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© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (3-31-07) — In an unlikely match-up for the Grossmont Conference North-South championship, the visiting Valhalla Norsemen held off upstart West Hills, 6-4, Friday (Mar. 30) at Wolf Pack Park.

West Hills (5-6), under a new coaching regime, was the only Grossmont North League team to finish conference pool play with a winning record, and thus earned the hosting role. Ironically, the Pack was matched against Grossmont South pool champion Valhalla, a team it had beaten earlier in the tournament, 8-3.

“We really wanted to win this tournament, but at the same time we wanted to get some payback,” said Valhalla freshman catcher DANNY HAWKSLEY.

Bobby Wilkins of Valhalla struckout 11 batters over five innings, leading the Norsemen to the Grossmont Conference Tournament crown after stopping host West Hills, 6-4. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

Valhalla jumped in front 1-0 in the 1st inning without benefit of a hit. GREG GARCIA walked, was balked to second, stole third and scored on RYAN O’SULLIVAN’s sacrifice fly. Hawksley followed with a two-out double to the fence, but the Norsemen could get no more against Wolf Pack starter STEVEN SCHIMPF.

Valhalla (7-3), which has won five straight, led only 3-2 after 5 innings. The game was, in fact, in doubt until the final out.

With closer TREVOR FRANK nearing his first save of the season, after earning 5 as a freshman, one out away from silencing the Wolf Pack, and infield error kept the door open.

Freshman TONY SPEARS came to the plate representing the tying run with West Hills runners at first and third.

Frank blew two fast balls past Spears, who eventually worked the count to 1 ball - 2 strikes. Spears then singled to right, scoring DAVID BRISTOL, and cutting Valhalla ’s lead to 2.

However, as AARON GAGNON attempted to advance from first to third on Spears’ clutch hit, Valhalla right-fielder TYLER KEATON made a strong throw to third baseman GARRETT GILES to erase Gagnon for the game-ending out.

“Nine out of 10 times, he’s safe on that play,” said West Hills coach CHRIS BAUM. “It was a great throw but it looked to me that Gags got under the tag.

But that’s the style of baseball we play. We’re going to be aggressive. We dared them to make a perfect throw, and they did.”

Valhalla’s BOBBY WILKINS turned in his second 5-inning stint of the week to roll his record to 4-0. The hard-throwing senior right-hander struck out a career high 11 while rationing the Wolf Pack to 4 hits and 2 runs.

“Wilkins had great movement on his fastball and was just overpowering,” said Hawksley.

Frank finished the job, checking the Pack on 2 hits and one earned run over the final two innings.

Hawksley, who was inserted into the clean-up spot by coach STEVE PERDUE, delivered 3 hits in 4 at-bats. One of his safeties was a key RBI single in the 7th inning that extended the Norsemen’s lead to 6-3.

“I’ve hit 5th, 6th and now 4th,” Hawksley said. “I prefer to hit up in the order, but no matter what position it is, it feels the same to me.”

TOMAS KARAGIANES slapped an RBI double to right-center field in the 2nd inning to extend his East County-leading hitting streak to 10 games.

Trailing 3-1 with 2 outs in the 5th West Hills caught a break when BLAINE HOFFARD’s slicing fly ball to right field was lost in the sun for a double. Gagnon followed with an RBI single and stole second. Gagnon was stranded there, leaving it a one-run game with two frames to play.

Over the final two frames it was point-counter-point. Frank’s RBI single made it 4-2 for Valhalla .

In the bottom of the 6th the Wolf Pack’s RYNE BARKLEY hit a booming triple and scored on ERIC McKNIGHT’s fly ball.

Valhalla padded its lead to 3 in the top of the 7th as O’Sullivan and Hawksley stroked run-scoring singles.

CHRISTIAN 7, SCOTTSDALE CHRISTIAN 6 (8 inn.) – This is a recording… beep.

For the third game in a row the Patriots (5-3) saw a lead evaporate with two outs in the top of the 7th inning when a left-hand hitting opponent stroked a run-scoring hit.

Moviegoers might recognize the plot out of the script of Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray. For Christian High baseball coach MIKE MITCHELL it bordered on a nightmare trilogy.

“This is unbelievable,” said Mitchell. “Three times we get one out away from winning and then come from ahead to force extra innings.”

Despite the unusual road to victory, the Patriots have beaten Scripps Ranch, Kearny and Scottsdale Christian in extra innings – each by a one run margin. Although not the course he would choose to take, Mitchell isn’t complaining about the tightrope walk.

Christian’s latest victory came under the dim lights at Helix High where the Patriots overcame a 5-1 deficit but failed to hold a 6-5 lead. The exciting conclusion came in the bottom of the 8th.

TAYLOR EICHHORST led off the winning inning with a line shot up the middle to extend his season-long hitting streak to 8 games. He advanced to second on ADAM NASH’s sacrifice bunt. Freshman catcher MICHAEL GRUBER ripped a single to left field.

The ball was hit so hard that Mitchell, operating out of the third base coaching box, planned to halt Eichhorst 90 feet from home plate.

The Scottsdale Christian left-fielder, however, fired the ball to the plate anyway. When Gruber continued around first and headed for second, the Arizona catcher – despite pleas from his coach not to do so – fired the ball over second base and into center field.

This is where the plot thickens… The Scottsdale center fielder took the wild toss on one hop and made a perfect return throw to the plate as Eichhorst was attempting to score from third.

“Remember, Taylor is 6-foot-2, 220 and doesn’t exactly run like a deer,” Mitchell said.

The throw from the outfield was on the mark and Eichhorst might have been out had he not made a picturesque hook slide and reached out and touched the plate with his left hand.

“That’s just baseball instincts,” Mitchell said. “That throw had him beat, but he was able to find a way to avoid the tag.”

Eichhorst was the main cog in the Christian offense. He contributed a sacrifice fly in the Patriots’ 4-run 4th inning and slashed an RBI single, giving the Patriots a 6-5 lead in the 6th.

Gruber contributed 3 hits to Christian’s 8-hit total. As a team the Patriots stole 7 bases.

Mitchell was also pleased by his sometimes porous defense.

“We had three Webb-gem plays by our third baseman SHAUN DAY, shortstop BRYAN MITCHELL and second baseman EDDIE YOUNG,” coach Mitchell said. “They were just incredible plays that took away hits. That was kinda refreshing since we had made 25 errors in our first seven game.”

All was not perfect though for the Patriots as they left 12 men on base. Christian has stranded 42 runners in its last three games.

© East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (3-30-07) — The Valhalla Norsemen are riding a 4-game winning streak today thanks to a 4-1 win over El Capitan in Thursday’s (Mar. 29) final round of Grossmont North-South Tournament pool play.

The victory qualified the Norsemen (6-3) to represent the Grossmont South against Grossmont North kingpin West Hills in Friday’s (Mar. 30) tournament championship on the Wolf Pack diamond at 4 p.m.

Naturally the Norsemen will be looking to avenge that loss to the upstart Wolf Pack, probably as much as they want to capture the tournament championship trophy.

Credit Valhalla for winning a game it had to have to reach the East County classic finale.

RYAN O’SULLIVAN was the man in charge. The Norsemen’s junior right-hander limited the Vaqueros (4-6) to just 5 hits and one earned run over 6 1/3 innings.

“O’Sullivan has a live arm,” El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said. “He consistently throws in the high 80s and I think he may have turned it up a notch in the 5th inning. I’ve been told that he tops out at 92 mph. But the thing that makes him really tough, besides his velocity, is he’s able to spot his changeup and curveball when he really needs it.”

Sophomore MATT GONZALES got the final two outs, stranding two Vaqueros on base to earn his second save.

Valhalla took the lead in the 3rd inning as GREG GARCIA led off with a double down the left-field line and scored on O’Sullivan’s single up the middle. PETE THOMAS slugged his first varsity home run with one out in the 4th to make it 2-0.

The Norsemen padded their lead with a pair of runs in the 5th. Once again, Garcia was the catalyst with a bunt single.

“Garcia’s ball started out 3 feet foul but hit the berm and rolled fair,” said Vickery. “That’s the world we’re living in right now.”

GARRETT GILES made the Vaqueros pay when he doubled over the left-fielder’s head to drive in 2 runs.

El Capitan’s hitters batted in bad luck. Or, if you look at it from Valhalla ’s standpoint, the Norsemen denied them of great defense.

The key play of the game came in the 6th inning. TANNER RUST singled and MILES REAGAN was hit by a pitch. One out later BRYSON LUKACIK hit a sinking line drive to center field. Norsemen senior TOMAS KARAGIANES came charging in and made a diving, one-handed catch to rob Lukacik and deny the Vaqueros of at least one and probably two runs.

“That was a great catch,” Vickery said. “He just laid out – fully extended. If that ball gets by him it’s probably a triple and 2 runs for us.”

LUCAS WHITMORE followed with a single to right field to score Rust. But that would be all the Vaqueros would get, thanks to Karagianes’ defensive gem.

Lukacik had one hit in three trips to extend his East County-leading hitting streak to a season-long 10 games.

GRANITE HILLS 3, GROSSMONT 2 – Granite Hills senior ERIC KRAUSE has the mannerisms of Padres pitcher Greg Maddux. No matter what happens he maintains a poker face.

Krause has seen better days during his record-breaking career at Granite Hills, but the effort he produced in Thursday’s (Mar. 29) final round of Grossmont North-South Tournament pool play was quality enough to give him his third win in four decisions.

“He threw a few more pitches than usual (120), but again he showed the grit and determination to come out a winner,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS.

Krause struck out 7 and allowed only one earned run in his East County-leading fourth complete game effort.

Granite Hills gave their star pitcher the early lead when LOUIS CAZARES cracked his 4th home run of the season over the left-field fence, and TRAVIS TAIJERON followed with a line shot down the right field line for his second homer of the campaign.

Both home runs came on 3-1 pitches by Grossmont sophomore LEVI STEVENS.

“Stevens was behind in the count early in the game, and it cost him,” Davis noted. “But after that, he was pretty tough.”

