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CIF Division IV Championship — Christian Patriots 5, Madison Warhawks 4

Christian High right fielder Michael Stowers makes the diving catch for the final out in the 6th inning, helping the Patriots claim the CIF Division IV championship. (Photo by Susan Cooper Photography) ADDITIONAL PHOTOS HERE

CIF Division IV Championship — Christian Patriots 5, Madison Warhawks 4

Christian High right-hander Brad Robertson tossed 5 1/3 inings of scoreless relief to collect the pitching victory in Saturday's 5-4 comeback victory over Madison. (Photo by Susan Cooper Photography) ADDITIONAL PHOTOS HERE

CIF BASEBALL BRACKETS HERE CIF Division II — Grossmont 8, Bonita Vista 7

Grossmont High second baseman Conor Meredith makes the play to help defeat Bonita Vista, advancing the Foothillers to the CIF Div. II championship game, Saturday at San Diego State. (Photo and Slideshow by Tim Soto)

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (06-03-09) — Grossmont High coach JIM EARLEY calls junior shortstop EVAN POTTER “the best shortstop we’ve had since I’ve been here. And I’ve been here quite awhile.”

Sixteen years, in fact, although this is his first season as head coach of the Grossmont North League champion Foothillers.

When Earley speaks of Potter, he’s talking defense.

“Everything we do as an infield runs through Evan Potter,” Earley said. “When I tell him what I want done he executes the plan. Not sometimes. Always.”

Potter did more than flash his sticky glove in Tuesday’s (June 2) fourth-round victory over visiting Bonita Vista. He drove in three runs with a double and a single helping the Foothillers gain an 8-7 nod and a fifth consecutive trip to the San Diego CIF Division II finals at San Diego State University’s Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Grossmont (24-9) will take on El Capitan (19-13) in its quest for an unprecedented fifth straight SDCIF Division II title Saturday (June 6) at 4 p.m.

“People have been doubting us since Day One,” Potter said. “But I think we’ve shown them we deserve to be where we are now. We’ve earned the right to be the No. 1 seed.”

Bonita Vista (19-13), which fell to the Foothillers earlier in the double-elimination tournament, made an early charge in the rematch. Junior slugger Hector Montes belted a three-run home run in the 1st inning. Montes slugged a second three-run shot in the 4th staking the Barons to a 6-2 advantage.

“Montes is a monster,” Earley said. “I don’t think I’ve seen anybody come in here and hit balls as hard as he has. He hit one ball out to the left off the scoreboard and another to the right of the scoreboard. The last time we faced him he hit a ball so hard to dead center that I thought it was going through the wall.”

Montes has mauled Grossmont pitching in the two playoff games with three homers and 10 RBI. He has six RBI in another playoff contest against Ramona.

Despite all of Montes’ home run heroics, the Foothillers kept firing back.

CRAIG SOGGIE-HENDERSON launched the comeback with a solo shot leading off the 2nd. An inning later CONOR MEREDITH doubled and scored on a single by Potter.

But it wasn’t until the Hillers hammered in six runs in the 4th that they could celebrate a lead (8-6). That burst began with two out and nobody on.

Pinch hitter MARK VASQUEZ delivered a two-run single, scoring BRETT ETHERTON (hit by pitch) and AARON GRIFFIN (double).

“Vasquez’ pinch hit was huge,” Potter said. “He’s been so clutch coming off the bench for us,”

Potter pitched in with a two-run double to right-center and the Barons booted an infield grounder, opening the door to two additional Grossmont runs.

Now the Hillers can finally focus on the brass ring.

“It’s exciting to have a shot at continuing the streak (of SDCIF titles),” Potter said. “It’s something we’ve been talking about since the beginning of the season.”

Grossmont is 3-0 against El Capitan this year.

“We know they are a good team, and we know what to expect,” Potter said. “We’ll be ready and we know they will too.”

CIF Division II — El Capitan 13, Steele Canyon 4

El Capitan Vaqueros at Steele Canyon Cougars (Photo and Slideshow by Mark Gabriels)

EL CAPITAN 13, STEELE CANYON 4 – It’s guys like BROOKS NOBLE that El Capitan will be playing against Grossmont North League rival Grossmont in Saturday’s (June 6) SDCIF Division II championship game at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Noble, the Vaqueros’ junior left-fielder, has batted .643 (9 for 15) in El Capitan ’s four game post-season sweep to the final.

Noble saved his best for Tuesday’s (June 2) elimination of Grossmont South League champion Steele Canyon. He collected four hits, 2 RBI and two runs scored in five at-bats for the Vaqueros (19-13), who have won six of their last seven games.

“I don’t think I made a whole lot of changes,” said Noble of his recent batting spree. “I guess the biggest thing would be I started getting my foot down earlier. When you keep your foot up high the ball gets there faster than you expect.”

In other words, pitchers were blowing the ball by Noble. He was striking out with regularity.

That’s not the case anymore.

“One thing about getting your foot down earlier, it allows you to see the ball better,” Noble continued. “It seems like it slows the ball down, it’s not on you so fast.”

El Capitan directed an 18-hit assault against four Steele Canyon pitcher, including ace ANDREW BELLATTI.

“This is the third time I’ve faced Bellatti so I knew what to expect,” Noble said. “The first two times he had my number.”

Third time was a charm for Noble, who went 2-for-2 against Bellatti.

“I got a bunt single when I was attempting to sacrifice and then I turned on a high changeup and got a line drive to left,” Noble said.

El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY tipped his hat to Noble.

“He was the player of the game,” said Vickery. “He had a great day offensively – just a great day overall. He’s really providing a solid bat at the bottom of our lineup.”

But Noble’s contributions weren’t limited to the offensive side.

“He made a diving catch in left field in the 5th inning when they started to make a comeback to stall a rally by Steele Canyon,” Vickery said. “He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now. I’m really proud of the way he’s turning it up a notch or two.”

With the Vaqueros clinging to a 2-1 lead, freshman catcher CHARLES MOORMAN followed a single to center by TYRONE WIGGINS with his 2nd home run of the season in the 3rd inning.

“For a freshman catcher to bat 4th and hit over .400, he’s had the best freshman season of any kid I’ve ever had,” Vickery said.

Moorman finished with 3 RBI while Wiggins was 4-for-4 with one RBI.

Sophomore SHELDON GABRIELS also drove in a pair of runs for the Vaqueros.

“ High point is we were just really, really competitive today – our entire team was like on a mission today,” Vickery said. “We got 10 of 18 hits with runners in scoring position. That was the good news; and we knocked them in – that was the best news.”

“It was just our day. Steele Canyon hit five or six balls right on the button, right at our guys,” Vickery added. “I feel we’re playing our best ball of the season right now.”

Steele Canyon (22-9) suffered a disappointing ending.

“It’s like I’ve told our kids, only one team goes home happy at this point in the season,” Cougars coach TODD SNYDER said.

Snyder admitted that his team couldn’t catch many breaks, even though they were playing on their home field.

“It wasn’t just that we couldn’t get anything going, it was a case of there were so many bad hops and things that went against us that we couldn’t control,” he said. “I felt our field worked against us (choppy).”

Snyder felt the pivotal point of the contest came in the early innings.

“When we left the bases loaded without scoring in the 2nd inning it turned out to be a devastating blow,” he said. “El Cap got two quick runs on a basehit and a homer in the 3rd and after that the tone in our dugout was completely different.”

