Granite Hills simply knows how to win

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2026 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

 

East County Sports.com

FLETCHER HILLS – The Grossmont Foothillers possessed an opportunity to slide into the CIF playoffs and cause considerable disruption to the Grossmont Hills League race by closing the regular season against the circuit’s co-leaders.

Unfortunately for the Hillers, experience matters.

And on Wednesday (May 12), the late rally by Granite Hills was even more egregious than another Grossmont setback this season.

Despite a pair of home runs and seven RBI by Nate McCance, including a go-ahead grand slam in the third inning, Granite Hills overcame a 9-3 deficit with nine answered runs — including five in the seventh — stealing a 12-9 decision.

The decisive blow was a grand slam by Granite Hills’ Jake Ervin. The drive to the short porch in right field also brought home Anthony Miotti, Colton Windham and Eurijah Schutza.

Thus, Helix and Granite Hills will go into Thursday’s final ballgames tied for first place with 9-2 marks. The Scotties will travel to face Grossmont; the Eagles host last-place Valhalla.

All Grossmont do is wonder4 what happened — or bounce back and try to defeat their long-time,ancient rivals.

When the Hillers upset Granite Hills in the GHL opener in April, the difference was a six-RBI outburst by Logan Struck.

This time, it was McCance, who slammed for a 4-2 lead. When the Eagles trimmed the margin to 4-3, Grossmont mounted a 10-3 lead on a two-run shot ro right by Tyler Holmes, then McCane added a three-run drive past the scoreboard in left.

To that point, the hosts collected 10 hits. However,a trio of Eagles pitcher — Eurijah Schutza (1-2-3), Jaden Macias (win) and Colton Windham (save); all with two strikeouts — walked just one in retiring nine of the final 10 Grossmont batters to give their offense a chance.

In the sixth, four walks and three hit batters led to three runs — thee was a double play in between — handed three runs to the Eagles.

Then in the seventh, a pair of singles and two more hits batters — an RBI basehit by Windham –moved the Eagles to within a run.

Ervin followed by taking a 2-1 pitch to right for his slam and the first two-homer game of his career.

Ervin earlier his a fifth-inning homer to ignite he comeback. The senior has five long-balls for the season.

Both squad pumped three homers; the other Eagles
homer was registered by Windham, a two-run drive to open the scoring in the first.

Standings: Helix 9-2, Granite Hills 0-2, El Capitan 6-6, Grossmont 4-7, Valhalla 0-11.

 

Eastern League
Madison 2, Christian 1 (walk-off)
CLAIREMINT MESA — The Madison Warhawks captured the Eastern League championship switch a dramatic 2 -1 triumph over the Christian Patriots.

The pitchers’ duel remained scoreless until the seventh inning, but the Pats couldn’t hold on to its 1-0 advantage, giving Madison a 2-0 advantage in the teams’ season-ending three-game series. Both entered the week ay 9-0 in league action.

Harrison Brown doubled to drive in both runs. Brown came up after Christian issued an intentional walk to load the bases to either et a force out at the plate or a double play.

Instead, Brown sent a drive to right field against a drawn-in outfield for the game- and league- winning shot.

Warhawks pitcher Colin Gallagher tossed 6.2 shutout innings until the Patriots ended the clean-sheet.

With two down, Jackson Onan ti chase Gakkagher, with courtesy runner Morones stealing second base,

Madison elected to issue to its intentional walk to Benji

Molina, but the strategy failed when Roman Gustin lined a run-scoring basehit to left field.

The ballclubs complete the series with a season finale at Christian on Friday.

In other league action, Mission Bay won at Mir Mesa, 5-2.

Standings: Madison 11-0, Christian 9-2, Clairemont 6-6, Mission Bay 2-9, Mira Mesa 0-11.
S

— Nick Pellegrino

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