Krause hit a 2-out single in the opening frame but nothing came of it. After that Stevens retired 13 in a row. In fact the Eagles (7-3) garnered only one more hit over the final six innings.

But that one hit – a 6th inning single by center-fielder BRIAN HUMPHRIES – led to the winning run. Humphries advanced to second on an error and eventually scored on AUSTIN COLEMAN’s groundout to break a 2-2 tie.

Grossmont (8-3) picked up its first run in the 2nd inning as DEREK BAUM singled, stole second, went to third on a throwing error and scored on a wild pitch. The Foothillers tied it on KYLE SECCIANI’s solo home run in the 5th.

The Foothillers missed a golden opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the 7th. With one out pinchhitter JUSTIN RUTHERFORD singled to center. AUGIE WILLIAMS then walked on four pitches. JOSH SIMMS singled sharply to right-center field.

Granite Hills right-fielder JOSH QUERIONES cut the ball off and fired a one-hop strike to catcher Taijeron to nail Rutherford at the plate for the second out.

“That’s one of the most consistent parts of our game – defense,” said Davis . “Josh made a perfect throw. But our shortstop (JOHNNY OMAHEN) and second baseman (Cazares) have been playing great defense all year as well.”

Another missed opportunity for Grossmont came in the 4th. The Foothillers loaded the bases on the first of two BRYAN HAAR doubles, a walk to Stevens and CHARLIE PIRO was awarded first base on catcher’s interference.

Krause was up to the challenge as he coaxed the next Foothiller to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Frustrating? Yes. But somehow the Patriots managed to pick up a pair of victories in extra innings, including Thursday’s (Mar. 29) City Conference Tournament pool play finale over visiting Kearny .

“I don’t know what it is about this team, but they always seem to make things interesting,” Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL observed. “For the second day in a row we came from ahead to trail, then came from behind to win. It’s kind of a weird way to play the game, but that seems to be what we do.”

Christian (4-3), which hosts Scottsdale Christian (8-6) in a rare night game Friday (Mar. 30) at Helix at 7 p.m., overcame a 4-3 deficit with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th to clip the Komets.

With one out DANNY MITCHELL lined a single to right field. EDDIE YOUNG followed with a walk and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Playing the odds, Kearny issued an intentional pass to BRYAN MITCHELL to load the bases.

It turned out to be a bad move.

TAYLOR EICHHORST rifled a double over the head of the center fielder to score two runs and give Christian the victory. For Eichhorst it was a big offensive day already for the Patriots’ sophomore, who extended his hitting streak to 7 games with 3 hits in 4 at-bats.

BRADLEY JOHNSTON pitched all 8 innings for Christian, scattering 7 hits and allowing only one earned run. He walked 3 and struck out 3 while pushing his record to 2 wins and one loss.

“Bradley had thrown only 47 pitches through 5 innings,” Mitchell said. Johnston needed a total 97 pitches to finish the job.

ADAM NASH contributed 2 hits to Christian’s 8-hit attack. Bryan Mitchell singled in four trips to extend his hitting streak to 5 games.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (3-29-07) — A new coach and massive graduation caused the majority of West Hills opponents to label the Wolf Pack as also-rans coming into the 2007 season.

Sure enough, West Hills lost two of its first three games. But now, the Wolf Pack (5-5) has the edge on earning the host position in Friday’s (Mar. 30) Grossmont North-South Tournament championship game.

“When I first looked at the schedule I figured Wow, if we can just be 5-5 after our first 10 games, that would be great,” said West Hills coach CHRIS BAUM. “I made that assessment knowing what kind of teams we were going to play while at the same time not being familiar with the character of my players.”

Now that Baum has grown accustomed to those who play for him he is not surprised that the 5-5 Wolf Pack has a shot at playing for East County ’s biggest championship. (See tournament standings box.)

The Wolf Pack pulled a narrow escape against the Monarchs (2-7).

Trailing 5-2 in the top of the 7th, Monte Vista scored two runs and had runners at second and third with one out remaining. ERIC LaBOUBE hit a shot to left field. West Hills’ BRENNAN TAYLOR circled around, fell backward and caught the ball in his lap.

El Capitan's Taelor Worrell slides into home in an attempt to score, but Helix catcher Caleb Schumaker mades the tag in time for the out. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

“I aged five years on that play,” Baum said.

HELIX 10, EL CAPITAN 4 – The Highlanders all but assured themselves of a berth in Friday’s (Mar. 30) Grossmont North-South Tournament championship game by knocking off host El Capitan on Wednesday (Mar. 28).

Helix (7-2), a team not known for its hitting, laced two El Capitan pitchers for 15 hits. Seven of those safeties were of the extra base variety, including a solo home run by JEFF ROSENTHAL and a 3-run homer by MATT COBB.

“Our pitchers have been carrying us most of the season, but today it was our turn,” said second baseman RAUL RITCHIE. “We were aggressive at the plate. This was our best hitting game of the season and it’s a great feeling.”

Ritchie was 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored. Cobb also had 3 hits and drove in 4 runs.

“They fought off a lot of good pitches and put the ball in play,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. “It wasn’t like our pitcher (starter KEVIN MORTON) was making bad pitches, it was more a case of them (the Highlanders) doing a good job on 2-strike counts.”

Helix opened up a 4-0 lead but it wasn’t until Cobb clubbed a 3-run homer in the 4-run 7th that the Highlanders could feel free to celebrate their 5th straight victory.

“We have 18 people who are buying into a system,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “That’s unusual for a high school team where a lot of egos are involved.”

El Capitan ’s BRYSON LUKACIK was 2-for-3 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 9 games.

GRANITE HILLS 7, SANTANA 0 – Sophomore TRAVIS HOPPER may be the difference between Granite Hills winning a championship or finishing a notch or two back as an also-ran. Not to put any pressure on, but the 6-foot-1, 165-pound left-hander seems to be up to the task.

Hopper scattered 6 Santana hits and struck out 3 as he posted his second win in 3 decisions.

“There’s no question he’s a key guy for us,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS.

Granite Hills (6-3), which won for the fourth time in five starts, took command early, scoring 4 runs in the 2nd inning.

Singles by ERIC KRAUSE, KYLE JOHNSTON and JOSH QUERIONES made it 1-0. BRIAN HUMPHRIES then hit a 3-run homer over the right-field fence.

“Everything we did today was positive,” Davis said. “I know as a coach I sure feel better about today than the last game we played.”

Queriones added an RBI double in the 4th and LOUIS CAZARES lifted a scoring flyball to right, giving Granite Hills a 6-0 lead.

Cazares added an exclamation point when he hit the 9th pitch he saw in his final at-bat over the center field fence for his second homer this season.

Not too much excitement for Santana (5-4-1), which has lost 4 of its last 6. None of the Sultans enjoyed a multi-hit game.

The Sultans output consisted of 5 singles and a double by KYLE ROMERO.

On the pitching front the only bright spot for Santana was BRANDYN BELL’s 3 shutout innings. He allowed one hit and struck out 5.

“It can only get better from now,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “Our bats have gone South right now. We’ll be in the cages and get better.”

GROSSMONT 14, STEELE CANYON 2 – The NICK LONGMIRE Show resumed in Wednesday’s (Mar. 28) Grossmont North-South Tournament at Joe Gizoni Field in El Cajon . The right-hand hitting senior outfielder drove in 5 runs with a single and his 6th and 7th home runs of the season as the Foothillers clobbered the Cougars.

Longmire broke up a scoreless deadlock in the 3rd inning when he followed singles by CHARLIE PIRO and JOSH SIMMS with a homer over the right-center field fence. Longmire chipped in an RBI single in Grossmont’s 7-run 4th inning and then finished his day with another home run over the right-center field fence.

“I’ve never seen a kid hit like this over this many games (10),” said Grossmont skipper ROB PHILLIPS. “It doesn’t seem to matter where they throw it, Nick seems to hit it and hit it hard.”

Going into Thursday’s (Mar. 29) final round of tournament play against Granite Hills, Longmire carries a .600 batting average (21-for-35) with 16 RBI, 17 runs and 8 stolen bases.

The No. 2 ranked Foothillers went on a hitting frenzy against four Steele Canyon pitchers. Designated hitter Piro was 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored and 1 RBI. In his last three games the Grossmont junior is batting .556 with 2 homers and 6 RBI.

Simms, the Hiller leadoff hitter, was 3-for-4 with 4 RBI including a 3-run homer in the 5th. In his last three games the Grossmont second baseman is 6-for-11 (.545) with 7 runs scored and 9 RBI.

BRYAN HAAR continued his steady contributions with the bat, driving in 2 runs with a pair of doubles.

Not to be overlooked in Grossmont’s latest scoring free-for-all was senior right-hander MATT SILVA, who was making only his second start. Silva rode the wave of the Foothillers’ bats to record a complete game 5-hitter for his second win in as many decisions.

MOUNT MIGUEL 7, EL CAJON VALLEY 0 – DAVID WYNN pitched a 2-hit shutout and struck out 11 as the Matadors bopped the visiting Braves in Wednesday’s (Mar. 28) final Grossmont North-South Tournament pool play game for both teams.

“We’re getting back on track,” said Mount Miguel coach BYRON GRIGSBY after the Matadors snapped a 5-game losing streak.

Wynn struck out the side in the 1st inning and fanned 5 of the first 6 Braves he faced. Wynn held El Cajon Valley hitless for 3 1/3 innings before DOMINIC BAILEY singled with one out in the 4th. The only other hit Wynn allowed was a double to JOSE TORRES leading off the 7th.

Mount Miguel (4-5) wasted little time jumping on the Braves (2-10) in the opening frame, scoring 3 runs in the 1st inning. The top three hitters in Mount Miguel ’s lineup did most of the damage, generating 6 runs and 5 hits.

JAMES TREBUS, who accounted for half of the Matadors’ 6 hits, led off the 1st inning with a single. BRYANT SHIMIZU then reached base on an error, and both runners scored on NICO CALAFATO’s double. After Calafato stole third, Wynn singled to make it 3-0.

