East County
EAST COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

2005 REGULAR SEASON

O'Sullivan belts four home runs in two days to close out Valhalla's third-straight championship
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON:  The Valhalla Norsemen secured a share of their third straight Grossmont South League championship Thursday (May 19) with a regular-season ending 12-1 conquest of host Mount Miguel.
 
For the second time in 24 hours, Valhalla senior SEAN O'SULLIVAN belted a pair of home runs, raising his season total to 11 and career count to 33. He passed Monte Vista's LEO DIAGLE and now stands third on the Grossmont Conference all-time list, trailing only El Capitan's CHRIS WALSTON (43) and Monte Vista's JOEY METROPOULOS (35). O'Sullivan is tied for 7th on the San Diego CIF all-time career long-ball ledger topped by Marian Catholic's Ismael Salas (46).
 
In addition to belting the Matadors (0-28, 0-15) with his bat, O'Sullivan also fired six innings of one-hit ball, striking out 10 en route to his sixth win in seven decisions.
 
Senior catcher CHRIS MOORE of Valhalla also delivered a last day batting bonanza. Moore laced three doubles and a single to drive in 3 runs and score 3 for the No. 5-ranked Norsemen (21-7,13-2).
 
CHAD WILSON also feasted on Mount Miguel pitching with three hits in as many at-bats.
 
Mount Miguel dodged a no-hitter when KEITH GREEN hammered a solo home run in the second inning. 
 
The Norsemen must now turn their attention to the post-season where they will duel Western League champion Mission Bay (21-8) and Santana (23-7) for the top-seeding position in the Division III playoffs. That will be determined Friday (May 20) as will all division seedings. East County figures to land seven post-season berths.
 
CHRISTIAN 3,  CRAWFORD 0:  The late-season lift JOEL McGRANAHAN has supplied Christian High may become the lifeline the Patriots need to make a run at the San Diego CIF Division IV playoffs.
 
The senior southpaw has won his last three starts, including a 4-hit shutout of visiting Crawford in Thursday's (May 19) Harbor League finale which enabled the Patriots (16-9, 8-4) to finish second place, one notch ahead of the Colts (10-14, 7-5).
 
McGranahan, who was unable to shoulder much of the Patriots' pitching load until the final stretch of the season due to an arm maladies, struck out 7 and walked only one as he tamed the Colts.
 
Freshman EDDIE YOUNG gave Christian the early lead when he hammered his first varsity home run in the 2nd inning.
 
SHANE STANOVIC continued his torrid hitting with a pair of doubles and a single in three at-bats, elevating his East County leading batting average to .507 (36-for-71).
 
The Patriots are coiled for a No. 3 seed behind Horizon and Francis Parker in the San Diego CIF Division IV seeding which takes place Friday night (May 20).
 
END OF REGULAR SEASON
 

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
NORSEMEN 12, MATADORS 1
VALHALLA        ab  r  h bi    MOUNT MIGUEL   ab  r  h bi
J.Brown ss       4  1  1  1    Seavello 2b     3  0  0  0
R.OSullivan 3b   3  0  1  1    Calafato ss     3  0  0  0
S.OSullivan p    5  3  3  3    Newborn cf      3  0  0  0
Baum 1b          3  1  1  0    Plunkett 1b     2  0  0  0
Moore c          5  3  4  3    White c         3  0  0  0
G.Garcia 2b      4  1  1  1    Array lf        3  0  0  0
Sopata cf        3  0  0  0    Green 3b-p      3  1  1  1
Melendez lf      3  0  0  0    Vanderhyde p    1  0  0  0
Wilson rf        3  1  3  1    Cannon lf       2  0  0  0
LeValley ph      0  0  0  0    Sandoval 1b-p   1  0  0  0
Smith 3b         2  1  1  0
M.Young 1b-p     1  1  1  0
A.Brown cf       1  0  0  0
Wilkins ph       0  0  0  0
TOTALS          37 12 16 10    TOTALS         24  1  1  1
 
  Valhalla      (21-7, 13-2)  112 215 0 - 12 16 1
  Mount Miguel  (0-28, 0-15)  010 000 0 -  1  1 2
 
GWRBI: S.OSullivan (6).
E: Calafato 2, G.Garcia. DP: MM 1. LOB: MM 2, Val 9. 2B: J.Brown, R.OSullivan, Baum, Moore 3. 
HR: S.OSullivan 2(10,11): 1st, solo and 3rd, solo; Green (2) 2nd, solo. SB: J.Brown, Newborn.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
VALHALLA                 ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  S.OSullivan  W(6-1)   6.0   1   1   1   0  10
  M.Young               1.0   0   0   0   0   1
MOUNT MIGUEL
  Vanderhyde   L(0-7)   4.0   9   6   6   1   2
  Green                 1+    7   6   6   3   0
  Sandoval              2.0   1   0   0   0   0
Green faced 5 batters in the 6th inning.
HBP: by Green (Wilkins), by S.OSullivan (Plunkett, Seavello).
*
Harbor League
PATRIOTS 3, COLTS 0
CRAWFORD       ab  r  h bi     CHRISTIAN      ab  r  h bi
Ventura 3b      3  0  0  0     Perry rf        4  0  0  0
Preciado cf     3  0  1  0     Stanovic cf     3  1  3  0
K.Burkhead 2b   3  0  1  0     Hart c          3  1  1  1
Newman 1b       3  0  0  0     Plum dh         3  0  1  0
J.Burkhead rf   2  0  0  0     T.Jones 3b      0  0  0  0
Wright p        2  0  0  0     Rossitto 1b     2  0  0  0
Jacobs ss       2  0  2  0     E.Young ss      3  1  1  1
Ja.Newman c     2  0  0  0     McGranahan p    3  0  0  0
Laster lf       2  0  0  0     Dossett lf      2  0  0  0
                               Abell ph        1  0  0  0
                               Schroeder lf    0  0  0  0
                               N.Adams 2b      1  0  0  0
                               O⤙Donnell ph    0  0  0  0
TOTALS         22  0  4  0     TOTALS         25  3  6  2
 
  Crawford   (10-14, 7-5)  000 000 0 - 0 4 3
  Christian  (16-9, 8-4)   010 020 x - 3 6 1
 
GWRBI: E.Young (4).
E: Ji.Newman, Ja.Newman 2, Rossitto. DP: Chr 1. LOB: Craw 2, Chr 7. 2B: Stanovic 2, Hart, Preciado. 
HR: E.Young (1) 2nd, solo.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
CRAWFORD                ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Wright      L(2-5)   6.0   6   3   2   1   3
CHRISTIAN
  McGranahan  W(3-1)   7.0   4   0   0   1   7
HBP: by Wright (N.Adams, Rossitto). WP: Wright, McGranahan. PB: Ja.Newman.
(05-19-05)



Grossmont Foothillers pitcher A.J. Griffin (5) pitched a 2-hit shutout against West Hills on Monday. (5-16-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)

Valhalla plays usual long-ball to crush Cougars
EastCountySports.com
 
RANCHO SAN DIEGO:  If you're searching for statistical leaders, the Valhalla High roster is dotted with frontrunners, including shortstop JAVIER BROWN and versatile freshman RYAN O'SULLIVAN who rank at the top of the Grossmont Conference batting and pitching charts. This is not to overlook Norsemen greybeards such as SEAN O'SULLIVAN and TOMMY McCLAIN.
 
One name you might not recognize on the conference leaders list is that of senior CHRIS MOORE. However, his hustle helped determine Wednesday's (May 18) Grossmont South League contest at Steele Canyon. Moore ended an 0-for-16 slump by slugging one of four homers belted by Valhalla, pacing the Norsemen to a 9-2 conquest of Steele Canyon.

"The team has stayed together, and if you do, you usually do a pretty good job," noted Moore, who also added a double in a 2-for-4 performance, then executed a pair of diving catches in the outfield. "I know I was fighting on my second at-bat, but finally got my hands moving faster to drive the ball out."

Moore, who hopes to walk-on at San Diego State in the fall, sent his shot off an 0-2 pitch to leadoff the 4th inning, giving Valhalla a 3-0 lead. In the 5th, O'Sullivan drilled his second homer of the game over the centerfield fence, capping a 5-run rally to finally put away the Cougars.

However, with the game still on the line, Moore came up big on defense after Steele Canyon halved a four-run Valhalla lead to 4-2 in the 4th. He charged forward to make a diving stab at a low liner to rob GARRETT JENNER. Moore repeated the effort on a similar play an inning later to deny DANNY HARRIS.
 
"Chris is a 100-percenter and loves to play," noted Norsemen coach STEVE PERDUE. "We don't have to worry about him, which is why he's in the lineup. With his kind of heart, if we had 10 guys like him, I'd like our chances to win every ballgame."

Meanwhile, Valhalla pitcher Ryan O'Sullivan overcame a sloppy 4th, which allowed the Cougars to get close, setting down 12 of the final 13 Steele Canyon batters to all-but-guarantee Valhalla a share of the GSL crown.

"After giving up those two hits, I was really upset with the way I was pitching," noted the freshman right-hander, who struck out three and scattered eight hits without yielding a walk. "I was leaving everything up, so I just went right after them after that."

The pitcher's lone mistakes came on the first three batters of the 4th, as MIKE LANGE registered a ground-rule double, and scored on a ROSS EPPERSON base hit. Epperson moved to third on an error, then scored on a sacrifice fly by DAVID LEWIS.
 
However, O'Sullivan quickly regained his focus, with the sac-fly starting a string of 11 consecutive batters he would retire.
 
Of course, young O'Sullivan has done a masterful job of retiring batters in each of his six Grossmont Conference starts, all of which have resulted in victories. He's allowed only 3 earned runs in 34 1/3 innings. To boot, Ryan has jumped on conference pitching for a .429 batting average (24-for-56), while driving 22 runs and scoring 23.
 
"Ryan was hitting his spots so well, so it didn't matter what the catcher was doing," noted Moore, who rotated to become the catcher for the final two innings. "His curveball was hitting spots, his fastball was hitting spots -- he pitched a great ballgame."

Javier Brown
, who is also battering conference pitchers at a .429 clip (24-for-56), led off the contest with a home run to left off an 0-2 pitch.
 
Two batters later, Sean O'Sullivan drove a ball over the center field fence for a quick 2-0 lead. In the 4th, following Moore's lead homer, GREG GARCIA and CHAD WILSON registered doubles for a 4-0 advantage.

Arguably, Steele Canyon should have kept Valhalla off the scoreboard in the 6th, but a pair of minor misplays by the Cougars took them out of contention.

Following Moore's lead double, Garcia (3-for-3) was called safe at first on his sacrifice bunt, as the umpire ruled the defender covering first base never had his foot on the bag. Two batters later, the same hardluck defender caught a line drive for an out, but his attempt at a double play saw the ball thrown out of bounds, allowing a run to score.

Valhalla took advantage of the extra out, as Ryan O'Sullivan tagged a two-run double, then older brother Sean followed with a two-run homer to put the game away. Sean O'Sullivan now has nine home runs, tying him with Granite Hills' NICK MONETTE for second behind leader DONNIE SNOW of Grossmont who has 14.
 
Both of these teams will be going to the San Diego CIF playoffs - Steele Canyon (16-11, 10-5 GSL) in Division II and Valhalla (20-7, 12-2 GSL) in Division III.
 
But first, the Norsemen are slated to play the final regular season Thursday (May 19) at Mount Miguel at 4 p.m.
 
SANTANA 2,  GROSSMONT 1:  Santana senior right-hander JEFF WOODS silenced host Grossmont in Wednesday's (May 18) regular season finale as the Sultans forced the Foothillers to share second place in the Grossmont North League.
 
Woods (8-3), who was the hard-luck loser the last time he visited Grossmont's Joe Gizoni Field on Friday, May 6, avenged a defeat that centered around a couple of controversial calls in the 7th inning of a 3-2 Grossmont win.
 
"The scenario was so similar," Santana coach JERRY HENSON said. "Jeff even hit the first batter he faced in the 7th like he did the last time."
 
Only in Wednesday's rematch, Santana did not commit a "three-base throwing error" nor was there a bang-bang play at first base that resulted in a game-winning single.
 
Woods scattered six hits and struck out 7 as he logged his 5th complete game.
 
"Once again, Woods proved he is a big-time player in a big game," Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS said. "He deserves all the credit."
 
Santana spoiled an otherwise brilliant pitching performance by Grossmont sophomore TAYLOR WOHLWEND by parlaying a walk, singles by BRANDON HALEY and Woods, a groundout and an error into 2 runs in the 3rd inning.
 
Grossmont's run came on a 5th inning home run by sophomore NICK LONGMIRE.
 
Other than those two innings, the game belonged to the pitchers.
 
"These are two good ballclubs and all three of our games have been like this one today," Henson said.
 
Grossmont (22-8, 8-4) is hoping to gain a No. 2 seed in the SDCIF Division II playoffs, while Santana (23-7, 8-4) is eying a No.1 seed in Division III. Where these teams begin the playoffs will be determined at the Friday night (May 20) seeding meeting.
 
"Based on the whole year, we should be No. 2 behind El Capitan in our division," Phillips said. "Over the last couple weeks we've been consistently inconsistent. Our approach at the plate hasn't been aggressive like it has been most of the year. We've been swinging at too many pitchers' pitches. Hopefully, with a little break now, we can turn that around going into the playoffs."
 
EL CAPITAN 9,  WEST HILLS 1:  Seniors  BRYAN PAUKOVITS and NIK GARCIA combined to spin a 3-hitter at visiting West Hills in Wednesday's (May 18) Grossmont North League finale. The Vaqueros' duo totaled 12 strikeouts, with Paukovits notching 10 during his six-inning stint.
 
This has been quite a turnaround for an El Capitan squad that staggered out of the gate with losses in five of its first six starts. Since that sluggish beginning, the Vaqueros (19-11, 11-1 GNL) have compiled three winnings streaks of four or more, including a regular-season ending six consecutive victories.
 
El Capitan's STEVE VICKERY has achieved numerous milestones during his coaching career. Some obviously are greater than others. But the Vaqueros' skipper was pleased that this year's crew matched the 11-1 finish of El Capitan's 2001 Grossmont North League champions.
 
"I'm really proud of that record," said Vickery, whose Vaqueros used a rare three-game sweep of Santana and a 2-1 edge over El Capitan to achieve that mark. "This is a tough league."
 
The Vaqueros, who were guided by multiple-hit games from AUSTIN RAUCH, JASSON KSIAZEK and Nik Garcia, expect to be awarded the No.1 seed in the San Diego CIF Division II playoffs. The Vaqueros have captured the last two SDCIF Division II titles.
 
West Hills, which surprised the so-called experts with a couple of stunning victories and overall competitive manner, finished the campaign 9-18. The good news is all but one of the Wolf Pack players return next spring.
 
"We wanted to earn respect each time we came to play," West Hills' first-year coach SCOTT HOPGOOD said. "If you ask the other teams in our league I think we accomplished that goal."
 
GRANITE HILLS 10,  MONTE VISTA 0:  Eleven Eagles contributed to Granite Hills' 14-hit attack in Wednesday's (May 18) Grossmont South League finale at Monte Vista.
 
Hard-nosed NICK MONETTE blasted his 9th home run with a man aboard to give Granite Hills a 6-0 lead in the 2nd inning.
 
RYAN MARQUIS broke out of a lengthy slump with a pair of hits and two RBI for the 4th-ranked Eagles (25-5, 13-2).
 
Monte Vista pitched in eight walks, five of them coming in a 4-run Granite Hills 1st inning that featured just two hits.
 
"We came into the season with four team goals," Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said. "We wanted to win 25 games (check), win at least one tournament (the Eagles claimed the Grossmont North-South trophy), win our league (co-champions with Valhalla) and win CIF (Division I). So far, we've met three out of four."
 
Monte Vista, which was limited to three hits, finished the year 7-20.
 
"It was a learning year for us," Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART said. "I have a great group of kids. There was no bickering, arguing or finger-pointing."
 
HELIX 8,  MOUNT MIGUEL 3:  Neither of these teams will be going to the SDCIF playoffs.
 
Despite winning two of their final three games, the Highlanders will have to be satisfied with their 12-16 finish.
 
"We're Division I, so there is no way we'll get in," Helix coach COLE HOLLAND said. "We don't deserve to go this year. But that's OK. We've said all along that this club is a year away."
 
Ten of Helix's losses came by three runs or less. Six times the Highlanders were beaten by a single run.
 
"That's the mark of an inexperienced team," Holland said.
 
After ZACH TANIDA's bases-loaded walk gave Helix a 1-0 edge in Wednesday's (May 18) finale, RAUL RITCHIE drilled a three-run double in the 3rd inning propelling the Highlanders to a comfortable lead.
 
RANDY PEREZ and JEREMY PETERSON added RBI singles in the 5-run 3rd and Tanida closed the Helix scoring with a 2-run double in the 6th.
 
Mount Miguel (0-27,0-14) avoided a fourth shutout with 3 runs in the 6th inning. DEXTER SEAVELLO's 2-run single was the key blow.
 

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
SULTANS 2, FOOTHILLERS 1
SANTANA        ab  r  h bi    GROSSMONT       ab  r  h bi
Haley c         3  1  2  0    Ferrara 2b       4  0  0  0
Woods p         4  0  1  0    Berry rf         4  0  1  0
Helmholtz 1b    3  0  0  0    Pieczynski c     2  0  0  0
Hermansen cf    4  0  0  1    Griffin 3b       3  0  0  0
Martin ss       3  0  0  0    Snow dh          3  0  1  0
Brosnan lf      3  0  0  0    Phillips ss      3  0  2  0
Basnight 3b     1  0  0  0    A.Williams cf    2  0  0  0
Diaz ph         1  0  1  0    Haar lf          2  0  0  0
Martinez 2b     2  0  1  0    Sobel ph         1  0  0  0
N.Miller rf     2  1  0  0    Longmire 1b      2  1  2  1
TOTALS         26  2  5  1    TOTALS          26  1  6  1       
 
  Santana    (23-7, 8-4)  002 000 0 - 2 5 0
  Grossmont  (22-8, 8-4)  000 010 0 - 1 6 1
 
GWRBI: Hermansen (2).
E: Griffin. DP: Gro 2. LOB: Sant 8, Gro 6. HR: Longmire (1) 5th, solo. 
SB: Haley, Martin, Martinez. S: Martinez.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
SANTANA                ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Woods      W(8-3)   7.0   6   1   1   1   7
GROSSMONT
  Wohlwend   L(7-2)   6.0   5   2   1   3   6
  T.Adams             1.0   0   0   0   1   1
HBP: by Woods (Pieczynski, A.Williams). WP: Wohlwend. 
*
VAQUEROS 9, WOLF PACK 1
WEST HILLS      ab  r  h bi    EL CAPITAN      ab  r  h bi
Gagnon c         2  0  0  0    Hostetler rf     3  1  1  2
Parker c         2  0  0  0    Russo 2b         4  1  1  0
Mello cf         2  0  0  0    Rauch c          3  2  2  1
Carley cf        2  0  0  0    Royer ph         1  1  1  0
Stoner ss-p      2  0  1  0    Ksiazek ss       3  1  2  0
Richardson rf    2  0  0  0    Sullenger ss     1  0  1  0
Skinner rf       0  0  0  0    N.Garcia 1b-p    2  1  2  1
Strasburg p      1  0  0  0    D.Garcia ph      1  0  0  0
Eddy p           1  0  0  0    Erickson dh      3  1  1  1
Hoffard p        1  0  0  0    Paukovits p      0  0  0  1
Irvin 2b         2  0  0  0    Walston cf       2  0  0  0
Drescher ph      1  1  1  0    Nazzal cf        1  0  1  0
Pichette dh      1  0  0  0    Griffith lf      2  1  1  1
Maldonado 1b     1  0  0  0    Hensen ph-lf     1  0  0  0
Hall 3b          2  0  1  0    C.Garcia 3b      2  0  0  0
Hooper lf        1  0  0  0    McCarthy 1b      0  0  0  0
Thomason lf      2  0  0  0    
TOTALS          25  1  3  0    TOTALS          29  9 13  7
 
  West Hills   (9-18, 3-9)    000 000 1 - 1  3 1
  El Capitan   (19-11, 11-1)  150 021 x - 9 13 2
 
GWRBI: None.
E: Gagnon, Russo 2. LOB: WH 7, EC 8. 2B: N.Garcia. 3B: Erickson. HR: Hostetler (3) 2nd, one on. 
SB: N.Garcia, Russo. SF: Paukovits.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
WEST HILLS            ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Strasburg  L(1-0)  3.0   7   6   6   4   1
  Eddy               2.0   3   2   2   1   3
  Stoner             1.0   3   1   1   0   1
EL CAPITAN
  Paukovits  W(7-2)  6.0   2   0   0   4  10
  N.Garcia           1.0   1   1   0   0   2
WP: Strasburg. PB: Gagnon 2.
*
Grossmont South League
NORSEMEN 9, COUGARS 2
VALHALLA         ab  r  h bi    STEELE CANYON  ab  r  h bi
J.Brown ss        4  2  1  1    Minich dh       4  0  2  0
R.OSullivan p     4  1  1  2    Harris 2b       3  0  0  0
S.OSullivan dh    4  2  2  3    Inzone rf       3  0  2  0
Baum 1b           3  0  0  0    Rice cf         3  0  0  0
McClain c         3  0  0  0    Lange 1b        3  1  0  0
Sopata ph-cf      1  0  1  0    Epperson ss     3  1  1  1
Moore lf-c        4  2  2  1    Lewis lf        2  0  1  1
G.Garcia 2b       4  2  3  0    W.Murray c      3  0  1  0
D.Smith 3b        2  0  0  0    Jenner 3b       3  0  1  0
Wilson cf-rf      3  0  1  1
Melendez rf-lf    0  0  0  0
TOTALS           32  9 11  8    TOTALS         27  2  8  2
  Valhalla       (20-7, 12-2)   200 205 0 - 9 11 1
  Steele Canyon  (16-11, 10-5)  000 200 0 - 2  8 2
GWRBI: J.Brown (1).
E: Jenner, Wilson, Harris. DP: Val 1. LOB: Val 7, SC 5. 2B: W.Murray, Minich, G.Garcia, Wilson, Moore, R.OSullivan. 
HR: Brown (2), 1st, solo; S.OSullivan 2:(8,9) 1st, solo and 6th, one on; Moore (1), 4th, solo. S: D.Smith. SF: Lewis.
PITCHING SUMMARY
VALHALLA                   ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  R.OSullivan W(8-1)      7.0   8   2   1   0   3
STEELE CANYON
  Johnson      L(4-4)     7.0  11   9   9   1   6
HBP: by Johnson 3 (D.Smith, Wilson, Baum). PB: McClain.
*
HIGHLANDERS 8, MATADORS 3
HELIX           ab  r  h bi    MOUNT MIGUEL     ab  r  h bi
Ra.Perez ss      4  1  2  1    Seavello ss       3  0  2  2
Tanida c         4  0  1  3    Newborn p         3  0  0  0
Peterson 1b-p    4  0  2  1    Sandoval lf       4  0  0  0
Valles cf        0  1  0  0    White c           2  1  0  0
Ponce rf-p       5  1  1  0    Green 2b          4  1  1  0
Rosenthal lf     3  1  0  0    Plunkett 3b       2  0  1  0
Ritchie 3b       2  1  2  3    Freeman-Bolden ph 1  0  0  0
Beltran dh       2  1  0  0    Cannon rf         2  1  0  0
Webb ph          1  0  0  0    Vanderhyde 1b     2  0  0  0
Wenham ph        1  0  0  0    Calafato ph       1  0  0  0
Rohmer 2b        1  2  1  0    Array cf          3  0  0  0
TOTALS          27  8  9  8    TOTALS           27  3  4  2
 
  Helix         (12-16, 4-11)  015 002 0 - 8 9 2
  Mount Miguel  (0-27, 0-14)   000 003 0 - 3 4 3
 
GWRBI: Tanida (2).
E: Ritchie 2, Plunkett, Sandoval, Green. DP: MM 2. LOB: Helix 13, MM 6. 2B: Peterson, Tanida, Ritchie. 
SB: Seavello, Ponce.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
HELIX                  ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Schuler             2.0   1   0   0   0   2
  Runions   W(1-0)    2.0   1   0   0   0   4
  Ponce               2.0   2   3   3   2   3
  Peterson            1.0   0   0   0   0   0
MOUNT MIGUEL
  Newborn   L(0-1)    7.0   9   8   8  12   1
HBP: by Schuler (White), by Ponce (Cannon), by Newborn (Valles 2, Peterson). WP: Runions. BK: Ponce.
*
EAGLES 10, MONARCHS 0
GRANITE HILLS   ab  r  h bi    MONTE VISTA    ab  r  h bi
Decker ss        4  0  1  1    Palacios 2b     1  0  1  0
Sabala ph        1  0  0  0    Starling 2b     1  0  0  0 
Humphries rf     3  1  2  0    DeAnda rf       2  0  0  0
T.Williams rf    2  1  2  1    Lopez lf        1  0  0  0
Crawford dh      2  2  1  1    Messenger rf    0  0  0  0  
Harkins dh       1  0  1  0    Rodriguez 1b    3  0  1  0 
Russell 1b       1  0  1  0    Sopher 1b       2  0  0  0
Monette c        2  2  1  2    Leboffe cf-p    2  0  1  0
Roberts c        2  0  1  0    Simmons dh      3  0  0  0
Taijeron lf      3  1  1  0    Cooper c-p      3  0  0  0
Boltz lf         2  0  0  0    Mendiola c      1  0  0  0
Anderson 1b-p    2  1  0  0    Croft ss        2  0  0  0
J.Miller ph      1  0  0  0    Hale  3b        2  0  0  0
Cazares 2b       2  0  0  0    
Gay ph           1  0  1  0    
Marquis cf       2  1  2  2
Horner 3b        2  1  0  1    
Coleman 3b       1  0  0  0    
TOTALS          34 10 14  8    TOTALS         23  0  3  0
       
  Granite Hills   (25-5, 13-2)  430 020 1 - 10 14 0
  Monte Vista     (7-20, 5-10)  000 000 0 -  0  2 2
 
GWRBI: Crawford (4).
E: Cooper, Dailey. DP: MV 1. LOB: GH 11, MV 4. 2B: Humphries. HR: Monette (9) 2nd, one on. SB: Marquis.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GRANITE HILLS           ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Krause    W(9-1)     5.0   2   0   0   1   4
  Sylvester            1.0   0   0   0   1   1
  Anderson             1.0   1   0   0   0   0
MONTE VISTA
  Dailey    L(0-1)     1.1   5   6   6   6   1
  Leboffe              4.2   6   4   3   2   4
  Cooper               1.0   3   1   1   0   0
WP: Dailey 2.
(05-18-05)


Griffin provides Foothillers' spark in final week of season
EastCountySports.com
 
SANTEE:  Grossmont junior A.J. GRIFFIN could be a starting pitcher for any team in East County. For the Foothillers, though, the junior right-hander remains a premier reliever, a spot starter and a nugget at third base. Hoping to improve their San Diego CIF Division II seeding position, Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS knew coming in to the final week of the regular season that his ballclub needed a two-game sweep. He called on Griffin to provide the spark in Monday's (May 16) Grossmont North league trial at West Hills.
 
GROSSMONT 3,  WEST HILLS 0: The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Griffin pitched a 2-hit shutout, retiring the final 16 West Hills batters in succession as the Foothillers (22-7, 8-3) posted a 6th win in their last 8 starts.
 
"We're playing to get that second seed (in the San Diego CIF in the Division II) playoffs," Phillips said. "We have 22 wins and a chance at 23, so we deserve that No. 2 seed. If we can get that we will have a home field advantage throughout the playoffs to the championship game (June 4 at SDSU's Tony Gwynn Stadium)."
 
Griffin was in playoff form against the Wolf Pack, stumbling only briefly in the 2nd inning. Other than that frame, Griffin retired West Hills in order in each of the other six innings, striking out 8 and walking none.
 
West Hills' only hint of an offensive assault came in the 2nd inning when STEPHEN STRASBURG doubled into the right field corner leading off the 2nd inning. Two outs later AARON GAGNON laced one into left field that Grossmont freshman left fielder BRIAN HAAR hauled in on a single bounce. Thus Strasburg stopped at third and Gagnon put the brakes on at first.
 
Griffin responded to the challenge with an inning-ending strikeout. Those were the only Wolf Pack runners to reach base.
 
"I didn't have my best fastball, but I made up for it with my curveball and changeup," said Griffin (5-2), who logged his third complete game in six starts. "A couple of times I think my changeup must have been down around the 50 miles per hour range. And that only made my 80 miles per hour fastball appear that much faster."
 
West Hills junior southpaw AARON RICHARDSON has dealt better stuff in the past, but managed to make what he had at his fingertips keep Grossmont's high-powered offense in check.
 
"Aaron didn't have his usual velocity on his fastball, but managed to keep them with his split-finger and curveball," West Hills coach SCOTT HOPGOOD said.
 
A couple of youngsters helped Grossmont break into the scoring column.
 
Haar led off the 3rd with a double. First baseman NICK LONGMIRE followed with a nifty bunt, putting runners at the corners. But when Richardson decided he had a play on Longmire at first base, his throw sailed off the mark permitting Haar to jog in with the first run of the game.
 
Grossmont made it 2-0 in the 6th as AUGIE WILLIAMS spanked a two-out double and scored on NICK SOBEL's triple.
 
Longmire's double and MIKE MEDINA's bloop RBI single handed the Foothillers a 3-0 advantage in the 7th.
 
"I was getting tired around the 4th inning, so I went with more curveballs and changeups and it seemed to work," Griffin said. "The main thing was my defense was there behind me."
 
A cornerstone in the Grossmont defense was the glove work done by neophyte Longmire at first base.
 
"Nick came up big picking those balls out of the dirt," Griffin said. "On top of that he started hitting like he did in winter league."
 
Phillips noted that Longmire was sent down to the junior varsity level to gain some playing time a couple of weeks ago. Last Friday, Longmire hit for the cycle with a single, two doubles, a triple and a home run against El Capitan.
 
"Like I've always maintained, if you hit, I'll find a spot for you," Phillips said.
 
West Hills (9-17, 3-8) could easily have short-circuited Grossmont's playoff plans. The Wolf Pack was in the Foothillers' faces in all three league encounters, losing 3-2, 3-1 (in 11 innings) and 3-0.
 
The Wolf Pack's final shot was diluted by the strong-arm pitching off Griffin.
 
"I knew this was a pivotal game for us, and I was going to do whatever it took to make us win."
 
STEELE CANYON 9, HELIX 8:  The Cougars of Steele Canyon still have a reasonable shot at making the San Diego CIF Division II playoffs. But the downtrodden Highlanders nearly spoiled Steele Canyon's post-season chances.
 
A 6-run 4th inning gave Helix (11-16, 3-11) an 8-4 advantage.
 
Noting proudly that his team "got down but they came back," Mittry confessed he missed some of the 4th inning when Helix scored their 6 runs -- "I was throwing things around in the dugout."
 
But the Highlanders were unable to maintain their grip as the Cougars eventually snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as JOE INZONE's three-run double erased an 8-6 deficit in the bottom of the 6th inning.
 
"Joe gave us that big double in the left field gap, and we had some fast guys on base," said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. "DANNY (HARRIS) reads the ball well off the bat, and I had him going from the get-go."
 
Harris, of late, has taken up permanent residence on the base paths. He's compiled a six-game hitting streak, producing a .706 batting average (12-for-17) along the way.
 
Clutch relief pitching by sophomore ANDREW BRUDER, who allowed only 2 hits in 3 1/3 innings, held Helix at bay while Steele Canyon recoiled its offense. Better than that, Bruder earned his 5th win in 7 decisions.
 
ANDREW VALLES was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI for Helix.
 
SANTANA 4,  EL CAJON VALLEY 1:  The Sultans displayed their pitching depth in Monday's (May 16) Grossmont North League encounter in Santee.
 
Seniors CHRISTIAN SPICER and ERIK MEDRUD combined to spin a 4-hitter as Santana (23-4, 8-2) slithered past El Cajon Valley in Monday's (May 16) Grossmont North League game to reach the San Diego CIF Division III playoffs.
 
Santana senior JEFF WOODS was on line to have a big day as he doubled and scored on the front-end of a double steal in the 1st inning and appeared to have hit his 3rd home run a few innings later except for the leaping catch by El Cajon Valley junior center fielder CLIFTON THOMAS.
 
"Woods hit a ball five feet over the fence in center field and Thomas made a spectacular play - went over the fence and brought it back," said an amazed Santana coach JERRY HENSON. "He could start for anyone. He can go get a ball, whether it's over the fence or in the gap.
 
Thomas came into this game batting at a .395 clip.
 
"Thomas has got a real chance, could definitely play at the next level - if he'll take the mustard off the hotdog," Henson said. "He's that good. He could be better at the plate but discipline would take care of that. As for his defensive skills, I haven't seen any better."
 
Santana took a 1-0 edge in the 1st inning as Woods doubled, advanced to third on KYLE HELMHOLTZ's single and scored on the front end of a double steal.
 
RYAN BROSNAN's third home run over the left fence made it 3-0 in the 2nd inning.
 
The Sultans were far from home, however, as JONATHAN MANZO's RBI single in the 3rd cut the Santana lead in half.
 
Santana tacked on a pair of runs in the 4th inning thanks to an El Cajon Valley passed ball and JOHN BASNIGHT's sacrifice fly.
 
"Helmholtz swung the bat well and Brosnan showed some power today," Henson said.
 
GRANITE HILLS 19,  MOUNT MIGUEL 2:  No. 4 Granite Hills slammed a season-high 5 home runs, racked up 21 hits and won its 9th straight in Monday's (May 16) Grossmont South League demolition of the visiting Matadors .
 
"This is what I thought we would hit like this season," Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said. "I felt our strength would be hitting and our pitching would be suspect."
 
For the most part, it's been just the opposite. Solid starting pitching has been the Eagles' strength.
 
"That's why it was good to hit the ball so well in this game," Davis said. "If we can get our bats, pitching and defense going in synchronization like I think we can, we could be pretty tough come (San Diego CIF Division I) playoff time."
 
Not surprisingly, catcher NICK MONETTE set the pace for the Eagles' offensive fireworks, driving in four runs with a 2-run single in the 3rd and his 8th home run with a man aboard in the 4th.
 
BRANDON DECKER also enjoyed an offensive jubilee, hammering his 5th home run, a double and a single, while scoring 4 runs and cashing in a pair from his leadoff post.
 
A classic inning for Granite Hills (24-5, 12-2) was the 4th when the Eagles put together back-to-back doubles by Decker and BRIAN HUMPHRIES, an RBI single by CODY CRAWFORD and back-to-back home runs by Monette and TRAVIS TAIJERON.
 
It was more of the same in the 5th when Granite Hills poured on 10 more runs. Decker and NICK BOLTZ banged back-to-back home runs and after JOSH MILLER walked, pinch-hitter MATT ROBERTS walloped the third home run of the inning.
 
DARREN GAY (8-0) enjoyed the offensive serenade, allowing just three hits and two runs.
 
Mount Miguel's DEXTER SEAVELLO and BILLY PLUNKETT spoiled Gay's outing with solo home runs.
 
VALHALLA 19,  MONTE VISTA 6: If nothing else, credit host Monte Vista for providing the playoff-bound Norsemen a bit of resistance in Monday's (May 16) Grossmont South League contest in Spring Valley.
 
Only three teams have scored more against 5th-ranked Valhalla (19-7, 11-2) than did these Monarchs (7-19, 5-9), who fell behind 13-0 before breaking through for 5 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning.
 
Only Eastlake (7), El Dorado (11) and Grossmont North League-champion El Capitan (12) have scored more on Valhalla's talented pitching staff.
 
The Norsemen teed off on four Monte Vista pitchers for 20 hits, including a 5-for-6 effort by senior shortstop JAVIER BROWN that hoisted his season average to a Grossmont Conference-best .500.
 
"All of his hits were rockets, nothing cheap," Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE said. "He's been a  solid, aggressive hitter who has been there for us all season."
 
Sophomore GREG GARCIA enjoyed one of his better games with the bat, driving in three runs with a double and a pair of singles.
 
"He takes some pretty good hacks for a little guy (5-foot-7, 155)," Perdue said of his slick fielding second baseman. "He's not flashy, but he is steady."
 
Valhalla's ERIC JULIENNE blanked the Monarchs over five inning before the Monarchs jumped on him for a two-run double by ALAN SOPHER and a three-run home run by CORY COOPER.

Collision at the plate between Christian catcher Matt Hart (10) and Hoover's Jeff Martinez in a Harbor League game earlier this season. (Courtesy photo)

Patriots' game is rough outing at Crawford
EastCountySports.com
 
SAN DIEGO: Christian High baseball coach MIKE MITCHELL hates playing baseball games at Crawford High. No doubt part of the reason is due to the Patriots' lack of success on the Colts diamond. Well, it's not really a diamond. It's more of a rough, one of those old-time designs that one has to see to believe. Fact remains, though, Christian lost for the third straight year at Crawford on Tuesday (May 17), falling in the Colts' corral 3-2. The loss left the two teams tied for second place in the Harbor League with one game remaining.
 
"We don't play well on that field - it's a weird field," Mitchell fumed. "There are two fences in the outfield at Crawford. The first one is really close (about 220 feet) and about 10 feet high. If you hit a ball over it it's a ground rule double. Any other field and it's an out."
 
That regular-season finale will match these same two teams Thursday (May 19) at Christian at 3 p.m.
 
Mitchell will be pleased to conduct the rematch on his home soil. This will actually mark the fourth meeting between these teams, with the Patriots (15-9, 7-4) holding a 2-1 series advantage. Both wins - during a tournament - came at Christian.
 
Crawford (10-13, 7-4) capitalized on a Christian throwing error and a pair of bloop doubles to take a 2-0 edge in the 1st inning on Tuesday. Neither of the doubles was hit hard off Christian starting and losing pitcher TODD JONES.
 
The Colts made it 3-0 in the 3rd inning before Christian finally broke through in the 4th on JOEL McGRANAHAN's 2-run double.
 
That blow stretched McGranahan's hitting streak to six games. He is batting at a .619 clip (13-for-21) during that span.
 
On the other side of the coin, SHANE STANOVIC saw his 9-game hitting streak come to an end.
 
The loss also halted Christian's 4-game winning skein.
 
"Today everything went against us," Mitchell said. "If we win on Thursday it shouldn't hurt us. If we lose, we could end up going on the road in the (San Diego CIF Division IV) playoffs."
 

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Harbor League
COLTS 3, PATRIOTS 2
CHRISTIAN       ab  r  h bi    CRAWFORD       ab  r  h bi
Perry rf         3  0  1  0    Ventura 3b      3  1  1  0
Stanovic cf      3  0  0  0    Preciado cf     3  0  1  0
Hart c           3  1  1  0    Love p          2  2  0  1
Plum 3b          2  0  0  0    Newman 1b       3  0  0  0
Rossitto 1b      3  0  1  0    BBurkhead rf    2  0  1  1
EYoung ss        2  1  0  0    Wright c        3  0  1  1
Abell pr         0  0  0  0    Jacob ss        3  0  0  0
McGranahan dh    3  0  1  2    CBurkhead 2b    3  0  2  0
Schroeder lf     2  0  0  0    Latau lf        2  0  0  0
Dossett lf       1  0  0  0
Adams 2b         2  0  0  0
TOTALS          24  2  4  2    TOTALS         24  3  6  3
 
  Christian  (15-9, 7-4)   000 200 0 - 2 4 2
  Crawford   (10-13, 7-3)  201 000 0 - 3 6 0
 
GWRBI: None.
E: E.Young, Adams. LOB: Chr 6, Craw 7. 2B: Ventura, McGranahan. SB: B.Burkhead, Perry, Stanovic.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
CHRISTIAN             ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Jones    L(4-3)    6.0   6   3   2   4   5
CRAWFORD
  Love     W(6-3)    7.0   4   2   2   5   5
WP: Jones, Love 2.
(05-17-05)

MONDAY, MAY 16, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
FOOTHILLERS 3, WOLF PACK 0
GROSSMONT       ab  r  h bi    WEST HILLS     ab  r  h bi
Ferrara 2b       2  0  0  0    Mello cf        3  0  0  0
Griffin p        2  0  0  0    Irvin 2b        3  0  0  0
Pieczynski c     3  0  1  0    Stoner ss       3  0  0  0
Snow rf          2  0  0  0    Strasburg dh    3  0  1  0
Medina rf        2  0  1  1    Maldonado 1b    0  0  0  0
Phillips ss      4  0  1  0    Pichette c      3  0  0  0
AWilliams cf     2  1  1  0    Richardson p    2  0  0  0
Sobel 3b         2  0  1  1    Gagnon c        2  0  1  0
Haar lf          3  1  1  0    Hall 3b         2  0  0  0
Longmire 1b      3  1  2  0    Hooper rf       2  0  0  0
TOTALS          25  3  8  2    TOTALS         23  0  2  0
 
  Grossmont   (22-7, 8-3)  000 011 1 - 3 8 0
  West Hills  (9-17, 3-8)  000 000 0 - 0 2 1
 
GWRBI: None. 
E: Richardson.
DP: WH 2. LOB: Gro 7, WH 2. 2B: Strasburg, Pieczynski, Haar, A.Willliams. 3B: Sobel. S: Ferrara, Griffin.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GROSSMONT               ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Griffin     W(5-2)   7.0   2   0   0   0   8
WEST HILLS
  Richardson  L(3-5)   6.0   8   3   3   4   5
HBP: by Richardson (Ferrara).
*
SULTANS 4, BRAVES 1
EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi    SANTANA        ab  r  h bi
Thomas cf         3  1  1  0    Haley c         3  0  0  0
Dyer 2b           3  0  0  0    Woods ss        3  1  1  0
Manzo lf          3  0  1  1    Helmholtz 1b    3  0  2  0
Abbod 3b          2  0  0  0    Hermansen cf    2  1  1  0
D.Perez c         3  0  0  0    Diaz rf         1  0  1  0
Mansfield 1b      2  0  1  0    Martin 3b       2  1  0  0
L.Perez p         2  0  0  0    Brosnan lf      2  1  1  1
Vega rf           2  0  0  0    Wylie lf        1  0  0  0
Myer rf           1  0  1  0    Basnight dh     1  0  1  1
Padilla ss        3  0  0  0    Schaub dh       0  0  0  0
                                Martinez 2b     2  0  1  0
                                NMiller rf       2  0  0  0
TOTALS           24  1  4  1    TOTALS         22  4  8  2
 
  El Cajon Valley  (4-23, 0-12)  001 000 0 - 1 4 0
  Santana          (22-7, 8-3)   110 200 x - 4 8 1
 
GWRBI: None.
E: Woods. DP: ECV 1, Sant 1. LOB: ECV 5, Sant 4. 2B: Woods, Basnight. HR: Brosnan (3) 2nd, solo. 
SB: Thomas, Woods, Helmholtz, Hermansen, Diaz, Martinez. SF: Basnight.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAJON VALLEY          ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  L.Perez    L(2-5)     6.0   8   4   4   2   0
SANTANA
  Spicer     W(4-0)     5.0   3   1   1   1   5
  Medrud    Sv(1)       2.0   1   0   0   1   2           
HBP: by L.Perez (Martinez), by Spicer (Mansfield). WP: L.Perez. PB: D.Perez.
*
Grossmont South League
COUGARS 9, HIGHLANDERS 8
HELIX           ab  r  h bi    STEELE CANYON   ab  r  h bi
Ra.Perez ss      4  1  1  0    Minich ss        4  2  1  1
Tanida c         3  2  1  1    Harris 2b        2  3  2  0
Peterson 1b      5  1  1  0    Inzone rf        3  0  2  3
Valles cf        4  1  2  3    Rice cf          4  0  0  1
Ponce rf         3  2  2  0    Lange 1b         3  1  2  1
Ritchie 3b       3  0  0  0    Klopp pr         0  0  0  0
Rosenthal lf     1  0  1  1    Epperson p       2  0  1  1
Deharo lf        1  0  0  0    Bruder p         2  0  1  0
Beltran dh       3  0  0  0    Lewis lf         4  1  1  0
Rohmer 2b        4  1  0  0    WMurray c        3  1  1  0
Wenham p         0  0  0  0    Jenner 3b        2  0  1  1
Runions p        0  0  0  0    Jacobsmeier pr   0  1  0  0
TOTALS          31  8  8  5    TOTALS          29  9 12  8
 
  Helix          (11-16, 3-11)  011 600 0 - 8  8 2
  Steele Canyon  (16-10, 10-4)  301 203 x - 9 12 4
 
GWRBI: Inzone (3).
E: Minich 4, Peterson, Rohmer. LOB: SC 9, Helix 9. 2B: Minich, Lange, Valles, W.Murray, Harris, Inzone. 
SB: Tanida, Valles.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
HELIX                    ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Wenham       L(3-5)   5.0  12   9   7   3   0
  Runions               1.0   0   0   0   1   0  
STEELE CANYON
  Epperson              3.2   6   8   4   3   2
  Bruder       W(5-2)   3.1   2   0   0   0   1
Wenham faced 4 batters in the in the 6th inning.
HBP: by Epperson (Ponce, Beltran), by Bruder (Tanida).
*     
EAGLES 19, MATADORS 2
MOUNT MIGUEL    ab  r  h bi    GRANITE HILLS  ab  r  h bi
Seavello 2b      3  1  1  1    Decker ss       4  4  3  2
Newborn cf-p     2  0  0  0    Sylvester 1b    1  0  1  1
Calafato ss      3  0  1  0    Humphries rf    2  2  2  2
White c          3  0  0  0    Boltz rf        2  1  1  1
Sandoval rf      2  0  0  0    Crawford dh     3  1  1  2
Plunkett 3b-1b   2  1  1  1    J.Miller dh     1  1  0  0
Vanderhyde 1b-p  2  0  0  0    Monette c       4  1  3  4
Green p-3b       2  0  0  0    Roberts c       1  1  1  2
Array lf         2  0  0  0    Taijeron lf     3  1  1  1
                               T.Williams lf   1  1  1  0
                               Anderson 1b     3  0  1  0
                               Krause 2b       1  1  1  1
                               Cazares 2b      2  0  0  0
                               Harkins 3b      2  2  2  0
                               Marquis cf      4  1  1  1
                               Horner 3b       2  1  1  0
                               Coleman ss      1  1  1  2
TOTALS          21  2  3  1    TOTALS         37 19 21 19
 
  Mount Miguel    (0-26, 0-13)  000 1 1 0 -  2  3 2
  Granite Hills   (24-5, 12-2)  103 5(10) - 19 20 0
Game called after 5Â12 innings. 
 
GWRBI: Crawford (3).
LOB: MM 2, GH 7. 2B: Sylvester, Decker, T.Williams, Coleman. 
HR: Seavello (3) 4th, solo; Monette (8) 4th, one on; Taijeron (6) 4th, solo; 
Decker (5) 5th, one on; Boltz (1) 5th, solo; Plunkett (1) 5th, solo; Roberts (2) 5th one on. 
SB: Newborn, Monette, Crawford, Decker 2.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MOUNT MIGUEL             ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Greene      L(0-1)    3.2   7   6   5   1   3
  Vanderhyde            0.1   5   5   5   1   0
  Newborn               1.0   8   8   8   1   1
GRANITE HILLS
  Gay         W(8-0)    5.0   3   2   2   0   7
  Russell               1.0   0   0   0   1   0
Vanderhyde faced 5 batters in the 5th. 
*
NORSEMEN 19, MONTE VISTA 6
VALHALLA       ab  r  h bi    MONTE VISTA     ab  r  h bi    
J.Brown ss      6  2  5  3    Palacios 2b      3  0  2  0    
R.OSullivan dh  3  2  1  2    DeAnda lf-p      3  0  1  0    
S.OSullivan 3b  2  2  1  2    Lopez 1b-rf      2  0  0  0
Baum 1b         3  2  2  2    Rodriguez p-1b   4  1  1  0    
McClain c       4  1  2  1    Leboffe cf       4  1  2  1    
G.Garcia 2b     4  3  3  3    Simmons 3b-p     3  1  2  0    
Sopata cf       3  2  1  1    Sopher dh        4  1  2  2    
Melendez lf     3  1  1  1    Cooper c         3  1  1  3    
Wilson rf-cf    3  1  2  3    R.Garcia lf      1  0  0  0    
Smith 3b        2  2  1  0    Mendiola 2b      1  0  0  0    
M.Young 1b      2  1  1  0    Hale 3b          1  1  1  0    
LeValley rf     1  0  0  0    Messenger rf     2  0  0  0    
Wilkins c       1  0  0  0    Haase p-lf       2  0  0  0    
TOTALS         33  6 12  6    TOTALS          37 19 20 18    
  
  Valhalla      (19-7, 11-2)  100 165 6 - 19 20 1
  Monte Vista   (7-19, 5-9)   000 005 1 -  6 12 1
 
GWRBI: None.
E: Palacios, S.OSullivan. LOB: MV 7, Val 8. 2B: J.Brown, S.OSullivan, Baum, G.Garcia, Hale. 
HR: Cooper (1) 6th, two on. SB: S.OSullivan, Baum. SF: Wilson.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
VALHALLA
  Julienne   W(5-1)   5.1   9   5   5   0   6
  Stangyl             1.2   3   1   1   0   2
MONTE VISTA            ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Rodriguez  L(2-10)  4.2   8   6   6   3   3
  Haase               0.0   2   2   2   3   0
  DeAnda              0.1   1   0   0   0   0
  Simmons             2.0   9  11  11   3   2
Haase faced 5 batters in the 5th.
HBP: by Simmons (Baum, Smith, R.OSullivan), by Julienne (Simmons).  PB: Wilkins 2, Cooper 3.

 


Fair ball called foul...  a critical play in Friday's Grossmont South League championship game at Valhalla. Granite Hills' Cody Crawford (12) races for home as Norsemen Sean O'Sullivan (12), Ryan O'Sullivan (15) and catcher Tommy McClain (13) watch the ball. (5-13-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

Eagles' Anderson deals shutout in big win over Valhalla;
Vaqueros get two home runs from Rauch in clinching win
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON:  It was championship Friday (May 13) in East County. On the Grossmont North League side, the El Capitan Vaqueros secured their 9th league title under the tutelage of coach STEVE VICKERY by turning back Grossmont 5-4 in a battle of home runs. Meanwhile, on the Grossmont South side, Granite Hills was edging Valhalla 2-0 in a premier pitching duel that created a probable co-championship in that league.


Granite Hills' Donnie Anderson pitched a 3-hit shutout as the Eagles defeated defending Grossmont South champion Valhalla 2-0 on Friday. (5-13-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)
 
GRANITE HILLS 2, VALHALLA 0: For the record, Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE concedes that visiting Granite Hills earned Friday's (May 13) key Grossmont South League victory.
 
Yet, the focus of Friday's title bout was on a misguided call by the plate umpire that left the No. 5 Norsemen angry, Valhalla coach Perdue ejected and the 4th-ranked Eagles trying to conceal their delight at their unexpected good fortune.
 
Things were going as expected as Valhalla's SEAN O'SULLIVAN and Granite Hills' DONNIE ANDERSON were dealing donuts until the top of the 3rd when the Eagles received a break they hadn't counted on.
 
With runners at first and second and two outs in the Granite Hills 3rd inning, Eagles batter TRAVIS TAIJERON raised a popup midway between home plate and third base. Valhalla catcher TOMMY McCLAIN and third baseman RYAN O'SULLIVAN began tracking the ball, but neither called the other off. Thus, the ball handed in fair territory, and eventually rolled foul some 50 feet from 3rd base.
 
An obvious foul ball, or so it would seem.
 
That's when the chaos began. Thinking the ball was foul, the Norsemen were in no hurry to step and fetch.  At the same time, the Eagles' CODY CRAWFORD was running full tilt from third to score the game's first run as Taijeron turned a big league popup into an RBI double.
 
"All I wanted them (the umpires) to do was get the call right," said Perdue, who was eventually ejected for insisting the umpire had made the wrong ruling.
 

Valhalla coach Steve Perdue isn't buying what he's hearing. (Photo by Adolfo Villanueva) 

Dissatisfied with the plate umpire's weak-kneed interpretation of the play, Perdue turned to the veteran base umpire to gain his take on the play.
 
"I said 'I don't mean to embarrass your buddy, but (said Perdue, restating the play), is that a fair ball or a foul ball?' He said, '"Yes, that is a foul ball.'"
 
Hours later the umpires changed their story, which more than likely will keep Perdue from registering his planned protest.
 
"I'm going ahead with the protest no matter what they say," Perdue said. "I believe in integrity and I don't think (the umpires association) is on the same page. Who are those guys accountable to?"
 
Politics aside, the Eagles' 6-foot-4, 200-pound Anderson is at the pinnacle of his game. The senior right-hander rationed Valhalla (18-7, 10-2 GSL) to three hits, two of them coming from leadoff man JAVIER BROWN.
 
Anderson, most experienced of a blossoming Granite Hills pitching staff, blanked the Norsemen on 3 hits for his 6th win in 7 decisions.
 
"Beating Valhalla and O'Sullivan in the same game is certainly a bonus," said Granite Hills senior catcher NICK MONETTE, who burned the Norsemen's ace with an RBI double in the 5th inning.
 
Monette was 2-for-2, while freshman teammate BRIAN HUMPHRIES was 3-for-4.
 
"Monette has had an MVP year," Perdue said.
 
Anderson was more reserved in his post-game comments.
 

Granite Hills' Louis Cazares (3) starts a double play as Valhalla's Sean O'Sullivan (12) slides. (5-13-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

"We just had to come in here and shut them down," Anderson said. "My curveball was working great and I was placing my fastball pretty good, too. Yeah, this was my best game of the season."
 
Only once did the Norsemen advance a runner as far as third base against Anderson, who has beaten Valhalla twice this season.
 
"I think they were guessing a lot today because I did a good job of mixing my pitches," said Anderson (6-1).
 
Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS believed Anderson was dealing at his best.
 
"It's hard to imagine that Donnie can pitch any better," Davis said.
 
Granite Hills (23-5, 11-2 GSL) has assured itself of its first league title since 2002. Valhalla, winner of the previous two league titles, can still grab a share of this flag by sweeping its final three regular season games.
 
Not to be overlooked was the pitching of O'Sullivan, who was tagged with his first loss despite pitching his finest game of the season. He struck out 11.
 
"O'Sullivan got better as the game went on," Davis said. "That's the best fastball I've seen him throw all year. He's so hard to judge because he throws three or four different fastballs as far as velocity goes. When he wants to, he can really pump it up."
 
Gossip among the scouts had O'Sullivan consistently throwing between 89-to-93 miles per hour.
 
Over the final two frames, O'Sullivan was bringing it like he did a year ago. He mowed down five of the final seven batters he faced on strikes.
 
If there was a knock against O'Sullivan it was that he went to his curveball too many times.
 
"I think five of our hits came on breaking balls," Davis said.  Three of those Granite Hills safeties came off the bat of Humphries.
 
Valhalla was clearly keyed for the rubber match of this series with archrival Granite Hills.
 
"I've never seen a Valhalla team so animated," Davis said. "That's the most 'up' I've seen them all year."
 
Once settled down and focused on the ballgame at hand, Perdue realized that Friday's contest was a classic showdown between two of East County's finest.
 
"I told our guys not to hold their heads down," Perdue said. "There is no shame in losing to a good team. And Granite Hills is a good team. Take away the bad call and they still beat us."
 


El Capitan's Austin Rauch (18) hit two home runs as the Vaqueros defeated Grossmont 5-4 on Friday to clinch the Grossmont North League championship. (5-13-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)


EL CAPITAN 5,  GROSSMONT 4:  The once forgotten Vaqueros, who opened the season with five losses in their first six games, are celebrating a Grossmont North League championship this weekend. Victories in 10 of the last 13 games, including a current five-game winning streak helped El Capitan clinch its second straight Grossmont North League flag.

