONS followed with hits to load the bases. STEWART FORRESTER brought in Mello with a ground out.

After falling behind 3-1 in the 3rd inning, West Hills (6-5) fought back with 3 runs in the bottom of the frame. Parsons singled and scored on a triple by Forrester. TYLER SOTELO then singled in Forrester to tie the game.

But the West Hills hit parade continued as the SCHILLING brothers – GARRETT and HAYDEN – singled to load the bases with two outs. D.J. LEWIS then drew a walk to force in the go-ahead run.

The issue, however, was not decided until five innings later. Mello provided the spark with a base hit, Carlin was hit by a pitch and Forrester walked to load the bases with one out.

El Diamante then booted a groundball to shortstop to give the Wolf Pack the walkoff win.

Garrett Schilling spearheaded the Pack’s 12-hit attack by going 3-for-3.

MOUNT MIGUEL 1, BROOMFIELD, Colo. 0 – It’s been a rough season for Mount Miguel ’s JUWUN McCRAY. The 6-foot-2 senior right-hander has been cuffed around in most of his pitching outings thus far.

That wasn’t the case in Monday’s (Apr. 2) opening round of the Division 4A Lions Tournament contest however.

McCray was almost letter-perfect, which he needed to be as he hurled a 2-hit shutout in the Matadors’ victory. Better yet he struck out 12 and walked only three while improving his record to 2-1.

FRANCO LUNA tripled in the only run of the game in the 2nd inning for Mount Miguel (7-4).

GRANADA HILLS 2, SANTANA 0 – Facing off against one of the top teams on their schedule in Monday’s (Apr. 2) opening round of the Lions Tournament 4A Division at Canyon Crest Academy, the Sultans received another solid complete game pitching performance from BRIAN ASHWILL but failed to generate any offense.

“Ashwill threw a complete game with only one earned run and went 2-for-3 at the plate,” said Santana assistant coach JEFF BARRY. “I can’t ask more than that from my pitcher.”

One of Ashwill’s hits was a double but the remainder of the Santana offense consisted of three singles.

“We played defense well, we just didn’t swing the bats well,” Barry said. “Eleven of our 21 outs were either pop-ups or fly balls. There was a pretty good cross wind from left to right – it just stopped the ball. It was not a very good offensive performance. I’m really frustrated right now.”

CHRISTIAN 11, SWEETWATER 2 – Catcher ANDREW GREGOROVIC moved up to the No. 2 spot in the batting order, whacked four hits including a double and drove in four runs to propel the Patriots to a Division 3A Lions Tournament victory over visiting Sweetwater.

Leadoff man STEPHEN JOHNSTON extended his current batting streak to a season-long 11 games with three single, three runs scored and 3 RBI for Christian (8-3).

Breaking out of a two-week slump was MICHAEL KAUFMAN, who was 3-for-5 with an RBI.

“We only have eight varsity players and one of them is injured,” said Patriots coach MIKE MITCHELL. (The others team members are on a school sponsored trip to the Mideast.) We brought up eight junior varsity players and two of them started. We came out and swung the bats – it was kinda nice. We hit the ball well.”

IMPERIAL 14, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 – No details reported on this Lions Tournament Division 2A game.

Chatsworth-SIERRA CANYON 3, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 0 – The visiting Trailblazers from Chatsworth spoiled another fine pitching performance by ZACH TOMLIN in Monday’s (Apr. 2) opening round of the Division 1A Lions Tournament.

Tomlin twirled a complete game, allowing only 3 hits and one earned run while striking out six.

“We out hit them (5-3),” said Foothills Christian coach DAVE LEWIS, “just couldn’t get it done. We had bases loaded with no outs. We played a real good game, we just didn’t do the little things.

“But I’m thrilled with the way we we’re playing. I’m proud of my kids.”

Leadoff man TREVOR TINNEY was 2-for-3 with a stolen base to pace the Knights.

El Capitan baserunner Eric Lozano (13), who batted 4-for-7 with a pair of doubles for three RBI Saturday, beats the throw to Grossmont first baseman Nick Rochester in winning the Dickens Classic championship. (Photo by Frank Price, youatplay.com) VIEW ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-1-12) — Marathon baseball is not uncommon in the finals of the Grossmont Conference Tournament championship game.

The 2004 finale between the best teams in the Grossmont South (Granite Hills) and Grossmont North (Grossmont HS) Conferences ended in a 12-12 tie that was halted after 12 innings due to darkness.

Although the tournament did not wear its current moniker back then, in Saturday’s (Mar. 31) 2nd annual now Bill Dickens Grossmont Conference Tournament championship joust, visiting El Capitan came out on top in the 3½ hour epic over host Grossmont, 11-6 in 11 innings.

“Winning this tournament is a big deal to us because it gives us two tournament championships to start the season,” said ERIC LOZANO of the Vaqueros, who also captured the Foothiller-Aztec Tournament crown.

Lozano did his best to lead the Vaqueros (10-2) with 4 hits in seven at-bats, including 2 doubles and 3 RBI while playing shortstop, third base and left field.

Grossmont outfielder Brett Stone, (Photo by Frank Price, youatplay.com) VIEW ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

“We wanted to avenge that loss for sure,” Lozano said.

Probably the anchor of El Capitan ’s overtime championship victory was CURREN FACER, who wound up the winning pitcher, allowing only one run in the final two innings.

As a hitter Facer was 3-for-5 with a double, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. In addition, defensively he erased a run in the 3rd inning with a perfect throw from center field to catcher CHUCK MOORMAN.

“When I saw the guy cut around third base I let it fly,” Facer said. “I knew I had a shot to get him but if (first baseman) TROY (CONYERS) decided to cut the throw off I knew we would still have time to get him.”

Conyers did not cut the throw, which went all the way through to Moorman, who blocked the plate for the out.

Facer noted that he was batting in the leadoff spot for the first time in his varsity career, and the fact that he averaged .600 made it look like a pretty wise decision by Vaqueros coach STEVE VICKERY.

“I saw a lot of fastballs and I really liked that,” Facer said. “I’ve batted in the No. 2 hole this year so it wasn’t that much different.”

As a pitcher Facer said most of his deliveries have come during practice.

“Most of the pitching I’ve done has been in scrimmages,” he said. “I hardly ever get to pitch in a game but I told Coach Vickery I love to pitch in pressure situations. I used to be a closer when I was younger.”

The Vaqueros scored five runs to snap a 6-6 tie in the 11th inning. AUSTIN CURO-RUIS slammed a double over the left fielders’ head to score two runs. Two batters later Lozano slashed a 2-run double and Conyers capped the scoring with an RBI single. Then Facer retired the side in order.

DEREK RUSTICH, who was 4-for-6, led the Foothillers’ 12-hit attack.

“When you do what it takes to make 40 outs you’re lucky to get 11 innings, let alone win the game,” Foothillers coach JIM EARLEY said. “We played really well and had many opportunities to win this game.”

Grossmont, which defeated El Capitan earlier in the week 7-2, will host Torrey Pines in the first round of the Lions Tournament on Monday (Apr. 2) at 3 p.m. El Capitan will host Elk Grove-Sacramento on Monday at 11 a.m.