An inning later with two outs Trebus set the Matadors’ offense in motion again with a single to right. Shimizu hit a fly ball to right field that was misplayed, and Trebus came around to score.

An El Cajon Valley error opened the scoring door for Mount Miguel again in the 4th. JULIAN CHARLES struck out but reached base when the ball went to the backstop. A passed ball allowed Charles to take second, where he scored on Trebus’ ground ball single to left. After Shimizu walked Calafato doubled, scoring both runners.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-28-07) -- When the rain and a sprinkling of hail started to fall, prompting a delay in Tuesday's (Mar. 27) lone Grossmont Conference Tournament contest, the only thing going through the minds of visiting Monte Vista High must have been, "We're not going to need to come back here again?"

In the third -- and, ultimately, final --- attempt to complete a regulation ballgame, the Monarchs rode the hitting of ANTHONY LOPEZ and the pitching of JOSH KELLY to down host El Cajon Valley, 13-4.

Lopez batted 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, including the go-ahead, 2-run double in the 3rd inning. Meanwhile, Kelly allowed just one hit over his first five innings in gaining his initial victory of the season.

"We got enough runs on the board early," said Lopez, who hopes to attend USD or San Diego State next year. "And Josh pitched a great game today -- he was on a streak."

After the original contest was completely rained out before the first pitch was thrown, the first replay saw Monte Vista take a 7-0 lead, only to have lightning wipe out the contest in the 4th inning. So after the brief 5-minute pause on the teams' third try, the Monarchs immediately responded to snap a 2-2 tie, when Lopez split the outfielders in left-center with his first double to score DAVID PALACIOS (hit by pitch) and BO AGUILAR (single).

"We're definitely not going to hold our heads down," added Lopez. "We can battle with the best -- this is a much better club than last year's."

Kelly shook off the effects of a 2-run single by Braves catcher JOSE TORRES in the 1st, at one stretch retiring 14 consecutive batters before tiring in the 6th. The senior right-hander struck out four in 5 1/3 innings.

"I didn't know about the (hitless) streak until after the game, but this game boosted my confidence a little bit," noted Kelly. It'll make me stronger for the rest of the year."

Leading 5-2, the Monarchs doubled their score with five additional runs in the 5th, keyed by a 2-run basehit by designated hitter MIKE HOLDREN.

The hit came moments after a wild pitch scored CORY COOPER, who was safe after the catcher's throw to the plate hit Holdren in the back of the leg, yet the umpire ruled the batter had moved sufficiently to not be called for interference.

"But we kept battling and working hard, even if the breaks were not going our way," noted ECV coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN. "At least you saw nine guys hustling and busting their butts out there."

The other El Cajon Valley hit was of the pinchhit variety by ALEX ROE.

Meanwhile, Braves starter KEVIN MANSFIELD tossed a "half of a no-hitter" in his 4 2/3 frames of work. Monte Vista's right-handed batters were 0-for-11 against the junk ball thrower, as only the Monarchs lefties could solve Mansfield with seven hits in 11 official at-bats.

Monte Vista centerfield AARON GOSSMEYER went 3-for-3 plus a walk, scoring twice and driving in a run, while freshman third baseman NICK QUINTERO batted 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored in his varsity debut.

CHRISTIAN 10, SCRIPPS RANCH 9 (10 inn.) – Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL could not remember the last time his Patriots left eight runners on base during a game. But that’s what happened when the Patriots hosted Scripps Ranch on Tuesday (Mar. 27) in a 3 ½ hour City Conference Tournament marathon.

“We left the bases loaded in the 1st, 7th, 8th and 10 innings,” Mitchell noted. “And we left runners at second and third in the 9th. A couple of times those situations occurred with two outs. But this would have been a very frustrating game to lose.”

Fortunately for the Patriots (3-3), two Scripps Ranch errors and a pair of walks added up to the winning run for Christian in the bottom of the 10th.

“Kind of an ironic ending, huh?” Mitchell said. “We get 13 hits in the game and that’s not enough to win. Then we score the winning run without getting a hit.”

Three times Christian came from behind as the Falcons failed to hold leads of 1-0, 8-5 and 9-8.

“That’s true, but two times we came from ahead to lose the lead,” Mitchell said. That would be 4-1 after three innings and 5-4 after four innings.

Some might have said this was a sloppily played game but it wasn’t short on drama.

TAYLOR EICHHORST’s solo home run with two outs in the 4th gave Christian a 5-4 lead.

Trailing 8-5 entering the 7th inning, Christian fought back ADAM NASH singled to right and MICHAEL GRUBER walked. One out later SHAUN DAY doubled to left center, scoring Nash. Then as the Patriots were down to their final strike, DANNY MITCHELL lined a 2-2 pitch to left center for a single, scoring Gruber and Day to tie the game.

After Scripps Ranch assumed a 1-run lead in the top of the 9th, Christian tied it again in the bottom of the inning on EDDIE YOUNG’s leadoff home run.

The game might have continued on until darkness brought a halt to the proceedings had the Falcons (3-5) not kicked the ball around in the bottom of the 10th.

BRAD ROBERTSON reached base on an infield error to start the 10th. Scripps Ranch reliever Jonathan Alives retired the next two Patriots before issuing walks to Young and BRYAN MITCHELL to load the bases.

Young, Eichhorst, Nash, Day and Danny Mitchell contributed 2 hits apiece for the Patriots. Starting pitcher JOHN GEE picked up a pair of RBI on a windblown double in the 3rd inning.

Robertson allowed only 3 hits and one earned run over 3 2/3 innings to pick up his first varsity win.

Valhalla's Greg Garcia (5) slides headfirst to avoid the tag by Grossmont catcher Chris Baum, scoring the game-winning run on Ryan O'Sullivan's basehit to cap a 3-run rally in the 7th inning to shock the Foothillers, 4-3. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-27-07) — Had they known that top-ranked Rancho Bernardo would lose its first game in 10 starts to Rancho Buena Vista, the No. 2-ranked Grossmont Foothillers might have been enjoying the view atop the San Diego CIF ratings today.

Valhalla's Ryan O'Sullivan (top) collects the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 7th, while Tomas Karagianes beats out an infield single, as the Norsemen nipped Grossmont. (Photos by Greg Eichelberger)

Grossmont ace TAYLOR WOHLWEND protected a 3-1 Hillers lead by retiring the first two Valhalla batters in the bottom of the 7th inning.

Credit Valhalla sophomore MATT GONZALES, who kept the Norsemen’s hopes for a last-second victory alive with a bloop single. That spelled the end for Wohlwend as Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS went to his bullpen and brought in fireballer BRYAN HAAR.

GREG GARCIA then laced a single to center to load the bases.

It became a showdown between Valhalla ’s top hitter RYAN O’SULLIVAN and Haar, who was desperately looking for that closing out. O’Sullivan won the duel, giving Valhalla (5-3) a thrilling 4-3 victory.

“When I walked up to the plate I figured I’d either be a hero or everybody would hate me,” said O’Sullivan, who fell behind in the count – one ball, 2 strikes. “When he came in with a 1-1 fastball, I swung out of my shoes trying to hit it (and missed).”

O’Sullivan backed out of the box and gathered his thoughts.

“They’d been getting ahead of me on the fastball, then coming back at me with a curveball the whole game,” he said.

O’Sullivan figured the pattern wouldn’t change. He guessed right.

“I was thinking for sure they would throw me a curveball in that situation,” he said. “He hung it a little on the outside part of the plate.”

For some reason the Foothillers were not playing the right-hand hitting O’Sullivan to pull, and the Norsemen’s best hitter took notice.

“I noticed they left the left field line open,” O’Sullivan said. “So even though the pitch was just a little on the outside of the plate, I definitely wanted to pull it. I got around on it and hit a line drive about 10 feet off the (left field) line.” The ball bounced all the way to the fence, allowing all three runners on base to score.

“Every baseball player loves opportunities like this,” O’Sullivan said. “I was happy the game was in my hands. It was an amazing end to a big victory.”

O’Sullivan said he felt like he was in a mosh pit from the mobbing by his excited teammates after the game.

O’Sullivan pitched the final two innings and was rewarded with his second win in three decisions.

He followed senior right-handed starter BOBBY WILKINS, who pitched 5 overpowering innings, limiting the Foothillers to one hit and one unearned run while striking out 9.

Grossmont took a 1-0 lead in the 4th frame. JOSH SIMMS walked and advanced to third on a double by KYLE SECCIANI with nobody out.

Wilkins bounced back with a strikeout before issuing an intentional walk to load the bases. The Valhalla hard-throwing right-hander recorded a second strikeout and probably would have escaped unscathed had it not been for a passed ball, allowing Simms to score.

In the 6th inning Grossmont stretched its advantage to 3-0 on a 2-run single by LEVI STEVENS.

Valhalla, which lost 8-2 earlier in the year to Grossmont, began its comeback in the 6th inning. Karagianes led off the inning with a single and eventually scored on a groundout by CHRIS THOMAS.

“This was a huge win for us,” said Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE. “To come from behind and beat a team of Grossmont’s caliber says a lot about the character of our team.”

Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS was not pleased by Grossmont’s el foldo in the final frame.

“We can’t expect to win a game when you leave five runners in scoring position and strike out 13 times,” Phillips said. “I guess you could say that if the object of the game was to get to second base, we really played well. Unfortunately, that’s not how this game’s played.”

STEELE CANYON 7, EL CAJON VALLEY 1 – Sophomore CODY KLOPP etched his name into the San Diego CIF record book in Monday’s (Mar. 26) Grossmont North-South Tournament game against visiting El Cajon Valley .

Making his first varsity start, Klopp fired a 3-hitter and struck out 10 during a 5-inning stint for the Cougars (5-3). But more than that Klopp struck out 8 Braves in a row during one stretch to tie the Grossmont Conference record set by Santana’s MIKE HOOK against Valhalla in 1986.

Klopp’s string of strikeouts also ties him for second in the SDCIF record book with St. Augustine ’s Brad Gennaro (1989 vs. Hoover ) and Ramona’s Ashley Dunlap (1999 vs. Patrick Henry), as well as Hook.

