Baseball teams get their openers in
- Updated: February 20, 2019
EastCountySports.com staff report
EL CAJON – Bring out the rakes and get those diamonds dry, the prep baseball season began on Tuesday for East County clubs…
CHRISTIAN 8, SWEETWATER 4 – Lots of rain and a lack of field time (only two days on a field for the Patriots) led to a little bit of a sloppy game, but a very young and inexperienced Patriots group battled to come out on top.
Christian High pitcher Alex Markowicz wasn’t his best on the mound but definitely showed flashes of his potential to be a top-end pitcher, according to Patriot head coach MIKE MITCHELL.
Markowicz went the first 3 innings, reaching his pre-set pitch limit of 50 pitches (actually 55 pitches).
“With no scrimmages, this was really just a live bullpen for him and he and he got his necessary work in,” Mitchell said.
Caleb Leonard finished up the mound duty, throwing four scoreless innings on only 46 pitches.
“Our two best hitters – Trace Ramos and Matt Souza – were a combined 0-for-6 but sophomore Carson Stroman came up big in his varsity debut,” Mitchell added.
FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 14, CASTLE PARK 1 – Foothills Christian sophomore KIP FAMOLARO went five innings, allowing one run on one hit while striking out 10.
Tyler Kennedy went 3-for-4 with five RBI and a pair of doubles for the Knights.
“I felt very comfortable at the plate and I was seeing the ball great,” Kennedy said. “Kip is a great pitcher. I’m glad we were able to get out there and play after all the rain, it was a great team win and a great start to the season.
Freshman Seth Gilbody struck out the side in his one inning of work for FCHS.
PATRICK HENRY 9, MOUNT MIGUEL 0 – The Matadors managed just one hit, and gave up six runs in the first two innings, including a grand slam.
“We did not hit at all,” Mount Miguel head coach FRANK COIT said. “Our hitters today did not fare well at all, they need to see more pitching.
“Third through the seventh, though, we pitched and played defense decently. We will be fine once we get some live innings under our belt.
“Patrick Henry played pretty well. Don’t want to take anything away from them.”
LA COSTA CANYON 3, GRANITE HILLS 1 – Senior RYAN FENN singled and scored on BRIAN SMITH’s sacrifice fly in the top of the third to tie the game a 1-all, but that was the Eagles’ lone hit and run on the afternoon.
Fenn pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of NOA PONCIANO, who allowed two hits and one earned run over 4 1/3 innings.
SAN DIEGUITO ACADEMY 5, MONTE VISTA 4 (6 innings) – Junior ABRAHAM SANCHEZ and sophomore ERNIE ARAMBULA both scored a pair of runs but the Monarchs fell to the Mustangs in a Pirate Classic game.
Senior Ramon Varela and sophomore JACOB SAVOY both had an RBI for Monte Vista.
Good things certainly are in the works for the Monarchs. They worked the count for nine walks in the game.
Sanchez allowed one earned run and struck out four over five innings. He also drew three walks at the plate.
BONITA VISTA 7, EL CAPITAN 1 – Senior KEVIN ALLISON drove in a run for El Capitan. He went 1-for-2 with a single and walk.