Although El Capitan went 0-3 against Grossmont during the regular season, Vickery – a master of historical motivation – told his players about the 2001 season.

El Capitan was 3-0 against Grossmont that year, but the Foothillers eliminated the Vaqueros during the semifinal round of the playoffs that season.

Vickery said, “That just goes to show you what happens in the regular season doesn’t necessarily carry over to the playoffs.”

For Snyder and the Cougars, it’s about looking to the future.

“We have a lot to take away from this season that’s positive,” Snyder said. “We have three top-notch sophomores – CLAYTON ROYER, BRAD BOEHMKE and JESSE JENNER – among the guys returning next year. And we also have a lot of talent from our 23-3 junior varsity team. We’ll be back next year – look for us.”

Boxscores

SANTANA 3, MONTOMGERY 0 – Santana junior KYLE HAYES doesn’t back down from anybody.

Pitching in the so-called haunted home of the Aztecs, the Sultans southpaw gave a performance that folks in this South Bay community have come to expect. The difference is, just not from the visiting team.

Hayes blanked the Aztecs (23-8) with a complete game one-hitter while striking out 13 and walking none.

“Kyle Hayes just pitched his heart out today,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON. “He pitched a ballgame that he’s capable of pitching every day but doesn’t always have the defensive support. He was a major player today.

Fact is, the Aztecs only got two runners on base and neither made it past first base.

“Yeah, I like pitching in this ballpark,” said Hayes, who rolled his record to 10-5. “Anything hit in the air hangs up and is going to get caught.”

That’s because a steady wind blows straight in from left field at Montgomery.

Wind or no wind, Hayes is still a pitcher who prefers to serve up ground ball outs.

“When we play good defense like we did today, it doesn’t matter where we play because we’re gonna win,” he said.

The last time these teams met was on Friday (May 29) in the second round of the SDCIF Division III playoffs, and the Aztecs prevailed 5-0. The Sultans self-destructed with five errors while generating only one hit.

Hayes slapped the cuffs on the Aztecs in the rematch.

“I was able to throw any of my three pitches for strikes whenever I wanted to,” Hayes said. “I think this game gave our team a lot of confidence.”

Runs were hardly plentiful for Santana (23-11). Basehits by Hayes, DALLAS SEIDEL and a bunt single by JAMES NEEDY loaded the bases in the 4th. All Santana could get out of that was one run on a ground ball by ZACH BREIDT.

In the 5th inning, Seidel slashed a 2-run single, giving Hayes the cushion he needed to finish the job.

The pivotal point of the season for both these teams will come on Thursday (June 6) at Montgomery. Game time is tentatively set for 2:30, although it could be moved up an hour earlier, which wasn’t known at press time.

The reason for the time switch is because Santana is celebrating graduation at 6 o’clock that evening. Attempts to move the game to Wednesday (June 3) were accepted by Montgomery, yet denied by SDCIF commissioner Dennis Ackerman.

“Our administration made Ackerman aware a long time ago that this might come about,” said Henson. “He said, 'Don’t worry about it.' We wanted some kind of plan of attack if this happened. I talked to (Montgomery coach) Manny Hermosillo last week and he was OK with it.”

Henson realizes there will be distractions, but hopes his team can focus on one task at a time.

“I don’t know how focused the kids will be. Our guys won’t even have the time to walk with the other kids to graduation. We’re going to do our best to get them back in time. But we’ll be coming back all the way from the border in peak drive time, and graduation starts at 6 p.m.”

Although Hayes is not a senior, he recognizes the importance of being a part of the graduation ceremony.

“All I know is the seniors on our team said they want to win a CIF championship,” he said. “And that means we have to beat Montgomery on Thursday or we can forget it.”

Henson is dismayed by the lack of consideration by the SDCIF administration for his kids.

“When we make decisions as coaches, it’s asked of us to do the right thing for the kids. I don’t think the decision was made in the best interest of the kids, that’s all. This didn’t just sneak up on us. We did everything we could to make the CIF aware of the situation ahead of time. We’ve been above board with this.”

MATER DEI 7, CHRISTIAN 0 – Despite the recent rash of rules violations and irregularities during the baseball playoffs, Christian High took care of business on the field to be the last undefeated team on its side of the bracket in the SDCIF Division IV championships.

And they needed it.

"Luckily, we had a safety net, but now no longer have a safety net," said Patriots coach MIKE MITCHELL. "Mater Dei is a good baseball team and took it to us. We'll just have to come out and be a lot more focused on Thursday."

Tuesday's (June 2) circus act featured plenty of juggling, but in a baseball sense, that was not good. Six errors and seven unearned runs allowed later, Christian found itself forced into a playback final after falling to the visiting Crusaders.

Senior left-handed Manny Guitierrez tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing seven hits, but never a clutch one when runners were in scoring position.

"I've faced Christian before, but it was the first time that I beat them," said Guitierrez, who struck out eight and was backed by a pair of double plays. "I just threw fastballs and changeups, with an occasional curveball – that was it. I was surprised they didn't change anything."

The Patriots kept trying to pull the ball to left field, especially with runners on base, but batted just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. But even the hit turned into failure.

Mater Dei centerfield Sergio Valenzuela collected a basehit off the bat of MICHAEL GRUBER, firing a strike to the plate for catcher Ivan Hernandez to tag out a Christian baserunner to keep the game scoreless in the 3rd inning,

"We've had good practices, including hitting to the opposite field," added Mitchell. "But then we didn't do what we practiced."

"Their kids threw nothing but fastballs and straight changeups, and we made absolutely zero adjustments. Absolutely nothing."

For Hernandez, it was the best game of his brief varsity career. In addition to the putout at the plate, the freshman collected three of Mater Dei's five hits, good for three RBI.

"The last time I caught was about two months ago," said Hernandez, who is a reserve outfielder, too. "Otherwise, I was playing on the bench."

After an error broke the scoring drought in the 6th, Hernandez singled home a run for a 2-0 lead. An inning later, three more Christian errors led to a wave of five additional unearned runs, with six of the runs charged to hard-luck losing pitcher MICHAEL POTEET, who allowed just four hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Meanwhile, Guitierrez escaped jam after jam to keep the Pats off the scoreboard.

"We played hard and Manny was on his game today," added Hernandez.

Guitierrez nearly was caught in the same trap that resulted in Coronado receiving penalties after an Islanders player was caught playing for another team while the high school season was still in progress.

"It was over for us on Saturday and I was supposed to play for the Bonita Legends, too," said the Crusaders pitcher. "But for some reason I didn't go to the game."

Which proved to be fortunate after hearing an announcement over the Mater Dei speaker system on Monday morning.

"There was an announcement for the baseball players to please meet at the gym right away," Guitierrez recalled. "Coach (Ed) Johnson was there and said we have a game today at 3:30. And we all went, 'huh?'"

"So at lunch, we had to call our parents to bring our equipment to school – it was crazy."

Because Mater Dei had been eliminated from the SDCIF playoffs, four of the Crusaders starters played for the Legends. SDCIF officials determined it was also illegal for them to play, even though their season had "ended" despite not breaking any rules.

So the undermanned squad came to Christian and won, forcing Thursday's (June 4) playback final to determine which ballclub will advance to Saturday's (June 6) title game at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

"We have the momentum going," added Guitierrez. "They call this the second season, but now it's really the third season for us."

