Pack’s Wilson tops Monarchs with 4 hits
- Updated: April 7, 2022
2022 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
ECS staff report
SPRING VALLEY — Behind a 4-hit effort by clean-up-hitter right fielder Braden Wilson , the West Hills Wolf Pack snapped a 2-2 ballgame with eight consecutive runs over a three-inning, mid-game span, dropping league-rival Monte Vista, 10-4, in Wednesday’s (Apr. 6) non-league contest at the Monarchs’ field.
Wilson, a junior, who entered the ballgame with just four hits all season in limited play, doubled his total with a 2-run homer in the first, a triple, and two singles, falling one base short on hitting for the cycle.
It’s an interesting clash of styles among Grossmont Valley League coaches, who are playing a first round of games against other league members (except ECVHS) which don’t count in the official standings.
Thus, various coaches are seeking advantages or hiding strengths before official GVL play starts in two weeks.
Following Wilson’a two-out blast, which followed a lead single by Bryce Smith, Monte Vista answered with its own 2-run rally in the first.
But the rest of the way belong to West Hills, the lone GVL ballclub with a winning record so far this season.
The Pack sandwiched another 2-run outburst in the fourth with 3-run rallies in both the third and fifth frames to mount a 10-2 advantage,
Included was a solo homer by center fielder Connor Evans in the fifth, part of a two RBI effort.
Among the newcomers to the Wolf Pack batting order, Freddie Rowbotham also has two RBI on a two-out single to cap the scoring in the third. Entering the game, he had career varsity totals of two hits, one run and no RBI.
Isaiah Hilke again was in the middle of the Monte Vista offense.
Following a lead Caleb Taa-Jones single in the first, Hilke drilled another triple to increase his East County. Moments later, he scored the game-tying run by stealing home.
For West Hills. (8-6-1 overall), winning pitcher Ryan Smith went five innings, then Eron Drake fired two innings of 1-hit relief.
Monte Vista (6-9) received two RBI from first baseman Gavin Daley, while catcher Niko Heidt added a double.
Christian 5, Clairemont 2
CLAIREMONT— Moments after Clairemont from a scoreless ballgame with two runs in the second inning, Christian answered with five runs in the third, the lone runs in the Patriots’ 5-2 triumph in Eastern League action on Wednesday (Apr. 6).
The decision gives Christian sole possession of first place, as co-leading Coronado fell to Patrick Henry (see below).
Christian pitcher Vaughn Major fired a 1-hitter, striking out 12 Chieftains batters.
The lone Clairemont hit saw second baseman Colton Tipps single,, but it did not effect the scoring.
The Patriots comeback included a leadoff home run by Nathan Cena.
Shane Bailey added a two-run single for a 3-2 lead, then sophomore Xavier Farnum singled to left field for two additional runs.
Patrick Henry 8, Coronado 3
DEL CERRO — Immediately after blowing a game-long lead inthe sixth, Patrick Henry responded with a 5-run rally to out-last visiting Coronado, 8-3, in Wednesday’s (Apr. 6) Eastern League contest.
The verdict splits the week-long series at 1-1, with the rubber match set for Friday along the Silver Strand. It also moved the ballclubs into a tie for second place behind front-runing Christian.
Patrick Henry leadoff batter Noah Filson set the table,batting 2-for-3 with a walk and stealing two bases, scoring all three times he reached base.
The middle of the Pats batting order took advantage of Filson’s performance. No. e hitter Ryan Ellis drove in three runs, while clean-up batter Jack Giordano, a sophomore, had two RBI without the aid of a basehit.
The decisive sixth inning saw Coronado take the league on a double by No. 9 hitter Patch Moore.
However, the Patriots countered Giordano’s 2-run, bases-loaded single, with an error adding a third run for a 6-3 lead.
The pitching win went to Ryan Ruch, who survived two walk in take seventh with three of his five strikeouts of Islander batters to cap his 3.2 inning stint on the mound for Patrick Henry (9-4, overall, 1-1 league).
The Island Boys fell to 6-7 (1-1 league).
SCOREBOARD
West Hills 10, Monte Vista 4
Christian 5, Clairemont 2
Patrick Henry 8, Coronado 3
Rancho Buena Vista 7, Ramona 0