El Capitan junior catcher AUSTIN RAUCH slammed two of the six home runs hit in Friday's (May 13) showdown, both for key insurance runs, helping the Vaqueros prevail.
 
Rauch lifted an opposite field shot to right to mount a 4-1 advantage in the 5th inning, but the Foothillers struck back in the home-half of the frame when AUGIE WILLIAMS smacked a two-run blast to trim the lead to 4-3.
 
However, Rauch answered back by launching a monster shot to left in the 7th - the ball traveling well over 400 feet as it landed on the JV diamond - to push the lead back to two runs.

"You always try to get some extra runs for insurance," noted Rauch, who opened his 4-for-4 performance with a pair of singles before going deep. "And it looked like we needed them today."

El Capitan starting pitcher CRISTIAN GARCIA tossed a complete-game, 6-hitter, striking out 9 as he raised his personal pitching mark to 7-3.
 
"This was a huge win for us," El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said. "Anytime you win a league championship, it's special. We are feeling pretty good right now."
 
No. 6 Grossmont (21-7, 7-3) pushed the game to the brink after three batters stayed alive when there were two strikes and two outs on each of them in the bottom of the 7th.

Grossmont leadoff man, catalyst TIM FERRARA, lifted a 1-2 pitch over the wall for his first home run of the season. He was the third Foothillers batter to go the opposite way in clearing the barriers of Joe Gizoni Field.
 
Late-inning substitute NICK SOBEL coaxed a walk to bring the potential winning run to the plate. However, Garcia registered the final of his nine strikeouts to seal the championship for the Lakesiders.


Danny Pieczynski hits a home run for Grossmont against El Capitan Friday (photo by Ernie Pile)

"You just accept it as a pitcher that the ball will go out of this park, suck it up and keep pitching," explained Garcia. "Because this league is so tough, winning it is better than the playoffs."

Garcia set down eight consecutive batters in the early going, baiting the Hillers to climb the ladder on strikeout pitches well above the strike zone. Later on, he went down and away for his out pitch.

"Cristian threw all of his pitches well - any time, any count," added Rauch. "We just tried to mix it up and get different sequences of pitches."

Meanwhile, Grossmont stayed close throughout with some timely infield defense by turning three double plays, although one resulted in a 3rd-inning run when El Capitan had runners at the corners with nobody out. The grounder made it 3-0 after GRIFF ERICKSON belted a 2-run homer to open the scoring in the 2nd.

The Foothillers, who used the long ball to account for all four runs, began their comeback on a solo homer by catcher DANNY PIECYZNSKI in the 4th.
 
Ferrara (2-for-4) had the only multiple-hit outing for Grossmont, while THOMAS HOSTETLER went 2-for-4 for the Vaqueros, sending Hillers starter TAYLOR WOHLWEND to his first loss in eight decisions.

Even with the league pennant firmly secured by the two-time defending SDCIF Division II champion Vaqueros, a 4th meeting could be in offing as both teams figure to make legitimate challenges for prominent playoff positions when the seeing committee convenes on Friday, May 20.
 
So far, El Capitan owns a 2-1 series edge.
 
HELIX 5,  MONTE VISTA 1:  With their San Diego CIF playoff chances flickering at best, the Highlanders finally caught fire in Friday's (May 13) Grossmont South League encounter in La Mesa.
 
Helix seniors MIKE SCHULER and MATT WENHAM combined to twirl a 5-hitter at the visiting Monarchs (7-18, 5-8) in a must-win situation for the Highlanders (11-15, 3-10).
 
"Our pitching has been there for us most of the season," Helix coach COLE HOLLAND said. "Just look at the job Schuler has done for us with literally no run support. The guy is 2-5 with an ERA under three (2.82 to be exact) and he's walked only five in 54 2/3 innings. He's deserved better."
 
Schuler included 55 strikes in his 79 pitches against the Monarchs. He walked none and did not allow an earned run.
 
For one of the few times in more than a month, the Highlanders finally produced some timely offensive blows with the game on the line.
 
Sophomore RAUL RITCHIE broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI single in the 4th inning.
 
"That was a 2-strike hit, something we haven't been getting most of the year," Holland said.
 
JEREMY PETERSON belted a 2-run home run - his third - to extend the Helix lead to 4-1 in the 5th inning.
 
"He's been our main source of power," Holland said of the 6-foot-5, 250-pound sophomore first baseman. "Twenty of his 26 hits have gone for extra bases (17 of them doubles). His home run was the big blow for us today."
 
Monte Vista started out fast as DAVID PALACIOS and DAN DeANDA banged back-to-back singles in the opening frame. But a double-play killed that budding rally.
 
"We just cruised from there," Holland said.
 
STEELE CANYON 8,  MOUNT MIGUEL 1:  While heavyweights Granite Hills and Valhalla have been hogging the headlines in their bid for the Grossmont South League pennant, coach PHIL MITTRY's Cougars (15-10, 9-4) have been lurking only a few strides back in third place.
 
To be sure, Steele Canyon has a firm grip on the "show" ticket in what has been primarily a three horse race in the Grossmont South.
 
Junior second baseman DANNY HARRIS has been the driving force behind the Steele Canyon charge of late. In his last four starts, Harris has compiled a .667 batting average (10-for-15).
 
Harris opened Friday's (May 13) game at Mount Miguel with a double that led to a 4-run 1st inning. MIKE LANGE, ROSS EPPERSON, WILL MURRAY and JESSE JACOBSMEIER punched out RBI singles.
 
A triple by JOE INZONE and an RBI single by MATT KNAUST stretched Steele Canyon's advantage to 5-0.
 
Then it was Harris' turn again. His two-run single keyed a 3-run 6th inning as the Cougars slapped a clap on any comeback plans the Matadors (0-25, 0-12) might have been entertaining.
 
"Harris has been hot for the last week or so," Mittry said. "He started to heat up at the right time. This is when you want to be peaking."
 
The SDCIF playoffs begin on Tuesday (May 24) and Steele Canyon figures to be a longshot in Division III.
 
Sophomore ANDREW BRUDER turned in a powerful five innings on the mound, limiting the Matadors to one hit while striking out six.
 
Mount Miguel, meanwhile, avoided being shutout for the fourth time this season as BUD NEWBORN followed a pair of walks by the Steele Canyon relief corps with an RBI single.
 
"Those kids really play hard for him (Matadors coach BYRON GRIGSBY)," Mittry said. "They've only got 10 guys, and they all hustle. They are out there busting their butts for the very last out of the game."
 
WEST HILLS 8, EL CAJON VALLEY 1:  SHAIN STONER drove in three runs with a double and a single Friday (May 13) to carry host West Hills to an easy Grossmont North League victory over El Cajon Valley.
 
Perhaps the biggest news on the West Hills front was that hard-luck STEPHEN STRASBURG chalked up his first win in 10 decisions. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior right-hander scattered 8 hits and struck out six during a 6-inning stint to silence the Braves (4-22, 0-11).
 
"Strasburg had a key 1st inning - threw only 11 pitches," said West Hills coach SCOTT HOPGOOD. "It helped him to settle down."
 
It also set an economical pattern as Strasburg needed just 82 pitches to sail through six innings.
 
"Strasburg was in charge from the start," said El Cajon Valley coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN.
 
"We've had problems with injuries and eligibilities all season. We had a great practice yesterday but today we were flat. But these guys are fighters - they haven't given up all season."
 
Hopgood agreed.
 
"El Cajon's been playing tough," Hopgood noted. "We wanted to get on them early and take momentum from them. We executed in every phase of the game. We really swung the bats well, and we were very aggressive on the bases."
 
For West Hills (9-16, 3-7) it was only the third time the Wolf Pack had logged back-to-back victories. The playoff-hopeful Pack plays its final regular games against Grossmont and El Capitan.
 
"We know we need to finish with four wins - we're halfway there," Hopgood said.
 

Valhalla shortstop Javier Brown attempts to complete a double play after forcing Granite Hills' Louis Cazares at second base. Watching in the background is Greg Garcia. (5-13-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
WOLF PACK 8, BRAVES 1
EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi    WEST HILLS     ab  r  h bi
Thomas cf         4  1  1  0    Mello cf        2  2  0  0
Dyer 2b           4  0  1  0    Parker cf       0  0  0  0
Manzo lf          3  0  2  1    Irvin 2b        2  2  1  1
Abbod 3b          3  0  0  0    Stoner ss-p     3  1  2  3
L.Perez rf        3  0  0  0    Strasburg p     3  0  1  2
Aquiningoc 1b     3  0  2  0    Dresher 2b      0  0  0  0
D.Perez c         3  0  1  0    Richardson dh   1  0  1  0
Padilla ss        2  0  0  0    Maldonado 1b    0  0  0  0
Mansfield ph      1  0  0  0    Eddy dh         2  0  1  1
Myer p            3  0  1  0    Gagnon lf       3  0  0  0
                                Pichette c      3  0  2  1
                                Hall 3b         3  0  0  0
                                Hooper rf       3  2  2  0
                                Hoffard ph      1  0  0  0
                                Carley pr       0  1  0  0
TOTALS           29  1  8  1    TOTALS         26  8 10  8
 
  El Cajon Valley  (4-22, 0-11)  001 000 0 - 1  8 2
  West Hills       (9-16, 3-7)   103 400 x - 2 10 0             
 
GWRBI: Irvin (3).
E: Padilla 2. DP: WH 1. LOB: ECV 7, WH 5. 2B: Irvin, Stoner. SB: Mello, Carley, Hooper 3. SB: Eddy, Strasburg.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAJON VALLEY       ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Myer      L(1-6)   3.2   8   8   7   3   2
  L.Perez            0.1   2   0   0   0   0
  Abbod              2.0   0   0   0   0   1
WEST HILLS
  Strasburg W(1-9)   6.0   8   1   1   1   6
  Stoner             1.0   0   0   0   0   2
HBP: by Myer (Mello). WP: Strasburg. PB: D.Perez 3.
*
VAQUEROS 5, FOOTHILLERS 4
EL CAPITAN      ab  r  h bi   GROSSMONT       ab  r  h bi
Hostetler rf     4  0  2  0   Ferrara 2b       4  1  2  1
Russo 2b         4  1  1  0   Griffin 3b       2  0  0  0
Rauch c          4  2  4  2   Sobel 3b         0  0  0  0
Ksiazek ss       3  0  0  0   Snow dh-p        4  0  0  0
N.Garcia 1b      3  1  0  0   Pieczynski c     3  1  1  1
D.Garcia pr      0  0  0  0   Phillips ss      2  0  1  0
Erickson dh      2  1  1  2   Cusumano pr      0  0  0  0
Walston cf       2  0  1  0   Berry rf         3  0  0  0
Sullenger ph     0  0  0  0   Passanini 1b     3  1  1  0
Griffith 3b      2  0  0  0   Williams cf      3  1  1  2
Henson ph        1  0  0  0   Haar lf          2  0  0  0
Nazzal lf        3  0  0  0
TOTALS          25  5  9  4   TOTALS          26  4  6  4
  El Capitan  (18-11, 10-1)  021 010 1 - 5  9 1
  Grossmont   (21-7, 7-3)    000 120 1 - 4  6 1
GWRBI: Erickson (2).
E: Ferrara, Ksiazek. DP: Gro 3. LOB: EC 6, Gro 5. 2B: Russo, Passanini. 
HR: Erickson (1), 2nd, one on; Pieczynski (8), 4th, solo; Rauch 2(3,4) 5th, solo, and 7th, solo; 
A.Williams (5), 5th, one on; Ferrara (1), 7th, solo. SB: Cusumano. 
EL CAPITAN                   ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  C.Garcia W(7-3)           7.0   6   4   4   3   9
GROSSMONT
  Wohlwend L(7-1)           5.0   7   4   3   1   3
  Snow                      2.0   2   1   1   3   3
PB: Pieczynski.
*
Grossmont South League
EAGLES 2, NORSEMEN 0
GRANITE HILLS   ab  r  h bi    VALHALLA        ab  r  h bi
Decker ss        4  0  0  0    J.Brown ss       3  0  2  0
Humphries cf     4  1  3  0    R.OSullivan 3b   3  0  0  0
Crawford dh      4  1  0  0    S.OSullivan p    2  0  0  0 
Horner 3b        0  0  0  0    Baum 1b          3  0  0  0
Monette c        2  0  2  1    McClain c        2  0  0  0
Taijeron lf      3  0  1  1    Moore lf         3  0  0  0
Anderson p       2  0  0  0    LeValley dh      2  0  0  0
Cazares 2b       2  0  1  0    Wilson rf        1  0  0  0
Boltz rf         3  0  0  0    G.Garcia 2b      1  0  0  0
Russell 1b       3  0  0  0    Smith ph         1  0  0  0
                               Sopata cf        2  0  1  0
TOTALS          27  2  7  2    TOTALS          23  0  3  0
 
  Granite Hills   (23-5, 11-2)  001 010 0 - 2 7 1
  Valhalla        (18-7, 10-2)  000 000 0 - 0 3 0
 
GWRBI: Taijeron (4).
E: Decker. DP: GH 2, Val 1. LOB: GH 7, Val 5. 2B: J.Brown, Taijeron, Monette. 
SB: Crawford, S.OSullivan, Humphries.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GRANITE HILLS          ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Anderson    W(6-1)  7.0   3   0   0   3   4
VALHALLA
  S.OSullivan L(5-2)  7.0   7   2   2   2  11
HBP: by S.OSullivan (Anderson).
*
HIGHLANDERS 5, MONARCHS 1
MONTE VISTA     ab  r  h bi    HELIX          ab  r  h bi
Palacios 2b      4  0  1  0    Perez ss        3  1  0  0    
DeAnda rf        3  0  1  0    Tanida c        3  1  2  0    
Lopez 1b         3  0  0  0    Peterson 1b     3  1  1  2    
Rodriguez dh-p   3  0  0  0    Valles cf       3  2  2  0    
Sopher lf-p      3  1  2  0    Ponce rf        2  0  2  0
Leboffe p-cf     3  0  0  0    Ritchie 3b      3  0  1  1
Hale 3b          1  0  0  0    Rosenthal lf    1  0  0  0
Messenger dh     1  0  0  0    Schuler p       2  0  0  0
Cooper c         1  0  1  0    Beltran ph      1  0  1  0
Simmons ph       1  0  0  0    Deharo pr       0  0  0  0
Croft ss         2  0  0  0    Wenham p        0  0  0  0
Haase cf-lf      0  0  0  0    Rohmer 2b       3  0  1  0
Lopez p          0  0  0  0
TOTALS          25  1  5  0    TOTALS         24  5 10  3
 
  Monte Vista   (7-18, 5-8)    010 000 0 - 1  5 1
  Helix         (11-15, 3-10)  100 130 x - 5 10 2
 
GWRBI: Ritchie (2). 
E: Croft, Rohmer, Peterson. DP: MV 1, Helix 1. LOB: MV 7, Helix 7. 2B: Sopher, Ritchie. 
HR: Peterson (3) 5th, one on. SB: Perez, Tanida.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MONTE VISTA           ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Leboffe   L(3-4)   3.1   4   2   1   2   1
  DeAnda             1.0   4   3   3   1   2
  Lopez              0.0   0   0   0   0   0
  Sopher             0.2   1   0   0   0   1
  Rodriguez          1.0   1   0   0   0   1
HELIX
  Schuler   W(2-5)   6.0   5   1   0   0   4
  Wenham   Sv(2)     1.0   0   0   0   0   1
HBP: by (Schuler (Cooper, Hale). PB: Cooper. BK: DeAnda. 
*
COUGARS 8, MATADORS 1
STEELE CANYON   ab  r  h bi    MOUNT MIGUEL      ab  r  h bi
Minich ss        5  1  1  0    Seavello 2b        1  0  0  0
Harris 2b        5  2  3  2    Freeman-Bolden 1b  1  0  0  0
Inzone rf        4  1  1  0    Newborn cf         2  0  1  1
Knaust 1b        3  1  2  1    Califato ss        3  0  1  0
Lange dh         2  1  1  1    White c            3  0  0  0
Johnson ph       1  0  0  0    Green 3b-p         3  0  0  0
Epperson 3b      4  1  2  2    Plunkett 1b-2b     3  0  1  0
W.Murray c       4  0  2  1    Cannon rf          3  0  0  0
Jacobsmeier cf   4  0  2  1    Vanderhyde p       2  0  0  0
Klopp lf         4  1  1  0    Array lf           1  1  0  0
TOTALS          36  8 15  8    TOTALS            22  1  3  1
 
  Steele Canyon  (15-10, 9-4)  400 013 0 - 8 15 0
  Mount Miguel   (0-25, 0-12)  000 001 0 - 1  3 0
 
GWRBI: Lange (1).
DP: SC 1. LOB: SC 9, MM 2. 2B: Minich, Harris. 3B: Inzone. SB: Newborn, Array. 
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
STEELE CANYON           ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Bruder       W(4-2)  5.0   1   0   0   0   6
  West                 1.0   2   1   1   2   1
  Jenner               1.0   0   0   0   0   1
MOUNT MIGUEL
  Vanderhyde   L(0-6)  5.0   9   5   5   1   2
  K.Green              2.0   6   3   3   0   2
HBP: by Bruder (Newborn), by Vanderhyde (Lange).
*
(05-13-05)


Stanovic has five hits as Christian crushes Kearny again
EastCountySports.com
 
SAN DIEGO:  Junior SHANE STANOVIC extended his hitting streak to nine games with a 5-hit outbreak spearheading the Christian High Patriots in a 19-4 romp over host Kearny in Saturday's (May 14) Harbor League action.
 
Stanovic slugged a triple and four singles in six at-bats against the Komets (2-22, 1-9). The only time he made an out was in the 1st inning when he lined into a double play.
 
"What can I say - the guy is hot," Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said. "In his last at-bat  today his swing hit the catcher's glove. It was going to called catcher's interference except Shane managed to hit the ball into left field for a single. Since the rule says he gets his choice, Shane naturally took the hit. You know your luck is good when stuff like that happens."
 
Stanovic has 20 hits in 32 at-bats for a .625 average over his last nine games.
 
JOEL McGRANAHAN whacked a pair of doubles in five trips to push his batting streak to five games. The senior standout is batting at a .667 clip during that stretch with a dozen hits.
 
In addition to wielding a hot bat, McGranahan also pitched four innings to earn his second win in three decisions.
 
CHAD O'DONNELL blanked the Komets on one hit over two innings of relief and KELLEN ROSSITTO finished the job by spinning a scoreless 7th.
 
The Patriots staged a six-run rally with two outs in the 1st inning and never looked back. EDDIE YOUNG's 3-run double and a 2-run double by NICK ADAMS were the key blows. Adams smacked another 2-run double in Christian's 5-run 4th that gave the Patriots a 12-0 lead.
 
Christian out-scored Kearny 47-9 in a three-game series sweep.
 

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Harbor League
PATRIOTS 19, KOMETS 4
CHRISTIAN       ab  r  h bi    KEARNY           ab  r  h bi
Perry rf         2  1  1  0    Reed 3b-cf        3  0  1  0
W.Murray rf      3  1  1  2    K.Richey ss-2b    3  1  0  0
Stanovic cf      6  3  5  1    Neeleman lf       1  0  0  0
Hart c-ss        6  1  3  1    Sarantopolous lf  1  1  0  0
Plum dh          2  2  1  1    Bell 1b-cf        3  0  0  0
T.Jones 3b       3  0  0  0    A.Whyte p         3  1  3  1
Rossitto 1b      2  2  1  1    T.Richey c        3  1  1  1
O'Donnell p-1b   2  0  1  1    Alcon 2b          1  0  0  0
E.Young ss       4  3  3  3    Johnson 2b        2  0  1  2
McGranahan p-1b  5  2  2  1    Marsh p           1  0  0  0
Dossett lf       2  1  0  0    J.Whyte 3b        2  0  0  0
Schroeder lf     2  2  1  2    Heyenga rf        3  0  0  0
N.Adams 2b       3  0  2  4
Abell c          1  1  0  0
TOTALS          43 19 21 17    TOTALS           26  4  6  4
 
  Christian   (15-8, 7-3)  610 513 3 - 19 21 1
  Kearny      (2-21, 1-9)  000 400 0 -  4  6 3
 
GWRBI: E.Young (3).
E: Reed, K.Richey, Abell. DP: Kearny 2. LOB: Chr 8, Kearny 2. 2
B: Hart, E.Young 2, McGranahan 2, Schroeder, N.Adams. 3B: A.Murray, Stanovic. SB: Plum, Hart.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
CHRISTIAN               ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  McGranahan  W(2-1)   4.0   5   4   4   1   2
  O'Donnell            2.0   1   0   0   0   2
  Rossitto             1.0   0   0   0   0   1
KEARNY
  Marsh       L(1-8)   3.2  12  12   9   2   1
  A.Whyte              3.1   9   7   6   1   1
HBP: by Marsh (Plum, Dossett), by A.Whyte (E.Young). WP: McGranahan, O'Donnell, Marsh.
(05-14-05)

Patriots rack up 18 runs in rout of Kearny
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - Christian High coach MIKE MITCHELL likes to think of the Patriots' final five games of the regular season as fine-tuning for the San Diego CIF Division IV playoffs. The Patriots (14-8, 6-3) seem to have their offense in synch, rolling up 30 runs, 34 hits and a pair of Harbor League victories.
 
SHANE STANOVIC led the charge in the 18-2 crunching of Kearny's Komets on Thursday (May 12). The junior southpaw extended his current hitting streak to eight games with a pair of singles and scored three runs. Stanovic is batting at a .577 clip (15 for 26) over that stretch.
 
Christian High senior JOEL McGRANAHAN has a modest four-game hitting skein. His numbers during that span - 10 hits in 13 at-bats - are equally as eye-catching. He went 3-for-3 with a double, three runs and one RBI against Kearny.
 
Stanovic also picked up the pitching nod, checking the Komets (2-21, 1-8) on 3 hits while striking out 10 over four innings.
 
One baseball oddity involved Christian for the second time this season. It had no impact on the game except to embarrass the umpires.
 
"They struck out (TODD) JONES on two strikes," said an amazed Mitchell. "And we even told (the plate umpire) what the pitches were and the sequence they were thrown in. It didn't matter. He still rung Jones up."
 
Earlier in the year, ADAM PERRY was subjected to the two-strike out.
 
If this continues, they'll have to change the words to "Take Me Out To The Ballgame."
 

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Harbor League
PATRIOTS 18, KOMETS 2
KEARNY          ab  r  h bi    CHRISTIAN      ab  r  h bi
Alcon 2b         2  0  0  0    Perry cf        3  4  3  2
Neeleman 2b      2  0  0  0    Stanovic p      2  3  2  0
Reed 3b          2  1  1  0    O'Donnell p     3  1  1  1
Bell p           2  0  0  0    Hart c          3  1  3  2
J.Whyte p        1  0  0  0    Abell c         2  0  1  0
A.Whyte cf       3  0  2  1    Plum dh         3  0  1  0
K.Ritchey ss     3  0  0  0    Jones 3b        1  0  0  0
Heyenga rf       3  1  1  0    Rossitto 1b     2  1  0  1
T.Ritchey c      3  0  0  0    EYoung ss       2  0  0  0
Sarantopolus lf  3  0  1  0    AMurray 2b      1  2  1  3
Johnson 1b       2  0  0  0    McGranahan rf   3  3  3  1
                               Schroeder lf    1  1  0  0
                               Dossett lf      2  1  1  1
                               NAdams 2b-ss    3  1  1  3 
 
TOTALS          26  2  5  1    TOTALS         31 18 17 14 
 
  Kearny      (2-21, 1-8)  110 000 0 -  2  5 1  
  Christian   (14-8, 6-3)  225 207 x - 18 17 3
 
GWRBI: None.
E: A.Whyte, Schroeder, Hart, Jones. DP: Chr 1. LOB: K 5, Chr 11. 
2B: O'Donnell, Hart, A.Murray, McGranahan, N.Adams, Reed. 3B: Abell. 
SB: Reed, Perry 2, Plum 3, Rossitto, McGranahan. S: Adams. SF: Rossitto, Dossett.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
KEARNY                ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Bell      L(1-6)   2.0   5   6   6   4   3
  J.Whyte            3.2   7   9   8   4   2
  Marsh              0.1   5   3   3   0   0
CHRISTIAN
  Stanovic  W(2-1)   4.0   3   2   1   1  10
  O'Donnell          2.0   2   0   0   0   1
  Allen              1.0   0   0   0   1   0
HBP: by Bell(Perry, Schroeder), by J.Whyte (Perry, Rossitto). WP: Bell, Stanovic. BK: Bell, Stanovic.
(05-12-05)



Valhalla's Steven LeValley (18) smacks his 3rd home run in as many games as the Norsemen beat Helix 13-5. Helix catcher is Zach Tanida (11). (5-11-05/Photo by Gary Sopata)

Vaqueros complete season sweep of Sultans
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - El Capitan registered its first series sweep of Santana in 13 years, DONNIE SNOW broke the Grossmont High record for home runs in a season, Granite Hills sophomore ERIC KRAUSE won his 8th game, Helix's head coach COLE HOLLAND was handed down a four-game suspension and Monte Vista had two key pitchers return to its rotation during Wednesday's (May 11) Grossmont Conference activity. Meanwhile, all the favorites won Wednesday, thus setting the stage for Friday's (May 13) Grossmont North League championship encounter between El Capitan and Grossmont at Gizoni Field, and the Grossmont South League title bout matching two-time defending champion Valhalla and challenger Granite Hills on Norsemen soil. First-place goes up for grabs beginning at 4 p.m. at both sites.
 
EL CAPITAN 13,  SANTANA 9:  Tradition-rich El Capitan has been a perennial force in these parts for so long it's hard to imagine any opponent holding an overall series advantage over the Vaqueros. Not when it comes to league competition anyway.
 
Yet, there are two Grossmont Conference baseball programs that do possess an all-time series edge - Helix (44-32) and Santana (60-42).
 
Perhaps that is why El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY relished Wednesday's (May 11) come-from-behind Grossmont North League victory over Santana. The win gave the Vaqueros a three-game sweep of the league series - the first time El Capitan has blanked Santana since 1993.
 
"I couldn't put my finger on when it happened the last time, but I knew it had been a long time since we took all three games from Santana in the same season," Vickery said. "I wanted our guys to know that this just doesn't happen, that Santana would be so fired up 'you better be ready to match their energy.'"
 
Vickery was right on both fronts. The visiting Sultans (21-7, 6-4 GNL) batted a round in the opening inning, putting up 5 runs before 10th-ranked El Capitan could take its first swing.
 
"It was looking like a long day when we went down by five and had the prospects of facing (Santana ace JEFF) WOODS," Vickery admitted.
 
To their credit, the Vaqueros (17-11, 9-1 GNL) climbed off the deck to pull the rug out from under the Sultans' planned magic carpet ride.
 
A three-run double by GRIFF ERICKSON in the 1st and a two-run homer by LOUIE RUSSO in the second pulled El Capitan even at 5-5.
 
El Capitan eventually broke the game open with a six-run burst in the 5th inning that gave the Vaqueros a 13-7 lead. Once again Erickson was at the forefront of the onslaught with a two-run single and one run scored.
 
It must be mentioned that Santana contributed to its demise with an error, two hit batters and a pair of walks in the fateful 5th.
 
Erickson drove in a career high 5 runs while Russo was 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
 
"We were a little bit scared at the beginning," Russo admitted. "Then we started hitting and things started looking up from there. We're a pretty good team when we're on, when we're hitting like we did today."
 
Both teams totaled 13 hits.
 
Although El Capitan starter BRYAN PAUKOVITS was knocked around in a manner in which he is not accustomed, Vickery never lost faith in his ace.
 
"Paukovits was missing with everything in that 1st inning, and that's the bottom line," Vickery said. "But he battled his jaws off the rest of the time and I am so proud of him for doing that. If hadn't sucked it up, and we have to go deep (into our pitching staff), that would have hurt us on Friday (at Grossmont)."
 
After the wobbly 1st that was keyed by DALLAS MARTIN's bases-loaded triple, Paukovits limited Santana to one earned run on four hits over the next four innings.
 
Despite losing to El Capitan in all three league match-ups, Santana coach JERRY HENSON wasn't ready to cry uncle.
 
"I know they beat us three times, but I still think we can beat that ballclub," Henson said. "The biggest thing that hurt us today was giving up four hits on 0-2 counts."
 
Prior to this year, Santana had won the season series from the Vaqueros eight of the last 11 years. That included a 3-0 sweep in 2000.
 
The last time El Capitan swept Santana was in 1993 when the Vaqueros actually posted four victories, including a 7-0 San Diego CIF 2A playoff win.
 
GROSSMONT 9,  EL CAJON VALLEY 3:
In with the new and hail to the old was the visiting Grossmont Foothillers' take on Wednesday's (May 11) Grossmont North League victory at El Cajon Valley.
 
DONNIE SNOW's two-run home run down the right field line gave No. 6-ranked Grossmont (21-6, 7-2) a 3-0 advantage in the 3rd inning at the Braves' spacious home ballpark.

Snow's four-bag job broke the existing three-way tie for the top mark of 13 shared by lanky senior, JUSTIN BAUM and MARK DOBBINS.
 
"Donnie has been struggling for the past couple of weeks, but we knew it was only a matter of time before he broke loose again," Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS said. "He stayed back on the ball and made solid contact (on his record-breaking homer). It was a no-doubter. Maybe now that he has this record, he can relax and help us down the stretch."
 
Grossmont unveiled a surprise package of sorts on Wednesday as freshman BRIAN HAAR joined the varsity lineup for the first time. Stationed in left field and batting No.9 in the order, Haar made an impressive varsity debut. Haar collected 3 hits in four at-bats while driving in 2 and scoring a pair.
 
"We needed somebody to give us a little bit of a spark," Phillips said. "We thought Haar could do that for us, and so far he has. We know he can swing it and by putting him in the No. 9 hole, there's not as much pressure."
 
Haar singled in his first varsity at-bat and scored on TIM FERRARA's triple in the 3rd inning. Haar added an RBI double in the 4th frame and picked up an RBI single in the 7th.
 
Quite a debut for the young man.
 
"As long as he hits, he'll be in there," Phillips said of Haar, whose brother Jason Haar was a standout at St. Augustine last year.
 
Trailing 6-0, the Braves chewed the Hillers' lead in half in the bottom of the 6th. CLIFTON THOMAS, who has six hits in his last eight at-bats, ignited the comeback with a single and stole second. He scored on ALAN ABBOD's single. DAVID PEREZ plated Abbod with a double and LUIS PEREZ scored his brother with a base hit.
 
That rash of offense caused Phillips to replace starter THOMAS ADAMS (5-2) with reliever A.J. GRIFFIN, who needed only one pitch to end the 6th. Griffin then retired the Braves in order in the 7th to earn his 3rd save.
 
Other Grossmont standouts included NICK SOBEL, who chipped in a 2-run single in the 7th inning as the Foothillers added insurance to snuff out any comeback plans the Braves (4-21, 0-10) might have had.
 
VALHALLA 13,  HELIX 5:
  The Norsemen needed to turn up their offensive flame to burn the upset-minded Highlanders in Wednesday's (May 11) Grossmont South League game which put Valhalla in position to claim its third straight league title.
 
Although the 5th-ranked Norsemen (18-6, 10-1) scored 6 runs in their first two turns at-bat, they led by only two runs as Helix - playing without head coach COLE HOLLAND - refused to go away.
 
Valhalla, which has won 40 of its last 42 league games dating back to the 2002 season, eventually broke the game open with 6 runs in the 6th inning. The key blow was STEVEN LeVALLEY's 3-run home run â¤" his third round-tripper in as many games.
 
Senior SEAN O'SULLIVAN smacked his 7th homer of the season and 29th of his career in the 1st inning. He settled for two RBI as did DAVID SMITH, BRENNAN BAUM and RYAN O'SULLIVAN.
 
TOMMY McCLAIN chimed in with a triple and a double in three at-bats.
 
"The big thing is he took the ball to the opposite field," said Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE.
 
Ryan O'Sullivan also picked up his 7th win in eight decisions, limiting the Highlanders (10-15, 2-10) to two hits and one earned run in five innings. Closer COREY STANGYL finished the job, spinning one-hit ball over the final two frames.
 
"I think our kids came out flat, probably looking toward Friday's showdown with Granite Hills," Perdue said. "It doesn't get much better than that game right there. We have a great rivalry with Granite Hills, and I think our kids will respond in a positive manner. They seem to get up for big games, and this is one of those games."
 
The highpoints were few for Helix, which learned that Holland was handed down a sentence that would prevent him from coaching the Highlanders on game days over the final four contests of the season. Although Holland will continue to conduct the practices, assistant coach MIKE MILLER will handle the game-day chores.
 
The San Diego CIF mandate for baseball coaches is that a second game ejection during the course of the season results in a coach having to miss the remainder of the campaign in terms of game-day activities.
 
"This is an unfortunate situation and I feel worse for the kids than I do for myself," Holland said. "But rules are rules no matter how unfair they may seem. I have to take the punishment."
 
Not surprisingly, Holland disputes each of his two ejections, especially the latest one last week against Valhalla.
 
"I didn't go out there to argue a call with the intent of being ejected," said Holland, who was appealing a slide at second base by one of his players that was ruled illegal and an automatic double play was called. "I wasn't in the umpire's face. All I said was, 'This is ridiculous.' I didn't use any profanity, and he threw me out without any discussion."
 
Holland noted how basketball coaches are not ejected from a game until they receive two technical fouls, and that football coaches are not excused until they are tagged with back-to-back 15-yard penalties. Soccer players and/or coaches receive a yellow card before being hit with a red card and a game expulsion.
 
"That's not the case in baseball," Holland said. "If we dispute anything there is a good chance we're going to get tossed. Seems to me there is something wrong about what is accepted and what isn't among sports."
 
Valhalla coach Perdue vouched for Holland's behavior, saying the Highlanders' coach was not out of line.
 
Yet Perdue's telephone calls and emails to SDCIF Commissioner Dennis Ackerman and the San Diego County Umpires Association on Holland's behalf have fallen on deaf ears.
 
"I've had several coaches step up for me, and I appreciate that," Holland said. "All I can say is it's going to be a lot quieter around the Helix dugout next season.

 
MONTE VISTA 12,  MOUNT MIGUEL 4:  The formula is amazingly simply: Place your leadoff batters on base and let the middle of the lineup drive them home.

For Monte Vista first baseman ANTHONY LOPEZ, such a situation allowed him to register an RBI in each of his first three at-bats from the No. 3 spot in the batting order, helping the Monarchs snap a five-game losing skid with their third straight win over Spring Valley rival Mount Miguel in Wednesday's (May 11) Grossmont South League contest.

After leadoff batters DAVID PALACIOS and DANNY DeANDA reached base on each of their three trips to the plate, it made life easy for Lopez, who went single-double-double over the first three innings to permit Monte Vista to mount a 9-4 lead.

"I felt more relaxed at the plate," noted Lopez, one of a handful of blossoming sophomores on the Monte Vista roster. "I used to flick my back hand out, but coach (LARRY RINEHART) has helped me with my hands, then I got to see some inside pitches for the first time in a long time."
The results were all positive for Lopez. His first at-bat was a hard ground single to tie the game at 1-all in the 1st inning. He doubled to the wall in right-center field in both the 2nd and the 3rd innings.

"We're young and developing," added Lopez, who saw Monte Vista (7-17 overall, 5-7 GSL) keep its slim SDCIF playoff hopes alive. "And we're learning to hit the middle-outside pitches - that's all you see at this level."

Later in the 1st, MATT HALE accepted a bases-loaded walk to force home the eventual game-winning run, then the third baseman - another Monarchs sophomore - slammed a ball to left which was ruled a triple for two additional runs in the 5th to cap a 2-for-3, 3 RBI performance.

Meanwhile, GOLDIE SIMMONS proved successful in his first start, going three strong innings while on a 60-pitch count to collect the victory. Equally as rewarding for the Monarchs was the belated debut of senior right-hander JAMES DAILEY.
 

The Monarchs might be challenging for a league title had the aforementioned duo been able to pitch with regularity. Both are coming off injuries. Simmons made a few token appearances earlier in the year, but Dailey was saddled with a cast for four weeks and unable to make a pitch until Wednesday.
 
"This was sort of like a rehab assignment for Dailey," Rinehart said of the 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-hander who has secured an academic scholarship to the University of Hawaii where he plans to play baseball as a walk-on. "James is on a pitch-count as well. He threw primarily fastballs in this game with maybe a couple of curves."
 
The sudden availability of Simmons and Dailey makes Monte Vista a much stronger team in terms of pitching depth. In reality, though, their addition to the club may be too late to make Monte Vista post-season worthy.
 
Mount Miguel received some pitching help from senior infielder KEITH GREEN. Normally, the third baseman, Green foiled a potential big rally by Monte Vista in the 5th by retiring three straight batters, then set the Monarchs down in order in the 6th to complete a 6-up, 6-down performance of perfect relief.

"It looks like we found ourselves a new closer," noted Matadors coach BYRON GRIGSBY on one of the team's few bright spots after losing two more players to eligibility issues over the weekend.

Center fielder BUD NEWBORN and catcher JEREMIAH WHITE each batted 2-for-3 with an RBI for Mount Miguel (0-24, 0-11), and DEXTER SEAVELLO drove home another run with a double.

For White, it was his third straight 2-for-3 performance, raising his batting average to .329 for the season.
 
GRANITE HILLS 5,  STEELE CANYON 4:
  The Eagles, much like the Norsemen, were hoping to squeeze out a victory on Wednesday (May 11) to keep their shot at a Grossmont South League flag waving.
 
TRAVIS TAIJERON's RBI triple keyed a 2-run 2nd inning for Granite Hills (22-5, 10-2), which tucked away its seventh straight win with its focus now on knocking off defending league champion Valhalla on Friday-the-13th.
 
Second baseman RICKY CAZARES' cracked a 2-run single that gave Granite Hills a 5-1 cushion in the 4th inning.
 
That would be enough for Eagles sophomore ERIC KRAUSE, who pitched into the 7th inning as he earned his East County-best 8th victory of the season.
 
"I was really happy with our pitching today," said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS. "Krause has been pretty dang good for us all season."
 
Seldom used BILLY SYLVESTER bailed Krause out of a 7th inning jam to earn his first save.
 
"Sylvester came in at a crunch time and did a very good job," Davis praised. "I was really happy with him."
 
Davis has a close relationship with all of his players. Sylvester is the team comedian.
 
"He is the only one who can make me laugh during a game," the coach said. "I think that attitude helps him when he's on the mound, too. He's competitive yet lets the chips fall where they may. His best days are still ahead of him."
 
For the 10th time in 24 games, Steele Canyon was involved in an adventure game decided by two runs or less. The Cougars (14-10, 8-4) are 5-5 in those close encounters.
 
"We butchered the ball around today," lamented Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. "We can't make a double play. We came out flat, didn't start playing any kind of baseball until the 3rd inning.  We failed to execute a double play and that cost us three runs. Our defense was shoddy, to say the least. And they took advantage of every mistake we made."
 
Nevertheless, the Cougars are almost a sure bet to make the SDCIF playoff lineup.
 
DANNY HARRIS was the main man in the Cougars' production department, driving in three runs with a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly.
 

West Hills' Travis Irvin (4) went 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 4 RBI in Wednesday's non-league defeat of the visiting Brawley Wildcats. (5-11-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

WEST HILLS 7,  BRAWLEY 6: First-year West Hills coach SCOTT HOPGOOD wanted to give his non-starters a little more playing time Wednesday (May 11) when the Wolf Pack hosted the Wildcats from the Imperial Valley.
 
Despite falling behind 6-1 after 2 1/2 innings, the Wolf Pack (8-16) scrambled back to claim the victory and halt a five-game losing streak.
 
"We played our bench, and they gave me a good effort," Hopgood said. "After we got down by five, I had to put some of our regulars in."
 
The combination panned out.
 
TRAVIS IRVIN, who was 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 4 RBI, keyed the West Hills' rebound effort. The junior middle infielder clubbed his first varsity home run with 2 men aboard in the 3rd inning to pull the Pack to within 6-4.
 
Left fielder SEAN CARLEY, the only senior on the West Hills roster, was 0-for-3 on the season before taking a bite out of Brawley pitching in his first start. Carley was 3-for-3 with a double and 2 runs scored.
 
"Travis and Sean did a great job setting up our offense," Hopgood said. "They had some great at-bats."
 
Irvin sparked the winning rally in the bottom of the 7th with a double to right field. MICHAEL HALL followed with an infield single to put runners at the corners. Pinch-hitter STEPHEN STRASBURG provided the final heroics when he singled off the right-center field fence to score Irvin with the game-winner.
 
JOHN EDDY blanked Brawley on one hit over the final 3 1/3 innings to earn his 4th win against five losses.
 
"We had a good effort from everybody today," Hopgood said. "We think we can win our last four and get into the playoffs."
 
By any account, West Hills can celebrate its 8th win knowing that last year's Wolf Pack finished 7-22.
 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
FOOTHILLERS 9, BRAVES 3
GROSSMONT     ab  r  h bi    EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi
Ferrara 2b     3  1  3  2    Thomas cf-p       4  1  3  0
Griffin 1b-p   4  0  1  0    Dyer 2b           1  0  0  0
Schroeder ph   1  0  0  0    Aquiningoc 3b     1  0  0  0
Pieczynski c   4  0  1  1    Manzo p-lf        3  0  1  0
Snow dh        3  1  1  2    Abbod 3b          3  1  1  1
Kinsella 1b    0  1  0  0    D.Perez c         3  1  1  1
Phillips ss    4  0  1  0    L.Perez ss        3  0  1  1
AWilliams cf   3  0  1  0    Myer 1b           3  0  0  0
Berry cf       0  1  0  0    Vega lf-rf        3  0  1  0
Medina rf      2  1  1  0    Sotos rf          1  0  0  0
Cusumano rf    0  0  0  0    Gonzales p        1  0  0  0
Sobel 3b       4  2  2  2    Sines cf          1  0  0  0
Haar lf        4  2  3  2
TOTALS        32  9 14  9    TOTAL            27  3  8  3
 
  Grossmont        (21-6, 7-2)  003 300 3 - 9 14 0
  El Cajon Valley  (4-21,0-10)  000 003 0 - 3  8 2
  
GWRBI: Ferrara (2).
E: Thomas, Manzo.
LOB: Gro 8, ECV 3. 2B: Haar, D.Perez. 3B: Ferrara, Medina. HR: Snow (14) 3rd, one on. 
SB: Ferrara 2, Kinsella, A.Williams, Thomas. S: Cusumano, Dyer. SF: Ferrara.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GROSSMONT              ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  TAdams     W(5-2)   5.2   8   3   3   1   7
  Griffin   Sv(3)     1.1   0   0   0   0   2
EL CAJON VALLEY
  Manzo     L(0-3)    3.0   8   6   6   0   0
  Gonzales            3.0   4   1   1   1   0
  Thomas              1.0   2   2   2   2   1
HBP: by Manzo (Medina). WP: TAdams, Thomas.
*
VAQUEROS 13, SULTANS 9
SANTANA       ab  r  h bi    EL CAPITAN      ab  r  h bi
Haley c        4  2  2  0    Hostetler rf     3  3  1  0
Woods p-ss     3  1  1  0    Russo 2b         4  3  4  3
Helmholtz 1b   3  1  1  2    Rauch c          2  0  0  1
Hermansen cf   3  1  3  0    Ksiazek ss       3  1  0  1
Martin ss-3b   4  1  1  3    N.Garcia 1b      3  1  2  1
Brosnan lf     3  2  1  0    Erickson dh      3  1  2  5
Basnight 3b-p  2  0  0  0    Walston cf       4  1  2  0
Diaz ph        1  1  1  1    Griffith lf      3  1  0  0
Martinez 2b    2  0  1  0    C.Garcia 3b      3  2  2  1
Tippin ph      1  0  0  0    Sullenger ph     1  0  0  0
N.Miller rf    4  0  2  1
Wylie pr       0  0  0  0
TOTALS        30  9 13  7    TOTALS          29 13 13 12
 
  Santana     (21-7, 6-4)   501 011 1 -  9 13 1
  El Capitan  (17-11, 9-1)  320 260 x - 13 13 3
 
GWRBI: None.
E: Paukovits, Russo, C.Garcia, Woods. DP: Sant 2, EC 1. LOB: Sant 7, EC 6. 
2B: Haley, Brosnan, Erickson, Walston, C.Garcia. 3B: Martin. HR: Russo (5) 2nd, one on; Diaz (1) 7th, solo. 
SB: Haley 2. S: Basnight. SF: Helmholtz, Rauch.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
SANTANA                 ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Woods                3+    9   7   7   2   1
  Basnight  L(3-2)     1.1   3   5   1   0   0
  Medrud               0.1   0   1   0   2   0
  Spicer               1.3   1   0   0   0   2
EL CAPITAN
  Paukovits W(6-2)     5.0   9   7   6   4   4
  King                 2.0   4   2   2   0   3
Woods faced 2 batters in the 4th.
HBP: by Paukovits (Haley), by Basnight (Rauch, Griffin, Hostetler). WP: Medrud, Basnight. PB: Haley.    
*
Grossmont South League
EAGLES 5, COUGARS 4
STEELE CANYON   ab  r  h bi    GRANITE HILLS    ab  r  h bi
Minich ss        4  0  2  0    Decker ss         3  1  1  0
Harris 2b        3  0  2  3    Humphries cf      3  0  1  0
Inzone rf        3  0  0  1    Crawford dh       3  0  0  0
Rice cf          4  0  1  0    Monette c         2  1  0  0
Lange 1b         3  0  0  0    Taijeron lf       3  1  1  1
Lewis lf         2  0  0  0    Anderson 1b       3  1  1  0
Duby c           2  1  0  0    Boltz rf          2  1  1  1
Jenner dh        3  1  1  0    Cazares 2b        3  0  1  2
Epperson 3b      3  2  2  0    Horner 3b         1  0  0  0
                               Coleman ph        1  0  0  0
TOTALS          27  4  8  4    TOTALS           24  5  6  4
 
  Steele Canyon  (14-10, 8-4)   001 010 2 - 4 8 3
  Granite Hills  (22-5, 10-2)   021 200 x - 5 6 1
 
GWRBI: Taijeron (3).
E: Horner, Minich 2. LOB: SC 6, GH 4. 2B: Epperson. 3B: Taijeron. SB: Epperson, Rice. SF: Boltz, Harris.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
STEELE CANYON         ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Johnson    L(4-3)  7.0   6   5   3   1   2
GRANITE HILLS
  Krause     W(8-1)  6+    7   4   3   1   4
  Sylvester  Sv(1)   1.0   1   0   0   0   0
Krause pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.
HBP: by Johnson (Monette).      
*
NORSEMEN 13, HIGHLANDERS 5
HELIX           ab  r  h bi    VALHALLA         ab  r  h bi
Ra.Perez ss      1  2  0  0    JBrown ss         3  2  1  0
Tanida c         3  2  0  0    R.OSullivan p-2b  3  2  1  2
Peterson 1b-p    2  0  1  3    S.OSullivan 3b    1  2  1  2
Ponce p-rf       3  0  0  0    Baum 1b           4  1  2  2
Valles rf-lf-cf  3  1  1  0    McClain c         3  1  2  1
Ritchie 3b       4  0  0  0    ABrown pr         0  1  0  0
Rosenthal lf-1b  3  0  1  1    Moore lf          3  0  0  0
Schuler p        0  0  0  0    Smith lf          1  1  1  2
Rohmer 2b        3  0  0  0    LeValley dh       4  1  1  3
Deharo cf        2  0  0  0    Wilson rf         0  0  0  0
Beltran ph       1  0  0  0    GGarcia 2b        2  1  2  0
Wenham p         0  0  0  0    Stangyl p         1  0  0  0
                               Sopata cf         4  1  2  0
TOTALS          25  5  3  4    TOTALS           29 13 13 12
 
  Helix       (10-15, 2-10)  310 000 1 -  5  3 4
  Valhalla    (18-6, 10-1)   330 016 x - 13 13 3
 
GWRBI:Baum (3)
E: G.Garcia 2, Baum, Ponce, Deharo, Ra.Perez 2. DP: Val 1. LOB: Hel 6, Val 5. 2B: Baum, Peterson, Valles, McClain. 
3B: McClain. HR: S.OSullivan (7), 1st solo; LeValley (3), 6th two on. SB: J.Brown 2, Tanida 2. SF: S.OSullivan.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
HELIX                    ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Ponce        L(4-2)   2.0   6   6   5   2   0
  Schuler               2.0   1   0   0   0   2
  Peterson              1.1   6   7   7   2   2
  Wenham                0.2   0   0   0   0   1
VALHALLA
  R.OSullivan  W(7-1)   5.0   2   4   1   4   3
  Stangyl               2.0   1   1   1   2   1
HBPJ: by R.OSullivan (Ra.Perez), by Schuler (S.OSullivan). WP: Peterson, Stangyl. PB: Tanida, McClain 2. BK: Peterson.  
*
MONARCHS 12, MATADORS 4
MOUNT MIGUEL     ab  r  h bi   MONTE VISTA     ab  r  h bi
Seavello 2b       2  2  1  1   Palacios 2b      2  3  1  0
Newborn cf        3  0  2  1   Starling 2b      1  0  0  0
Calafato ss       4  0  0  0   DeAnda rf        2  3  1  1
White c           3  0  2  1   Messenger rf     2  0  1  0
Green 3b-p        3  0  1  0   Lopez 1b         5  2  3  3
Freeman-Bolden p  1  0  0  0   Rodriguez dh     5  0  0  1
Plunkett p-3b     1  0  0  0   Leboffe cf       2  0  1  1
Cannon rf         3  0  0  0   Haase cf         2  1  1  0
Vanderhyde 1b     3  1  1  0   Mendiola lf      3  0  1  0
Array lf          2  1  0  0   Ri.Garcia lf     1  1  1  0
                               Hale 3b          3  1  2  3
                               Cooper c         4  0  2  1
                               Croft ss         4  1  1  0
TOTALS           25  4  7  3   TOTALS          36 12 15  9
  Mount Miguel  (0-24, 0-11)  103 000 0 -  4  7 4
  Monte Vista   (7-17, 5-7)   243 030 x - 12 15 0
GWRBI: Hale (1).
E: Vanderhyde, Calafato 2, Seavello. DP: MV 1. LOB: MM 5, MV 11. 2B: Lopez 2, Seavello, Cooper. 3B: Hale. SB: Palacios.
MOUNT MIGUEL                 ip   h   r  er  bb   k
  Freeman-Bolden L(0-2)     3.0  10   9   5   4   2
  Plunkett                  1.0+  5   3   3   0   0
  Green                     2.0   0   0   0   0   2
MONTE VISTA
  Simmons        W(1-0)     3.0   5   4   4   1   1
  Dailey                    2.0   0   0   0   1   3
  Sopher                    2.0   2   0   0   1   1
Plunkett faced 4 batters in the 5th.
HBP: by Plunkett (Starling), by Sopher (Seavello). WP: Freeman-Bolden 2. PB: Cooper. BK: Simmons.
*
Non-League
WOLF PACK 7, WILDCATS 6
Brawley      (9-14)      123 000 0 - 6  8 0
West Hills   (8-16)  103 200 1 - 7 12 2 
Parano, Santana (6) and Gonzales; Hoffard, Eddy (4) and Parker, Gagnon (5). 
HR: Irvin (WH, #1) 3rd, two on; Guillen (B, #2) 3rd, two on. SB: Parker, Hall, Drescher. W: Eddy (4-5). L: Santana (0-1).
(05-11-05)


 

Patriots have too much firepower for Cards at Williams Field
EastCountySports.com
 
SAN DIEGO - Playing out the theory that it's never too late to strike up a rally, the visiting Christian High Patriots punched out the host Hoover Cardinals 12-7 in a Harbor League encounter Tuesday (May 10) at Ted Williams Field. Six of the Patriots' runs were the result of two-out rallies.
 
Christian cashed in 3 runs in the 2nd inning with two down, 2 more in the 5th and another in the 6th, staking pitcher TODD JONES with a 7-1 lead.
 
"It's kind of like doing things the hard way, but whatever works," Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said. "Actually, we hit the ball the hardest in the 3rd inning and we didn't score. We lined out three times in that inning and six times in the game."
 
It was indeed a strange afternoon - complete with screaming sirens as a host of San Diego Police cars arrived on the Hoover campus to defuse some sort of disturbance away from the baseball field.
 
"As long as we didn't hear any gun fire, we were going to continue the game," Mitchell said.
 
SHANE STANOVIC, MATT HART and JOEL McGRANAHAN were a composite 10-for-15 with 8 RBI and 6 runs scored to pace the Patriots (13-8, 5-3).
 
But it was C.J. SCHROEDER's RBI double in the 2nd inning that broke a 1-1 tie and vaulted Christian into a lead it wouldn't lose.
 
Jones (4-2) needed only 57 pitches to blanket the first 5 innings, but took 59 deliveries to put the 6th and 7th innings in the books.
 
"We didn't help him much in that 6th inning," noted Mitchell. "Four of our five errors came in that inning, which seemed like it lasted 17 hours."
 
Leading only 7-5, Christian put the game away with 5 runs in the 7th. AUSTIN MURRAY drove in the first run with a base hit. Stanovic followed with a 2-run single and Hart matched that with a single that plated another pair for the Pats.
 
Christian hosts Kearny on Thursday (May 12) at 3 p.m. and then visits the Komets Saturday (May 14) in Kearny Mesa at 1:30 p.m.
 

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Harbor League
PATRIOTS 12, CARDINALS 7
CHRISTIAN      ab  r  h bi    HOOVER         ab  r  h bi
Perry rf        4  1  1  0    Sheehan ss-p    4  2  2  0
Stanovic cf     5  3  4  3    Geraci 2b-p     4  1  1  0
Hart c          5  0  3  4    Camacho rf-p    4  1  2  2
Plum 3b         2  0  1  0    Torres 1b       4  1  1  0
Abell 3b        1  1  0  0    Martinez c      4  1  3  1
E.Young ss      2  1  0  0    Hyde 3b         2  0  0  0
O'Donnell ph    1  0  0  0    E.Jones 2b      0  0  0  1
Rossitto 1b     3  0  1  1    Rios cf         4  0  1  0
Allen ph        2  0  0  0    Richards p-2b   3  0  1  0
McGranahan dh   4  2  3  1    Gonzalez lf     2  1  0  0
Schroeder lf    3  1  1  1
Dossett lf      1  1  1  0
N.Adams 2b      2  1  1  1
A.Murray 1b     2  1  1  1
TOTALS         37 12 17 12    TOTALS         31  7 11  4
 
  Christian   (5-3, 13-8)  130 021 5 - 12 17 5
  Hoover      (3-6, 8-14)  100 004 2 -  7 11 1
 
GWRBI: Schroeder (1).
E: Hart, A.Murray, Rossitto, Abell, E.Young, Martinez. DP: Chr 1. LOB: Chr 9, Hoov 6. 
2B: Stanovic, Hart, McGranahan, Schroeder, Sheehan, Martinez. SB: Stanovic, Sheehan. S: E.Jones.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
CHRISTIAN             ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  T.Jones  W(4-2)    7.0  11   7   3   1   4
HOOVER
  Richard  L         4.2  10   6   6   2   2
  Geraci             0.1   0   0   0   0   1
  Camacho            1.2   7   6   6   3   3
  Sheehan            0.1   0   0   0   0   1
HBP: by T.Jones (Hyde). WP: Camacho 2.
(05-10-05)



El Capitan.s Mike Griffith (10) is greeted by teammates as he scores the game-winning run against El Cajon Valley on Monday. (5-9-05/Photo by Andrew Huse)

 

Vaqueros dodge Braves' shot at ending long league losing streak
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - It was a Monday (May 9) laden with games decided by one run. Four of the six games involving East County squads were determined by one-run spreads, most noteworthy of which was No. 10-ranked El Capitan's 5-4 narrow escape at El Cajon Valley that took 8 innings against the Braves who haven't won a league game since 1997. Other close calls included Santana's come-from-behind 2-1 win over West Hills, Steele Canyon avoiding a Monte Vista upset bid 5-4 and Granite Hills 2-1 nod over Helix.
 