Hernandez later added a 2-run single in the 7th, when the Crusaders scored five times on just one basehit, Hernandez' soft liner over shortstop.

"Everyone is surprised about the kid – he's a freshman that they brought in for the playoffs," Guitierrez noted. "He came in pretty nervous, but we told him to chill out, don't worry and do your stuff."

Christian had some moments in the early going.

In the 1st, Mater Dei had a runner at third base, but on a grounder to Patriots third baseman BRAD ROBERTSON, he fired a strike to Gruber at the plate for the out.

Shortstop SHAUN DAY also registered three hits, including a pair of infield singles. However, Day was nailed at the plate in the 3rd, then was the first out in the game-ending double play.

© East County Sports.com
CARLSBAD (5-31-09) — Do you catch it? Or let it drop?

It was no routine play, but rather a foul pop-up hit by Steele Canyon pitcher DANNY MacINTYRE with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 5th inning that Helix first baseman TYLER SOTO was chasing down the right field line.

Soto’s dilemma… the Highlanders were clinging to a 1-0 lead in Saturday’s (May 30) SDCIF Division II third round game at Carlsbad High. The Cougars of Steele Canyon had the bases loaded with one out and speedy NOLAN MURRAY prepared to tag up at third base.

Running at full tilt, Soto made an over-the-shoulder catch for out No. 2 and as soon as he did, Murray turned on the jets. It appeared that Murray was going to score easily but that wasn’t the case as Soto made a strong throw from about 150 feet to Helix catcher AUSTIN GONZALEZ.

“I knew if Soto was going to catch it with his back to the plate that I’d have a chance to tag up and score,” said Murray.

The ball and Murray arrived at the plate simultaneously. The Steele Canyon senior baserunner actually collided with Gonzalez, who was unable to put a glove on the ball and apply a tag.

“The ball just ticked off his glove,” said Murray after scoring the tying run. “We needed to be aggressive at that point.”

But the play wasn’t over. Soto’s throw rolled to the fence near the third base on-deck circle. The Highlanders’ pitcher, JAKE REED scrambled for the loose ball. By the time he retrieved it and flipped it to Gonzalez, the Cougars’ CLAYTON ROYER, who began the play at second base, was preparing to slide home with the go-ahead run.

“That was a heads-up play by Clayton to keep coming,” Murray said.

Steele Canyon went on to score all of its runs in that inning. And MacIntyre made it stand up as the Cougars eliminated the Highlanders, 5-1.

Players and coaches from both teams said Soto’s decision to make the controversial catch rather than let it drop in foul territory was the right thing to do.

“(Soto) made the right play; he has to in that situation,” said Murray. “He knew he was going to get one out and he might have got lucky and gotten a double play and them out of the inning.”

Helix coach COLE HOLLAND commended Soto for his decision.

“I don’t think you ever give away outs,” Holland said. “Soto made a great play. It wasn’t deep enough where I would say he should have let it drop. And then he made a good throw, but it just so happened they had their fastest guy on third base.”

There was a little bit of grumbling in the Helix stands that maybe Murray made an over-aggressive slide. Holland didn’t think so.

“The slide was fine; it was perfect,” the Helix coach said. “That’s just baseball.”

However Holland admitted when Royer came around to score on the same play, it was a major momentum shift.

The Highlanders (20-13) booted an infield ground ball that also cost them two runs in the pivotal inning.

MacIntyre, who suffered a broken hand early in the campaign, pitched his second complete game of the season. He limited the Highlanders to four hits – two in the 1st inning and two in the 7th.

“I had my fastball working the outside corner pretty good today, and I had good spin on my curveball,” said MacIntyre. “I got out front and I was throwing it hard. It felt good coming out of my hand.”

The Highlanders took a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning when Reed doubled, advanced to third on a balk and scored on Soto’s sacrifice fly.

Reed, who finished the season strong, extended his string of scoreless innings to 22 1/3 before the 5th inning fiasco. He allowed just two earned runs in his final 28 innings of the campaign.

Murray, who struck out in his first two at-bats against Reed, started the problems for the Highlanders’ sophomore with a lead double in the 5th.

“Yeah, Murray is definitely a key for us,” said MacIntyre. “If he can start us off with a base hit or get on some way it seems like we all start hitting. It’s been that way all year.”

Although he suffered his fourth loss in nine decisions, Reed would certainly be classified as a hardluck loser in this game.

Steele Canyon loaded the bases with nobody out in the 4th inning as ANDREW BELLATTI doubled, MacIntyre walked and BRAD BOEHMKE laid down a perfect bunt single. But Reed managed to escape unscathed as he retired the Cougars (23-8) on a pop-up and two ground balls.

“Reed deserved better,” Holland said. “And overall I just feel bad for my guys. We didn’t want it to end this way.”

But Holland admitted that his team made major progress this season.

“We were 9-18 last year,” he reminded. “And to think, the fact that we turned things around with a philosophy that all of our kids bought into and reached the quarterfinals of the playoffs has got to say something about the direction we’re headed.”

Steele Canyon coach TODD SNYDER was pleased about the path that his two-time champion Grossmont South League Cougars are on. But the Cougars have a major roadblock between them and a championship shot.

That would be the El Capitan Vaqueros – a team they must beat on Tuesday and Thursday in order to reach the finals.

“Our pitching has really been great of late,” Snyder said, noting that the Cougars have allowed only two earned runs in their last three games. “We got three complete games from our pitchers in that stretch.”

Snyder agreed that Murray ’s aggressive base-running helped turn the tide and keep his once-beaten Cougars alive in the double elimination tournament.

“Murray ’s a good base-runner,” Snyder said. “And the fact that he’s ridiculously fast doesn’t hurt his cause.”

SANTANA 6, LA JOLLA 2 – Most of the season TRAVIS REYNOLDS’ contributions to the 22-10 Sultans have been on defense. The majority of the games Santana uses a designated hitter to cover his spot in the batting order.

In Saturday’s (May 30) SDCIF third round of the Division III elimination game at Coronado, Reynolds got one chance to swing the bat. He made the most of it, flashing a drive over the left-fielder’s head for a 3-run triple in the 5th inning. That blow turned a one-run Santana advantage into a more comfortable 4-run lead.

“I was standing in the on-deck circle and I noticed the pitcher had thrown fastballs to the last two hitters to strike them out,” said Reynolds. “I was thinking he would start me off with a fastball.”

And so he did. La Jolla reliever Zac Zlatic tried to jump ahead in the count but Reynolds was ready.

“What I got was a fastball down the middle and I got a good swing at it,” said Reynolds. “This was my biggest hit of the year.”

“The three runs Reynolds drove in today were huge,” said Santana coach JERRY HENSON, who was alluding to the momentum that came from that blow. “He has been grinning from ear to ear ever since. I’m real happy for him.”

That was more than enough for senior reliever JAMES NEEDY, who held the Vikings hitless over the final four innings to earn his 9th win in 13 decisions. He walked two and struck out eight.

Henson said they weren’t planning on using Needy against the Vikings (16-14), but when starter RYAN STUTZ burned up over 70 pitches in three innings, the Sultans’ skipper we decided to make a switch.

“James had warmed up a little bit in the bullpen and he told us he was ready to go, so we went to him,” Henson said. “James was a dominating pitcher today. His fastball was nearly unhittable.”

One scout in attendance at today’s game noted that Needy had touched 94 mph on the gun.

