Defending Champion Eagles gain walk-off
- Updated: April 4, 2023
2023 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
ECS staff report
EL CAJON -Nobody said it woud be easy for the defending Lions Tournament Open Division champion Granite Hills Eagles.
The Eagles scored four times in the sixth inning to take the lead, gave it away in the seventh, but got it back in the bottom of the seventh to register a 6-5 walk-off victory over the San Marcos Knights.
Eagles senior Camden Sos keyed the late comeback with a three-run double, but it was junior Noah Figuered to deliver the game-winning hit.
After San Marcos brought in the infielder to record the second out, even with the Knights back to normal depth, Figuered was still able to drill ed the ball through and into left field to bring home sophomore Tommy Entrekin for the deciding run.
Down 4-1, the Eagles took the lead on the Sos double to vcenter at 5-4. But the Knights’ Jay Moran lifted a sacrifice fly to tie the contest.
Entrekin finished with two runs scored, the first coming on a leadoof homer to right to start the rwlly in the sixth.
Granite Hills (6=2 overall) continues the tournament Tuesday at La Costa Canyon, then return home Wednesday to cap pool play by hosting top-ranked Rancho Bernardo. San Marcos drops to 3-6.
Valhalla 6, Mission Vista 3
RANCHO SAN DIEGO – The Valhalla Norsemen tallied three times in the fourth inning to take a 4-2 lead, then scored in every inning thereafter to down the Mission Vista Timberwolves of Oceanside, 6-3, in Lions Tournament (Division 5/Pool D) action on Monday (Apr. 3).
Valhalla (8-2 overall) only produced six hits,but four went for doubles in an all-or-nothing display on offense. Included were RBI two-baggers by right fielder Colton Stinkeoway, and second baseman Nate Moulton.
Norsemen pitcher Riley Hughes, who posted the walk-off, game-winning hits against West Hills last week, also added another RBI while pitching 6.1 solid innings to agrner the victory. The successful closer was Stinkeoway.
Mission Vista (3-5-1) had an opportunity to force wxtra innings with two runners in scoring position in the seventh, but Valhalla didn’t need extra innings this time , ending the contest on a pop out to first baseman Julian “Triple J” Jerjees.
El Capitan 11, University City 1
UNIVERSITY CITY – Spring break came early for the host University City Centurions,, and the El Capitan Vaqueros took full advantage.
The “Vaq Attack” tallied five times in the first inning and four more in the third to grab an early 9-0 cushion, eventually to cash-out the Cents, 11-1, in Lions Tournament first-round action on Moinday (Apr. 3)
El Cap pounded a series of early RBI doubled to jump-start the ofense, including a two-run double by Brody McAuliffe. The others were run-scoring shots by Jett Hayes and Emilio Fearn Flores.
In addition,Ryder Lynn topp the batting order with three RBI, while Landon Harbach drove in a pair.
El Capitan (10-2) can equal the school’s best start to a season this century with a victory on Tuesday.
University City (6-4-1) ruined the El Cap party with a run in the bottom of the seventh to ruin the shutout bid after McAuliffe rossed 5.1 frames on 3-hit shutout ball.
Liberty Charter 10, Will C. Crawford 6
EL CERRITO – Liberty Charter pitcher Jaxon Adrian posted his best outig of the season — on the mound and at the plate — to power the Lions past th Crawford Colts in Monday’s (Apr. 3) opening round of the Lions Tournament (Division 1/Pool A).
Adrian batted 3-for-4 with an RBI triple, finishing with two RBI anda pair of runs scored.
His pitching was equally impressive. In only 2.2 innings, he struck out 6 Colts batters, then was lifted with a 7-2 lead since his weekly innings limit may be needed for more important competition later in the week.
Because of the CIF Sportsmanship rule, Adrian could receive the pitching win,otherwise the decision will go to reliever Brody Harris, who tossed the next 3.1 frames.
