Another 8 seconds for Vaqs in walk-off

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 1, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com

LAKESIDE – Longtime residents of Lakeside know full well: If you don’t last the full eight seconds, you get no score.

The rodeo idiom continued for the El Capitan Vaqueros, who nearly got bucked off in the top of the seventh inning, yet hung on to the rope to walk-off arch-rival Santana, 3-2, in Lions Tournament compettion at Hostetler Field.

For the Vaqueros (5-8-1), the decision (win or lose, and a tie) was the fifth straight “go’round” (ballgame) which went finally decided in the seventh or extra innings.

In the seventh, the Vaqueros were sliding off the saddle when Sultans a freshman Landon Braaksma stroked a lead double to left field.then pinch-hitter Brennen Weed barely grounded the ball through the left side for an game-tying, RBI single with two down.

But in the inning’s home half, Aidan Castrejon and Ethan Soule were both hit by a pitch, Courtesy runner Nick McLean advanced to second base.

Santana’s defense took out the lead runner on a fielder’s choice, but then a third El Cap batter, Bryan Banegas, was also struck by a pitch to load the bases.

Dustin Celeste followed by attempting to lift a sacrifice fly to the right side. But with Sultans defenders playing in to cut off the runner at the plate, the ball landed for a walk-off basehit and the game-winning RBI.

Dustin Celeste and Baker registered two hits among El Capitan’s six hits.

Vaqueros pitcher Brett Engle. a freshman, allowed just three hits over six frames. However, the victory went to reliever Seth Walker despite allowing an unearned run.

For Santana, Braaksma, the third baseman, batted 2-for-3 including a triple.

Santana (5-8) saw its 4-game series win streak over the Vaqueros snapped. The previous set back came in 2018. Still, the Sultans have won 13-of-18 against the Vaqs.

— Nick Pellegrino

Elsewhere

Wed., Apr. 1
Granite Hills 6, St. Augustine 3
At Granite Hills: The hist Eagles posted four runs in the second inning to mount a 6-0 cushion, breezing to victory over the struggling Saints *5-9).

Granite Hills (10-3) completes Lion Tournament with a 3-0 mark, advancing to the Premiere/Open final round against Birmingham (Lake Balboa) in a rare 10 a.m. start.

The powerful Patriots (13-3) captured their pool by downing Point Loma (14-1), Eastlake (6-1) and Christian Bros. of New Jersey (3-0).

For the Eagles, pitcher Eurijah Schutza collected the his fourth victory without a defeat with 5.2 solid innings.

Freshman Jesse Maddox recorded the final four ours for his first save.

The early offense featured a 2-run homer from Eurijah Schutza.
Maddox also added with hits, good for a pair of RBI.

|Monte Vista 11, Fallbrook 3
St Spring Valley: The Monarchs are slowly demonstrating they are more than just a single pitcher on their roster.

On Wednesday, senior right-hander Adrian Gutierrez pushed his season ledger above .500 at3-2 after tossing a complete-game triumph over the Fallbrook Warriors.

Gutierrez showed, well, “guts” by escaping several minor jams after allowing seven hits. However, almost all came on ground balls in continuing to frustrate the North County opponents

Gutierrez, who struck out one, yet walked just one, yielding just two earned runs, has now matched his win total from last season.

On offense, Monte Vista (7-8) batted around in the second inning after scoring nine times to breeze to an easy decision.

Everyone contributed throughout, as seven different Monarchs ch from drove in runs, including two each from Diego Vega and Ben Kurtz. Scoring twice were Ben Kurtz and frosh Jackson Michalowski.

Mount Miguel 11, Arleta 1
At Spring Valley: The Mount Miguel Matadors moved into second place in their Lions Tournament pool after stopping the Arleta (north of Van Nuys, west of Burbank).Mustangs.

The Matadors (4-10) can capture their pool if they defeat Pacific Ridge on Thursday, while Campbell Hall needs to loss.

The Matadors scored in five of the team’s six trips to the plate, including a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning, then slowly pulling away.

Patrick Henry 12, Elk Grove 2 (6 inn,)
At San Carkos: The Oatruits scored in the home-half of the sixth inning to invoke the run rue and take down the Thundering Hurd of Elk Grove (Calif.).

Jimmy Gunn tossed a complete-game, 3-hitter, striking out six Eo Grove batters in as many innings.

A pair of Patriots seniors — Lukas Oquendo and Parks Kronk-Hawley — each parked 3-run homer.

Alex Mestman, Alex Mestman and Gunn all scored twice for Patrick Henry (7-5),

Clairemont 8, Ramona 7 (walk-off
-At Clairemont: eir first loss of the season

Other Scores

Granite Hills 6, St. Augustine 3
Acalanes 2, Christian 1
Brentwood 12, Mountain Empire 5
Hoover 12, Valhalla 3
Mission Hills 8, Helix 6
Otay Ranch 15, Steele Canyon 3
Poway 15, Grossmont 14 (walk-off)
Rancho Christian 12, West Hills 2
Viewpoint 20, El Cajon Valley 1