“This could have been my last game as a senior and I wanted to go out fighting,” Needy said. “As far as I was concerned I knew they couldn’t hit me. Once we got the lead I knew it was my job to keep us ahead. If Coach needs me to pitch on Tuesday, Thursday or in the championship game on Saturday (June 6), I’ll be ready to go.”

RANCHO BERNARDO 5, GRANITE HILLS 2 – The upstart Granite Hills Eagles ran into the unexpected in Saturday’s (May 30) third round of the SDCIF Division I playoffs at Westview High School.

His name was Nick Montgomery, a junior left-hander who became an instant hero for the Rancho Bernardo Broncos as they eliminated the youthful Eagles after having lost to Granite Hills earlier in the double-elimination tournament.

Montgomery, who had pitched only 6 2/3 innings all season before Saturday’s elimination game, was a blue-chipper when it counted most.

“We finally saw a pretty crafty left-hander (Montgomery) and he ate our lunch – we just couldn’t get it done,” Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said. “He threw probably 70 percent curveballs. We never made any adjustment, had very few good approaches.”

Montgomery rationed the Eagles (17-15) to five singles while striking out 11 in his third varsity start that resulted in his first win and complete game.

To boot, Montgomery – a .111 hitter with only three hits coming in – teed off on the Eagles for a two-run double that erased a 2-1 Granite Hills advantage in the 4th inning. He later scored in that same frame when Jimmy Dykstra slammed his fourth home run of the season.

“This is as optimistic about the future as I’ve ever been,” said Davis, who returns the majority of his including three freshman starters. “Obviously I’m upset that we lost, but it took us almost all year to instill in our kids that they can beat anybody in the county. In the middle of the season we were so unsure of ourselves that we were losing games that we shouldn’t have been.”

Granite Hills stole a run in the 1st inning when BRIAN CARROLL drew a lead walk, stole second and continued around the bases on a pair of Rancho Bernardo throwing errors.

An inning later, TYLER JOWORSKI singled, stole second and scored on a base hit by TRAVIS HOPPER.

Another highpoint for Granite Hills in its finale was defense. The Eagles did not commit an error against the Broncos (23-10).

“We played good defense at the end of the year and that is why we were able to stay in the games,” Davis said. “I’m very excited for the future of our program.”

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-30-09) — Three East County teams have earned berths in Tuesday’s (June 2) semifinals of the San Diego CIF Section playoffs. Grossmont (23-9) and El Capitan (18-13) have confirmed their reservations in Division II, while Christian (18-10) – like the other two schools – is one win shy of qualifying for the SDCIF Division championships Saturday, June 6 at San Diego State’s Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Granite Hills (17-14), Helix (20-12), Steele Canyon (21-9) and Santana (21-11) must win on Saturday (May 30) or their season is over.

CHRISTIAN 4, CORONADO 3 (8 inn.) — Could the Christian Patriots be a team of destiny in this season's SDCIF Division IV playoffs?

Receiving several scoring opportunities of the silver platter variety while playing along the Silver Strand, everything seemed to turn into gold after the Pats nipped defending champion Coronado, 4-3 in 8 innings.

Christian pitcher CODY POTEET allowed three early runs, then closed Friday's (May 29) second-round contest with 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball. The freshman also knocked in the game-tying run in the 7th inning, then SHAUN DAY registered the go-ahead RBI in the 8th to complete a late scoring spree with a run over each of the final four frames.

"We battled the whole game and never gave up," said Day while jumping into a car to race crosstown for graduation ceremonies. "We were down at the beginning, but we never gave up and got hits when we needed them and played clutch defense."

Coronado contributed to Christian's comeback effort, walking six batters and committing three errors down the stretch. The mistakes placed runners in scoring position, with JOSH WOLFSON, DANIEL RODRIGUEZ, Poteet and Day following with key at-bats to produce runs to rally from a 3-run deficit.

"They kind of gave us the game, but we had a lot of clutch hits today, too," noted Poteet. "Our defense really tightened up behind me over the last few innings. when it really mattered."

The shutout was snapped in the 5th thanks to a basehit from MICHAEL STOWERS and a trio of walks, the final to Wolfson to force home a benign run. But when Coronado registered a pair of errors on the same play in the 6th, cracks began to form in the Islanders' dam.

Following a two-out walk to BRAD ROBERTSON, Rodriguez lined a basehit to right field. The throw behind the runner at second sailed wide and into left field, with Robertson moving to third. But when an ensuing throw also went wild, the Patriots were back in the contest at 3-2.

While the Islanders defense was fluttering, Christian began to execute several nice plays. Included was a line drive snared by Poteet, throwing to Stowers at third base for a double play. Stowers then fielded a grounder to end the 6th, escaping a bases loaded, no out situation.

In the 7th, Coronado once again retired the first two batters, yet failed to seal the deal.

Wolfson singled, MICHAEL GRUBER and MICHAEL POTEET both walked to load the bases, then Cody Poteet lined a single to left to tie the contest.

Christian gained yet another unearned run in the 8th to gain the win.

JOSH SUFFERIDGE opened with a basehit to center field, but he was caught off-base by the Coronado catcher, so he headed for second. Sufferidge was going to be easily out, except the shortstop whiffed in catching the throw from first base.

Two outs later, Day singled to center for the Patriots' first lead of the contest. Day also caught a low liner to end the contest, quickly running off the field both in celebration and in a hurry to attend his graduation ceremony which was scheduled to start in less than 90 minutes.

"A lot of us got key hits late in the game," added Cody Poteet. "Coronado got most of their hits early, so I started to throw a lot more curveballs to keep them off-balance."

Cody Poteet allowed 10 hits, but just two over the final four innings. He struck out six.

"How many times have I already talked to newspapers and television and East County Sports and everyone else in the world about the kid – he is truly something special," said Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL. "They hit two balls hard off him all game. He was tough as nails, and said, 'I'm going to win this game.'"

Christian, which last won a SDCIF championship game in 2003, needs just one more victory to advance to this year’s final game.

EL CAPITAN 7, HELIX 2 – Freshman TROY CONYERS has returned to the El Capitan pitching rotation and that can only make the Vaqueros a bolder threat in its quest for its first San Diego CIF Division II championship since 2004.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Conyers labored through 4 2/3 innings and could easily have wound up the loser in Friday’s (May 29) second-round game at Helix.

Conyers has been bothered with hip and hamstring problems. Realizing what he has in Conyers, Vaqueros coach STEVE VICKERY – a veteran of 29 seasons – has been protective of his future star.

“We don’t want to rush anything,” Vickery said. “Sure, we’d like to have him out there for all of his starts, but if there’s something that isn’t right we don’t want to ruin his future because he has a great one ahead of him.”

Not that Conyers pitched poorly in his outing against Helix, as he surrendered just four hits and two runs in his first pitching appearance in nearly a month.

“Conyers was outstanding today,” Vickery said. “This was his first game throwing since May 1st.”

Even though Conyers did not garner the victory, he set the stage for his teammate and East County ’s No. 1 reliever ANTHONY VIGIL to post his 7th win in 10 decisions.

“Troy’s been hurt and it was great to have him back and give us the effort he did. It was a real shot in the arm,” said Vigil, who pitched 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief.

One thing about Vigil, he’s probably been El Capitan’s most consistent pitcher.

“My fastball and curveball were working today,” Vigil said. “I was able to stay ahead of their hitters most of the way. It’s cool to be the closer. I know there’s a lot of pressure but I think I can handle it.”