EL CAPITAN 5,  EL CAJON VALLEY 4 (8): El Cajon Valley has lost 95 consecutive Grossmont League games. But, for a few hopeful moments in Monday's (May 9) duel with Grossmont North League-leading El Capitan, the Braves - most of whom do not realize the length of their winless streak - thought they might pull off the biggest upset of the East County season.
 
"I think we gave El Capitan a wake-up call when we went up on them 3-2," El Cajon valley coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN said of the Braves' 3-run burst anchored by DAVID PEREZ's 2-run double. "We showed we weren't going to just roll over."
 
An El Cajon Valley error opened the door to a 2-run El Capitan rally in the 4th inning. Worse than that from the Braves' standpoint, El Cajon Valley pitchers walked AUSTIN RAUCH with the bases loaded to tie the score and followed with a free pass to LOUIE RUSSO to give the Vaqueros the lead.
 
Credit junior center fielder CLIFTON THOMAS for giving the Braves (4-20, 0-9) a fighting chance to provide El Cajon Valley a precious league win. Not only did Thomas leadoff the bottom of the 7th inning with a base hit and eventually scored the tying marker on ALAN ABBOD's two-out single that  gave the Braves the tying marker, he also made a big league throw from center field that appeared in time to erase what turned out to be El Capitan's winning run.
 
Vaqueros junior VINNY NAZZAL, who was injected into the game as a 4th inning pinch hitter, drew a walk and punched a pair of singles. His last base hit scored MICHAEL GRIFFITH with the winning run with one out in the 8th.
 
"I was just trying to hit the ball right back up the middle," Nazzal said. "Fortunately I was able to get a couple hits. That last one - the game winner - came off a fastball right down the middle."
 
El Cajon Valley took issue with the bang-bang play when Griffith arrived standing at the plate just as Thomas' on-the-fly throw arrived to catcher DAVID PEREZ, who made a one-handed tag that appeared to be on time to keep the game locked at 4-4.
 
"Thomas made a heckuva throw to make that place close," El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said of Thomas. "The only guy that wasn't arguing was the catcher. That play at the plate looked close to me too. But again, the catcher didn't argue and that tells me the runner was safe."
 
Weightman was convinced that his defense thwarted El Capitan's winning tally. He wasn't sure that the plate umpire was in position to make the proper call.
 
"Our catcher Derek Perez said he got the runner on the arm," Weigtman said. "That was the best play of the game and I don't think we got the right call."
 
Another key call in the game came when Vickery made an early substitution bringing Nazzal into focus.
 
Vickery noted Nazzal's value to his club.
 
"Vinny is a guy we've had trouble starting," Vickery said. "But he's had four quality at-bats coming off the bench. We've tried to start him a couple of times, but for one reason or another he gets nervous or something."
 
Nazzal was 2-for-2 with a walk against at El Cajon Valley.
 
"Coming off the bench he's been a tough out," Vickery said.
 
After JASSON KSIAZEK's RBI single gave El Capitan a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning and AUSTIN RAUCH belted a solo home run to up the count to 2-0 in the 3rd.
 
Denying El Cajon Valley an end to its eight-year league winless streak was satisfying to the Vaqueros.
 
"We dodged a bullet," Vickery said. "That's all I'm going to say."
 
SANTANA 2,  WEST HILLS 1:  The source of inspiration doesn't really matter as long as you eventually find it. The Santana Sultans, coming off a weekend full of frustration finally found their energy from pitcher DALLAS MARTIN.

The sophomore right-hander earned his stripes by pitching 4-hit ball into the 6th inning, and provided the difference on offense by slugging a tiebreaking homer in the 4th inning as Santana kept its slim hopes of Grossmont North League title alive.

"Nobody came to play today - we weren't up at all," admitted Sultans shortstop JEFF WOODS, who tossed 1 1/3 innings of relief to collect his second save, three of the four outs coming on strikes."
 
While obviously impressed by Martin's pitching, Woods was equally as wowed by Martin's work the bat.
 
"It was the first time I ever saw Dallas turn on one - his homer against Grossmont on Friday went to the opposite field," Woods said.
 
Of course, Martin has had not trouble swinging the bat. His 11-game hitting streak is the longest among East County hitters at the moment.
 
Martin twisted a 3-1 pitch over the fence in left field for the deciding run to deny West Hills a much desired upset on Monday.

"After our last game, just to somehow get a win was nice," noted Martin, who struck out six. "After striking out 12 of them the last time I faced West Hills, in the beginning today, I didn´t get anything over the plate, so I just starting throwing and let it go."

The Wolf Pack (7-16, 2-7) also hindered itself with an array of mistakes on the basepaths. Included were two runners caught stealing, another runner was picked off first base by Martin, and yet another was caught between third and home after thinking there were three outs, but was tagged out in a rundown after the batter was actually safe at first on an error.

"A win's a win and we'll take it," added Woods, who saw his team hit into two double plays to stymie the comeback. "In games like this when you don't hit, you hope your pitching carries you and it did."

For the longest time, it looked like a 50-foot, infield single could carry West Hills to a 1-0 victory. After SHAIN STONER opened the game with a walk and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches, JOE MELLO hit a slow tapper toward first, but the ball was unplayable and Stoner scored.

However, hard-luck losing pitcher AARON RICHARDSON was let down by his defense to allow Santana to pull even, despite throwing a complete-game, 4-hitter.

Woods, who batted 2-for-2 with a walk, singled to center then advanced another base on a wide throw from the outfield. Woods took third on a passed ball, then delayed coming home on a grounder to shortstop by KYLE HELMHOLTZ. After getting checked by the defender, Woods burst for the plate on the throw to first and beat the relay throw home.

Two batters later, Martin delivered his go-ahead homer.

"If West Hills doesn't get caught in those rundowns, we would've lost," added Woods. "We made a lot of mistakes, too, but Dallas saved the game for us."

Mello collected two of the Pack's five hits, while third baseman JOHN EDDY delivered a two-out double in the 7th to represent the potential tying run before Woods ended the ballgame with a strikeout.

I'm beyond upset," stated West Hills coach SCOTT HOPGOOD flatly. "We compete and we battle but we don't get hits when we need them. We play good enough to win and then we do things to give the game away. We do not play smart baseball. We don't hit the ball well enough to cover over up our mistakes."
 
On the flip side, Santana coach JERRY HENSON raised his 14-year coaching record at Santana to 259-168-2.
 
STEELE CANYON 5,  MONTE VISTA 4: It's difficult for the majority of East County's baseball aficionados to picture Steele Canyon as a primary contender in a pennant race this late in the season. And, while the focus is on Friday's (May 13) Granite Hills-Valhalla showdown, the Cougars (14-9, 8-3) can't be counted out just yet.
 
At the very least, Steele Canyon can foil Granite Hills' title aspirations on Wednesday (May 11) when the two clubs meet on the Eagles' diamond. This will be the rubber match at 4 p.m.
 
Neither of the contending team's coaches is talking about the pennant race at the moment.
 
When the top third of the Steele Canyon batting order comes up big, the Cougars are darn near impossible to beat. That was appeared to be the case in Monday's (May 9) Grossmont South League encounter.
 
"We jumped out ahead then kinda rolled over, and they got back into the game," said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. "The kids got a chance to see what it's like to play with a little bit of pressure in a close game. But we did what it took to get the job done."
 
After blowing a 4-0 lead, the Cougars pulled out a victory in the 7th as CORY MINICH doubled and scored on DANNY HARRIS' single to right field.
 
Falling behind 4-0 after 4 innings, the Monarchs (6-17, 4-7) scrambled back to tie the contest with 2 runs in the 5th and a pair in the 6th. The tying run came across on ALAN SOPHER's squeeze bunt that scored pinch runner JEFF STARLING.
 
"CODY MINICH had a good at-bat -- hit a sacrifice fly in the 4th inning, and got the rally started for us in the 7th inning," Mittry said. "And Harris hit the ball hard three times and had the game-winning RBI."
 
Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART was quick to salute his club's defensive effort despite succumbing to a 5th straight loss.
 
"I told the guys afterwards that we have so many positives that things are going to swing in our favor very soon," Rinehart said.
 
The highlight of the outing was a defensive gem turned in by right fielder BRET HAASE who nailed a Steele Canyon runner attempting to score with a bullet throw to catcher COREY COOPER in the 5th inning.
 
The top third of the Steele Canyon batting order was a composite 7 for 9 for the Cougars.
 
GRANITE HILLS 2,  HELIX 1:  Sophomore pitcher DARREN GAY continued to produce in relative obscurity Monday (May 9) as the Eagles tip-toed past visiting Helix in a key Grossmont South League game.
 
Gay needed only 60 pitches to check the Highlanders (10-14, 2-9) on 4 hits as he earned his 7th win without a loss.
 
"Am I surprised that Darren is 7-0?" Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said, repeating the question. "Of course I am. At the same time, I'm extremely happy from what he's given our team. He comes right at the hitter. He can throw his fastball, curveball and changeup for strikes with consistency."
 
Helix had some chances to rock the boat against Gay. But the only time the Highlanders hit the pitcher was when sophomore ZACH TANIDA led off the 4th inning with a game-tying home run to left-center field.
 
It appeared that would be the swing inning for the Highlanders as ANDREW VALLES and ERIK PONCE followed with base hits to put runners at the corners. That threat came to an abrupt end as ALEX ROSENTHAL rapped into an inning-ending twin-killing that did not come without controversy.
 
Helix coach COLE HOLLAND questioned the base umpire's interference call on the runner, which led to an automatic twin-killing. So vehement was Holland that he was ejected from the contest.
 
"I don't know exactly what Cole said, but he had a right to appeal the call because it was that close," Davis said. "It didn't appear that their runner made a vicious slide, but my second base was off-balance when he made a weak throw to first base. All I know is the umpire said the runner slid past the bag and that means he's out and so is the batter."
 
No. 4 Granite Hills (21-5), winner of 6 straight, took a 1-0 lead on back-to-back doubles by BRANDON DECKER and BRIAN HUMPHRIES in the 3rd inning.
 
The winning mark for the Eagles came in the 6th inning as DONNIE ANDERSON's sacrifice fly brought in NICK MONETTE, who reached base on an error.
 
"It was tough playing a team like Granite Hills without our best two production guys," said Holland, who was referring to the injured JEREMY PETERSON and the ineligible NICK LEDESMA.
 
VALHALLA 13,  MOUNT MIGUEL 2:
  Fourteen Norsemen contributed to a 17-hit attack as Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE made wholesale substitutions early in Monday's (May 9) Grossmont South League game against the visiting Matadors.
 
The No. 5 Norsemen (17-6, 9-1) were leading 10-1 after 2 innings causing Perdue to empty his bench against the hapless Matadors (0-23, 0-10).
 
Mount Miguel took a 1-0 edge in the 1st inning on BUD NEWBORN's RBI single. After that, though, the game belonged to Valhalla, which won its 6th straight.
 
Valhalla took the lead as simple as 1-2-3. That is, JAVIER BROWN singled, stole second, RYAN O'SULLIVAN walked and SEAN O'SULLIVAN belted his 6th home run of the season. More was to come in the opening frame. BRENNAN BAUM doubled and scored STEVEN LeVALLEY's base hit.
 
Valhalla rang up six more in the 2nd as RYAN O'SULLIVAN ripped a 2-run single, TOMMY McCLAIN doubled in a pair and LeValley belted his second home run in as many games to give Norseman starter ERIC JULIENNE a 9-run cushion.
 
LeValley's blast was of titanic proportion as he hit the top of the aluminum bleachers on the football field beyond left field.
 
Julienne struck out 8 during his 4-inning stint as he logged his 4th win in five decisions.
 
KEITH GREEN smacked two doubles and drove in one run for Mount Miguel, which lost three players to grades, including leading hitter EDDIE De ARCOS.
 
GROSSMONT 4,  MONTGOMERY 1: Sure, this was simply a non-league game between powerhouse teams in different divisions Monday (May 9) in South Bay. But the pride factor was certainly at stake if nothing else.
 
The 6th-ranked Foothillers (20-6), primary contenders for the San Diego CIF Division II title, received four solid innings from seldom-used junior left-hander MATS MATTSON and three sterling innings of relief from DONNIE SNOW to plow under the No. 7-ranked Aztecs (15-9), who were representing Division I.
 
Mattson, who has logged 2 wins and a 1.27 ERA in 11 innings this season, held Mesa League-leading Montgomery to one run and three hits during his starting stint. Snow was touched for 3 hits but little else as he punched in his 3rd save.
 
Grossmont took a 1-0 edge in the 2nd inning. With one down, TRISTAN PHILLIPS drew a walk and TREVOR BERRY singled. That set the stage for MATT PASSANISI's RBI double.
 
Montgomery tied in the 3rd inning as Roman Pena singled and scored on Edgar Molina's double.
 
Grossmont counter-punched in the 4th as two Montgomery errors and Passanisi's sacrifice fly put the Foothillers back on top to stay.
 
The Hillers did not gain any breathing room until the 7th when a pair of Montgomery throwing errors and an RBI single by DANNY PIECZYNSKI staked Snow to a 4-1 advantage entering the bottom of the 7th.
 
For what it's worth, Grossmont is 5-1 against Division I team this season.
 

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
VAQUEROS  5, BRAVES 4 (8 inn.)
EL CAPITAN      ab  r  h bi    EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi
Rauch c          4  1  1  1    Thomas cf         4  1  3  0
Russo 2b         2  1  1  1    L.Perez p-1b      3  1  1  0
N.Garcia 1b      5  0  0  0    Manzo lf          3  1  1  0
Ksiasek ss       4  0  2  1    Abbod 3b          2  1  1  1
Erickson rf      4  0  0  0    D.Perez c         4  0  1  2
Hostetler rf     0  0  0  0    Aquiningoc dh     4  0  2  1
McCarthy p       1  0  1  0    Dyer 2b           0  0  0  0
Henson p         2  0  0  0    Sotos pr          0  0  0  0
King p           0  0  0  0    Sims rf           1  0  0  0
Walston cf       4  1  0  0    Gonzalez rf       3  0  0  0
Griffith lf-3b   4  2  2  0    Myer 1b-p         4  0  0  0
C.Garcia 3b      1  0  0  0    Padilla ss        3  0  0  0
Nazzal lf        2  0  2  1  
TOTALS          33  5  9  4    TOTALS           31  4  9  4
 
  El Capitan       (16-11, 8-1)  101 200 01 - 5 9 1
  El Cajon Valley  (4-20, 0-9)   003 000 10 - 4 9 1
 
GWRBI: Nazzal (1).
E: Abbod, Griffith. DP: EC 1. LOB: EC 10, ECV 8. 2B: D.Perez, Griffith. HR: Rauch (2) 3rd, solo. 
SB: Thomas, Russo, Ksiazek. S: L.Perez.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAPITAN           ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  McCarthy          2.2   4   3   3   1   5
  Henson   W(1-0)   4.1   4   1   1   0   3
  King    Sv(2)     1.0   1   0   0   0   0
EL CAJON VALLEY
  L.Perez           3.1   6   4   3   3   4
  Myer     L(1-5)   4.2   3   1   1   1   5
HBP: by McCarthy (Abbod, Manzo), by Myer (Russo). WP: Myer. PB: D.Perez 2.
*
SULTANS 2, WOLF PACK 1
WEST HILLS       ab  r  h bi   SANTANA         ab  r  h bi
Stoner ss         1  1  0  0   Haley c          3  0  1  0
Irvin 2b          3  0  0  0   Woods ss-p       2  1  2  0
Parker pr         0  0  0  0   Holmholtz 1b     2  0  0  1
Mello cf          3  0  2  1   Hermanson cf     3  0  0  0
Strasburg 1b      2  0  0  0   Martin p-ss      2  1  1  1
Richardson p      3  0  1  0   Brosnan lf       2  0  0  0
Hooper rf         3  0  0  0   Basnight 3b      1  0  0  0
Gagnon c          2  0  0  0   Martinez 2b      2  0  0  0
Eddy 3b           3  0  1  0   Miller rf        0  0  0  0
Hoffard pr        0  0  0  0
Pichette lf       3  0  1  0
TOTALS           23  1  5  1   TOTALS          17  2  4  2
  West Hills  (7-16, 2-7)  100 000 0 - 1 5 1
  Santana     (21-6, 6-3)  000 200 x - 2 4 1
GWRBI: Martin.
E: Woods, Mello. DP: WH 2. LOB: WH 3, San 3. 2B: Eddy. HR: Martin (2), 4th, solo. S: Miller, Helmholtz.
WEST HILLS                ip   h   r  er  bb   k
  Richardson L(3-4)      6.0   4   2   2   2   1
SANTANA
  Martin     W(6-1)      5.2   4   1   1   4   6
  Woods      Sv(2)       1.1   1   0   0   0   2
HBP: by Richardson 2 (Martin, Basnight). WP: Martin 2, Richardson. PB: Gagnon, Haley.
*
Grossmont South League
NORSEMEN 13, MATADORS 2
MOUNT MIGUEL     ab  r  h bi    VALHALLA          ab  r  h bi
Scavello 2b       3  1  0  0    J.Brown ss         2  2  2  0
Newborn cf        3  0  2  1    R.OSullivan 2b-ss  3  3  2  2
Calafato ss       4  1  0  0    S.OSullivan 3b     1  1  1  3
White c           3  0  2  0    Baum 1b            2  1  1  0
Green 3b-p        3  0  2  1    McClain c          2  1  1  2  
Plunkett 1b       3  2  0  0    Moore lf           2  0  0  0
Sandoval p-1b     2  0  0  0    LeValley dh        3  2  2  3 
Cannon rf         1  0  0  0    Sopata cf          4  0  1  0  
Array lf          7  0  3  0    Wilson rf          2  1  1  0   
Vanderhyde p      3  0  1  0    GGarcia 2b         2  1  1  1
                                Smith 3b           2  0  1  2
                                Young 1b-p         2  0  1  0
                                Wilkins c          2  0  1  0
                                Melendez lf        2  0  1  0
                                A.Brown rf         2  1  1  1
                                
TOTALS           33 13 17 13    TOTALS            27  2  6  2
 
  Mount Miguel   (0-23, 0-10)  100 100 0 -  2  6 1
  Valhalla       (17-6, 9-1)   462 100 x - 13 17 0
 
GWRBI: S.OSullivan (5).
E: Green. DP: MM 1. LOB: Val 4, MM 7. 2B: R.OSullivan, Baum, McClain, Sopata. 
HR: S.OSullivan (6) 1st, two on; LeValley (2) 2nd, one on. SB: J.Brown 2, R.OSullivan, 
S.OSullivan, Wilson, Seavello, Newborn. Array.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MOUNT MIGUEL            ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Sandoval             0+    1   1   1   0   0
  Vanderhyde  L(0-5)   1.2   7   9   9   2   1
  Green                4.1   7   2   2   0   0
VALHALLA
  Julienne    W(4-1)   4.0   3   2   2   0   8
  Young                2.0   2   0   0   0   0
  Stangyl              1.0   0   0   0   1   3
Sandoval faced one batter in the 1st.
HBP: by Julienne (Seavello, Plunkett).
*
COUGARS 5, MONARCHS 4
STEELE CANYON    ab  r  h bi    MONTE VISTA    ab  r  h bi
Minich ss         3  1  2  1    Palacios 2b     3  0  1  1
Harris 2b         4  0  3  1    De Anda rf      4  0  1  0
Inzone rf         2  0  2  0    Lopez 1b        4  1  1  0
Rice cf           4  0  0  0    Rodriguez p     3  1  1  0
Lange 1b          3  0  0  0    Leboffe cf      3  0  1  1
x-Murray 3b       3  1  2  0    Mendiola c      1  0  0  0
Duby c            3  2  2  0    Croft ss        2  1  1  0
Epperson p        3  0  1  0    Sopher dh       1  1  1  1
Klopp lf          3  1  2  1    Cooper 3b-c     3  0  1  1
Jacobsmeier pr    0  0  0  0    R.Garcia lf     1  0  0  0
                                Haase lf        2  0  1  0
                                Starling pr     0  1  0  0
TOTALS           28  5 14  2    TOTALS         27  4  9  4
 
  Steele Canyon  (14-9, 8-3)  030 100 1 - 5 14 0
  Monte Vista    (6-17, 4-7)  000 022 0 - 4  9 2
 
GWRBI: Harris (3).
E: Cooper, Lopez. DP: MV 1. LOB: SC 5, MV 4. 2B: Minich, Harris, Duby, Palacios, Croft. 
S: Inzone, Sopher. SF: Minich.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
STEELE CANYON          ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Epperson  W(4-3)    6.0   8   4   4   0   5
  Johnson  Sv(1)      1.0   1   0   0   0   2
MONTE VISTA
  Rodriguez L(2-9)    7.0  14   5   3   1   1
HBP: Epperson (Palacios, Sopher).
*
EAGLES 2, HIGHLANDERS 1
HELIX           ab  r  h bi    GRANITE HILLS   ab  r  h bi
R.Perez ss       3  0  0  0    Decker ss        3  1  1  0
Tanida c         3  1  1  1    Humphries rf     3  0  1  1
Valles lf        3  0  1  0    Crawford dh      3  0  0  0
Ponce rf         3  0  2  0    Monette c        2  1  1  0
Rosenthal 1b     2  0  0  0    Taijeron lf      3  0  1  0
Ritchie 3b       3  0  0  0    Anderson 1b      2  0  1  1
Webb dh          2  0  0  0    Cazares 2b       3  0  1  0
Rohmer 2b        2  0  0  0    Marquis cf       3  0  1  0
DeHaro cf        2  0  0  0    Horner 3b        2  0  1  0
TOTALS          23  1  4  1    TOTALS          24  2  8  2
 
  Helix          (10-14, 2-9)  000 100 0 - 1 4 4
  Granite Hills  (21-5, 9-2)   001 001 x - 2 7 1
 
GWRBI: Anderson (2).
E: Horner, R.Perez, Rohmer 2, Ritchie. DP: Hel 1, GH 2. LOB: Hel 2, GH 5. 2B: Decker, Humphries. 
HR: Tanida (2) 4th, solo. SB: Cazares. SF: Anderson.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
HELIX                ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Wenham  L(3-4)    6.0   7   2   1   1   3
GRANITE HILLS 
  Gay     W(7-0)    7.0   4   1   1   1   3
*
FOOTHILLERS 4, AZTECS 1
Grossmont   (20-6)  010 100 2 - 4 7 0
Montgomery  (15-9)  001 000 0 - 1 6 5
Mattson, Snow (5) and Pieczynski; Spicer, Procopio (3), Gutierrez (5), Garcia (7) and Hall. 
W: Mattson (2-0). L: Procopio (2-3). Sv: Snow (3).
(05-09-05)




El Capitan's Nik Garcia (21) scores as West Hills catcher Aaron Gagnon (9) scoops up the late throw. (5-6-05/Photo by Adolfo Villaneuva)

 

 

Foothillers find a way to finalize win over Santana in final frame
EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON - For 6 1/2 innings, Santana and Grossmont were cautiously stalking one another in Friday's (May 6) key Grossmont North League engagement, one of the more controversial match-ups in East County this season. The Sultans, thanks to DALLAS MARTIN's two-run single in the 3rd inning, held the upper hand with three outs to go. Turbulence rocked the bottom of the 7th inning at Grossmont's Joe Gizoni Field. The Sultans thought they got robbed and the Foothillers were thankful to pull out an emotional 3-2 victory.

"I think we were clinically dead until the 7th inning," said Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS, whose Foothillers (19-6, 6-2) garnered only one infield single over the final four innings. "We just had no fire."

Things heated up in a hurry in the 7th.

While Santana was certain it had been burned by the base umpire two times in the final frame, the Sultans (20-6, 5-3) added to their demise by putting two Grossmont runners on base - hitting one and walking another. None the less, Santana reliever JEFF WOODS provided the Sultans with an escape hatch by recording a key strikeout, setting the stage for a game-ending double play.

A.J. GRIFFIN tapped a groundball to Santana third baseman JOHN BASNIGHT, who stepped on third for a force (out No. 2), but missed the chance for a game-ending double play when his subsequent throw to first base was off line. Basnight's throw not only eluded first baseman KYLE HELMHOLTZ, it rolled under the fence about 25 feet down the right field line.

The two umpires working the game huddled for a quick discussion and then determined that Grossmont's TIM FERRARA, who began the play running from first base, should be allowed to score after the ball rolled under the fence.

Once informed of the umpires' decision, Santana coach JERRY HENSON went ballistic. His hat held in hand, Henson approached the base umpire to plead his case. He received no sympathy, as his cries fell on basically deaf ears.

Henson claimed Ferrara was wrongly permitted to score from 1st base when the ballpark ground rules (and National Federation High School Rule Book) said he should have had to stop at third.


The runner gets the base he's running to plus one more," Henson said. "I could have accepted that. But then the base ump tells me that (Ferrara) was already rounding second when the ball went under the fence. That's bull. Nobody can run that fast."

Henson hardly had time to cool off when a second controversial play went against his Sultans.

With the game now tied 2-2 and the winning run at third base with two outs, Henson elected to intentionally walk DONNIE SNOW to bring DANNY PIECZYNSKI to the plate.

Pieczynski made the Sultans pay when he spanked a groundball into the 5.5 hole. Santana shortstop Martin made the backhanded stop. But as Martin threw from the lip of the grass in left field, his peg took a bounce before arriving to first baseman Helmholtz. The Santana senior first sacker was able get his glove on Martin's throw just as Pieczynski arrived at the bag.

Henson insisted the ball beat Pieczynski and he should have been out, this forcing the game into extra innings. The umpires, however did not share Henson's view. Thus, Pieczynski was credited with an infield single and more importantly, an RBI as Griffin scored the game-winner from third base.

"What made that play go our way was hard baseball, something we've been talking about all week," said Pieczynski, who accounted for half of Grossmont's six hits. â¤Helmholtz had to short-hop that throw and was standing on top of the bag when he got the ball."

Pieczynski collided with Helmholtz, which made the base umpire's call that much tougher.

"It was real close, but there is no question in my mind that I was safe," Pieczynski said. "Helmholtz was standing on top of the bag, so I just went in hard and tried to get him to move. I didn't tackle him; I just hit him with my legs when I went by. He was on his heels because he had to stretch for the throw."

The fact that Santana intentionally walked Snow to Pieczynski only added to the Grossmont catcher's desire to deliver the knockout blow.

"After that I knew I had one job to do and that was put the ball in play," Pieczynski said. "I was surprised that they walked Donnie in that spot because they had him off balance all day. He hasn't been swinging the bat that well lately."

Pieczynski is Grossmont's hottest hitter. He stroked singles in each of his first two at-bats and flied to deepest dead center in his third at-bat before he came through with his game-winning single.

"It's all about doing whatever it takes to win the game," Pieczynski said.
 
Henson attempted to protest the game, but the plate umpire said he had no cause.
 
"He said it was a judgment call, so I couldn't protest," Henson said. "Well, I just hope those two guys (umpires) realize they denied my kids any chance at winning league. I feel bad for my kids to have them see a ballgame taken away from them like that."
 
Grossmont coach Phillips said while he could emphasize with Henson, he agreed with umpires and their decisive calls. Especially the one involving the overthrow.
 
"I know Ferrara was past second base as soon as the ball went through (and fielded by third baseman Basnight) he was almost here," said Phillips, who was coaching third base. "So I think the umpire's call was right."
 
Phillips went on to say that he thought Pieczynski was safe on his game-winning infield single.
 
That, of course, is hardly surprising.
 
Both teams received superior pitching. Grossmont's THOMAS ADAMS and TAYLOR WOHLWEND limited the Sultans to five singles, while Basnight and Woods rationed Grossmont to six safeties.
 
Griffin's solo home run in the 1st inning was the only extra-base hit of the game.
 

West Hills first baseman John Eddy (16) reaches for a high throw as El Capitan's Vinny Nazzal (2) approaches. (5-6-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

EL CAPITAN 10,  WEST HILLS 0:  With one round left in the Grossmont North League season, the Vaqueros (15-11, 7-1) have to like where they stand. Despite a 1-5 start and falling off the track last weekend in a double-defeat at Eastlake, coach STEVE VICKERY's crew seems to find a way to win when the value is highest.
 
Vickery, in fact, labeled Friday's (May 6) Grossmont North League romp at West Hills, â¤our best game of the year.â¤?
 
Senior center fielder JOSH WALSTON broke out of a season-long slump to lead the El Capitan offensive charge. Beginning the afternoon with a mediocre .253 average (17 for 67), Walston served up four singles and 6 RBI in four at-bats.
 
Walston's apparent resurgence sheds more positive light on the Vaqueros who have been seeking a consistent offensive leader.
 
"Today was just his day," his coach said. "Walston was the right man at the right time."
 
It was Walston's 2-run single that gave the Vaqueros an early lead in the 2nd inning. It was the 4th time this season that he's provided the game-winning hit.
 
Walton added run-scoring singles in the 3rd and 5th innings. He finished his batting bonanza with a two-run single in the 6th.
 
El Capitan broke the game open with 4 runs in the 3rd inning - a two-out rally that included five hits and a walk.
 
"We did everything right," Vickery said. "We swung the bat like we've done in the past. We had great approaches all day. We hit the ball hard most of the time."
 
"When your Nos. 5, 6 and 7 hitters are 9-for-9 with 7 runs scored and 8 RBI, you know you're having a good day," Vickery added.
 
CRISTIAN GARCIA (6-3) was an overpowering starter for the Vaqueros, blanking the Wolf Pack (7-15, 2-6) on one hit while striking out 8 during a 5-inning stint. Relievers KYLE KING and D.J.HENSON pitched one scoreless inning apiece and chipped in two strikeouts each.
 
"West Hills had only two base runners all day," Vickery noted.
 
West Hills coach SCOTT HOPGOOD was not pleased by his club's performance, as the Wolf Pack was blown out for one of the few times this season. Only a 16-2 loss to Vista was worse than what El Capitan handed out on Friday.
 
"For the first time all year we were extremely flat and didn't come out to play," Hopgood said.
 
Hard-luck West Hills pitcher STEPHEN STRASBURG was cuffed around for 10 hits and 8 earned runs in 4 innings as was tagged with his 9th loss.
 
"Strasburg has pitched in tough luck all year," Hopgood said. "But this time he had northing and El Cap took advantage of it. He got touched up quite a bit.
 
"We've been in quite a few close games. But obviously this was not one of them. I hope this was exception and not the rule."
 
STEELE CANYON 1,  HELIX  0:  This Grossmont South League encounter Friday (May 6) at Helix reeked of playoff overtones for both teams.
 
The first three batters of the game - the Steele Canyon trio of CODY MINICH, DANNY HARRIS and JOE INZONE - provided the only scoring.  Minich led off with a single and raced around the third on Harris' base hit. Inzone, who began the week as East County's leading hitter, lifted a sacrifice fly to left field bringing in Minich.
 
End of scoring.
 
Steele Canyon sophomore ANDREW BRUDER bested Helix senior MIKE SCHULER in a pitching duel the rest of the way.
 
Bruder, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound sophomore right-hander, limited the Highlanders to three hits, while striking out 7 and walking only one.
 
"Bruder was rested up and ready to go after the rainout last Friday," said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. "He had a great game. Helix's guy (Schuler) pitched a great game, too. "If you like pitchers' games, today was the day to go."
 
Despite all of their offensive struggles over the past 15 games - 12 of them losses - the Highlanders (10-13, 2-8) were shutout for just the second time in 23 starts this season.
 
"Our pitching and defense have come together for us," Helix coach COLE HOLLAND said. We haven't made an error in our last three games. But we just can't seem to get any consistency with the bat, although we did have our chances today."
 
Holland pointed to NICK LEDESMA's leadoff double inn the 5th.
 
"We get a guy in scoring position and then roll over 1-2-3," the coach lamented. "It's been very frustrating."
 
Speaking of anemic offense . . . The Cougars (13-9, 7-3) scored only 2 runs and gave up 18 in three games this week, yet squeezed out one win.
 
"After a rotten start it was a good way to end the week," Mittry decided.
 
VALHALLA 19,  MOUNT MIGUEL 2:  The visiting Norsemen displayed a widespread stream of offensive fireworks in Friday's (May 6) Grossmont South League romp over Mount Miguel.
 
Sure, all of Valhalla's big guns were blazing. Senior SEAN O'SULLIVAN was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, his fifth home run, four runs and 5 RBI. His pitching wasn't too bad, either, as he registered a season-high 14 strikeouts without issuing a walk in six innings.
 
But this was no one-man show, as 10 Norsemen contributed to the 17-hit onslaught.
 
In the case of junior JEFF SOPATA, his performance almost comes as relief. The struggling Valhalla outfielder, who came into Friday's game with just 4 hits in 44 at-bats, broke loose with three singles and a double in five trips.
 
Even more rewarding was Sopata was the centerpiece of Valhalla's 7-run 4th inning. In fact, he had the only two hits as the Matadors' pitchers went on a wild streak issuing four walks and hitting three batters. Sopata ignited the major rally with a single and a stolen base, and then capped the scoring with a 3-run double.
 
BRENNAN BAUM drove in 3 runs with a pair of hits, RYAN O'SULLIVAN was 2-for-3 with his third home run and STEVEN LeVALLEY laced a grand slam in his only at-bat.
 
It was the fifth straight win for the 6th-ranked Norsemen (16-6, 8-1), who have won 38 of their last 40 league games dating back to 2002.
 
For Mount Miguel (0-22, 0-9), EDDIE De ARCOS singled off O'Sullivan to stretch his East County-best hitting streak to 13 games. KEITH GREEN accounted for Mount Miguel's runs with a pair of RBI singles.
 

FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
VAQUEROS 10, WOLF PACK 0
EL CAPITAN     ab  r  h bi    WEST HILLS       ab  r  h bi
Nazzal lf       4  0  0  0    Richardson cf     2  0  0  0
DGarcia lf      1  0  0  0    Thompson ph       1  0  0  0 
Russo 2b        4  0  0  0    Stoner ss-p       2  0  0  0
Sullenger 2b    1  0  0  0    Carley ph         1  0  0  0 
Rauch c         4  1  2  0    Strasburg p       1  0  0  0 
McCarthy ph     1  0  1  0    Skinner p         1  0  0  0  
Ksiazek ss      3  2  1  1    Hoffard p         1  0  1  0 
Petrille ph     1  0  0  0    Pichette c        1  0  0  0
NGarcia 1b      3  4  3  1    Mello cf          2  0  0  0
Erickson rf     2  3  2  1    Gagnon lf         3  0  0  0    
Hostetler rf    1  0  0  0    Hooper rf         1  0  0  0  
Walston cf      4  0  4  6    Parker rf         2  0  0  0
Henson dh       2  0  1  1    Eddy 1b           1  0  0  0
Griffith 3b     4  0  1  0    Maldonado 1b      1  0  0  0
CGarcia p       0  0  0  0    Hall 3b           1  0  0  0
King p          0  0  0  0    Ritiyak 3b        1  0  0  0   
                              Irvin 2b          1  0  1  0
                              Drescher 2b       1  0  0  0
TOTALS         35 10 15 10    TOTALS           24  0  2  0
 
  El Capitan  (15-11, 7-1)   024 022 0 - 10 15 1
  West Hills  (7-15, 2-6)    000 000 0 -  0  2 0
 
GWRBI: Walston (4).
E: Ksiazek. LOB: EC 9, WH 3. 2B: Rauch, NGarcia, Ksiazek. 3B: Erickson. SB: Rauch 2. 
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAPITAN            ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  CGarcia   W(6-3)   5.0   1   0   0   0   8
  King               1.0   0   0   0   0   2
  Henson             1.0   1   0   0   0   2
WEST HILLS
  Strasburg L(0-9)   4+   10   8   8   2   4
  Skinner            1.0   2   2   0   0   2
  Hoffard            1.0   2   2   2   2   1
  Stoner             1.0   1   0   0   0   2
Strasburg faced 2 batters in the 5th.
HBP: by Strasburg (NGarcia).
*
Grossmont South League
COUGARS 1, HIGHLANDERS 0
STEELE CANYON   ab  h  r bi    HELIX          ab  h  r bi
Minich ss        3  1  2  0    RPerez ss       2  0  1  0
Harris 2b        3  0  2  0    Tanida c        3  0  0  0
Inzone rf        2  0  0  1    Ledesma cf      3  0  1  0
Rice c           3  0  0  0    Peterson 1b     2  0  0  0
Lange 1b         3  0  1  0    Valles lf       3  0  0  0
Lewis lf         3  0  0  0    Rosenthal dh    3  0  0  0
Jenner dh        3  0  0  0    Ponce rf        3  0  1  0
Duby c           3  0  2  0    Ritchie 3b      2  0  0  0
Jacobsmeier pr   0  0  0  0    Rohmer 2b       2  0  0  0
Epperson 3b      3  0  0  0    Schuler p       0  0  0  0
Bruder p         0  0  0  0
TOTALS          26  1  7  1    TOTALS         23  0  3  0                
 
  Steele Canyon   (13-9, 7-3)   100 000 0 - 1 7 2
  Helix           (10-13, 2-8)  000 000 0 - 0 3 0
 
GWRBI: Inzone (2).
E: Duby. DP: SC 1. LOB: SC 5, H 4. 2B: Minich, Lange, Ledesma. SF: Inzone.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
STEELE CANYON        ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Bruder   W(3-2)   7.0   3   0   0   1   7
HELIX
  Schuler  L(1-5)   7.0   7   1   1   0   2
HBP: by Bruder (Peterson. WP: Bruder. 
*
FOOTHILLERS 3, SULTANS 2
SANTANA        ab  r  h bi   GROSSMONT      ab  r  h bi
Haley c         3  1  1  0   Ferrara 2b      3  1  0  0
Woods ss-p      4  0  0  0   Griffin 3b      4  2  1  1
Helmholtz 1b    3  1  1  0   Snow rf         2  0  1  0
Hermansen cf    2  0  0  0   Pieczynski c    4  0  3  1
Martin 3b-ss    3  0  2  2   Phillips ss     3  0  1  0
Brosnan lf      2  0  0  0   Berry cf-lf     3  0  0  0
Tippin lf       1  0  0  0   Cusumano lf     2  0  0  0
Basnight p-3b   3  0  1  0   AWilliams cf    1  0  0  0
Diaz pr         0  0  0  0   Sobel 1b        2  0  0  0
Martinez 2b     3  0  0  0   Passanisi 1b    0  0  0  0
NMiller rf      2  0  0  0   TAdams p        2  0  0  0
                             Wohlwend p      0  0  0  0
                             Medina ph       1  0  0  0
TOTALS         26  2  5  2   TOTALS         27  3  6  2
 
  Santana     (20-6, 5-3)   002 000 0 - 2 5 2
  Grossmont   (19-6, 6-2)   100 000 2 - 3 6 2
Two outs when winning run scored.
 
GWRBI: Pieczynski (3).
E: Woods, Basnight, Sobel, Griffin. DP: Gro 1. LOB: Sant 6, Gro 8. HR: Griffin (7) 1st, solo. SB: Woods.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
SANTANA              ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Basnight          4.2   5   1   1   1   2
  Woods    L(7-3)   2.0   1   2   1   2   2
GROSSMONT
  TAdams            5.0   4   2   2   2   4
  Wohlwend W(7-0)   2.0   1   0   0   0   2
HBP: by TAdams (Haley), by Woods (Passanisi). WP: Woods.
*
NORSEMEN 19, MATADORS 2
VALHALLA          ab  r  h bi    MOUNT MIGUEL   ab  r  h bi
JBrown ss          2  2  1  0    Newborn cf      3  0  0  0
R.OSullivan 3b-ss  3  2  2  1    Williamson 2b   4  0  0  0
S.OSullivan p      3  4  3  5    De Arcos rf     4  1  1  0
Baum 1b            2  1  2  3    White c         3  1  2  0
McClain c          2  1  0  1    Calafato ss     3  0  1  0  
Moore lf           2  1  0  1    Plunkett 3b-p   3  0  0  0
GGarcia 2b         5  0  1  0    Green 2b        3  0  2  2
Melendez rf        4  1  0  1    Freeman p-3b    3  0  1  0
Sopata cf-p        5  2  4  3    Vanderhyde 3b   3  0  0  0
Smith 3b           2  0  0  0    Sandoval p      0  0  0  0
Wilson rf          1  0  0  0
ABrown cf          1  1  1  0 
MYoung 1b          2  1  1  0
Wilkins c          1  1  1  0
LeValley lf        1  1  1  4
TOTALS            36 19 17 19    TOTALS         29  2  7  2
 
  Valhalla      (16-6, 8-1)  330 720 4 - 19 17 2
  Mount Miguel  (0-22, 0-9)  010 100 0 -  2  7 1
 
GWRBI: S.OSullivan (4).
E: Plunkett, Smith, MYoung. LOB: Val 4, MM 5. 2B: S.OSullivan 2, Baum, Sopata. 
HR: R.OSullivan (3) 5th, solo; S.OSullivan (5) 5th, solo; LeValley (1) 7th, grand slam. 
SB: Baum, Sopata, Calafato, White, Green. S: R.OSullivan.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
VALHALLA                ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  S.OSullivan  W(4-0)  6.0   7   2   2   0  14
  Sopata               1.0   0   0   0   0   1
MOUNT MIGUEL 
  Freeman      L(0-6)  3.1   8   9   7   1   1
  Sandoval             1.1   1   4   4   2   0
  Plunkett             3.1   8   6   6   0   1
HBP: by Freeman (S.OSullivan, Moore), by Sandoval (Baum, McClain).
(05-06-05)



Pats' McGranahan uses just 91 pitches to shut down Hoover
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - Pitching hungry Christian High received a much needed shot in the arm from senior southpaw JOEL McGRANAHAN, who finally received the green light to take to the mound in Thursday's (May 5) Harbor League joust against Hoover. The visiting Cardinals never had a chance in this one, as McGranahan scattered seven hits in a complete game 9-2 victory.
 
McGranahan was razor sharp through the first four innings, using just 49 pitches - 40 of them strikes - to blank the Cardinals over four frames as the dormant Christian bats came to life to knock out a 9-0 lead.
 
"Joel pitched more innings today than he had all the rest of the season combined," Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said. "He was on the mark until he started to tire in the last two innings."
 
McGranahan finished the job in 91 pitches.
 
"We really need Joel to help pick up the slack for our thin pitching staff," Mitchell said.
 
The good news doesn't stop there for the Patriots (12-8, 4-3), who put up a single tally in the 1st inning for the first time in 10 games.
 
ADAM PERRY supplied flint and spark with a leadoff single and steal of second base for the Patriots. After MATT HART blooped a single and RICKY PLUM punched a ground rule double to right-center field, scoring Perry.  Had the fence contained Plum's drive, the Patriots would have tallied two markers.
 
In the 2nd inning with two outs, Perry doubled to right and raced home on SHANE STANOVIC's single up the middle.
 
NICK ADAMS put Christian in command an inning later when he lifted a fly ball over the center fielder's head with the bases loaded. By the time the dust had cleared, Adams had a triple and 3 RBI and the Patriots were enjoying a 5-0 advantage.
 
Solo home runs by Stanovic and Plum along with a two-run double by McGranahan ballooned the Patriots' lead to 9-0 in the 4th.
 
The top four batters in the Christian lineup - Perry, Stanovic, Hart and Plum - were a composite 10-for-15 with 5 runs and 4 RBI.
 
"We had at least two guys on in every inning," Mitchell noted. "But we still left too many on base."
 

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Harbor League
HOOVER          ab  r  h bi    CHRISTIAN       ab  r  h bi
Sheehan ss-p     3  0  1  1    Perry rf         4  2  2  0
Geraci p-ss      4  0  1  0    Stanovic cf      4  1  3  2
Wilkerson lf     3  0  0  0    Hart c           4  0  2  0
Torres 1b        3  0  1  0    Plum dh          3  2  3  2
Martinez c       3  0  1  0    TJones 3b        0  0  0  0
Camacho 3b-p     2  1  0  0    Allen dh         1  0  0  0
Alvarez rf       2  0  0  0    Rossitto 1b      3  1  1  0
Hyde 2b          2  0  0  0    O'Donnell 1b     0  0  0  0
EJones 2b        1  0  0  0    EYoung ss        2  2  2  0
Rios cf          3  1  3  0    AMurray 2b       0  0  0  0
                               Dossett lf       2  0  0  0
                               Schroeder lf     1  0  0  0
                               Abell lf         1  0  0  0
                               McGranahan p     3  1  1  2
                               NAdams 2b-ss     4  0  1  3
TOTALS          26  2  7  1    TOTALS          32  9 15  9
 
  Hoover      (8-13, 3-6)  000 001 1 - 2  7 1
  Christian   (12-8, 4-3)  113 400 x - 9 15 2
 
GWRBI: Plum (2).
E: TJones, AMurray, Geraci. DP: Hoo 1, Chr 1. LOB: Hoo 6, Chr 9. 2B: Perry, Plum. 3B: NAdams. 
HR: Stanovic (1) 4th, solo; Plum (3) 4th, solo. SB: Perry, Rossitto, EYoung. SF: Sheehan.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
HOOVER                ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Geraci     L       3.0   8   5   4   2   1
  Sheehan            2.0   7   4   4   2   0
  Camacho            1.0   0   0   0   0   1
CHRISTIAN
  McGranahan W(1-1)  7.0   7   2   2   2   5
(05-05-05)


Matadors' De Arcos: A clandestine star
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - Only one game separates the top three teams in the Grossmont North League race, while Valhalla is only percentage points ahead of Granite Hills in the run for the Grossmont South League pennant. At the moment, El Capitan sits atop the Grossmont North thanks to a 6-3 win over West Hills on Wednesday (May 4). Santana knocked the Grossmont out of a share of the top spot, 8-6, while Valhalla and Granite Hills were winners over Steele Canyon and Monte Vista, respectively.
 
A rough diamond in need of shining, Mount Miguel may have found a jewel in first baseman EDDIE De ARCOS, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal 0-21 season. A multi-sport athlete, De Arcos never played baseball full-time until this season, yet the senior is surprising those who closely follow East County baseball.

Several scouts, often attending to watch the opposing team, have asked more than one head coach this season something to the effect of, "Hey, who is that first baseman on the other team?"

"He's definitely a '5-tool' player," noted veteran assistant coach FERDY REED, who skippered the Matadors at Helix in the absence of head coach BYRON GRIGSBY who was away attending to family matters on Wednesday (May 4). "Eddie has a great physical make-up and can hit, hit with power, run, throw - all those things."

De Arcos displayed his smooth stroke against Helix, although the host Highlanders posted an easy 14-0 triumph. After getting called out on a questionable strike in his first at-bat, the senior smoked the next two strikes he saw, hitting a vicious drive to right field for an out, then splitting the gap on a one-hopper to the right-centerfield fence for a standup double.

While the East County roll-call lists a lengthy cast of top hitters, few noticed that De Arcos entered the week ranked sixth in batting average. He was 2-for-5 in this week's two-game set against Helix, leaving his average at .446 (29-for-65).
 
De Arcos now owns an East County season-best 12-game hitting streak, and has been held hitless in just two contests all season. Not too bad for a ballplayer without a long high school baseball resume.

"I was on the team last year, but I didn't get much playing time," said De Arcos, who expressed interest in playing for Grossmont College next season. "It would mean a lot to me to somehow win a batting title. I don't want anyone to say that I'm not a competitor - I give my all."

De Arcos believes his ability to focus and think through an at-bat aids in his developing tools at the plate.

"Everyday, I think about hitting," added De Arcos. "I'm always thinking about getting another hit, even on days when we don't play."

A few scouts have indicated that should De Arcos keep developing and put in two strong seasons with the Griffins, when coupled with his strong work habits and smarts, he could land at a four-year college.

"No matter where you play, if you hit .440 on any team, in any league, in any division, you have to respect someone who hits like that," noted Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. "To do what he's done is phenomenal."

SANTANA 8,  GROSSMONT 6:  Senior first baseman KYLE HELMHOLTZ has been an unsung hero for Santana the past two seasons.
 
Coming off a junior season that included a .374 batting average, 23 RBI and 13 steals, Helmholtz is proving those marks to be no fluke.
 
That is, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior is picking up where he left off. Helmholtz slugged his second home run of the year and an RBI double Wednesday (May 4) as the visiting Sultans claimed a key Grossmont North League nod over No. 5-ranked Grossmont.
 
"Actually, I've been struggling the last few games," Helmholtz said. "It's a matter of going out there confident and doing what we know how to do."
 
Santana senior JEFF WOODS set the pace for the Sultans, smacking his first two home runs of the season â¤" solo shots in the 1st and 3rd innings. After an intentional walk in the 4th inning, Woods slashed an RBI single in the 6th inning that tied the game 6-6.
 
Helmholtz, who followed Woods' lead all day, ripped the game-winning RBI single in a 6th inning that was fueled by a pair of Grossmont errors.
 
"I swung at the first pitch in my first two at-bats," confided Helmholtz, who generated six total bases with those aforementioned cuts. "I didn't see many strikes."
 
Yet, Helmholtz finished the game 3-for-4, raising his season average to .354 (29 for 82). And he also stole his 10th base of the season, which is quite an achievement for a man of his size.
 
"We know if we want to win the league championship we have to run the table," Helmholtz said. "Taking league is the first thing. We will worry about CIF after that."
 
Of the three contenders for the Grossmont North flag, Santana (20-5, 5-2) would appear to have the momentum. The Sultans have won five in a row as they prepare to host Grossmont (18-6, 5-2) on Friday (May 6) in Santee.
 
Santana coach JERRY HENSON acknowledged Helmholtz's contributions to Santana's surge for a second straight league title. He was equally as pleased by the offensive punches delivered by Woods, who batted .490 as a junior but has hovered below the .300 mark most of this season.
 
"Jeff has been working hard at shortening his swing up, trying different stuff that will help him get back to hitting like he was last year," Henson said. "I think he got back to the level he was at last year in today's game. He was confident and his swing was what it used to be."
 
That was only half the story. Woods also pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and was rewarded with his 7th win in nine decisions.
 
It was a tough loss for Grossmont, which overcame deficits of 2-0 and 4-2 to lead 6-4 after four innings.
 
But the Foothillers eventually gave the game away with a pair of errors in the 6th inning.
 
"Those are plays that need to be made," Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS said. "But we flubbed both of them and it cost us.  But it wasn't just that inning.
 
"We threw too many pitches belly-button high."
 
Santana sophomore DALLAS MARTIN, who was cuffed around for 6 earned runs in 3 1/3 innings by the Hillers, also hit a fly-ball home run to right field that cut a then Grossmont lead to 6-5 in the 5th inning.
 
Grossmont's Joe Gizoni Field is the Wrigley Field of East County. Balls hit into the air to right field have a genuine chance of clearing the 20-foot fence. The foul pole is only 292 feet from home plate.
 
"If I could hit here every day it would be awesome," said Woods, who hammered his first home run some 380 feet to left field, a ball that was cut down by a cross wind from left to right. "The first one (home run) was legit. The second one, I popped it up. But I'll take it."
 
Junior A.J. GRIFFIN paced Grossmont with his 6th home run and three RBI.
 
EL CAPITAN 6,  WEST HILLS 3:  No question the Vaqueros don't have an overall look of a champion in terms of wins and losses (14-11, 6-1 GNL). The bottom line, though, is coach STEVE VICKERY has his club a full length ahead of challengers Santana and Grossmont with five games remaining in the regular season.
 
The Wolf Pack (7-14, 2-5), which no doubt will play a decisive role in determining the Grossmont North championship, jumped in front of the Vaqueros in the opening frame. SHAIN STONER stroked a one-out double and scored on AARON RICHARDSON's two-base hit.
 
That advantage was short-lived, however.
 
El Capitan bullied West Hills starter JOHN EDDY for 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st. JASSON KSIAZEK slapped an RBI single, NIK GARCIA brought in another run with a sacrifice fly and MICHAEL GRIFFITH singled in a third tally. But Eddy's biggest problem was his control (2 walks) and a lack of defensive support (2 errors).
 
"We scored those four runs in the 1st inning and then kinda went to sleep until the 6th inning," Vickery said. "(West Hills) really scrapped."
 
Back-to-back doubles by Stoner and Richardson pulled the Pack to within 4-2 in the 6th inning. West Hills went as far as to place the tying runs at second and third, but El Capitan starter and winning pitcher BRYAN PAUKOVITS got a strike out and a fly out to stuff the Wolf Pack challenge.
 
"Paukovits didn't have his best stuff, but he battled, made quality pitches when he had to," Vickery said. "He's just been tremendous every game after that first start of the year. He's been giving us quality starts week after week."
 
El Capitan reliever KYLE KING sealed the deal in the 7th inning despite giving up an unearned run.
 
GRANITE HILLS 6,  MONTE VISTA 1: Sophomore pitcher ERIC KRAUSE of Granite Hills continues to mesmerize opponents and amaze his coach.
 
"I watch that kid, trying to figure what makes him so successful," Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said. "He's gritty, fearless, confident and all that good stuff. But it's not like he's throwing the ball 90 mph."
 
Krause limited Monte Vista to 2 hits while striking out 9 during a six-inning stint.
 
"From what I can tell, I think it's hard for the batter to pick up the ball out of his hand," Davis said. "It's like all of a sudden, the ball is on you. It's too late to react."
 
Monte Vista did get in the first blow against Krause, as DAN DeANDA - the second batter of the game - slugged his 3rd home run of the season.
 
After that, though, the crafty Krause allowed only one hit - a single to ANTHONY LOPEZ - before DARREN GAY retired the Monarchs in order in the 7th.
 
Granite Hills (20-5, 8-2), ranked No. 4 in the San Diego CIF, tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the 1st inning as CODY CRAWFORD launched his second home run of the season.
 
Crawford's RBI double gave the Eagles a 2-1 edge in the 3rd. Crawford eventually scored in that inning thanks to TRAVIS TAIJERON's sacrifice fly.
 
BRIAN HUMPHRIES' RBI triple capped a 2-run 4th inning as the Eagles put the game on ice.
 
The Monarchs (6-16, 4-6) managed to keep Granite Hills senior hitting star NICK MONETTE somewhat in check. Sure, Monette was 1-for-2 with a double, but he didn't drive in any runs nor did he reach the plate himself. Nevertheless, Monette is batting at a .529 clip (9-for-17) over the last six games.
 
VALHALLA 4,  STEELE CANYON 1: Classic pitching, but sub-par fielding were in contrast Wednesday (May 4) as host Valhalla skipped past Steele Canyon in a key Grossmont South League encounter.
 
Of the five runs, only one was earned. That marker came home to roost when Valhalla's Brothers O'SULLIVAN - RYAN and SEAN - banged back-to-back doubles in the 6th inning giving the 6th-ranked Norsemen (15-6, 7-1 GSL) a 3-1 advantage.
 
Six errors between the two clubs kept Valhalla freshman right-hander Ryan O'Sullivan and Steele Canyon senior KYLE JOHNSON working overtime to avoid further disaster.
 
Johnson, who pitched his 4th complete game, was stung by three unearned runs and was handed his second loss in six decisions.
 
"Kyle deserved better," Cougars coach PHIL MITTRY said. "He certainly pitched well enough to win. He has something like a 1.50 ERA in our league games."
 
In two games against Valhalla, Steele Canyon was outscored 18-1.
 
Ryan O'Sullivan needed only 73 pitches to mow down the Cougars (12-9, 6-3) for his 6th win in seven decisions.
 
"We have too many guys going up there and swinging at the first pitch," Mittry said. "I don't have any problem with that as long as it's a pitch they can handle. Too often that isn⤙t the case. It's really frustrating."
 
DAVID LEWIS
accounted for three of the Cougars four hits off O'Sullivan, who walked one and struck out 5.
 
"Ryan is a gamer who wants the ball," Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE said. "He just shut this team down."
 
The victory gave Valhalla a 37-2 league record dating back to the 2002 season.
 
