Monarchs’ Williams finds corner pockets

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 14, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com

SPRING VALLEY — Monte Vista held several options on where to knock in the 8-ball.

The Monarchs could’ve selected a near corner, the opposite side pocket, or even go the length of the table.

Instead, Monte Vista sophomore third baseman Reece Williams elected to take all of the pockets.

Thanks tp book-end home runs by Williams, the Monarchs exploded for all of their eight runs in the second inning to slam visiting West Hills, 8-2, in Tuesday’s (Apr. 14) Grossmont Valley League opener.

The Monarchs (9-8 overall), the only GVL ballclub with winning record, took the first step to claim the school’s first league championship since 1997,when the Monarchs won or shared four straight title (1993-97), including three in the old Grossmont South League.

The previous league titles for the Monarchs date back to 1973-74.

Meanwhile, West Hills (2-11) moved into position to record the second-poorest mark in school annuals, once going 5-19-2 in 1997, just a touch better than the Pack’s debut campaign (3-22 in 1990).

Game Stuff

Williams, a sophomore third baseman, opened the second with a leadoff home run to right field. But when he returned to the plate as Batter No. 10, the bases were loaded and Williams was ready.

This time, Williams pulled the ball to left to double the score, turning a 4-0 lead into an 8-0 cushion with a grand slam. Also scoring were Ben Kurtz, Adrian Gutierrez and Michael Ortiz.

In between the long balls by Williams, West Hills self-inflicted severe damage. issuing four walks and hitting na batter. The inning’s only other basehit was a single by Kurtz.

Eight runs,all earned,on just three hits.

Kurtz matched Williams with two hits, sending the Pride to their third straight victory.

West Hills avoided the shutout bid by Troy Alvarez, who only needed to pitch four frames to gain the victory. The Wolf Pack received a 2-run single from first baseman Andy Mildenstein in the third.

— Nick Pellegrino

And it was as easy as 1-2-3 — as in single, double, triple for the defending GHL titlists.

Included was a 2-run double by Eurijah Schutza, an RBI single from Jake Ervon, then a two-run triple off the bat of Macias.

However, there was much more coming from Macias.

Macias pumped a two-run homer to left in the third, then added a solo shot into the same school parking lot in the fifth, making it 10-0.

Schutza also joined the multi-extra base hit parade with a pair of doubles. Weston Pace added two hits with a double.

Eagles pitcher Hoss Harper carried a sutout into the fifth inning, gaining his running his record to 5-1.

The lone Vaqueros run saw Kasen Baker stroke a double, scoring on the second of two doubles by Matthew Eckis.