Vaqueros, Sultans, both Patriots win

ECS staff report

SPRING VALLEY —- Solid hitting. Strong pitching. A defense that did not yield an unearned run. What suddenly turned around the El Capitan Vaqueros?

In a season filled with misery, El Capitan put its most complete game of the season on Monday (May 23), whipping host Mount Miguel, 12-0, in Grossmont Valley League play.

Vaqueros pitcher Cole Winsor sliced through the Matadors lineup, striking out nine batters over 6 1/3 innings, allowing a mere two hits. It was a complete turnaround from last Friday’s series opener when Mount Miguel fired a one-hitter at El Cap.

Two runs in the first inning were the first of four multiple-run innings by El Capitan, which saw five different players — Bradley Larsen, Miguel Rosario, Sy Mendoza, Jaylin Padilla, and Winsor — garner two RBI each.

Winsor and Rosario each registered two doubles each, with Rosario’s two-run double just five batters into the first inning, then an RBI double in the third for a 4-0 lead was all Winsor needed for the victory.

El Capitan (7-15 overall, 3-5 GVL) moved a half-game ahead of Mount Miguel (8-16, 3-6 GVL) for third place.

Santana 16, Monte Vista 1

SPRING VALLEY —- Which was more beneficial: the bats of Santana collecting 16 hits or Monte Vista allowing 11 Sultans baserunners on walks and errors?

Either way, it was a positive equation for Santana, the Grossmont Valley League leaders, to register 16 unanswered runs until a late, cosmetic run for the Monarchs in Monday’s (May 23) rout.

The Sultans did fail to home, but triples by Jason Gonzalez and Davin Burroughs were complimented by doubles from Jason Gonzalez, Ethan Wright, and Tyler Begg.

Meanwhile, Sultans pitcher Dean Landers went six solid innings to run his record to 6-03. He allowed one run — unearned — lowering his earned-run average to a stoic 0.91, matching East County leader Noa Ponciano of Granite Hills.

For Santana (17-4 overall, 8-0 GVL), Wright, the starting catcher, led by batting 3-for-4 with two walks, four runs, and three RBI.

Monte Vista (11-10, 5-3 GVL) scored in the sixth on a base hit by Isaac Anthony after a Santana error extended the inning.

Christian 21, High Tech San Diego 2

EL CAJON – The tenth-ranked Patriots hit three home runs had five different hitters drive in three runs on the day, as Christian high racked up a pair of touchdowns over the first two innings for a 14-0 lead.

Braeden Ross, Will Carlock, and Josh Meekins all hit circuit clouts for the Patriots to make a winner of starter Vaughn Major, who picked up his eighth win of the season in eight starts.

HR #7 yesterday 💣
Still undefeated in league play🔥 @CHS___Athletics @CornejoEddie @CoachD_Mitch @PBR_California @EC_Preps_SD @SDPreps @DavidRing4 @SDPrepInsider @ECSportsDotCom @Jacked_23 @SMPLonnie @SBLiveCA @DaveSerrano11 pic.twitter.com/zr29q7AkRp

— Braeden Ross (@BraedenRoss5) May 25, 2021

“I’m basically being selective up there,” Meekins said. “I am seeing the ball well while looking for a spot to drive the ball. I talked to some of our coaches about letting the ball travel because I have had trouble doing that. I have confidence going into every game, so I don’t change much just hit the batting cage.”

Christian got 19 hits in the City League contest and improved to 7-0 in the league standings (17-4 overall),

In addition to the home run hitters, Eric Markowicz, and Hunter Kaul (3-for-5, double, triple) drove in three runs each.

“Being up 14-0 after the second inning was fun but I think when teams get that lead they tend to just sit back and relax,” Kaul said. “We tried to work on certain things, like staying back and driving it to right field. Can’t wait for this week, especially Senior Day on Thursday.”

Major struck out seven over four innings.

“I felt good on the mound and it was good to get another win,” Major said. “We’re getting close to the playoffs and we all need to get some confidence to finish our league games undefeated going into the playoffs. We are having a great time. We’ve had some struggles against a couple of good teams but we really have been playing our best of late.”

Grant Heinrich threw two scoreless frames, while Andrew Carlock pitched a hitless seventh. Both of the final hurlers struck out one.

Patrick Henry 15, Mira Mesa 4

DEL CERRO —- Patrick Henry shortstop Max Shabestari extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a pair of doubles Monday (May 23), as the Patriots gained their fifth consecutive victory by eliminating Mira Mesa from the Eastern League race by easily mauling the visiting Marauders, 15-4.

Shabestari, a senior,  is batting 517 (15-for-29) during the hot stretch, including five multiple-hit outings.

Meanwhile, first baseman Ryan Ellis also maintained a hot bat by driving in four runs — but only one on a base hit. Ellis also displayed solid bat control by lifting a pair of sacrifice flies, plus a fielder’s choice grounder which Mira Mesa failed to convert into a double play.

Ellis has now posted a .550 batting average (11-for-20) in his last six ball games.

Mira Mesa opened with two early runs, but the Pats moved even, then scored five times in the second inning, part of a run of nine consecutive runs to bury the Marauders by mid-game.

The Patriots’ 14-hit attack saw center fielder Andrew Guana collect three hits. Meanwhile, Eddie Gomez and Jeremiah Vargas each added two hits in support of winning pitcher Talin Gardini. The left-hander struck out five in as many innings. Included was 4 2/3 frames of shutout ball following his slow start.

Patrick Henry 16-9 overall, 8-3 league) remain a half-game ahead of Clairemont. Mira Mesa (11-14, 3-9) and Serra were knocked out of title contention