Steele Canyon forges 4-team pennant chase

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: May 8, 2025

Granite Hills celebrates a grand slam by Anthony Miotti, one of four home runs to down El Capitan

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com

Steele Canyon 4, Santana 2

JAMUL – The mathematics is so simplistic, even a baseball coach — we’re jesting — can determine the ultimate resolve/

In order for Steele Canyon to capture at least a share of the Grossmont Valley League title, the Cougars need to sweep the two school that entered the week sharing the top spot.

In the first of Steele Canyon’s final four ballgames against the GVL
s elitr, the Cougars snapped a 2-2 deadlock by pushing across two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, tripping visiting Santana, 4-2, on Thursday (Nay 8).

In the hunt to, perhaps, gain elevation and a return to the Grossmont Hills League for 2026, the Cougars utilized smart bat control for their victory.

Austin Hall (lead single) would eventually score on a Cameron Leland go-ahead sacrifice flym then Caden Davey line an RBI single to left to bring home Jonah Arens.

After Hall forced Santana to switch pitchers, the bullpen couldn’t keep the ballgame knotted.

Arena was immediately hit by a pitch, then came the sac fly, a balk, then Davey’s basehit.

In the seventh, the Sultans did bring the potential game-tying run to the plate following a lead single by catcher Xander Bennett.

However, Cougars shortstop Julian ervantes started a diuble play, following by a concluding fly out to Davey in left field, giving Cougars pitcher Andrew Bravo the victory.

In his complete-gane effort, Gravo yielded just six hits while striking out three Sutans batters. Only one of the two rus was earned.

Santana trailed 2-1 in the late going, but pulled even when Trevor Eckis drilled a one-out, solo homer to left field in th top of the sixth.

Eckie, the catcher, finished with both RVI for Santana to equal his season-best originally set against Vista on April 2. His batting averageis again approcaching the .400 plateau at .396, with four gits in his last nine at-bats.

Santana (12-12 overall) falls from its deadlock for first place with West Hills, bow stabding in a 3-way draw for second place with Steeke Canyon and Monte Vista.

Steele Canyon (11-13) next plats the return game of the series at Santana, then its a home-and-home showdown with the Wolf Pack.

Grossmont Hills League

Granite Hills 18, El Capitan 1

LAKESIDE – Granite Hills seems to always find another hero among a roster which is clearly the best in East County.

This time, the award goes to third baseman Tommy Entrekin, who posted a career day at the plate.

Tommy Entrekin, batted 5-for-6 with six RBI in hitting for the cycle vs. El Cap.

Entrekin, a senior head to NCAA Division I Cal Baptist in Riverside, drove in a carrer-best six runs in hitting for the cycle, leading the Eagles to a sweep of El Capitan, 18-1, at Hostetler Field.

Entrekin, who already posted a pair of singles, double and triple, came to the plate in the seventh with an opportunity to make Eagles history in what is already a historic season for the unbeaten (18-0-2 overall) and top-ranked Eagles.

The lef-hander utilzing a short, uncomplicated swing, simply made contact and let the ball do the rest.

Instead of “going for cycle with a power-induces swing, the well-schooled swing made the ball sail deep onto Oakwood Drive beyond right field for a 3-run shot to place the finishing touches on the triumph.

“Our coach (James Davis) keeps us focused on each task as the gamegoes on,” said Entrekin, who batted 5-for-6 for the contest.

Home runs were a key in handing El Capitan its biggest setback since 2018 – a 19-0 drubbing by Helix.

The Vaqueros avoid the shutout in the sixth thanks to a one-out triple by Kasen Baker, immediately scoring on a ground ball up the middle by Matthew Eckis, which left th3 defense with no choice but to register the out at first base.

Otherwise, it was an harvest of offense for the Eagles, featuring four home runs.

Already leading 7-0 after scoring six times in the second, Granite Hills reached double figures on a grand slam to left field by second baseman Anthony Miotti in the third.

Then leading 11-0, the fourth inning featured back-to-back, two-out longballs by Brandonn Lewis and Trevor Smith

For Lewis, the home run was his seventh of the season, breaking his deadlock with Mace Wheeler of Valhalla for the Grossmont Conference lead.

Wheeler also moved to within one of the CIF=San Diego Section lead, shared by Max Farrell of second-ranked San Marcos and Elijah Stephens of Sage Crfeek (Carlsbad). LEADERBOARD

The rest of the lineup accounted for the early lead.

The 6-run second featured an RBI basehit from Smith, the first pair of RBI ny Entrekin on a basehit, then run-scoring singles by left fielder Brodey Vicars and designated hitter Phillip Jones.

Eagles starting pitcher Luke Bailey remained undefeated, but only needed to go four innings due to the rout. Bailey (8-0) struck out three Vaqueros batters, lowering his ERA to 0.88 after his four scoreless innings.

“We’ve had great pitching all year from Luke and Brandon,” added Entrekin. “They keep us in every game.”

Valhalla 8, Grossmont 6

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – Valhalla shortstop Josh Ruvera did everything in groups of two on Thursday (Nay 8).

Rivera produced two hits,two RBI, and a pair fo runs scored. The junior middle infielder even stole second base (which is sort of like a “2”), leading the Orange to an 8-6, gate-to-wire triumph over Grossmont in Grossmont Hills League acion.