Adrian’s triple came in the first inning to know the game at 1-all. The Colts (the road team playing on their home field) answered with a run in the second but the Lions then scored six times to seize control.
A sacrifice fly by Andruw Godinez re-tied the contest. Then with two outs, N. 2 hitter Brody Harris followed with an 2-run single to take the lead for keeps,, Adrian added an RBI single, then Tyler Peet lined a 2-run single.
Nathan Banks and Peet each finished with two hits for Liberty Charter (2-1). Crawford is winless in three starts.
Monte Vista 3, Calexico 2 (walk-off)
SPRING VALLEY – It was another seventh-inning prformance by Monte Vista’s Caleb Ta-Jones which allowed the Monatchs to secure a walk-off victory over Calexico, 3-2, in the opening pool play round of the Lions Tournament.
Following six strong innings on the mound by Gavin Daley, Taa-Jones entered in relief to set do came through with his clutch hit.
wn te Bulldogs. Then in his turn at the plate, he lined a bases-loaded, one-out single to left field for the walk-off game-winner to also grab the pitching victory.
His half-inning on the mound was aided when catcher Niko Heidt fired the ball to shortstop Tyler Lemen catch a pinch-runner attempting to steal.
Meanwhile, the Calexico bullpen allowed the first three batters to reach in the home-half of the seventh on a single, error and walk. One out later, Taa-Jones.
Monte Vista trailed 2-1 before pulling even in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to center field by Oscar Ortega, the Monarchs’ center fielder, bringing home third baseman David Aceron (leadoff walk).
Monte Vista moved to 5-6 overall; Calexico fell to 7-4.
Patrick Henry 6, Chatsworth 0
DEL CERRO – Patrick Henry pitcher Travis Van Dyke over-whelmed the Chatsworth Chancellors of the San Fernando Valley by firing six innings of 1-hit ball, as the Patriots
Van Dyke, a senior, struck out 8 Chatsworth batters, then Drew Davis pitched the seeventh to close out the victory.
The Patriots (4-4 overall) opened with two runs in the first, scoring in four of their first five trips to the plate.
After Patrick Henry was shutout by Santana, the Patriots have not posted two consecutive blankins, increasing their shutout stirng to 15.2 innings. In the ballclub’s four victories this season, then have yielded just two runs, with the others coming by way of shutouts.
Steele Canyon 7, at Sage Creek 5
CARLSBAD – – A decent pitcehrs’ duel transformed into a wild free-for-all in the seventh inning, allowing Steele Canyon to hold off host Sage Creek, 7-5, in Mondaqy’s (Apr. 3) pool-play opener of the Lions Tournament.
Cougars catcher Tommy Molina bombed a three-run homer to center field to secure a 7-2 lead. However, the Bobcats answered with three runs and had a chance to tie or win it before getting stopped.on a game-ending ground ball to shortstop Ethan Browne.
For the Cougars, senior left fielder Will James batted 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot. Third baseman Azyel Castro and left fielder J.T. Hendrie added two hits each as part of a 10-hit attack.
Steele Canyon (6-6 overall) reached the .500 mark with the victory; Sage Creek (4-5-1) fell from the break-even plateau with the loss.
Scoreboard
Lions Tournament
Granite Hills 6, San Marcos 5 (walk-off)
Valhalla 6, Mission Vista 3
El Capitan 11, University City 1
Liberty Charter 10, Will C. Crawford 6
Monte Vista 3, Calexico 2 (walk-off)
Steele Canyon 7, at Sage Creek 5
Patrick Henry 6, Chatsworth 0
North Hollywood-Campbell Hall 9, Foothills Christian 0
Colfax 12, ECVHS 2
Dana Point-Dana Hills 8, Helix 4
Rancho Bernardo 16, Grossmont 9
Sylmar 5, Ramona 2
Torrey Pines 4, Christian 0
Sacramento-McClatchy 6, West Hills 4
Palos Verdes Peninsula-Chadwick 11, Mountain Empire 7