El Capitan erased a 2-1 deficit with five runs in the 6th inning.

Sophomore SHELDON GABRIELS led off the explosive frame with a double off the right-field fence. TANNER RUST followed with his 5th home run of the season to put the Vaqueros in front 3-2.

The onslaught continued, thanks to a Helix error and a stolen base by TYRONE WIGGINS. CRAIG LEAVITT followed with a base hit up the middle, scoring Wiggins to make it 4-2 for the Vaqueros.

KORBIN KRUGER supplied the crowning blow when he clubbed his 4th home run of the season with Leavitt on board, staking El Capitan to a 6-2 advantage.

Freshman CHARLES MOORMAN tacked on an RBI single to complete the scoring.

Probably what was most impressive about El Capitan ’s third straight playoff win was its ability to tee off on the county’s elite. El Capitan scored four runs on five hits against Helix ace DYLAN NICKERSON, and then slapped around reliever MAURO OLIVARRIA for three more runs.

“We were able to capitalize on a couple of balls that Nickerson left over the plate,” said Vickery. “What’s happening with us is we are getting really timely hitting right now. It’s nice to get the weekend off and go watch some other teams play.”

RYAN McBURNEY was 2-for-3 to pace El Capitan ’s 8-hit attack.

“I’ve been working a lot on my hitting lately,” said McBurney. “My timing has been a little off. My 1st hit was on a fastball. I got a good swing on the pitch and I was able to drive it. The second hit was a curveball. I was a little bit out in front and was just able to get the ball through the infield.”

GROSSMONT 3, WESTVIEW 2 – Classic pitching duels have been the exception rather than the rule this season.

But Friday’s (May 29) SDCIF Division II second round head-knocker between visiting Westview and top-seeded Grossmont at Joe Gizoni Field was the exception rather than the rule.

And to see Grossmont’s LEVI STEVENS and Westview’s Kyle Shaver go pitch-to-pitch in almost mirror-like fashion made this one a genuine gem.

Each pitcher surrendered a home run to the other – both coming in the 6th inning.

The mathematical difference was Stevens’ game-winning blast came with two runners on. Shaver’s county-tying 10th homer of the season came in the top of the frame with one man aboard.

Both committed their team’s only error, each coming on poor throws.

Westview (18-13) was burned on its lone miscue as Shaver attempted to turn a come-backer into a double play.

That set the stage for Stevens’ game-winning swat.

Even after Westview had taken a 2-0 lead, Earley said he wasn’t overly concerned.

“We have just enough experience, with the guys who have been here, that once we got down 2-0 everyone remained calm, didn’t push the panic button and start crying ‘woe is me,’” Grossmont coach JIM EARLEY said.

Grossmont’s 6th inning comeback began when CONOR MEREDITH drew a walk. EVAN POTTER laid down a bunt. Shaver was quick to pounce on the ball but threw the ball wide to second base, caroming into left field and leaving the potential tying runs on base.

One out later Stevens deposited his 4th home run of the season over the right field fence and into the bus garage, giving Grossmont the knockout punch it needed.

“Levi crushed that ball. That’s a home run anywhere,” said Earley.

Stevens (7-3) scattered five hits and allowed only two earned runs while striking out seven in his 5th complete game.

STEELE CANYON 2, SCRIPPS RANCH 0 – One of East County’s under-the-radar pitching aces is Steele Canyon senior pitcher CODY KLOPP.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound right-hander provided Steele Canyon with one of its most important pitching efforts in the brief history of the Cougars’ program in Friday’s (May 29) SDCIF Division II second round joust with visiting Scripps Ranch.

“In terms of the magnitude of the game this was the finest Klopp has pitched in his career at Steele Canyon,” said Cougars coach TODD SNYDER.

Although he toiled behind some bigger names throughout his career, Klopp’s pitching marks as a senior – 6-0, 1.94 ERA, 39 Ks in 39.2 innings – rank among the best in the San Diego CIF Section.

“He’d be the No. 1 guy for most teams,” Snyder said. “The two hits they did get off him were flares in the 3rd and 5th inning.”

Klopp is one of Steele Canyon ’s three team captains.

“In terms of emotion he’s the heart and soul of our team,” Snyder said. “He always understands what’s at stake.”

Klopp was covered with a golden glove defense. According to Snyder, CLAYTON ROYER made two “highlight reel” defensive plays at shortstop, as did ANDREW BELLATTI at first base.

“When we get pitching and defense like we did today we’re gonna be tough to beat,” Snyder said.

However, the Cougars’ second year coach was concerned by his team’s lack of offensive firepower. Steele Canyon scored the only runs of the game in the 4th inning.

Singles by Royer and DANNY MacINTYRE put runners at the corners. Scripps Ranch booted a ground ball hit by BRAD BOEHMKE, allowing pinch runner JAKE WRAGG to score from third. DUSTIN DEGLER then slashed a single to right-center field, scoring MacIntyre.

“We were fortunate that Klopp did such a great job on the mound because we weren’t hitting the ball like we should have been,” Snyder observed.

POWAY 4, GRANITE HILLS 3 – When the season began Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS wasn’t sure just how junior BRENDAN NAGER would fit into the Eagles’ big picture.

Nager was listed on the Eagles’ opening roster as a pitcher-first baseman. For the first two-thirds of the season he wasn’t doing much of either.

Funny how things work out, because Nager gradually began to draw more innings until he ultimately stepped to the mound in a pivotal SDCIF Division I second round game on Friday (May 29) at No. 2 seeded Poway (26-6).

“He did a heckuva job for us,” Davis said of Nager (2-3), who weathered a rocky start to keep the Eagles (17-14) in the ball game. “Every game he’s pitched for us he’s gotten better. It was ugly early, but he settled down and gave us a chance to win the game.”

Even though Poway pounded Nager for 11 hits in 5-plus innings, the game was tied 3-3 until Trevin Lipe led off the bottom of the 6th with his 5th home run of the season.

“They got the big hit and we never could,” Davis said. Spoken like a typical coach. Or maybe Davis had a short memory… The Eagles’ JARED HUNT led off the 5th inning with his 6th home run to tie the game 3-3.

“Yeah, that was a clutch shot by Hunt, but we had other chances that we just let slip through our fingers,” Davis noted.

Granite Hills jumped out to a quick start against powerful Poway as freshman DANIEL STARWALT ripped an RBI double and DEAN MILLER doubled off the top of the wall to make it 2-0 in the top of the 1st.

“Miller’s shot was about two feet short of making it 3-0,” Davis said.

Davis ’ Eagles – who had won seven of their previous nine – are making a case for being the Cinderella team of the 2009 playoffs. Seeded 11th in the 12-team bracket, the Eagles came within eyelashes of beating Poway ace Keegan Yuhl, who held on to post his 10th win against only one loss.

MONTGOMERY 5, SANTANA 0 – Some high school ballparks offer certain factors that give the home team a decisive advantage. At Montgomery High, it’s the wind. The Aztecs’ ability to deal with that steady flow blowing in from left field makes them even more of a favorite.

A solid pitching staff and a sturdy defense further muscled Montgomery (23-7) as a home team power.

Santana’s RYAN STUTZ opened Friday’s (May 29) second round of the SDCIF Division III playoffs with a single through the left side.

After that the Sultans’ offense went into slumber mode.

“We had more errors than we had hits,” lamented Santana coach JERRY HENSON, who noted that the Sultans’ porous defense undermined the steady pitching of KYLE HAYES by committing five miscues compared to generating just one hit.

