ROUNDUP: Monarchs beat Braves at PETCO
- Updated: April 20, 2018
The Monte Vista Monarchs following their win on Thursday.
Monte Vista at the plate against El Cajon Valley on Thursday night at PETCO Park.
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
EastCountySports.com
SAN DIEGO – The Monte Vista Monarchs scored more runs at Petco Park on Thursday night than the Padres have in any home game this season.
Monte Vista scored six runs in the third inning and defeated the El Cajon Valley Braves, 11-2, in a Grossmont Valley League game at the major league ballpark.
Monarch junior DERRICK WILEY doubled home two runs in the bottom of the third as his shot to left landed at the foot of the warning track, giving Monte Vista a 4-0 lead.
Monte Vista pitcher ABRAHAM SANCHEZ delivers on Thursday at PETCO Park.
Wiley drove in exactly two runs for the sixth time in Monte Vista’s last nine contests.
The next batter, freshman ANDY CANEDO, smacked a double that landed in almost the same spot, driving in Wiley.
A line single to center by freshman ERNIE ARAMBULA scored Canedo to make it 6-0.
Monte Vista junior RAMON VARELA had three RBI with a pair of doubles in the last two frames.
Senior IVAN PLAZOLA pitched three innings, allowing one hit and zero runs while striking out five. He was awarded the win.
El Cajon Valley makes a defensive play on Thursday at PETCO Park.
Plazola also went 3-for-3, scoring two runs.
Monte Vista sophomore ABRAHAM SANCHEZ pitched two innings, striking out four, and allowed one unearned run.
Monte Vista senior IVAN GONZALEZ had a hit, an RBI and scored a run.
Monte Vista senior DIEGO SANDOVAL played along with Gulley for the Monarchs at Petco Park in 2016,
“All of my players did a great job,” Monte Vista coach CRAIG NEU said. “Everyone was prepared and ready to play. This was a total team effort. I am very proud of my guys.”
Monte Vista has won seven of its last eight games and currently is in a three-way tie for first in the Grossmont Valley League with a 4-1 record (13-6 overall).
LUIS HUERTA had three RBI for El Cajon Valley with a two-run double to left in the fourth inning and a run-scoring double in the sixth.
Monte Vista Monarchs at PETCO Park on Thursday night.
“Today’s result wasn’t the one we hoped for but I am very proud of my boys,” El Cajon Valley head coach CLIFTON THOMAS said. “They stepped out on that field today and played their hearts out.
“I am very proud of them, glad they got to have this experience and create this memory that they can take with them for the rest of their lives.
“Thank you to everyone that made this happen, and to all those that came out to support the boys today.
“You made this experience even more memorable and I can’t thank you enough. Time to look forward, and get ready for our next game on Tuesday against Monte Vista at home.”
MARIO JACOBS led El Cajon Valley with two hits.
“I give a lot of credit to El Cajon,” Neu added. “Those kids played their hearts out. Cliff is doing a great job with that program.”
GROSSMONT 3, GRANITE HILLS 2 – The dust is far from settled, but for now, the Grossmont Foothillers are in sole possession of first place in the Grossmont Hills League after defeating host Granite Hills on Thursday,
Grossmont’s ZAK FARRIS drove in the game-winning run, knocking in CHRIS GIOVENGO with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, as the Hillers returned the favor for Granite’s win at Gizoni Field on Tuesday.
Giovengo’s single was the only hit of the game for the Foothillers.
Grossmont starter JACK HYDE struck out four in a complete-game effort.
Hyde allowed eight hits and two runs, throwing 107 pitches.
“I had confidence in my guys to generate runs and I knew as long as I could keep us in the game we would pull it out,” Hyde said. “My defense was great behind me today. Most of my outs were softly hit balls and there were a few double plays turned.”
Hyde survived a pair of two-out singles in the last of the seventh inning.
“Finishing the game felt great today,” Hyde said. “Early on I didn’t have good break or control of any of my secondary pitches, so I focused on attacking the zone with my fastball and I was able to generate weak contact for my defense despite leaving lots of pitches up.
“Later on, I got a feel for my breaking pitches, which in turn gave my fastball more effectiveness, and felt much more locked in and ready to finish the game. ”
Granite Hills junior SEAN MCGREW homered on a 1-1 pitch, for a two-run shot in the bottom of the first inning for a lead.
Granite Hills senior TREVOR HAZELHURST pitched six innings, allowing just one hit and no earned runs while striking out six.
“Throwing a one-hitter against a good team was definitely a good effort for me today,” Hazelhurst said. “But the losing factor today is just making mental errors in the field.”
In the top of the fifth inning, Grossmont tied the game at 2-all.
“I thought both pitchers threw well today,” Grossmont head coach JORDAN ABRUZZO said. “Hazelhurst was outstanding for them. He had us off balance all day. Jack settled in after the two runs and gave us a chance to win. We found a way to get three runs with one hit. Baseball is a crazy game.”
