Deep Hills has trio of top title contenders

By Bill Dickens
Updated: April 14, 2016

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL – LEAGUE PREDICTIONS

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
El Cajon (4-13-16) —

GROSSMONT HILLS LEAGUE

Granite Hills (9-6) – Versatile DILLAN SHRUM will probably be the East County Player of the Year if he performs at his current pace and the edge that the Eagles need to finish at the top of the heap. Shrum, a double threat, is batting .458 and is 3-2 with a 1.58 ERA as a pitcher. He has 4 home runs and 15 RBI. ANDREW BROWN is a solid sidekick for Shrum. As talented at the Eagles are, there is no sure thing.
Grossmont (9-5)– If there is any team that can knock off the Eagles in the title chase it’s got to be Grossmont. The Foothillers have an excellent one-two pitching punch in JACKSON HULETT (3-1, 0.82 ERA) and CALVIN FARRIS (3-0, 1.25 ERA).
Helix (8-3)– Not to be counted out are the Helix Highlanders, who are led by senior double threats CONNOR KONISHI, who boasts a .450 batting average and a 4-0 pitching record with a 1.12 ERA, and UCLA-bound JACK STRONACH who holds a .308 batting average and a 0.67 ERA.
El Capitan (7-6)– Struggling El Capitan is certainly capable of coming to life and sweeping the field. The Vaqueros have a deep pitching staff led by TRISTAN DUNCAN (1-2 record, 1.62 ERA) and DYLAN WANNAMAKER (1-0 with a 1.17 ERA). The Vaqueros are capable but must be regarded as a longshot.
Steele Canyon (7-7-1)– The Cougars made their best run during the Lions Tournament but outside of that have stumbled out of the gate. They won’t get away with that kind of inconsistency in the Grossmont Hills League. The Cougars are certainly able to strike as JOSH ESQUIBEL (.437, 2 HR, and a conference leading 20 RBI) and AVERY TUCK (.354, 2 HR, 15 RBI) make this one of the more lethal lineups.
Valhalla (1-12)– Coaching changes which has brought athletic director ROBERT WILSON into the dugout has made this a mystery team. Wilson does have coaching experience but it’s going to take a masterful job to put this thing together. The talent is there for the Norsemen to rise up a few notches, but who knows?