Prep Baseball: Week 2 Scores/Highlights

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 7, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East Count Sports.com

WEEK TWO (Mar. 2-7)

Sat., Mar. 7

Santana 8, at Grossmont 6
At Fletcher Hills:The Siltans tallied five times i te third inning to mount a 6-3 cushion, then staved three rallied to hold off the Foothillers, 8-6, Saturday (Mar. 7) at Gizoni Field.

Ryder Davey and Greg Ryan each knocked in a pair of runs, keeping Santana (2-1) undefeated on the road. Grossmont.hich captured three previous meetings in the series, slipped to 1-2.

Grossmont started fast on a 2-run homer to left by Trey Crawford; Holmes also scored.

However. the Sultans answered with six straight runs, starting with a sacrifice fly by Tatum Morehouse in the second.

An inning later, Davey walked with the bases loaded to knot the ballgame at 2-all,then a major Hillers double-error on a potential inning-ending double play grounder, giving Santana a 5-2 advantage.

The Hillers have been charged for 10 errors in their lasy twooutings; four Grossmont pitchers combined to yield just two earned runs on six hits.

Meanwhile, the Hillers’ Max Tufugafahomered for the second consecutive ballgame, raising his average to .333 in thee outings.

Steele Canyon 9, Valhalla 0

Near Jamul: The visiting Norsemen collected more erros (6) than hits (5),a recipe for another disaster in falling to the Cougars in a contest held next to “The GreatWall of Maul” in left field.

Four pitchers — Luis Santiago, Andrew Bravo, David Soto and Madden McVride-Rodriguez — combined on the shutout, collecting 10 atrujeouts.

On iffense, freshman ogan Page opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first. Momenys later, Austin Hall lifted a solo homer for a 2-0 led.

Logan Page had two hits and a pair of RBI to snap a 3-game skid by Steele Canyo (1-3).

Foothills Christian (6-0) 2, at SD-Southwest 1

At Matt Lachappa Field, Lakeside: Foothills Christian continues to own the best record in the CIF-San Diego Sectgion in any divisio, moving to 5-0 afteroutlasting Southwest(San Diego) in a pitchr’s duel in the South Bay.

knights startng oitcher “Captain” Jack Morgan was staked to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, lasting 4.2 immings to gain the victory. Among his 14 outs, 10 were registered on strikes.

From the bullpen, Jjunior J.J. Granillo finished the final 2.1 frames, survivng a Raiders rally in the sevnth to cling to the dramatic save,

The Knights earned their runs on a single stroke of the bat. when freshman Anthony Garcia sent a bases-loaded double to left field. The drive tp the gap brought home Trevor Cochrum and Morgan.

Otay Ranch 3, at Monte Vista 0
At Spring Valley: the Mustangs fired a 2-hit shutout at the previously-undefeated Monarchs. Both ballclubs are 3-1, but Otay Ranch has the head-to-head advantage in their tournament pool.

Fri., Mar. 6
Christian 5, at University City 0
FULL STORY HERE

Helix 8, San Pasqual 1
At La Mesa: the Highlanders came within one out of a shutpuy in a gate-to-wire triumph over the flightless (winless) Golden Eagles (0-3).

Limited to a pitch count. Maddox Richardson pitched four shutout inings to gain the victory. The junior struck out three San Oasqual batters.

Helix (2-1) may have discovered the closer in sohomore Braydon Rehbein, who struck out five to garner the save based on his three full innings of relief.

The Scotties were in full control early with four runs in the first, then added four mre in the sixth.

Angel Watkins belted a 3-run homer, while Jaxon Gottlieb recorded a pair of basehits and scored both times, while\\\\\yhsnkd by adding a pair of stolen bases.

El Capitan 9, LJCDS 8 (walk-off)
QT hostetler Field, Lakeside: La Jolla Country Day tallied three runs in the seventh to take a 2-run lead, but the Vaqueros responded with a two-run rally to walk-off the Torreys.

LJCDS took the lead on a bushel of unearned runs, courtesy of three consecutive El Cap errors; they recorded six on the afternoon.

The home-half of the seventh was capped on an RBi single by Aidan Castrejon, who lined the ball tgo left field to score Caleb Stearns.

However, several Vaqueros all got hot at the same time to ignite a out-out rally.

Following a lead fly out, senior third baseman Seth Walker grounded a single through the lefy side, then middle infielder Caleb Stearns walked to placed the potential game-tying and gamr-einnin run on base.