HELIX 14, MOUNT MIGUEL 0:  ERIK PONCE pitched five shutout innings and knocked home the game-wining run with an RBI double to start a 6-run rally in the 2nd inning Wednesday (May 4), lifting the Highlanders to their second lopsided win over the Matadors in three days.
 
NICK LEDESMA
capped the early outburst with his first homer of the season, then ANDREW VALLES and ALEX ROSENTHAL homered on consecutive pitches in the 5th to complete the rout.

"I threw only four curveballs all day, going mostly with my fastball and changeup," said Ponce, who struck out four Matadors. "ZACH (TANIDA, the catcher) and I were communicating real well all day."

Tanida also sparked the offense, pacing a 15-hit attack by going 4-for-4 and driving in a pair of runs.

"Erik was hitting his spots all day," noted Tanida. "He had guys off-guard and in front of the ball all day."

Third baseman RAUL RITCHIE added three RBI. He batted 2-for-2, including a sacrifice fly in the 2nd, an RBI double in the 3rd, and a run-scoring single in the 4th.  RANDY PEREZ and Ledesma each knocked in a pair of runs.

Following Ponce's pitching stint, JEREMY PETERSON and DUSTIN RUNIONS combined to toss two innings of 1-hit relief, including two strikeouts by Runions in the 7th to set the Matadors down in order.

Mount Miguel second baseman DEXTER SEAVELLO registered two of Mount Miguel´s six hits, but was stranded in scoring position both times.
 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
SULTANS 8, FOOTHILLER 6
SANTANA       ab  r  h bi    GROSSMONT       ab  r  h bi
Haley c        3  0  0  0    Ferrara 2b       4  1  2  0
Woods ss-p     3  2  3  3    Griffin 3b-p     3  1  1  3
Helmholtz 1b   4  1  3  2    Snow p-rf        2  0  0  0
Hermansen cf   4  0  1  0    Pieczynski c     4  0  1  0
Martin p-ss    4  1  1  1    Phillips ss      4  1  1  0
Brosnan lf     4  2  2  0    Berry rf-lf      3  1  2  0
Basnight 3b    3  0  1  0    AWilliams cf     3  0  0  0
Martinez 2b    4  1  2  1    Passanisi 1b     4  1  2  1
NMiller rf     3  0  1  1    Medina lf        1  0  0  0
Tippin pr      0  1  0  0    TAdams p         1  1  1  1
                             Sobel 3b         0  0  0  0
TOTALS        32  8 14  8    TOTALS          29  6 10  5
 
  Santana    (20-5, 5-2)  201 112 1 - 8 14 1
  Grossmont  (18-6, 5-2)  002 400 0 - 6 10 3
 
GWRBI: Helmholtz (4).
E: Snow, Martin, Sobel, Passanisi. DP: Sant 1. LOB: Sant 7, Gro 8. 2B: Helmholtz, Ferrara. 
HR: Woods 2:(1,2) 1st, solo, and 3rd, solo; Helmholtz (2) 1st, solo; Griffin (6) 3rd, one on; Martin (1) 5th, solo. 
SB: Berry. S: Haley, TAdams, Basnight, NMiller.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
SANTANA              ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Martin            3.1   6   6   6   2   4
  Woods   W(7-2)    3.2   4   0   0   3   1
GROSSMONT
  Snow              3.0   6   3   3   0   1
  TAdams            2.0   4   2   2   1   1
  Griffin L(4-2)    2.0   4   3   1   0   2       
WP: TAdams.
*
VAQUEROS 6, WOLF PACK 3
WEST HILLS      ab  r  h bi    EL CAPITAN       ab  r  h bi
Mello cf         2  0  0  0    Hostetler lf      3  0  0  0
Stoner ss        3  2  2  0    Royer ph          1  0  1  0
Richardson dh    4  0  2  2    Russo 2b          3  2  1  1
Pichette c       3  0  1  0    Rauch c           2  1  1  1
Hooper rf        3  0  1  0    Ksiazek ss        3  1  1  1
Skinner lf       2  0  0  0    NGarcia 1b        1  0  1  1
Eddy p           2  0  0  0    DGarcia pr        0  0  0  0
Ritiyak p        1  0  0  0    Erickson rf       3  1  2  0
Maldanado 1b     2  0  0  0    Walston cf        3  0  2  1
Strasburg ph     1  0  0  0    Griffith dh       3  0  2  1
Irvin 2b         2  1  1  0    CGarcia 3b        2  0  0  0
Hoffard pr       0  0  0  0    Nazzal lf         1  1  1  0
TOTALS          25  3  7  2    TOTALS           24  6 10  5
 
  West Hills    (7-14, 2-5)   100 001 1 - 3  7 2     
  El Capitan    (14-11, 6-1)  400 002 x - 6 10 2
 
GWRBI: Ksiazek (5).
E: Rauch, Russo, Mello, Hooper. DP: WH 1. LOB: WH 6, EC 6. 2B: Stoner 2, Richardson, Rauch. 
3B: Russo. SB: Russo, Pichette. S: Mello. SF: Rauch, NGarcia.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
WEST HILLS              ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Eddy       L(3-3)    3.2   6   4   3   4   5
  Ritiyak              2.1   4   2   2   1   5
EL CAPITAN
  Paukovits  W(5-2)    6.0   7   2   2   2   5
  King                 1.0   0   1   0   1   1
HBP: by Paukovits (Mello). WP: Eddy.
*
Grossmont South League
HIGHLANDERS 14, MATADORS 0
MOUNT MIGUEL     ab  r  h bi   HELIX           ab  r  h bi
Seavello 2b       4  0  2  0   RPerez ss        2  0  1  2
Newborn cf        2  0  0  0   Beltran ph       1  0  0  0
Sandoval lf       3  0  0  0   Tanida c         4  1  4  2
White c           3  0  1  0   Ledesma cf       5  1  1  2
De Arcos 1b       3  0  1  0   Peterson 1b-p    4  0  0  0
Freeman p         1  0  1  0   Runions p        0  0  0  0
Freeman-Bolden 1b 2  0  0  0   Valles rf-lf     2  4  2  1
Williamson rf-p   3  0  1  0   Rosenthal lf     2  3  1  1
Plunkett 3b       3  0  0  0   Webb 1b          0  0  0  0
Calafato ss       3  0  0  0   Ponce p-rf       4  3  2  1
                               Ritchie 3b       2  1  2  3
                               Rohmer 2b        4  1  2  0
TOTALS           27  0  6  0   TOTALS          30 14 15 12
  Mount Miguel  (0-21, 0-8)   000 000 0 -  0  6 2
  Helix         (10-12, 2-7)  063 320 x - 14 15 0
GWRBI: Ponce (2).
E: Freeman, Plunkett. DP: MM 1. LOB: MM 7, Hel 9. 2B: De Arcos, Ponce, Ritchie. 
HR: Ledesma (1), 2nd, 1 on; Valles (1), 5th, solo; Rosenthal (3), 5th, solo.
PITCHING SUMMARY
MOUNT MIGUEL               ip   h   r  er  bb   k
  Freeman L(0-5)          2.0   6   6   5   2   1
  De Arcos                2.0   6   6   5   4   0
  Williamson              2.0   3   2   2   1   4
HELIX
  Ponce   W(4-1)          5.0   5   0   0   1   4
  Peterson                1.0   1   0   0   0   0
  Runions                 1.0   0   0   0   0   2
HBP: by De Arcos (Tanida). PB: White.
*
NORSEMEN 4, COUGARS 1
STEELE CANYON   ab  r  h bi    VALHALLA       ab  r  h bi
Minich ss        3  0  0  0    JBrown ss       3  1  1  0
Harris 2b        3  0  0  0    R.OSullivan p   1  1  1  1
Inzone rf        2  1  0  0    S.OSullivan 3b  3  0  1  1
Rice cf          3  0  0  0    Baum 1b         3  1  0  0
Duby c           3  0  0  0    McClain dh      2  0  1  0
Lange 1b         1  0  1  0    Moore c         3  0  0  0
Lewis lf         3  0  3  0    GGarcia 2b      3  0  2  0
Murray 3b        2  0  0  0    Smith lf        3  0  0  0
Jenner dh        3  0  0  0    Sopata cf       2  1  0  0
Epperson ph      1  0  0  0
TOTALS          24  1  4  0    TOTALS         18  4  6  2
 
  Steele Canyon  (12-9, 6-3)  000 001 0 - 1 4 4
  Valhalla       (15-6, 7-1)  101 002 x - 4 6 2
 
GWRBI: None.
E: Murray 2, Rice, Lewis, Sopata, GGarcia. DP: Val 1. LOB: Val 4, SC 5. 
2B: R.OSullivan, S.OSullivan. SB: JBrown, Inzone. SB: R.OSullivan. SF: R.OSullivan.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
STEELE CANYON          ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Johnson     L(4-2)  6.0   6   4   1   0   2
VALHALLA
  R.OSullivan W(6-1)  7.0   4   1   0   1   5
HBP: by R.OSullivan (Lange 2), by Johnson (McClain).
*
EAGLES 6, MONARCHS 1
MONTE VISTA     ab  r  h bi    GRANITE HILLS    ab  r  h bi
Palacios 2b      3  0  0  0    Decker ss         4  0  1  1
DeAnda p         3  1  1  1    Humphries cf      3  1  2  1
Lopez 1b         3  0  1  0    Crawford dh       3  2  2  2
Rodriguez dh     3  0  0  0    Monette c         2  0  1  0
Leboffe cf       3  0  0  0    Taijeron lf       1  0  0  1
Sopher lf        3  0  0  0    Anderson 1b       3  0  0  0
Starling 3b      1  0  0  0    Boltz rf          2  0  0  0
Mendiola c       1  0  0  0    TWilliams ph      1  0  0  0
Cooper c-3b      2  0  0  0    Cazares 2b        3  2  1  0
RGarcia rf       1  0  0  0    Horner 3b         2  1  1  1
Simmons p        1  0  0  0    Coleman 3b        1  0  0  0
TOTALS          24  1  2  1    TOTALS           25  6  8  5
 
  Monte Vista    (6-16, 4-6)  100 000 0 - 1 2 2
  Granite Hills  (20-5, 8-2)  102 201 x - 6 8 1
 
GWRBI: Crawford (2).
E: Taijeron, Hale, Cooper. LOB: MV 2, GH 6. 2B: Crawford, Monette. 3B: Humphries. 
HR: Crawford (2) 1st, solo; De Anda (3) 1st, solo. SB: Horner, Cazares, Monette. SF: Taijeron.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MONTE VISTA          ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  De Anda  L(1-2)   3.2   5   5   4   2   1
  Simmons           2.1   2   1   1   0   0
GRANITE HILLS
  Krause   W(7-1)   6.0   2   1   1   0   9
  Gay               1.0   0   0   0   0   0
HBP: by De Anda (Humphries).
(05-04-05)

 

Christian High's Matt Hart (10) lines a 2-run single in the 3rd inning of Tuesday's Harbor League game against Madison. (5-3-05/Courtesy photo)

Patriots assured of no repeat after loss to first-place Madison
EastCountySports.com
 

EL CAJON - This has already been an odd season for coach MIKE MITCHELL and his Christian High Patriots.
 
After earning a share of the Harbor League crown a year ago, the Patriots were all but assured that they would not repeat on Tuesday (May 3) when they fell to the visiting Madison Warhawks 6-3.
 
It was Christian's fourth straight loss.
 
"I don't know if I've had a team lose four in a row in my entire career," said Mitchell, who has been coaching baseball for 20 years. "We are struggling right now."
 
Once again, the Patriots were playing catch-up from the get-go. For the fifth time in the last six starts, Christian fell behind early. The Warhawks (18-5, 6-1) enjoyed leads of 2-0 and 5-2 in dealing the Patriots their latest frustration.
 
"I can't remember the last time we scored in the 1st inning," Mitchell said.
 
For the record, the Patriots (11-8, 3-3) scored both runs in the 1st frame of a 2-0 win over Grove City (Pa.) in the opening round of the KSA Tournament on April 7th in Orlando, Fla. That was 10 games ago.
 
"We are 'Team Singles,'" Mitchell said. "We don't have much power nor do we have great speed. So it's tough playing catch-up when we fall behind right off the bat."
 
Two of the club's top pitchers have been unable to help on the mound due to injuries. Sort of one thing after another.
 
Not that Mitchell has given up on this team or the remainder of the season. "Magical Mike" always finds a way to make his teams competitive. Fact is, the Patriots still have a reasonable shot at finishing second in the Harbor League and a shot at making waves in the San Diego CIF Division IV playoffs.
 
In Tuesday's loss, a bright spot was JOEL McGRANAHAN, who was 3-for-3.
 

Christian High's Chad O'Donnell (19 ) serves up a pitch in Tuesday's game against Madison. (5-3-05/Courtesy photo) 

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Harbor League
WARHAWKS 6, CHRISTIAN 3
MADISON         ab  r  h bi    CHRISTIAN        ab  r  h bi
Phillips cf      3  0  1  1    Perry cf-rf       4  1  1  0
Pecina 1b        3  1  1  0    Stanovic p-cf     4  0  1  0
Planck p-ss      4  0  0  0    Hart c            4  0  1  2
Moreno ss-2b     4  1  2  1    Rossitto 1b       4  0  1  0
Webster lf       3  1  1  1    O'Donnell p       0  0  0  0
Cotton 3b        4  1  0  0    EYoung ss         2  0  0  0
McCormick dh-p   3  2  3  3    NAdams 2b         3  0  0  0
Jaime c          2  0  0  0    Plum dh           3  0  1  0
Latimer rf       2  0  1  0    Schroeder pr      0  1  0  0
                               McGranahan rf-1b  3  1  3  0
                               Dossett lf        3  0  1  1
TOTALS          28  6  9  6    TOTALS           30  3  9  3
 
  Madison     (18-5, 6-1)  200 301 0 - 6 9 1
  Christian   (11-8, 3-3)  002 001 0 - 3 9 2
 
GWRBI: McCormick.
E: Stanovic, Rossitto, McCormick. DP: Mad 1, Chr 1. LOB: Mad 6, Ch 7. 2B: McCormick, Webster. 
HR: McCormick 4th, two on. SB: Webster. S: Jaime, Latimer. 
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
CHRISTIAN             ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Stanovic  L(1-1)   5.0   6   5   4   3   1
  O'Donnell          2.0   3   1   1   0   2
MADISON
  Planck             2.1   2   2   2   1   1
  McCormick W(6-1)   4.2   7   1   1   0   4
WP: Stanovic 2, Planck.
(05-03-05)

Williams, Pieczynski provide late power to give Foothillers win over Wolf Pack
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - A pair of late homers allowed Grossmont to thwart an upset bid by West Hills Monday (May 2), pulling the Foothillers (18-5, 5-1) into a tie with idle El Capitan (13-11, 5-1) for the Grossmont North League lead. The Hillers host third-place Santana on Wednesday (May 4), while El Capitan is entertaining West Hills. The Grossmont North has resulted in co-champions the past two seasons. Meanwhile, in the Grossmont South, Valhalla (14-6, 6-1) grabbed the circuit lead with a resounding 14-0 romp over Steele Canyon. Granite Hills (19-5, 7-2) won its fourth straight league encounter to slide into second place. Speaking of streaks, Helix halted an eight-game losing streak by toppling Mount Miguel 9-2.
 
GROSSMONT 3, WEST HILLS 1 (11): East County's closest thing to a classic was the focus of Monday's (May 2) toe-to-toe pitching duel at Grossmont's Joe Gizoni Field.
 
Although West Hills was dismissed from contention in the Grossmont North League before the first pitch was thrown, coach SCOTT HOPGOOD's Wolf Pack continues to make its league rivals nervous.
 
West Hills (7-13, 2-4) produced a solo home run by leadoff man JOE MELLO in the 4th inning and came within four strikes of sending the Foothillers packing behind the superb pitching of AARON RICHARDSON.
 
Enter Grossmont senior DANNY PIECZYNSKI to spoil the upset. Hanging on an 0-2 pitch with one down in the bottom of the 7th and Foothillers trailing 1-0, Pieczynski finally saw a pitch he couldn't refuse.
 
"We'd been working all of their hitters down and away," West Hills pitching coach MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN said. "Richardson had been on the mark all day. Even the pitch to Pieczynski was a decent pitch, but he dove for the ball and golfed it out."
 
It was Pieczynski's 7th home run of the season.
 
"We were struggling, that's for sure," Pieczynski said. "Even though we had only six hits today, it doesn't take a whole lot to win a game. We know that with our pitching staff we don't have to score 10 runs to win a game."
 
However, the bottom line in this deep pool of pitching perfection hit the wall when sophomore AUGIE WILLIAMS lifted a two-run home run over the right field fence for a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning.
 
"It wasn't a pretty day overall for me," said Williams, who was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk prior to his game-winning launch. "Overall, it was an ugly day for our team, but I'm just glad that I changed all of that with one swing."
 
Williams' game-winning blast came at the expense of sophomore reliever BRIAN RITIYAK with two down in the bottom of the 11th.
 
"I came through for our team, not just me," Williams said of his third home run of the season. "Yeah, it was crucial."
 
Indeed.
 
The victory locked Grossmont into a deadlock with El Capitan for the Grossmont North League lead.
 
Deutschman admitted that the pitch Williams knocked for the game-winner was off the mark.
 
"He got the ball up and out over the plate," Deutschman said of Ritiyak's decisive serve.
 
Despite the heart-breaking loss, West Hills head coach Hopgood was not crushed in defeat.
 
"I don't consider this game a loss," Hopgood said. "They won, but we didn't lose."
 
West Hills took the lead on JOE MELLO's fly-ball home run over the short porch in right field in the 4th inning.
 
But Richardson, a fine junior southpaw, was not fortunate enough to pull out a win.
 
"Aaron certainly pitched well enough, but just ran out of gas," Hopgood said.
 
In the bottom of the 11th, Grossmont started its winning rally on a line-drive single up the middle. That shot no double rankled West Hills reliever STEPHEN STRASBURG, who managed to lift his left foot to let the ball continue through to center field.  Problem was he had to put all of his weight on his right leg, which caused him to collapse on the mound.
 
That finished Strasburg, who was helped from the field by a couple of teammates.
 
"His (right) leg just buckled when he lifted his left leg to avoid being hit (by Snow's shot through the middle)," Hopgood said. "It was tough losing him at that point, but we are glad the injury isn't all that serious."
 
Grossmont's A.J.GRIFFIN pitched 3 2/3 innings of hitless relief to earn his 4th win in 5 decisions for the Foothillers.
 
HELIX 9,  MOUNT MIGUEL 2:  The last time Helix pitcher MATT WENHAM won a ballgame, his victory propelled the Highlanders -- then sporting a 5-1 record -- into the semifinals of the Lions Tournament's AAAA Division. That win came on Mar. 22.

Five weeks later, in a battle among teams with higher expectations than results, Wenham moved the Scotties back on track. The senior right-hander scattered four hits over six innings and did not allow an earned run, helping Helix skip past Mount Miguel in Monday's (May 2) Grossmont South League affair.

"It felt good to finally win a game," said Wenham, who lost three straight home-field decisions before breaking through on the road. "We got out of our slump and put everything together, including our pitching, hitting and defense."

Typical of the entire season for the winless Matadors (0-20 overall, 0-8 GSL), the Single Ugly-inning Blues ("SUB") took them out of a close ballgame. Three defensive errors, followed by back-to-back RBI doubles by JEREMY PETERSON and ANDREW VALLES, allowed Helix to plate five unearned runs in the 4th  inning to mount a 7-0 advantage.

"Hopefully, this will get us on a roll so we can get to the CIF playoffs and do some damage," noted Peterson, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of booming doubles (his 15th and 16th two-baggers) to the outfield fence. The Helix first baseman also drove in a pair of runs, including a sacrifice fly to open the scoring in the 1st.

Meanwhile, all of Mount Miguel's hard-hit balls seemed to find leather. The Matadors slugged eight line-drives off Wenham and the Helix bullpen, but only a 2nd-inning drive by hot-hitting EDDIE De ARCOS landed safely to add to the team's frustrations.

For DeArcos, his 1-for-2 outing (plus a walk) extended his hitting streak to 11 straight contests - the longest current stretch among East County batters. Entering the day ranked sixth in East County in batting, De Arcos raised his average to .452.
 
"It's all just playing a game of pepper -- that's what hitting is," noted Matadors manager BYRON GRIGSBY. "And Eddie has been doing it as well as anybody."

Mount Miguel received consecutive RBI basehits from KEITH GREEN and DAUNTE WILLIAMSON in the 4th, taking advantage of a Helix throwing error. However, the Highlanders (9-12, 1-7) answered with two runs of their own in the 6th, including a run-scoring ground-rule double by ERIK PONCE.

DUSTIN RUNIONS
then pitched a perfect 7th inning to close out the contest. Although not credited with an official save, Runions struck out two of the three batters he faced.
 
GRANITE HILLS 10, MONTE VISTA 3: The Eagles scored in each of the first six innings as they mowed down host Monte Vista in Monday's (May 2) Grossmont South League action.
 
At the moment, the centerpiece of the Granite Hills offensive arsenal is senior catcher NICK MONETTE. In the Eagles' latest conquest, the burly backstop accounted for five runs, driving in 2 and scoring 3 as he generated two hits in three at-bats, helping Granite Hills (19-5, 7-2) keep its pennant hopes burning.
 
"There is no magic to it, Monette is just in a (hitting) groove right now," said Eagles coach JAMES DAVIS. "As a coach you just sit back and enjoy it. What he's done with the bat is a bonus. What I like is how he handles the pitchers and handles his defensive assignment around the plate."
 
Nevertheless, it's hard to overlook what Monette has done with the bat, especially of late. In his last five games, Monette is 8-for-15 with 5 home runs and 13 RBI.
 
"Nick is the leader of this team," Davis said.
 
Monette rocked a two-run home run in the 1st inning to jumpstart the Granite Hills offense.
 
Monte Vista countered with a 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st as Monarchs pitcher JESSE RODRIGUEZ tied the game with an RBI single.
 
Granite Hills regained control on LOUIS CAZARES' RBI double in the 2nd frame.
 
The Eagles took command with three runs in the 3rd inning as freshman BRIAN HUMPHRIES slashed a 2-run single.
 
BRANDON DECKER added a solo home run for the Eagles, while losing pitcher Rodriguez went deep for the Monarchs.
 
"We have a bunch of different guys who can do a bunch of different things," Davis said. "I think that is what makes us a pretty good team."
 
SANTANA 8, EL CAJON VALLEY 2: Ten Sultans contributed to a 15-hit assault on two El Cajon Valley pitchers Monday (May 2) as defending Grossmont North League co-champion Santana prepped itself for a two-game Grossmont North League series against No. 5-ranked Grossmont Wednesday (May 4 in El Cajon) and Friday (May 6 in Santee). Both games start at 4 p.m.
 
"We feel we're in good shape," Santana coach JERRY HENSON said. "We will certainly know by Friday night where we stand. Either we'll be still in the (Grossmont North) League race or preparing for the (SDCIF) playoffs."
 
It was sort of like the wake before the storm for Santana, which found the going a little choppier than expected in Monday's first four innings at the home of the Braves.
 
The Sultans (19-4, 4-2) took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning on a double by RYAN BROSNAN and a two-out single by NICK MILLER.
 
RBI singles by DALLAS MARTIN and JOHN BASNIGHT sandwiched around Brosnan's scoring fly ball swelled Santana's advantage to 4-0 in the 3rd inning.
 
An inning later El Cajon Valley (4-19, 0-8) bit the Santana lead in half. RAY AQUININGOC singled up the middle and MARC GONZALES doubled down the right field line. That set the stage for a 2-run single by freshman ADRIAN PADILLA.
 
The Braves uprising was aborted in the top of the 5th when Santana parlayed an RBI bunt single by Basnight, a run-scoring single by RICHARD MARTINEZ and a pair of El Cajon Valley errors into a 3-run inning and a 7-2 lead.
 
VALHALLA 14, STEELE CANYON 0: When it comes to winning games in the Grossmont South League nobody does it better than the Valhalla Norsemen.
 
On Monday (May 2), the 6th-ranked Norsemen (14-6, 6-1) capitalized on a critical 2-run error in the 1st inning and then broke the game open with 3 runs in the 3rd inning as TOMMY McCLAIN doubled in a pair and eventually scored on CHRIS MOORE's suicide squeeze bunt.
 
McClain later crunched a two-run home run in the 6th inning and JAVIER BROWN added a 3-run shot later in the same frame as Valhalla broke the game open with a 7-run bonanza.
 
That was more than enough for Valhalla junior left-hander ERIC JULIENNE, who limited the Cougars (12-8, 6-2) to three singles as he rolled to his third win four decisions. As a bit of bonus, Julienne struck out 7 and walked none en route to his second complete game.
 
The Norsemen have won 36 of their last 38 league games dating back to the latter stages of the 2002 season.
 
MADISON 11, CHRISTIAN 5: The visiting Patriots (11-7, 3-2) were never in this one as Madison (16-5, 5-1) evened the season series on Monday (May 2).  The rubber match takes place on Tuesday (May 2) at Christian. These clubs shared the Harbor League title a year ago, but the Patriots won the season series, 2-1.
 
MATT HART smacked a pair of RBI singles and C.J. SCHROEDER plated a pair with a base hit in the 6th inning for Christian in Monday's go-round.
 
But Christian could never overcome the 9-1 lead Madison builtin the first four innings of the rematch.
 

MONDAY, MAY 2, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
FOOTHILLERS 3, WOLF PACK 1 (11 innings)
WEST HILLS      ab  r  h bi    GROSSMONT      ab  r  h bi
Mello cf         3  1  1  1    Ferrara 2b      3  0  0  0
Stoner ss        5  0  1  0    Griffin 3b-p    4  0  2  0
Strasburg 1b-p   4  0  0  0    Phillips ss     4  0  0  0
Eddy dh          4  0  1  0    Snow rf         4  1  2  0
Hall 3b          0  0  0  0    Berry pr        0  0  0  0
Richardson p-rf  3  0  0  0    Pieczynski c    4  1  1  1
Carley pr        0  0  0  0    Passanisi 1b    5  0  0  0
Hooper rf-lf     4  0  0  0    AWilliams cf    4  1  1  2
Gagnon c         4  0  1  0    Medina lf       3  0  0  0
Thomason lf      2  0  0  0    Cusumano lf     1  0  0  0
Parker lf        0  0  0  0    Sobel dh-3b     2  0  0  0
Skinner rf-1b    2  0  0  0    TAdams ph       1  0  0  0
Irvin 2b         4  0  1  0    
TOTALS          35  1  5  1    TOTALS         35  3  6  3
 
  West Hills   (7-13, 2-4)   000 100 000 00 - 1 5 1
  Grossmont    (18-5, 5-1)   000 000 100 02 - 3 6 1
Two outs when winning run scored.
GWRBI: A.Williams (1). 
E: Hall, Phillips. DP: WH 3, Gro 2. LOB: WH 4, Gro 8. 2B: Gagnon. 
HR: Mello (3) 4th, solo; Pieczynski (7) 7th, solo; A.Williams (4) 11th, one on.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
WEST HILLS               ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Richardson            7.2   3   1   1   7   4
  Strasburg  L(0-8)     2.1   2   1   1   1   2
  Ritiyak               0.2   1   1   1   0   1
GROSSMONT
  Wohlwend              7.1   5   1   1   1  10
  Griffin    W(4-1)     3.2   0   0   0   2   5
Strasburg faced one batter in the 11th.
WP: Richardson.
*
SULTANS 8, BRAVES 2
SANTANA        ab  r  h bi    EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi
Haley c         3  0  1  0    Thomas cf         3  0  0  0
Woods ss        3  1  1  0    Vega rf           2  0  0  0
Helmholz 1b     5  0  1  0    Sotos ph          1  0  0  0
Hermansen cf    4  1  1  0    Mansfield ph      0  0  0  0
Martin 3b       4  2  2  1    Manzo lf          4  0  2  0
Brosnan lf      2  1  1  1    Abbod 3b          2  0  1  0
Basnight p      3  1  2  2    Myer 1b           2  0  0  0
Diaz ph         1  1  1  0    LPerez p          1  0  1  0
Martinez 2b     4  1  3  0    DPerez p-c        3  0  0  0
NMiller rf      4  0  2  2    Acquiningoc c-1b  3  1  1  0
                              Gonzales 2b       3  1  2  0
                              Padilla ss        3  0  1  2
TOTALS         33  8 15  6    TOTALS           27  2  8  2
 
  Santana          (19-5, 4-2)  013 030 1 - 8 15 2       
  El Cajon Valley  (4-19, 0-8)  000 200 0 - 2  8 2
 
GWRBI: N.Miller (1).
E: Martinez, Helmholz, Padilla, D.Perez. LOB : Sant 10, ECV 7. 2B: Haley, Brosnan, Gonzales. 
SB: Helmholz, Martin 2, Martinez 2. S: Woods. SF: Brosnan.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
SANTANA              ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Basnight  W(3-1)  4.0   5   2   2   0   4
  Medrud            2.0   3   0   0   0   3
  Spicer            1.0   0   0   0   1   1
EL CAJON VALLEY
  D.Perez   W(0-1)  4.1  12   7   6   2   0
  L.Perez           2.2   3   1   1   1   0
HBP: By Basnight (Abbod);by Spicer (Thomas); by L.Perez (Woods).
*
Grossmont South League
HIGHLANDERS 9, MATADORS 2
HELIX           ab  r  h bi    MOUNT MIGUEL    ab  r  h bi
RPerez ss        3  0  0  0    Seavello 2b      3  0  0  0
Tanida c         4  3  2  1    Newborn cf       3  1  0  0
Ledesma cf       3  1  1  0    Calafato ss      3  0  1  0
Peterson 1b-3b   4  2  3  2    White dh         3  0  0  0
Valles lf        4  1  2  1    De Arcos 1b      2  1  1  0
Rosenthal dh     4  1  1  0    Green 3b         3  0  1  1
Ponce rf         4  0  2  1    Williamson rf    3  0  1  1
Ritchie 3b       2  0  0  0    Sandoval lf      3  0  0  0
Webb 1b          2  0  0  1    Freeman c        3  0  0  0
Rohmer 2b        4  1  1  0
TOTALS          34  9 12  6    TOTALS          26  2  4  2
  Helix         (9-12, 1-7)  101 502 0 -- 9 12 1
  Mount Miguel  (0-20, 0-7)  000 200 0 -- 2  4 4
GWRBI: Peterson (1).
E: Calafato 3, Williamson, Peterson. DP: MM 2. LOB: Hel 10, MM 4. 2B: Peterson 2, Valles, Ponce. 
SB: Tanida 2, Ledesma, De Arcos, Rohmer 3, Newborn, Calafato. SF: Peterson.
HELIX                      ip   h   r  er  bb   k
  Wenham     W(3-3)       6.0   4   2   0   1   6
  Runions                 1.0   0   0   0   0   2
MOUNT MIGUEL
  Vanderhyde L(0-4)       5.0   9   7   2   3   2
  Freeman-Bolden          2.0   3   2   1   1   0
HBP: by Freeman-Bolden (Tanida). PB: Freeman.
*
EAGLES 10, MONARCHS 3
GRANITE HILLS   ab  r  h bi     MONTE VISTA      ab  r  h bi
Decker ss        4  1  1  1     Palacios 2b       3  1  1  0
Harkins ph       1  0  0  0     DeAnda rf         2  1  0  0
Marquis cf       4  1  2  0     Lopez 1b          3  0  0  1
Boltz cf         1  0  1  0     Rodriguez p-1b    2  1  1  2
Crawford dh      4  3  1  0     Leboffe cf        3  0  1  0
Coleman ph-3b    0  0  0  0     Mendiola c        3  0  0  0
Monette c        3  3  2  2     Sopher dh         3  0  0  0
JMiller ph       0  0  0  0     RGarcia lf        2  0  0  0
Taijeron lf      4  1  1  1     Hale 3b           2  0  0  0
Hawley ph        1  0  0  0     
Anderson p-1b    3  0  1  1
Humphries rf     2  1  2  3
Cazares 2b       1  0  1  2
Russell 1b-p     2  0  0  0 
TWilliams ph     1  0  0  0
TOTALS          31 10 12 10     TOTALS           23  3  3  3
 
  Granite Hills   (19-5, 7-2)  213 112 0 - 10 12 0
  Monte Vista     (6-15, 4-5)  200 000 1 -  3  3 2
GWRBI: Cazares (1).
E: Mendiola, Croft. DP: GH 1. LOB: GH 11, MV 1. 2B: Humphries, Cazares. 
HR: Monette (7) 1st, one on; Decker (3) 4th, solo; Rodriguez (1) 7th, solo. 
SB: Marquis, Crawford, Monette. SF: Anderson. 
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GRANITE HILLS          ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Anderson  W(5-1)    5.0   1   2   2   2   2
  Russell             2.0   2   1   1   0   1
MONTE VISTA
  Rodriguez L(2-8)    4+    8   8   7   2   1
  Simmons             3.0   4   2   2   2   2
Rodriguez faced one batter in the 5th.
HBP: by Simmons (Russell, Coleman, Miller).  WP: Anderson.
*
NORSEMEN 14, COUGARS 0
VALHALLA         ab  r  h bi    STEELE CANYON   ab  r  h bi
JBrown ss         4  2  1  3    Minich ss        2  0  0  0
R.OSullivan dh    3  2  2  0    Harris 2b        3  0  1  0
S.OSullivan 3b    4  2  1  1    Inzone rf        3  0  0  0
Baum 1b           2  2  1  2    Rice cf          3  0  1  0
McClain c         4  2  2  4    Duby c           3  0  0  0
Moore lf          3  1  1  1    Lange 1b         3  0  0  0
GGarcia 2b        3  1  0  0    Lewis lf-p       2  0  0  0
Sopata cf         2  2  1  0    Murray 3b        2  0  1  0
Wilson rf         3  0  2  1    Epperson p       1  0  0  0
Smith 3b          1  0  0  0    Jenner p         1  0  0  0
MYoung 1b         1  0  0  0    Shepard ph       1  0  0  0
LeValley lf       1  0  0  0
Melendez cf       2  0  1  0
ABrown rf         2  0  0  0
TOTALS           35 14 12 12    TOTALS          24  0  3  0
 
  Valhalla        (14-6, 6-1)  203 117 0 - 14 12 1
  Steele Canyon   (12-8, 6-2)  000 000 0 -  0  3 5
 
GWRBI: S.OSullivan (3).
E: Minich 3, Murray, J.Brown. LOB: Val 10, SC 2. 2B: Moore, Wilson 2, S.OSullivan.  
HR: J.Brown (1) 6th, two on; McClain (1) 6th, one on. SB: R.OSullivan. S: Moore.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
VALHALLA              ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Julienne  W(3-1)   7.0   3   0   0   0   7
STEELE CANYON
  Epperson  L(3-3)   5+    7   9   8   3   3
  West               0.0   3   3   3   0   0
  Jenner             1.0   1   1   1   1   2
  Lewis              1.0   1   0   0   1   1
West faced 3 batters in the 6th.
HBP: by Epperson (Baum 2, Sopata).
*
Harbor League
WARHAWKS 11, PATRIOTS 5
CHRISTIAN      ab  r  h bi    MADISON        ab  r  h bi
EYoung ss       4  1  1  0    Phillips cf     4  1  1  0
Perry rf        0  0  0  0    Pecina 1b-p     2  2  1  1
Dossett rf      2  1  1  0    Planck ss       4  2  2  2
Stanovic cf     2  1  1  0    Angle dh        3  1  1  2
Hart c          3  1  2  2    Moreno 1b       0  0  0  0
Rossitto 1b     1  0  0  0    Creeder ph      1  0  0  0
O'Donnell ph    0  1  0  0    Webster lf      3  2  1  1
McGranahan dh-p 2  0  0  0    Cotton 3b       2  1  1  1
Murray 3b       1  0  0  0    McCormick 1b    2  0  1  2
Plum 3b         2  0  0  1    Boss p          0  0  0  0
Abell lf        2  0  0  0    Jaime c         2  1  1  0
Schroeder lf    1  0  1  2    Iglesias c      1  0  0  0
N.Adams 2b      3  0  0  0    Latimer rf      3  1  0  0
TOTALS         23  5  6  5    TOTALS         27 11  9  9
 
  Christian  (11-7, 3-2)  000 104 0 -  5 6 3
  Madison    (16-5, 5-1)  003 602 x - 11 9 0
 
GWRBI: Pecina.
E: Hart, E.Young 2. LOB: Chr 3, Mad 7. 2B: Pecina. SB: Cotton. S: McCormick.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
CHRISTIAN           ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Jones  L(3-2)    3.0   4   3   3   0   2
  McGranahan       0.1   2   6   5   2   0
  Allen            1.2   0   0   0   0   1
  Plum             1.0   3   2   2   0   1
MADISON
  Pecina W(3-3)    6.0   6   5   5   5   9
  Boss             1.0   0   0   0   0   0
HBP: by Jones (Pecina, Cotton), by McGranahan (Webster, Angle), by Allen (McCormick, Jaime), by Pecina (Plum). 
WP: Jones, Plum, Pecina.          
(05-02-05)


Vaqueros allow Eastlake to sweep doubleheader, squander Garcia's pitching effort
EastCountySports.com
 
EASTLAKE - In what has traditionally been a high-scoring late season marathon double-header, the pitchers took control when Eastlake hosted El Capitan in a non-league engagement Saturday (Apr. 30) in the South Bay. It proved to be a long day for the Vaqueros who lost both games to the Titans 2-1 and 10-4.
 
EASTLAKE 2, EL CAPITAN 1: Junior right-hander CRISTIAN GARCIA certainly pitched well enough to give the Vaqueros a victory in game one at Eastlake. He scattered six hits and allowed only one earned run.
 
Eastlake, however, scored the winning run without benefit of a hit in the 6th inning, parlaying a hit batter, walk and an error into the magic marker.
 
The Titans' first run came on a solo home run by Jon Eubanks in the 4th inning that erased a 1-0 El Capitan advantage.
 
"We made too many mistakes to beat a team the caliber of Eastlake," El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said.  "We had two guys picked off and another doubled off on a line drive in the first three innings."
 
El Capitan (13-10) took a 1-0 advantage in the 2nd inning as JASSON KSIAZEK and JOSH WALSTON singled. The runners advanced on GRIFF ERICKSON's swinging bunt. MICHAEL GRIFFITH's sharp single to right field scored Ksiazek for a 1-0 edge. But that would be all the scoring for El Capitan in the opening game.
 
One strong point for El Capitan was catcher AUSTIN RAUCH, who cut down two Titans attempting to steal.
 
EASTLAKE 10, EL CAPITAN 4:  Outside of LOUIE RUSSO's solo home run in the 3rd inning, the first three frames of Saturday's nightcap belonged to Eastlake (19-6). The Titans led 5-1 at that point and continued on for the sweep.
 
Singles by GRIFF ERICKSON and D.J. HENSON coupled with a key error by the Titans allowed the Vaqueros to cut the deficit to 5-2 in the 4th inning.
 
In the 6th inning, El Capitan took a bite out of a 7-2 Eastlake lead. Back-to-back doubles by Ksiazek and DAMIAN GARCIA plated one Vaqueros' run. A bases-loaded walk to Russo cashed in another. It looked as if El Capitan would get a bunch more as AUSTIN RAUCH laced a drive to deep center field only to be robbed of a hit by the Eastlake center fielder.
 
"It's been quite a while since either team has swept this double-header," Vickery said. "And it shouldn't have been a sweep this time, either. We just let that first game slip through our fingers, both literally and figuratively."
 

SATURDAY, APR 30, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Non-League
Game 1:
TITANS 2, VAQUEROS 1
El Capitan  (13-10)   010 000 0 - 1 4 3
Eastlake    (18-6)    000 101 x - 2 6 1
C.Garcia and Rauch; Antunez, Anda (6) and Lievanos. HR: Eubanks (ESL) 4th, solo. 
W: Anda (2-0). L: C.Garcia (5-3).
*
Game 2:
TITANS 10, VAQUEROS 4
El Capitan   (13-11)   001 102 0 -  4  5 2
Eastlake     (19-6)    302 203 x - 10 13 2
N.Garcia, King (5), Petrille (6), McCarthy (6) and Rauch; Benner, West (3), Yowell (5), Avila (6) and Lievanos. 
HR: Russo (EC) 3rd, solo; Eubanks (ESL) 6th, one on. W: West (1-0). L: N.Garcia (1-3).
(04-30-05)



Granite Hills's Garrett Russell (4) steals a base as Mount Miguel's Nico Calafato makes a futile grab for the ball. (4-29-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

Norsemen overcome early 3-0 deficit to post 13-4 win over Monarchs
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - For the second time in as many games this week, Kevin Towers, General Manager of the San Diego Padres, was on hand to watch Valhalla senior SEAN O'SULLIVAN perform in Friday's (Apr. 29) Grossmont South League action.
 
Naturally, Towers kept his thoughts to himself. But just Towers' presence in consecutive games indicates that O'Sullivan figures to go in the early rounds of next month's draft. His selection won't necessarily be made by the Padres, but obviously there is interest in the Norsemen's multi-talented senior.
 
So those who believe O'Sullivan isn't the prospect he was once touted to be had better take another look. 
 
"Just having Towers there back-to-back at our games shows that something is right," Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE said. "My telephone has been ringing off the hook. I've had 15-to-16 (pro) clubs call me in the last couple of days. These guys haven't given up on Sean. They know what a talent he is."
 
Nevertheless, Monte Vista (6-14, 4-4) put the pressure on O'Sullivan and the Norsemen early, taking a 3-0 lead after three innings.
 
A bloop single by IAN CROFT gave the Monarchs a 1-0 edge in the 2nd inning and a base hit by ANTHONY LOPEZ along with an outfield miscue extended Monte Vista's advantage to 3-0 in the 3rd.
 
The Monarchs were looking good at that point, considering starting pitcher DAN DeANDA retired the first 9 Norsemen he faced.
 
"If we were playing with wood bats, Sean would have broken a bunch," Perdue said of O'Sullivan, who rolled his season record to 4-0. "This was a typical Sean O'Sullivan game. He did what he needed to do to win. His velocity hovered around 88-to-89 mph, and his off-speed was on the mark."
 
The roof caved in on the Monarchs in the 4th.  Valhalla sent 16 batters to the plate in the 4th inning. Twelve of them scored as the Norsemen parlayed 6 hits, 7 walks and a sacrifice fly into 12 runs.
 
CHRIS MOORE supplied the key blow in that uprising by driving in 3 runs with a l-o-n-g single to left-center field. Actually, Moore would have had a double with ease had he not missed first base, which forced him to retrace his tracks. None the less, Moore's blast gave No.10-ranked Valhalla a 5-3 edge it wouldn't lose.
 
Later in that same inning, Moore ripped an RBI single.
 
Slump-ridden JEFF SOPATA closed the Valhalla scoring with an RBI double in the 6th inning.
 
Croft clubbed a solo home run for the Monarchs in the 7th.
 
GROSSMONT 3, WEST HILLS 2
- Junior right-hander STEPHEN STRASBURG has the worst pitching record in East County at 0-7. Strasburg's lack of success is not all his fault, however. A victim of poor support, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound West Hills pitcher has lost three one-run decisions, including Friday's (Apr. 29) Grossmont North League 3-2 setback to the visiting Grossmont Foothillers.
 
"We had him on the ropes in the 1st inning and didn't put them away," Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS said. "Give him credit. He pitched well."
 
No. 6-ranked Grossmont (17-5, 4-1) did all of its scoring in the 1st inning. A.J. GRIFFIN laced a one-out single and TRISTAN PHILLIPS and DONNIE SHOW followed with walks to load the bases.
 
DANNY PIECZYNSKI punched a base hit right back through the middle to give Grossmont the lead marker. TREVOR BERRY's RBI single to right made it 2-0. MATT PASSANISI tapped into a fielder's choice, which allowed Hillers to plate a third run.
 
After that, Grossmont was limited to 2 hits by Strasburg over the final six frames.
 
THOMAS ADAMS
and DONNIE SNOW were equally as stingy on the hill for the Foothillers.
 
West Hills (7-12, 2-3) countered Grossmont's fast start in the bottom of the 1st as SHAIN STONER singled, advance to third on KOREY HOOPER's double. Stoner scored on Strasburg's sacrifice fly.
 
In the bottom of the 2nd, AARON RICHARDSON ripped a solo home run to keep the heat on the Hillers.
 
Adams pitched six strong innings, striking out 7 and walking nine. Snow came on to retire the Wolf pack in order to record his second save.
 
Strasburg went the distance for the third time this season.
 
"They beat us with ground-ball hits in the 1st inning," said West Hills pitching coach MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN. "Strasburg threw an excellent game for us (103 pitches), but we just couldn't give him enough help with the bat."
 
Mount Miguel's Eddie De Arcos (7) races to first base as Granite Hills' Donnie Anderson (16) waits for the throw. (4-29-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

GRANITE HILLS 8,  MOUNT MIGUEL 0: The Eagles kept their wings flapping in the Grossmont South League race Friday (Apr. 29) with another convincing romp over host Mount Miguel.
 
No. 4-ranked Granite Hills (18-5, 6-2),which is one-half out of the league lead, continues to rely on a steady pitching staff and recently has received some offensive punch to fortify their surge for the league title.
 
Senior catcher NICK MONETTE followed a one-out double by freshman BRIAN HUMPHRIES to give the Eagles a 1-0 edge in the opening frame. Monette eventually cruised home on a Mount Miguel error.
 
Monette has been an offensive force for Granite Hills over the last four games, collecting six hits in 12 at-bats while clubbing 4 home runs and driving in 11 runs.
 
Another major offensive contributor is senior DONNIE ANDERSON, who has compiled a .435 batting average (10-for-23) with three homers and six RBI over the last nine games.
 
After BRANDON DECKER's RBI double gave the Eagles a 3-0 advantage in the 2nd inning, Anderson belted a solo home run to make it 4-0 in the 3rd.
 
RYAN MARQUIS contributed a 3-for-4 batting spree to the Eagles' 14-hit attack that included a 2-run single by AUSTIN COLEMAN in the 5th inning.
 
Meanwhile, sophomore ERIC KRAUSE blanked the Matadors (0-19, 0-6) on 1 hit over the first 5 innings. He struck out 6 before BILLY SYLVESTER spun a pair of scoreless frames to finish off Granite Hills' third shutout of the season.
 
"Our pitchers did really well today," said Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS. "I'm happy with that. We did nothing overly spectacular -- we competed. Our kids were all thinking about the dodgeball game tonight (at Granite Hills). (Mount Miguel) didn't give up. They kept going, played hard."
 
Senior EDDIE DE ARCOS stretched his East County-leading hitting streak to 10 games with a base hit in three trips. De Arcos is batting at a .581 clip (18-for-31) during his current hitting skein ands has failed to garner a hit only twice in Mount Miguel's 19 games.
 
SANTANA 9,  EL CAJON VALLEY 0:  Santana coach JERRY HENSON and wife CATHERINE HENSON celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary Friday night (Apr. 29) after the Sultans blanked the Braves in a Grossmont North League game moved from Santee to El Cajon due to wet grounds.
 
The Sultans (18-5, 3-2) took advantage of the dry track at El Cajon Valley, stealing five bases and scoring three runs without benefit of a hit in the opening frame.
 
It was more of the same for Santana in the 2nd inning. NICK MILLER walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. He scored on BRANDON HALEY's sacrifice fly.
 
The Sultans kept the 2nd inning alive as KYLE HELMHOLTZ and ROBERT HERMANSEN followed with two-out singles. Both runners scored on a DALLAS MARTIN double, giving Santana a 6-0 lead.
 
RYAN BROSNAN keyed the final two scoring thrusts for the Sultans. He singled and came around on a pair of errors in the 3rd. Brosnan tacked on an RBI single in the 4th.
 
Martin pitched five shutout innings, limiting the Braves to 3 hits, while racking up his 5th win in six decisions.
 
JEFF WOODS pitched in one scoreless inning of relief and JOHN BASNIGHT escaped a bases-loaded jam in the 7th to preserve Santana⤙s 4th shutout of the season. 
 
El Cajon Valley, which committed six errors to undermine its three pitchers, looked as if it might avoid the shutout in the final frame. Basnight hit ALAN ABBOD with a pitch to start the 7th inning. DEREK PEREZ and RAY AQUININGOC followed with singles to load the bases with nobody out.
 
Basnight doused the budding blaze with back-to-back strikeouts and a groundball out.
 
STEELE CANYON @ HELIX:  Wet grounds caused Friday's (Apr. 29) Grossmont South League game in La Mesa to be postponed a week. These clubs will reconvene on the Highlanders' diamond Friday (May 6) at 4 p.m. At the moment, Steele Canyon (12-7,6-1) leads the Grossmont South by one-half game over Valhalla and Granite Hills.
 
USDHS @ CHRISTIAN: Still no makeup date for this game, which was postponed by rain on Thursday (Apr. 28).  Since this is a non-league affair, it is conceivable that the game might not be played.
 

FRIDAY, APR 29, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
SULTANS 9, BRAVES 0
EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi    SANTANA        ab  r  h bi
Thomas cf         3  0  2  0    Haley c         2  1  0  1
Sotos rf          3  0  0  0    Woods ss-p-3b   3  1  0  0
Manzo lf          3  0  0  0    Helmholtz 1b    3  2  1  0
Abbod 3b-p        2  0  0  0    Schaub 1b       1  0  0  0
D.Perez c         3  0  1  0    Hermansen cf    2  2  2  0
Vega p-3b         1  0  0  0    Diaz lf         1  0  1  0
Acquiningoc 1b-p  2  0  1  0    Martin p-ss     4  1  2  2
Myer 1b           3  0  0  0    Basnight 3b-p   3  0  0  1
L.Perez ss        0  0  0  0    Brosnan lf      3  1  2  1
Gonzales ss       2  0  1  0    Martinez 2b     2  0  0  0
Padilla 2b        2  0  0  0    N.Miller rf     1  1  0  0
Mansfield 2b      1  0  0  0    Spicer rf       1  0  0  0
TOTALS           23  0  5  0    TOTALS         26  9  8  4
 
  El Cajon Valley  (7-18, 0-7)  000 000 0 - 0 5 6
  Santana          (18-5, 3-2)  331 200 x - 9 8 0
 
GWRBI: None.
E: Abbod, L.Perez 2, Sotos, D.Perez 2. DP: ECV 1. LOB: ECV 6, Sant 5. 
2B: Gonzales, Martin. SB: Haley 2, Woods 2, Helmholtz, Martin, Brosnan, N.Miller. 
S: Martinez. SF: Haley.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAJON VALLEY        ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Vega      L(0-2)    0.0   0   3   2   3   0
  Abbod               2.0   3   3   3   2   0
  Acquininoc          4.0   5   3   2   0   2
SANTANA
  Martin    W(5-1)    5.0   3   0   0   1   4
  Woods               1.0   0   0   0   0   2
  Basnight            1.0   2   0   0   0   2
Vega faced 3 batters in the 1st inning.
HBP: by Basnight (Abbod).
*
FOOTHILLERS 3, WOLF PACK 2
GROSSMONT      ab  r  h bi    WEST HILLS     ab  r  h bi
Ferrara 2b      3  0  1  0    Mello cf        3  0  1  0
Griffin 3b      2  1  2  0    Stoner ss       3  1  1  0
Phillips ss     2  1  0  0    Hooper lf       3  0  1  0
Snow dh-p       2  1  0  0    Strasburg p     1  0  0  1
Pieczynski c    2  0  1  1    Eddy 1b         3  0  0  0
Berry lf        3  0  2  1    Ritiyak dh      2  0  0  0
Passanisi 1b    3  0  0  1    Hall 3b         0  0  0  0
Williams cf     3  0  0  0    Gagnon ph       1  0  0  0
Longmire rf     2  0  0  0    Richardson 1b   3  1  2  1
                              Pichette c      3  0  0  0
                              Irvin 2b        3  0  0  0
TOTALS         22  3  6  3    TOTALS         25  2  5  2
 
  Grossmont   (17-5, 4-1)  300 000 0 - 3 6 1
  West Hills  (7-12, 2-3)  110 000 0 - 2 5 0
 
GWRBI: Pieczynski (2). 
E: Griffin. DP: Gro 1. LOB: Gro 5, WH 4. 2B: Griffin, Hooper, Richardson. 
HR: Richardson (3) 2nd, solo. SF: Strasburg.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GROSSMONT              ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Adams      W(4-2)   6.0   5   2   2   0   7
  Snow       Sv(2)    1.0   0   0   0   0   1
WEST HILLS
  Strasburg  L(0-7)   7.0   6   3   3   6   6
HBP: by Adams (Strasburg), by Strasburg (Pieczynski). BK: Adams.
*
Grossmont South League
NORSEMEN 13, MONARCHS 4
MONTE VISTA     ab  r  h bi     VALHALLA         ab  r  h bi    
Palacios 2b      3  1  1  0     J.Brown ss        2  2  0  1    
DeAnda p-rf      3  0  0  0     R.O⤙Sullivan 3b   1  2  0  1    
Lopez lf         3  1  1  1     S.O⤙Sullivan p    3  2  1  1    
Rodriguez 1b     2  1  2  0     Baum 1b           2  1  1  2    
Leboffe cf-p     3  0  0  0     McClain dh        2  2  1  2    
Haase rf-p       3  0  0  0     Moore c           4  0  2  4    
Cooper c         2  0  0  0     LeValley lf       3  1  1  0    
Croft ss         3  1  2  2     G.Garcia 2b       3  1  0  0    
Hale 3b          2  0  0  0     Wilson rf         1  1  0  0    
Starling ph      1  0  0  0     Melendez rf       1  0  0  0    
Mendiola ph-c    1  0  0  0     M.Young 1b        1  1  0  0    
Dawson ph        1  0  0  0     D.Smith lf-3b     1  0  0  0    
                                Sopata cf         1  0  1  1
TOTALS          27  4  6  3     TOTALS           25 13  7 13    
 
  Monte Vista   (6-14, 4-4)  012  0 0 0 1 -  4 5 2
  Valhalla      (13-6, 5-1)  000 (12)01 x - 13 7 0
 
GWRBI: Moore (1). 
E: Hale, Haase. LOB: Val 3, MV 2. 2B: Sopata, Rodriquez. HR: Croft (2) 7th, solo.  SB: J.Brown. S: Baum.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MONTE VISTA                ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  DeAnda        L(1-1)    3+    2   4   4   2   3
  Leboffe                 0.0   2   2   2   1   0
  Haase                   0.1   0   5   5   4   0
  Simmons                 2.2   3   2   1   0   0
VALHALLA
  S.O⤙Sullivan  W(4-0)    6.0   4   3   3   1  11
  Stangyl                 1.0   1   1   1   0   1
DeAnde faced 4 batters in the 4th inning.
Leboffe faced 3 batters in the 4th inning.
*
EAGLES 8, MATADORS 0
GRANITE HILLS  ab  r  h bi    MOUNT MIGUEL        ab  r  h bi
Decker ss       4  2  2  2    Seavello 2b          3  0  0  0
Gay ph          1  0  1  0    Newborn c            3  0  0  0
Humphries rf    3  1  2  0    Calafato ss          3  0  0  0
Williams rf     2  0  1  1    White c              3  0  1  0
Crawford dh     3  0  0  1    Array pr             0  0  0  0
Sylvester ph    1  0  0  0    De Arcos 1b          3  0  1  0
Monette c       2  1  1  1    Plunkett 3b          2  0  0  0
Roberts c       2  0  0  0    Williamson rf        2  0  0  0
Taijeron lf     2  0  0  0    Freeman-Bolden lf-ph 1  0  0  0
J.Miller lf     1  0  0  0    Freeman p            3  0  0  0
Anderson 1b     3  1  2  1
Russell 1b      1  1  0  0
Cazares 2b      1  0  0  0
Harkins 2b      2  0  1  0
Marquis cf      4  2  3  0
Horner 3b       2  0  0  0
Coleman 3b      2  0  1  2
TOTALS         36  8 14  8    TOTALS              24  0  2  0
 
  Granite Hills   (18-5, 6-2)  211 040 0 - 8 14 0
  Mount Miguel    (0-19, 0-6)  000 000 0 - 0  2 2
 
GWRBI: Monette (6).
E: Plunkett, De Arcos. LOB: GH 12, MM 5. 2B: Decker, Humphries, Monette. 
HR: Anderson (3) 3rd, solo. SB: Taijeron, Russell, Marquis, De Arcos. SF: Crawford.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GRANITE HILLS            ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Krause   W(6-1)       5.0   1   0   0   2   6
  Sylvester             2.0   1   0   0   1   2 
MOUNT MIGUEL
  Freeman  L(0-4)       4.1   9   8   7   2   3
  Freeman-Bolden        2.2   2   0   0   0   2
(04-29-05)



El Capitan's Bryan Paukovits (23) pitched a complete game 5-hitter as the Vaqueros beat Grossmont 5-1. (4-27-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)

 

Eagles' Monette homers twice, has seven RBI; Norse brothers leave Monarchs seeing double
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - Granite Hills senior catcher NICK MONETTE put on a nifty power display, the O'Sullivan brothers helped Valhalla snap Monte Vista's four-game winning streak and El Capitan clipped Grossmont to turn the Grossmont North League into a genuine pennant race during Wednesday's (Apr. 27) East County baseball activity.
 
