Pitchers dominate with five shutouts
- Updated: March 14, 2024
2024 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
\Compiled by Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer
EL CAJON – Anyone with a background in baseball will tell you: when the weather heats up, so do the bats.
Not on Wednesday (Mar. 13), despite temperatures climbing to more than 70 degrees in the metro area.
Among the 10 ballgames involving East County high school baseball teams. half of them resulted in shutouts.However, the local squads went a mere 2-3 in such contests, with El Capitan and Granite hills the the lone clubs to win without allowing a run in an overall 5-5 record on the day.
El Capitan 1, Clairemont 0 – Fpr only the third time in the past decade, El Capitan captured a 1-0 ballgame at the home run haven of Hodstrtlrt Field,
Vaqueros pitcher Nathan Brzezinski made a first-inning run standup for six solid frames, then Evinn Padilla pitcher the seventh to register the save in a tournament triumph over Clairemont on Wednesday (Mar. 13).
Brzezunski struck out eight Chieftains batters, yielding just three hits and three walks. Padilla struck out one and allowed one hit to polish off the combined 4-hit shutout.
The lone run came early as Brody McAuliffe (single) would eventually come hpome pon an error by Clairemont.
El Capitan (5-2 overall), the winner of three straioght, returns to action at Mission Bay on Friday.
Granite Hills 2, Cathedral Catholic 0 – In another superior pitching performance by Granite hills, Rowan Haynes struck out seven Dons over 5.1 innings, then Kade Gaeir gained the save by registering foive outs while facing just five batters in the Eagles’ tournament win Wednesday (Mar. 13) at Manchester Field.
Haynes yielding just onme hit, but tired in the soixth. Gaeir came in and shut the door. He also allowed a hit, but the batter was cut down going for an extra base. Otherwise, the other four batters were retired for the combined 2-hhit shutout.
Granite Hills recorded sijgle runs in the fourth and sevewnth injnings, both on solo home runs by junior slugger Phillip Jones.
This season,the Eagles (5-1 overall) torid pitching staff has sllowed just one earned run over their five victories.
On the series with Cathedral Catholic, Grabite Hilkls has won three straight, out-scoring the Dons, 15-3.
Valhalla 8, Scripps -s Ranch 3 – In a scrum between schools going in the opposute direction, Valhalla (5-2 overall) overcame an early 2-0- deficit to topple Scripps Ranch (2-5) in Wednesday’s (Mar. 13) tournament contest.
The entire Norsemen batting card contributed, as five players drove in runs, while of the others scored, including two each by Aidan Treltas and Josh Rivera. Both players also registered two hits each.
Valhalla starting pitcher Colton Stineoway lasted six innings togian the victory. After allowing twp runs in the first, Stinkeoway yielded just one hits over his final five frames, then 0 Julian Jerjees closed out the contest in the seventh.
The Falcons received RBI doubled from Jordan Green and Daniel Lee.
Steele Canyon 2, Montgomery 1 (11 inn.) – Steele Canyon, facing long-time Montgomery coach Manny Hermposillo for the final time in the regylar season, played its longest game since 2010 to nip the Aztecs on Wednesday (Mar. 13).
The Cougars forced extra innings by scoring on match point for Madison, making it 1-all with two downs in the seventgh innjing.
The lone RBI for Steele Canyon came off the bat of Tommy Rimoldi.
Cougars starting pitcher J.T. Hendrie fired the first eight innings but came away with no decision. The triumph went to reliever Greyson Tamborski, who struck out three in as many innings,
The previous long contest for Steele Canyon was a 12 inning affar against Madison, which ended by farknes
s in a scoreless tiein the season opener at Clairemont Mesa.
Hermosilla has coached Montgomery since 1983.
Patrick Henry 13, Grossmont 3 – Patrick Henry senior Talin Gardini blasted a pair of home runs, as the Patriots scored in all six of their team at-bats to throttle Grossmont in the annual Battle for Cowles Mountain.
Patrick Henry (5-2 overall), which is seeking ifts fifth consecutive20-win season, reached dounble fguresfor the first time this season.
Gardini drove in four runs with his long-ball, while Cody Cappelletti and Nate Dill posted 2 RBI each as part of a 13-hit attack.
Elias Burlaza belted a solo home run for Grossmont (3-4). Cody Bigley added an RBI double.
|
Scoreboard
El Capitan 1, Clairemont 0
Granite Hills 2, Cathedral Catholic 0
Patrick Henry 13, Grossmont 3
Steele Canyon 2, Montgomery 1 (11 innl.)
Valhalla 8, Scripps Ranch 3
Bonita Vista 3, Christian 1
Eastlake 4, Santana 0
Madison 4, West Hills 0
St. Augustine 2, Helix 0
Brawley 6, Ramona 2
