RedHawks’ Elliott strikes out 19 in win
- Updated: May 10, 2019
Mountain Empire senior Trevor Elliott
2019 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
East County Sports staff report
CHULA VISTA (5-10-2019) – Record-by-record Mountain Empire High senior Trevor Elliott has passed his dad’s school pitching marks in every major category, except for one.
And with all the great milestones Trevor has accomplished in his career and in this stellar season, the record he seemed to want to break the most may have been the most difficult.
On Thursday, the nation’s second-leading strikeout pitcher continued his dominance by becoming just the seventh section pitcher to record 19 Ks in a seven-inning game, also breaking the school record he had previously shared with his pops at 17 whiffs as MEHS secured a second-place finish in the Citrus League following Thursday’s (May 9) victory over host Ocean View Christian, 6-1.
It was Trevor’s eighth outing reaching double-digits and topped his previous best of 17 against El Cajon Valley on Mar. 26.
The RedHawks snapped a 1-1 duel between the pitchers by tallying three times in the 6th inning, then added two additional markers in the seventh.
They have now downed the Patriots over the past 14 ball games dating back to 2004 when the OVCA was known as Midway Baptist (the name change came in 2010).
Ocean View attempted to pitch around RedHawks cleanup hitter Angel Jimenez all afternoon, walking him twice. But in the decisive sixth wi the bases loaded, Ramirez singled home the go-ahead run.
The other pair of runs came on consecutive sacrifice flies by Ian Estrada and Michael Thing.
Elliott started the ballgame with six straight Ks. He walked leadoff batter Josh Phu in the third (who would score on a pair of botched pickoff attempts), but Elliott struck out the next three batters.
In the fourth, two more Ks was followed by the lone Patriots hit — a bunt single by Nick Rutherford — then a ground out to end the inning.
In the fifth, it was two more Ks, then a ground out. The sixth saw two walks and three Ks. Then in the seventh, the leadoff batter was out at first base on a dropped third strike (this is still considered a strikeout), then two more whiffs to cap the complete-game, 1-hit effort.
For the RedHawks, third baseman Sam Jones batted 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Elliott scored twice.
Mountain Empire (13-6 overall, 6-2 league) finished second to CV-Calvary Christian, the top-ranked team in CIF Division IV.
At present, the RedHawks are listed as the No. 6 ballclub, meaning a first-round playoff game against No. 11 Lincoln.
However, because CIF officials have the right to flip teams for a variety of reasons (avoid league opponents from meeting, travel considerations, etc.), it is possible for a flip with No. 7 Morse, which would play Lincoln (a neighborhood rival) while MEHS would meet Liberty Charter (travel consideration since the Lions are much closer).
Ocean View Christian (10-8, 2-6 league) entered the day at No. 8, but the loss could drop them a slot and force an opening round road game, depending on the results of other contests.
The San Diego Section office will announce playoff pairings in all six divisions on Saturday.