Ethan Soule, qho served as second baseman and designated hitterm sent a drive to left field for a double. But since the ball was a low line drive and reached the defnder quickly, only Walker could score to tue the contest with the winning run 90 feet away.

La Jolla Country Day elected to intentonally walk Brandt Walvatne to load the bases. But the strategy back-fired when Castrejon delivered his lined to left.

Dustin Celeste led the Vaq Attack with three RBI, while Kasen Baker and Castrejon each in two each.

The Torryes received three hits from senior right fielder Josh Rock and freshman shortstop Adyn Panganiban.

Coastal 9, at Mount Miguel 5
At Spring Valley: The Stingrays ran their record to 5-0 after stopping the winless Matadors (0-4). The Rays collected 20 hits.

Thurs., Mar. 5
Granite Hills 16, at San Marcos 14 (6 inn., darkness)
FULL STORY HERE

Grossmont 10, Hilltop 4
At Flecther Hills: The Foothillers were off yoas;pw start by yielding three, first-inning runs to theLancers. But in Grossdmont’s second rotation to t and he plate, they scored five tyimesd in the thitrd before pulling away for the tournament victory.

The long-ball was the difference behind a trio of Grossmont homers by seniors Max Tufugafale and Trey Crawford, plus a 3-eun blasy from junior Tyler Holmes. Freshman Dominic Guerra also drove home a pair of runs.

The pitching win went to Reid Barnett. eho came oit of the bukkpeb to fire 3.1 innings of shutout ball to stop winlessHilltop (0-2, which also fell to Santana to open the tournament.

Monte Vista, Canyon Hills 1
At Spring Valley: One of the best pitching performances in early-season paly belongs to <pmarchs hs junior Michael Ortiz, who fired a complete-game 4-hitter at the previously undefeated Rattlers (3-1).

The victory moved Monte Vista (3-0) to the top of its tournament pool, now holding the inside edge to a berth in the championship contest.

Ortiz struck out six battlers from Canyon Hills, with just walk. The lone Rattlers run came in the third inning to tie the ballgame, but the Pride answered with markers in thefifth and sixth frams to collect the triumph.

Sadly for Canyon Hills, three pitchers combined to fire a 1-hitter, as the lone RBI was registered by freshman Cooper Sutton. But the visitors were doomed by 11 walks and a pair of cretical errors.

Editor’s Note: “Serra” reported the pitching effort as a no-hitter; the Monarchs called a ball hit by sophomore Tanner Meyer was a basehit — by “rule,” we have to go by the home team in most cases.

Liberty Charter 10, Victory Christian 0 (5 inn.)
AlAlpine: Victory Christian may be the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division champions in boys basketball, but the Knights’ aseball team is still inneed of an influx of talent after Lions pitchers acob Jones and Zachary Runge fired a 1-hit shutout at Joan MacQuwwn Middle School on Thursday (Mar. 5).

Jones, a freshman toseedthe first four innings, facing just 15 batters. Runge, a frosh, registerd a 1-2-3 in the fifth, when Victory Christian (0-2) conceded.

On offense for the Lions, saac Anderson ans Fisher Chase collected two RBI each, while forsh Travis Kraling added a run-scoring triple.

Soring twice was corner infielder Isaac Anderson, who batted 3-fir-3 at the plate.

The triumph was the first for Liberty Charters (1-3) in four starts.

Mountain Empire 22, at Calipatria 0 (4 inn.)
At Calipatria (Imperial County): In the second inning, the RedHawls scored 18 timws — equaLLY the 8th-best mark in CIFSDS history — to coll the host Hornets.

In capturing their season opener, the RedHawks (1-0) had a shot for the school record (31-0 over West Shores in 2008), but Calipatria ended the debacle.

Borrego Springs 7, Vincenr Memorial 3
In the Low Desert: The host Rams turned the vositing Scots into lambs — in Spanish, “lamb” is “borrego” — by snapping a tied ballgame with four runs in the sixrh inning.

Coronado 4, a[El Capitan 2astlake 3, Santana 0
At Santee: Tutans sophomorepitcher Lucas Yriqui went four niings, as three arms comboined on a 3-shit blanking of the Sultans (1-1). Eastlake also moves to 1-1, so this head0to-hear meting may proved tobe an important pool tie-breaker.

Coronado 4, a[El Capitan 2
Along the Silver StrandL The Islanders munted a quicxk 4-0 cushion, then hung on to banqiush the Vaqueros despite RBI by Branden Hawkins in thefourth and sixth innings.

