Lions: Helix pitching mows down Uni City

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 4, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com

Helix 2, University City 0

LA MESA – University City entered the Lions Tournament as one of the hottest ballclubs in the CIF San Diego Section, sporting a 9-1 overall record.

However, in the Lions Tournament, the Centurions met reality, especially in their event finale at Helix

Scotties freshman pitcher Romeo Briones limited the Cents toa mere three hits throughout Friday’s (Apr. 4) Lions consolation contest, taking a 2-0 victory.

Briones struck out six University City batters. The save went to Antoin Simpson, who fired a 1-2-3 in the seventh.

The decisive inning came in the third, when the Highlanders (7-6) placed both of their runs on the scoreboard t,

Alex Carbajal and Simpson came home with the runs, both reaching without the aid of a basehit. The two-out rally saw Simpson get hit by a pitch, then Carbajal walked,

Jake Johnson followed with a line single to center field, with Simpson — running on contact since there were two down — racing home to open the scoring.

Simpson moved to third, so when Johnson headed for second on a delayed steal, he got caught in a rundown long enough for to chase in Simpson.

Helix finishes the 74th annual Lions event with a perfect 4-0 mark, allowing a mere five total runs (only three were earned).

Next week, Helix opens its Grossmont Hills League slate with a road-and-home series against top-ranked Granite Hills (8-0-2), the defending GHL titlists.

Elsewhere

Westview 5, Christian 1

EL CAJON – The Wolverines of Westview, located in Del Sur(the next exit east of Cathedral Catholic), are struggling this season. However, they did show a touch more pitching to defeat host Christian on the final day of the Lions Tournament.

Arango-Manley and Tyler Bissessar split time on the mound, allowing just one earned run in a 5-1 victory over the Patriots.

Westview moved to 4-9, while Christian (10-3) saw its 5-game winning streak snapped, the last two victories by shutout.

Four Westview runs in the sixth inning oushed the lead to 5-0/ However, Christian avoided the shutout in the seventh when Jacob Zacharzuk (single) eventually came home on a basehit by Benji Molina.

Patriots relief pitcher Trae Pheasant fired three strong, shutout innings before getting tagged in the sixth.

Next week, Christian travels to Scripps Ranch for a Thursday (Apr. 1oO meeting with the Falcons. The following week, the Pats play its league-opening series in a home-and-road with Coronado.

Ramona 11, Foothills Christian (5 inn.)

LAKESIDE – AfterThursday’s consdolation contest in the 74th annual Lions Tournament was postponed by rain in the second inning, the ballclubs continued the contest on Friday (Apr. 4) at Matt LaChappa Field… but not for long.

Ramona scored five times in the third inning, then six moire in the fourth to run-rule Foothills Christian in fifth on a 2-hit shutout of the Knights (7-9).

Borrego Springs at St. Joseph

SAN MARCOS – No report by the host Crusaders.