Was it a poor hitting effort by Santana, or a superb pitching job by Abraham Torres?

“We got a great pitched game from Torres – as good as he’s been all year,” said Montgomery ’s veteran coach Manny Hermosillo of his senior left-hander. “We played as well as we’ve played in a long time and we took advantage of what they gave us. Santana is a good team – it was a tough game to play today.”

Torres was effectively wild, walking five while striking out six en route to his 9th win in 10 decisions.

Montgomery scored all the runs it would need in the 3rd inning due primarily to three Santana errors and two walks that added up to a 2-0 lead.

Hayes (9-5) surrendered only five hits and one earned run.

© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (05-28-09) — El Capitan senior southpaw RANDY SCHREIBMAN is the premier pickoff artist in East County.

Not unlike any left-hander, more often than not he is accused of using a balk move to baffle base runners. At least that’s the opinion of coaches who don’t have such a weapon in their pitching arsenal.

As for the umpires, most believe that craftsmen such as Schreibman know how to push the envelope, while at the same time maintaining a legal move.

Schreibman, who tied up the East County’s best running game with his adept non-pitching moves, turned in his first complete game of the season as the visiting Vaqueros edged No. 2 seeded Steele Canyon, 4-2, in Wednesday’s (May 27) first round of the San Diego CIF Division II double elimination playoffs.

“Give Schreibman credit, he was light’s out,” said Steele Canyon coach TODD SNYDER. “Whether he was ahead in the count or behind in the count he did not let us capitalize on very many opportunities.”

Although Schreibman limited the Cougars to two runs on seven hits while striking out five, he did not permit Steele Canyon a single stolen base.

“My pick-off move is probably one of the best tools in my arsenal,” said Schreibman, who balanced his ledger at 3-3. “I spend on the average 15 minutes per day in practice just working on my move to first and second base.”

More than that though is Schreibman is a master of the (National Federation High School) rule book.

“I’ve read it so many times I know what I can do and what I can’t do,” he said. “Sometimes it looks like what I do is a balk, but that’s only because I’m deceptive. I’m good at reading baserunners and I know what I can get away with.”

Schreibman picked off one Steele Canyon baserunner and thought he should have caught two.

“The first guy I picked was obvious (out), but I also know I fooled a second guy, but the umpire called him safe,” Schreibman said.

Schreibman said he knew his move would be tested by the fleet-footed Cougars.

“Just about every guy in their lineup can run,” he admitted. “So I mixed up my looks and throws to the bag.”

Snyder, a former pitcher himself, wasn’t buying any of it.

“Every time (Schreibman) threw to first base, it was a balk,” Snyder said. “He was doing a wrap-around move that isn’t legal.”

Schreibman begged to differ.

“I was standing by the mound when (Snyder) came out to argue with the umpire,” he said. “The coach said that I was turning my shoulders and that was completely illegal. That’s not true, because I know as long as I don’t bring my front cleat past my back knee it’s completely legal.”

Snyder sort of agreed, even if it was by somebody’s choice other than his own.

“If the umpires aren’t calling it then it’s a great play by the other team,” Snyder said. “A lot of it is the fault of our baserunners for jumping off the bag and getting back-picked.”

Schreibman has 10 pickoffs this season.

“One of the major keys of picking runners off is the ability to hold them close to the bag,” he said. “I’ve watched a lot of runners in a lot of games and most of them tend to do subtle things to tip what they are going to do.”

Schreibman noted that much of this cat-and-mouse game is his ability as a pitcher to come set and hold the ball for four or five seconds without making a move.

“It’s like the runners get so nervous they just can’t stand it,” he said.

Schreibman’s sterling move – the one that gives him the most pride – is a blind pick.

“I’ve worked really hard on that and now I have all the confidence in the world to throw to first without making eye contact,” he said.

El Capitan (17-13) took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning as CHARLES MOORMAN singled and scored on a two-out triple by RYAN McBURNEY. McBurney scored on an infield single by BROOKS NOBLE.

Steele Canyon (21-8) fought back on a solo home run by DANNY MacINTYRE in the bottom of the inning.

In the 3rd frame TANNER RUST extended his East County-leading hitting streak to 21 games when he laced a double down the right-field line. He eventually scored on a single by KYLE MILLS.

Schreibman was besting Steele Canyon ace ANDREW BELLATTI in a pitchers’ duel 3-2 after six innings.

CRAIG LEAVITT provided some breathing room when he hit the first pitch from Bellatti in the 7th inning over the left-field fence for his first home run of the season.

Schreibman took care of the rest.

“The absolute Number One thing was the way Schreibman pounded the strike zone, changed speeds with all three of his pitches and just competed so well,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. “Randy was just outstanding today. He hadn’t pitched too much in the last month. Today he was tougher than nails. I’m really, really proud of the way he stepped up and competed.”

“He’s very, very tough when he changes speeds and attacks the hitters.”

Bellatti registered 10 strikeouts and walked none.

“I feel bad for Bellatti,” said Snyder of his senior stalwart, who was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles in addition to pitching his East County-leading 7th complete game. “He had the kind of day that you’d expect him to leave the field as the winner.”

Bellatti, a hard-throwing right-hander, has a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton.

“Bellatti is arguably the best pitcher in East County, if not the whole county,” said Schreibman. “For us to come in here and beat him – that’s really special. You’re not going to do that very often.”

GROSSMONT 6, BONITA VISTA 4 – This was supposed to be the year when the regime of the Grossmont Foothillers would fall.

So far there have been no signs of crumbling.

Top-seeded Grossmont (22-9), which has captured an unprecedented four consecutive San Diego CIF Division II championships, took its first step toward adding to that record by holding off visiting Bonita Vista in Wednesday’s (May 27) opening round of the double-elimination playoffs.

Although nobody in the Grossmont camp is talking about championship rings, the Foothillers are clearly looking for – to coin an old adage – “one for the thumb.’”

Coach JIM EARLEY, in his first year as Grossmont’s head coach, was greeted by a youthful team that was supposed to be short on power – basically unheard of in the friendly confines of Joe Gizoni Field.

Instead of calling this a rebuilding year Earley guided the Hillers to the Grossmont North League title, and a SDCIF crown is well within each.

Hold it. No chicken counting just yet. Nice start though.

Two-run home runs by pitcher AARON GRIFFIN and right fielder STEVEN BRAULT plus a solo shot by senior veteran CONOR MEREDITH gave Grossmont a 6-0 lead in the 5th inning.

Brault’s blow followed a walk to ZACH POTTER and turned out to be the game-winning stroke.

“He threw me a curveball and I was looking for it,” Brault said. “I got a good swing and was able to drive the ball out in right center.”

“It’s nice playing behind Aaron. We are confident each time he pitches, knowing we have a good chance to win. I think we are ready to make a deep run in the playoffs.”

The 6-0 advantage appeared to be an insurmountable lead considering Griffin (8-0) had retired 15 Barons in a row until a one-out error in the 6th opened the door to a Bonita Vista comeback.

After the Grossmont boot, the Barons (17-13) flooded the bases on singles by Paul Flippen and Victor Munoz. Hector Montes, whose three-run double eliminated Ramona 6-5 in the play-in round the night before, blasted a grand slam off Griffin and suddenly the Hillers were on the ropes.