VALHALLA 10,  MONTE VISTA 4: Facing possibly the hottest squad in the Grossmont South League on Wednesday (Apr. 27), the brothers O'SULLIVAN - RYAN and SEAN - took it upon themselves to right a reeling Valhalla baseball ship. The siblings slugged back-to-back homers in the 1st inning, powering the Norsemen past host Monte Vista with relative ease.
 
Following a listless performance to open the week in a loss against Granite Hills to snap their record 29-game league winning streak, the Norsemen (12-6, 4-1) immediately started a new streak while ending the Monarchs' four-game victory ride.
 
"We haven´t been consistent every game," noted shortstop and East County's leading hitter JAVIER BROWN, who belted a pair of RBI doubles. "The intensity is up some games and down some games. I think we all knew we had to be high-intensity for this game."

Brown opened the game with what many thought was a mistake of aggression, swinging at a pitch in the dirt for a third strike. But when the ball bounced away from the catcher allowing Brown to reach base, the mental edge sought by Valhalla was rediscovered.

"It worked out very well," added Brown. "From that moment on, we played as a team and swung the bats early."

It didn't take long to register the results on the scoreboard either. On the next pitch, RYAN O'SULLIVAN deposited the ball over the fence in right-center field for a 2-0 lead. Sean O'Sullivan followed with a solo blast to left - his 4th round-tripper of the year.

Meanwhile, on the mound, Ryan O'Sullivan set down the first 10 Monarchs he faced, including the final three on strikes. The spunky freshman right-hander went on to pitch a complete game.
 
Monte Vista's offensive bright spot was No. 9 batter MATT HALE, who lifted home runs in both the 6th and 7th innings to drive home three of the Monarchs' four runs.

"I just started swinging the bat again recently," noted Hale, a senior who missed parts of the season or was DH'ed out because of a separated right shoulder. "Ryan had only allowed two or three hits and we didn't want him to come to our place and throw a shutout."

Down 9-0 at the time, Hale opened the 6th with a solo shot to right field over the extra-tall fence down the line. He also went the opposite way with an identical shot for two more runs in the 7th.

Meanwhile, the Norsemen looked like their old selves, despite the absence of head coach STEVE PERDUE who missed the event due to a minor health matter. His son, TROY PERDUE, handled the managing chores for the Norsemen, stating the skipper will return for Friday's (Apr. 29) rematch between the teams at Valhalla.

Brown's first RBI double made it 4-0 in the 2nd inning before CHRIS MOORE registered a 2-run single as Valhalla scored three times in the 5th for a 7-0 advantage.
 
The Norsemen added two more tallies in the 6th - one on a wild pitch, another on a pinch-hit single by MICHAEL YOUNG. Then it was Brown's turn again, as he smacked another run-scoring two-bagger in the 7th.

Ryan O'Sullivan
struck out four without issuing a walk, finishing with a 7-hitter. At the plate, the freshman went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and 2 RBI.

"We haven't been doing much lately, so when that first pitch was a fastball, it was exactly what I was looking for and I jumped on it," the younger O'Sullivan said. "We were really down entering the game, so we had to pick up our game and make something of it after the loss to Granite Hills."

Moore added two hits and a pair of RBI for Valhalla.

The errorless game also saw Monte Vista with a string of solid defensive plays. Among them was a leaping grab at the wall for an out by left fielder RICHIE GARCIA to take extra bases away from TOMMY McCLAIN.  A diving catch to intercept a short line drive in right by DAN DeANDA thwarted Sean O'Sullivan, and a catch by shortstop IAN CROFT, who backtracked to grab a difficult pop-up denied Ryan O´Sullivan.
 
KEVIN TOWERS, General Manager of the San Diego Padres, was on hand to view the proceedings. His focus was no doubt on the older O'Sullivan. Towers had no comment.
 
GRANITE HILLS 19,  MOUNT MIGUEL 2:  For a while, 4 1/2 innings to be exact, the Mount Miguel Matadors were in position to possibly upend No. 4-ranked Granite Hills in Wednesday's (Apr. 27) Grossmont South League action on the Eagles' turf.
 
"I wasn't very happy with our performance up to that point," admitted Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS, whose Eagles were hanging onto a 4-2 lead.
 
Finally, Granite Hills located its hitting shoes and suddenly Mount Miguel was reliving a nightmare it has experienced 18 times this season.
 
A 12-run Granite Hills 5th inning turned this game into the rout it was predicted to be. Seventeen Eagles batted in the inning, which also led to the ejection of Mount Miguel coach BYRON GRIGSBY for arguing. Granite Hills (17-5, 5-2) rapped out 7 hits, and the Matadors added to their demise by issuing 4 walks and committing three errors plus one passed ball.
 
Senior catcher NICK MONETTE led the Granite Hills onslaught with his 5th and 6th home runs, a double and 7 RBI. In his last three games, Monette is 5-for-10 with 4 home runs and 10 RBI.
 
"Nick is starting to get some interest from the pro clubs," Davis said of his strong-armed leader behind the dish.
 
Eleven Eagles contributed to a 14-hit attack. Fourteen Granite Hills players scored, including Monette who touched the plate four times.
 
Granite Hills' highest scoring output of the season gave the Eagles their 10th win in the last 12 games.
 
Sophomore right-hander DARREN GAY scattered 4 hits over six innings as he rolled his record to an East County-best 6-0.
 
Mount Miguel's EDDIE DE ARCOS, perhaps the top three-sport letterman on campus, stretched his hitting streak to nine games with a pair of singles. De Arcos is batting at a .607 clip (17-for-28) during his current batting streak. Only twice in 18 games has De Arcos been held hitless.
 
The Matadors' took the early lead when DEXTOR SEAVELLO slapped the second pitch from Gay over the left-center field fence. It was Seavello's second home run in as many games.
 
Granite Hills' BRANDON DECKER tied the game with a solo shot leading off the 3rd inning. Monette capped the 3rd with a three-run blast staking Granite Hills to a 4-1 advantage.
 
STEELE CANYON 9,  HELIX 6: When the season began junior MIKE LANGE was a backup catcher for the Steele Canyon Cougars.
 
Lange hasn't received a whole lot of catching opportunities since then, but he has found ways to contribute to the Cougars' (12-7, 6-1) success. Lange dug in as a designated hitter initially and since has found a home at first base. His bat, however, continues to talk.
 
Lange laced a three-run home run to cap a 4-run 1st inning for Steele Canyon, which scored in five of its six turns at-bat.
 
Senior right-hander KYLE JOHNSON survived four Steele canyon errors and scattered 10 Helix hits to notch his 4th win in five decisions. Only two of the four runs allowed by Johnson were earned.
 
"We played well today, booted the ball around a little bit there at the end," Cougars' coach PHIL MITTRY said. "Everybody was up today."
 
CODY MINICH produced 3 of Steele Canyon's 11 hits from his leadoff spot, while WILL MURRAY was 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI.
 
Helix (8-12, 0-7) suffered its 8th straight loss and 11th in 12 starts after starting the season 7-1.
 
For one of the first time in eight games, the Highlanders generated more than 3 runs. At the controls of that surge was JEREMY PETERSON, who pounded his East County-leading 14th double and his second home run with a man aboard.
 
"We hit the ball hard all day, but just can't seem to put a whole game together," Helix coach COLE HOLLAND said. "Peterson has been swinging it well the whole season, but it's pretty hard for one guy to carry a whole team."
 
Helix's pitchers have seen better days, but Holland noted that Lange's home run was only the second allowed by the Highlanders in 20 games.
 
"To think our pitchers have done that well preventing the long ball in the cracker box we play in is amazing," Holland said.

El Capitan's Austin Rauch (18) focuses on a pitch. He knocked a 2-run triple in the Vaqueros' win. (4-27-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)
 
EL CAPITAN 5,  GROSSMONT 1: Thanks to the sterling pitching of El Capitan senior BRYAN PAUKOVITS, there will be a pennant race in the Grossmont North League this season.
 
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-hander used his split-fingered fastball to leave the visiting Grossmont Foothillers fluttering in the breeze in Wednesday's (Apr. 27) Grossmont North showdown won by the Vaqueros 5-1 in Lakeside.
 
"You can't afford to go down two to any team," said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY, whose Vaqueros lost the first of three league meetings on Monday (Apr. 25) by a 6-0 count. "So it was great to see Paukovits beat them for the third time in three starts at a time when we really needed a win."
 
Paukovits frustrated the 6th-ranked-Foothillers (16-5, 3-1) with a 5-hitter and would have a shutout had El Capitan (13-9, 5-1) not committed its only two errors on the same play in the 4th inning.
 
The El Capitan pitcher credited junior catcher AUSTIN RAUCH for helping guide him through the Grossmont batting order.
 
"The key was I threw only 80 pitches to go seven innings," Paukovits said. "I was able to throw my split-finger with confidence and for strikes. That made all the difference."
 
The victory, which was Paukovits' 4th in six decisions, featured 8 strikeouts.
 
This was a rapid-paced game that took 61 minutes to put five innings in the books. Only one hour, 28 minutes had passed by the time the final was recorded.
 
All those involved in either battery agreed that the swift pace was beneficial.
 
"Before I knew it, it was already the 6th inning," Paukovits admitted. "I like it because it keeps me warm, keeps me more in the game."
 
El Capitan burned Grossmont pitchers A.J. GRIFFIN and DONNIE SNOW with three major hits to decide the issue.
 
After the Foothillers scored an unearned run in the top of the 4th inning, El Capitan fired back in the bottom of the 4th.
 
THOMAS HOSTETLER provided the initial spark with a leadoff single. LOUIE RUSSO followed with a double off the left field embankment, setting the stage for JASSON KSIAZEK's 2-run single that gave El Capitan a lead it wouldn't lose.
 
The Vaqueros dealt the Foothillers two more bruising blows in the 6th as Rauch ripped a two-run triple and NIK GARCIA whacked an RBI double for a 5-1 El Capitan lead.
 
Grossmont ace A.J. GRIFFIN issued only his 5th and 6th walks of the season in the key 6th inning. Both runners scored as the junior right-hander suffered his first loss in four decisions.
 
For the record, all but one of the six walks by Griffin have been converted into runs.
 
In his post-game lament, Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS reviewed the 1st inning which began with TIM FERRARA's lead-off double. TRISTIAN PHILLIPS followed with a one out single, putting runners at the corners.
 
Cleanup hitter DONNIE SNOW ripped a groundball up the middle that El Capitan second baseman LOUIE RUSSO made a diving stop. Russo shuffled the ball to shortstop Ksiazek who fired to first baseman Nik Garcia for an inning-ending double play.
 
"You can't hit the ball any harder than that," Phillips said of Snow's crisp ground ball. â¤But they made the play and that killed us."
 
Snow later added a pair of singles to right field.
 
Obviously, Phillips was not pleased by Grossmont's second-lowest scoring effort of the season.
 
"To me we gave up three free runs," Phillips said. "Two walks and one error (officially ruled an infield hit) that scored. That was the difference in the ballgame."
 
WEST HILLS 3,  EL CAJON VALLEY 0: Thoughts of breaking a dry spell spanning eight years without a Grossmont North League victory, coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN's Braves had to be thinking Wednesday (Apr. 27) was going to be the day that drought came to an end.
 
After all, senior right-hander LUIS PEREZ and West Hills sophomore BRIAN RITIYAK - making his first varsity start - were locked up in a scoreless pitching duel through five innings.
 
"Ritiyak didn't act like a typical sophomore, he's normally a control pitcher," West Hills coach SCOTT HOPWOOD. "Today he showed a lot of power. (Catcher AARON GAGNON) did a great job behind the plate today. He kept Ritiyak in the game. Both in our battery today were sophomores."
 
SHAIN  STONER sparked West Hills' winning rally with a leadoff single in the 6th inning. Stoner stole second and KOREY HOOPER followed with a walk. Two outs later, Gagnon connected for a base-clearing double that spotted West Hills a 2-0 lead. JOE MELLO's double cashed in Gagnon to make it 3-0.
 
"We were more aggressive with the sticks, and came up big when we had to," said Hopgood. "Our league is really balanced; right now, it's anybody's title to take.�
 
The Wolf Pack are 2-2 in league activity and 7-11 overall.
 
The Braves (4-17,0-6) had a chance to break the scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the 5th inning. ALAN ABBOD started the inning when he was hit by a pitch and Luis Perez followed with a single. Pinch hitter RAY AQUININGOC launched a parachute to short right field. West Hills second baseman TRAVIS IRVIN picked up the ball and fired to shortstop Stoner to turn what appeared to be a base hit into a forceout of Perez at second base.
 
But the defensive play continued. Stoner wheeled and threw to Gagnon at the plate to nail Abbod attempting to score.
 
That play sapped whatever strength El Cajon Valley had going. Five of the final eight Braves struck out.
 
"The double play in the bottom of the 5th was a huge play," Weightman admitted. "If we score there, then we're ahead and I think we go ahead and win."
 
Ritiyak turned in a complete game that included 10 strikeouts.
 
"Ritiyak did a great job against us, and really shut us down," Weightman said. "Gagnon's hit broke our back."
 

WEDNESDAY, APR 27, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
VAQUEROS 5, FOOTHILLERS 1
GROSSMONT       ab  r  h bi    EL CAPITAN       ab  r  h bi
Ferrara 2b       3  0  1  0    Hostetler lf      3  1  2  0
Griffin p-3b     3  0  0  0    Russo 2b          2  2  1  0
Phillips ss      3  0  1  0    Rauch c           3  1  1  2
Snow rf-p        3  1  2  0    Ksiazek ss        3  0  1  2
Fox pr           0  0  0  0    N.Garcia 1b       3  0  1  1
Pieczynski c     3  0  0  0    D.Garcia pr       0  0  0  0
Berry lf-rf      3  0  0  0    Erickson dh       3  0  0  0
Passanisi 1b     2  0  1  0    Walston cf        2  0  0  0
A.Williams cf    2  0  0  0    Griffith rf       2  0  0  0
Sobel 3b         1  0  0  0    C.Garcia 3b       1  0  0  0
Medina lf        1  0  0  0    Nazzal ph         0  1  0  0
TOTALS          24  1  5  0    TOTALS           22  5  6  5
 
  Grossmont   (16-5, 3-1)  000 100 0 - 1 5 0
  El Capitan  (13-9, 5-1)  000 203 x - 5 6 2
 
GWRBI: Ksiazek (4). 
E: Ksiazek, Rauch. DP: Gro 2, EC 2. LOB: Gro 5, ECa 1. 2B: Ferrara, Russo, N.Garcia. 3B: Rauch. SB: Pieczynski.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GROSSMONT             ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Griffin   L(3-1)   5.1   4   4   4   2   8
  Snow               0.2   2   1   1   0   1
EL CAPITAN
  Paukovits W(4-2)   7.0   5   1   0   2   8
HBP: by Paukovits (Passanisi).
*
WOLF PACK 3, BRAVES 0
WEST HILLS       ab  r  h bi    EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi
Mello cf          4  0  2  1    Thomas cf         3  0  1  0
Ritiyak p         3  0  0  0    Vega rf           3  0  1  0
Strasburg 1b      4  0  3  0    Manzo lf          3  0  0  0
Parker pr         0  0  0  0    Myer 1b-p         3  0  0  0
Richardson dh     4  0  0  0    D.Perez c         2  0  0  0
Stoner ss         4  1  1  0    Abbod 3b          2  0  1  0
Hooper rf         2  1  1  0    Gonzales pr       0  0  0  0
Skinner lf        2  0  0  0    L.Perez p         3  0  1  0
Hall 3b           1  0  0  0    Mansfield dh-1b   3  0  0  0
Eddy pr           1  0  0  0    Padilla ss        0  0  0  0
Gagnon c          3  1  2  2    Aquiningoc ph     1  0  0  0
Irvin 2b          0  0  0  0
TOTALS           28  3  9  3    TOTALS           23  0  4  0
 
  West Hills        (7-11, 2-2)  000 003 0 - 3 9 0
  El Cajon Valley   (4-17, 0-6)  000 000 0 - 0 4 1
 
GWRBI: Gagnon (1).
E: Padilla. DP: WH 2. LOB: WH 8, ECV 4. 2B: Mello, Strasburg, Gagnon. SB: Thomas 2, Gagnon. S: Skinner.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
WEST HILLS           ip  h   r  er  bb  so
  Ritiyak  W(1-0)   7.0  4   0   0   2  10
EL CAJON VALLEY
  L.Perez    L(2-4) 6.0  9   3   3   3   6
  Myer              1.0  0   0   0   0   1
HBP: by Ritiyak (Abbod). WP: Ritiyak. PB: D.Perez.
*
Grossmont South League
 
NORSEMEN 10, MONARCHS 4
VALHALLA         ab  r  h bi   MONTE VISTA      ab  r  h bi
J.Brown ss        5  1  2  2   Palacios 2b       4  0  0  0
R.O'Sullivan p    5  3  3  2   DeAnda rf-p       3  0  1  0
S.O'Sullivan 3b   2  2  1  1   Lopez 1b-lf       3  1  1  0
Baum 1b           2  1  0  0   Rodriguez p-1b    3  0  1  1
Young ph-1b       1  0  1  1   Starling pr       0  0  0  0
McClain c         3  0  0  0   Leboffe cf        3  0  1  0
Moore lf          3  0  2  2   Mendiola dh       3  1  1  0
D.Smith ph-1b     1  0  0  0   Cooper c          3  0  0  0
Melendez rf       3  0  0  0   Croft ss          3  0  0  0
Sopata cf         1  0  0  0   Hale 3b           3  2  2  3
G.Garcia 2b       1  0  0  0   R.Garcia lf       0  0  0  0
Wilson cf-rf      2  1  1  0 
A.Brown ph-rf     1  2  0  0
TOTALS           30 10 10  8   TOTALS           28  4  7  4
  Valhalla     (12-6, 4-1)  310 032 1 - 10 10 0
  Monte Vista  (6-13, 4-3)  000 002 2 -  4  7 0
GWRBI: R.OSullivan (3).
DP: MV 1. LOB: Val 7, MV 3. 2B: J.Brown 2, Moore. 
HR: R.O'Sullivan (2) 1st, 1 on; S.O'Sullivan (4) 1st, solo; Hale 2: (1,2) 6th, solo, and 7th, 1 on.
VALHALLA                   ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  R.O'Sullivan W(5-1)     7.0   7   4   4   0   4
MONTE VISTA
  Rodriguez   L(2-7)      4.0   6   7   6   4   3
  DeAnda                  3.0   4   3   3   2   2
Rodriguez faced 3 batters in the 5th.
HBP: by DeAnda (G.Garcia). WP: Rodriguez, DeAnda 3. PB: Cooper 2, McClain.
*
COUGARS 9, HIGHLANDERS 6
HELIX           ab  r  h bi    STEELE CANYON    ab  r  h bi
R.Perez ss       4  1  1  0    Minich ss         4  1  3  0
Tanida c         4  2  2  0    Harris 2b         5  1  1  1
Ledesma cf       4  1  1  1    Inzone rf         3  1  1  0
Peterson p-1b    4  1  3  4    Rice cf           2  0  0  1
Ponce rf-p       3  0  0  0    Duby c            1  2  1  0
Rosenthal lf     2  0  1  0    Lange 1b          2  1  1  3
Ritchie 3b       3  0  1  0    Lewis lf          2  0  1  0
Webb 1b          1  0  0  0    Jacobsmeier lf    0  1  0  0
Schuler ph       1  0  0  0    Murray 3b         4  1  2  2
Beltran ph       1  1  1  0    Jenner dh         3  1  1  0
                               Knaust ph         1  0  0  0
TOTALS          28  6 10  5    TOTALS           27  9 11  7
 
  Helix           (8-12, 0-7)  000 201 3 - 6 10 1
  Steele Canyon   (12-7, 6-1)  410 112 x - 9 11 4
 
GWRBI: Rice (3).
E: Tanida, Lewis , Minich 2, Lange. DP: SC 2. LOB: Hel 7, SC 11. 2B: Minich, Murray, Peterson, Beltran. 
HR: Lange (2) 1st, two on; Peterson (2) 4th, one on. SB: Harris 2, Rice. SF: Rice.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
HELIX                 ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Peterson  L(1-4)   2.0   6   5   5   2   1  
  Runiors            2.0   1   1   1   3   2
  Ponce              2.0   4   3   2   1   1 
STEELE CANYON
  Johnson   W(4-1)   7.0  10   6   2   2   5
HBP: by Peterson (Rice), by Ponce (Minich, Lange). WP: Peterson, Runions.
*
EAGLES 19, MATADORS 2
MOUNT MIGUEL     ab  r  h bi    GRANITE HILLS     ab  r  h bi
Seavello 2b       3  1  1  1    Decker ss          4  1  2  1
Newborn cf        3  0  0  0    Krause ph          1  0  0  0
Calafato ss       3  0  0  0    Humphries rf       3  1  1  0
White c           3  0  0  0    T.Williams rf      2  1  1  0
DeArcos rf        3  1  2  0    Crawford dh        2  2  1  0
Freeman 1b-p      3  0  0  0    J.Miller dh        2  2  1  1
Williamson lf     2  0  0  0    Monette c          4  4  3  7
Cannon lf         0  0  0  0    Taijeron lf        1  1  0  0
Vanderhyde p      0  0  0  0    Hawley lf          2  1  1  1
Green 3b          2  0  1  1    Anderson 1b        1  1  0  0
Sandoval p        2  0  0  0    Roberts 1b         2  1  0  0
                                Cazares 2b         2  1  0  0
                                Harkins 2b         2  1  1  1
                                Marquis cf         2  1  0  0
                                Russell cf         1  0  1  1
                                Horner 3b          3  0  1  1
                                Boltz ph           1  1  1  2
TOTALS           26  2  4  2    TOTALS            35 19 14 15
 
  Mount Miguel   (0-18, 0-5)   100 0  1 0  0 -   2  4 3
  Granite Hills  (17-5, 5-2)   004 1(12)3  x -  19 14 0     
 
GWRBI: Monette (5).
E: Green, Cannon, Calafato. DP: GH 1. LOB: MM 1, GH 7. 2B: Green, Humphries, Monette, T.Williams, Horner, Crawford. 
HR: Seavello (2) 1st, solo; Decker (3) 3rd, solo; Monette 2(5,6): 3rd, two on, and 6th, 2 on. SB: De Arcos, Decker.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MOUNT MIGUEL          ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  Sandoval  L(0-5)   4+    6   6   6   4   4
  Freeman            0.1   1   4   3   3   0
  Vanderhyde         1.2   8   9   7   1   1
GRANITE HILLS
  Gay       W(6-0)   6.0   4   2   2   0   6
  Sabala             1.0   0   0   0   0   1
Sandoval faced 2 batters in the 5th.
WP: Sandoval. PB: White.
(04-27-05)

 


Islanders' Pokorny shuts down Christian bats
EastCountySports.com
 
CORONADO - Christian High coach MIKE MITCHELL didn't receive the kind of welcome he might have expected Tuesday (Apr. 26) when he brought his Patriots to his former coaching post at Coronado High. The Islanders won the non-league skirmish 4-0 with little resistance offered up by Christian.
 
"We didn't hit anything hard all day," said Mitchell, who guided the Coronado baseball program a decade ago.
 
Coronado freshman Kyle Pokorny blanked the Patriots on two hits over five innings before a pair of relievers finished the job with one scoreless inning apiece.
 
The Patriots' best scoring shot came in the 1st inning when ADAM PERRY singled, stole second and advanced to third on an infield out. RICKY PLUM drew a two-out walk to put runners at the corners. But that's why the budding rally wilted.
 
Christian's only other hit was a third-inning single by SHANE STANOVIC.
 
It was the second loss in a row for Christian (11-6, 3-1), which hosts USDHS in a non-league game on Thursday (Apr. 28) before opening a two-game series against Harbor League-leading Madison on Monday (May 2).

TUESDAY, APR 26, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Non-League
ISLANDERS 4, PATRIOTS 0
Christian    (11-6) 000 000 0 - 0 2 1
Coronado     (13-9) 103 000 x - 4 6 1
McGranahan, O'Donnell (5), Allen (6) and Hart; Pokorny, Gill (6), Denson (7) and Piscatelli. 
W: Pokorny.L: McGranahan (0-1).
(04-26-05)


Grossmont coach Rob Phillips congratulates Danny Pieczynski (8) as he rounds third base on the last leg of his 6th home run of the season. (4-23-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

Eagles stop Valhalla's league-record win streak behind Anderson's four-hitter
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - The Grossmont North and South league races are very much alive today thanks to key victories by Granite Hills in the South and Grossmont in the North. The Eagles nailed the Norsemen 5-1, halting their East County record league winning streak at 29, while Grossmont derailed El Capitan's bid to be a runaway victor in the Grossmont North.
 
GRANITE HILLS 5,  VALHALLA 1: At the outset of Monday's (Apr. 25) Grossmont South League showdown against visiting Valhalla, it appeared that Granite Hills starting pitcher DONNIE ANDERSON-s role in the game was going to be short-lived.
 
Anderson hit Valhalla leadoff man JAVIER BROWN to open the proceedings and then gave up a base hit to RYAN O'SULLIVAN. The Eagles elected to intentionally walk SEAN O'SULLIVAN to load the bases.
 
After TOMMY McCLAIN followed with an RBI single, 10th-ranked Valhalla (11-6, 3-1) was on the brink of blowing out the 4th-ranked Eagles in the opening frame and continuing on to their 8th straight win over Granite Hills in the past three years.
 
That's when Anderson, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound senior right-hander slapped the clamps on Valhalla's offense. He quelled the opening threat with back-to-back strikeouts and a pop-up.
 
Momentum from that recovery helped Anderson blank the Norsemen on 2 hits over the final six frames for his 4th win in five decisions.
 
"That first inning was when the game was decided," Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said. "They had Donnie on the ropes. So I went out there (to the mound) and told Donnie to just relax and stop trying to throw the ball 100 mph."
 
Anderson heeded the call. In somewhat of a pressure reversal, the Norsemen seemed to feel the heat as Anderson struck out 6 batters in the first 2 1/3 innings.
 
"I think that's the best game he's ever pitched," Davis said. "He had a great playoff outing against Montgomery last year and against Green Valley (Nev.) and all that. But as far as the pressure of it, the heat of it, and he could have folded, yet he never lost his composure. I really do feel that we saw Donnie at his best today."
 
Anderson checked the Norsemen on 4 hits, while walking two, plunking a pair and striking out six en route to his 4th complete game in five starts this season.
 
"I think I was a little too pumped up for the game," said Anderson trying to explain his slow start. "I had to make some adjustments and settle down. The umpire liked to call the high strike so I tried to work with that. He told me his way of throwing the ball was right off the tee. So wherever the tee was I tried to figure that out and throw it there."
 
After the 1st inning, only once did the Norsemen get more than one runner on base. That was in the 6th when Valhalla placed runners at the corners. Anderson then used the fake pick-off throw to third and wheeled around to catch the Valhalla runner napping at first base. The Eagles eventually nailed the runner at first in a rundown while, for some reason, the Valhalla runner held at third and failed to score.
 
"I was a little scared in that first inning because this is the first time I've ever started against Valhalla," Anderson said. "Since we hadn't beaten them in so long, I wasn't sure what to expect. But now that we got this win, we know we can beat them and that should help us the next time we play them (May 13 at Valhalla)."
 
Had Granite Hills (16-5, 4-2) buckled under Valhalla's early heat, the Norsemen could well have secured their third straight league championship without much difficulty down the stretch.
 
"We've had some bad innings against Valhalla in the past," Davis recalled. "Last year we had two games against them where we were down by seven runs by the second inning. But this year we were able to hold that off."
 
Granite Hills tied the game 1-1 in the 2nd inning as NICK BOLTZ doubled, advanced to third on a fly ball out and scored on an ERIC JULIENNE wild pitch.
 
Things would get worse for Valhalla's Julienne, who was burned by NICK MONETTE's tie-breaking two-run home run in the 3rd inning. Then, before Julienne could gather his composure, two pitches later he saw TRAVIS TAIJERON's high fly ball blown over the left-center field fence to give Granite Hills a 4-1 advantage.
 
"It had a lot of hang time and the wind kind of caught it, but it cleared the fence and that's all that matters," Davis said.
 
Anderson kept the Granite Hills parade in step when he slugged Julienne's first serve of the 4th inning well over the left-center field fence to make it 5-1.
 
Anderson's sterling pitching and Granite Hills sudden burst of power brought an end to Valhalla's three-year Grossmont South League winning streak at 29 games. The only team in San Diego CIF history to win more league games in succession is Montgomery, which reeled in 37 straight wins from the 1992 and 1994 seasons.
 
GROSSMONT 6,  EL CAPITAN 0: A year ago Grossmont High sophomore TAYLOR WOHLWEND was a catcher for the Foothillers' freshman squad.
 
So why is that such big news this year?
 
Consider this: Wohlwend, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound right-hander, is the top pitcher in East County.
 
"I don't know about the league, but right now, he's our No.1," Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS said. "Every time we send him out there he gets the job done. He goes deep into the game and almost refuses to come out."
 
Wohlwend held the visiting Vaqueros hitless through five innings of Monday's (Apr. 25) Grossmont North League showdown.
 
With No. 6 Grossmont (16-4,3-0) leading 4-0, El Capitan (12-9, 4-1) finally broke Wohlwend's spell as THOMAS HOSTETLER singled to open the 6th inning. LOUIE RUSSO followed with a base hit.
 
That's where the El Capitan comeback stalled. AUSTIN RAUCH laced a shot that found the glove of Grossmont third baseman A.J.GRIFFIN, who made the grab and fired to second baseman TIM FERRARA to double off Russo.
 
"Rauch's ball was the hardest they hit all day," Phillips said.
 
After JASSON KSIAZEK singled to keep the Vaqueros' 6th inning alive, Phillips went to the mound to make a pitching change.
 
"Wohlwend didn't want to give me the ball," Phillips admitted.  "He wanted to stay in and finish."
 
Small wonder considering Wohlwend (6-0, 0.48) has allowed only 12 hits and 2 earned runs in 29 1/3 innings.
 
Phillips admired his sophomore's gumption, but brought in closer Griffin to silence the Vaqueros. Three of the four outs recorded by Griffin came via strikes.
 
Griffin, who started at third base, also contributed a solo home run - his 5th of the season - in the 3rd inning.
 
Phillips is quick to point the finger at Ferrara as the Foothillers' leadoff man and catalyst. Despite not playing baseball to concentrate on soccer the previous two years, Ferrara has come on to bat .431 as a senior.
 
"Tim is the missing link we didn't have last year," Phillips said.
 
Ferrara was in the middle of Grossmont's early rallies. He doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the 1st inning. His two-run single in the 2nd gave the Foothillers a 3-0 edge.
 
Meanwhile, DONNIE SNOW continued to be a heavy hitter for Grossmont, raising his average to .647 over the last five games (11 for 17) with a pair of singles in three at-bats against El Capitan.
 
"When I saw Wohlwend's name on Robbie's lineup card, I ran back to my (travel) bag and grabbed the EastCountySports.com statistics list to see just who we were facing," El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said. "The guy did a good job of keeping us off balance. But, at the same time, we did a poor job of adjusting to his pitches."
 
Grossmont and El Capitan will tangle again on Wednesday (Apr. 27) in Lakeside at 4 p.m.
 
WEST HILLS 6, EL CAJON VALLEY 3:  Unintentionally following an unorthodox strategy utilized by Granite Hills earlier in the season, the Wolf Pack parlayed a mere three hits into six runs after the Braves pitching staff issued eight walks and hit three batters.

Two of the hits came in the 2nd inning, when, after a pair of lead walks, a grounder off the bat of TRAVIS IRVIN was misplayed to allow the tying run to score. KOREY HOOPER then drilled a two-run single as West Hills scored four times to secure the lead for keeps.

"We didn't come out with any intensity and maybe took El Cajon a little lightly," noted Hooper. "So we only scratched out a win."

The Pack added an important insurance run in the 6th when pinch-hitter BRIAN RITIYAK doubled into the left-field corner to score JOE MELLO, who reached base on a single.
 
Meanwhile, West Hills pitcher JOHN EDDY (3-2) scattered eight hits over six innings, with STEPHEN STRASBURG pitching a perfect 7th with two strikeouts to register the save.

"The defense made some nice plays behind me," noted Eddy. "Hoop made a nice diving catch in left for me, then MICHAEL HALL started a double play for us."

The Braves (4-16, 0-4) received two hits each from ALAN ABBOD and CLIFTON THOMAS. One of Abbod's hits was a double in the 4th, followed by consecutive RBI singles by DEREK PEREZ and MARCUS VEGA to cut the lead to 4-3.
 
MONTE VISTA 6,  HELIX 3:
Not that Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART is in the mood to sound the trumpets, but his Monarchs have suddenly won four games in a row. Not bad for a team that staggered out of the gate to a 1-10 start.
 
"The kids are playing some good ball right now," said Rinehart after Monte Vista's Grossmont South League conquest on Monday (Apr. 25).  "But we still have a lot of work to do to keep improving and keep it going."
 
The Monarchs (6-12, 4-2) staged a two-out rally fueled by consecutive doubles by ANTHONY LOPEZ, JESSE RODRIGUEZ and ERIC LEBOFFE to take a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning.
 
After Helix cut the Monarchs' lead in half on RAUL RITCHIE's RBI single in the 2nd, DAVID PALACIOS' two-run single extended Monte Vista's edge to 4-1 in the 3rd.
 
Helix (8-11,0-6), which has lost 10 of its last 11, scrambled back on JEREMY PETERSON's 13th double and ZACH TANIDA's home run to left center in the 4th inning.
 
RBI doubles by DAN DeANDA in the 6th and 7th innings sealed the victory for Monte Vista. DeAnda also hurled two scoreless innings to earn the save.
 
"It was another typical game like we've been playing all year." said Helix skipper COLE HOLLAND.
 
STEELE CANYON 8,  MOUNT MIGUEL 4: JOE INZONE hoisted his batting average a few more notches above the .500 mark in Monday's (Apr. 25) Grossmont South League conquest of visiting Mount Miguel.
 
Inzone followed singles by ROSS EPPERSON and DANNY HARRIS with his third home run of the season, steering Steele Canyon (11-7) to a 7-2 lead and into first place in the Grossmont South.
 
The Cougars hold a one-game lead over Valhalla, Granite Hills and Monte Vista.
 
The 3-for-4 effort raised Inzone's season batting average to an East County-best .527.
 
Harris was 3-for-3 with 3 runs and 2 RBI, which included his second home run of the campaign.
 
Mount Miguel's EDDIE DE ARCOS was 3-for-3, raising his batting line to .444. DEXTOR SEAVELLO slugged a solo home run in the 3rd inning for the Matadors.
 

EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
WOLF PACK 6, BRAVES 3
EL CAJON VALLEY  ab r h bi WEST HILLS        ab r h bi
Thomas p-cf       4 1 2 0  Mello cf           2 2 1 0
Manzo cf-p        3 0 0 0  Hooper lf          4 0 1 2
L.Perez ss        3 0 0 1  Strasburg 1b-p     1 0 0 1
Myer 1b           3 0 1 0  Ritiyak ph         1 0 1 1
Abbod 3b          3 1 2 0  Richardson rf      2 1 0 0
D.Perez c         2 1 1 1  Stoner ss          3 0 0 0
Vega lf           3 0 2 1  Eddy p-1b          1 1 0 0
Aquiningoc dh     3 0 0 0  Pichette c         2 1 0 0
Padilla 2b        3 0 0 0  Gagnon dh          1 0 0 0
Sotos rf          0 0 0 0  Irvin 2b           2 1 0 1
                           Hall 3b            0 0 0 0
TOTALS           27 3 8 2  TOTALS            19 6 3 5
  El Cajon Valley  (4-16, 0-5)  100 200 0 - 3  8 2
  West Hills       (6-11, 1-2)  040 011 x - 6  3 1
GWRBI: Hooper (2).
E: Richardson, Padilla, Abbod. DP: WH 1. LOB: ECV 4, WH 6. 2B: Abbod, Ritiyak. SB: Thomas, D.Perez. 
EL CAJON VALLEY               ip   h   r  er  bb   k
  Thomas    L(0-2)           4.0   2   4   4   6   7
  Monzo                      2.0   3   2   1   2   2
WEST HILLS
  Eddy      W(3-2)           6.0   8   3   3   1   1
  Strasburg Sv(1)            1.0   0   0   0   0   2
HBP: by Thomas 2 (Strasburg, Mello), by Monzo (Irvin). PB: D.Perez.
*
FOOTHILLERS 6, VAQUEROS 0
EL CAPITAN        ab  r  h bi    GROSSMONT      ab  r  h bi
Hostetler lf       2  0  1  0    Ferrara 2b      3  1  2  2
Russo 2b           3  0  1  0    Griffin 3b-p    3  0  1  0
Rauch c            2  0  0  0    Phillips ss     3  0  0  0
Ksiazek 1b         3  0  0  0    Snow dh         3  0  2  0
N.Garcia 1b        3  0  0  0    Sobel 3b        0  1  0  0
Erickson dh        3  0  0  0    Pieczynski c    3  0  0  0
Walston cf         2  0  1  0    Berry rf        2  2  1  1
Griffith rf        2  0  0  0    Passanisi 1b    2  1  2  1
Henson ph          1  0  0  0    Cusumano lf     2  0  0  0
C.Garcia 3b        1  0  0  0    Medina lf       0  0  0  1
Royer ph           1  0  0  0    Williams cf     3  0  0  0
TOTALS            23  0  4  0    TOTALS         24  6  8  5
 
  El Capitan   (12-9, 4-1)  000 000 0 - 0 4 3
  Grossmont    (16-4, 3-0)  121 002 x - 6 8 0
 
GWRBI: None.
E: Rauch, Hostetler, McCarthy. DP: Gro 2. LOB: EC 5, Gro 3. 2B: Passanisi, Ferrara. 
HR: Griffin (5) 3rd, solo. SB: Berry. SF: Medina.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAPITAN             ip   h   r  er  bb  so
  McCarthy  L(1-3)    6.0   8   6   6   2   4
GROSSMONT
  Wohlwend  W(6-0)    5.2   3   0   0   3   4
  Griffin   Sv(2)     1.1   1   0   0   0   3
WP: McCarthy, Wohlwend.
*
Grossmont South League
EAGLES 5, NORSEMEN 1
VALHALLA          ab  r  h bi    GRANITE HILLS   ab  r  h bi
J.Brown ss         3  1  0  0    Decker 2b        2  0  1  0
R.O'Sullivan 2b    3  0  1  0    Marquis cf       2  1  0  0
S.O'Sullivan 3b    2  0  0  0    Crawford dh      3  0  0  0
McClain 1b-c       2  0  2  1    Russell 1b       0  0  0  0
Moore c-lf         2  0  0  0    Monette c        3  1  1  2
LeValley dh        3  0  0  0    Taijeron lf      3  1  1  1
Smith lf           2  0  0  0    Boltz rf         3  1  1  0
Baum 1b            1  0  0  0    Anderson p       3  1  1  1
Sopata cf          3  0  0  0    Cazares 2b       3  0  1  0
Wilson rf          3  0  1  0    Horner 3b        2  0  0  0
                                 T.Williams ph    1  0  0  0
TOTALS            24  1  4  1    TOTALS          25  5  6  4
 
  Valhalla        (11-6, 3-1)  100 000 0 - 1 4 1
  Granite Hills   (16-5, 4-2)  013 100 x - 5 6 0
 
GWRBI: Monette (4). 
E: R.O'Sullivan. LOB: Val 6, GH 7. 2B: Boltz. 
HR: Monette (4) 3rd, one on; Taijeron (5) 3rd, solo; Anderson (2) 4th, solo. 
SB: Decker, Cazares 2, Marquis, Crawford.  
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
VALHALLA               ip  h   r  er  bb  so
  Julienne  L(2-1)    4.0  5   5   5   1   5
  Stangyl             2.0  1   0   0   3   3
GRANITE HILLS
  Anderson  W(4-1)    7.0  4   1   1   2   6
HBP: by Anderson (J.Brown, McClain); by Julienne (Marquis). WP: Julienne.
*
MONARCHS 6, HIGHLANDERS 3
HELIX           ab  r  h bi    MONTE VISTA    ab  r  h bi
R.Perez ss       3  0  1  0    Haase cf-rf     4  0  0  0
Rosenthal lf     1  0  0  0    DeAnda rf-p     4  1  3  2
Ledesma cf       2  0  0  0    Lopez lf        4  2  2  0
Ponce rf         3  0  0  0    Rodriguez 1b    3  1  2  1  
Peterson 1b      3  0  1  0    Leboffe p-cf    3  0  1  1
Webb dh          3  1  0  0    Palacios 2b     3  0  2  2
Tanida c         2  2  1  2    Cooper c        2  0  0  0
Ritchie 3b       3  0  1  1    Sopher ph       1  0  0  0
Rohmer 2b        2  0  0  0    Croft ss        3  2  1  0
Wenham ph        1  0  0  0    Dawson 3b       2  0  0  0
                               Hale 3b         1  0  0  0
TOTALS          23  3  4  3    TOTALS         30  6 11  6
 
  Helix         (8-11, 0-6)   010 200 0 - 3  4 2
  Monte Vista   (6-12, 4-2)   202 101 x - 6 11 1
 
GWRBI: Rodriguez (1).
E: Ritchie, Rohmer, Croft. DP: MV 1, Helix 1. LOB: Helix 4, MV 5. 
2B: Peterson, DeAnda 2, Lopez, Rodriguez, Leboffe, Croft. HR: Tanida (1) 4th, one on. 
SB: R.Perez, Croft, Tanida. S: Rosenthal.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
HELIX               ip  h   r  er  bb  so
  Schuler  L(1-4)  6.0 11   6   5   0   7
MONTE VISTA
  Leboffe  W(3-3)  5+   4   3   3   3   4
  DeAnda           2.0  0   0   0   0   3
Leboffe faced 2 batters in the 6th.
*
COUGARS 8, MATADORS 4
MOUNT MIGUEL     ab  r  h bi    STEELE CANYON    ab  r  h bi
Seavello 2b       3  1  1  1    Epperson ss       2  3  1  0
Newborn cf        3  0  0  0    Minich ss         1  0  0  0
Calafato ss       4  0  2  1    Harris 2b         3  3  3  2
White c           3  0  1  0    Inzone rf         4  1  3  4
De Arcos 1b       3  2  3  0    Rice cf           3  0  1  1
Green 3b          4  0  1  1    Duby c            4  0  1  0
Williamson lf     4  0  0  1    Lange 1b          3  0  0  0
Sandoval rf       2  1  1  0    Lewis lf          2  1  1  0
Plunkett p        1  0  0  0    Murray 3b         3  0  0  0
Freeman p         1  0  0  0    Jenner dh         2  0  0  0
TOTALS           28  4  9  4    TOTALS           27  8 10  7
 
  Mount Miguel   (0-17, 0-6)  011 011 0 - 4  9 1
  Steele Canyon  (11-7, 5-1)  220 301 x - 8 10 2
 
GWRBI: Harris (2).
E: Green, Minich, Lewis. LOB: MM 8, SC 3. 2B: Rice, De Arcos. 3B: Lewis. 
HR: Seavello (1) 3rd, solo; Inzone (3) 4th, two on; Harris (2) 6th, solo. SF: Rice.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MOUNT MIGUEL          ip  h   r  er  bb  so
  Plunkett  L(0-2)   4.0  8   7   6   4   1
  Freeman            2.0  2   1   1   0   1
STEELE CANYON
  Bruder    W(2-2)   4.0  4   2   2   2   2
  Jenner             2.0  4   2   1   1   2
  Johnson            1.0  1   0   0   1   0
HBP: by Jenner (Plunkett, Seavello). WP: Plunkett, Jenner. BK: Plunkett, Bruder.
(04-25-05)

Foothillers have field day in dominating doubleheader against San Ysidro
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - Looking ahead to next week's crucial two-game series against Grossmont North League leading El Capitan, the Grossmont Foothillers tuned up by slapping around youthful San Ysidro for a pair of lopsided victories 16-0 and 11-1 in a non-league double-header Saturday (Apr.23) at Joe Gizoni Field. The No. 7-ranked Foothillers (15-4, 2-0) host El Capitan (12-8, 4-0) on Monday (Apr. 25) at 4 p.m. The same two teams meet again in Lakeside on Wednesday (Apr. 27) at 4 p.m.
 
Game 1: GROSSMONT 16,  SAN YSIDRO 0: Ugly knockout No. 1 featured five Foothiller home runs, including Nos.11 and 12 by senior first baseman/pitcher DONNIE SNOW.
 
Snow finished this affair 3-for-5 with 5 RBI and 3 runs scored.
 
Grossmont catcher DANNY PIECZYNSKI powdered his 6th home run as part of a 3-for-3 batting spree, while TREVOR BERRY belted his second homer and finished with 3 RBI.
 
TONY CUSUMANO laced a 2-run homer and MATT PASSANISI was 2-for-3 with 2 runs and one RBI for Grossmont.
 
THOMAS ADAMS blanked the first-year Cougars on one hit over five innings as he pumped up his pitching mark to 3-2. BRANDON KINSELLA spun two shutout innings in relief to complete the 5th shutout by the Grossmont staff.
 
Game 2: GROSSMONT 11, SAN YSIDRO 1: Bottom line in this rout is DONNIE SNOW's 2-run homer in the 2nd inning was his 13th circuit clout, tying the Grossmont High season record shared by MARK DOBBINS (2003) and JUSTIN BAUM (2004).
 
It's been some kind of 24 hours for Snow. Not only has the left-hand hitting senior stroked 5 home runs in 10 at-bats, he's driven in 14 runs and batted at a .700 clip.
 
It's been a wild week for Grossmont, which has outscored its opposition 59-4 over the past five games.
 
Leadoff man TIM FERRARA, who was hit by pitches in three of his 8 at-bats, finished the double-dip 3-for-4 with 5 runs and 3 RBI.
 
Grossmont junior NICK SOBEL was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles in the second game against visiting San Ysidro (2-18). Snow accounted for 8 runs, scoring 3 and drove in 5 with a 3-for-4 effort.
 
Game 1: SANTANA 9,  SAN DIEGUITO 2: Senior right-hander JEFF  WOODS pitched a powerful 5 innings and relievers CHRISTIAN SPICER and CHRIS SCHAUB twirled one scoreless inning apiece as the Sultans mailed the visiting Mustangs Saturday's (Apr. 23) in a key battle of San Diego CIF Division III teams.
 
Woods (6-2) surrendered just 4 hits and no earned runs while striking out 7 en route to his East County-leading 6th win after working 5 innings.
 
KYLE HELMHOLTZ and ROBERT HERMANSEN drove in two runs apiece to pace the Sultans.
 
Game 2: SANTANA 5,  SAN DIEGUITO 3: Junior CHRIS DIAZ enjoyed a banner day, driving in 3 runs with a 2-for-3 effort including a home run to propel Santana to the sweep.
 
ERIK MEDRUD and Spicer shared the pitching chores, scattering 6 hits allowing reliever Medrud (3-0) to collect the win.
 
CASTLE PARK 5,  WEST HILLS 1: Obviously, West Hills first-year head coach SCOTT HOPGOOD was less than elated by the Wolf Pack's South Bay pratfall at Castle Park on Saturday (Apr.23).
 
Yet, there was no panic in the ranks.
 
West Hills (5-11) struck first when BRIAN RITIYAK doubled and scored on SHAIN STONER's single in the 3rd inning.
 
IVAN CASTRO cracked a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 3rd inning to give the Trojans (8-11) a lead they would not lose.
 
"Our pitching was OK," Hopgood said. "And if we catch a routine fly ball in the 5th they probably don't score 3 more runs at our expense. It's still anybody's ballgame if we make the play."
 
Stoner was the only West Hills (5-11) player with more than one hit as he finished his rare start 2-for-3.
 

SATURDAY, APR 23, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Non-League
Game 1:
SULTANS 9, MUSTANGS 2
San Dieguito Academy  (7-12)  001 000 1 - 2  5 2
Santana               (16-5)  201 330 x - 9 12 2
Taft, Schaller (5) and Whalen; Woods, Spicer (6), Schaub (7) and Martin. W: Woods (6-2). L: Taft.
*
Game 2:
SULTANS 5, MUSTANGS 3
San Dieguito Academy  (7-13)  000 120 0 - 3 6 1
Santana               (17-5)  011 102 x - 5 6 4
Podgorski and O⤙Connell; Medrud, Spicer (5) and Haley. HR: Diaz (Sant) 4th, solo, #1. 
W: Spicer (3-0). L: Podgorski.
*
Game 1:
FOOTHILLERS 16, COUGARS 0
San Ysidro (2-17)   000 000 0 -  0  2 2
Grossmont  (14-4)   421 612 x - 16 15 0
Moreno, Mendiolo (4) and Benitez; Adams, Kinsella (7) and Pieczynski, Schroeder (6). 
HR: Berry (G, #2) 4th, one on; Cusumano (G, #1) 4th, one on; Pieczynski (G, #6) 5th, solo; 
Snow (G, #11, #12) 2: 6th, one on, and 4th, one on. W: Adams (3-2. L: Moreno.
*
Game 2:
FOOTHILLERS 11, COUGARS 1
San Ysidro (2-18)    000 100 0 -  1  4 0
Grossmont  (15-4)    164 000 x - 11 12 0
Enriquez, Ruiz (3) and Lozada; Mattson, Passanisi (5)and Schroeder. 
HR: Snow (G, #13) 2nd, one on. W: Mattson (1-0). L: Enriquez. Sv: Passanisi (1).
*
TROJANS 5, WOLF PACK 1
West Hills    (5-11)  001 000 0 - 1 8 1
Castle Park   (8-11)  002 030 x - 5 6 0
Richardson, Skinner (5), Strasburg (6) and Gagnon, Pichette; 
Escalante, Castro (3), Sanabia (6) and Romero, Wanamaker (5). W: Castro. L: Richardson (3-3).
(04-23-05)



A Grossmont player dives back into first base as a San Ysidro player waits for the ball. (4-23-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)


Valhalla's Ryan O'Sullivan (15) hit a game-winning 3-run double to lead the Norsemen to their 29th consecutive Grossmont South League victory. (4-22-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)

Rain can't slow Norsemen, Vaqueros from recording league victories
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - Valhalla took command of the Grossmont South League race, Santana coach JERRY HENSON dug into his wallet to keep Friday's (Apr. 22) Grossmont North League game afloat, and Steele Canyon made a record run at Mount Miguel's expense. Grossmont and El Capitan posted victories setting up Monday's (Apr. 25) Grossmont North League showdown of unbeatens, while the one-time forgotten Monte Vista Monarchs posted a third straight win. The one thing these teams had in common was rain did pelt the proceedings.
 
VALHALLA 5,  GRANITE HILLS 2: The baseball gods often play cruel and painful tricks on those who play and coach the game. And when milestones can be obtained, those barriers become even higher.

So when Valhalla third baseman RYAN O'SULLIVAN stepped to the plate with a chance to be a hero in the bottom of the 6th inning, he had to eliminate four difficult situations from his mind.

"Actually, I wasn't thinking about any of that," explained O'Sullivan. "I just swung and it went my way."

Earlier in the game, the freshman O'Sullivan struck out three times and committed a throwing error. But he put all that behind him and rebounded with a three-run double in the 6th inning Friday (Apr. 22), giving the Norsemen an historic 5-2 victory over arch-rival Granite Hills.

"Amazing," deadpanned Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE. "The kids strikes out three straight times, then he hits a 3-run double so now he's the happiest kid on the planet."

The triumph gave Valhalla a Grossmont South League record 29 consecutive victories, snapping the old East County mark of 28 straight set by Grossmont (1990-92).

Valhalla's Sean O'Sullivan (12) pitched six innings to earn his 3rd win without a loss as the Norsemen clipped the Eagles in a key Grossmont South league game. (4-21-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)

O'Sullivan and the Norsemen were no doubt pleased to reach the milestone. More importantly, though, is they are 3-0 in this year's league race.
 
"Sounds sweet," O'Sullivan said. "I like it."

The Norsemen trailed or were outplayed by the Eagles all afternoon before Valhalla (11-5, 3-0) erased a 2-1 deficit with a 4-run burst in the 6th.

Left fielder CHRIS MOORE, who went 2-for-3, tied the contest with a hot roller to left for an RBI single, scoring catcher TOMMY McCLAIN, who reached after getting hit by a pitch for the third time - only two counted - in the ballgame.

JEFF SOPATA
and JAVIER BROWN both walked, setting the stage for O'Sullivan's two-base shot to the fence in left-center field.
 
Valhalla's SEAN O'SULLIVAN checked No. 3-ranked Granite Hills (15-5, 3-2) on 3 hits over six innings, surrendering just one earned run. The much celebrated right-hander came away with his third win in as many decisions as senior reliever COREY STANGYL pitched a shutout 7th inning to earn his 3rd save. 
Stangyl survived a double by BRET HORNER and a hit batsman (LOUIS CAZARES) to secure Valhalla's 5th win in the last six starts.
 
"We played them even most of the game, but they got the big hit and we didn't," Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said.
 
Moore was part of both rallies for the Norsemen, who scored once in the 5th to tie the game. After Granite Hills reclaimed the lead in the 6th, Moore helped the Norsemen answer back once again.

"Coach has been working with me to not try to jack the ball and go with it," noted Moore. "Sure, thirty (actually 29 in a row) is big, but right now we want another shot at CIF."
 
Valhalla, the two-time Grossmont South League champions, lost in last year's SDCIF Division II finals. The Norsemen will be going after the SDCIF Division III crown this spring.

Moore opened the 5th with a line single to left, JEFF SOPATA sacrificed him to second, then JAVIER BROWN singled to center to tie the game at 1-all.

The Eagles broke a scoreless contest when catcher NICK MONETTE turned on a Sean O'Sullivan fastball, short-hopping the football bleachers in deep left field for a monster blast. It was his third homer of the season.

In the 6th, BRANDON DECKER laced his second double of the game. Two batters later, CODY CRAWFORD hit a grounder to the right side of the infield, but the ball was misplayed for an error and Granite Hills took a 2-1 advantage.

"We gotta feel good that we didn't beat ourselves on defense -- they just out-hit us," noted Decker. "It was a really good game, so we'll see what happens Monday (in the second of three league meetings between these squads)."

The ballgame started as a pitcher's duel, as Sean O'Sullivan struck out three Eagles in the first inning, part of his game-total of seven.

However, Granite Hills starter ERIC KRAUSE, a sophomore without the imposing fastball of his counterpart, equaled the feat by also amassing three quick strikeouts with his offspeed offerings. Krause finished with eight Ks.
 
EL CAPITAN 3,  SANTANA 0:
Santana coach JERRY HENSON wasn't sure what was more irritating in Friday's (Apr. 22) Grossmont North League duel with rival El Capitan.
 