The Norsemen posted five runs in the first inning, helping the ballclub escape the GHL cellar for the first time this season at 3-7 (7-19 overall).

The Hillers fell a half-game back at 2-7 (10-15) after their exited the bullpen from their pre-gane warm-uos not ready to go.

Valhalla started with lead walks to Jesse McCormick and Mace Wheeler, followed by an RVI single by Rivera to start his strong performance.

Two outs later, another walk and error broght home two more runs, with the Hiullers unable to stop the bleeding until 10 bztters had ste[[ed t the plate. Five reached on base-on-balls.

Grossmont made several charged to move within two runs, including a rally with two down in the seventh, both runs coming home on a Johnny Warren bashit.

The potential game-tying runs were on base, but relied pitcher Noah Connor escaped on a line out to Tanner Lough at first base.

Connor pitched trhe last four innings. Valhalla was still deciding at press time to assign him th victory,or give it to the first reliever for the Norsemen, Enzo Gaipa, since the starting onyl posted two-plus innings.

For Grossmont. first basEMAN Max Tufugafale colected three hits for three RBI.

Summit League

Mountain Empire 5, CV-High Tech 4 (8 inn.)

BUCKMAN SPRINGS – The third time turned into the charm for the Mountain Empire RedHawks.

The co-leaders in the Summit League were in danger of dropping into second place, but the RedHawks were able to ti the game in both the sixth and seventh iining, then won in extras to nip Chula Vista-High Tech, 5-4 in 8 inings.

The winning run came in an unusal fashion.

With Jacob Arnold on second base with two down, the Bruins’ pitvher balked,sending the potential game-winning runner to third base.

CV-High Tech looked at the RedHawks batting order, electing to intentionally walk the next two batters to gain a force out situatuion while facing a batter with, frankly, a lower batting average.

However, Mountain Empire sophomore Jacob Arnold, after fouling off the first pitch, then took the next four pitcheswhich miss the mark, forcing home Arnold.

For Noble, the game-winning RBI was also his second RBI on the day, allowing the RedHawks to remain even with Liberty Charter at the top of th Summit with 5-1 records.

Once trailing 2-o, the RedHawks scored singled runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull even against a ballclub they earlier destroyed, 15-5, in the first round of league play.

The hosts avoided the shutout when a pair of Bruins errors allowed Ezekiel Lopez to score.

ANinning ater, Cameron Leon accepted a leadoff walk. He stole second base, then circled the diamond when the throw went into center field.

CVHT answered with two runs after two were out in the seventh, but the RedHawks againrallied.

Nobel collected his first RBI on a ground ball to the left side, but the third baseman has no play at first as Issac Gonzalez *keadoff single) scored from third base.

Nobel then forced extra innings, scoring following a single, a hit hit batter to load the bases, then a two-out walk to Leon to extend the contest.

Mountain Empire (14-5 overall) collected just four hits, but obviously benefittted from the five late walks.

CVHT (6-11, 1-3) received two hits and a pair of RBI each from catcher Dyllin Ledezma and starting pitcher Andre Skiles, the Bruins’ 2-3 hitters.

Liberty Charter 14, Bonsall 0 (5 inn.)

ALPINE – Liberty Charter waltzed past the Bonsall Legionnaires, 15-0, behind no-hitter by senior Andruw Godinez and freshman Jacob Jones in a 5-inning Summit League contest at Joan MacQueen Middle School on Thursday (May 9). MORE ON FRIDAY P.M.

Grossmont Valley League

Monte Vista 10, at Mount Miguel 0

SPRING VALLEY – Monte Vista maintained a 1-0 advantage until the fifth innings, when the Monarchs bats erupted for nine runs in their final three trip to the plate to sudue host Mount Miguel, 10-0, in Thursday’s (May 8)GVL ballgame.

Monte Vista pitcher Adrian Gutierrez tossed a 5-hit shutout, giving the junior his second career complete game. Gutierrez struck out eight Matadors batters, falling one short of his career high — coming against another neighborhood rival, Morse, on March 24.

The late offense by Monte Vista (7-17, 5-2 GVL) came byway of Damian Ordaz, who belted a triple anf a double for two RBI, while Orlando Rupley also drove in a pair of runs. Both are seniors.

In addition, Xavier Wilson recorded three hits to equal a career-high, with an RBI and scoring twice.

For Mount Miguel (7-16, -7 GVL), the ballclub’s usual duo of Angel Delgado and Easton Sanchez which provided the offense by collecting two basehits each.

West Hills 9, ECVHS 0

SANTEE – when West Hills scored three times in the sixth inning to defeat El Cajon Valley, 9-0, at Wolf Pack Park.

For those who believe in political correctness and not running up the score, the Braves can take solace that this was the closest Grossmont Valley League SCORE for the ballclub in a calendar year in holding an opponent to single digits (8-2 vs. West Hills, Apr. 19, 2024).

Still, conservatives state that “you play to win the game,” so the Braves record falls to 0-17 overall (0-7 GVL).

The Wolf Pack (13-11, 6-1), coupled with Santana’s loss to Steele Canyon, are now alone in first place, one full games ahead of the Sultans, Cougars and Monte Vista (5-2 each).

West Hills recorded just thee RBI, including a pair by reserve Tanner Youngdale, giving the senior three on the season.

Youngdale and Anthony Rosolino combined to pitch a 1-hit shutout.