“Klopp pitched a great game – at one point he had thrown 24 strikes and just 3 balls,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. “His control was really good today. I expect good things from him in the next two years.”

Ramona left-hander Tim Ellis holds the SDCIF record for 10 consecutive strikeouts against Oceanside in 1986. Ellis later pitched for Grossmont College , the Barona Stars and professionally for a couple of years.

The Cougars scored all the runs they would need in the 1st frame against the Braves (2-8). The first run scored on a wild pitch, and KYLE KERSTETTER’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0.

In the 2nd inning ERIC CARRILLO singled, stole second and third and scored on a single by ANTHONY NAVARRSKI. Navarrski also contributed a run-scoring triple to Steele Canyon ’s 4-run 4th inning. DONNIE FRANK and RYAN MURRAY-LOPEZ chipped in with RBI singles. Kerstetter capped the inning with an RBI double.

“Navarrski got some clutch hits and Frank did a great job in the leadoff spot,” said Mittry.

El Cajon Valley avoided the shutout in the 5th inning when ADRIAN TORRES hit the Braves’ first home run of the season. Junior DOMINIC BAILEY accounted for the other 3 Braves’ hits – one of them a double – and stole two bases.

HELIX 3, SANTANA 2 – In years gone by Helix has ranked as one of the San Diego CIF perennial powers. That is, until the last half dozen years when the Highlanders have slipped in and out of prominence.

Make no mistake about it, COLE HOLLAND’s Highlanders are ready to prove that they belong among the SDCIF elite this season. They currently ride on the crest of a 4-game winning streak.

The Highlanders (6-2) rode another complete game pitching performance by MAHI LaBASTIDA to defeat Santana in the Grossmont North-South Tournament on Monday (Mar. 26) in La Mesa .

The Highlanders now hold a slight edge over Valhalla for the right to represent the Grossmont South in Friday’s (Mar. 30) conference finale at the site of the Grossmont North pool play champion. Helix has allowed only three runs – one less than Valhalla . Both Helix and the Norsemen are 3-0 in pool play.

LaBastida has been the Highlanders’ guiding light. A week ago he beat then-undefeated Grossmont with a complete game outing, and followed that up by stymieing the Sultans with a 6-hitter while striking out 8.

The key to Helix’s victory came in the 5th inning when the Sultans (5-3-1) put runners at second and third with a 2-1 lead and nobody out. LaBastida refused to buckle. The Highlanders got one out when a Santana squeeze backfired. A second out also occurred at the plate when LaBastida threw a ball in the dirt but Helix catcher ZACH TANIDA blocked it, retrieved it and tagged out RYAN STUTZ, attempting to score from third.

“That was just a great play all the way around,” said Holland . “Tanida has been a key for us behind the plate. Zach, our pitchers, and our pitching coach MIKE MILLER have done a great job to make us the team that we are today.”

DALLAS MARTIN, the East County king of hardluck losers, pitched a complete game for Santana, but suffered his third loss in four decisions. He walked none and struck out 6 while rationing the Highlanders to 4 hits.

Only a week ago Martin pitched 5 innings of hitless relief against Helix, but was pinned with the loss when a ball was dropped in the outfield.

Things were looking up for Martin on Monday as he followed a JONATHAN TIPPIN single with his 4th home run of the year, staking Santana to a 2-0 lead.

Back-to-back two out doubles by JEFF ROSENTHAL and RANDY PEREZ in the 3rd inning sliced the Santana lead in half.

The Highlanders won the game in the 5th inning when Tanida singled and JEREMY PETERSON pounded a 2-run home run to dead center field.

“Martin is one of the toughest guys in the county,” Holland said. “He’s totally confident and can throw more than one pitch for a strike. He’s not going to throw his fastball on the first pitch every time. He’s not afraid to throw any of his pitches, no matter what the situation is. The guy is total quality.”

WEST HILLS 5, GRANITE HILLS 4 – Heading into the season most prognosticators dismissed West Hills as a factor in the Grossmont North League pennant race. Apparently first-year head coach CHRIS BAUM and his Wolf Pack did not receive that memo.

For the second time in nine starts West Hills (4-5) knocked off a Top 10 team in Monday’s (Mar. 26) Grossmont North-South Tournament game at Granite Hills.

The visiting Pack, in fact, overcame a 2-0 deficit to upend the 9th-ranked Eagles (5-3).

In the 3rd inning West Hills began its comeback. RYNE BARKLEY doubled down the left field line with one out and advanced to third on a groundout. Barkley scored on ERIC McKNIGHT’s double to left.

STEVEN SCHIMPF then went ape as he hammered a 3-1 pitch for a colossal home run over the right-center field fence, giving West Hills a 3-2 edge.

The Pack came back for more in the 5th thanks to a Granite Hills error. McKnight made the Eagles pay with a long “no doubter” to left-center field for his first homer of the season and a 5-2 West Hills lead.

That would be all the offensive support that senior BRIAN RITAYIK would need as he turned in a complete game 3-hitter against one of East County’s top offensive units.

Granite Hills made a belated comeback in the 6th inning when AUSTIN COLEMAN followed a walk to TRAVIS TAIJERON with his 5th home run of the season.

Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS was miffed by the umpire’s judgment of Taijeron’s apparent home run to left field in the 4th inning that would have tied the game 3-3.

“That was a horrible call,” said Davis, who is not one to badger umpires. “It went around the foul pole, but somehow the guy (umpire) missed it.

“It would be easy for us to sit here and blame the umpire for our loss, but we’ve got bigger issues than that,” Davis added. “At one point our batters took six consecutive first-pitch strikes. That’s hardly being aggressive. We are really struggling at the plate.”

Davis credited Ritayik for his complete game performance, which included 6 strikeouts.

“He was throwing strikes. It was more than just throwing his fastball over, because he proved he could spin a breaking ball over for a strike as well,” Davis said.

What could have broken the game open in the 7th, with one out, Barkley walked and Ritayik hit a double. The Eagles drew their infield in and McKnight hit a laser line drive to short. Granite Hills’ JOHNNY OMAHEN snagged it and stepped on second for an unassisted double play.

“This team, when they play, is a force to be reckoned with,” said West Hills coach CHRIS BAUM of his Pack. “They are consistently inconsistent. They have just got to believe they can beat all these teams.”

EL CAPITAN 11, MOUNT MIGUEL 3 – The Vaqueros are the current leaders to represent the Grossmont North in Friday’s (Mar. 30) Grossmont Conference Tournament championship game. But they are hardly home free.

The Vaqueros are 2-1 against GSL teams and have allowed the fewest runs.

But El Capitan (4-4) has pool play games remaining on Wednesday (Mar. 28) against Helix, and Thursday (Mar. 29) against Valhalla . The Vaqueros will need a good showing in those two games, both of which will be played in Lakeside .

For one of the few times this season El Capitan enjoyed a so-called “breather” as they jumped on top of host Mount Miguel 7-0 after 3 innings in Monday’s (Mar. 26) pool play game.

“Our guys did a great job early in the game, getting their pitch and doing something with it. We had quality at-bats early in the game,” El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said.

The Matadors (3-5 ) handed the Vaqueros their first run with three walks and a hit batter in the opening inning.

El Capitan didn’t break out the bats until the 2nd inning when LUCAS WHITMORE ignited a 5-run inning with a one-out double to left. BRYSON LUKACIK also had a double in that inning, which extended his season-long hitting streak to 8 games. DANIEL LEAVITT stroked an RBI single and MILES REAGAN drove in a run with a fly ball. Whitmore and ANTHONY LYBARGER executed a double-steal for the first run of that inning, a Mount Miguel error gave the Vaqueros another tally, while a bases-loaded walk to KEVIN MORTON plated a third run.

Of the 14 runs scored between the two teams, only 4 runs were earned. All of those markers belonged to the Vaqueros.

TANNER RUST led El Capitan ’s 10-hit attack with 2 doubles and a single in as many at-bats. He also stole 4 bases and scored 4 runs.

“Rust is a smart base runner,” said Vickery.

TONY ALVAREZ paced Mount Miguel with 2 hits and an RBI in 3 at-bats.

MARCO MARISCAL turned in a stout pitching performance for El Capitan, limiting the Matadors to 3 hits and no earned runs while striking out 7 in 5 innings. JAMES LONG pitched the final 2 innings, striking out 3.

“Mariscal was outstanding. This was a good outing to kind of get him back in the groove,” said Vickery.

“El Capitan is a class act,” said Mount Miguel coach BYRON GRIGSBY. “They could have actually blown us out of the water.”

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (3-25-07) — Christian High played its fifth consecutive road game in Saturday’s (Mar. 24) City Conference Tournament at Cathedral Catholic.

Playing on the road is never easy, as the Patriots (2-3) dropped a 7-2 decision to the No. 3-rated Dons. Christian was playing catch-up almost from the outset as Tyler Gaffney gave the Dons (7-2) the lead with a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning.

The Patriots cut the lead in half in the 4th inning on a double by TAYLOR EICHHORST and a single up the middle by MICHAEL GRUBER.

By the time the Patriots scored again off sophomore Jonathan Meyer, the Dons had built a 7-1 lead.

“In the 5th inning we kinda self-destructed, made some mental mistakes and didn’t make some plays,” Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said. Cathedral scored 3 runs in that inning.

“We need to get a little better defensively in the outfield,” Mitchell added. “If we catch a fly ball in a key situation, it’s probably only a 3-2 ballgame.”

Christian managed only 4 hits off Meyer, including DANNY MITCHELL’s RBI single in the 7th.

“We battled but today we just couldn’t get it together,” Mitchell said.

Christian will host its first home game of the season when Scripps Ranch visits on Tuesday (Mar. 27) at 3 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON 3-24-07) — The Grossmont Foothillers recorded a record-breaking blowout in Friday’s (Mar. 23) Grossmont North-South Tournament. Not because they mauled visiting Monte Vista, 20-3, but rather how they did it.

