Hillers almost slip, share GHL lead
- Updated: May 8, 2024
2024 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
ECS staff report
Grossmont Hills League
Grossmont 6, Santana 5
FLETCHER HILLS in EL CAJON – Ever since a story was posted on, bsaically, how lousy Santana High was playing, the Sultnas have displayrg pride while playing on fire.
On Tuesday (May 7). Santana came oh-so-close of pulling a major upset with the Grossmont Hills League pennant race on the line.
Santana scored four times in the sixth inning to pull even with Grossmont, then almost pushed home a run in the seventh to take the lead.
Instead, the Foothillers answered with a walk-off run in the seventh, avoding the upset wth a 6-5 decision at Gizona Field.
Grossmont regained its share of the first with Granite Hills in the GHL standingd with the regular seasons wrapping up on Thursday.
Noah Habibi belted a two-run double for the Sultans. Noah Habibi and Michael Morrison also drove in runs to get even.
Grossmont chased the Grossmont starting pitcher by scoring five times in the second inning — three unearned — but the Sultans bullpen was nearly perfect the rest of the way.
On Thursday,both Grossmont andGranite Hills controltheir own destiny to determine the champion.
The Hillers tangle with historic rival Helix onthe road; the Eagles entertain Santana. Neither to a sure-shot victory.
Should both teams win (or lose), it is anticipated that Grossmont — due to a poor pre-league record — may get the designation at league champion for purposed of seeding in the CIF playoffs only. In this way, Grossmont holds a high probability of gaining a postseason home game.
That’s if the the coaches play nice with each other at the postseason meeting to discuss issues and name the all-;eague teams (which are officially announced following the playoffs).
Helix 6, Steele Canyon 3
RANCHO SAN DIEGO – Good news for Steele Canyon: the Cougars don’t ned to finish the season on Thursday by holding the final bye date in the Grossmont Hills League.
The Hifghlanders’ Gehrig Syms drove in three runs with a triple and a double.
Also diving in runs for Helix were Nax Euiz, Walker Laub and Kis Jones
Steele Canyon (4-22), once 4-3 overall, finish with a 19-game losing skid, the poorest in the Grossmont Conference since El Cajon Valley went 2-21 IN 2019.
Grossmont Valley League
Valhalla 5, Monte Vista 4
RANCHO SAN DIEGO – The Valhalla Norsemen moved to with one game of completeing a perfect Grossmont VCalley League slate by stopping Monte Vista, 5-4, on Senior Day at the ballpark next to Leto Family Field.
The loss dropped Monte Vista into a tie for second place with West Hills entering Thursday’s season finales.
Just like Santana (see above), the Monarchs scored four times in the sixth inning to pullo even. However, the Norseen answeredin the seventh for the walk-off winner.
For Valhalla, Colton Stinkeoway went 2-for-4 with a double and a par of RBI. The left-handed batter has hit in six of seven, all multiple-hit outings.
Monte Vista’s Gavin Daley batted 2-for-4 with a triple.
El Capitan 3, West Hills 1
LAKESIDE – West Hills was again limoited to just three hits after El Capitan pitcher 9 Brody McAuliffe struck out seven Wolf Pack batters in a 3-1 triumph at Hostetler Field.
Leading 3-0 McAuliffe carried sa shutout into the sixth inning in his continjuing quwast to challenge for GVL pitcher of the year.
Unbeaten Valhalla also has a pair of nominees, too.
For El Cap, Aidan Terrones posted two hits, with a double and a run scored.
Vaqueros RBI went to Emilio Fearn Flores and Landon Harbach.
Valley League
Ramona 3, El Camino 1
RAMONA – You think Grossmont and Ramona had slow starts? Just look at the Ramona Bulldogs.
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Situated firmly in last place in thge Valley League, Ramoa beat second-place Mission Vista last week, then on Tuesday (May 7) downed league champion El Camino, 3-1.
Thew Bulldogs will finish in a tie for fifth place with the loser of Wednesday’s Escondido-Valley Center game. However, the Dawgs will also finish just one game out of second place and heading into nextweek’s CIF playoffs at full speed.
Trailing early 1-0, Ramona pulled even in tyhe fifth inning, then wasted ther Wildcats bullp[en with two runs in the sixth to forge the upset.
El Camino did commit a par of errors to allow two unearned runs, but the deciding blow was struck by Ramona freshman Tallon Ogilvie.
Senior Tait Karlson fired a 3-hittrr for the dAWGD. Karlson struck out seven Wildcats batters before a nicve Senior Day gatherig.
