Historical notes on Granite Hills’ run

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: May 16, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com

Grossmont Hills League

Granite Hiulls 12, Valhalla 2

EL CAJON – Three of the greatest ballclubs hailing from East County — all CIF-San Diego Section champions — Santana in 1986, Helix in 1988, and Grossmont in 1990.

These ballclubs all have one thing in common: they all finished the regular season with just two losses before racing through the postseason with three consecutive victories.

The best was Grossmont at 28-2, followed by Santana (26-2) and Helix (23-2).

No one is openly predicting such ultimate success for the Granite Hills Eagles, but we can officially list one major milestone.

Granite Hills became the first Grossmont Conference ballclub since the circuit was created in 1962 to post a non-losing record, compiling a 20-0-2 mark following Thursday’s (May 15) triumph over neighboring Valhalla, 12-2.

In addition, the Eagles became ahe first Grossmont Hills League team to win the championship with an unblemished record. The league was created ifor the 2010 campaign.

Sure, there have been unbeaten teams in the Grossmont Valley, but the highly-competitive Hills League is an entirely different animal.

Granite Hills is expected to be the top seed in the Open Division of the CIFSDS playoofs, which will is scheduled to be announced on Saturday.

Game Stuff

Valhalla (7-19 overall, 3-9 GHL) briefly held a 1-0 lead, but Granite Hills answered with five runs in both the second and third frames to post its 26th consecutive regular season game without aloss.

Senior Day was enjoyed by 12th-grader Trevor Smith, who belted a 2-run homer for his fourth bomb of the year.

Smith matched teammates Tommy Entrekin and Brenden Lewis with two RBI, but the game-leading was Parker Vance with four RBI. All four are seniors.

Vance also led with three of the Eagles’ 12 hits.

Valhalla gained a solo homer from Bshar Qanbar. It was the junior’s first varsity home run.

Grossmont 5, Helix 2

FLETCHER HILLS – The Grossmont Foothillers were bounced by a composite score of 50-13 in their previous four contests (30-4 in the last two) — all ugly losses.

In other words, the season is over — let’s get ready for summer ball.

However, the prregame pep talk was obviosduly about pride in a ballagem againmst your arch rivals from the other side of the freeway.

Buoyed be a trio of pitchers — Luis Camargo, Jake Richard and Nate McCance — the Hillers trio combined on a 2-hitter in shutting down Helix, 5-2, at Gizoni Field.

The triunoh allowed Grossmont (11-17 overall, 3-9 league) to avoid sitting last in the Grossmont Hills League by themselves, sharing the four-spot with Valhalla.

Helix (15-12, 7-5 GHL) clinched second palce behinf top-ranked Granite Hills two weeks ago.

Camargo, a senior, pitched four solid innings in an attempt to gain his first victory in morte than a month. He struck out five Scotties batters,but left in a 2-2 tie.

Grossmont then took command with three runs in the fifth inning on a two-out rally.

Trevor Holmes was walked, moved to second base on a wild pitch, then scored on a basehit by first baseman Max Tufugafale (game-winning RBI).

Pinch-runner Landon Brewer would score on a basehit by Colton Burke.

Burke then tied an (obvious) all-time record by not only stealing second and third bases, but also home plate (according to the game report).

Early on, Helix broke the ice on the second batter if the conbtest, a solo home run by Kie Smith on a drive next to the scorebiard in left fueld.

The Hillers answered with two runs in the third on consecutive RBI basehits by Holmes and ufugafale.

However, the Highlanders answered immediately in the fourth. Romeo Briones singled then took second on an error inthe outfield, coming home on a groundf single through the left side by Antoin Simpson.