The Foothillers scored a Grossmont Conference record 17 runs in the 4th inning, breaking the previous mark of 16 established by the 1989 Foothillers against Mount Miguel.

Grossmont (7-1) sent 21 batters to the plate, generating 8 hits – 5 of them home runs – including 2 by CHARLIE PIRO. A junior who is also the Foothillers’ football quarterback, Piro led off the inning with a home run over the right-center field fence. He concluded the wild inning with a grand slam, which was his third hit of the game and the third hit of his varsity baseball career.

Grossmont’s home run parade in the 4th also included NICK LONGMIRE’s East County-leading 5th homer with a man aboard, a 3-run shot by JOSH SIMMS and a solo blast over the scoreboard by BRIAN HAAR.

The 17-run outburst included a 2-run double by KYLE SECCIANI, 6 batters hit by pitches, 4 errors and a walk.

The 17-run scoring spree ranks fourth highest in San Diego CIF history, topped only by La Jolla 23, Rancho Bernardo 21 and Christian 19.

LEVI STEVENS, a sophomore southpaw, was the beneficiary of the Grossmont scoring fest. Stevens gave up 5 hits but no runs over 4 innings to post his first varsity victory. He struck out 6.

Simms enjoyed one of his finest days in the leadoff spot for the Foothillers, going 3-for-4 with 4 RBI. Secciani, who has been struggling of late, slashed a pair of doubles to drive in 3 runs and also scored 3 himself.

DAVID PALACIOS had a 2-run single in the 6th inning for Monte Vista (1-6).

SPENCER REED was 2-for-3 for the Monarchs.

GRANITE HILLS 4, EL CAPITAN 1 – TRAVIS TAIJERON led the San Diego CIF with 15 home runs as a junior last season. Such numbers obviously create a reputation and have no doubt made Taijeron a marked man this spring.

Taijeron has maintained a hefty batting average – well above .400 – but did not hit his first home run until the seventh game of his senior campaign on Friday (Mar. 23) in the Eagles’ Grossmont North-South Tournament game against El Capitan in Lakeside .

After BRIAN HUMPHRIES reached first on a one-out infield single, Taijeron belted a 3-1 LUCAS WHITMORE fastball into the middle of the El Capitan parking lot, beyond the left-center field fence, for a 2-0 lead.

“He really tagged that ball. It had to go about 400 feet,” commented Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS. “As much as it had to help Travis’ confidence, it gave our whole team an emotional boost.”

Eagles senior pitcher ERIC KRAUSE took it from there, scattering 7 hits and striking out 9 in a complete game effort that gave him his second win in three decisions.

“It was a typical Eric Krause game,” Davis said. “He works fast, throws strikes and that keeps our defense solid.”

Granite Hills (5-2) played error-free ball against the Vaqueros (3-4).

El Capitan challenged Krause in the bottom of the 1st. The hard-nosed Eagle right-hander struck out the first two El Capitan batters before TANNER RUST singled up the middle. MILES REAGAN followed with a double to center, plating Rust. But that would be all the Vaqueros could muster.

MARK ANDERSON added an RBI double for Granite Hills in the 2nd inning and Krause plated the final run with a sacrifice fly in the 6th.

Although Granite Hills had only 6 hits off Whitmore and reliever KEVIN MORTON, they made them count.

“Granite Hills was able to bunch their hits and made them count,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY.

HELIX 6, WEST HILLS 1 – Its pitching staff depleted by injuries, Helix was in dire need of a strong pitching outing in Friday’s (Mar. 23) Grossmont North-South Tournament game at West Hills.

JEREMY PETERSON delivered. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound senior right-hander blanked the Wolf Pack (3-5) on 4 singles over 6 innings as the Highlanders (5-2) posted their third straight win.

“We’re very thin in pitching right now,” said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. “But Peterson came up big for us and gave us our second straight quality start.”

Peterson struck out 6 and walked only 2 as he picked up his second win in three decisions.

GREG SHELBY got the final three outs but was tagged with an unearned run in the 7th.

The Highlanders took a 1-0 lead into the 3rd frame where they broke the game open by ringing up a 5-spot.

RANDY PEREZ provided the spark for the big inning with a double. He advanced to third on an infield single by DERRIC MILLER. After Miller stole third, RAUL RITCHIE ripped a double, giving the Highlanders a 3-0 advantage. One out later AARON DODD-WADDINGTON tripled home Ritchie.

A few pitches later West Hills attempted to pick off Dodd-Waddington from third, but a throwing error allowed him to score.

A 2-out double by MAHI LaBASTIDA, followed by a Peterson single, made it 6-0.

“Beating Santana and Grossmont back-to-back was great, but we needed to win this game too and we played well enough to get it,” Holland said.

West Hills avoided the shutout when BRET SKINNER drew a one-out walk and eventually scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the 7th.

SANTANA 11, MOUNT MIGUEL 1 – For awhile there Santana coach JERRY HENSON had to wonder whether he could get his Sultans’ offense in synch.

In the last 24 hours Santana (5-2-1) has produced 26 runs on 23 hits.

“We’re still swinging the bats pretty good,” said Henson. “We had a good defensive day – put some hits together and some runs on the board.”

JONATHAN TIPPIN drove in 3 runs with a pair of doubles against the Matadors (3-4). In his last two games Tippin is 4-for-7 with 4 doubles and 6 RBI.

Tippin followed a walk to RYAN STUTZ with a double, giving Santana a 1-0 lead in the 1st. It was more of the same in the 2nd, as Stutz swatted an RBI single and Tippin doubled in 2. DALLAS MARTIN then singled to left-center, scoring Tippin to make it 5-0.

Santana turned the game into a rout with 5 runs in the 6th. COREY KING contributed a run-scoring single and KYLE CULVER clubbed a 2-run homer.

Four Sultans shared in the pitching, with Martin picking up the win with 2 perfect innings in relief.

Mount Miguel avoided the shutout in the 3rd inning when JAMES TREBUS, BRYANT SHIMIZU and NICO CALAFATO swatted consecutive singles.

VALHALLA 20, EL CAJON VALLEY 1 – What had been an anemic Valhalla offense received a much-needed transfusion in Friday’s (Mar. 23) Grossmont North-South Tournament game at El Cajon Valley .

Having scored only 15 runs in their previous 6 games combined, the Norsemen (4-3) battered the Braves for 15 hits while scoring in 6 of their 7 turns at bat.

GARRETT GILES ignited the scoring onslaught with a 2-run single in the 1st inning.

Valhalla led 13-1 after three panels. A dozen Norsemen contributed to the Valhalla attack.

RYAN O’SULLIVAN cracked a 2-run homer during Valhalla ’s 7-run 3rd inning and totaled 3 RBI for the afternoon. GREG GARCIA also had 3 RBI for Valhalla .

O’Sullivan picked up his first pitching win, rationing the Braves (2-7) to 3 hits and one unearned run over four innings. He struck out 7.

Reliever TREVOR FRANK retired all 9 El Cajon Valley batters he faced, striking out 6 to earn the save.

ADRIAN PADILLA drilled a double off O’Sullivan in the 2nd inning to drive in the Braves’ only run.

Trailing by 12 runs at the time, the Braves missed a scoring opportunity in the 3rd inning. They loaded the bases with one out on an error, a single by JOSE TORRES and O’Sullivan plunked ADRIAN TORRES. But O’Sullivan escaped with a strikeout and a pop-up.

Highlights have been few and far between for the struggling Braves, who have lost seven in a row. Diehard veteran coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN noted that CHRIS LENCZEWSKI retired the Norsemen on 6 pitches – one by strikeout – in the 7th inning.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-23-07) — One thing the Monte Vista Monarchs have come to learn about playing baseball at El Cajon Valley High – watch out for Mother Nature.

The Monarchs built up a 7-0 lead in Thursday’s (Mar. 22) Grossmont North-South Tournament game against the Braves, but did not leave with a victory. The game was stopped with two outs in the top of the 4th inning when nearby lightning strikes caused the umpires to send the teams to their respective dugouts.

“You don’t mess around with lightning,” Vetterling said. “I’ve seen enough of it where I’m from. Back there you have to wait 45 minutes before resuming play for every time you see a streak of lightning. And there were probably half a dozen visible strikes over a 20-minute stretch here today. I knew when we came off the field that we weren’t going to be able to continue. It was just too dangerous.”

Then a light rain began to fall. The game could have continued if only rain were involved. But the umpires decided the field was getting too wet, and it was beginning to get dark.

So the game was declared “no contest” and will start over on Tuesday (Mar. 27) at 4 p.m.

It was a tough break for the Monarchs who have won only one of their six starts. They had control of this game, pounding out 8 hits.

Junior catcher ANTHONY MARCON drove in 3 runs with a pair of singles to pace Monte Vista. Unfortunately for him, those numbers will be stricken from the record because the two teams were unable to complete the necessary five innings to make it an official game.

“I don’t know what it is about this place, but we’ve had a similar scenario the last two years we’ve played here,” Marcon said. “It was hailing when we played here last year.”

But that game continued and the Monarchs prevailed.

“We had a delay of about 10-15 minutes, but the storm passed by and we were able to finish,” Marcon recalled.

“I’ve never seen it come in so fast,” Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART said of the thunderstorm. “It was like I was back in Missouri (where he’s from). You don’t expect to see this in Southern California.”

Santana's Jon Tippin (bottom) slides safely into second base with the steal, as Steele Canyon second baseman Donnie Frank can do nothing but catch the ball to prevent it from sailing into center field. The Sultans breezed, 15-5. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (3-22-07) — Santana coach JERRY HENSON never thought of his Sultans as being a high-scoring team going into the season. But he did expect a little more output than what his club had generated in its first six games

Nick Sica of Santana slams a 2-run double, one of six extra-base hit by the Sultans. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

The Sultans hit a gusher in Wednesday’s (Mar. 21) Grossmont North-South Tournament against visiting Steele Canyon. Santana (4-2-1) ripped off 6 extra base hits on its way to a 15-5 tanning of the Cougars

“We’ve been lagging on offense lately,” said Santana senior JONATHAN TIPPIN. “We’ve had some guys in slumps and personally, I’ve been in a slump. But this was a good day to break out.”

