East County Sports

Monarchs edge Knights, advance to GMC championship

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

 

By Dave Dickens

EastCountySports.com

 

SPRING VALLEY (4-5- 2018) – Thursday’s battle between two SDCIF Division 4 baseball teams, featured the No. 9 ranked team in the division, Foothills Christian, and the division’s No. 6 ranked team, Monte Vista.

Both squads have played some extremely competitive teams on their schedules.

The Monarchs came in on a two-game winning streak, while the Foothills Christian Knights had lost three of their last four games.

It has been a puzzle for the Knights, as they have struggled to fill permanent positions on the field, waiting for 12 games to have a trio of veteran transfers assist offensively and defensively.

Thursday’s afternoon’s match was most definitely a pitcher’s duel.

Sophomore ABRAHAM SANCHEZ, for the Monarchs, had six innings pitched, three hits allowed, with one walk, and struck out 10.

On the other hand, Foothills Christian starting pitcher BAILEY LEWIS had 6 1/3 innings pitched, allowing four hits, two earned runs, four walks, and six strikeouts.

Pitcher KIP FAMOLARO came on to relieve Lewis, for a third of an inning, allowing one hit and one run, to give the Monarchs the win at the Bill Dickens Tournament.

The winning run scored on a Foothills Christian (8-7) error, scoring freshman ANDY CANEDO for the go-ahead run, walk-off style, in a 3-2 Monte Vista victory.

Monte Vista’s ANDY CANEDO also earned the victory on the mound.

Foothills Christian’s Lewis continued his dominance at the plate, going 2-for-3.

“Abraham Sanchez pitched a really great ball game,” said Monarchs head coach CRAIG NEU. “We played a complete game today, I am very proud of our team’s toughness and resilience.”

The Monarchs have advanced to the GMC tourney championship game on Saturday, at 10:30 am, at Mission Bay High School.

Monte Vista (8-7) will be facing Mater Dei Catholic.

“It felt good like this, but I was prepared because at practice we work hard, and I believe that helped me with my command today,” Sanchez said. “Coach took me out because I wasn’t locating my pitches, started throwing balls.”

“It felt great as a freshman getting the job done and only working to get better in the future,” Canedo said. “My team and I are prepared to face Mater Dei on Saturday for the GMC Championship.”

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