Patriots power leads Eastern League
- Updated: April 9, 2022
2022 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
ECS staff report
EL CAJON — Based on historical trends throughout the CIF San Diego Section, the upper division ballclubs are usuqly placed in high-competitive leagues, each with enough pitching to play three times per week.
Conversely, the smaller the division, those squads tend to play with league schedules with just two games per week (Yes, a few Division V schools go at it just once per week).
Then there’s the City Conference’s Eastern League, once the premiere circuit among schools in both San Diego and Imperial counties.
While the Western League is now considered the City’s bets, the Eastern quintet hosts two definitive programs that can go three deep with starters on their pitching staffs.
The others? Well, they all lost in Friday’s (Apr. 8( action against the 4-armed monsters both known as the Patriots.
Christian 7, Clairemont 0
EL CAJON — The Christian Patriots out-scored Clairemont, 21-2, over this week’s Eastern League opening three-game series, including Friday’s (Apr 8) shutout triumph over the Clairemont Chieftains.
The Patriots seemed a bit bored following a pair of easy wins to start the series. They :only” scored once in all of the first four innings, then added two markers in the fifth in stopping “Ridgemont High.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to transmission issues, a complete game report was not immediately available. We’ll get the full story posted this weekend.
Patrick Henry 16, Coronado 1
Along the SILVER STRAND — Patrick Henry capturf the final game of a 3-game series on the road, breaking a scoreless contest with three runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to dissolve Coronado, 16-1, in Eastern League action held at Silver Strand Elementary School.
Leading 9-1, the Patriots added seven additional markers in the sixth, despite the high winds off the Pacific Ocean blowing the ball to left field all afternoon.
A trio of PHHS pitchers — starter Talin Gardini, Travis Van Dyke and Vincent Juliano — combined on a 10-hitter., with the lone run for the Island Boys coming unearned.
Gardini, a sophomore, went the first four innings for the same. Dyke and Juliano each faced bases-loaded situation, yet both escaped.For V.J., it was just his second appearance of the season, yet puts Patrick Henry in sharp for next week’s 71st edition of the Lions Tournament.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We were asked how we know it’s the 71st annual tournament. We took stories from last season’s event, then added one.
For Patrick Henry, five batters posted multiple-hit outings, including three hits each from Ryan Ruch, Nolan Kluge and Jack Giordano. Registering two knocks each were Danny Torres and Ryan Ellis,
In addition, Brady Hull;s slap shot was good for a home run on his four RBI day, while Gardini aided his pitching cause by friving home three runs.
With the victory, Patrick Henry (10-4 overall, 2-1 league) remains one full game between front-running Christian. Coronado sinks to third at 6-8 (1-2 league) on the season.
Elsewhere
Foothills Christian 10, Sweetwater 0
SAN DIEGO — Sweetwater High, located across the street from National City, was off to its best start in a half-dozen seasons at 10-4… until they ran into the Foothills Christian Knights in non-league action on Friday (Apr. 8)
Knights senior Seth Gilbody fired a 3-hit shutout at the Red Devils, striking out seven SuHi batters over his six innings.
Knights reliever John Popka then survived a bases-loaded situation in the seventh to preserve the shutout, coaxing a ground ball to third baseman Elijah Morr.
Morr was also among the hitting leaders with two RBI, helping Foothills Christian mount a 9-0 cushion by mid-game before coasting home.
Morr smacked a two-run single in the fourth inning, the final of three hits hits to open the frame, as Zach Ortiz and Dusty Baker came home on the drive to left field.
For Foothills Christian (7-7 overall), winners in four straight to reach the .500 plateau, Baker also stole a pair of bases.
Sweetwater, the early leaders of the South Bay League at 2-0 over Mater Dei Catholic, fell to 10-5.