Tippin, who has ranked among East County’s top hitters the past two seasons, was batting .278 before Steele Canyon came to town. The senior center-fielder provided the key hit of the day when he tagged a bases-loaded double to right-center field, turning a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead

“We kind of switched up my swing a little bit the day before,” Tippin said of spending extra time working on his hitting with his coaches. “Basically what I did is loosen up my hands a little bit, spread my feet out and let the ball come deeper.”

The three-year veteran also received an added incentive from Steele Canyon. The Cougars, who were leading by one at the time, decided to intentionally walk Santana leadoff hitter RYAN STUTZ to load the bases with one out in the 4th.

“That just gave me motivation, you know,” said Tippin. “I know why they did it, but it was still a form of disrespect. So I just went up there and banged it.”

It was the first of 2 doubles for Tippin who also scored 3 runs and stole a base

“We’ve been beating ourselves lately,” he added. “But that’s behind us now. We’re going to bounce back.”

The top five hitters in the Santana batting order were a collective 9-for-20 with 14 RBI and 9 runs scored.

DALLAS MARTIN slugged a 2-run homer – his 3rd of the season – in the 6th inning after plating a run with a bases-loaded walk in the 5th

Sultans pitcher Kyle Culver struckout seven Cougars without issuing any walks for the 15-5 victory. (Photo by Greg Eichelberger)

Catcher NICK SICA drove in 3 runs with a pair of singles, and BRANDYN BELL rang up 3 RBI with a 2-run double in the 4th and an RBI single in the 5th

“We hit the ball pretty hard,” Henson said. “It’s about time.”

Steele Canyon (4-3) scored three time in the top of the 1st inning to put the pressure on the Sultans

JORDAN HINDI, who was 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored on the afternoon, ignited the early rally with a base hit

DONNIE FRANK followed with a bunt single. MARK BELLATTI hit into a fielder’s choice to score Hindi, and KYLE KERSTETTER singled in a second run. ANDREW BELLATTI plated a third run with a sacrifice fly before Santana pitcher KYLE CULVER snuffed out the rally with back-to-back strikeouts

Steele Canyon starting pitcher ANDREW BRUDER allowed only one run and 2 hits through the first three innings before the roof caved in in the 4th

“Bruder was cruising there for awhile,” said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. “And then he got the ball up – lost his location. Everything was down the heart (of the plate) and you can’t do that against a quality team like Santana.”

WEST HILLS 5, MOUNT MIGUEL 1 – Few of the preseason prognostications include West Hills as any kind of factor in the Grossmont North League pennant race. That was before the Wolf Pack played its first non-league game

Now that West Hills is off to a 3-4 start, including Wednesday’s (Mar. 21) win over visiting Mount Miguel in the Grossmont North-South Tournament, those who doubt the power of the Pack might want to reconsider

This was a come-from-behind win for West Hills, which did all of its scoring in its final three turns at bat

Trailing 1-0 in the 4th, West Hills got a one-out double to left-center from ERIC McKNIGHT. STEVEN SCHIMPF singled to center, sending McKnight to third where he eventually scored on BRIAN RITAYIK’s sacrifice fly

The Wolf Pack grabbed the lead in the 5th. Pinchhitter TONY SPEARS walked and stole second. He advanced to third on BLAINE HOFFARD’s sacrifice bunt

Rookie skipper CHRIS BAUM called for a bunt for the second batter in a row and AARON GAGNON laid down a perfect squeeze, scoring Spears

“We are not really hitting the cover off the ball right now,” Baum said. “We have to go back and play some little ball – you have to put down sacrifices and squeeze plays.”

Gagnon’s bunt was so good that he was able to beat it out for an infield hit

“Gagnon is a great spark plug,” Baum said. “He just causes havoc on the bases. He’s a good, aggressive baserunner.”

The West Hills 5th continued thanks to some Mount Miguel shortcomings. Two West Hills runs scored on wild pitches, taking the Wolf Pack to a 4-1 lead

After two Mount Miguel errors with two outs in the 6th, Gagnon brought in the final run of the game with a single

Gagnon’s game doesn’t end with his offense

“He leads the team behind the plate, he’s a great catcher – one of the best catchers I’ve seen at this level,” said Baum. “He’s smart behind the plate, frustrates hitters – gets into their heads

McKnight and Gagnon accounted for four of the Wolf Packs seven hits

“McKnight is consistently hitting close to .600 (.450 to be exact), I don’t even think the kid has broken out yet,” said Baum

Ritayik allowed only 5 hits and no earned runs over six innings. He walked one and struck out 6

“Ritayik is a diamond in the rough,” Baum said

The only run for Mount Miguel (3-4) came with two outs in the 4th as JAMES TREBUS and TONY ALVAREZ hit back-to-back singles. Trebus went to third when the right-fielder bobbled the ball. DAVID WYNN then hit a squibber between third base and the pitcher’s mound for an infield single, scoring Trebus.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (3-21-07) — Junior EDDIE YOUNG, arguably the best player on the Christian High baseball team, made his 2007 debut as the Patriots designated hitter in Tuesday’s (Mar. 20) City Conference Tournament opener at Morse

Recovering from a severe ankle sprain, Young’s role for the Patriots was limited as he did not assume his normal shortstop position. However, he should be ready to pick up his glove very soon

As the Patriots edged the Tigers 4-3, Young hit a double, a triple and stole a base. It was Young’s triple to right-center field that scored DANNY MITCHELL (walk) with what proved to be the winning run in the 4th inning

Young opened the ballgame with a double to right-center field. He advanced to third on BRYAN MITCHELL’s bunt single and scored on TAYLOR EICHHORST’s fly ball to right

The Patriots (2-2) made it 2-0 in the 2nd inning without benefit of a hit. However, shoddy fielding by Christian handed the Tigers (1-6) three runs in the bottom of the 2nd

Christian answered back in the top of the 3rd. Bryan Mitchell singled to center and scored when Eichhorst tripled to center, making it 3-3

“We got good production out of the top of our order as the top three guys had six of our seven hits,” said Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL

The only other hit for the Patriots was a leadoff single in the 4th by MICHAEL GRUBER. However, he was quickly erased in a double play

Not to be overlooked was the complete game pitching of JOHN GEE. The junior right-hander pitched a 5-hitter, survived 4 walks and struck out 7 to post his first varsity win

“Gee pitched a really good game for us,” Mitchell said. “In the 5th inning, following two outs and a walk, we were getting ready to take him out. But then he retired the next 10 batters.”

© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (3-20-07) — The Grossmont Foothillers were brought back to reality during Monday’s (Mar. 19) opening round of the Grossmont North-South Tournament courtesy of the host Helix Highlanders

With chests puffed out and gaudy statistics to match en route to a 6-0 start, the Foothillers fell flat on their faces. Nemesis No. 1 in Grossmont’s pratfall was Helix pitcher MAHI LaBASTIDA, who held the Hillers – with a team batting average of .400 – to a four hits while spinning a complete game shutout in a 6-0 Helix upset win

“I was pretty nervous, knowing that I was pitching against one of the best teams in the county,” LaBastida said. “But I kept my composure up there and worked hard.”

LaBastida, who has had a hand in three of Helix’s four victories – two of them saves – gave credit to his catcher, ZACH TANIDA

LaBastida had the Foothillers guessing throughout the contest

“They really didn’t know what was coming because I have five pitches – fastball, curveball, change, splitty and slider,” he said. “I was able to throw all of them for strikes today.”

With his game based on the offspeed pitch, LaBastida noted that the Foothillers were unable to touch his slider

“That thing was working really good,” he said. “That was my best pitch, my out pitch today. It was breaking hard to the left. They either looked at it or swung away and couldn’t touch it.”

Helix scored 5 runs in the 2nd inning to provide LaBastida with an early cushion

A one-out single by AARON DODD-WADDINGTON set the stage for Tanida’s second home run of the season – a shot over the left-center field fence. LaBastida kept the rally going with a basehit to left and rode home when JEREMY PETERSON pounded an 0-2 pitch from JUSTIN MASON over the left-center field fence to make it 4-0

The Highlanders kept coming in that same inning when JEFF ROSENTHAL walked and advanced to third on the first of two RANDY PEREZ doubles. After DERRIC MILLER walked to load the bases, RAUL RITCHIE brought in Rosenthal with a sacrifice fly

Ritchie capped the scoring with a solo home run in the 5th inning

“I think we’re a pretty good team right now,” said LaBastida. “I think we played a great team today (No. 2 ranked Grossmont). We have a lot of seniors and we’re coming up big right now.”

The loss snapped a 17-game winning streak (dating back to last season) for the Foothillers, who were flat from start to finish against the Highlanders (4-2)

Tanida shared credit for the Highlanders’ biggest win of the season today with LaBastida

“We were on the same page the entire game,” Tanida said. “We had great communication and we came in with a strategy of what we wanted to do against these guys. He had great control and hit his spots. With Mahi not being an overpowering pitcher, he’s perfect against a team like Grossmont. They swung through a lot of pitches.”

Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS was hardly stunned by the outcome

“I knew when we walked in the gate we were in trouble,” Phillips said. “I know we couldn’t play any better than we did on Saturday (Mar. 17), and we couldn’t play any worse than we played today

“I’m not taking anything away from Helix. Their pitcher threw a great ballgame against us. They made all the plays and our at-bats were absolutely horrible.”

VALHALLA 1, SANTANA 0 – In a classic pitching duel, matching Santana’s DALLAS MARTIN and Valhalla ’s BOBBY WILKINS, the Norsemen prevailed on TOMAS KARAGIANES’ single to right-center field in the 5th inning of Monday’s (Mar. 19) Grossmont North-South Tournament contest in Rancho San Diego

“We’ve been in one-run games in four of our first six,” said Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE

Not surprisingly, the pitching-laden Norsemen (3-3) have won 3 of those 4 close encounters

All of Valhalla ’s victories belong to Wilkins (3-0), who blanked the Sultans on 3 hits and struck out 10 in a complete-game effort. Not many pitchers have reached 90 mph on the radar gun, but Wilkins is one of the few

“In the early parts of the game Wilkins was overpowering, hitting 90-92 mph,” said Perdue. “When he has the mindset to stick with his fastball, which has a lot of movement, he can really be tough. For some reason he tried to start off hitters with a curveball. He was inconsistent.”