“We looked at this game just like we would any other,” said Meredith of the Foothillers, who have won eight in a row. “Even after that guy hit the ‘slam, we were never worried on losing. We block those thoughts out of our head.”

“We made it a little bit more interesting than I wanted to,” Earley said. “But we are playing well at the right time. Aaron dominated for 5-6 innings. He’s had a great year.”

Griffin preferred to discuss his fifth home run of the season more than Montes’ drive.

“I’m always looking to contribute with the bat every game I play, especially so when I pitch,” Griffin said. “I felt comfortable on the mound all game. I was able to stay ahead of most hitters, especially with my fastball.”

Griffin struck out 9 during his six-inning stint.

Three straight losses will do that.

“Winning league is always one of our goals,” Santana coach JERRY HENSON said. “We were in pretty good position to do that and then just stopped hitting.”

Indeed. The Sultans scored three runs in consecutive losses to Grossmont, West Hills and El Capitan.

What to do, Henson pondered. He elected to give his ballclub some time off.

“We took five days off,” he said. “When we came back to practice for four days before the playoffs we looked like the ballclub I know we can be.”

Few of the Sultans looked more refreshed than sophomore CHRIS CAMARDA, who teed off on La Jolla pitching for three hits and five RBI. He capped a four-run 3rd inning with a two-run single and ripped a three-run double in the 6th inning.

“Having nine days off gave us a chance to regroup and get our mindset back,” Camarda said. “Winning league would have been great but now we’re all focused on the playoffs.”

It took Santana (21-7) just three batters into Wednesday’s (May 27) opener of the double-elimination San Diego CIF Division III playoffs to take a 2-0 lead. Singles by RYAN STUTZ and CODY SMITH set the stage for KYLE HAYES’ double into the right field corner.

“People talk about our pitching all the time,” Camarda said. “But we’re a great hitting team, too. When we are on like we were today it’s hard to stop us.”

Henson noted Camarda’s improved approach.

“He’s really been working at keeping the ball out of the air and hitting line drives,” Henson said. Three of the balls Camarda hit against the Vikings (15-13) were hit on a line.

Camarda, who plays third base and the outfield, raised his average to .357 and RBI count to 19.

“For a sophomore coming up and doing what he’s done, you just can’t ask for more than that,” Henson said.

JAMES NEEDY, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound right-hander, toiled six smooth innings to notch his 7th win in 11 decisions. The “Big Easy” was one pitch away from blanking the Vikings who avoided a shutout when Julian Velazco slugged a two-run double in the 5th. By that time, Santana was sailing 7-2.

Needy finished with six strikeouts before allowing Hayes to pitch the final frame.

“James said he struck a couple more guys out with pitches on the outside corner,” Henson said. “But that’s this particular umpire’s strike zone and you, as the pitcher, have to find out where that is and make your adjustment to it.”

There was never a doubt that Needy was in control.

“I felt pretty crisp out there today,” he said.

Talk about a turnaround… Holland and Co. – which have compiled a 20-11 record – are two wins away from reaching the San Diego CIF Division II finals.

“I don’t know about ‘worst to first’ or that kind of stuff,” Holland said. “But we’re playing pretty well right now.”

Helix slapped around three Scripps Ranch pitchers for 13 hits and finished with its second highest scoring total of the season.

“It’s the best job we’ve done offensively all year,” said Holland. “We jumped on them early. In the playoffs it’s important to get off to a good start. It took pressure off our pitchers and defense.”

The Highlanders took a 4-0 lead over the visiting Falcons in Wednesday’s (May 27) first round of the playoffs.

ANTHONY DIAZ and ARMANDO RODRIGUEZ smacked run-scoring singles and BENNY GUERRERO tacked on a 2-run single.

Helix broke the game open with six runs in the 3rd. TYLER SOTO’s 2-run double was the key blow.

A 10-0 lead with JAKE REED on the mound is about as secure as it gets. The Highlanders’ sophomore right-hander left the game after throwing four innings of no-hit ball with seven strikeouts against the Falcons (19-12).

Reed has a scoreless streak of 18 straight innings and has allowed only one earned run over his last 23 frames. He showed no signs of bitterness at being lifted prematurely, because he can see the big picture.

“I’m surprised about the scoreless streak,” he said. “I didn’t even think about it at all today. It was nice to get the start in our first playoff game – it was quite a thrill. And it was nice to get some early run support; I could just concentrate on throwing strikes.”

Reed had a double, a single and scored twice.

“I love to hit when I pitch. I feel like I’m a real part of the game,” he said.

El Capitan travels to Helix for Friday’s (May 29) playoff unbeatens.

“El Cap will be a tough game,” Reed said. “I’ll be ready to pitch again on Friday if Coach needs me to close.”

“Basically, I was just kind of on,” said Allen, who earlier in the season shut down top-ranked Cathedral Catholic. “I think the biggest plus about this game is my defense was really good. When we play defense, we can beat almost anybody.”

Allen limited Mater Dei to singles in the 1st and 3rd innings while walking three and striking out five.

“I don’t think I was throwing as hard as I have in past games, by my slider was definitely on,” Allen added. “I was really snapping the ball off no matter what the count.”

Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL concurred with Allen’s assessment of the Patriots’ latest conquest.

“Erick worked out of some jams and we made some clutch plays that we haven’t been able to do before,” Mitchell said.

To check in with the Christian offense, dial “P or D,” as in P-OTEET or D-AY.

In two games versus Mater Dei (including a 12-5 mid-season win by the Patriots), freshman CODY POTEET has hit three home runs, including as two-run shot on this occasion. Cody and his sophomore brother MICHAEL POTEET were a combined 4-for-7 with 5 RBI against Mater Dei (16-15) in the playoff blowout.

Said Mater Dei skipper “Smilin’ EDDIE” JOHNSON, “I’m really tired of the Poteet boys.”

Funny, how that works. Johnson and the Crusaders could well collide with Christian another time in these playoffs.

Day has become a dandy leadoff man for the Patriots (17-11). Not only did he bat .500 in the rugged Eastern League, the senior shortstop has hit in 13 of his last 14 starts. He was 3-for-3 in the top spot against the Crusaders.

“Playing in that better (Eastern) League with all those Division I, II and III teams was a major confidence builder for us,” Day said. “We’re kinda on a roll right now.”

Christian jumped on top of Mater Dei 6-0 after four innings. DANIEL “D-Rod” RODRIGUEZ put the Pats in front with an RBI single in the 2nd inning and plated another marker with a basehit during a 5-run 4th inning.

“Those were key hits,” Mitchell said. “Daniel hit two home runs in our first game of the year, then went on a 1-for-22 streak. In the last week or so he has worked really, really hard to get back on the beam. He’s our DH again.”

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (05-27-09) — Nice start. East County finished Tuesday’s (May 26) San Diego CIF Section play-in round with a 3-1 record. That might have been 4-0 had two Division IV teams from the area not been matched up against one another.

Most stunning of the first-day results was Granite Hills’ 4-3 knockout of host Mission Hills in Division I in North County. That one featured some clutch relief pitching by Eagles’ senior DEAN MILLER, who also slugged an inside-the-park home run.

In other East County games on Tuesday, El Capitan smothered San Ysidro 14-4 in a Division II opener behind two BROOKS NOBLE home runs in Lakeside, and host Christian eliminated visiting Foothills Christian 11-1 in Division IV.