The rain and what it took to combat it; El Capitan's pitching; or his ballclub's lack of offensive production.
 
Henson didn't hesitate spelling out the costs caused by intermittent rain that fell from the first pitch through the 5th inning. Three times the game was delayed so quick dry could be applied to the soggy Santana diamond.
 
Henson assessed the costs as follows: $50 for quick dry; $50 for wet and lost baseballs; and $114 for the two umpires.
 
"That's $214 in expenses and all we got out of it was a goose egg," Henson said. "Some how that just doesn't add up."
 
At least not in Santana's favor.
 
"It's not a question of the weather and expense to combat the elements, we wanted to play that ballgame," Henson said. "But they got their batters to do what they wanted them to do and we didn't."
 
Suddenly, No. 5-ranked Santana (15-5, 2-2) finds itself in third place in the Grossmont North behind El Capitan (12-8, 4-0) and Grossmont (13-4, 2-0).
 
After being held hitless for five innings by El Capitan starting pitcher CRISTIAN GARCIA, the Sultans loaded the bases in the 6th and 7th innings.
 
"We had our chances, but did nothing with them and that's frustrating when the stakes are as high as they were today," Henson said.
 
Even as the rain fell at its heaviest, El Capitan received the key blow of the game in the 3rd inning when NIK GARCIA doubled off the glove of the Santana center fielder to score THOMAS HOSTETLER (walk) and LOUIS RUSSO (walk) for a 2-0 lead.
 
"I didn't think Garcia's ball had a chance of going out because the air was too heavy," El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said. "I was just happier than heck that the guy didn't catch it and we got a couple of runs out of it."
 
Henson, on the other hand, thought the ball should have been caught despite the heavy flurry of rain drops.
 
Hostetler's RBI single extended El Capitan's advantage to 3-0 in the 6th inning.
 
Junior CRISTIAN GARCIA blanked the Sultans on no hits through the 5th inning before NICK MILLER broke the spell with a leadoff single to open the 6th. DALLAS MARTIN followed with a basehit to left and eventually Santana would bring the tying run to the plate with one out.
 
Garcia (5-2) got the next two Sultans to fly out to end that threat.
 
Santana came right back to load the bags with one out in the 7th. That's when the younger Garcia gave way to the older (Nik) Garcia to secure the victory.
 
"I had a pretty good hunch that Nik wouldn't let his younger brother down," Vickery said.
 
And that was the case as Martin rapped into a game-ending double play.
 
"Santana has had our number the last couple of years." Nik Garcia said. "They've beaten us 2 out of 3 the last two years, and we didn't want that to happen again."
 
It can't now, as El Capitan has won two straight league games with one remaining.
 
"Hopefully, we can get the brooms out and sweep them the final time we play them (May 11 in Lakeside)," the older Garcia said.
 
GROSSMONT 11,  EL CAJON VALLEY 3:  Credit the visiting El Cajon Valley Braves for not backing down in Friday's (Apr. 22) Grossmont North League endeavor at the Foothillers' Joe Gizoni Field.
 
After suffering an embarrassing 20-run loss two days earlier, the Braves (4-15, 0-4) used the long ball to take a 3-0 lead.
 
SHANE MYER mashed a two-run homer in the opening frame and DEREK PEREZ pounded a solo shot in the 2nd inning to put Grossmont ace left-hander DONNIE SNOW on the ropes. It easily could have been 4-0 at that point had Grossmont pitcher not picked CLIFTON THOMAS off second base in the 1st inning prior to Myer's second home run of the year.
 
Grossmont (13-4, 2-0) refused to fold. DANNY PIECZYNSKI uncorked the Hillers offense with his 5th home run leading off the 2nd inning. Base hits by TREVOR BERRY, MATT PASSANISI and TONY CUSUMANO tacked on a second run, cutting the Braves edge 3-2 after two.
 
An inning later Snow launched the first of his two home runs - a 2-run shot - giving Grossmont a 4-3 advantage it would not lose. Snow crashed his 10th home run of the season - an East County high â¤" with two men aboard to run the Foothillers' lead to 10-3.
 
STEELE CANYON 23,  MOUNT MIGUEL 2: Senior TAYLOR WEST, who had pitched only five innings in the Cougars first 16 games, turned in a powerful complete-game effort, scattering six hits in Friday's (Apr. 22) record-breaking Steele Canyon Grossmont South League rout at Mount Miguel.
 
West's performance was only part of the story for the Cougars (10-7, 4-1), who kept their hopes burning for a league pennant.
 
Leadoff man CODY MINICH set the tone for the Steele Canyon onslaught, collecting 5 hits, scoring 6 runs and notching one RBI in 7 at-bats.
 
Most impressive of Minich's totals is his 6 runs scored, which ties the all-time Grossmont Conference record set by Helix's RICK PAGE in 1988 against Valhalla.  The all-time San Diego CIF mark of 7 was set by Mt. Carmel's Darren Abrams against Western Las Vegas in 1984.
 
It rained during the first four innings, stopped for two frames and then started again in the 7th. The inclement weather hardly cooled the Cougars' molten aluminum.
 
Steele Canyon stung four Mount Miguel pitchers for 27 hits, tying the Grossmont Conference record set by Santana against West Hills in 1991. The Cougars' count ranks 8th on the all-time San Diego CIF books.
 
"Everybody that was healthy got in today," said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY. "Everything we hit found a way to fall in. We didn't hit one thing at them. I give (the Matadors) credit - their kids were diving for balls and hustling all the way through."
 
JOE INZONE was 3-for-5 with 4 RBI and seven other Cougars contributed two RBI.
 
MONTE VISTA 7,  HELIX 3: Unsung heroes are hard to find, but Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART may have found one in sophomore second baseman DAVID PALACIOS.
 
Batting at the top of the order for one of the few times this season, Palacios sparked rallies in the 1st and 2nd innings with leadoff singles that led to a total of six runs and ultimately Monte Vista's third Grossmont South League win in a row.
 
"Palacios is coming along nicely," Rinehart said. "We have five sophomores on this club, so we know its going to take time to get where we want to be."
 
Senior southpaw ERIC LEBOFFE drove in two runs and pitched three powerful innings of relief to earn his second win in five decisions.
 
DAN DeANDA swatted a pair of singles and scored in the 1st and 2nd innings as Monte Vista (5-12, 3-2) marched in front 6-0.
 
"We know we still have a lot of work to do," Rinehart said. "But maybe we can smile just a little bit over the progress we've made so far."
 
The Highlanders (8-10, 0-5) have lost nine of their last 10 games.
 

Granite Hills' Eric Krause (15) suffered his first loss of the season despite striking out 8 Friday at Valhalla. (4-22-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)

FRIDAY, APR 22, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
FOOTHILLERS 11, BRAVES 3
EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi    GROSSMONT       ab  r  h bi
Thomas cf         4  1  3  0    Ferrara 2b       4  1  0  0
Manzo lf-p        3  1  1  0    Griffin 3b-p     3  2  1  1
L.Perez p-1b      3  1  1  2    Phillips ss      3  2  2  5
Myer p-1b         3  1  1  2    Snow p-rf        3  2  2  5
Aquiningoc 1b-3b  3  0  0  0    Pieczynski c     3  2  2  1
DPerez c          3  1  1  1    Berry cf         4  1  1  0
Mansfield dh      3  0  0  0    Passanisi 1b     4  1  2  0
Abbod 3b-p        2  0  0  0    Cusumano lf      3  0  1  1
Vega p            1  0  0  1    Sobel 3b         1  0  0  0
Padilla 2b        3  0  0  0    Longmire lf-rf   3  0  1  0
TOTALS           27  4  7  3    TOTALS          31 11 12  9
 
  El Cajon Valley  (4-15, 0-4)  210 010 0 -  4  7 3
  Grossmont        (13-4, 2-0)  024 410 x - 11 12 3
 
GWRBI: Snow (5).
E: Abbod, LPerez, Padilla, Phillips, Pieczynski, Sobel. LOB: ECV 4, Gro 8. 2B: Thomas, Phillips. 
HR: Myer (2) 1st, one on; D.Perez (1) 2nd, solo; Pieczynski (5) 2nd, solo; Snow 2(9,10): 3rd, one on, and 4th, two on.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAJON VALLEY         ip  h  r er bb so
  Myer     L(1-3)   2.2  6  6  4  1  1
  Manzo             0.1  2  3  3  1  0
  Abbod             1.2  3  2  2  4  0
  Vega              1.1  1  0  0  0  1
GROSSMONT
  Snow     W(3-2)   4.0  5  3  3  1  3
  Griffin Sv(1)     3.0  2  1  0  0  6
WP: Myer, Griffin.
*
VAQUEROS 8, SULTANS 0
EL CAPITAN       ab  r  h bi    SANTANA         ab  r  h bi
Hostetler rf      3  1  2  1    Martin 3b-p      3  0  1  0
Russo 2b          3  1  1  0    Woods ss         3  0  0  0
Rauch c           3  0  0  0    Helmholtz 1b     2  0  0  0
Ksiazek ss        4  0  0  0    Haley c          2  0  0  0
N.Garcia 1b-p     2  0  1  2    Basnight p-3b    3  0  0  0
Erickson dh       2  0  0  0    Hermansen cf     2  0  0  0
C.Garcia p-3b     0  0  0  0    Brosnan lf       3  0  0  0
Walston cf        3  1  1  0    Martinez 2b      3  0  1  0
Griffith 3b       1  0  0  0    N.Miller rf      2  0  1  0
Sullenger ph      0  0  0  0    Tippin pr        0  0  0  0
McCarthy 1b       0  0  0  0    Diaz pr          0  0  0  0
Nazzal lf         2  0  0  0
Royer ph          1  0  0  0
TOTALS           24  3  5  3    TOTALS          23  0  3  0
 
  El Capitan   (12-8, 4-0)  002 001 0 - 3 5 1
  Santana      (15-5, 2-2)  000 000 0 - 0 3 1    
 
GWRBI: N.Garcia (5).
E: Martin, N.Garcia. DP: EC 2, Sant 1. LOB: EC 8, Sant 7. 2B: N.Garcia. SB: Rauch. S: Sullenger.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAPITAN           ip  h  r er bb so
  C.Garcia  W(5-2)  6.1  3  0  0  2  3
  N.Garcia Sv(1)    0.2  0  0  0  0  0
SANTANA
  Basnight  L(2-1)  4.0  2  2  2  4  5
  Martin            3.0  3  1  1  2  3
HBP: by Basnight (Erickson); by C.Garcia (Martin, Haley, Helmholtz).
*
Grossmont South League
NORSEMEN 5, EAGLES 2
GRANITE HILLS  ab  r  h bi   VALHALLA        ab  r  h bi
Decker ss       3  1  2  0   Brown ss         2  1  1  1
Marquis cf      3  0  0  0   R.OSullivan 3b   4  0  1  3
Crawford dh     3  0  0  0   Stangyl p        0  0  0  0
Montette c      3  1  1  1   S.OSullivan p-3b 2  0  0  0
Taijeron lf     3  0  0  0   Baum 1b          3  0  1  0
Humphries rf    3  0  0  0   Young 1b         0  0  0  0
Anderson 1b-p   2  0  0  0   McClain c        1  1  0  0
Harkins pr      0  0  0  0   D.Smith rf       3  0  1  0
Horner 3b       1  0  1  0   G.Garcia 2b      3  0  0  0
Boltz ph        1  0  0  0   Moore lf         3  2  2  1
Cazares 2b      2  0  0  0   Sopata cf        0  1  0  0
Krause p        0  0  0  0
Russell 1b      0  0  0  0
TOTALS         24  2  4  1   TOTALS          21  5  6  5
  Granite Hills  (15-5, 3-2)  000 101 0 - 2 4 0
  Valhalla       (11-5, 3-0)  000 014 x - 5 6 2
GWRBI: R.O'Sullivan (2).
E: R.O'Sullivan, G.Garcia. DP: Val 1. LOB: GH 5, Val 7. 2B: Decker 2, R.O'Sullivan, Horner. 
HR: Monette (3), 4th, solo. SB: Decker, S.O'Sullivan, Crawford, McClain, Horner. S: Brown, Sopata.
GRANITE HILLS                ip   h   r  er  bb   k
  Krause       L(5-1)       5.2   5   5   5   4   8
  Anderson                  0.1   1   0   0   1   0
VALHALLA
  S.O'Sullivan W(3-0)       6.0   3   2   1   2   7
  Stangyl      Sv(3)        1.0   1   0   0   0   0
HBP: by Krause 2 (McClain 2); by S.O'Sullivan (Horner); by Stangyl (Cazares). WP: Krause. 
*
MONARCHS 7, HIGHLANDERS 3
MONTE VISTA      ab  r  h bi    HELIX          ab  r  h bi
Palacios 2b       3  2  2  0    R.Perez ss      4  0  0  0
Starling ph       1  0  0  0    Rosenthal lf    4  1  1  1
DeAnda p-rf       4  2  2  0    Ledesma cf      3  1  1  0
Lopez lf-1b       4  1  0  1    Peterson 1b     3  1  1  0
Rodriguez 1b-p    2  0  0  1    Ponce rf        2  0  0  0
Leboffe cf-p      4  1  1  2    Tanida c        3  0  1  0
Mendiola dh       4  1  2  1    Webb dh         1  0  0  0
Cooper c          0  0  0  0    Ritchie 3b      3  0  1  1
Haase rf          2  0  1  0    Rohmer 2b       3  0  0  0
Croft ss          3  0  0  1
Hale 3b           4  0  0  0
TOTALS           32  7  8  7    TOTALS         26  3  5  3
 
  Monte Vista  (5-12, 3-2)  420 000 1 - 7 8 0
  Helix        (8-10, 0-5)  000 210 0 - 3 5 5
 
GWRBI: None.
E: Rohmer, Ritchie 2, Peterson. LOB: MV 8, Hel 6. 2B: Haase. HR: Rosenthal (2) 5th, solo. 
SB: Croft, Tanida. SF: Rodriguez, Croft.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MONTE VISTA         ip  h  r er bb so
  DeAnda           3+   2  2  2  2  2
  Leboffe  W(2-3)  3.0  3  1  1  1  2
  Rodriguez        1.0  0  0  0  1  0
HELIX
  Wenham   L(2-3)  5.0  6  6  4  0  3
  Mendoza          2.0  2  1  0  0  0
DeAnda faced 3 batters in the 4th.
HBP: by DeAnda (Ledesma). WP: Wenham. PB: Cooper.
*
COUGARS 23, MATADORS 2
STEELE CANYON    ab  r  h bi    MOUNT MIGUEL     ab  r  h bi
Minich ss         7  6  5  1    Newborn           4  1  2  0
Harris 2b         3  1  1  2    Calafato 2b-ss    1  0  0  0
Shepard 2b        2  3  2  0    Freeman 1b-p-2b   4  0  1  1
Inzone rf         5  2  3  4    White c           4  0  0  0
Rice cf           2  0  2  2    De Arcos rf       3  1  1  0
Jacobsmeier cf    2  2  2  2    Green 3b          3  0  1  1
Duby c            6  3  2  2    Williamson ss     3  0  0  0 
Lange 1b          3  0  2  2    Bolden-Freeman dh 2  0  0  0
Knaust 1b         2  1  0  2    Plunkett 1b-p     1  0  0  0   
Lewis lf          2  0  2  1    Sandoval lf       1  0  0  0
Klopp lf          2  1  1  1    Cannon lf         1  0  0  0
Murray 3b         6  1  2  1    
Jenner dh         3  1  1  0    
Epperson dh       3  2  2  2    
TOTALS           48 23 27 22    TOTALS           26  2  5  2
 
  Steele Canyon  (10-7, 4-1)  104 331 (11) - 23 27 2
  Mount Miguel   (0-16, 0-3)  000 001  1   -  2  5 3
 
GWRBI: Rice (2).
E: Minich, Klopp, Williamson 3. LOB: SC 10, MM 7. 2B: Minich, Harris. 3B: Murray. SB: Minich 2, Duby. SF: Rice.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
STEELE CANYON           ip  h  r er bb so
  West        W(1-0)   7.0  5  2  2  0  6
MOUNT MIGUEL 
  Vanderhyde  L(0-3)   3.1  4  4  4  1  1   
  Freeman              4.0 13  8  8  4  2
  Newborn              0.1  8 11  7  2  0
  Plunkett             0.1  2  0  0  0  0
HBP: by West (Calafato 3, De Arcos); by Freeman (Inzone, Rice, Duby). PB: White 2.
(04-22-05)



Patriots undefeated league lead up in smoke with loss to Cardinals
EastCountySports.com
 
SAN DIEGO - It wasn't a very good day for the Harbor League-leading Christian High Patriots Thursday (Apr. 21) as they were sunk by host Hoover 7-3. The loss to the Cardinals, who were winning for only the second time in 10 starts, dropped Christian (11-5, 3-1) into a tie with defending champion Madison (14-5, 3-1) for the league lead.
 
Hoover (6-10, 1-3) didn't get a hit after the 2nd inning. The only Hoover base runner over the final four innings reached on an error in the 4th.
 
It's what happened in the first two innings that sent the Patriots reeling. The key blow was Jeff Martinez's three-run home run to right field that propelled Hoover into a 7-2 lead.
 
Before Martinez's back-breaking homer, Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL had some issues with the umpires.
 
"I have never complained about an umpire," Mitchell said. "But the guy behind the plate today was really, really bad. In the big second inning we throw a guy out at first and our first baseman is called for dragging his foot off the bag. The (Hoover) base coach complained to the base ump, who asked for help and the home ump reversed the call, called him 'safe.'"
 
Had the Hoover runner been ruled out, the whole 2nd inning would have taken on a different result.  Bottom line is Hoover would not have scored, eventually leaving the bases loaded. In reality, though, Hoover did score 4 runs turning a 3-2 edge into a comfortable 5-run cushion.
 
It doesn't stop there.
 
"The plate ump lost track of the count at least four times during the game," Mitchell fumed. "One time he struck ADAM PERRY out with two strikes!"
 
After spotting Hoover a 3-0 lead in the opening inning, the Patriots bounced back for a pair in the 2nd. JOEL McGRANAHAN and RICKY PLUM singled and moved into scoring position on a double steal.
 
McGranahan scored on NICK ADAMS' sacrifice fly and Plum rode home on SHANE STANOVIC's base hit.
 
Christian scored its final run in the 6th inning. After Plum walked, Stanovic and Perry followed with two-out singles to cut the deficit to 4 runs.
 

THURSDAY, APR 21, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Harbor League
CARDINALS 7, PATRIOTS 3
CHRISTIAN      ab  r  h bi    HOOVER          ab  r  h bi
Stanovic cf     4  0  2  1    Sheehan ss       4  2  1  0
Perry rf        4  0  2  1    Geraci p-3b      2  2  1  1
EYoung ss       4  0  1  0    Wilkerson lf     2  2  1  0
Rossitto 1b     3  0  1  0    Martinez c       3  1  1  3
Hart c          3  0  1  0    Torres 1b        2  0  0  1
McGranahan dh   4  1  1  0    Camacho dh       2  0  0  0
AMurray p       0  0  0  0    Hyde 3b          0  0  0  0
TJones p        0  0  0  0    Alvarez rf       2  0  0  1
Plum 3b         2  2  1  0    Richards 2b      2  0  1  1
Dossett lf      3  0  0  0    EJones 2b        1  0  0  0
Adams 2b        1  0  0  1    Rios cf          3  0  0  0
TOTALS         28  3  9  3    TOTALS          23  7  5  7
 
  Christian   (11-5, 3-1)   020 001 0 - 3 9 3
  Hoover      (6-10, 1-3)   340 000 x - 7 5 0
 
GWRBI: Geraci.
E: Plum 2, Dossett. LOB: Chr 10, Hoov 3. HR: Martinez 2nd, two on. 
SB: Geraci, Sheehan, Adams, Plum, McGranahan, EYoung. SF: Adams, Torres.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
CHRISTIAN             ip  h  r er bb so
  AMurray    L(0-1)  1.0  4  3  3  1  1
  Jones              4.0  1  4  0  1  4
HOOVER
  Geraci     W       5.0  7  2  2  2  2
  Camacho            2.0  2  1  1  1  3
HBP: A.Murray (Camacho); Geraci (Adams). 
(04-19-05)




El Capitan's Bryan Paukovits (23) pitched the Vaqueros into sole possession of the Grossmont North League lead. (4-20-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)

 

Norsemen equal conference record for consecutive league wins with 28th-straight
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - Valhalla tied one of the toughest records on the Grossmont Conference books, while Granite Hills brought upstart Steele Canyon back into the pack with a resounding 15-5 romp in the Grossmont South League on Wednesday (Apr. 20).  Meanwhile, defending co-champion El Capitan continues on the upswing after a dismal start and now holds the league lead in the Grossmont North by virtue of Wednesday's 8-3 triumph over visiting Santana.
 
VALHALLA 4,  HELIX 0: This one was all about pitching and defense as the visiting Norsemen (10-5, 2-0) blanked the Highlanders Wednesday (Apr. 20) for their 28th  consecutive Grossmont South League victory. That is a milestone triumph as it matches the Grossmont Conference record for consecutive league wins established by Grossmont (1990-92).
 
The Norsemen, who are on the mark for their third straight league title, need nine more victories in succession to tie the San Diego Section CIF mark of 37 set by Montgomery during the 1992-94 seasons.
 
"Those records are nice to have, but we have to focus on one game at a time," Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE acknowledging that his statement was a cliche. "We never look further ahead than our next game."
 
In this case, Valhalla's next game is against No. 3-ranked Granite Hills on Friday (Apr. 22) on Norsemen soil.
 
Although Helix out-hit the Norsemen 5-4 in Wednesday's league encounter, the Highlanders' bats remained dormant. Much of the reason for that was the pitching of freshman RYAN O'SULLIVAN and senior COREY STANGYL. O'Sullivan labored through 4 1/3 innings, permitting just 4 hits while striking out 3.
 
When Stangyl arrived on the hill, it was lights out for the Highlanders (8-9, 0-4). Stangyl, who included 22 strikes among his 29 pitches, gave up just 1 hit, walked none and fanned three to earn his second save.
 
"Stangyl is quite a success story," Perdue said. "He's a kid we cut last year as a junior. But he refused to give up and came back for a tryout this year. He worked hard in the weight room, never gave up and made himself the player he is today."
 
Valhalla broke a scoreless deadlock in the 4th inning as SEAN O'SULLIVAN singled, stole second and eventually scored on a base hit by DAVID SMITH.
 
Walks, hit batters, passed balls and errors helped the Norsemen pad their lead.
 
"We hung in there against one of the best teams in our league," Helix coach COLE HOLLAND said. "Still it is so frustrating. I think we are taking better approaches at the plate. We just need one big inning to get a breath of fresh air and turn this thing around."
 
GRANITE HILLS 15,  STEELE CANYON 5: LOUIS CAZARES doesn't mind batting ninth for the third-ranked Granite Hills Eagles.
 
The Eagles are kind of happy that the 5-foot-7, 147-pound second baseman is stationed in that No. 9 batting slot as well.
 
Cazares was at the pinnacle of his game in Wednesday's (Apr. 20) romp over host Steele Canyon (9-7, 3-1), which knocked the Cougars out of the Grossmont South League lead and left them tied with the Eagles for second place.
 
"I like batting ninth because it's kinda like a second leadoff batter," said Cazares, who cracked three doubles and a single in four at-bats. "I mostly see fastballs, but I'm ready for that occasional curveball."
 
Cazares scored in all four of his at-bats and picked up an RBI with an opposite field double in the Eagles' 7-run 7th inning.
 
Cazares spread four hits all over the field at Steele Canyon's Rattlesnake Ridge. He yanked a ground rule double to left field in the 3rd inning. He doubled to right in the 4th, reached on an infield single in the 6th and slashed a ground ball just inside the first base in the 7th.
 
"It depends where the ball is pitched as to where I hit it," said Cazares, who elevated his season average to .349 (15 for 43). â¤If I get ahead of it, I just snap the bat."
 
A slow start by Cazares at the beginning of the season caused Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS to wonder if his youthful second baseman was mature enough to face varsity pitching.
 
"Every young guy is going to struggle at the start, but I got the jitters out and I'm ready to go now," Cazares said.
 
TRAVIS TAIJERON
drilled a mammoth home run over the left field fence to extend Granite Hills' advantage to 7-5 in the 5th inning.
 
"How far was that ball hit?" Davis asked out loud. "It wasn't cheap. I'd say that was the best ball he's hit all year. That's the best ball I've seen in a couple years by anybody."
 
Davis was pleased, but not surprised.
 
"He does it in practice all the time, but we've been waiting for him to do it in a game," Davis said of Taijeron, who has three home runs as a varsity sophomore.
 
Granite Hills rallied from 2-0 and 5-4 deficits to curb the Cougars (9-7, 3-1), who dealt the Eagles a 3-2 defeat on Monday (Apr.18).
 
"Steele Canyon is a scrappy team that was fired up to beat us again," Davis admitted. "They are no pushover. That wanted to beat us again in the worst way."
 
The Eagles (15-4, 3-1) unleashed a 16-hit attack and survived the lost contact of starting pitcher DARREN GAY to snub the Cougars' upset bid.
 
Gay, who lost the contact out of his left eye during a premature celebration of teammates in the early innings, struggled through 4 2/3 frames to earn his 5th win without a loss.
 
Reliever BILLY SYLVESTER held the Cougars hitless over the final 2 1/3 innings to secure the save. He retired the last six Steele Canyon batters without incident.
 
"The strength of our team is our depth." Davis said. "If somebody is struggling, I feel so confident putting somebody else in. We have so many role players ready to go."
 
Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY was disappointed but not decimated by the Cougars latest defeat.
 
"We missed a couple of steal signs when we were down by three (8-5) after six innings," Mittry said. "We had opportunities, but didn't take advantage."
 
Despite the disappointing loss, Steele Canyon did have its offensive heroes. Designated hitter MIKE LANGE helped the Cougars take the early lead with an RBI triple in the 2nd inning and a two-run home run in the 3rd.
 
EL CAPITAN 8, SANTANA 3: A lackluster 1-5 start might have caused many a team to fold its proverbial tent. Such talk and thought is prohibited at El Capitan where winning baseball is a tradition.
 
"We played a real good game today, our pitching was good and we got a couple of clutch hits," said Vaqueros coach STEVE VICKERY, who recently celebrated his 400th win and now holds a 403-223-4 record in 21 seasons at El Capitan.
 
Overall, Vickery has compiled a 26-year mark of 471-272-4 - including a 5-year stint at Valhalla in the early 1980s - and ranks among the San Diego CIF's all-time biggest baseball winners.
 
The key inning against the 5th ranked Sultans (15-4, 2-1 GNL) was the 3rd. Santana jumped on top 3-0 on the strength of an RBI double by JEFF WOODS and a two-run homer by KYLE HELMHOLTZ.
 
El Capitan (11-8, 3-0 GNL) didn't skip a beat as it counter-punched with 5 tallies in the bottom of the 3rd inning.
 
Singles by AUSTIN RAUCH and JASSON KSIAZEK along with a crippling Santana error plated one run. GRIFF ERICKSON's RBI single cut Santana's edge to 3-2. Then MICHAEL GRIFFITH unloaded an opposite field three-run homer to right field, lifting the Vaqueros into a lead they wouldn't lose.
 
"Griffith had a great day," Vickery said. "He hit his first high school home run to put us back into the lead and went 3 for 4 with a run and 4 RBI. He's worked so hard to get into the starting lineup. He is such a great competitor. And it was his sister's birthday. I was really proud of his performance today."
 
Senior BRYAN PAUKOVITS gave up only 4 hits and struck out 11 as he posted his third win in five decisions for the Vaqueros.
 
"He just got stronger as the game wore on," Vickery said, noting that Paukovits struck out six of the last nine batters he faced.
 
Ksiazek was 2-for-2 against the Sultans, raising his average to .700 (14-for-20) over the last seven games.
 
Santana's Woods, who entered the game with a 0.96 ERA, was cuffed around for 7 hits and 4 earned runs in suffering his second loss in seven decisions. Even JOHN BASNIGHT - East County's ERA leader - was tagged for 3 hits and one earned run in a single inning of relief.
 
MONTE VISTA 14, MOUNT MIGUEL 11: Even with composite totals of 25 runs, 30 hits and two dozen runners stranded on base, a long, wild battle between Spring Valley rivals Monte Vista and Mount Miguel came down to just two influential plays:  a hustle effort and a lackadaisical play, creating the decisive 8-run, 5th-inning rally allowing the visiting Monarchs to prevail.

"Man, what a game," exclaimed the Monarchs' ALAN SOPHER, who gained the victory with 2 2/3 innings of 1-hit relief. â¤"t was like a roller-coaster of a game."

Catcher CORY COOPER extended himself sprinting down the first-base line, severely twisting an ankle when landing on the bag. However, Cooper's effort resulted in an infield hit to allow the game-tying run to score in the 5th.

Three batters later, a Mount Miguel pitcher failed to cover the same base on a grounder to the first baseman by Sopher, who also beat out the play to extend the inning. And when DAN DeANDA followed with a two-run single on the next pitch, Monte Vista (4-12 overall, 2-2 GSL) extended its lead to 12-5. Single runs in the 6th and 7th innings ballooned the Monarchs advantage to 14-6 heading into the bottom of the final frame.
 
Mount Miguel nearly pulled out a miracle win in the 7th, scoring five times and bringing the potential tying run to the plate. However, BRET HAASE, who pitched the final two innings, coaxed a grounder for a fielder's choice to end the ballgame -- the longest in the East County this season at 3 hours, 3 minutes.

The Matadors collected five of their 14 hits in their final turn at the plate, including RBI singles by BUD NEWBORN and EDDIE De ARCOS (3-for-4), plus a two-run double by KEITH GREEN.

"We played hard and it came down to the last at-bat," noted Matadors first baseman CHRIS FREEMAN, who kept the late-inning rally going with a line-drive single. "We played like champions and will break through soon."

Although winless in 15 starts, it has not been for a lack of offense. The 11 runs were the third time Mount Miguel scored in double figures this season, yet lost. However, six errors resulted in three unearned runs, while soft defense extended other innings.

Sopher and DeAnda each finished 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI to pace the Monarchs.
 
Sopher started a string of three straight run-scoring hits by the Monarchs in the pivotal 8-run 5th inning that erased a 5-4 Mount Miguel advantage. DeAnda drove home a pair with a liner to center field, then ANTHONY LOPEZ found the gap in right for a 10-5 lead.

Finally, ERIC LEBOFFE slugged a two-run double to left. He later added a stand-up triple and scored an important insurance run in the 7th. Leboffe also pitched the first 2 1/3 innings, but left with no decision.

Mount Miguel (0-15, 0-2) led early, 1-0, on an RBI basehit by freshman NICO CALAFATO in the 2nd, but the Matadors missed on early opportunities.

In the 1st, the team collected four hits but failed to score when DeAnda, the Monte Vista right fielder, threw a runner out at the plate. An inning later, the Matadors put down a pair of successful sacrifice bunts, but neither resulted in a run.

Both teams scored four times in the 3rd inning, which took 57 minutes to complete. Included were back-to-back homers by Sopher - a two-run shot to left - and DeAnda's solo shot to center. However, Calafato and JAMIE SANDOVAL, the eighth and ninth hitters in the Mount Miguel lineup, smashed consecutive two-run doubles to reclaim the lead.

GROSSMONT 21,  EL CAJON VALLEY 1:
The 7th-ranked Foothillers (12-4,1-0) pulverized host El Cajon Valley in their Grossmont North League opener on Wednesday (Apr. 20).
 
Not only did the Hillers hammer five El Cajon Valley hurlers for 26 hits, Grossmont pitchers TAYLOR WOHLWEND, DONNIE SNOW and A.J. GRIFFIN combined to spin a 1-hitter at the Braves (4-14, 0-3).   

Wohlwend (5-0) surrendered the only El Cajon Valley hit when ALAN ABBOD blooped a fly ball into shallow left field for a single with one out in the 5th inning. Abbod eventually scurried around the bases to score on a Grossmont error. That cut the Hillers lead to 14-1.
 
TRISTAN PHILLIPS and Griffin combined for 8 hits and 6 RBI to direct the Grossmont onslaught.
 
Seven Hillers enjoyed multiple-hit games.
 

WEDNESDAY, APR 20, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
VAQUEROS 8, SULTANS 3
SANTANA        ab  r  h bi    EL CAPITAN      ab  r  h bi
Martin ss       3  1  1  0    Hostetler lf     2  0  0  0
Woods p         3  1  1  1    Russo 2b         3  1  1  0
Wylie 3b        0  0  0  0    Rauch c          3  1  1  0
Helmholtz 1b    3  1  1  2    Ksiazek ss       2  2  2  0
Haley c         3  0  0  0    N.Garcia 1b      4  1  0  0
Basnight 3b-p   3  0  0  0    Erickson dh      3  2  1  1
Hermansen cf    1  0  0  0    Walston cf       4  0  2  0
Brosnan lf      2  0  0  0    Griffith rf      4  1  3  4
Martinez 2b     3  0  0  0    C.Garcia 3b      3  0  0  0
Miller rf       3  0  1  0    Paukovits p      0  0  0  0
Tippin pr       0  0  0  0
TOTALS         24  3  4  3    TOTALS          28  8 10  5
 
  Santana      (15-4, 2-1)  003 000 0 - 3  4 5
  El Capitan   (11-8, 3-0)  005 102 x - 8 10 0
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
SANTANA               ip  h  r er bb so
  Woods     L(5-2)   5.0  7  6  4  4  5
  Basnight           1.0  3  2  1  1  2
EL CAPITAN
  Paukovits W(3-2)   7.0  4  3  3  2 11
HBP: Woods (Rauch); Paukovits (Hermansen). WP: Paukovits, Woods 3. PB: Rauch, Haley.
*
FOOTHILLERS 21, BRAVES 1
GROSSMONT      ab  r  h bi    EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi
Ferrara 2b      3  3  3  2    Thomas cf         2  0  0  0
Kinsella ph     1  0  0  0    Dyer cf           1  0  0  0
Griffin 3b-p    5  2  4  3    Manzo p-lf        3  0  0  0
Matson ph       1  0  0  0    D.Perez c-p       2  0  0  0
Phillips ss     6  3  4  3    Myer 1b           3  0  0  0
Snow dh-p       4  3  1  0    L.Perez p         3  0  0  0
Passanisi 1b    3  0  0  0    Abbod 3b-p        3  1  1  0
Sobel 3b        2  1  1  1    Padilla ss        3  0  0  0
Pieczynski c    4  2  3  3    Vega 2b           1  0  0  0
Schroeder ph    1  1  1  2    Sotos rf-c        1  0  0  0
Berry cf        3  2  2  1    Aquiningoc ph     1  0  0  0
Medina lf       3  0  2  0
Cusumano lf-cf  4  3  2  1
Fox rf          2  1  1  0
Longmire rf     3  0  1  1
TOTALS         46 21 26 18    TOTALS           23  1  0  0
 
  Grossmont        (12-4, 1-0)  020 482 5 - 21 26 2
  El Cajon Valley  (4-14, 0-3)  000 010 0 -  1  1 2
 
GWRBI: Berry (1).
E: Wohlwend, Phillips, D.Perez, Vega. DP: ECV 1. LOB: Gro 11, ECV 1. 2B: Griffin, Berry, Ferrara. 
3B: Pieczynski. SB: Pieczynski. SB: Pieczynski, Ferrara.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GROSSMONT            ip  h  r er bb so
  Wohlwend  W(5-0)  5.0  1  1  0  2  6
  Snow              1.0  0  0  0  0  3
  Griffin           1.0  0  0  0  0  2
EL CAJON VALLEY
  L.Perez   L(2-3)  4.2 12 10 10  1  2
  Monzo             0.0  4  4  4  2  0
  D.Perez           1.1  4  2  2  0  2
  Mansfield         0.1  6  5  5  2  1
  Abbod             0.2  0  0  0  0  0
HBP: by L.Perez (Ferrara, Pieczynski). WP: L.Perez. 
*
Grossmont South League
NORSEMEN 4, HIGHLANDERS 0
VALHALLA        ab  r  h bi    HELIX           ab  r  h bi
J.Brown ss       3  2  1  0    R.Perez ss       2  0  1  0
R.O'Sullivan p   2  1  0  0    Valles rf-lf     3  0  1  0
Stangyl p        0  0  0  0    Ledesma cf       3  0  1  0
S.O'Sullivan 3b  3  1  2  0    Peterson 1b-p    3  0  0  0
Baum 1b          1  0  0  1    Ponce p-rf       2  0  0  0
Moore c          3  0  0  0    Peterson p       0  0  0  0
Smith lf         3  0  1  1    Rosenthal dh     3  0  0  0
Garcia 2b        3  0  0  0    Tanida c         3  0  1  0
Wilson rf        3  0  0  0    Ritchie 3b       3  0  1  0
Sopata cf        3  0  0  0    Rohmer 2b        2  0  0  0
                               Mendoza lf       0  0  0  0
                               Webb 1b          0  0  0  0 
TOTALS          24  4  4  2    TOTALS          24  0  5  0
 
  Valhalla   (10-5, 2-0)  000 120 1 - 4 4 1
  Helix      (8-9, 0-4)   000 000 0 - 0 5 3
 
GWRBI: Smith (1).
E: Ponce, Ritchie, Moore, Stangyl, R.Perez. DP: Val 1. LOB: Val 6, Hel 4. 2B: J.Brown. 
SB: J.Brown 2, S.O'Sullivan. S: Stangyl.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
VALHALLA                 ip  h  r er bb so
  R.O'Sullivan  W(4-1)  4.1  4  0  0  2  3
  Stangyl       Sv(2)   2.2  1  0  0  0  3
HELIX
  Ponce         L(3-1)  4.1  3  3  3  4  5
  Peterson              2.2  1  1  1  1  0
HBP: by R.O'Sullivan (Ponce); by Ponce (Baum). WP: Ponce. PB: Tanida. BK: R.O'Sullivan.
*
EAGLES 15, COUGARS 5
GRANITE HILLS     ab  r  h bi    STEELE CANYON  ab  r  h bi
Decker ss          4  1  1  1    Minich ss       4  0  1  0
Marquis cf         3  2  2  1    Harris 2b       3  1  1  0
Crawford dh        4  1  1  2    Inzone 1b-p-lf  4  1  1  0
Monette c          4  2  1  0    Rice rf         2  0  0  1
Taijeron lf        4  3  2  3    Shepard ph      1  0  0  0
Humphries rf       4  0  1  0    Duby c          3  1  1  0
Williams ph        1  0  1  1    Murray ph       1  0  0  0
Anderson 1b        4  0  2  0    Lange dh-1b     3  2  2  3
Russell 1b         1  1  0  1    Knaust ph       1  0  0  0
Horner 3b          3  0  0  0    Jenner 3b       3  0  1  0
Cazares 2b         4  4  4  1    Lewis lf        0  0  0  0
                                 Klopp cf        2  0  0  0
TOTALS            38 15 16 11    TOTALS         29  5  9  5
 
  Granite Hills  (15-4, 3-1)  004 211 7 - 15 16 3
  Steele Canyon  (9-7, 3-1)   023 000 0 -  5  9 5
 
GWRBI: Marquis (1).
E: Decker, Klopp, Lewis 2, Anderson, Jenner 2, Monette. DP: SC 1. LOB: GH 8, SC 7. 
2B: Cazares 3, Marquis, Jenner, Anderson, Williams. 3B: Lange. HR: Lange (1) 3rd, one on; Taijeron (3) 5th, solo. 
SB: Minich, Inzone, Boltz. SF: Rice.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GRANITE HILLS         ip  h  r er bb so
  Gay        W(5-0)  4.2  9  5  5  1  2
  Sylvester Sv(1)    4.1  0  0  0  1  0
STEELE CANYON
  Epperson   L(3-2)  5+  10  8  7  2  3
  Inzone             1.1  4  5  3  2  0
  Taylor             0.2  2  2  0  0  0
*
MONARCHS 14, MATADORS 11
MONTE VISTA      ab  r  h bi   MOUNT MIGUEL      ab  r  h bi
Sopher lf-p       4  2  2  3   Seavello 2b        3  0  2  0
DeAnda rf         4  2  2  3   Newborn cf         3  1  1  1
R.Garcia rf       1  0  1  1   Freeman 1b-3b-1b   5  1  1  0
Lopez 1b          4  2  1  1   White c            3  2  1  0
Rodriguez dh      3  0  2  0   De Arcos rf-lf     4  2  3  1
Croft ss-pr       2  2  1  0   Green 3b           5  0  1  2
Leboffe p-cf      3  1  2  2   Vanderhyde p       0  0  0  0
Mendiola 2b-c     4  0  1  1   Williamson lf-ss   4  2  1  0
Dawson ph         0  0  0  0   Calafato ss-p      3  2  2  3
Cooper c          3  0  2  1   Sandoval p-1b-lf   1  0  1  2
Palacios pr-2b    2  1  0  0   Cannon rf          3  1  1  0
Haase cf-lf-p     4  2  1  1
Messenger ph      1  1  0  0
Hale 3b           2  1  1  0
Starling ph       1  0  0  0
TOTALS           38 14 16 13   TOTALS            34 11 14  9
  Monte Vista   (4-12, 2-2)  004 081 1 - 14 16 2
  Mount Miguel  (0-15, 0-2)  014 010 5 - 11 14 6
GWRBI: Haase (1).
E: Green 3, Seavello, Hale, De Arcos 2, Croft. LOB: MV 11, MM 13. 
2B: Calafato, Sandoval, Rodriguez, Leboffe, Cannon, Green. 3B: Haase, Leboffe. 
HR: Sopher (1), 3rd, 1 on; DeAnda (2), 3rd, solo. SB: Williamson, Sopher 2, Hale. 
S: Sandoval, Newborn, Hale, Leboffe.
MONTE VISTA            ip  h  r er bb so
  Leboffe             2.1  8  5  5  2  1
  Sopher   W(1-0)     2.2  1  1  0  3  2
  Haase               2.0  5  5  5  2  2
MOUNT MIGUEL
  Sandoval L(0-5)     4.2  8  8  7  3  2
  Vanderhyde          0.0  3  3  3  0  0
  Calafato            2.1  5  3  1  1  1
Vanderhyde faced 3 batters in the 5th.
HBP: by Sandoval (Lopez), by Sopher (Calafato), by Calafato (Sopher). WP: Sandoval, Sopher 2, Haase.
T: 3:03.
(04-20-05)


Patriots club Komets with anchors in lineup
EastCountySports.com
 
SAN DIEGO - For the second Harbor League game in a row, the Christian High Patriots bottomed out. That is, the bottom third of the Patriots' batting order came up big Tuesday (Apr. 19) as Christian clubbed Kearny 10-3 on the Komets' turf.
 
RICKY PLUM, RYAN ABELL and NICK ADAMS, the Nos. 7, 8 and 9 batters in Christian's offensive alignment, were a combined 7 for 9, with a double, 7 RBI, 3 runs scored and one stolen base. That same trio is 13 for 16 with 10 RBI and 7 runs over the last two games.
 
"It's always nice to get that kind of production from any part of our lineup," Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said.
 
The red-hot threesome staged Christian's first rally with two outs and nobody on in the 2nd inning. Plum and Abell rapped back-to-back singles to left field. Adams brought both runners home with a double into the same area of the Kearny ballpark to make it 2-0.
 
KELLEN ROSSITTO keyed a three-run 3rd inning, driving in ADAM PERRY and SHANE STANOVIC with a base hit. Rossitto then worked his way around to third base with a pair of steals and trotted home on JOEL McGRANAHAN's sacrifice fly.
 
After that nifty interlude, Christian's Mighty Trio returned to productivity in the 5th frame. With one out and the bases loaded, Plum ripped a 2-run single giving the Patriots a 7-1 bulge. Plum then stole second and followed MATT HART across the plate courtesy of Abell's 2-run single.
 
Abell stretched his personal hitting streak to seven games. He is batting at a .647 clip (11 for 17) over that span.
 
Not to be overlooked was TODD JONES, who got one cut in the No. 8 slot. And Jones, Christian's top pitcher, came through with a 7th-inning double. Jones scored on an Adams single.
 
CHAD O'DONNELL and BRAD ALLEN shared the pitching chores for the Patriots (11-4, 3-0), who have won five in a row and hold a slim lead over Madison in the Harbor League.
 

TUESDAY, APR 19, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Harbor League
PATRIOTS 10, KOMETS 3
CHRISTIAN      ab  r  h bi    KEARNY          ab  r  h bi
EYoung ss       3  0  0  0    Reed ss          3  0  1  1
Dossett rf      2  0  2  0    KRichey 2b       3  1  0  0
Perry rf        3  1  2  0    Neeleman c       3  0  1  1
Schroeder lf    2  0  0  0    Marsh p-lf       4  0  1  0
Stanovic cf     2  2  1  0    RWhyte rf        3  1  1  0
Murray 1b-2b    1  0  0  0    TRichey cf       3  1  1  1
Rossitto 1b-c   4  2  1  2    Johnson 1b       3  0  0  0
Hart c-ss-3b    3  1  0  0    Heyenga lf-p     1  0  0  0
McGranahan dh   2  0  0  1    JWhyte p         0  0  0  0
O'Donnell p-1b  0  0  0  0    Stantopolous 3b  2  0  0  0
Plum 3b         3  2  3  2
Allen 1b-p      1  0  0  0
Abell lf        3  1  2  2
Jones 2b-ss     1  1  1  0
Adams 2b-cf     3  0  2  3
TOTALS         33 10 14 10    TOTALS          25  3  5  3
 
  Christian   (11-4, 3-0)   023 040 1 - 10 14 2
  Kearny      (2-13, 1-2)   001 002 0 -  3  5 1
 
GWRBI: Adams (1).
E: O⤙Donnell 2, Marsh. LOB: Chr 9, Kearny 10. 2B: Jones, Adams. SB: Perry 3, Stanovic 2, Rossitto 2, Plum. 
SF: McGranahan, Reed.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
CHRISTIAN             ip  h  r er bb so
  O'Donnell  W(1-1)  6.0  4  3  3  6  4
  Allen              1.0  1  0  0  1  1
KEARNY
Marsh        L       4.1 10  9  9  3  1
Heyenga              1.2  1  0  0  3  1
JWhyte               1.0  3  1  1  0  1
HBP: O'Donnell (RWhyte). WP: Allen.
(04-19-05)



Cougars take place atop South standings by stunning Eagles
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - Guess who's leading the Grossmont South League pennant race?  Steele Canyon.  The Cougars (9-6, 3-0) stunned No. 3-ranked Granite Hills 3-2 Monday (Apr. 18) in the Eagles' lair. Meanwhile, defending-champion Valhalla stretched its Grossmont South winning streak to 27 - one win shy of the Grossmont Conference record held by Grossmont (1990-92) - and 10 victories short of the San Diego Section  CIF mark of 37 set by Montgomery during the 1992-94 season).  
 
STEELE CANYON 3,  GRANITE HILLS 2: Situation normal, right on course. Or so the host Granite Hills Eagles thought after four innings of Monday's (Apr. 18) Grossmont South League contest against visiting Steele Canyon.
 
The Eagles (14-4, 2-1) were cruising 2-0 after four innings with senior pitcher DONNIE ANDERSON well in control.
 
Suddenly, Steele Canyon (9-6, 3-0) got the break it needed with a two-out error in the 5th inning. The miscue followed one-out singles by GARRETT JENNER and DAVID LEWIS and permitted Jenner to score Steele Canyon's first run.
 
Steele Canyon came right back in the 6th inning as DANNY HARRIS ignited a one out rally with a base hit. A critical error by the Granite Hills shortstop put runners at the corners for the Cougars, who received a game-winning two-run double from CHRIS RICE that gave Steele Canyon an edge it wouldn't lose.
 
That offensive burst was all Steele Canyon starter and winner KYLE JOHNSON would need to earn his 3rd win in four decisions.
 
"Talk about a huge win," Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY said. "This is so big considering how poorly we played in our last couple of games in the Grossmont Conference Tournament. In those two tournament games (losses to El Capitan and Santana) our dugout was like a morgue."
 
The dismal atmosphere disappeared in Monday's joust at Granite Hills.
 
"Our intensity was good for the whole seven innings," Mittry said. "Seniors Rice and Johnson came to throw when we really needed it."
 
While Mittry's squad sits alone atop the Grossmont South League standings, he realizes how easily this pivotal game against the Eagles could have gone the other way. The Cougars had lost three of their previous four decisions.
 
"If we had let them pound on us today it could have been a real downward spiral," Mittry said. "This is our second season. We are 3-0 and nothing else matters."
 
BRANDON DECKER went 4-for-4 for Granite Hills, which saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end.
 
"We sleep-walked, didn't execute when we should have," Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said. "Their pitcher kept us off balance. We didn't play very intense. We deserved to lose, the way we played the game today."
 
Granite Hills had taken the early lead on a sacrifice fly by RYAN MARQUIS in the 3rd inning and Anderson⤙s RBI single in the 4th.
 
After that, the Eagles went flat.
 
SANTANA 10,  WEST HILLS 2: The Santana Sultans took advantage of a couple of early mistakes by host West Hills and continued on for a sleigh ride in Monday's (Apr. 18) Grossmont North League encounter between Santee rivals.
 
The Sultans (15-3, 2-0) scored 7 unearned runs in the first 3 innings to defuse any upset plans the host Wolf Pack might have had. Fact is, all but two of Santana's runs were unearned.
 
"You can't give a team like Santana eight outs in the first two innings," West Hills coach SCOTT HOPGOOD said.  "Not only did those keep their innings alive, it added to the pitch count of our starter (STEVEN STRASBURG).
 
"It came down to they played defense and we didn't."
 
The Sultans also played pretty good offense, too.  Starting and winning pitcher DALLAS MARTIN capped a 5-run second with a fly ball double that the West Hills left fielder thought would land foul, but was stunned when the westerly winds held the ball up long enough to let it land fair for a 2-run double.
 
Martin was even more effective on the mound, rationing West Hills (5-10, 0-2) to 5 hits and two runs while striking out 9 in a 6-inning stint. JOHN BASNIGHT pitched a shutout 7th to complete the win that keeps the Sultans tied with El Capitan for the Grossmont North League lead. The Sultans and Vaqueros will meet on Wednesday (Apr. 20) and Friday (Apr. 22) at 4 p.m.
 
"They couldn't hit my off-speed stuff," said Martin, who won his 3rd game in 4 starts. "My fastball, I snuck a couple by them, but I wasn't relying on that pitch very much. I kept going more with changeups than I did with my fastball. My ball was moving a lot today."
 
NICK MILLER, batting in the No. 9 position, was 2-for-2 with a pair of sacrifices and 4 RBI for Santana, which has won 4 straight and 5 out of six.
 
"This was a huge win for us getting back into league," said Miller. "We needed to get this first one under our belt (actually second). So it's kinda nice to come out hitting again."
 
Miller swatted an RBI single in the 2nd inning and two-run single in the 3rd.
 
"It doesn't matter where I bat, really," Miller said. "I like that they (pitchers) think I can't hit because I'm 'just a No. 9' hitter. So I just sit there waiting for my pitch."
 
Santana's ROBERT HERMANSEN, who missed a week due to injuries, robbed AARON GAGNON of an extra-base hit and an RBI with a big-league catch in center field in the 2nd inning when the game was still close. On top of that, Hermansen stroked 3 hits in 4 at-bats.
 
JEFF WOODS was 2-for-5 with a double and 2 RBI for Santana.
 
VALHALLA 12,  HELIX 2: Although the Norsemen (9-5, 1-0) have struggled at times this season, they seem to have found their comfort zone within the boundaries of the Grossmont South League.
 
Valhalla's 27 consecutive league victories, includes Monday's (Apr. 18) verdict over the visiting Highlanders (8-8, 0-3), a perfect 15-0 loop mark last year and 11 straight circuit wins to wrap up the 2003 Grossmont South pennant.  The last time Valhalla lost a league game was Apr. 24, 2003, ironically enough against Helix by a 5-2 count.
 
Only Montgomery (37), Mt. Carmel (29 in parts of the 1985, 1986, 1987 seasons), St. Augustine (28 from 1993-94), Mt. Carmel (28 from 1988-89) and Grossmont (28) have stacked up more league wins in succession than Valhalla.
 
For good measure, the Norsemen are 31-1 against league foes dating back to the latter stages of the 2002 season
 
Helix, which has lost four straight and 7 of its last 8, took a 1-0 lead over the Norsemen in the top of the 4th inning and then Valhalla's offense began to click in the bottom of the inning.
 
JAVIER BROWN walked, stole second and scored the tying run on RYAN O'SULLIVAN's double. O'Sullivan carried across the go-ahead run on a BRENNAN BAUM single. Consecutive singles by STEVEN LeVALLEY, MICHAEL YOUNG, DAVID SMITH and CHAD WILSON stretched the Valhalla lead to 5-1.
 
Senior catcher CHRIS MOORE's 2-run single made it 7-1 in the 5th inning.
 
A two-base error, a passed ball and RBI singles by Brown, SEAN O'SULLIVAN, Moore and Smith keyed a 5-run 6th for Valhalla.
 
"We shook up the lineup a little bit and it seemed to pay off for us," Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE said. "The confidence was there today. And it showed in our play on the field."
 
ERIC JULIENNE (2-0) pitched a complete-game 4-hitter for the Norsemen. The junior left-hander needed only 83 pitches to finish off the Highlanders, who were led by NICK LEDESMA's two hits in three at-bats.
 
Despite the recent slide by his team, Helix coach COLE HOLLAND hasn't written off the season.
 
"I wasn't too disappointed," Holland said. "Offensively, we had better approaches at the plate and only struck out twice. We put the ball in play and they made the plays they needed to get us out."
 
MONTE VISTA 4, MOUNT MIGUEL 0:
In one of their strongest efforts of the season, the Monte Vista Monarchs rode the durable arm of JESSE RODRIGUEZ to a four-hit shutout of Mount Miguel in Monday's (Apr. 18) Grossmont South League contest.

Rodriguez carried a no-hitter into the 5th inning before yielding a bad-hop, leadoff single to EDDIE De ARCOS. However, Monarchs catcher CODY COOPER later picked off the runner at first, while the rest of the defense turned in a season-best 3 double plays to back the senior southpaw pitcher's winning effort.

"You can't do nothing about the bad hop, but it felt good to get a win," noted Rodriguez. "It was a bleeder and things like that happen -- it's always a bleeder or a bloop which does it."

Meanwhile, the offense was carried by center fielder ERIC LEBOFFE, who batted 2-for-3 with three RBI, including a two-run homer in the 5th to break open a close ballgame for Monte Vista (3-12 overall, 1-2 GSL).

"After we started slow this season, we'll take whatever they give us," noted Leboffe, who will play for Point Loma Nazarene University next season. "I just got it up in the wind a little bit more than Jesse did."

Leboffe actually used the wind to his advantage twice.

In the 3rd inning after Rodriguez lined out to deep center to allow base-runner DAN DeANDA to advance to third base, the left-handed hitting Leboffe went the opposite way to left field, lifting the ball just enough to get over the shortstop to break open a scoreless tie.

Two innings later, Leboffe hoisted a drive into the wind in deep right-centerfield, as the ball carried over the fence and halfway up the hill leading to the football stadium for his second homer of the season, as ANTHONY LOPEZ also scored.

"For a small guy (huh?), Eric (6-1, 175) is putting up the numbers -- it's unexpected," noted Rodriguez. "I believe in these guys and I believe in our defense."

Lopez added some insurance in the 6th with a sacrifice fly to left, allowing BRET HAASE to score an unearned run after he reached on an error.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez allowed just one base-runner to reach second base. He struck out seven and walked only one in his 3rd complete-game effort, facing just three batters above the minimum.

After Rodriguez struck out 3 Matadors in the opening frame, shortstop IAN CROFT started the first of the three double plays in the 3rd. Rodriguez fielded a come-backer in the 4th, throwing to Croft at second for another twin-killing.