Grossmont (3-1 Grossmont Hills League, 11-7-1) will host the Ramona Bulldogs (11-7) on Tuesday at 4.
Four Eagles – senior BRAD HARRIS, sophomore DILLON GOINS, sophomore TK PARKER and McGrew – each had two of the eight total hits for Granite Hills (1-1, 9-7), which plays three games next week, including a home-and-home set with Santana.
“Our league will be decided by the last games of the season,” Granite Hills head coach JAMES DAVIS concluded. “Hazelhurst was very good today. Hyde was very good, too. We just made too many mistakes in the field.”
HELIX 6, CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 5 – Scuffling Helix was in need of something big and sophomore ALONZO RICHARDSON provided it on Thursday afternoon.
Richardson hit a three-run walk-off home run to left as the Highlanders beat the Dons in a non-league game in La Mesa.
Trailing 5-3, Richardson homered on a 1-2 pitch, as the three-run homer capped a four-run, last-inning rally.
.@HelixScotties soph Alonzo Richardson hits 3-run, walk-off HR to beat @CCHSDONS in dramatic ending. More highlights of this good game on @fox5sandiego Sports Final @ 10:45. pic.twitter.com/FWeBm9QIaX
— Troy Hirsch (@troyhirschfox5) April 20, 2018
“It was an awesome feeling,” Richardson said of his moment. “I got good bat on it but I didn’t think it was going out”
Just five months ago, Richardson was winding up a football season over at Christian High in which he caught 40 passes for 743 yards (18.6 avg.) and nine touchdowns.
But ‘Zo’ is no newcomer to the diamond.
The former Lemon Grove Little League slugger and Emerald Pony world series champ hit .238 as a freshman for the Patriots last season.
Richardson was off to just a 4-for-19 start since becoming eligible at the start of the month, but had four RBI in the game, as he also hit a solo home run in the first.
Richardson also gained the victory for Helix with one inning pitched. He has appeared in five of seven games on the mound so far.
Helix sophomore JORDON THOMPSON also homered for Helix, hitting a solo shot to center in the third inning.
Thompson knocked in Helix’s first run in the seventh with a single to center.
Sophomore THOMAS CANEDAY pitched two hitless innings, striking out two for Helix, while junior teammate JUSTIN CERVANTES threw one scoreless inning of relief.
“I’m extremely happy for the kids,” Helix coach COLE HOLLAND said. “They have been struggling to win games over the last week and a half and they have been very frustrated with how they have been playing.
“It’s huge for them moving forward.”
Helix has three games next week in Hills League play, including a home-and-home set with El Capitan, before hosting Grossmont on Friday.
STEELE CANYON 5, MOUNT MIGUEL 3 – Cougars junior AARON TAYLOR drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the top of the sixth, as Steele Canyon kept the early frenetic pace in the Grossmont Valley League by improving to a co-leading 4-1.
Steele Canyon junior BILLY TELLOUS had an RBI groundout in the first inning, scoring Taylor, who led off the game with a double.
Sophomore JULIUS HARRIS walked, stole a base and scored in the bottom of the first to the tie the game for Mount Miguel.
Harris put Mount Miguel in the lead in the bottom of the third with a single to left, driving in NICO CAMACHO, who led off the inning with a walk.
Sophomore ERIK KELLY following with an RBI infield single, scoring Harris.
Junior right-hander JONATHAN KENNEY went five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out five for the Cougars.
Senior right-hander IVAN CANALES threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen for SC, allowing one hit and striking out five in an impressive save.
“We were not very good at the plate today with 10 (strikeouts),” Mount Miguel head coach FRANK COIT said. “That, combined with three errors almost always leads to a loss and it did today. Steele’s pitchers had a lot to do with that, they threw well.
Sophomore ANTHONY MATA singled and scored the game-tying run in the top of the fourth for Steele Canyon (9-9).
Senior RUBEN PRECIADO-TEJEDA went 3-for-3 for Mount Miguel (1-4 GVL, 4-13). Matador pitchers Camacho and CAMERON BEAUZEC combined on the pitching duties.
“We pitched well enough, but just did not compete very well at the plate today,” Coit added.
Last year Steele Canyon run-ruled Mount Miguel in all three meetings by a combined score of 33-5.
“Today shows a vast improvement for the program,” Coit said.
The teams meet again on Tuesday at Steele Canyon.
VALHALLA 7, WEST HILLS 5 (8 innings) – Through seven innings of play, Valhalla had managed just three singles, yet with a chance for victory, the host Wolf Pack tied the game in the bottom of the inning.
My, how things changed in extra innings.
The Norsemen more than doubled their hit total with four knocks to produce a pair of runs in the 8th inning, then the bullpen set the Wolf Pack down in order to secure a 7-5 decision in Thursday’s (Apr. 19) Grossmont Valley League contest.
Valhalla (8-11 overall) maintained its share of the GVL lead with Steele Canyon and Monte Vista at 4-1. West Hills dropped to 6-12 (2-3 GVL). The ballclubs meet again Tuesday in Rancho San Diego.