Six playoff games involving East County teams are on tap Wednesday (May 27) as the double-elimination portion of the tournament begins. In Division I Granite Hills (16-13) travels to No. 3 Rancho Bernardo (21-9); Division II matchups are: No. 1 Grossmont (21-9) hosting Bonita Vista (17-11); No. 3 Helix (19-11) entertaining Scripps Ranch (19-11); and El Capitan (16-13) venturing to No. 2 Steele Canyon (21-7); Santana (20-10) welcomes La Jolla (16-12) in Division (III); and Christian (16-11) renews an old-time rivalry in hosting Mater Dei (16-14) in Division IV. All games begin at 3:30 p.m.

GRANITE HILLS 4, MISSION HILLS 3 – Granite Hills senior DEAN MILLER said he could not recall being involved in a more intense game than the one he and his Eagles pulled out at Mission Hills on Tuesday (May 26).

“I know I won’t forget this game for a long, long time,” Miller admitted.

Miller certainly was a double threat. His contributions started with the bat as he hammered a second-inning drive to dead-center field. That blow turned out to be an inside-the-park home run for a 2-0 Granite Hills lead.

“It wasn’t because of my speed, because I’m not the fastest guy in the world,” Miller said.

As Miller rounded first base he saw Mission Hills sophomore center fielder Aaron Salas in pursuit of the fly ball.

“He was running full speed toward the fence,” Miller noted.

Salas collided with the fence as Miller’s ball ricocheted away.

“I didn’t actually see him hit the fence because when I came into second base I picked up my third base coach (Eagles’ head coach JAMES DAVIS) who was waving me to keep coming,” Miller continued. “It was a pretty close play at the plate, but I made a decent slide to get in safely.”

It was Miller’s second home run of the season.

“Naw, I never hit an inside-the-parker at any level before,” he said.

Meanwhile, after Salas crashed into the fence, he lay on the ground, motionless.

“He hit the middle pole and was completely knocked out,” Davis said. “He was on the ground a good five minutes before they were able to help him off the field. Those were some scary moments for a while.”

Miller’s blow was one of two Granite Hills home runs in the game. DYLAN GARCIA clubbed a solo shot over the 360-foot sign in center field giving Granite Hills a 4-2 advantage.

“The wind was blowing out here most of the game,” Miller said. “So balls that might have been outs at our field carried to the fences here.”

Despite his home run heroics, Miller’s specialty continues to be pitching. Coming out of the bullpen for the final 2 1/3 innings, Miller escaped two bases-loaded jams to earn his East County leading 3rd save.

Miller noted nothing came easy.

“It was a real rollercoaster ride,” he said.

In the 5th inning with the Eagles clinging to a 3-2 advantage, Miller escaped his first bases-loaded jam with an inning-ending strikeout. He seemed to pick up momentum in the 6th by striking out the side. But in the 7th, Miller once again found himself with his back to the wall.

The Grizzlies (22-8) cut the Eagles’ lead to 4-3 but were down to their last out with nobody on base.

“I thought we had ‘em then,” Davis said.

But not without a fight.

Mission Hills proceeded to load the bases, putting the tying run at third and the winning run at second. Miller jumped ahead of Grizzlies junior Corey Suzukawa, one ball and two strikes. It appeared that Suzukawa would have the last word, however, as he hit a ground ball up the middle.

Enter freshman CHARLIE ST. CLAIR, who cut off Suzukawa’s bid to be a hero and flipped the ball to second baseman JARED HUNT for a game-saving force-out.

“I thought that ball was gonna get through and we were gonna lose,” said Miller. “But Charlie made a great play.”

Miller said he didn’t want to see his final high school game end that way.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking all day,” Davis said. “But guys like Miller showed their senior stuff, clutched up and got the job done. So now we live to play another day.”

EL CAPITAN 14, SAN YSIDRO 4 – A 7-run 2nd inning helped propel the Vaqueros past visiting San Ysidro in Tuesday’s (May 26) SDCIF play-in round in Lakeside.

KYLE MILLS drove in four runs with a pair of doubles and a single, while BROOKS NOBLE hit his first two home runs of the season to guide the Vaqueros to the surprisingly easy victory.

“I’d been struggling a bit lately and it felt good to contribute to a win,” said Noble, who was 3-for-3. “On my first home run I got a hanging curveball, and got a good swing at the ball. I didn’t know it was out until I saw the team running to the plate. On the second home run I got a low fastball and got a good piece of it. The ball went out in a hurry.”

In the 7-run 2nd, TANNER RUST singled off the right field fence to score RYAN McBURNEY and extend his East County-best hitting streak to 20 games. Mills then laced a 3-run double to give El Capitan a 4-1 lead.

TYRONE WIGGINS joined the early onslaught with an RBI double and then the visiting Cougars fell apart.

Six Vaqueros enjoyed a multiple hit game.

“I was pleased with the way we came out swinging the bats,” said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. “We got quite a few players into the game today (17). I was pleased with the way Brooks Noble played – he had several quality at-bats.”

Not to be overlooked was El Capitan ’s pitching.

CAMERON MACKY, a 6-foot-4, 209-pound senior continues to improve and should be a factor in the remainder of the playoffs. He limited the Cougars (21-8) to two hits over four innings as he posted his third win without a loss.

Senior IAN McALLISTER rationed San Ysidro to three hits and one run over the final three innings to pick up his first varsity save.

CHRISTIAN 11, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 1 – Christian High’s veteran coach MIKE MITCHELL set a record that probably doesn’t exist in Tuesday’s (May 26) SDCIF Play-In round.

That is, he inserted 19 players into the Patriots victory over visiting Foothills Christian (15-6).

Not surprisingly, freshman flash CODY POTEET was the Patriots’ lightning bolt with a pair of hits, including a grand slam – his 8th homer of the season.

Poteet’s slam keyed a 6-run 3rd inning that also included RBI by SHAUN DAY and MICHAEL GRUBER.

“I was looking away and got a fastball I could drive,” said Poteet. “I wasn’t sure the ball was going out but it cleared the fence by quite a bit.”

Cody is the younger of the Poteet siblings. Sophomore second baseman-pitcher MICHAEL POTEET was 1-for-3 with a couple of runs scored against the Knights.

“It’s nice playing on the same team as my brother,” Cody said. “I look up to him a lot because of his experience. We wanted to come out strong and score runs early.”

The Patriots led 10-0 after three innings.

“Playing in the (Eastern) league really got us ready for playoffs. We’re ready to make a deep run,” said Poteet.

Mitchell used five pitchers against Foothills Christian.

MICHAEL FERREIRA, who is primarily a pinchrunner-outfielder, pitched one inning and earned his first varsity win.

“We were a much better team today,” said Mitchell. “We were able to give all of our JV call-ups a taste of the playoffs.”

Foothills Christian coach STEVE PERDUE was pleased by the improvement his team showed over the season.

“I am very proud of my team,” Perdue said. “We were not very good today but some of that has to do with our opponent. We took our first big step, getting a taste of the playoffs and we have to learn to walk before we can run. With 11 of 13 players returning, the future is bright.”

The Knights avoided being shut out with a run in the 4th inning. JOE CANTOR picked up the RBI.

HENRY LUSCHEI pitched 3 1/3 innings of impressive relief for the Knights, allowing just two hits and no earned runs.

“Congratulations to Christian,” Perdue said. “Mike Mitchell was a class act as the score could have been in the 20's. I truly respect and appreciate his respect and sportsmanship.”