East County Sports

Helix, Grossmont get Lions wins; Wolf Pack shutout again

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

 

By Bill Dickens
© EastCountySports.com

 

POWAY – The Highlanders of Helix pounded Poway, 10-2, under the North County lights in Tuesday’s (Mar. 22) 66th Annual Lions Tournament Classic Division contest.

CONOR KONISHI turned in a complete game for his 3rd victory in as many starts while striking out 7. The senior left-hander allowed only 4 hits and 2 earned runs.

BILLY BLEVINS pitched a shutout 7th inning for Helix.

AUSTIN KOVALCHECK was 2-for-2 with 3 RBI and catcher HUNTER ISBELL was 2-for-4 with a triple and 2 RBI for the Highlanders who have been struggling at the plate.

“We were aggressive offensively,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “We’ve been trying to find a lineup that works for us and I think this one did. We’re 4-3 and all of our losses have come by one run. We’re still trying to figure ourselves out.”

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GROSSMONT 3, SILVERADO 2 – JACKSON HULETT turned in his third overpowering performance as the Foothillers captured the victory in the bottom of the 7th in Tuesday’s (Mar. 22) 66th Annual Lions Tournament Classic Division game at Joe Gizoni Field.

A junior right-hander, Hulett scattered 6 hits, allowed one earned run, walked none and struck out 5 as he rolled his record to 2-0. In his three starts he has allowed only one earned run in 21 innings giving him an ERA of 0.33.

“Every time Hulett takes the ball he has given us a chance to win,” said Foothillers’ coach JORDAN ABRUZZO. “When Hulett is on the mound our team has more confidence. He’s not afraid out there, he continually attacks the strike zone.”

Hulett had to share the limelight on this occasion. After the Skyhawks of Silverado took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 7th, the Foothillers battled back. With one out KANNON ROMERO walked and BAILEY VAN EVERY ran for him. JAMES HINDORFF reached base on an error to put runners at first and second and EVEN McCARTHY doubled down the left field line to score Van Every. CALVIN FARRIS was intentionally walked to fill the bases, and JESSE GARCIA hit a game-winning single to score pinchrunner JAIME ARREOLA in the walkoff victory.

McCarthy was 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot to pace the Foothillers’ meager offense.

In the third inning Hindorff singled, McCarthy singled and ADAM LOPEZ walked to load the bases. But Silverado continued to deal the free passes as Garcia walked in a run to tie the game at 1-1 in the third.

By Bill Dickens, © EastCountySports.com

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SANTA FE CHRISTIAN 3, WEST HILLS 0 – The West Hills High baseball team was blanked by Santa Fe Christian, 3-0, on Tuesday (Mar. 22) during round-robin play in the 66th Annual Lions Tournament.

Santa Fe Christian senior Kyle Ferrero, who already signed with Wheaton College (Ill.), pitched a 4-hitter in winning his third game of the season.

“We expected West Hills to be a big-hitting club after what they did on Monday (to Brighton, Colo.),” said Ferrero. “But I had good command today and worked the corners.”

All four of the losses by the Wolf Pack (3-4) have come via the shutout.

“We didn’t come out with any intensity at all,” said Wolf Pack head coach MICKEY DEUTCHSMANN. “And this was something we talked about before the game.”

Add in a series of missed signs and having trouble getting to small balls by the Eagles because of the wind, it led to a 180-degree turnaround from Monday’s tournament 13-2 opener.

Fortunately for the Santee boys, a win Wednesday at Canyon Crest could probably propel the Pack into Thursday morning’s playoff semifinals.

One particular solid defensive effort for West Hills saw right fielder ZACH SANDOVAL charge hard on a low line being cut down by the stiff breeze, diving forward to make the grab.

Santa Fe Christian (6-3) registered an unearned run off West Hills starting pitcher JEREMIAH BARR in the 3rd, who struck out three in his five innings on the mound.

The Pack mounted just two chances to score.

In the 2nd, Barr walked, advancing to third on a passed ball and a balk with two outs. However, Ferrero escaped the slight jam with an inning-ending strikeout.

In the 5th, West Hills registered a pair of basehits to offset a 1-0 deficit. However, a failed hit-and-run on a ground out ended the threat.

The Eagles immediately countered with two runs in the home-half of the inning to put away the triumph.

Special to EastCountySports.com

 

66th Annual Lion’s Tournament
Classic Division
FOOTHILLERS 3, SKYHAWKS 2 
Silverado (4-5) 100 000 1 – 2 6 1
Grossmont (5-2) 001 000 2 – 3 6 1
(Two outs when winning scored.)
Murray and Canburn. Hulett and Hindorff. WP-Hulett (2-0). LP-Murray.

HIGHLANDERS 10, TITANS 2
Helix (4-3) 022 030 3 – 10 11 2
Poway (2-5) 000 020 x -  2  4 3
Konishi, Blevins (7) and Isbell. Ackley, Thomas (4), Murray (5), Riley (7) and Johnson. WP-Konishi (3-0). LP-Ackley.

EAGLES 3, WOLF PACK 0
Santa Fe Christian (6-3)  001 020 X - 3 6 0
West Hills         (3-4)  000 000 0 - 0 4 1
(No further information available.)

 

 

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