Wilkins realized his curveball wasn’t getting it done

“My breaking ball wasn’t doing what I wanted it to do,” explained the 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-hander. “So I went with more change-ups and that turned out to be my out pitch.”

Wilkins said, “This is probably the best game I’ve pitched this season because I was able to adjust.”

The only run of the game came in the 5th inning. Valhalla ’s TYLER KEATON led off with a single to center and kept on running when the Sultan’s outfielder let the ball get by him to the fence. Keaton wound up at third base with nobody out

Santana’s ace Martin got the next two outs before surrendering the decisive single to Karagianes

Santana (3-2-1) was not without its scoring chances

The Sultans best bet was in the 4th. With one out Martin singled to left and it appeared that he was going to score on a double to left-center by NICK SICA. However, Sica’s ball became a ground-rule double as it bounced over the fence

“Sica really smoked that ball,” Santana coach JERRY HENSON said. “It should have been a triple but the hop didn’t go our way.”

Wilkins, after dealing an intentional walk to BRANDYN BELL to load the bases with one out in the 4th, struck out the next Sultan and then relied on his defense to bail him out of the jam

Santana’s CHRIS RABICHAUD hit a chopper back up the middle that took a high hop. Valhalla shortstop RYAN O’SULLIVAN made an acrobatic leap to snag the ball and step on second base for the inning-ending force-out

STEELE CANYON 4, WEST HILLS 2 – No doubt those who follow the Grossmont South League consider Steele Canyon no better than a dark horse in this year’s race

While the players would obviously take issue to that kind of thinking, Cougars coach PHIL MITTRY prefers to remain in that stealth mode

ANDREW BRUDER’s 2-run single broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the 6th inning to launch the Cougars (4-2) to their third win in four starts

Earlier in the game Bruder drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the 4th frame, which gave Steele Canyon a 2-0 edge at the time

But a major contributor to Steele Canyon ’s victory was pitcher ANDREW BELLATTI. The sophomore right-hander limited the Wolf Pack (2-4) to 3 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 10 and walking none. Bellatti was awarded his first win for his efforts

“I was very impressed with Andrew Bellatti,” said Mittry. “He is working on his spots, hitting them really well and had a good fastball going. He worked well with our pitching coach today. He did a great job for a sophomore.”

West Hills, which tied the game 2-2 in the top of the 6th on DAVID BRISTOL’s 2-run double, loaded the bases in the 7th on two walks and a basehit

Enter junior reliever ALEC BARTLEY

“Bartley came into a tough situation late in the game and got his second save,” Mittry said. “In his two saves, both times he came in with the bases loaded and got the out.”

EL CAPITAN 6, MONTE VISTA 1 – Senior LUCAS WHITMORE has been hidden in the shadows of the El Capitan baseball program the last two seasons

In Monday’s (Mar. 19) first round of the Grossmont North-South Tournament it was Whitmore’s turn to shine. The left-hand hitting centerfielder pounded out 3 hits in 4 at-bats as the Vaqueros dispatched the Monarchs in Spring Valley

Not only did Whitmore drive in the game-winning RBI, he also keyed a 2-run 4th inning with a leadoff double

“It was a big day for Whitmore,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. “He didn’t have much success with a bat as a junior so it was nice to see him come through.”

KEVIN MORTON has been money in the bank for the Vaqueros (3-3). The junior right-hander rationed Monte Vista (1-5) to 5 hits while striking out 10 en route to a complete game performance. Morton, who walked only one, increased his East County-leading strikeout total to 32

“Once again Kevin was outstanding for us,” Vickery said of Morton, who owns all three of El Capitan ’s pitching victories. “He stayed ahead in the count and was able to throw his curveball for strikes any time he wanted to.”

BRYSON LUKACIK followed a RYAN INVERSO double with a basehit, extending the Vaqueros advantage to 3-0 in the 3rd inning. Lukacik’s basehit stretched his hitting streak to a season-long 6 games in a row

Shortstop TANNER RUST was 2-for-3 for the Vaqueros

On the Monte Vista side, BO AGUILAR went 2-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 5 games

Monte Vista avoided Morton’s shutout bid in the 6th inning when the Monarchs loaded the bases on consecutive singles by CORY COOPER, Aguilar and MATT MORRIS. Cooper eventually scored on a wild pitch

GRANITE HILLS 16, EL CAJON VALLEY 1 – Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS was proud to say that he inserted 19 players into Monday’s (Mar. 19) Grossmont North-South Tournament rout of visiting El Cajon Valley

“That must be some kind of record,” Davis said

Records are not kept for such things but Davis made his point by clearing his bench

AUSTIN COLEMAN slammed his 4th home run and went 3-for-5 with 4 RBI for the Eagles (4-2). BRIAN HUMPHRIES also drove in 4 runs with a 3-run homer, an RBI triple and finished 3-for-3

Granite Hills scored all the runs it would need in the 1st inning. Humphries sparked the rally with a one-out single, advanced to second on a passed ball, and then stole third. He scored on TRAVIS TAIJERON’s basehit. Taijeron went to second on a error and scored a single by Coleman. ERIC KRAUSE capped the 3-run 1st with a scoring flyball

It was more of the same in the 2nd inning as Granite Hills extended its lead to 6-0. JOSH QUERIONES doubled and scored on a triple by Humphries, who scored on Taijeron’s groundout. One out later LOUIS CAZARES homered over the scoreboard in center field

The Eagles broke the game open with 5 runs in the 3rd. Humphries’ 3-run homer was the key blow in that inning

The Eagles’ scoring parade continued in the 4th with 3 runs. TYLER PONCIANO swatted a sacrifice fly, Coleman cranked an RBI double, and a third run scored on a wild pitch

In the 6th Ponciano singled and Coleman smacked his 4th home run of the season

Sophomore southpaw TRAVIS HOPPER limited the Braves to 3 hits and one run while striking out 6 over 5 innings to gain the win

“Travis is an emerging pitcher,” said Davis . “He’s very sure of himself and he has a bright up-side. He controls three pitches and his best games are ahead of him.”

El Cajon Valley (2-6) avoided the shutout with a run in the 4th inning

KEVIN CARREON doubled, advanced to third on ABEL SANCHEZ’s single, and scored on RAY AQUININGOC’s sacrifice fly.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-18-07) — Are the Grossmont Foothillers deserving of the No. 1 ranking in the San Diego CIF?

Coming off an impressive 14-0 rout of Bonita Vista in Saturday’s (Mar. 17) finals of the 10th annual Foothiller-Aztec Classic at Joe Gizoni Field, Grossmont’s record stands at a perfect 6-0. Reaching back to last year the Foothillers are now riding a 17-game winning streak

“I think we’re No. 1,” said Grossmont senior outfielder NICK LONGMIRE. “We’ve come out firing this year. We have lots of talent and our ability is sky-high.”

Thanks to a 20-hit assault on six Bonita Vista pitchers, the Foothillers are now batting .400 as a team. Thanks to the senior leadership of right-hander TAYLOR WOHLWEND, Grossmont’s team ERA is an impressive 1.83

Eight Foothillers put together multi-hit games, led by Longmire who began the onslaught with a solo home run off Bonita Vista ace Guido Knudson. Longmire finished the afternoon 4-for-5 with 3 RBI

While Longmire raised his season average to .727, BRYAN HAAR went 3-for-3 with 3 RBI to hoist his average to .579. Sophomore first baseman LEVI STEVENS went 2-for-3 and is now hitting at .553

Six Foothillers are batting .300 or better

“I knew we were hitting the ball well, but I couldn’t believe it when I saw the stats,” Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS said

Bonita Vista coach Vincent Gervais was made a believer as he saw his Barons (4-1-1) lose for the first time this season

“The way they were hitting the ball today, they could have beaten anybody today,” Gervais said of the Foothillers

“The thing about it that impressed me is how many times we got hits when we were behind in the count,” Phillips said. “Longmire sets a great example. He’s gotten a lot of his (16) hits with two strikes. He’s willing to shorten his swing and make good contact. Right now he’s just unconscious.”

A key blow in the big inning was a 2-run double by Haar. JUSTIN MASON and KYLE SECCIANI also had RBI doubles in the wild 4th

While the Foothillers were battering the Barons, Wohlwend and CASH McCLELLAN were blanking Bonita Vista on 4 hits. Wohlwend, who owns 3 wins, 2 saves and a 1.50 ERA, worked the first four innings to pick up the win

“My curveball is working best for me,” said Wohlwend, “but I was kinda leaving my fastball up a little bit too much.”

Not that it mattered

Bonita Vista’s best scoring chance came with two outs in the 2nd inning as the Barons put two runners in scoring position. Wohlwend escaped when Longmire made a nice running catch of Christian Mua’s slicing flyball to right field

“They hit some balls hard but I got lucky today,” Wolhwend added

A junior right-hander making his varsity debut, McClellan allowed only one hit in 3 innings as he earned the save. He struck out 2 and walked none

“Taylor is our No. 1 and we wanted to keep him on a pitch count,” Phillips said. “Then McClellan came in and picked us up so we could keep Wohlwend fresh for next week."

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (3-16-07) — It wasn’t quite a case of the Granite Hills Eagles crashing out of a two-game scoring slump in Thursday’s (Mar. 15) Hilltop-Lolita’s Tournament pool play finale. The Eagles (3-2) did, however, score a season high in a 9-1 victory over visiting St. Augustine

Brian Humphries of Granite Hills slides home safely to score in the Eagles' 9-1 triumph over St. Augustine. (Photos by Greg Eichelberger)

“We hit the ball better but we still have some issues with our lineup,” said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS, who’s Eagles totaled 10 hits for the afternoon

Senior catcher TRAVIS TAIJERON, who was mired in an early 2-for-10 slump, broke out with 4 hits in as many at-bats to pace the Eagles

“We all know he can hit, it’s just been a matter of getting his confidence back,” Davis said

BRIAN HUMPHRIES put together his best game of the young season, going 2-for-3 with a double, 3 runs scored and 2 RBI

“Brian hit the ball real well,” Davis said. “It’s good to see him getting back on track.”