Gompers Prep 13, El Cajon Valley 9 – — The Braves fell one run short from scoring in double figures since 2024, when they dowed Chula Vista Learning Center, 15-5. The Cobras were scheduled to play ECVHS 10 days later. yet elected to instead forfeit.

Mater Dei Catholic 27, Valhalla 2
At Rancho San Diego: the Crusaders (2-1) scored eight times in the seventh, buy Valhalla avoided the school mark for most embarrassing loss (Helix rolled up 30 runs on the Norsemen in 1988).

Santa Fe Christian 7, Christian 2
On the green field off Greenfield: the Eagles (formerly the Navigators) scored in six of their seven trips to the plate to slowly pull away from the hst Patriots (0-2). SFC is 2-0 in the tournament pool. For the C-Pats, Braeden Casey registered two hits, including a double.

The Bishop’s 6. Steele Canyon 5
In the Holden Triangle: The Cougars scored a run in the seventh and had the potential game-tying runner on ase, but the Knights escaped. The Bishop’s held a 4-1 after the first inning, thrn led by four runs before Steele Canyon’s Austin Hall answeredwith two hits and scored twice.

St. Joseph 21, at Julian 5

Wed., Mar. 4
Foothills Christian 4, Molrse 1: At Lakeside, the Knihts (5-0) only managed three basehits, but three errors by the Tigers were nough tg come out on top at Matt LaChappa Field. All five runs were registered in the fourth nning.

Morse *1-3) ended the “clean-sheet: on a run-scoring double by junior Angel Salamanca.

However,RBI singles by senior Grant Cantor and junior Jack Morgan — the CIF San Diego Seciton leader — claimed the lead. The ballclub’s other hit was registered by freshman Tylor Burrell.

The scoring camee just in time for Knights starting pitcher J.J. Grabillo, who lasted four franes togin the win. The save went to frosh Tylor Burrell, who ckised with three innings of 1-hit ball with three strikeouts; Granillo struck out six Tigers.

Patruck Henry 9, San Pasqual 1: At San Carlos,the Patriots, the defneding CIFSDS Open Division runners-up, are off to another 2-0 start after stopping the winless Golden Eagles )-2) on just three hits.

Starting pitcher Brady Gunn, a seniorm struck out 11 batters over five sgutout innings to collect the triumph.

On offense, Jayden Goldman cackd a double and drve home three runs. Doubles were also collected by Uan Brooke and Alex Mestman’ allthree are seniors.

Four runs in both the fourth and fifth inningd boodyrf yhr lrs to 5-0 and 9-0.

Ramona 6, Helix 3: On “the hill,” the Bulldogs opened a stretch of 5-of-6 at home by doubling-up the Highlanders (1-1).

The Dawgs (2-0),the defending CIFSDS Division 4 champions, extended their section wining streak to 14 straight wins after mounting a 6-0 cushion to half the Scotties 6-game win streak in the head-to-head series dating bck to 2009.

Helix extinguished the shutout bid in the seventh on RBI basehits from Bryan Herman and Jaxon Gottlieb.

Tue., Mar. 3
Granite Hills 7, Del Norte 5: “The Fabulous Five” may be gone, yet the Eagles continue to win after stopping the Nighthawks. The hosts scored three times on their first trip to the plate,hen made t 5-0 after three innings to coast.

The best way to make a mark in the career record book of the CIF-San Diego Section is to have a big season, so frosh Colton Windham did so with an RBI triple to start his ledger.

Meanwhile, two other freshmen — Jesse Maddox and Jaden Macias — collected two hits each in begin their quest to catch CIFSDS hits leader “Captain” Jack Morgan of undefeated Foothills Christian (4-0).

Another Eagles 9th-grader, Colton Windham, scored twice for “The Frosh Four.”

The pitching victory went to junior Hoss Harper, who lasted into the seventh inning.

Editor’s Note: Did you know? Although a former Santana High football coach is credited for giving Del Norte its nickname, “Nighthawks” was first used for the Madison night school program, which deated Patrick Henry for the title in co-ed volleyball — a varsity club sport — in the 1976-77 school year.

Santana 6, Hilltop 4; At Chula Vista: the Sultans downed the Lancers for the sixth straight time (9-of-10 this century) to open tournament action.

The key hit was a two-run reiple by Ryder Davey, as six different players scored for the Sultans (1-0).

Monte Vista 18, CV-High Tech 0: Now, the Monarchs do wear Cardinal & Gold uniforms, just like the USC Trojans. ASnd they were playing a team icknamd the Bruins. Of course, they ran it up!

