Eagles’ Anderson legs out winning run
- Updated: March 26, 2018
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
EL CAJON – Senior BRAYDEN ANDERSON returned to the Granite Hills lineup and scored the game-winning run on junior SEAN MCGREW’s base hit to centerfield, giving the Eagles a 5-4 walk-off victory over West Linn (Ore.) in eight innings at the Lions Tournament Open Division opener on Monday.
“Coming up to the plate I had the confidence that I knew I was going to win the game,” McGrew said. “The first pitch he threw was a fastball so I put a good swing on it and took it the other way.”
For Anderson, the journey from batter’s box to home plate was longer than just 360 feet.
Anderson was diagnosed with a blood clot in his left leg before the season, which landed him in the ICU for five days.
Davis said before the season that it would be unlikely that Anderson would play during his senior season, but there he was standing 180 feet from home plate before McGrew delivered.
“It felt amazing to be back out on the field again,” Anderson said. “After not being able to do anything for 3-to-4 months sure wasn’t fun I can tell you. Not being able to play sure made me more humble and appreciate the privilege of being able to play the game I love so much.”
Granite Hills’ sharp streak continued, winning for the fifth straight outing. Granite Hills (7-2) was ranked 11th in the latest media poll released prior to the start of the Lions Tournament.
Senior JAKE FENN got the win for the Eagles on the mound with 2 2/3 innings of work, striking out six while allowing three hits. He also drove in three runs as the Granite stars took this Lions’ tale by the tail.
The Lions scored single markers in each of the first two frames, but Granite’s productive core manufactured a picket fence in innings two-through-four.
Fenn grounded home the Eagles first run then tied the game with a hard ground single to left in the third, scoring McGrew (walk).
McGrew then gave the Eagles their first lead with a single to left, driving home Anderson (walk).
“I think it’s great that we have Anderson back,” McGrew said. “He has a pretty good bat and helps us put some speed on the bases.”
In the fifth, Fenn singled home his third run of the game with a line single to right, giving Granite Hills a 4-2 lead.
After a one-out walk knocked senior starter TREVOR HAZELHURST from the game with two men on in the top of the sixth, the Lions tied the game
After Fenn recorded back-to-back strikeouts in the top of the eighth, Anderson was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the inning.
“I thought my individual play wasn’t that bad for being gone that long,” Anderson said. “I made good contact my first (at-bat) which really felt good and my vision overall wasn’t bad on seeing pitches.”
Sophomore TK PARKER then followed with a single, moving Anderson into scoring position, and McGrew followed with his game-winning stroke.
“We fought to get the win which felt good,” McGrew said. “To come out on top and to also be the winning run felt sweet.”
The second-ranked Cathedral Catholic Dons are next up for the Eagles in the Lions’ elite division event on Tuesday at 3 at Granite Hills High.
