Grossmont baseball facing long road

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 16, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

ECS staff report

FLETCHER HILLS -Grossmont High baseball was in a desperate situation, losing its first three contests before turning things around.

Point Loma was equally seeking answers, but the Pointers season was delayed by weather problems more so than most schools. They needed to prove they were playoff worthy, too.

For thr Foothillers, after winning four straight to get over the .500 hump, Thursday’s (Mar. 16) could’ve been a wrong-to-relax situation. But not for Point Loma, which was seeking the .500 mark for the first time all season.

Thus, not just the results but the scoring line was predictable: Point Loma grabbed an early 4-0 lead, Grossmont rallied to tie, but the Pointers recoiled late to take an 8-4 decision at Gizoni Field.

Down by four, the Hillers scored once in the second and three in the thitd to getg even, but then the Pointers pitching shut the door.

Only two runs were earned against Pointers starter Henry Crim, then closer Jasper McGrath fired two frames of no-hit ball. Both are seniors.

Grossmont’s River Diaz De Leon, who leads the ballclub with a .350 batting average, sacrifice his personal statistics for the good of the team by twice grounding out to the right side, but it allowed runs to score in an 0-for-3,two RBI outing. Brayden Bennett (Sr) hadthe other RBI. Both are seniors.

Pointers right fielder Kian Barker, designated hitter Nick Garcia and shortstop Tobin Orzel collected two RBI each. All three are also seniors.

Point Loma (3-3 overall) has now won two straight , defeating Granite Hills and the Hillers.. They continue a stretch of five games against Grossmont Conference opposition by hosting Steele Canyon on Friday.

Grosmsont (4-4) saw its 4-game win string snapped heading into the most difficult set of games by almost any team in San Diego COunty. Starting Monday, they host Eastlake, then go to St. Augustine, then host its Grossmont Hills League opener against Granite Hills.

Scoreboard

Point Loma 8, at Grossmont 4
Hilltop at El Capitan, ppd.
Kearny at ECVHS, ppd.
Lincoln at Mount Miguel, ppd.
NC-High Tech at Mountain Empire, ppd.
CV-Victory Christian at Julian, ppd.