GMC ROUNDUP: Pats win third-straight
- Updated: April 3, 2018
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
EastCountySports.com
EL CAJON – The Christian Patriots won their third-straight game on Monday afternoon thanks to a nine-run third inning in a 14-3 clubbing of the Steele Canyon Cougars in the Grossmont-Metro-City Tournament.
Patriot leadoff man GARRET NIELSEN, a senior, homered and went 3-for-3 with four runs scored for Christian, which improved to 2-2 in the GMC tourney (5-8 overall).
Sophomore starter ALEX MARKOWICZ pitched six innings for the win, striking out six.
“I think we all played very well and all contributed to the win,” Markowicz said. “I believe my off-speed was working in clutch situations and the fast ball set it up. We didn’t make any errors and we all hit well. Great win for our team
Markowitz drove in a pair of runs to put the Patriots on top 5-3, as Christian scored nine runs in the third inning.
“We just ran away with it then,” Markowicz said. “Steele was a good team, they threw a ton of curve balls to our whole team and I think I was able to see them well and distinguish when they were throwing a curve and a fastball. I also just tried to sit back and relax and let the ball do the work today rather than swing hard and it worked out well.
The big inning came as a bit of a surprise considering the back-and-forth nature of the closely-rated contest over the first two frames.
Steele Canyon junior BILLY TELLOUS hit a two-run home run for his second round-tripper of the season on a 0-1 pitch in the first inning for a quick lead.
Nielsen hit a solo shot in the bottom of the first to draw to within 2-1.
Steele Canyon scored a run in the top of the second when junior AARON TAYLOR singled on a 1-1 delivery for an RBI, scoring senior MATTHEW BRINKMEIER, who doubled with two out.
The Patriots’ JAKOB BECK, a senior, homered in the second to lead things off, making it 3-2.
Christian then had the big rally as senior BRAD JEREMIAH drove in a run with a single to tie the game.
The Patriots’ PEYTON BERROTH, a junior, drove in a pair of runs with a single to right, extending the lead to 8-3.
Christian’s CONNOR OHTON, a sophomore, had two hits, an RBI and scored three runs.
Steele Canyon junior JONATHAN KENNEY pitched three innings in relief, allowing no earned runs and striking out three.
Christian High will take its winning streak to Francis Parker on Wednesday for a GMC game at 6:30.
KEARNY 8, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 6 – Knights’ newcomers CADE CABRAL and PRESTON SACCONE earned starts in their season debuts but the host Komets won the GMC contest.
Cabral, a transfer from Serra, and Saccone, who comes over from Granite Hills, had to wait for the transfer-eligible period to pass.
“They are a little rusty riding the pine for two months,” Knights assistant AARON BARLING said. “However, we expect good things out of them.”
Kearny stunned the Knights early with a 5-1 lead after three innings.
Junior JALANI BROWN had a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1 Komets in the top of the third.
Senior BAILEY LEWIS double in a run in the top of the fourth to make it 5-2 Kearny.
“Bailey Lewis continues to crush the ball,” Barling said.
Knights freshman TYLER KENNEDY singled in a run in the top of the fourth to make it a 5-3 ballgame.
Kennedy also pitched 2 2/3 innings after taking over in the first, allowing no earned runs.
Foothills freshman KIP FAMOLARO pitched three innings and drove in a run in the seventh with a double, driving in TREVOR SMALLWOOD (single), as the Knights rallied furiously in their final at-bat after trailing 8-3.
“Kip really battled out there on the mound and at the plate,” Barling said. “The youth of the team showed today in the loss.”
Sophomore CORBIN HARRIS drove in a run in the seventh with a double.
Senior CHRIS STALLARD will be starting on Tuesday for FCHS in his season debut, as the Knights (7-6) host Mount Miguel (3-7) in a rematch at Barona Field on Tuesday at 3:30.
Foothills Christian won the first meeting, 5-4, in a game played during a steady rain.
VALHALLA 9, LA JOLLA 1 – The Valhalla Norsemen improved to 3-1 in the Grossmont-Metro-City Tournament, as senior TANNER SMITH delivered a complete-game, four-hitter, striking out seven.
Smith improved to 2-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.75 on the season.
Valhalla sophomore KYLE CASPER (3-for-4) singled on a 2-2 pitch for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
The Norsemen took advantage of a pair of leadoff walks in the second, capped by a two-run single by sophomore RYAN PEROT (2-for-3, two runs).
Valhalla (4-8) scored four more runs in the seventh, including a two-run triple by Casper.
Junior JONAH ST. CLAIR walked and scored twice for the Norsemen.
Valhalla hosts Mira Mesa (4-7) on Wednesday in the GMC Tournament.
