This walk-off winner belongs to Valhalla

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 20, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

ECS staff report

RANCHO SAN DIEGO — East County’s list of walk-off winners continues to expand during Saturday’s (Mar. 19) only scheduled contest.

Valhalla High senior shortstop Nick Medrano sent a basehit to center field, bringing home Riley Hughes with the game-winning run, helping the Norsemen cap a 2-run raly in the seventh inning to stun visiting Otay Ranch, 4-3.

Valhalla held a 2-0 lead throughout until the Mustangs answered with three runs in the sixth inning, then facing the bottom of the Norsemen batting order.

However, Colton Stinkeoway (Single) scored on a basehit by Hughes, who took second base on the throw home in a failed attempt to cut-down the game-tying run,

With Hughes in scoring position, Valhalla took a major chance and had Nico Simonet put down a sacrifice bunt. Although successful, it left the Norsemen with two down with Hughes at third.

Medrano then took the very next pitch up the middle and through the drawn in infield for the basehit. He was the lone player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.

Hughes, the starting pitcher, fired five innings of 2-hit ball, but was tagged with all three runs in the sixrth. However, he was more than happy to register the game-winning run, giving the victory to reliever David Gordon, who survived a pair of walks t Otay Ranch (4-5-1) in the seventh.

Valhall (3-7) next plays the middle gameof a 5-game homestand, entertaining West Hills on Tuesday at 4 p.m.