CIF finals re-match not an Eagles replay
- Updated: March 3, 2023
Granite Hills file photo, circa 2017
2023 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
ECS staff report
EL CAJON – In 2022, the Granite Hills Eagles came within two outs of capturing the Open Division championships of the CIF San Diego Section before the roof caved in during extra innings in a devestating loss to La Costa Canyon.
So what do you do to open the 023 season? Let the top two ballclubs meet again, this time with completely opposite results.
Unlike the Mavericks,m which tallied seven times in the 8th inning of last seasaon’s title tilt, this time it was the Eagles which posted an impressive 7-spot in the third inning, racing to a comfortable 10-3 veridct on Friday (Mar. 3).
Granite Hills displayed its depth with six different players driving in runs, including a pair of RBI each from senior Jacob Embleton and sophomore Trevor Smith. The better news: the Eagles reached double figures in runs on just 8 hits, with Embleton posting the lone extra-base hit with a double.
In other words, once the weather warms up, so should the Granite Hills bats.
Granite Hills starting pitcher Nico Tomasello carried a shutout into the fifth inning, finishing with 5 2/3 strong frames to collect the victory, Another senior, Trent Davidson, then retired all four batters he faced to shut down the Mavs.
Santana 8, Hilltop 6
SANTEE – Through the opening five innings, life was easy for the Santana Sultans. However, the sixth inningh proverd to be totally diferent.
Visiting Hilltop stormed back to pull even with six runs in the sixth, but the Sultans answered with a pair in the half-half of the frame to take an 8-6 tournament decision over the Lancers.
MORE TO COME
Coronado 1, Helix 0
LA MESA – Coronado pitchers aylor Werth and Mateo Villanueva combined on a 4-hit shutout, capped , by Villanueva retiring the final eright Helix batters he faced, for a save in a massive performance, allowing the Islanders to trim the Highlanders, 1-0, on Friday (Mar. 4).
Werth registered six strikeouts over 4.1 innings, but when he allowed a walk in the fifth, Coronado called upon Villanueva a little sooner than originally expected. However, after the reliever allowed a single to give the Scotties a chance to pull even, he then set down the final 8 batters he faced to register the remarkable save.
The performance proved to be just a touch better than the pitching by Helix, whicxh collected 8 strikeouts, butone of the three alsk allowed proved to be the difference.
The lone run came in the second inning, when consecutive leadoff basehits by Jack Gould and Colton Miller was followed by a walk to NAME to load the bases with no outs.
Islanders No. 8 hitter Cable Fledderjohn then tapped the ball to second base for an easy double play, allowing the run to score with little worry since the contest just started. But the longer Helix went without scoring, the better for both Nnado pitchers, which gained the win without their own team registering an RBI.
The result was similar to Helixs’ first loss last season, when they were also out-lasted to Westview, 2-1 in 8 innings.
Morse 18, Foothills Christian 2
SKYLINE – Just like Granite Hills, the Morse Tigers reached double-digitds inruns with only dinglr-digits in hits to take down visiting Foothills Christian in Friday’s (Mar. 4) called after six innings.
Tiggers first baseman , Marcus Gonzalez, knocked in four runs despite only one official at bat: a 2-run double. The other runs scored on a pair of bases-loaded walks.
Foothills Christian pitching was clearlynot prepared for its opener following several rain-outs, walking 13 Tigers and hitting tree baters with errant potches.In other words, 16 free baserunners made it a long day for the Knights.
The lone runs for Foothills Christian were knocked in by catcher Jack Morgan and and center fielder Stephan Janik on consecutive at-bats in the fourth, but by them, it was already 16-0, includuing 12 runs by Morse in the second.
Knights shortstop Joe Famolaro registered half of the ballclub’s four basehits, batting 2-for-3.
Westview 7, Grossmont 6
DEL SUR – The Grossmont Foothillerd continue to be East County’s NBA team when it comes to baseball.
Many fans would note that the pro basketball league is only worth watching in the final minutes of play — the same could be saqid for the Hillers.
In yet another dramatic finish reminiscent to last season, Grossmont completed a game-long rally with the run in the sevneth inning to pull even, but the Westview Wolverines answered with a walk-off winner in the home-half of the seventh to take Fridays’s (NMar. 3) tournament decision, 7-6.
San Ysidro 7, Monte Vista 1
SPRING VALLEY – Entering the contest with what is believd to be the longst shutout streak in school history to start the season (14 innings),Monte Vista was only able to register a single out before San Ysidro tallied twice in the first inning, going on to a 7-1 verdict at Monte Vista.
The cushion for the Cougars reached 6-0 before the Monarchs answered in the fourths, when Gavin Daley came home on an unearned run.
Monte Vista (2-1 record) did supply 8 total hits, but failed to put any together when the placed runners in scoring position.
With the setback, the Monarchs faied to match their best start since 2011.
San Ysidro failed to provide information on their effort, especially the pitching, which escaped several jam
Mater Dei Catholic at West Hills, ppd.
SANTEE – Friday’s (Mar. 3) was postponed because of wet grounsd
The contest has been re-scheduled for Tuesday (Mar. 7), again at Wolf Pack Park.
- Compiled by Nick Pellegrino