Keeping in mind that Granite Hills had scored only one run in the previous 15 innings, Davis had to be pleased with the fast start against St. Augustine (1-4), although it wasn’t a slugfest

With one out in the bottom of the 1st, Humphries was hit by a pitch. Taijeron doubled down the left-field line, sending Humphries to third, and he scored on a wild pitch

A dropped fly ball put two Eagles on base. ERIC KRAUSE – known more for his pitching – then slashed a 2-run double to left center, giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead

Two walks, an infield single and a stolen base helped the Eagles stretch their lead to 5-0

Granite Hills added a sixth run in the 2nd inning. Singles by Humphries and Taijeron put runners at the corners. Humphries scored on AUSTIN COLEMAN’s sacrifice fly

In the 3rd inning Humphries slashed a 2-run double and Taijeron capped the scoring with run-scoring single

Senior DARREN GAY limited the Saints to 4 hits and one run over six innings to pick up his second win in as many decisions. He struck out 3 and walked none while improving his career record to 12-4

“His fastball has really picked up in velocity this year,” said Davis of Gay, whose best pitch is the change-up

Sophomore DEAN MILLER pitched a scoreless 7th and struck out one for Granite Hills

RANCHO BERNARDO 8, EL CAPITAN 7 – Coach STEVE VICKERY’s Vaqueros annually play in the Hilltop-Lolita’s Tournament because “it offers the best early-season competition.”

That’s why Vickery is not too disappointed by the Vaqueros’ 2-3 showing in this annual event, which concluded Thursday (Mar. 16) with a tough loss at undefeated Rancho Bernardo (5-0)

El Capitan rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to lead 7-3 going into the bottom of the 6th inning

“We were really playing well,” Vickery said, pointing to pitcher LUCAS WHITMORE’s ability to hold the Broncos to 3 runs and 3 hits over five frames. “We were hitting the ball well but just couldn’t close the deal.”

Vickery noted that the Vaqueros were 5-for-9 with runners in scoring position

“That’s the good news,” he said. “We had a lot of guys get good at-bats against a quality team. We were right there. We just needed to do the little things you need to do to win ball games.”

El Capitan expanded its advantage in the 6th when MILES REAGAN ripped an RBI single and Lukacik drove in a pair with a basehit

The Vaqueros could easily have scored more had they not hit into three double plays and stranded 10 baserunners

Whitmore, a senior southpaw, threw 91 pitches in 5 innings, which led Vickery to make a pitching change

“Lucas did a tremendous job,” Vickery said. “But his pitch count was high and it’s too early in the season to ask him to go longer.”

The Broncos jumped on the El Capitan bullpen for 5 runs and 6 hits over the final two frames to steal the win.

© East County Sports.com
NATIONAL CITY (3-14-07) — The visiting El Cajon Valley Braves jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning of Wednesday’s (Mar. 14) Bully’s East Invitational consolation game at Sweetwater High

KEVIN CARREON led off with a single, advance to third of a throwing error, and scored on ABEL CERVANTES’ sacrifice fly to center

It was all downhill for the Braves (2-5) after that

Sweetwater (2-4) scored five runs in the bottom of the 1st, as the Red Devils continued on for a 10-1 victory

Since starting the season 2-0 the Braves have been outscored 75-5 during their current 5-game losing streak.

El Cajon Valley self-destructed, committing eight errors, which handed Sweetwater four unearned runs

After allowing the 1st inning run, Sweetwater senior Armando Guerrero limited the Braves to a 5th inning single by ADRIAN TORRES, who was immediately thrown out attempting to steal

Guerrero, who faced only two batters over the minimum in seven innings, struck out five. El Cajon Valley pitchers and MATT THOMAS and Torres fanned three apiece.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (3-14-07) — When CHRIS BAUM accepted the West Hills coaching post there were no expectations for the Wolf Pack, considering the majority of the team had graduated

“I knew when I came in that basically I’d be building from the ground up,” he said

So far West Hills is 2-3 under Baum. But the prospect of a sparkling future came to light in Tuesday’s (Mar. 13) Foothiller-Aztec Classic finale when the host Wolf Pack knocked off No. 2 ranked Valhalla, 8-3

“For a first-year coach as I am, this has got to be one of the best wins I’ll have in my career,” Baum said. “It’s one of those games I’ll probably never forget. To beat a team with all the tradition that Valhalla and its great coach STEVE PERDUE have is really special

“It should really put a fire under our team.”

Sophomore BRENNAN TAYLOR scattered 5 hits, allowed 3 runs and struck out 6 to pick up the victory

“Taylor was absolutely amazing,” Baum said of his 6-foot-3, 160-pound right-hander. “He’s a hard thrower who’s only going to get better. He just battled out there today.”

Senior BRIAN RITAYIK pitched 2 innings of one-hit shutout relief to earn the save

“Once we got the lead at 5-3, Ritayik came up to me and said he wanted the ball - he wanted to finish it off,” Baum said

Ritayik did just that

In addition to his clutch pitching Ritayik broke the game open in the bottom of the 6th with a 2-run triple to left-center to cap the scoring

It was the third straight loss for Valhalla (2-3). The Norsemen started out strong enough as GREG GARCIA walked, RYAN O’SULLIVAN doubled and CHRIS THOMAS singled to give Valhalla a 2-0 lead in the opening inning

West Hills tied it in the bottom of the 1st on STEVEN SCHIMPF’s 2-run double off the center field fence

Valhalla regained the lead in the 2nd inning. TOMAS KARAGIANES singled and stole second and eventually scored on O’Sullivan’s basehit to left

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Wolf Pack produced the tying run as AARON GAGNON singled, stole second and scored on ERIC McKNIGHT’s double

West Hills took the lead in the 5th inning without benefit of a hit. Gagnon walked, stole second and scored when pinchhitter WILL CRUMPLER’s sacrifice bunt was thrown away by the Valhalla pitcher. McKnight brought in Crumpler with a sacrifice fly

HELIX 8, SANTANA 7 – After one inning it appeared Santana was going to dismantle visiting Helix Tuesday (Mar. 13) in Santee and secure a berth in the Foothiller-Aztec Classic finals

The Sultans (3-1-1) parlayed 6 walks and 2-run home runs by DALLAS MARTIN and BRANDYN BELL to lead 5-0 after the 1st inning

The Highlanders (3-2), however, wasted little time coming back, scoring 7 runs in the next two innings to lead 7-5

Santana tied it in the 4th, but Helix won it in the 5th on a dropped fly ball

“How often can you expect to win against a quality team when you walk six guys and give up two homers in the 1st inning?” Helix coach COLE HOLLAND pondered

The Highlanders launched their comeback in the 2nd inning on a double by AARON DODD-WADDINGTON, which was the first of 6 consecutive hits

ZACH TANIDA followed with a 2-run homer over the right-center field fence

MAHI LaBASTIDA kept the rally alive with a basehit, JEREMY PETERSON followed with a single and STEVEN PEREZ ran for him. After CALEB SCHUMAKER’s single loaded the bases, RANDY PEREZ sliced a base hit down the right field line, scoring two

Suddenly the Highlanders were back in the game, trailing by a single run

Santana sophomore reliever JAMES NEEDY came in to quell the rally by serving up a double-play ball and an inning-ending groundout

In the 3rd inning the Highlanders were right back at it. A walk to MATT COBB, a base hit by Dodd-Waddington and a misplay on Tanida’s bunt loaded the bases for Helix. Back-to-back passed balls handed the Highlanders 2 runs and a 6-5 lead

Santana made a pitching change, bringing in Martin, their ace

LaBastida laid down a squeeze bunt which scored Tanida, giving Helix a 2-run cushion

Sloppy play reigned supreme after that as the Sultans tied the game on a passed ball and an error in the 4th

Helix received the winning marker in the 5th when Cobb reached base on an error, stole second and LaBastida’s fly ball to right field was dropped

Helix receiver GREG SHELBY made his first extensive relief appearance, limiting the Sultans to 4 hits and no earned runs while striking out 3 in 4 1/3 innings

“It was just a great job by Shelby. He sucked up some innings when we had to have it,” said Holland, noting that sophomore pitcher MIKE ANDRADE will be lost to the team for two weeks after undergoing an emergency appendectomy on Saturday (Mar. 10)

LaBastida blanked the Sultans over the final two innings to log his second save

For Santana, Martin was the hard-luck loser, pitching 5 strong innings of hitless relief. He walked one and struck out 7, but could not overcome his team’s defensive lapses

“We gave them one more run than they gave us,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “I feel bad for Dallas. He’s pitched 15 innings and allowed only 2 earned runs, and yet does not have a win.”

FALLBROOK 9, EL CAPITAN 5 – Coach STEVE VICKERY and his Vaqueros probably hope Fallbrook senior Shawn Sanford never sets foot on their field again

Sanford was a one-man wrecking crew against the Vaqueros, driving in 7 runs with a pair of home runs in the opening two frames of Tuesday’s (Mar. 13) Hilltop-Lolita’s Tournament contest in Lakeside

But it wasn’t only the senior standout’s hitting that bothered El Capitan (2-2)

“That guy just killed us,” said Vickery. “He was running up that centerfield bank like he plays here every day. He made three catches that cost us six runs.”

Trailing 7-0, El Capitan fought back in the 2nd inning with solo home runs by MILES REAGAN and NATHAN KIRBY

The Vaqueros were in position for a big inning in the 3rd with two runners on and one out. Reagan clubbed a shot to center that appeared to be marked for a double and 2 RBI, but Sanford made like a mountain goat as he climbed the hill to rob Reagan

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