Briones powers Helix into 1st place in GHL

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 25, 2026

ROMEO BRIONES CONNECTS AT PETCO PARK on Saturday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbfKsBMo4A8

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com

Helix 9, El Capitan 1

LA MESA — The Helix Highlanders took sole possession of the Grossmont Hills League lead by completing a three-game season sweep of El Capitan, winning 9-1 on Saturday (Apr. 25).

Helix (12-10 overall, 4-1 GHL) moves a half-game ahead of idle Granite Hills (4-2).

Scotties pitcher Romeo Briones captured his fourth straight start, earning his second win over El Capitan in eight days. Briones, a sophomore, was touched for an unearned run in the first inning, then proceeded to fire 5.1 frames of shutout baseball. He struck out five Vaqueros, improving his season record to 5-1.

Despite El Capitan’s early advantage, Helix responded immediately with five runs in the bottom of the first inning to put the game away early.

Helix needed just two batters to pull even. Josh Rivera drew a leadoff walk, stole a pair of bases, then came home on a Kei Smith base hit.

Two additional walks loaded the bases, then Bryan Herman delivered a two-run single through the left side for the game-winning RBI.

Helix saw its first six batters reach base, followed by a strikeout, a sacrifice fly from Rory Kleiner, another walk, then an RBI single by Rivera in his second at-bat of the inning.

El Capitan’s lone run came in unusual fashion.

With runners on the corners, Briones picked off the runner at first base, who was eventually tagged out at second. However, the runner at third, Kasen Baker, crossed the plate during the play.

The run was unearned because Baker reached base on a dropped third strike, which is scored as a defensive error.

In the fifth inning, Helix added another run when Smith, after reaching on an RBI single, stole second base, allowing Rivera to race home on the throw.

— Nick Pellegrino