Then in the 6th, Mount Miguel (0-14,0-1) failed on a hit-and-run attempt when the ball was popped-up to first baseman Lopez, who caught the ball in foul territory then quickly tossed to a hustling Rodriguez covering at first.

"Our defense has been stable all year," Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART said. "It came up big for us again today. That, plus a great job on the hill by Rodriguez and some timely hitting made this a nice game for us."
 
However, the defensive gem of the day was turned in by Mount Miguel right fielder DANTE WILLIAMSON, who charged in to grab a blooper by LANCE MENDIOLA to end the 3rd before colliding with second baseman DEXTER SEAVELLO.

Williamson did a full somersault on the crash, which left Seavallo with a bloody mouth when he struck his teammate's knee. Fortunately, both players remained in the game
 
EL CAPITAN 16,  EL CAJON VALLEY 2: Senior shortstop JASSON KSIAZEK has been a sort of stealth offensive leader for the El Capitan Vaqueros this season. Not flashy, but consistent.
 
Ksiazek, who is batting at a .667 clip (12 for 18) with 10 runs and 6 RBI over the Vaqueros' last seven games, smacked a run-scoring single to spark a 3-run 1st inning as El Capitan (10-8, 2-0) blistered the Braves in Monday's (Apr. 18) Grossmont North League contest in Lakeside.
 
The Vaqueros, who have won 6 of their last 7, featured a balanced 13-hit attack against a quartet of El Cajon Valley pitchers. Furthermore, the Vaqueros reached base on 12 walks, 4 hit batters and three errors. Nevertheless, they left 14 runners on base, which did not please El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY.
 
"I can't get too excited about this game because we struck out 4 times with the bases loaded and hit into a double play with the bases loaded," Vickery said. "It's a win and we'll take it, Ksiazek continues to do the job at plate as does NIK (GARCIA)."
 
Garcia was only 1-for-1 against the Braves (4-13, 0-2), but walked 3 times, scored twice and drove in a pair. Garcia has 14 RBI in his last five games.
 
Junior NICK McCARTHY rationed the Braves to two hits and did not allow an earned run in a 5-inning stint that earned him his first varsity victory.
 

MONDAY, APR 18, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont South League
COUGARS 3, EAGLES 2
STEELE CANYON    ab  r  h bi    GRANITE HILLS    ab  r  h bi
Minich ss         3  0  0  0    Decker ss         4  0  4  0
Harris 2b         3  1  1  0    Marquis cf        3  0  0  0
Inzone 1b         3  1  1  0    Crawford dh       3  0  1  0
Rice rf           3  0  1  2    Monette c         3  0  0  0
Duby c            3  0  0  0    Taijeron lf       3  1  1  0
Lange dh          3  0  0  0    Humphries rf      3  0  1  0
Jenner 3b         3  1  1  0    Anderson p        3  0  1  1
Lewis lf          3  0  2  0    Russell 1b        2  0  0  0
Klopp cf          3  0  0  0    Boltz ph          1  0  0  0
                                Cazares 2b        2  1  0  0
TOTALS           27  3  6  2    TOTALS           27  1  8  1
 
  Steele Canyon  (9-6, 3-0)  000 012 0 - 3 6 0
  Granite Hills  (14-4, 2-1) 001 100 0 - 2 8 2
 
GWRBI: Rice (1).
E: Anderson. LOB: SC 4, GH 5. 2B: Rice. SB: Decker 2, Harris, Inzone. SF: Marquis.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
STEELE CANYON        ip  h  r er bb so
  Johnson  W(3-1)   7.0  8  2  2  0  3
GRANITE HILLS
  Anderson L(3-1)   7.0  5  3  1  1  9
HBP: by Johnson (Russell, Cazares).
*
NORSEMEN 12, HIGHLANDERS 2
HELIX         ab  r  h bi    VALHALLA        ab  r  h bi
Rohmer 2b      4  0  0  0    J.Brown ss       2  2  1  1      
Valles lf      3  0  0  0    R.O'Sullivan 2b  4  1  2  1
Ledesma cf     3  2  2  0    S.O'Sullivan 3b  4  2  2  1
Ponce rf       3  1  1  0    Baum 1b          2  3  1  1
Peterson 1b    2  0  0  1    LeValley rf      3  1  1  0
Tanida c       3  0  0  0    MYoung dh        4  1  1  2
Rosenthal dh   2  0  1  1    Moore c          4  0  2  3
Ritchie 3b     2  0  0  0    Smith lf         4  0  2  2
RPerez ss      2  0  1  0    Wilson cf        3  1  1  1
                             Melendez ph      0  1  0  0
TOTALS        24  3  4  2    TOTALS          30 12 13 12
 
  Helix      (8-8, 0-3)  000 101 0 -  2  4 1
  Valhalla   (9-5, 1-0)  525 000 0 - 12 13 0
 
GWRBI: Baum (2).
E: Ritchie. DP: Helix 1. LOB: Helix 5, Valhalla 5. 2B: R.O'Sullivan, Ledesma. 
SB: J.Brown 2, S.O'Sullivan 2, R.Perez. S: Rosenthal. 
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
HELIX               ip  h  r er bb so
  Schuler  L(1-3)  4.0  7  5  5  1  0
  Beltran          2.0  6  7  3  1  0
VALHALLA
  Julienne W(2-0)  7.0  4  2  2  2  2
HBP: by Beltran (Baum). PB: Tanida. BK: Beltran.
*
MONARCHS 4, MATADORS 0
MOUNT MIGUEL      ab  r  h bi   MONTE VISTA     ab  r  h bi
Seavallo 2b        3  0  0  0   Sopher lf        3  0  0  0
Newborn cf         3  0  0  0   Haase lf         0  1  0  0
Sandoval lf-p      2  0  0  0   DeAnda rf        3  1  1  0
Freeman-Bolden 1b  0  0  0  0   Lopez 1b         3  1  1  1
White c            3  0  1  0   Rodriguez p      4  0  1  0
DeArcos 1b-rf      3  0  1  0   Leboffe cf       3  1  2  3
Calafato ss        3  0  0  0   Mendiola dh      3  0  0  0
Williamson rf      2  0  1  0   Cooper c         2  0  1  0
Plunkett 3b        1  0  0  0   Croft ss         2  0  0  0
Freeman p-1b       2  0  1  0   Palacios 2b      3  0  1  0
Cannon pr          0  0  0  0
TOTALS            22  0  4  0   TOTALS          26  4  7  4 
  Mount Miguel  (0-14, 0-1)  000 000 0 - 0  4 3
  Monte Vista   (3-12, 1-2)  001 021 x - 4  7 1
GWRBI: Leboffe (1).
E: Croft, Freeman, Calafato 2. DP: MV 3. LOB: MM 3, MV 9. HR: Leboffe (2), 5th, one on. 
SB: Croft, Palacios, Williamson, Haase, DeAnda. SF: Lopez.
MOUNT MIGUEL                ip  h  r er bb so
  Freeman   L(0-4)         5.0  7  3  3  2  2
  Sandoval                 1.0  0  1  0  0  0
MONTE VISTA
  Rodriguez W(2-6)         7.0  4  0  0  1  7
HBP: by Rodriguez (Plunkett), by Freeman (Croft). WP: Freeman 2.
*
Grossmont North League
VAQUEROS 16, BRAVES 2
EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi    EL CAPITAN     ab  r  h bi
Thomas cf-p       3  1  1  0    Hostetler rf    4  2  2  0
Manzo lf          3  0  1  1    Royer rf        1  0  1  0
D.Perez c         3  0  0  0    Russo 2b        3  1  1  2
Myer 1b           3  0  1  0    D.Garcia lf     1  0  0  1
L.Perez ss        2  0  0  0    Rauch c         5  2  2  1
Abbod p           1  0  0  0    Ksiazek ss      3  3  2  1
Dyer rf           2  0  0  0    N.Garcia 1b     1  2  1  2
Acquiningoc 3b    2  0  0  0    Erickson dh     3  1  1  2
Vega ph           0  0  0  0    Henson p        1  1  1  1
Sotos rf-p        2  0  0  0    King p          0  0  0  0
Mansfield ph      1  0  1  0    Walston cf      1  1  0  0
Padilla 2b-p      2  1  0  0    Nazzal cf       1  0  0  0
                                Sullenger 2b    1  1  0  2
                                C.Garcia 3b     2  2  1  0
                                Griffith 3b     1  0  1  1
TOTALS           24  2  4  1    TOTALS         28 16 13 13
 
  El Cajon Valley  (4-13, 0-2)  002 000 0 -  2  4 1
  El Capitan       (10-8, 2-0)  310 075 x - 16 13 3
 
GWRBI: Ksiazek (3).
E: Hostetler 2, Russo, D.Perez. DP: ECV 2, EC 1. LOB: ECV 3, EC 14. 2B: Rauch, Russo. 
SB: Hostetler 2, Rauch. S: Nazzal, Sullinger.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAJON VALLEY    ip  h  r er bb so
  Abbod    L(0-2)  0.1  2  3  2  2  0
  Sotos            1.2  2  1  1  4  4
  Thomas           2.1  2  6  6  4  1
  Padilla          1.2  7  5  5  3  1
EL CAPITAN
  McCarthy W(1-2)  5.0  2  2  0  2  5
  Henson           1.0  1  0  0  0  0
  King             1.0  1  0  0  1  0
Sotos faced 3 batters in the 3rd inning.
HBP: by Sotos (Erickson); by Padilla (D.Garcia, Walston); by Thomas (N.Garcia). 
WP: Abbod, Padilla, Sotos, Thomas. PB: D.Perez.
*
SULTANS 10, WOLF PACK 2
SANTANA        ab  r  h bi    WEST HILLS      ab  r  h bi
Martin p-3b     4  1  1  2    Mello cf         3  0  0  0
Woods ss        5  0  2  2    Hooper lf-rf     3  0  0  0
Helmholtz 1b    4  0  1  0    Strasburg p      1  0  0  0
Tippin pr       0  0  0  0    Ritiyak p-3b     2  1  1  0
Haley c         3  2  1  0    Richardson rf-p  2  0  0  0
Bashnight 3b-p  4  0  0  0    Eddy 3b-1b       2  1  1  0
Diaz pr         0  1  0  0    Pichette c       3  0  1  1
Hermansen cf    4  2  3  1    Skinner 1b-lf-p  2  0  1  1
Brosnan lf      3  2  1  0    Stoner ph        1  0  0  0
Martinez 2b     2  1  1  0    Gagnon dh        3  0  1  0
N.Miller rf     2  1  2  4    Parker pr        0  0  0  0
                              Hoffard ss       0  0  0  0
                              Marcellus ss     0  0  0  0
                              Irvin 2b         3  0  0  0
TOTALS         31 10 12  9    TOTALS          25  2  6  2
 
  Santana     (15-3, 2-0)  052 000 3 - 10 12 0
  West Hills  (5-10, 0-2)  010 100 0 -  2  5 3
 
GWRBI: Hermansen (1).
E: Hoffard, Pichette, Eddy. DP: WH 1. LOB: Sant 8, WH 4. 2B: Hermansen, Martin, Woods, Ritiyak. 
3B: Eddy. SB: Haley 2, Diaz, Woods. S: Martinez, N.Miller. SF: N.Miller.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
SANTANA              ip  h  r er bb so
  Martin    W(4-1)  6.0  5  2  2  1  9
  Basnight          1.0  1  0  0  0  2
WEST HILLS
  Strasburg L(0-6)  2.2  6  7  0  1  4
  Ritiyak           1.1  1  0  0  1  2
  Richardson        2.0  2  0  0  2  1
  Skinner           1.0  3  3  2  0  0
PB: Pichette.
(04-18-05)
 


Crawford's James Newman (17) and Christian's Nick Adams (12) with the ball in a close play at second base. Eddie Young (3) watches the action. (4-16-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

 

Garcia has field day with eight RBI as Vaqueros rebound
EastCountySports.com
 
CHULA VISTA - Credit the El Capitan Vaqueros for not taking the time to sulk following Friday's (Apr. 15) disappointing loss to Granite Hills in the Grossmont Conference North-South Tournament championship game. The Vaqueros rebounded by scoring 7 runs in the 1st inning and continued to blast host Bonita Vista 19-5 in a non-league encounter Saturday (Apr.16) in South Bay.
 
EL CAPITAN 19,  BONITA VISTA 5:  Senior NIK GARCIA tied a school record by driving in 8 runs with three doubles as the visiting Vaqueros (9-8) bowled over the Barons (7-7-2).
 
Garcia drilled 3-run doubles in the 1st and 3rd innings to help stake El Capitan to an 11-3 lead. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior doubled in two more runs in the 4th inning to help inflate the Vaqueros' cushion to 16-3.
 
"It's nice to come back after such a frustrating day on Friday," Garcia said. "Both of the (bases-loaded) doubles I hit came on off-speed pitches."
 
Bonita Vista, which employed six pitchers, challenged Garcia with a fastball in the 4th inning and the muscular senior ripped a two-bagger that plated 2 runs.
 
"Eight RBIs in a game, heck, I don't think I've even hit three doubles in the same game," said Garcia.
 
THOMAS HOSTETLER was 4-for-5 with two doubles and 4 runs scored, while AUSTIN RAUCH was 2-for-5 with a home run and 5 RBI for El Capitan.
 
JASSON KSIAZEK was 2-for-2 with 3 runs and one RBI. LOUIE RUSSO chimed in with two hits, 2 runs and one RBI.
 
"Our record doesn't show how good a team we are," said Garcia of the Vaqueros, who have won 8 of their last 12. "Come playoff time people are going to know what kind of team we are."
 
Garcia tied the El Capitan record for most RBI in a game set by TATE VELAU against Christian in 1981.
 
CHRISTIAN 7,  CRAWFORD 5:  The Patriots (10-4, 2-0) took charge of the Harbor League lead Saturday (Apr. 16) as they clipped the visiting Colts of Crawford to stand alone in first place. They began the day tied with upstart Kearny, but the Komets crumbled in a lopsided loss to Madison.
 
This was a bittersweet victory for the Patriots, who rode the 6-hit pitching of GRANT "General" MILLS (5-1) to victory.  Just as Mills established himself as the top winner on the Christian High pitching staff, his season has come to an end. Mills will undergo surgery to correct a malady in his right ankle on Tuesday (Apr. 19).
 
Mills also plays football and that sport appears to be his favorite.
 
"He has a bone chip floating around in his ankle and the doctors think it should be remedied immediately," Christian baseball coach MIKE MITCHELL said. "Mills' parents postponed surgery so Grant could go to Florida with the team, but this is something that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. We hate to lose Grant, but we also want what is best for him."
 
In the final pitching performance of his junior season, Mills allowed just 6 hits and 3 earned runs.
 
The loss of Mills will no doubt be costly to the Patriots. Yet Mitchell "the Magician" will no doubt come up with a formula to keep the Patriots on the winning track.
 
After Crawford took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning, the Patriots fired back with 3 runs in the 3rd frame. EDDIE YOUNG's 2-run triple tied the game and Young coasted home on ADAM PERRY's sacrifice fly to give Christian the lead.
 
The Colts tied the game in the 4th inning, but the Patriots regained control with 2 runs in the 5th and 6th innings to salt away the victory.
 
The turning point of the game came in the bottom of the 5th inning when Mitchell decided to send up RICKY PLUM to pinch-hit for Mills.
 
"It was hot and I didn't want Mills to have to run around the bases should he get on," Mitchell said. "At the same time I didn't want to give Ricky a whole lot of advance notice that I wanted him to pinch hit."
 
It was a plan of perfection. Plum blasted a 2-0 pitch from Crawford starter and loser Donte Wright well over the left field fence for his second home run of the season and a 3-2 Christian lead.
 
"Plum hit the ball on top of the weight room roof and had it bounce into the swimming pool," Mitchell said. "It was quite a shot, probably went 375 feet."
 
NICK ADAMS added an RBI single later in the 5th to give the Patriots a 5-3 edge.
 
A solo home run by MATT HART and an RBI double by RYAN ABELL stretched Christian's advantage to 7-3 in the bottom of the 6th.
 
CHULA VISTA 2,  EL CAJON VALLEY 1:  Coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN isn't upset that his El Cajon Valley Braves should have won Saturday's (Apr. 16) non-league game at Chula Vista. Disappointed, yes, but rather than dwelling on the negative Weightman believes his Braves are ready to break into the Grossmont North League win column for the first time in eight years.
 
The Braves (4-12) have suffered two tough losses to Chula Vista, the latest coming when they out-hit the Spartans 8-5 but let five errors cost them the nod Saturday in South Bay.
 
For the record, Chula Vista won the game on Josh Goldilla's solo home run leading off the 5th inning. The Spartans won an earlier meeting from the Braves 7-5 in El Cajon.
 
Fours errors in the first two innings gave Chula Vista (8-9) a 1-0 edge that carried to the 5th inning when the Braves finally strung together singles by JONATHAN MANZO, SHANE MYER and DAVID PEREZ to tie the game 1-1.
 
Myer clearly pitched well enough to win.
 
But the Braves missed too many scoring chances on this afternoon. They left runners at first and second in the opening inning, had a runner thrown out at the plate and then failed to cash in on a bases-loaded situation in the same frame.
 
The Braves staged a two-out rally in the 6th inning, but came up empty when Manzo lined out to left field with two runners on.
 
"We had runners on base all day, but just couldn't get that one hit into the gap," Weightman said.
 
Myer turned in El Cajon Valley's third complete game pitching effort of the season, striking out 5 and allowing just one earned run.
 
Manzo and David Perez  had two hits apiece for the Braves.
 

SATURDAY, APR 16, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Harbor League
PATRIOTS 7, COLTS 5
CRAWFORD        ab  r  h bi    CHRISTIAN         ab  r  h bi
Ventura 3b       3  1  2  0    E.Young ss         3  1  1  2
Preciado cf      3  0  0  0    Perry rf           2  0  0  1
Love c           3  0  0  0    Stanovic lf-cf     3  0  0  0
JiNewman 1b      3  1  1  0    Rossitto 1b        3  0  0  0
Laster pr        0  0  0  0    Hart c             3  1  1  1
CBurkhead rf     4  0  0  0    McGranahan cf-lf-p 2  0  0  0
Wright p         3  2  2  1    Schroeder lf       1  0  0  0
Jacobs ss        3  0  0  1    Mills p            2  1  0  0
JaNewman dh      3  0  1  1    Plum ph            1  1  1  1
Carrillo lf      0  0  0  0    Dossett lf         0  0  0  0
Jackson 2b       2  0  0  0    Abell 3b           3  2  3  1
BBurkhead ph     1  1  0  0    Adams 2b           3  1  2  1
TOTALS          28  5  6  3    TOTALS            26  7  8  7
 
  Crawford   (4-11, 1-2)  020 100 2 - 5 6 3
  Christian  (10-4, 2-0)  003 022 x - 7 8 4
 
GWRBI: Plum (1).
E:JiNewman, Jacobs, Ventura, Schroeder, MGranahan, E.Young, Stanovic. DP: Chr 1. LOB: Craw 5, Chr 2. 
2B: Wright, JiNewman, Abell. 3B: Wright, E.Young. HR: Plum (2) 5th, solo. Hart (1) 6th, solo. SB: Adams. SF: Perry.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
CRAWFORD             ip  h  r er bb so
  Wright     L      6.0  8  7  6  0  3
CHRISTIAN
  Mills      W(5-1) 6+   6  5  3  3  2
  McGranahan Sv(1)  1.0  0  0  0  0  0
Mills pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.
WP: Wright.
*
VAQUEROS 19, BARONS 5
El Capitan    (9-8)    704 530 0 - 19 17 0
Bonita Vista  (7-7-2)  300 110 0 -  5 10 0
Petrille, Henson (6), King (7) and Rauch; 
Warlop, Gonzales (1), Martinez (3), Knudson (4), Tapia (5), Dennis (6) and Borman, Gallegos (6). 
HR: Rauch (EC) 5th, two on, #1. W: Petrille (1-0). L: Warlop.
*
SPARTANS 2, BRAVES 1
El Cajon Valley  (4-12)  000 010 0 - 1 8 5
Chula Vista      (8-9)   100 010 x - 2 5 1
Myer and D.Perez; Berdeski and Yoquigua. HR: Goldilla (CV) 5th, solo. W: Berdeski (2-2). L: Myer (1-2).
(04-16-05)


Granite Hills relief pitcher Bret Horner (7) pitched the final 4.2 innings, allowing just 2 hits and one run as the Eagles clobbered El Capitan 11-3 in the Grossmont North-South Tournament in Lakeside. (4-15-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)

Fourth-ranked Eagles land Grossmont Conference Tournament title
EastCountySports.com
 
LAKESIDE - The Granite Hills Eagles left no doubt as to which team is East County's supreme bunch at the moment. Ranked No. 4 in the San Diego CIF's only baseball poll, coach JAMES DAVIS' Eagles overcame an early 2-0 deficit and ran roughshod over host El Capitan, dismantling the Vaqueros 11-3 in Friday's (Apr. 15) Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament championship game. It was the 7th straight win for Granite Hills (14-3), which has captured 12 of its last 13 decisions.
 
"This was a lot of fun," Davis mused.
 
Granite Hills crashed a pair of 3-run home runs by MATT ROBERTS and TRAVIS TAIJERON, giving the Eagles 6 home runs in their last two games.
 
"The power has come all of a sudden," said Davis, whose Eagles hit only four home runs in their first 15 games. "I thought it was there, and I still think it's there and we are hitting good pitches right now. We are doing a better job of battling at the plate."
 
Granite Hills has not used the long ball as its primary power source. Pitching has been the key ingredient for the Eagles, who received 4 2/3 innings of sparkling relief from senior BRET HORNER in Friday's finale.
 
Normally the Eagles' starting 3rd baseman, Horner toed the rubber and came up a winner against the Vaqueros.
 
"I guess I have more than one talent," said Horner (2-1) who rationed El Capitan to one run on two hits.  "My sophomore year I was the top pitcher on our junior varsity team. I pitched like every other game. I think I won 8 or 9 games."
 
When Horner was promoted to the varsity as a junior, he was ticketed for back-up duty at shortstop and on the mound. But his slick fielding ability locked him as the regular third baseman. Pitching was merely an afterthought back then.
 
"This year coach Davis told me if I pitched it would be in a 6th inning or 7th inning kind of thing," Horner said.
 
Horner knew he was going to pitch in the tournament championship game as a back up to starter GARRETT RUSSELL. When Russell struggled with his control, walking five batters in 2 1/3 innings, Horner was summoned to the mound. He faced one batter and coaxed an inning-ending double play ball.
 
"I was hoping to get at least three innings in, and I was happy that I got to finish," Horner said.
 
Roberts, who was pinch hitting in only his 5th at-bat of the season, gave Granite Hills a 3-2 lead when he launched the first pitch from junior reliever NICK McCARTHY into the parking lot beyond the left field fence in the 4th inning.
 
Granite Hills continued its offensive blitzkrieg in the 5th inning. CODY CRAWFORD tripled off the short porch in center field with one out. NICK MONETTE then reached base on an error. Taijeron took over from there, hoisting a three-run homer over the left-center field fence, giving Granite Hills a 6-2 cushion.
 
The Eagles buried the Vaqueros (8-8) with a 5-run spread in the 6th inning. Key hits in that flurry included an RBI double by RYAN MARQUIS, a run-scoring single by NICK MONETTE and a pinch hit two-run single by BRENT BOLTZ.
 
"I know he'd rather be starting, but Brent has to be the best pinch hitter in the county," Davis said of Boltz, who has delivered hits in four of his 5 pinch-hitting opportunities.
 
Crawford paced Granite Hills' 11-hit assault on four El Capitan pitchers with a single, double and a triple. The junior DH missed his shot at hitting for the cycle when he grounded out weakly to the Vaqueros' third baseman in the 6th inning.
 
"We are doing a lot of things right, playing hard baseball right now which is what I like to see," said Davis, whose Eagles resume Grossmont South League play on Monday (Apr. 18), hosting Steele Canyon at 4 p.m.  These two teams are tied for the league lead.
 
El Capitan started the conference finale in decent form as LOUIE RUSSO's two-out single with the bases-loaded gave the Vaqueros a 1-0 edge in the 2nd inning. Poor base-running denied El Capitan a second tally on Russo's clutch hit.
 
An inning later, AUSTIN RAUCH doubled and eventually scored on a balk to make it 2-0 for El Capitan after three innings.
 
"We had a couple chances to pull away early-on," El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said. "But our poor base-running and the fact that we couldn't come up with that one big hit, killed us."
 
El Capitan, which has won 7 of its last 10 outings and is tied with Santana for the early lead in the Grossmont North League, travels to Bonita Vista for Saturday's (Apr. 16) non-league encounter at 11 a.m.  The Vaqueros resume league activity on Monday (Apr. 18) by hosting El Cajon Valley at 4 p.m.
 

Granite Hills' Travis Taijeron (18) slides into third with coach James Davis signalling 'get down.' El Capitan's Michael Griffith (10) waits for the throw. (4-16-05/Photo by Adolfo Villanueva)

FRIDAY, APR 15, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North/South Tournament
Championship
EAGLES 11, VAQUEROS 3
GRANITE HILLS   ab  r  h bi    EL CAPITAN      ab  r  h bi
Decker ss        4  1  1  0    Russo 2b         4  1  2  1
J.Miller ph      0  0  0  0    Rauch c          3  1  1  0
Marquis cf       4  1  1  1    N.Garcia p-1b    4  0  0  1
Coleman ph       1  0  0  0    Erickson 1b-rf   2  0  0  0
Crawford dh      4  1  3  0    Royer pr         0  0  0  0
Horner 3b-p      0  0  0  0    Ksiazek ss       3  1  1  0
Monette c        4  2  1  1    Walston cf       3  0  0  0
Taijeron lf      3  3  2  3    Nazzal lf        1  0  1  0
Humphries rf     2  0  0  0    D.Garcia ph      1  0  0  0
Boltz ph         1  0  1  2    Griffith 3b      2  0  0  0
Anderson 1b      2  1  0  0    C.Garcia 3b      0  0  0  0
Russell p        1  0  0  0    Hostetler rf     1  0  0  0
Roberts 3b       3  1  1  3    McCarthy p       1  0  0  0
Cazares 2b       3  1  1  0    King p           1  0  0  0
Harkins ph       1  0  0  0
TOTALS          33 11 11 10    TOTALS          26  3  5  2
 
  Granite Hills  (14-3)  000 335 0 - 11 11 1
  El Capitan     (8-8)   011 000 1 -  3  5 4
 
GWRBI: Roberts (1).
E: Decker, Erickson, King, Griffith 2. DP: EC 1, GH 1. LOB: GH 6, EC 8. 
2B: Crawford, Rauch, Russo, Taijeron, Marquis. 3B: Crawford. 
HR: Roberts (1) 4th, two on; Taijeron (3) 5th, two on. SB: Nazzal, Cazares, Decker, Rauch. S: Humphries.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GRANITE HILLS        ip  h  r er bb so
  Russell           2.1  3  2  1  5  1
  Horner    W(2-1)  4.2  2  1  1  2  2
EL CAPITAN
  N.Garcia          3.1  3  2  2  2  1
  McCarthy  L(0-2)  1.2  4  4  3  0  0
  King              0.2  3  5  0  0  0
  Henson            1.1  1  0  0  0  1
HBP: by N.Garcia (Anderson); by Henson (J.Miller). WP: N.Garcia, King. BK: Russell, King, Horner.
(04-15-05)

El Capitan's Cristian Garcia (11) allowed only one earned run over six innings as the Vaqueros defeated visiting Valhalla in the final round of Grossmont North/South Tournament pool play in Lakeside. (4-13-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)

Vaqueros try for fourth conference tournament title in-a-row against high-flying Eagles
Patriots surprise Madison with McGranahan's called shot

 
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - While Christian High celebrated a key 3-2 victory over defending Harbor League champion Madison on Thursday (Apr.14), two of East County's hottest teams were preparing for Friday's (Apr.15) Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament championship game in Lakeside at 4 p.m. The Granite Hills Eagles (13-3), ranked No. 4 in the San Diego CIF and winner of six straight and 11 of 12, visits El Capitan (8-7). The Vaqueros have won 7 of their last 9 games.
 
GRANITE HILLS @ EL CAPITAN: This marks Granite Hills' second straight appearance as the Grossmont South League representative to the conference tournament finals. The Eagles rallied from a 9-1 deficit to tie Grossmont 12-12 in a game played under threatening skies and was eventually called after 7 innings due to darkness.
 
Prior to last year's slugfest, El Capitan had captured the Grossmont Conference Tournament championship three years in a row.
 
CHRISTIAN 3,  MADISON 2: Senior JOEL McGRANAHAN doesn't claim to have psychic powers. Nor does he view himself as a power hitter. Yet, the left-hand hitting right fielder used a little of both to club what proved to be a game-winning home run that helped the Patriots win their Harbor League opener over the heavily favored Madison Warhawks.
 
McGranahan's premonition was disclosed after 6th period class where he is a teacher's assistant in chemistry.
 
"I told (teammate) RYAN ABELL that I felt I had a home run in me today," said McGranahan, who has only two homers this season. "Then I called it again before the (actual) at-bat.
 
"I was just joking around with (teammate) JIMMY DOSSETT and I told him 'I'm going to go yard' this time," McGranahan said. "And Jimmy said, '"Just work on trying to get a base hit.'"
 
McGranahan's confidence was tested to the maximum as he received only two at-bats against Madison pitcher Lance McCormick, who rationed the Patriots to 3 hits.  But it took only one pitch in his 4th-inning at-bat for McGranahan to deliver.
 
"You can kind of tell with this fence if (the ball) is going out," McGranahan said. "(McCormick's pitch) was a hanging curveball out over the plate and I knew I got all of it."
 
A leadoff single by MATT HART ignited a two-run 2nd inning for the Patriots (9-4, 1-0). Madison (12-5,1-1) chipped in a pair of errors, Abell smacked a ground rule double and NICK ADAMS hit a sacrifice fly.
 
Albeit the Patriots were by no means on a hitting spree, the offensive sparks were enough to support the 4-hit pitching of TODD JONES (3-1, 1.44 ERA).
 
"Todd has always thought of himself as a shortstop, but I think he has a chance to be a better pitcher," Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said. "He likes to hit, but I think he's only had one or two at-bats. I told him to enjoy those two chances to hit because "You're a pitcher now."
 
Jones, who has logged back-to-back complete victories, has suddenly established himself as the Patriots' ace.
 
"I've always liked infield," Jones said. "But it looks like I have something more to look forward to as a pitcher. I'm starting to enjoy it a lot more now."
 
No doubt Madison was caught by surprise by the scrappy Patriots.
 
"Madison has been predicted to win league, so basically we are the only ones in their way," McGranahan said. "Since we play (Madison) three times, we knew we had to get this first win."
 
Knocking off Madison in round one certainly helped boost Christian's confidence. But Mitchell isn't ordering any championship patches just yet.
 
"They played in the Classic Division of the Lions Tournament, so it's not like they played a bunch of slouch teams," Mitchell said. "This was a huge win, but it's only a start."
 

THURSDAY, APR 14, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Harbor League
PATRIOTS 3, WARHAWKS 2
MADISON        ab  r  h bi    CHRISTIAN        ab  r  h bi
Moreno 2b       3  0  0  0    E.Young ss        2  0  0  0
Phillips cf     3  1  1  0    Perry cf          2  0  0  0
Pecina 1b       3  0  1  0    A.Murray cf       1  0  0  0
Planck ss       2  0  0  0    Rossitto 1b       3  0  0  0
Cotton 3b       1  0  0  0    Plum 3b           3  0  0  0
Angle ph        1  0  0  0    Hart c            3  1  1  0
McCormick p     3  0  0  0    Stanovic dh       2  0  0  0
Jaime c         3  0  0  0    McGranahan rf     2  2  1  1
Webster lf      3  1  1  0    Abell lf          2  0  1  0
Latimer rf      2  0  1  0    Adams 2b          1  0  0  1
TOTALS         24  2  4  0    TOTALS           21  3  3  2
 
  Madison    (11-5, 1-1)   000 110 0 - 2 4 2
  Christian  (9-4, 1-0)    020 100 x - 3 3 1
 
GWRBI: None.
E: Cotton 2, Plum. DP: Chr 1. LOB: Mad 4, Chr 2. 2B: Abell. 
HR: McGranahan (2) 4th, solo. SB: Phillips, Webster, Moreno. S: Planck. SF: Adams.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MADISON              ip  h  r er bb so
  McCormick  L(4-1) 6.0  3  3  1  0  6
CHRISTIAN
  Jones      W(3-1) 7.0  4  2  1  2  1
(04-14-05)

Vaqueros' big inning gets them into conference tournament title game
EastCountySports.com
 
LAKESIDE - Of the El Capitan High players asked, to a man they stated that the Vaqueros' big inning on Wednesday (Apr. 13) against visiting Valhalla was more eventful than gaining a berth in Friday's (Apr. 15) Grossmont Conference North-South Tournament championship game. The Vaqueros were talking about a 7-run 6th inning at the expense of Valhalla ace SEAN O'SULLIVAN that sealed a 12-4 victory and a ticket to the tournament title bout against Granite Hills.
 
El Capitan, which rebounded from a 1-5 start to win seven of its last 9 starts, will host No. 4-ranked Granite Hills (13-3) Friday in Lakeside at 4 p.m. The Eagles have won six in a row and 10 of their last 11.
 
But the Vaqueros didn't want to look ahead. They wanted to celebrate.
 
"The seven-run rally was definitely better - it felt good," said El Cap shortstop JASSON KSIAZEK, who batted 4-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs. "We just pumped up in the dugout and put it out on the field."

The rally was even sweeter coming against O'Sullivan, who posted his poorest outing since last season's San Diego CIF Division II championship contest, when the Vaqueros also scored seven runs in the 1st inning en route to a 10-2 conquest for the San Diego Section crown.
 
Entering the game in the 6th inning with the Norsemen trailing 5-4 and still within striking distance, O'Sullivan appeared to have matters in hand as he used his wicked curveball to strike out the first two batters he faced. But when THOMAS HOSTETLER connected on an 0-2 pitch, barely landing a shot inside the right field line for a double, the wheels started to fall off.
 
"O'Sullivan tried to go after us with his fastball after that," noted Ksiazek. "So we took it to him."
Hostetler's hit started a run of eight consecutive Vaqueros reaching base.
 
LOUIE RUSSO followed with a line single to left for an RBI, then AUSTIN RAUCH, was plunked in the helmet by a pitch; the ball caromed some 40 yards away over the Valhalla dugout.

Obviously frustrated, O'Sullivan then reared back and fired his 90-plus miles-per-hour fastball much to the delight of the fastball-hitting Vaqueros.
 
NIK GARCIA followed with a booming two-run double which missed by inches from clearing the centerfield fence into the Black Hole at Hostetler Field. Then GRIFF ERICKSON, Ksaizek and JOSH WALSTON smacked line drives up the middle for basehits, with Walston's blow driving home two runs. VINNY NAZZAL then completed the batting blitz with an infield single, followed by an error that posted the inning's 7th run.

"We were all just locked in right there," said El Cap coach STEVE VICKERY. "It was great to see our kids play and keep up their intensity level."

Meanwhile, CRISTIAN GARCIA turned in six strong innings to collect the victory. His only downfall was a 4-run rally by Valhalla in the 4th that tied the game when he allowed three of his six hits. However, three of the runs were unearned.

Unbeknown to the ballclub, the final inning of shutout work by NICK McCARTHY proved to be decisive. It kept El Capitan's runs-allowed total for the tournament at 17, which is the first tie-breaker to determine the division champion after the Vaqueros and Santana finished with identical records against Grossmont South League opposition in the tournament.

Thus, conference officials needed to go to the second tie-breaker (most runs scored), where El Capitan's big inning gave the Vaqueros a 38-34 edged over Santana.
 
The Vaqueros (8-7) placed their first three batters of the game on base. Erickson lifted a sacrifice fly to open the scoring. Ksiazek singled for another run and the third tally crossed on an error.

In the 3rd, Walston singled to left, but when the ball was booted, another unearned run scored.

Valhalla's offense, limited to two hits through four frames, came to life in the 5th on a single by JAVIER BROWN, a double by RYAN O'SULLIVAN and the second of two intentional walks to Sean O'Sullivan to load the bases.

A BRENNAN BAUM hot grounder to third was misplayed to allow two runs to score, then STEVEN LeVALLEY and pinch-hitter DAVID SMITH lifted consecutive sacrifice flies to pull the Norsemen even.
 
However, Ksiazek immediately answered with an RBI double to regain the lead in the home half of the 5th, although he was thrown out attempting to stretch his hit to left-center field into a triple.

"We just passed the .500 (mark) and we're not going to look into the rear-view mirror anymore," added Ksiazek. "We want to win a championship, too."

Valhalla center-fielder CHRIS WILSON made the throw from the outfield to nail Ksiazek. He was also the only player on Valhalla (8-5) to get more than one hit, going 2-for-3 with a second-inning double into the left-field corner.

Garcia, Erickson and Walston each registered two hits and a pair of RBI for the Vaqueros, while Russo also recorded a pair of base hits.
 
GRANITE HILLS 8,  GROSSMONT 5: The visiting Granite Hills Eagles beat Grossmont at its own game in Wednesday's (Apr. 13) final round of pool play in the Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament at Joe Gizoni Field.
 
It was a day of the long ball, which is not uncommon at the cozy confines of Gizoni Field. Only it was Granite Hills that turned Grossmont's home ballpark into a launching pad, blasting 4 balls beyond the stadium borders to just one for the Hillers.
 
DONNIE ANDERSON's solo homer leading off the 7th inning gave the Eagles a 5-4 edge. After LOUIS CAZARES reached base on his third single, BRANDON DECKER drilled a ball over the left-center field fence to give Granite Hills a 3-run cushion it wouldn't lose.
 
"It was kind of refreshing to see us exhibit some power for a change," Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS. "I knew we had been hitting the ball better in practice, but to see us do it in a game is gratifying. Maybe now we can take some pressure off our pitchers."
 
It took Granite Hills' top three pitchers to hold down No. 8-ranked Grossmont (11-4). As it was, the Hillers peppered ERIC KRAUSE, DARREN GAY (4-0) and Anderson for a dozen hits, including a game-tying two-run home run by AUGIE WILLIAMS that capped a 4-run 6th inning.
 
"Three of those (home run) balls would have been out of any yard," Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS said. "Granite Hills came in here intending to win. They wanted it more than our kids did. That's why I believe Granite Hills is the best team in the Grossmont South."
 
Hard-nosed senior catcher NICK MONETTE gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead with a booming home run to right-center field in the 2nd inning.
 
The Eagles came back for more an inning later against Grossmont southpaw DONNIE SNOW.  After Decker walked and RYAN MARQUIS blooped an opposite field single to left, CODY CRAWFORD hoisted a high fly ball down the right field line that dunked inside the foul pole for a 3-run home run.
 
Suddenly, the Eagles led 5-0 with their ace 5-0 Krause on the mound.
 
Williams, a sophomore, sparked the Grossmont comeback. He doubled home a run in  the 3rd inning and eventually tied the contest with his third homer of the season in the 6th.
 
Gay gained his 4th pitching win in as many decisions, despite allowing a run and 3 hits in a single frame of work. Anderson did an admirable job as a closer, blanking the Hillers for his second save of the season.
 

Steele Canyon pitcher KYLE JOHNSON has announced that he will attend George Fox University and play baseball for the NCAA Division III institution in Newberg, Ore.
 
The senior right-hander, a three-year starter for the Cougars, is 2-1 with a 5.08 ERA in 30 2/3 innings this season.
 
George Fox is a Division III baseball power. The Bruins are currently 24-6 with a 14-game winning streak. They lead the Northwest Conference with a 16-2 mark.
(04-13-05)(Photo by Ernie Pile)

SANTANA 3,  STEELE CANYON 1:  Senior JEFF WOODS of Santana pitched a complete game 6-hitter and struck out 8 to stymie Steele Canyon and earn his 5th win in six decisions as the Sultans rolled their season record to an East County-best 14-3 in the final round of Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament pool play.
 
Woods, who pitched the 9th perfect game in San Diego CIF history last month in Las Vegas, struggled at the start and at the finish, yet managed to log his 4th complete game in six starts.
 
A shortstop by nature, Woods said he "likes to pitch."
 
"Yeah, pitching is fun," he said. "They need me to pitch and I'm willing to do whatever helps our team win."
 
Despite his flashy pitching statistics (5-1, 0.96 ERA, 45 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings), Woods admits that playing every day as a shortstop is his first choice.
 
His focus against Steele Canyon was as a pitcher. Although he appeared to be in command, Woods, a senior right-hander, was frustrated by his inconsistent control. Yet, he walked only 2.
 
"My off-speed stuff was working good, but I was leaving too many pitches up in the zone," Woods said. "Honestly, I didn't think I had one pitch that was working better than the other. I was leaving everything up today. I couldn't make the adjustment."
 
Superb play by outfielders NICK MILLER and RYAN BROSNAN helped keep Woods out of danger's way. Brosnan gunned down a Steele Canyon runner at the plate in the 1st inning and Miller made a nifty running catch to rob CHRIS RICE of an extra-base hit leading off the 4th inning. Miller made an encore performance with a game-saving shoestring catch to thwart a budding Steele Canyon rally in the top of the 7th inning with the tying runners on base.
 
"We've been talking about getting a quick prep all week," Miller said. "So I started doing that and I got a better jump on the ball."
 
That philosophy didn't pan out for Miller, who got a late start on DANNY HARRIS' sinking line drive in the 7th inning with the tying runs on base and two outs.
 
"I didn't read it off the bat," Miller admitted. "Then I heard people yelling 'In,' so I came in as fast as I could and luckily I got there in time."
 
After Woods held the Cougars (8-6) to one hit over the middle 5 innings, Steele Canyon pinch-hitter MIKE LANGE laced a one-out single in the top of the 7th.  DAVID LEWIS followed with a base hit to put the tying runs on base.
 
Woods was up the challenge.
 
"When we come to play like we did today, we are tough to beat," said Miller, who was 2-for-3 for Santana.
 
The Sultans overcame a 1-0 edge in the 2nd inning with RICHARD MARTINEZ's RBI single and JONATHAN TIPPIN's fly ball lost in the sun by the Cougars right fielder that went for an RBI triple.
 
Haley's RBI single gave Santana a 3-1 advantage in the 5th inning.
 
CODY MINICH accounted for 2 of Steele Canyon's six hits.
 
EL CAJON VALLEY 5,  MONTE VISTA 4: The Braves of El Cajon Valley have posted only two complete game pitching performances since the 2002 season. Senior right-hander LUIS PEREZ has been the author of both wire-to-wire efforts, including Wednesday's (Apr.13) come-from-behind knockout of visiting Monte Vista in the final round of Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament pool play.
 
Perez, who is headed to Whittier College to play football in the fall, scattered 10 Monte Vista hits while allowing just 3 earned runs and striking out 7 to balance his record at 2-2.
 
The Braves (4-11) overcame a 3-1 deficit with a 4-run rally in the bottom of the 6th inning.
 
CLIFTON THOMAS keyed the comeback with a leadoff single and stole his 11th base of the season to reach second base. Pinch-hitter SHANE MYER singled to put runners at the corners with nobody out. After Myer stole the first base of his varsity career, NICK DYER took over for him at second as a pinch runner.
 
DEREK PEREZ, pinned down with a 1-2 count, hung tough as he slashed a two-run single over the first baseman's head to tie the game 3-3. ALAN ABOOD and JONATHAN MANZO followed with RBI singles to give the Braves the lead.
 
But the Monarchs (2-12) weren't ready to rollover. After all, Monte Vista rocked El Cajon Valley 11-0 earlier this season.
 
In the top of the 7th, BRET HAASE hammered a lead-off double to left field. Two outs later, JESSE RODRIGUEZ ripped an RBI single. But the Monarchs' rally stalled after that.
 
"We've been preaching to our kids that they need to be mentally tough, and that confidence creates success," El Cajon Valley coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN said.
 
"After we got slam dunked by Valhalla (17-1) on Monday - we helped them kick our teeth in - the kids showed a lot of character by fighting back today," Weightman added.
 
WEST HILLS 6,   MOUNT MIGUEL 2:
  Wolf Pack leadoff man JOE MELLO is known for his ability to get on base. The junior center fielder isn't afraid to steal a bag or two, either.
 
What Mello hasn't been known for is hitting the long ball. Until Wednesday (Apr. 13), that is. 
 
Mello blasted his first home run of the season in the bottom of the 1st inning and then slugged a 2-run shot an inning later staking West Hills pitcher JOHN EDDY to a 5-0 advantage.
 
While Mello's power came as a pleasant surprise, he was not a solo effort. AARON RICHARDSON stepped into the long ball parade with a 2-run homer in the opening frame.
 
The three home runs doubled West Hills' long ball output for the season.
 
"We did everything we had to do today," said West Hills coach SCOTT HOPGOOD. "Eddy threw a great game today, he threw strikes and was in complete command. The power display today really surprised me. It's something we've been looking for all season."
 
West Hills' 5-9 start - which includes a 3-2 mark in the Grossmont Conference Tournament - has pumped new optimism into the Wolf Pack dugout. This is a club that finished 7-21 and out of the Grossmont North League race a year ago. It's a team without prominent seniors.
 
"I was told when I took this job that 13 players had graduated and I should plan on my first season being a rebuilding year," Hopgood said. "The first day I walked on the field and saw the talent we had, I thought 'no way is this going to be a rebuilding year.' We have the ability to challenge for (Grossmont North) League title right now."
 
For Mount Miguel, which has not won a game in 13 starts under first-year coach BYRON GRIGSBY, the prospect of breaking into the win column is no small task given the competition that remains on the Matadors' docket.
 
"I'm teaching a different style of playing the game than the team is used to and it's taken the players some time to get used to it," Grigsby said. "I do feel the team is finally getting familiar with how I like the game to be played."
 
"We start league on Monday (Apr. 18). Our league is really tough and will be a stern challenge. This event (Grossmont North/South Tournament) has been really competitive. I do believe it has helped get us ready for our league play. We will be ready, despite our record."
 

WEDNESDAY, APR 13, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North/South Tournament
EAGLES 8, FOOTHILLERS 5
GRANITE HILLS   ab  r  h bi    GROSSMONT       ab  r  h bi
Decker ss        2  2  1  2    Ferrara 2b       4  0  1  0
Marquis cf       4  1  1  0    Griffin 3b       4  0  2  0
Crawford dh      3  1  1  3    Phillips ss      4  0  1  0
Monette c        4  1  1  1    Snow p-rf        4  0  2  0
Taijeron lf      3  0  0  0    Fox lf           0  1  0  0
Humphries rf     3  0  0  0    Pieczynski c     2  2  1  0
Anderson 1b-p    3  1  2  1    Passanasi 1b     4  1  3  1
Harris 3b        2  0  0  0    Berry rf-lf      3  0  0  1
Boltz ph         1  0  0  0    Williams cf      3  1  2  3
Cazares 2b       3  2  3  0    Medina cf        2  0  0  0
                               Adams p          1  0  0  0
TOTALS          28  8  9  7    TOTALS          31  5 12  5
 
  Granite Hills  (13-3)  014 000 3 - 8  9 1
  Grossmont      (11-4)  000 104 0 - 5 12 0
 
GWRBI: Anderson (1).
E: Horner. DP: GH 1, Gro 1. 2B: Williams, Passanisi 2. 
HR: Monette (2) 2nd, solo; Crawford (1) 3rd, two on; Williams (3) 6th, one on; Decker (2) 7th, one on; 
Anderson (1) 7th, solo. SF: Berry.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GRANITE HILLS        ip  h  r er bb so
  Krause            5.0  9  4  4  1  2
  Gay       W(4-0)  1.0  3  1  1  0  0
  Anderson  Sv(2).  1.0  0  0  0  1  0
GROSSMONT
  Snow              4.0  4  5  5  1  4
  Adams     L(2-2)  2.1  4  3  3  1  1
  Wohlwend          0.2  0  0  0  1  2
WP: Snow. BK: Anderson.
*
WOLF PACK 6, MATADORS 2
MOUNT MIGUEL      ab  r  h bi    WEST HILLS       ab  r  h bi
Calafato 3b        3  0  2  0    Mello cf          3  2  2  3
Newborn cf         1  1  1  0    Carley cf         1  0  0  0
Sandoval lf-p      2  1  1  0    Hooper rf         4  0  1  0
Carmon lf          1  0  0  0    Strasburg 1b      4  1  1  0
White c            3  0  1  1    Maldonado 1b      1  0  0  0
De Arcos rf        3  0  1  1    Richardson dh     2  1  1  2
Plunkett p         2  0  0  0    Stoner dh         1  0  1  0
Vanderhyde p       1  0  0  0    Pichette c        2  0  0  0
Williamson ss      3  0  1  0    Skinner lf        1  0  0  0
Seavello 2b        3  0  0  0    Parker lf         1  0  0  0
Freeman 1b         3  0  1  0    Eddy p            3  0  0  0
                                 Hall 3b           3  1  1  0
                                 Hoffard ss        2  1  1  0
                                 Irvin ph          1  0  0  0
TOTALS            25  2  8  2    TOTALS           29  6  8  5
 
  Mount Miguel  (0-13)  000 002 0 - 2 8 1
  West Hills    (5-9)   320 100 x - 6 8 1
 
GWRBI: Mello (2).
E: Williamson, Hutchings. DP: WH 3. LOB: MM 6, WH 6. 2B: White, Seavello, Strasburg. 
3B: Williamson, De Arcos, Sandoval. HR: Mello 2:(1,2) 1st, solo and 2nd, one on; Richardson (2) 1st, one on. 
SB: Hoffard, Newborn. 
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MOUNT MIGUEL         ip  h  r er bb so
  Plunkett  L(0-1)  1.1  5  5  4  1  1
  Vanderhyde        3.2  3  1  0  1  1
  Sandoval          1.0  0  0  0  0  2
WEST HILLS
  Eddy      W(2-2)  5.0  5  0  0  1  1
  Hall              1.0  1  2  1  1  1
  Hoffard           1.0  2  0  0  0  0
*
SULTANS 3, COUGARS 1
STEELE CANYON   ab  r  h bi    SANTANA        ab  r  h bi
Harris 2b        4  1  1  0    Brosnan lf      3  0  0  0
Minich ss        3  0  2  0    Martin ss       3  0  1  0
Inzone 1b        2  0  0  0    Woods p         2  0  0  0
Rice rf          3  0  0  0    Haley c         2  1  1  1
Duby c           3  0  1  1    Helmholtz 1b    3  0  0  0
Epperson p       2  0  0  0    Diaz dh         2  0  0  0
Bruder p         0  0  0  0    Hermansen ph    1  0  0  0
Murphy 3b        2  0  0  0    Wylie 3b        0  0  0  0
Lange ph         1  0  1  0    Martinez 2b     2  1  1  1
Jacobsmeier pr   0  0  0  0    Tippin cf       3  0  2  1
Lewis lf         3  0  1  0    Miller rf       3  1  2  0
Klopp cf         3  0  0  0   
TOTALS          26  1  6  1    TOTALS         24  3  7  3
 
  Steele Canyon  (8-6)   100 000 0 - 1 6 0
  Santana        (14-3)  020 010 x - 3 7 0
 
GWRBI: Tippin (1).
E: None. DP: SC 1. LOB: SC 6, Sant 7. 2B: Martin. 3B: Tippin. SB: Harris, Minich, Woods, Tippin.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
STEELE CANYON        ip  h  r er bb so
  Epperson  L(3-1)  5.0  5  3  3  2  4
  Bruder            1.0  2  0  0  0  0
SANTANA
  Woods     W(5-1)  7.0  6  1  1  2  8
HBP: by Epperson (Haley, Woods). WP: Epperson. PB: Duby.
*
BRAVES 5, MONARCHS 4
MONTE VISTA      ab  r  h bi    EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi
Sopher p          3  2  2  0    Carreon rf        4  1  1  0
Haase p           1  1  1  0    Thomas cf         2  1  1  0
Mandiola c        4  0  0  0    Dyer lf           2  1  1  0
Lopez lf          4  1  2  1    Myer ph           1  0  1  0
Rodriguez 1b      3  0  2  2    L.Perez p         3  0  0  1
Dawson ss         3  0  0  0    Aquiningoc 1b     3  0  0  0
Croft ss          1  0  0  0    D.Perez c         3  1  2  2
R.Garcia cf       2  0  0  0    Abbod 3b          3  1  1  1
Leboffe cf        1  0  0  0    Padilla ss        2  0  0  0
Messenger rf      2  0  1  0    Sotos 2b          0  0  0  0
DeAnda rf         1  0  1  0    Manzo 2b          3  0  3  1
Hale 3b           3  0  1  0
Starling 2b       2  0  0  0     
Palacios 2b       1  0  0  0 
TOTALS           31  4 10  3    TOTALS           26  5 10  5 
 
  Monte Vista      (2-12)  201 000 1 - 4 10 0
  El Cajon Valley  (4-11)  100 004 x - 5 10 4
 
GWRBI: Abbod (1).
E: Aquiningoc, Sotos 3. DP: MV 1. LOB: MV 7, ECV 5. 2B: Lopez, Haase. 3B: Sopher. SB: Lopez, Thomas, Myer.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MONTE VISTA            ip  h  r er bb so
  Sopher              4.0  4  1  1  1  4
  Haase       L(0-2)  2.0  6  4  4  1  2
EL CAJON VALLEY
  Luis Perez  W(2-2)  7.0 10  4  3  1  7
PB: Mendiola, D.Perez.
*
VAQUEROS 12, NORSEMEN 4
VALHALLA          ab  r  h bi   EL CAPITAN    ab  r  h bi
Brown ss           3  1  1  0   Russo 2b       4  2  2  1
R.O'Sullivan dh-2b 4  1  1  0   Rauch c        3  2  1  0
S.O'Sullivan 3b-p  2  1  0  0   N.Garcia 1b    3  2  2  2
Baum 1b            3  1  0  1   Sullenger pr   0  1  0  0
McClain c          2  0  0  0   Erickson dh    3  1  2  2
Young p            1  0  1  0   D.Garcia pr    0  1  0  0
Sopata ph          1  0  1  0   Ksiazek ss     4  1  4  2
LaValley rf        3  0  1  1   Walston cf     4  1  2  2
G.Garcia 2b        1  0  0  0   Nazzal lf      4  0  1  0
Smith oh-2b-3b     0  0  0  1   Griffith 3b    2  0  0  0
Moore lf-c         3  0  0  0   Royer ph       2  0  0  0
Wilson cf          3  0  2  0   Hostetler rf   2  1  1  0
TOTALS            26  4  7  3   TOTALS        31 12 14  9
  Valhalla    (8-5)  000 040 0 -  4  7 4
  El Capitan  (8-7)  301 017 x - 12 15 3
GWRBI: Ksiazek (2).
E: Julienne, G.Garcia, Ksiazek, Russo, Moore, Griffith, R.O'Sullivan. DP: EC 2. LOB: Val 8, EC 5. 
2B: Wilson, R.O'Sullivan, Hostetler, N.Garcia. SB: Brown, S.O'Sullivan, Rauch, N.Garcia, Hostetler. 
SF: Erickson, LaValley, Smith.
VALHALLA                ip  h  r er bb so 
  Julienne             3.0  6  4  2  2  2
  M.Young    L(1-1)    2.0  2  1  1  0  1
  S.O'Sullivan         1.0  7  7  6  0  2
EL CAPITAN
  C.Garcia W(4-2)      6.0  6  4  1  3  2
  McCarthy             1.0  1  0  0  1  1
Julienne faced 2 batters in the 4th.
WP: S.O'Sullivan. HBP: by S.O'Sullivan (Rauch).
(04-13-05)

 



El Capitan's Michael Griffith (10) singles up the middle in Monday's game with Steele Canyon won by the Vaqueros. (Photo by Ernie Pile)

Vaqueros putting wins together in time for league campaign
EastCountySports.com
 
LAKESIDE -  STEVE VICKERY has been coaching long enough to know a pennant race isn't decided at the starting gate. The veteran El Capitan mentor can feel the Vaqueros' momentum building as they approach the start of the Grossmont North League campaign. Six wins in eight starts following a 1-5 beginning will do that.
 