At S[ring Valley, Monte Vista posted its greatest non-league, shutout triumph in the 21st Century to waste Chula Vista-High Tech.

Five Monarchs collected multiple RBI outings, including three by junior Nichaek Oruz and frosh Owen Sierra.
Adriab Gutierrez struck out five Bruins over four innings to collect the pitching victory.

Borrego Springs 12, Hamilton 3: Congratulations on Granite Hills yo ecome nthe first San Diego County to complete the section schedule with an undefeated record — but which ballclub had the second-best record last season?

The answerL the borrego Springs Rams (16-3), which carried a 13-game win streak ijto the section Division 5-AA championship game.

On Tuesday (Mar.3), the Rams continued to swing the bats.

At Anza, the Rams snapped a 5-game series losing streak by easily bouncing the Bobcats with a 17-hit attack.

El Capitan 5m University City 4: At Hostetler Field, the Vaqueros only collected seven signes and thee RBI — three by Seth Walker– but when the Cents comitted three cretical errors, El Cap (1-0) was glad to claim its opener.

The Centurions has the opportunity to move even in the late going, but the Vaqueros escaped by turning an inning-ending double play

LJCDS 4, Christian 2: At Golden Triangle, the host Torreys grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third inning, just hanging on after Christian climbed to within 3-2 by the sixth inning.

The comeback featured a solo home run by senior Roman Gustin. The other run saw Walker Kane drive home Xander Molina.

Cathedral Catholic 6, Grossmont 0:Dons pitchers Shoei Darvish (4 IP) and Kaden Kuhn, both seniors, combined on a 2-hit shutout at Manchester Field. The pair struck out eight Hillers batters.

For Grossmont (0-1), Trey Crawford and Nate McCance collected early basehits.

Canyon Hills 15, Valhalla 2: At Rancho San Diego, Rattkers sophomore Taylon Sheriff collected five RBI to Quickly conQuer the Qust of the Norsemen (0-2).

Otay Ranch 8, Steele Canyon 6: Near Jamul, t onny Sanchez belted a 2-run homer as the visiting Mustnags scored four times in the sixth inning to grab an 8-2 lead before hunging on to escape a late bid by the Couhars (0-1).

The comeback featutred a two-run double from Caha Gavin.

SD-Hogh Tech 19, Mount Miguel 0: Storm sophomore Izo Kobayashi fired four innings of no=hit ball, but its too early inthe season to eztnd his arm, so three relevers closed out ther 1-hit shutout.

The Storm scored four times o their first two trips to the plate, then things simply got worse for the Matadors (0-3); their lone basehit was Mekhi collected by Mekhi “Mickey” Yancy.

Mon., Mar. 2
Helix 2, Westview 0: A trio of Highlanders pitchers, keyed by four solid innings from sophomore Romeo Briones, stopped the Wolverines on just three hits to take this tournament opener in La Mesa.

Briones struck out four batters, then Bryan Hirman pitched the fifth to gain the win, then Veb Williams fired the final two frames to garner the save.

The lone runs of the ballgame came in the fifth, when Jake Johnson (2 hits) and Herman both came home without the aid of an RBI.

Foothills Christan 10, Chula Vista 4: The Knights are 4-0 to start the season after spanking the Spartans.

“Captain” Jack Morgan collected four RBI on a pair of 2-run doubles, including a line shot in the sixth inning, when Foothills Christian scored eight times to overcome a 3-2 deficit.

Morgan also pitched the first 5.1 innings, but the rally took home off the hook, with the pitching victory going to reliever Trevor Cochrum.

For the season, Knights pitchers have yielded just three runs over 28 innings (0.75 ERA).

Patrick Henry 9, Scripps Ranch 5: The Patriots tallied five times in the fourth inning for a 6-0 lead to skate past the visiting Falcons. Patrick Henry scored its 9 runs on just 4 hits, but accepted 11 free passes (8 walks, 3 HNP)/

Meanwhile, Patriots pitchers combined on a 2-hitter.

Ramona 10, San Pasqual 0: In southern Escondido, the Bulldogs pillaged their former league rivals with a massive 1-hit shutout.

Dawgs pitcher Alex Wilson struck out 8 Golden Eagles over five frames, then Cal Melendez fired two shutout frames of relief..

In addition, Knights belted a 2-run homer, while Colton Simpson registered three hits and scored twice.

Bonsall 21, El Cajon Valley 8 – The visiting Legionnaires from just south of Fallbrook. ow in their fourth season, set a school mark for runs scored.
Mesa-HighTech 6, Liberty Charter 4