GMC: Pats’ Bailey fires no-hitter
- Updated: March 15, 2022
2022 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL.
ECS staff report
Roundup
Christian 4, Valhalla 1
EL CAJON — Christian High pitcher Shane Bailey was charged with a run, yet still pitched a no-hitter as the Patriots downed floundering Valhalla 4-1, in Monday’s (Mar. 14) Dick Serrano flight (Division (2) contest in the Bill Dickens Memorial/GMC Tournament.
The Patriots finished with four answered runs, countering an early 1-0 deficit to sting the Norsemen,
Christian tallied twice in the fourth and sixth innings to grab the win. The C-Pats (6-2) are the lone unbeaten ballclub in their flight and share the best overall record among East County schools.
Valhalla rests at 1-7, one poorer than the school’s 2018 start. However, that edition of Norsemen baseball still finished with an 18-12 overall record, rebounding to capture the Grossmont Valley League pennant.
Both Christian rallies were fueled by the top of their batting order: second baseman Ashton McCurty and shortstop Vaughn Major. Both batted 2-for-2 and collected three of the team’s four runs.
For Valhalla, it was a case of giveaway, as McCurty scored on a wild pitch, then a second error gave Christian its initial lead.
In the sixth, both singled to leadoff placing runners on the corners. When Vaughn attempted to steal second base (hedidn’t), McCurty scored on the fielder’s choice.. Later, an error set-up an RBI single by Xavier Farnum.
Of course, anything a run is scored without the aid of a hit, something stange occurred, this time in the second inning. However, transmission problems failed to forward that information in time for this report.
West Hills 7, University City 1
UNIVERSITY CITY — Mired in a 5-game non-winning streak, the West Hills Wolf Pack won for the second time in their last three outing by allowing just five hits while striking out seven Centurions batters, outing University City, 7-1, in the Dick Serrano Division (Division 2) play in the annual GMC Tournament.
The Pack (3-5-1) are 2-1 in pool play, but standing in third place, meaning both Montgomery and Otay Ranch need to fall for the Pack to qualify for a berth in the championship.
West Hills pitchers Bryce Smith and Shane Stevens combined to allow just five hits while striking out seven Centurions batters. Stevens collected the victory in relief because the Pack never took the lead until the sixth inning when they snapped a 1-1 deadlock with a 6-run rally.
The go-ahead run featured a line single by Owen Rodgers, then five additional runs came with two down. Included was a bases-loaded walk to Smith, an RBI single by Leija, then a 2-run knock off the bat of Connor Evans.
The Cents dropped to 2-7-1 (0-2-1 in GMC play).
Liberty Charter 14, CV-Victory Christian 0
LEMON GROVE — Highlighted by a 5-run outburst in the fifth inning, the Liberty Charter Lions scored in five of their six trips to the plate to say “Good Knight, now.” to Victory Christian of Chula Vista.
The Lions’ outburst of 17 runs in a shutout is the second-highest in the school’s brief history. The record is 20 runs in a shutout from 2019, also in a pasting of VCA.
Liberty Charter (3-3 overall) also halted a mild 2-game losing streak.
La Jolla 7, Monte Vista 3
SPRING VALLEY — Monte Vista’s hitting spikes are suddenly missing. After La Jolla limited them to just three runs on seven hits, the Monarchs have scored just five runs in their last five contests in falling to the visiting Vikings, 7-3, in Monday’s GMC Tournament contest.
The setback eliminated Monte Vista from title contention in the John Baumgarten Division.
La Jolla scored twice in the first, fourth, and sixth innings to slowly pull away, all without the aid of an extra-base hit.
Dillon Popkins collected three RBI and Spence Carswell knocked in two more.
Monte Vista received run-scoring, two-out hits from Isaiah Hilke and Justyn Stone. Hilke also stole a base in his 2-for-4 outing.
Monarch right fielder Oscar Ortega also produced his second 2-hit game of the season. One of his knocks was a double.
In addition, Caleb Taa-Jones fired three solid innings of relief to give Monte Vista a chance to recover.
Montgomery 2, Patrick Henry 1
DEL CERRO — Montgomery gained early run-scoring hits from junior Jose Mendoza and freshman Noah Solano, then made them barely stand up to nip host Patrick Henry in GMC Tournament action on Monday (Mar. 14).
The Patriots made things interesting in the seventh when Brady Hull drove in Noah Filson. Both are juniors.
However, Aztec pitcher Adrian Herrera collected the final out for a complete-game, 2-hitter. The senior was able to out-duel Patriots senior Ran Ellis and hand him his first setback of the season
Ellis yielded just one hit over five frames, yet both early runs were earned.
Coupled with Christian’s victory, the Patriots (6-2 overall) have been eliminated from title game consideration after their second loss in three starts.
Montgomery (also 6-2). sits on top of the other pool ahead of Otay Ranch by a half-game after the Mustangs slipped by Clairemont, 5-3, after an earlier draw with University City.
San Dieguito 8, Ramona 6
ENCINITAS — The Ramona Bulldogs allowed a 3-0 lead to disappear after the first half-inning, falling to the host Mustangs in North County Tournament competition on Monday (ar. 14).
For Ramona (1-5 overall), five players –.senior Morgan Strong, juniors Reed Gunnett, and Donovan Ward, plus sophomores Tait Karlson and Ryan Truman — all drove in a run.
The Dawgs also saw doubles from Gunnett and Isaac Garcia, yet lost their fourth straight. San Dieguito moved to 4-2.