The contest featured three lead changes and was tied three other times before the Norsemen came through in the 8th.
The first three Norsemen – JACOB BARBA (single), COLE HOWARD (walk) and TREY HENIGE (bunt single) – all reached base.
Junior center fielder ETHAN DUNNAM Dunnam followed with a tie-breaking base hit, then sophomore first baseman JOSEPH INGRASSIA followed with another RBI single, although Valhalla sent another runner home who was thrown out at the plate.
Senior closer Howard needed two chances to gain the pitching victory after entering to start the fifth. After the slip in the seventh, Howard responded well in the eighth by setting West Hills down in order. Howard also went 1-2-3 in the fifth and sixth.
The effort off-set a solid outing by West Hills starting pitcher GAVIN KONDYRA. The junior yielded just two singles while striking out nine batters over four innings. However, he left trailing after three errors made the five runs allowed all unearned.
After holding leads of 1-0 and 3-2, the Pack got even at 4-all in the fourth before the Norsemen reclaimed the lead in the fifth.
However, West Hills got the equalizer late.
CODY PEDRERO smacked a one-out double to start the rally. Catcher ANDREW RITAYIK was walked for the fourth time, yet Pedrero was able to take third base, then scored on a line single by KAI DENNIS.
Henige, the Norsemen right fielder, was the lone player on either ballclub with multiple hits, going 2-for-4. The Pack’s Dennis was the only one to drive in more than one run, finishing with a pair of RBI.
EVAN APPLEBAUM went the first four innings for Valhalla.
EL CAPITAN 8, SANTANA 2 – The El Capitan Vaqueros swept the Santana Sultans this week and want to be more than just the flavor of the week in the Grossmont Hills League.
Senior BLAKE “Boomer” PEYTON hit a three-run home run to left field for his first round-tripper of the season, as the Vaqueros established a 6-0 lead after three innings in Santee on Thursday.
El Capitan got on the board in the second inning when JAKE COKER singled to center on a 1-2 pitch, driving in ANOTNIO OLIVIERI (double) and Peyton (walk).
Peyton singled, stole a base and scored in the sixth, as well.
“Things seem to be clicking right now for us,” El Capitan head coach CLAYTON CURO said. “This is a tough league, anytime you can put a W on the board is a good day. We will reset, and get ready for next week.”
Senior SHAYNE CUNNINGHAM went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out four for the strong-looking win against last week’s league upstart.
“El Capitan played very well and had some very mature at-bats,” Santana head coach RIGO LEDEZMA said.
Santana senior JOSH OEDEWALDT belted a 365-foot home run in the fourth to get Santana on the board.
“We’ve proved we can beat one of the best teams in the nation (Helix),” Oedewaldt said. “We did that by not making errors and hitting the ball consistently throughout the game.
“As for both losses to El Cap, we made errors in both games which cost us runs, and we didn’t swing the bat. Props to El Cap, too, they swung the bat decently against us.”
The Sultans are in a home-and-home set with Granite Hills next week.
“We got Granite next week and I can promise it’ll be different,” Oedewaldt said.
FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 2, CLASSICAL ACADEMY 1 – Senior TREVOR SMALLWOOD pitched a complete-game two-hitter and the Knights earned a split with the defending co-champs of the Pacific League as Foothills Christian made their circuit debut this week.
Smallwood struck out five and the Caimans run was unearned.
“A huge win for us against a tough Division 3 team and the toughest team in our league,” Foothills Christian coach DAVE LEWIS said. “Jack Wurts caught and shut down their running game. All in all, a great win for us.”
BAILEY LEWIS led Foothills Christian with two hits, including the game-winning RBI with an infield single in the top of the third, which scored JALANI BROWN (single).
“It was a nail-biter all game,” Bailey Lewis said. “Our defense was outstanding, and it all started with Trevor Smallwood pitching a gem.”
KIP FAMOLARO, JAKE BAPTISTA, and Bailey Lewis all had great defensive plays. The Knights’ defense had two critical double plays.
“We had some really clutch plays on defense to keep us in the game,” Bailey Lewis said. “Our offense hit the ball consistently hard, but right at the players. I feel we are playing really well as a team. Everyone on the team is contributing.”
CORBIN HARRIS walked and eventually scored on the back end of a double steal with Lewis with two out in the third.
Foothills Christian (1-1 Pacific, 11-9) will travel to face Olympian in a non-league game on Saturday at 11 a.m.
MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 4, CALVARY CHRISTIAN 0 – Mountain Empire junior TREVOR ELLIOTT pitched a no-hitter, getting the final out of the game on his 13th strikeout of the game.
Elliot also ended up with the game-winning RBI as his sacrifice fly in the first gave the Redhawks a 1-0 lead.
Junior RYAN SAWYER led Mountain Empire with two hits. He also walked and later scored on Elliot’s first-inning sac fly.
First-place Mountain Empire improved to 2-0 in the Pacific League and 10-3 overall.