EL CAPITAN 5, STEELE CANYON 3 - This one was a baseball odyssey in that it featured 7 hit batters and five double plays. The bottom line was clutch hitting, wherein the Vaqueros had superior delivery service.
 
With the score knotted at 1-1, GRIFF ERICKSON led off the bottom of the 3rd inning with a single. Pinch runner DAMIAN GARCIA advanced to second on a wild pitch and darted home on a single by JASSON KSIAZEK for a 2-1 edge El Capitan would never lose.
 
El Capitan starting pitcher BRYAN PAUKOVITS limited the visiting Cougars (8-5) to 2 hits over 6.1 innings as he balanced his pitching ledger at 2-2.
 
"He went out tentative in the last inning, and I have no idea why he would do that," El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said.
 
Of course, Paukovits (2-2) had plenty of support, which included 4 double plays and three would-be stealers cut down by throws from catcher AUSTIN RAUCH.
 

El Capitan's Bryan Paukovits (23) rationed the Cougars to 2 hits and 3 runs as he picked up the victory for the Vaqueros on Monday. (4-11-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)

"We're starting to play a little better defense," Vickery said. "We can still make the game interesting. The bottom line is we are still finding ways to win. I'm not sure we hit the ball out of the infield (in a 4-run 3rd inning) when we got those 4 runs. But we are still just a bit away from busting loose."
 
Vickery was gauging the difference in pressure.
 
"Our guys have to learn how to put pressure on instead of feeling pressure in those situations," Vickery said. "Until we can turn that around, it's going to be a coin flip."
 
Paukovits' performances have been better than his 2-2 record.
 
"He is a little unorthodox in the way he pitches," Vickery said. "He's effectively wild. But he's been able to get his 'get-over curveball' consistently. So you can't just sit on one pitch. He's as tough a kid as we have - he wants to be out there."
 
Paukovits dished out a bevy of ground balls, while striking out 4 in 6.1 innings.
 
"What counts is we got the win," Paukovits said. "I'm always trying to hit the corners, never throwing the same pitch twice - at least not in the same location. That philosophy seems to be working good for me."
 
GROSSMONT 11,  MONTE VISTA 0:  In the early 1990s, the San Diego Padres had a quartet of hitters - Tony Fernandez, Tony Gwynn, Gary Sheffield and Fred McGriff - that headed their batting order and were fondly known by the local media as the "Four Tops."
 
Grossmont High would like to introduce the Foothillers' version of "The Four Tops."
 
Here they are:  Messrs TIM FERRARA, A.J. GRIFFIN, TRISTAN PHILLIPS and DONNIE SNOW. In their latest performance, the Foothillers' foursome was a combined 10-for-12, with 3 doubles, 3 home runs, 7 runs scored and 9 RBI in Monday's (Apr. 11) Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament dismantling of visiting Monte Vista.
 
In addition to lacing a pair of doubles, scoring twice and plating a pair, Griffin fired a complete-game 2-hit shutout for his third win without a loss. He needed only 77 pitches to complete the job, which included 6 strikeouts.
 
DONNIE SNOW let Rancho Bernardo's John Drennen know that the San Diego CIF home run race isn't over. Snow launched his 7th and 8th round-trippers at Monte Vista's expense, collecting 3 RBI in the process. Drennen is the leader at the moment with 10 home runs.
 
Snow's first home run followed a Phillips single, giving Grossmont (11-3) a 2-0 edge in the 1st inning.
 
No. 8-ranked Grossmont broke the game open with three runs in the 2nd inning as MICHAEL MEDINA singled in one run and Griffin and Phillips followed with RBI doubles.
 
Snow smacked a monster solo home run in the 5th and Phillips pounded a 2-run shot in the 5th.
 
JESSE RODRIGUEZ and ERIC LEBOFFE accounted for the only hits for Monte Vista (2-11).
 
The Foothillers are the front-runners for a berth in Friday's (Apr. 15) Grossmont North/South Tournament finals at 4 p.m. No. 4 Granite Hills (12-3), which meets the Foothillers in the final round of pool play Wednesday (Apr. 13) at Joe Gizoni Field, most likely will meet the Hillers for the tournament title two days later.
 
WEST HILLS 3,  HELIX 2: Coach SCOTT HOPGOOD's Wolf Pack has posted a 4-4 mark after an 0-5 start, which certainly has caught the attention of those in the Grossmont North League.
 
At the crest of the Pack's resurgence is junior southpaw AARON RICHARDSON, who won his third straight pitching nod. Richardson, who received late-inning help from MICHAEL HALL, passed the endurance test of throwing 138 pitches, striking out 7, walking 6, and hitting one while allowing 6 hits.
 
"Richardson threw way too many pitches, but he was a real bulldog," said Hopgood. "He was tired, but battled all day."
 
Hopgood was equally as pleased with his defense.
 
"The play of the game was when we threw (Helix catcher ZACH) TANIDA out at the plate in the 4th inning," Hopgood said. "Our defense kept us in it."
 
Helix coach COLE HOLLAND couldn't say the same thing about the Highlanders, who made key miscues that led to the club's 6th loss in seven starts.
 
"How do we get 6 hits, 6 walks, a hit batter and score only 2 runs?" Holland wondered. "I don't know how many runners we left on, but it must have been a bunch." Eleven to exact.
 
RBI by JOE MELLO, STEPHEN STRASBURG and JOSH PICHETTE staked West Hills (4-9) to a 3-0 lead.
 
"We drop a fly ball in the 3rd inning and that gives them 2 runs," Holland said. "Our right fielder loses a fly ball in the sun and gives them another run in the 4th inning. You can't give away anything when you hit like we do."
 
Helix (8-7) made a game of it with 2 runs in the 5th inning. STEVEN ROHMER singled and scored on an ERIK PONCE double. Ponce scurried home on a base hit by NICK LEDESMA.
 
"We left runners on all over the place," Holland said. "We left the bases loaded in the 5th."
 
VALHALLA 17,  EL CAJON VALLEY 1:  The sixth-ranked Norsemen have been looking for a little more offensive firepower from their outfielders. Senior STEVEN LeVALLEY may be part of the answer.
 
LeValley has been in the Valhalla starting lineup for the last two games, producing 6 hits in 9 at-bats to raise his season batting average to .500 (7 for 14). That includes a 4-for-4 burst with 5 RBI in Monday's (Apr. 11) Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament romp over host El Cajon Valley. LeValley teed off on the Braves for a double, three singles and a sacrifice fly.
 
Freshman RYAN O'SULLIVAN stroked a solo home run in the 1st inning and drove in 2 more with a base-hit in the 2nd inning as Valhalla (8-4) registered 17 runs against El Cajon Valley for the second time this season. O'Sullivan also pitched four innings to nab his third pitching win in four decisions.
 
Senior SEAN O'SULLIVAN rocketed a 3-run home run in the 5th inning to highlight one of his better days, which included two stolen bases, 3 runs and a single.
 
CHRIS MOORE went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI for the Norsemen.
 
MICHAEL YOUNG scored 3 runs and pitched a shutout inning of relief, while BOBBY WILKINS twirled 2 shutout frames and scored 2 runs.
 
FEDERICO CARREON accounted for 2 of El Cajon Valley's five hits.
 
SANTANA 16,  MOUNT MIGUEL 4: EDDIE De ARCOS' RBI single capped a 2-run 1st inning for the visiting Matadors, but it was all downhill from there as Santana stuffed Mount Miguel in Monday's (Apr.11) Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament clash in Santee.
 
Unsung senior second baseman RICHARD MARTINEZ went 4-for-4, drove in 4 runs and stole a base as Santana mauled the Matadors.
 
"Martinez is a real upbeat competitor," Santana coach JERRY HENSON said. "He did some good things with the bat like going the opposite way instead of trying to pull everything."
 
RYAN BROSNAN was the sparkplug in Santana's 8-run 4th inning. The junior left fielder led off with a triple and scored and later doubled in two and scored his second run. He was 3-for-5 for the game.
 
BRANDON HALEY broke out of a mild slump with three hits and 3 runs, while JEFF WOODS drove in three runs and scored twice for No. 5 Santana (13-3).
 
De Arcos finished 3-for-3 at the dish for Mount Miguel (0-12), which now has been outscored 125-53. BUD NEWBORN was 2-for-2 with a double, a pair of steals and 2 runs.
 

MONDAY, APR 11, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North/South Tournament
SULTANS 16, MATADORS 4
MOUNT MIGUEL       ab  r  h bi    SANTANA       ab  r  h bi
Calafato ss         4  0  0  0    Brosnan lf     5  3  3  2
Newborn cf          2  2  2  0    Woods ss       3  1  2  3
Sandoval lf         0  2  0  0    Helmholtz 1b   5  2  2  1
Cannon lf           2  0  0  0    Haley c        5  3  3  1
White c             3  0  0  2    Martin dh      2  0  0  0
De Arcos 1b-cf      3  0  3  1    Schaub dh-p    1  1  1  0
Green 3b            3  0  1  1    Diaz rf        2  1  1  2
Williamson rf-cf-p  3  0  0  0    Miller rf      1  1  0  0
Seavello 2b         2  0  0  0    Martinez 2b    4  2  4  4
Freeman-Bolden p    2  0  0  0    Tippin cf      4  1  1  0
Freeman p           0  0  0  0    Wylie 3b       2  1  1  0
TOTALS             24  4  6  4    TOTALS        34 16 18 13
 
  Mount Miguel  (0-12)  201 010 0 -  4  6 2
  Santana       (13-3)  403 810 X - 16 18 1
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MOUNT MIGUEL              ip  h  r er bb so
  Freeman-Bolden L(0-1)  3.0  9  7  4  1  2
  Freeman                0.2  5  8  8  3  0
  Williamson             1.1  4  1  1  0  0 
  Plunkett               1.0  0  0  0  0  0
SANTANA
  Spicer                 2.1  3  3  2  2  1
  Medrud         W(2-0)  3.2  3  1  1  1  0
  Schaub                 1.0  0  0  0  1  1
HBP: by Spicer (Sandoval 2). WP: Freeman-Bolden, Freeman, Spicer. 
* 
FOOTHILLERS 11, MONARCHS 0
MONTE VISTA     ab  r  h bi    GROSSMONT      ab  r  h bi
Sopher lf        1  0  0  0    Ferrara 2b      4  1  2  1
Messenger lf     1  0  0  0    Griffin P       4  2  2  2
De Anda rf       2  0  0  0    Phillips ss     4  2  3  3
R.Garcia rf      1  0  0  0    Snow rf         4  2  3  3
Lopez 1b-lf      3  0  0  0    Pieczynski c    3  0  0  0
Rodriguez p-1b   3  0  1  0    Williams cf     2  1  1  0
Leboffe cf-p     3  0  1  0    Fox ph          1  0  0  0
Croft ss         2  0  0  0    Passanisi 1b    3  2  2  0
Palacios 2b      1  0  0  0    Longmire ph     1  0  1  0
Mendiola 2b-c    1  0  0  0    Sobel 3b        3  0  0  0
Cooper c         2  0  0  0    Schroeder ph    1  0  0  0
Haase dh         2  0  0  0    Medina lf       3  1  1  1
Hall 3b          0  0  0  0    Berry ph        1  0  0  0
Dawson 2b        0  0  0  0
TOTALS          22  0  2  0    TOTALS         34 11 15 10
 
  Monte Vista  (2-11)  000 000 0 -  0  2 3
  Grossmont    (11-3)  232 120 x - 11 15 0
 
GWRBI: Snow (4).
E: Lopez, Croft, Leboffe. DP: Gro 1. LOB: MV 2, Gro 7. 2B: Leboffe, Ferrara, Passanisi, Griffin 2. 
HR: Phillips (4) 5th, one on; Snow 2:(7,8) 1st, one on, 4th, solo. 
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MONTE VISTA           ip  h  r er bb so
  Rodriguez  L(1-6)  3.0  8  7  3  2  2
  Leboffe            3.0  7  4  4  0  1
GROSSMONT 
  Griffin    W(3-0)  7.0  2  0  0  0  6
 HBP: by Griffin (Sopher).
*
WOLF PACK 3, HIGHLANDERS 2
HELIX            ab  r  h bi    WEST HILLS     ab  r  h bi
Rohmer 2b         3  1  0  0    Mello cf        3  0  1  1
Ponce rf          3  1  1  1    Hooper rf       2  0  1  0
Rosenthal pr      0  0  0  0    Strasburg 1b    2  0  0  1
Ledesma cf        3  0  2  1    Richardson p    3  0  0  0
Peterson p-1b     4  0  0  0    Hall p          0  0  0  0
Valles lf         2  0  0  0    Skinner lf      3  0  0  0
Tanida c          3  0  1  0    Gagnon c        3  1  1  0
Ritchie 3b        2  0  0  0    Eddy 3b         3  1  3  0
Webb 1b           2  0  0  0    Hoffard ss      2  0  0  0
Schuler p         1  0  0  0    Pichette dh     2  1  1  1
Wenham p          0  0  0  0    Drescher 2b     0  0  0  0
Perez ss          3  0  2  0    
TOTALS           26  2  6  2    TOTALS         23  3  7  3
 
  Helix       (8-6)  000 020 0 - 2 6 1
  West Hills  (4-9)  002 100 x - 3 7 1
 
GWRBI: Mello (1).
E: Strasburg, Ledesma. DP: Hel 1. LOB: Hel 11, WH 5. 2B: Ponce. SB: Rosenthal, Pichette, Mello. S: Hoffard.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
HELIX                 ip  h  r er bb so
  Peterson   L(1-3)  2.1  2  2  1  2  2
  Schuler            2.2  4  1  1  1  3
  Wenham             1.0  1  0  0  0  1
WEST HILLS
  Richardson W(3-2)  6.2  6  2  2  6  7
  Hall       Sv (1)  0.1  0  0  0  0  0
HBP: by Richardson (Ritchie).
*
NORSEMEN 17, BRAVES 1
VALHALLA          ab  r  h bi    EL CAJON VALLEY ab  r  h bi
J.Brown ss         4  1  1  0    Carreon cf       3  1  2  0
R.O'Sullivan p-1b  3  2  2  3    Abbod c          1  0  1  0
S.O'Sullivan 3b    3  3  2  2    Manzo p          3  0  0  0
Baum 1b            2  1  0  0    L.Perez ss       2  0  0  0
McClain c          2  1  2  1    Aquiningoc rf    2  0  0  0
D.Garcia 2b        3  0  0  1    Mansfield 1b     3  0  1  0
LeValley cf-2b     4  1  4  5    Sotos 2b         3  0  0  0
Moore lf-c         4  0  2  2    Vega p           1  0  0  0
Wilson cf          1  1  1  0    Myer 1b-p        2  0  1  0
Smith ss           2  0  1  0    Padilla lf-p     3  0  0  0
Stangyl p          1  1  0  0 
A.Brown 3b         1  1  0  0
M.Young p          2  3  1  0
Wilkins c-p        2  2  1  1
Sopata cf          2  0  0  0
TOTALS            36 17 17 15    TOTALS          23  1  5  0
 
  Valhalla         (8-4)  240 244 1 - 17 17 1
  El Cajon Valley  (3-11) 100 000 0 -  1  5 3
 
GWRBI: R.O'Sullivan (1).
E: Padilla, Aquiningoc, Abbod, Wilkins. DP: Val 2, ECV 1. LOB: Val 13, ECV 7. 2B: LeValley. 
HR: R.O'Sullivan (1) 1st solo; S.O'Sullivan (3) 5th, two on. SB: S.O'Sullivan 2, Brown, Wilson. 
SF: Moore, LeValley.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
VALHALLA                ip  h  r er bb so
  R.O'Sullivan  W(3-1) 4.0  4  1  1  1  3
  Young                1.0  1  0  0  0  2
  Wilkins              2.0  0  0  0  1  0
EL CAJON VALLEY
  Vega          L(0-1) 1.1  5  6  6  4  0
  Myer                 3.2  7  6  5  1  2
  Padilla              0.0  2  4  3  3  0
  Manzo                2.0  3  1  1  0  2
Padilla faced 7 batters in the 6th inning.
HBP: by Padilla (Stangyl); by Manzo (Young); by Vega (McClain, D.Garcia); R.O'Sullivan (Abbod, Young).
*
VAQUEROS 5, COUGARS 3
STEELE CANYON   ab  r  h bi    EL CAPITAN      ab  r  h bi
Harris 2b        3  0  0  0    Russo 2b         3  1  2  1
Minich dh        2  0  0  0    Rauch c          4  0  0  0
Inzone 1b        3  0  1  0    N.Garcia 1b      4  0  1  1
Rice rf          3  1  1  0    Erickson dh      3  0  1  0
Duby c           1  1  0  0    D.Garcia pr      0  1  0  0
Epperson ss      2  0  0  1    Ksiazek ss       1  1  1  1
Murray 3b        2  0  0  0    Royer rf         3  0  1  0
Lange ph         0  0  0  0    Nazzal lf        2  1  0  0 
Jacobsmeier pr   0  1  0  0    Griffith 3b      2  0  1  1
Lewis lf         2  0  0  0    Hostetler cf     2  1  0  0
Klopp cf         2  0  1  1
TOTALS          20  3  3  2    TOTALS          24  5  7  4
 
  Steele Canyon  (8-5)  010 000 2 - 3 3 0
  El Capitan     (7-7)  104 000 x - 5 7 4
 
GWRBI:  Ksiazek (1).
E: Russo 2, Royer, Paukovits. DP: SC 1, EC 4. LOB: SC 4, EC 7. 2B: N.Garcia, Royer. 3B: Rice, Klopp. 
SB: Russo. SF: Griffith.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
STEELE CANYON         ip  h  r er bb so
  Johnson    L(2-1)  6.0  7  5  4  1  3
EL CAPITAN
  Paukovits  W(2-2)  6.1  2  3  3  5  4
  King       Sv(1)   0.2  1  0  0  0  1
HBP: by Johnson (Russo, Ksiazek 2, Nazzal); by Paukovits (Lewis, Harris, Minich). WP: Johnson 2, Paukovits 2. 
PB: Rauch.
(04-11-05)



Valhalla's Sean O'Sullivan (12) pitched six shutout innings, allowed 6 hits, walked none and struck out 9. (4-8-05/Photo by Ernie Pile)

After 'tape ball' shenanigans, Patriots go out and beat Pennsylvania team in KSA finale
EastCountySports.com
 
ORLANDO, FL. - Senior KELLEN ROSSITTO is East County's best-kept secret. And, at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, going stealth isn't all that easy. None of that seems to bother Rossitto, who drove in 5 runs with a double and a triple Saturday (Apr. 9) to help Christian claim a 7-4 victory over Shenango (PA) in the final round of the KSA Tournament. The victory gave the Patriots (8-4) a 2-1 record in the Central Florida event.
 
Rossitto, who stretched his season-long hitting streak to 11 games, hoisted his batting average to .390 with a two-run triple in the 2nd inning and a plated three more runs with a bases-loaded triple in the 6th inning.
 
"He's making contact and hitting the ball hard," Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said. "He doesn't have any home runs yet, but that's because he's ripping line drives into the gaps. I'm afraid that if he concentrated on trying to get more elevation, he'd pop the ball up more often than not. He's doing fine with what he's doing now."
 
ADAM PERRY returned to the Patriots' lineup after a three-game absence following an injury suffered during a collision with a teammate a week ago at Mission Bay. Perry showed no signs of rust, banging out three hits in as many at-bats against the Shenango Wildcats, which calls home New Castle, PA.
 
The week-long trip to Florida has become a bi-annual event for the Christian High baseball team. A bonding experience.
 
"The biggest game of the tournament took place in the hotel parking lot," Mitchell said. "It's 11 p.m. and I hear all this noise. Then I look out the window and there is our team in the parking lot, squared off in a 9-on-9 'tape-ball' game."
 
Mitchell told his players to cease and come inside.
 
"They told me the game was tied and they were in extra innings," Mitchell said. "I told them to turn down the noise. But when the game ended 14-13 in nine innings, the kids went wild again.
 
"It's amazing what pleases kids most. Here they have six days to do all these amusement parks and all they want to talk about is that 'tape ball' game."
 
The Christian entourage returns home Sunday (Apr. 10) and must focus on the start of Harbor league play. The opener pits the Patriots against favored Madison on Thursday (Apr. 14) in El Cajon at 3 p.m.
 

SATURDAY, APR 9, 2005
EastCountySports.com
KSA Tournament (Orlando, Fla.)
PATRIOTS 7, WILDCATS 4
Christian   (8-4)  022 003 0 - 7 14 1
Shenango (PA)      001 020 1 - 4  4 0   
Mills, Allen (7) and Hart; Stelter, Curry (4) and Senko. W: Mills (4-1). L: Stelter (0-1).
(04-09-05)


Eagles take lead amongst east's elite
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - Granite Hills, winner of 10 of its last 11 games, has established itself as the unofficial kingpin of East County baseball. The Eagles, who rallied to clip West Hills 9-6 on Friday (Apr. 8), are the only unbeaten team left in the Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament. The Grossmont North side of the tournament is a logjam, with three teams - Santana, Grossmont and El Capitan - sitting at 2-1. Two games remain. Ties following the pool-play/round robin format are decided first by head-to-head meetings (if there two teams deadlocked) and then by fewest runs allowed (if more than two squads are locked up). The tournament championship game is slated for Friday (Apr. 15) at the site of the Grossmont North pool winner.
 
GRANITE HILLS 9, WEST HILLS 6 - The members of the Granite Hills bullpen knew they would be pressed into service, but not under this scenario.

"I knew I'd get into the game, but not that early," said reliever GARRETT RUSSELL, who was called upon after the Eagles' starter could retire only one batter. "But we kept the team in the game."

After allowing West Hills to jump out of the gates with four quick runs -- all without the aid of a basehit -- the Eagles' relief corps tossed 6 innings of shutout ball, allowing the 7th-ranked Eagles (12-3) to rally for their third straight Grossmont Conference North-South Tournament win.

West Hills, which upset No. 2 Valhalla on Monday (Apr. 4), slipped to 3-9.

While Russell and DARREN GAY, who went 2 1/3 frames to collect his second victory of the week and third of the season, were throwing zeros at the Wolf Pack, they had to be concerned when the cavalry would finally arrive.
 
And just like a Western motion picture from the 1950s, the Eagles offense waited until the final, decisive moment to make the rescue, scoring seven times in the 6th to secure the victory.

Limited to just three weak singles by West Hills starter STEPHEN STRASBURG through five innings, the Eagles busted loose with 7 hits in pivotal frame, including doubles by TRAVIS TAIJERON, pinch-hitter BRENT BOLTZ, BRANDON DECKER and RYAN MARQUIS.

"It was because we finally kept our hands back and got a good look at the ball," noted Marquis, who drove in two runs with his liner into the right-field corner. "Coach (JAMES DAVIS) was telling us that all game -- to work on going to the opposite field."

The first pair of doubles were sandwiched around a walk, ending Strasburg's strong effort.  After his depature, the West Hills relievers couldn't record an out.

"I was looking to hit the first pitch and he came at me with a fastball," said Boltz, who lined the initial offering over the first baseman's head to raise his pinch-hitting totals to 2-for-2 this season. "And it was outside, too, so I just went with it. Otherwise, we finally became more patient at the plate."
 
Boltz' double cut the deficit to 4-3, then BRIAN HUMPHRIES drilled an 0-2 pitch to right to drive home a pair to secure the lead.

West Hills mounted its own comeback in the 7th. Strasburg notched his second hit of the contest, and then scored on a home run by AARON RICHARDSON. The shot deep over the wall in right capped a three-RBI performance by Richardson. He also walked with the bases loaded in the 1st during the game⤙s wild start.

The first two Pack batters walked to open the contest, then moved 90 feet on a balk. KOREY HOOPER was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, but the Eagles nailed a lead runner at the plate on an ensuing groundball.

Richardson then walked for the first run, followed by a sacrifice fly to center from TRAVIS IRVIN.  MICHAEL HALL walked to re-load the bases, and a wild pitch would score both Strasburg and Richardson, as the ball was misplayed in an attempt to get the lead runner. A second error was also given to allow Hall to reach third.

However, Russell allowed just one hit in his relief stint, striking out three. Gay followed with a two-hit effort with two strikeouts, and DONNIE ANDERSON tossed the final inning, striking out three despite allowing the homer.


 Valhalla's Ryan O'Sullivan (15) slides into second base as Grossmont's Tim Ferrera (6) waits for the throw. (4-8-05/Photo by Ernie Pile).
 
VALHALLA 6,  GROSSMONT 0:  Make no mistake about it. Valhalla's SEAN O'SULLIVAN continues to be one of the premier pitchers in Southern California.
 
The senior right-hander dazzled the No. 6-ranked Foothillers for six innings, striking out 9, walking none and scattering six hits as No. 2-ranked Valhalla attempted to re-establish itself as a San Diego Section power.
 
"It's a lot bigger to pitch in a game with so much more on the line like this one here today with Grossmont," said O'Sullivan who raised his pitching ledger to 2-0 and lowered his ERA to 2.06. "I was so mentally focused that I didn't allow room to miss."
 
O'Sullivan and catcher TOMMY McCLAIN formed a combination that kept the visiting Foothillers guessing more often than not.
 
"It was just one of those days where everything I threw seemed to find its way into Tommy's glove," O'Sullivan said. "He called a pretty good game, and we were semi on the same page, but there were some at-bats where we had to go through the signs a few extra times to figure out what we wanted to do."
 
Some pro scouts have become naysayers in terms of O'Sullivan's wealth and ability. Still others maintain that the 6-foot-2, 225-pound right-hander has the tools to toil at the major league level.
 
"I'm throwing well and I feel fine," O'Sullivan said.
 
Key statistic - O'Sullivan has an 18-to-1 strikeouts-to-walk ratio.
 
"Sean had a great game, but there was more to this game than just his pitching," Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE said.
 
Such as the hitting of leadoff man JAVIER BROWN and sophomore RYAN O⤙SULLIVAN. The duo was a combined 5-for-6 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored in the top two slots of the Valhalla batting order.
 
"We came out here as a team and showed what we can do," Ryan O'Sullivan said.
 
Perdue made it clear he is pleased by the efforts of the two hitters, who bat in front of Sean O'Sullivan.
 
Brown is batting a team best .563, which includes a single, double, walk and being hit by a pitch in the Grossmont game. He scored twice and drove in one run.
 
"Javy and Ryan are doing a great job of getting on base," Perdue said. "Now, if we can only get Sean to relax and break loose offensively we are going to be dangerous."
 
Ryan O'Sullivan delivered a key bunt single that set up Valhalla's second run in the 3rd inning, doubled in the 5th and drove in two runs with a base hit in Valhalla's 4-run 6th.
 
"It was a good confidence booster for Ryan, proving that he belongs here, and that he can contribute the rest of the season," Sean O'Sullivan said.
 
Perdue agreed.
 
"It's like I told Ryan, if I didn't think he belonged on the varsity, that he wasn't one of the best nine players, then he wouldn't be here," the veteran coach said. "He's right up there at the top in terms of our batting leaders."
 
It was a frustrating outing for Grossmont (10-3), which left runners in scoring position in the first five innings.
 
"Anytime you can beat those guys, it's sweet," Perdue said. "Because they are intense, they're scrappy and hate to lose."
 
Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS agreed that beating Sean O'Sullivan is no small task.
 
"Any time they put O'Sullivan on the mound, they have an excellent chance to win," Phillips said. "But more than that, we gave them way too much respect. We can compete with these guys, but we didn't today."
 
SANTANA 3,  HELIX 1:  Sophomore DALLAS MARTIN gave the suddenly struggling Sultans a lift on Friday (Apr. 8) as he came within one out of spinning Santana's 4th shutout of the season.
 
Helix sophomore JEREMY PETERSON foiled Martin's bid with a booming home run into the trees beyond the right field fence with two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning.
 
While impressed by Peterson's mammoth home run, Helix coach COLE HOLLAND continued to express his concern about the Highlanders' offensive slump.  
 
"We didn't hit the ball again," Holland said.
 
Helix has scored 2 or fewer runs in its last six starts. The Highlanders (8-6) have produced 2 or fewer tallies in half of their 14 games.
  
"Our offense is putting too much pressure on our defense," Holland said. "We need to get somebody hitting the ball."
 
Third-ranked Santana (12-3) didn't produce much on the offensive end at Helix, either. It took an error to set up KYLE HELMHOLTZ's RBI single in the 3rd inning.
 
A one-out double by JEFF WOODS set the Sultans' offense in motion in the 5th. A dropped fly ball coupled with RBI singles by BRANDON HALEY and RYAN BROSNAN extended Helix's advantage to 3-0.
 
Helix pitchers MATT WENHAM and DUSTIN RUNIONS pitched well enough to win, as they surrendered just 7 hits and one earned run.
 
EL CAPITAN 15,  MOUNT MIGUEL 4:  Ever so slowly the El Capitan Vaqueros are picking up steam. A 7-run 4th inning in Friday's (Apr. 8) Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament propelled the visiting Vaqueros to their highest scoring output of the season and their 4th win in five games.
 
JASSON KSIAZEK went 3-for-3 with 3 RBI, including a 2-run home run in the blowout 4th inning. LOUIE RUSSO was 2-for-4 with a triple, 2 runs and a pair of RBI for El Capitan (6-7).
 
NIK GARCIA was 2-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI, while pitching 4 shutout innings to earn his first win in three decisions.
 
"Nik had his best performance on the mound this year," said El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY. "He faced a minimum of 12 batters in four innings. That to me was the biggest plus of the game."
 
The Vaqueros tattooed three Mount Miguel pitchers for 15 hits, including a double and a triple by AUSTIN RAUCH.
 
STEELE CANYON 7,  EL CAJON VALLEY 1: Talk about a role reversal . . . El Cajon Valley was coming off a 17-run outburst two days earlier and the Cougars of Steele Canyon produced just one hit in seven innings.
 
Coach PHIL MITTRY's Cougars received a superb pitching effort from ROSS EPPERSON and ANDREW BRUDER as they shut down the Braves on 3 hits in Friday's (Apr. 8) Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament win at Steele Canyon's Rattlesnake Ridge.
 
"Epperson pitched a great game," Mittry said.  "He gave us what we needed. After Wednesday (when the Cougars suffered a 14-0 drubbing by Grossmont), we needed somebody to step up. Duby came up with a couple of clutch hits today and so did Rice.
 
"This win got Wednesday out of everyone's system."
 
The Cougars struck first as junior DANNY HARRIS led off the bottom of the 1st inning with his first home run of the season. Catcher DEVON DUBY added an RBI single later in the inning.
 
Duby wasn't done as he drilled a 2-run double in the 5th inning staking Steele Canyon to a 4-0 lead. An inning later, CHRIS RICE ripped a two-run double to give Steele Canyon (8-4) a 6-1 bulge. WILL MURRAY plated Rice with the Cougars' fifth double of the afternoon.
 
El Cajon Valley (3-10) avoided the shutout in the 6th inning. FEDERICO CARREON singled to give the Braves a start. LUIS PEREZ walked and JONATHAN MANZO singled to load the bases. ALAN ABBOD brought home Carreon with a sacrifice fly, but the Braves could do no more damage.
 

FRIDAY, APR 8, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North/South Tournament
SULTANS 3, HIGHLANDERS 1
SANTANA         ab  r  h bi    HELIX          ab  r  h bi
Martin p         4  0  0  0    Ledesma cf      3  0  1  0
Woods ss         4  1  2  0    Rohmer 2b       4  0  0  0
Helmholtz 1b     4  0  1  1    Ponce rf        3  0  0  0
Haley c          3  1  1  1    Valles lf       4  0  1  0
Basnight 3b      3  0  0  0    Beltran dh      3  0  0  0
Brosnan lf       2  0  2  1    Tanida c        2  0  1  0
Tippin dh-lf     3  0  0  0    Ritchie 3b      2  0  0  0
Martinez 2b      3  0  0  0    Foy ph          1  0  0  0
Miller rf        3  1  1  0    R.Perez ss      2  0  1  0
                               Peterson 1b     3  1  1  1 

TOTALS          30  3  7  3    TOTALS         27  1  5  1
 
  Santana  (12-3)  001 102 0 - 3 7 1
  Helix    (8-6)   000 000 1 - 1 5 4
 
GWRBI: Helmholtz (3).
E: Woods, Ritchie 2, Rohmer, Ponce. LOB: Sant 8, Hel 11. 2B: Woods, Valles. HR: Peterson (1), 7th, solo. SB: Ledesma, Diaz.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
SANTANA            ip  h  r er bb so
  Martin  W(3-1)  7.0  5  1  1  4  5
HELIX
  Wenham  L(2-2)  6.0  7  3  1  2  4
  Runions         1.0  0  0  0  0  0
HBP: by Martin (Ponce, Peterson). WP: Martin 2.
*
NORSEMEN 6, GROSSMONT 0
GROSSMONT      ab  r  h bi    VALHALLA          ab  r  h bi
Ferrara 2b      4  0  0  0    J.Brown ss         2  2  2  1
Griffin 3b-p    4  0  0  0    R.O'Sullivan 3b    4  0  3  2
Phillips ss     3  0  1  0    Julienne p         0  0  0  0
Snow p          3  0  0  0    S.O'Sullivan p-3b  3  0  1  1
Sobel 3b        0  0  0  0    Baum 1b            4  0  0  0
Pieczynski c    3  0  2  0    McClain c          3  1  2  0
Passanisi 1b    2  0  1  0    G.Garcia 2b        2  1  1  0
Longmire 1b     1  0  0  0    LeValley lf        3  1  1  0
Williams cf     3  0  1  0    A.Brown rf         1  0  0  0
Cusumano lf     2  0  0  0    Sopata rf          1  0  0  0
Fox lf          1  0  0  0    Wilson cf          3  1  0  0
Berry rf        2  0  1  0 
Medina ph       1  0  0  0
TOTALS         29  0  6  0    TOTALS            26  6 10  4
      
  Grossmont  (10-3)  000 000 0 - 0  6 1
  Valhalla   (7-4)   011 004 X - 6 10 2 
 
GWRBI: None.
E: J.Brown, Ferrara, R.O'Sullivan. DP: Gro 1. LOB: Gro 8, Val 7. 
2B: J.Brown, R.O'Sullivan, McClain, S.O'Sullivan. SB: Phillips, Piecynski, McClain, Berry, Ferrara.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GROSSMONT                ip  h  r er bb so
  Snow          L(2-2)  5+   7  3  2  3  4
  Griffin               1.0  3  3  3  1  0
VALHALLA
  S.O'Sullivan  W(2-0)  6.0  6  0  0  0  9
  Julienne              1.0  0  0  0  0  1
Snow faced 2 batters in the 6th inning.
HBP: by Snow (J.Brown, G.Garcia).
*
COUGARS 7, BRAVES 1
EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi    STEELE CANYON   ab  r  h bi
Carreon rf-p      3  1  1  0    Harris 2b        3  1  1  1
L.Perez ss        1  0  0  0    Minich ss        4  1  2  0
Manzo p-rf        2  0  1  0    Inzone 1b        3  3  2  0
Mansfield 1b      3  0  0  0    Rice rf          3  2  1  2
Abbod 3b          1  0  0  1    Duby c           4  0  2  3
D.Perez c         3  0  0  0    Knaust dh        2  0  0  0
Watson cf         3  0  1  0    Jenner dh        2  0  0  0
Vega lf           3  0  0  0    Murray 3b        4  0  1  1
Sotos 2b          2  0  0  0    Lewis lf         4  0  3  0
Hopwood ph        1  0  0  0    Klopp cf         0  0  0  0
TOTALS           22  1  3  1    TOTALS          29  7 12  7
 
  El Cajon Valley  (3-10)  000 001 0 - 1  3 2
  Steele Canyon    (8-4)   200 023 x - 7 12 1
  
GWRBI: Harris (1).
E: Abbod, D.Perez, Minich. LOB: ECV 5, SC 9. 2B: Inzone, Rice, Duby, Murray, Lewis. 
HR: Harris (1) 1st, solo. SB: Duby, Lewis. SF: Abbod.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAJON VALLEY     ip  h  r er bb so
  Manzo    L(0-1   4.0  6  4  4  3  2
  Carreon          2.0  6  3  1  1  1
STEELE CANYON 
  Epperson W(3-0)  6.0  3  1  1  2  7
  Bruder           1.0  0  0  0  0  2
HBP: by Manzo (Harris; by Carreon (Inzone); by Epperson (L.Perez, Manzo). BK: Carreon.
*
VAQUEROS 15, MATADORS 4
EL CAPITAN       ab  r  h bi    MOUNT MIGUEL     ab  r  h bi
Russo 2b          4  2  2  3    Calafato 3b       4  0  0  0
Rauch c           5  2  2  2    Newborn cf        3  1  0  0
Henson ph         0  0  0  0    Sandoval p        3  1  2  1
N.Garcia p        4  2  2  2    White c           2  1  2  1
King p            1  0  1  0    DeArcos rf        2  1  1  0
Petrille p        0  0  0  0    Cannon rf         1  0  0  0
Erickson 1b       1  1  0  0    Williamson 2b     3  0  1  0
McCarthy 1b       1  0  0  1    Bilden 1b         0  0  0  0
Kziazek ss        3  2  3  3    Seavello ss       3  0  1  0
Sullenger ss      2  0  0  0    Avery lf          0  0  0  0
Walston cf        4  0  0  0    Plunkett 3b       1  0  0  0
Nazzal lf         2  1  1  1    Vanderhyde 1      2  0  0  0
D.Garcia          2  2  2  0    Freeman 1b        3  0  1  0
Griffith 3b       2  1  1  2
Hostetler rf      2  1  0  0
Royer rf          2  1  1  0
TOTALS           37 15 15 14    TOTALS           27  4  8  3
 
  El Capitan    (6-7)  301 702 2 - 15 15 2
  Mount Miguel  (0-11  000 022 0 -  4  8 2
 
GWRBI: N.Garcia (3).
E: D.Garcia, C.Garcia, Newborn, Seavello. DP: EC 2. LOB: EC 11, MM 3. 
2B: Sandoval, White, DeArcos, Williamson, Freeman, Rauch, N.Garcia, Ksiazek. 3B: Russo, Rauch. 
HR: Ksiazek (1) 4th, one on. SB: Rauch, Hostetler, Newborn.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAPTAN            ip  h  r er bb so
  N.Garcia  W(1-2)  4.0  1  0  0  1  3
  King              2.0  6  4  3  0  1
  Petrille          1.0  1  0  0  0  0
MOUNT MIGUEL
  Sandoval  L(0-4)  3+   7 10  9  4  0
  Vanderhyde        2.2  5  3  3  2  1
  Green             1.1  3  2  2  1  2
Sandoval faced 4 batters in the 4th inning.
HBP: by Sandoval (Walston, Erickson); by Vanderhyde (Nazzal). WP: Sandoval, Vanderhyde. BK: Vanderhyde 2.
*
EAGLES 9, WOLF PACK 6
WEST HILLS        ab r h bi  GRANITE HILLS     ab r h bi
Mello cf           2 0 1 0   Decker ss          3 1 1 1
Skinner 1b-rf      2 1 0 0   Marquis cf         3 2 1 2
Eddy dh            0 0 0 0   Crawford dh        3 0 2 2
Hooper lf          2 1 0 0   Monette c          3 1 0 0
Strasburg p-1b     4 1 2 0   Taijeron lf        3 1 1 0
Carley pr          0 0 0 0   Anderson 1b        2 1 1 1
Parker pr          0 1 0 0   Roberts 1b         0 0 0 0
Richardson rf-p    3 2 1 3   Horner 3b          1 0 0 0
Irvin 2b           3 0 0 1   Boltz ph           1 1 1 1
Hall 3b            3 0 0 0   Humphries rf       3 1 1 2
Pichette c         2 0 0 0   Cazares 2b         3 1 2 0
Hutchins dh-p      3 0 1 0
Marcelis ss        0 0 0 0
TOTALS            25 6 5 4   TOTALS           25 9 10 9
  West Hills     (3-9)   400 000 2 - 6  5 1
  GRANITE HILLS  (12-3)  100 107 x - 9 10 4
GWRBI: Humphries (1).
E: Russell, Monette, Horner 2, Marcelis. DP: WH 1. LOB: WH 7, GH 5. 2B: Taijeron, Boltz, Decker, Marquis. 
HR: Richardson (1), 7th, 1 on. SB: Marquis, Mello 2, Pichette, Richardson. S: Horner, Mello. SF: Irvin.
WEST HILLS                ip  h  r er bb so
  Strasburg L(0-5        5.1  5  5  4  4  2
  Richardson             0.0  3  3  3  0  0
  Hutchins               0.2  2  1  1  1  0
GRANITE HILLS  
  Sylvester              0.1  0  4  3  3  0
  Russell                3.1  1  0  0  4  3
  Gay       W(3-0)       2.1  2  0  0  0  2
  Anderson               1.0  2  2  2  0  3
HBP: by Sylvester (Hooper). WP: Russell 2. BK: Sylvester. 
(04-08-05)


Pats' Jones pitches shutout against Pennsylvania team at Florida event
EastCountySports.com
 
ORLANDO, Fla. - Christian High baseball coach MIKE MITCHELL wanted to talk about the rain. He had plenty to discuss as thunderstorms hammered Florida Thursday (Apr. 7) afternoon and evening. Fortunately, the storms hit 10 minutes after the final pitch of Christian's KSA Tournament doubleheader. "I've never seen anything like it," said Mitchell. "First the wind, then thunder and lightning, followed by an instant downpour. I've never seen it rain so hard, so fast."
 
G1:  CALVARY CHAPEL (SANTA ANA) 10,  CHRISTIAN 8: The Patriots failed to hold a 4-0 lead as they dropped the opening round game in Central Florida. Calvary Chapel raked three Christian pitchers for 10 unanswered runs before junior BRAD ALLEN and sophomore JOHN FERREIRA pitched one shutout inning apiece to restore order.
 
"Putting people on base by hitting them or walking them is killing us," Mitchell said. "In this game we walked six and hit one. Five of those guys scored."
 
Retiring the opponent's leadoff batter has been another Achilles Heel for the Patriots. In the last 16 innings, Christian pitchers have permitted the first batter to reach base 14 times.
 
"That's no way to win a ballgame," Mitchell exclaimed.
 
Christian's offense was in high gear against the Eagles from Santa Ana. JIMMY DOSSETT's two-run single and freshman EDDIE YOUNG's 2-run double staked the Patriots to the 2nd inning lead.
 
After Calvary Chapel launched its major comeback, the Patriots made one final charge with 4 runs in the 5th inning. NICK ADAMS' two-run double was the key blow. The Pats had a chance for more, but left the bases loaded as the final batter struck out.
 
G2:  CHRISTIAN 2, GROVE CITY (PA.) 0: Junior TODD JONES blanked the Pennsylvania bunch on 3 hits in Thursday's nightcap, giving Christian a split of the twinbill at the Atlanta Braves' Wide World Sports Park spring training facility.
 
Jones, who struck out 9 and walked none, turned Christian's first complete game of the season.
 
"I might have found my ace," Mitchell said of Jones.
 
The Patriots did all of their scoring in the 1st inning. RYAN ABELL led off with a double and EDDIE YOUNG followed with a walk.
 
KELLEN ROSSITTO ripped a single to score Abell and stretch his season-long hitting streak to an East County best 10 games. Young scooted home on a wild pitch.
 
End of scoring.
 
The only other hit Christian produced was JIMMY DOSSETT's single to left with one out in the 2nd inning.
 
Christian's other base runners reached on walks.  Abell walked in the 5th and stole second, while MATT HART drew his free pass and pinch-runner C. J. SCHROEDER swiped second in the 6th .
 

THURSDAY, APR 7, 2005
EastCountySports.com
KSA Tournament (Orlando, Fla.)
Game 1:
EAGLES 10, PATRIOTS 8
Christian  (6-4)           040 040 0 -  8 10 3
Calvary Chapel (Santa Ana) 025 300 x - 10 12 1
Mills, O'Donnell (3), Murray (4), Allen (5), Ferreira (6) and Hart; Rickerts, Persinger (7) and Wilson. 
W: Rickerts. L: O'Donnell (0-1).
*
Game 2:
PATRIOTS 2, EAGLES 0
Grove City (PA)   000 000 0 - 0 3 0
Christian  (7-4)  200 000 x - 2 3 0
Alfredo, Jaskowak (7) and Moore; Jones and Hart. W: Jones (2-1). L: Alfredo.
(04-07-05)



Soon-to-be Poet Perez wields wild complete-game win for Braves
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - When LUIS PEREZ meets his new Whittier College football teammates in the fall, the El Cajon Valley senior can tell the story of his unorthodox and unlikely complete-game baseball pitching performance. Perez yielded 11 runs and 14 hits while allowing runs in all seven innings Wednesday (Apr. 6), yet his effort was good enough for a 17-11 victory over visiting Mount Miguel in a Grossmont North/South Tournament encounter.
 
While the Matadors (0-10) were taking their best shots at Perez, the Braves (3-9) teed off on four Mount Miguel pitchers for 17 hits to nail down the victory.
 
"It definitely was a strange game," stated Perez, who struck out seven and was tagged with four unearned runs. "I wasn't very good to start off, but the team picked me up. I couldn't have done it without them."
 
Perez, a strong-armed quarterback who guided El Cajon Valley's football fortunes for the past two seasons, hopes to make an impact on the gridiron for the NCAA Division III Whittier College Poets next year.
 
Meanwhile, 13 runs in the game that featured 31 hits and a dozen errors between the two squads were unearned.

Trailing 6-2, the Braves rallied back with nine runs in the 4th inning to turnaround the lead.  El Cajon Valley collected seven hits in that frame, then took advantage of 5 of Mount Miguel's 8 errors in the 54-minute barrage.
 
"It wasn't just me -- everybody was hitting the ball," said El Cajon Valley second baseman SHAUN SOTOS, who collected two of his three hits in the big inning, including a leadoff single. "Everything is coming together on our team -- we're no longer down on each other."
 
Sotos was sacrificed to second on a STEVE HOPWOOD bunt, then scored when NICK DYER blooped a double inside the right-field line.

Then the snowball of mistakes avalanched on Mount Miguel, as four of the next five Braves batters either reached base or took an extra base due to miscues in the field. Included was a ground ball by DEREK PEREZ which was booted, allowing Luis Perez to score the go-ahead run at 7-6.

ALLEN ABOOD
, who matched Derek Perez with a 3-for-4, three-RBI performance, added a two-run single in the 5th. CLIFTON THOMAS slugged a two-run triple in the 6th, although he was gunned down at the plate in an attempt for an inside-the-park home run.

But who could blame him? The teams were running on each other all afternoon, combining for 17 stolen bases, including three each by FEDERICO CARREON and Luis Perez of the Braves and Mount Miguel's BUD NEWBORN. Newborn's three thefts came on consecutive plays, initially stealing second and third bases, then racing home on a 1-1 pitch to JEREMIAH WHITE, sliding safely without a play being made on him to open the scoring in the first.

The Matadors extended their early lead to 3-0 on a two-run triple by CHRIS FREEMAN in the 2nd. Mount Miguel made it 4-0 an inning later when Newborn scored from third while JAMIE SANDOVAL was nailed trying to steal second.
 
Sandoval finished 3-for-4, including an RBI single in the 6th to trim El Cajon Valley's lead to 14-9.

JONATHAN MANZO
went 3-for-5 with three runs scored for the Braves, as every El Cajon Valley player -- starter and reserve -- collected at least one hit. KEVIN MANSFIELD was a pair of hits and an RBI.
 
GRANITE HILLS 4,  SANTANA 3: One thing Granite Hills sophomore pitcher ERIC KRAUSE has proven in his two seasons in the Eagles' baseball program - he knows how to win.
 
After compiling an 8-1 record as a freshman on the Granite Hills junior varsity, Krause has stacked up 5 straight victories without a loss as a varsity starter.
 
"That kid is amazing," Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said. "Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, as was the case today, he manages to find a way to win. His defense let him down, and his control wasn't as sharp as it usually is."
 
Krause, with solid relief help from DONNIE ANDERSON, combined to check the Sultans on two hits. None of Santana's runs were earned thanks to three infield errors by a Granite Hills defense that had been spotless in three previous outings.
 
Small wonder Granite Hills (11-3) has won four straight and nine of its last 10.
 
Santana ace JEFF WOODS was a hard-luck loser on this afternoon. However, had the Eagles been forced to use wooden bats instead of the customary aluminum, the outcome might have been different.
 
Woods, who had not allowed an earned run in 22.1 innings, was tagged for 3 runs in the opening frame by the Eagles (11-3).
 
"They barely hit a ball out of the infield," Santana coach JERRY HENSON said. "I mean not a single ball was hit hard."
 
BRANDON DECKER sparked an opening rally with a high chopper off the Santana third baseman's glove for a double. RYAN MARQUIS followed with an infield single to place runners at the corners. One out later, NICK MONETTE blooped a base hit into short left field, scoring Decker.
 
TRAVIS TAIJERON rolled a single through the right side of the infield to cash in Marquis for a 2-0 lead. BRET HORNER plated a third run with a popup that landed behind the mound for a base hit.
 
"Woods was pretty unlucky in that inning," Henson understated.
 
Santana (11-3) fought back with a pair of runs in the 5th inning. The Eagles were major contributors in that rally, committing two errors around a walk for one run. Woods blistered an RBI double to make it 3-2.
 
Woods' extra-base blow was Santana's first hit of the game.
 
To make the loss even more stinging for Santana was how Granite Hills scored its winning run in the 7th inning.
 
Sophomore LOUIS CAZARES drew a leadoff walk to set the Eagles' wheels in motion. Cazares advanced to second on Decker's groundout. Marquis slapped a single to put runners at first and third with one down.
 
CODY CRAWFORD tapped a roller about 20 feet in front of the plate. Crawford did not run, however, as he was certain the ball had hit his foot.
 
Foul ball?
 
Not in the plate umpire's eye's. Fortunately for the Eagles, Marquis raced home on the play to score The Sultans failed to field the ball, thinking it was foul.
 
Both coaches agreed that the ball should have been ruled foul. Instead, the run that Marquis scored was the game winner.
 
Thus, Woods was tagged with his first loss in five decisions.
 
"It was a frustrating loss," Henson said. "They had all those seeing-eye hits in the first inning and held us to 2 hits, well, I guess we didn't deserve to win. Give their pitchers credit, especially Krause. He was throwing pitches in a location where our guys couldn't do anything but pop them up."
 
MONTE VISTA 6,  WEST HILLS 3:  Monte Vista coach LARRY RINEHART took a different approach in preparation for this week's games.
 
"I met with the kids in center field before practice and asked them what I needed to do as a coach to make us a better team," Rinehart said. "They said a lot of interesting things, one of which was to face 'live' batting practice."
 
Rinehart provided that for his team. And the Monarchs responded by pounding out 10 hits, including victory-clinching home runs by DAN DeANDA and ERIC LEBOFFE in the 5th inning as Monte Vista (2-10) snapped an 8-game losing streak.
 
Rinehart also summoned former assistant coach JOHN LOMBARDI to work the Monte Vista pitchers.
 
"He worked with the kids on Saturday and plans to do so again this weekend," Rinehart said. "He does a great job and the kids really respond to him."
 
Indeed.
 
Leboffe hurled no-hit ball for 4.1 innings, but struggled with his control, leading Rinehart to bring in GOLDIE SIMMONS to finish the job.
 
Despite surrendering 3 runs, Leboffe earned his first varsity win after suffering three losses. Simmons gave up 2 hits, but allowed no runs as he earned the save.
 
Monte Vista sophomore catcher CORY COOPER drove in runs with an RBI single in the 2nd inning and a double in the 4th.
 
The offense for West Hills (3-8) consisted of a double by KOREY HOOPER and a single by AARON RICHARDSON. The Pack's 2 runs scored when Hooper and STEPHEN STRASBURG were plunked by pitches with the bases loaded in the 5th inning.
 
"I'm disappointed with our effort and intensity today," West Hills coach SCOTT HOPGOOD said. "We were flat."
 
EL CAPITAN 6, HELIX 1:  Consider the El Capitan Vaqueros back on their feet.
 
Following a slow start, the 5-7 Vaqueros have won four of their last six starts and appear ready to challenge for a third straight San Diego CIF Division II championship.
 
"We are getting outstanding pitching and that makes things a whole lot easier," El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said. "Our pitchers are giving us a chance to win ballgames."
 
One of those pitchers is junior CRISTIAN GARCIA, who twirled a nifty 2-hitter as the Vaqueros breezed past the visiting Highlanders in Wednesday's (Apr. 6) Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament game.
 
One of three brothers on the team, Cristian Garcia struck out 6 and walked one as he improved his record to 3-2.
 
"Cristian has been dominating in all of his starts this year," Vickery said.
 
This was no exception. The extent of Helix's offensive output consisted of ERIK PONCE's line-drive single to left in the 4th and STEVEN ROHMER's pop fly single in the 6th.
 
El Capitan touched up Helix starter MIKE SCHULER for 9 hits, including doubles by GRIFF ERICKSON and JOSH WALSTON and triples by LOUIE RUSSO and THOMAS HOSTETLER.
 
"I try to be aggressive," said Erickson, who was 2-for-3 including an RBI double in the 1st inning. "I think people haven't anticipated what we can do, but I think we are going to come back and show them what we've got."
 
GROSSMONT 14,  STEELE CANYON 0: This turned out to be a stunning mismatch, considering the visiting Steele Canyon Cougars had won 70 percent of their 10 games coming in.
 
Apparently, Grossmont was not impressed.
 
The Foothillers whacked five home runs and scored 10 of their 14 runs after two outs in Wednesday's (Apr. 6) Grossmont Conference North/South Tournament blowout at Joe Gizoni Field.
 
Of course, the long ball has always been a major part of Grossmont's offensive scheme. The Foothillers have hammered an East County-best 20 home runs in 12 games this season.
 
Senior DONNIE SNOW paced the Foothillers' latest onslaught, driving in four runs with a pair of singles and his East County-leading 6th home run. Snow slashed an RBI single in the 1st inning, scoring A.J. GRIFFIN with what would be all the run support sophomore TAYLOR WOHLWEND (4-0) would need.
 
Wohlwend limited Steele Canyon to one hit over six innings, while striking out 6 and walking 2. Griffin twirled a perfect 7th as No. 6-ranked Grossmont improved to 10-2.
 
The Hillers broke the game open with 6 runs in the 2nd inning. TREVOR BERRY belted a 2-run homer as did Griffin. Snow and DANNY PIECZYNSKI chipped in with RBI singles.
 
AUGIE WILLIAMS and Pieczynski also clubbed solo homers for the Hillers.
 
CODY MINICH accounted for Steele Canyon's only hit.
 

WEDNESDAY, APR 6, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North/South Tournament
MONARCHS 6, WOLF PACK 3
MONTE VISTA    ab  r  h bi    WEST HILLS     ab  r  h bi
Sopher lf       3  1  2  0    Mello cf        2  0  0  0
R.Garcia lf     1  0  0  0    Skinner lf-p    2  1  0  0
DeAnda rf       4  1  2  2    Parker lf       1  0  0  0
Lopez 1b        4  0  1  0    Hooper rf       3  0  1  1
Rodriguez dh    4  1  1  0    Strasburg 1b    2  0  0  2
Hale 3b         0  0  0  0    Irvin 2b        3  0  0  0
Leboffe p       2  2  2  1    Eddy p          2  0  0  0
Simmons p       0  0  0  0    Hutchings p     1  0  0  0
Croft ss        3  0  0  0    Hall 3b         2  1  0  0
Palacios 2b     1  1  0  0    Richardson dh   2  1  1  0
Mendiola 2b     1  0  0  0    Marcellus ss    3  0  0  0
Cooper c        3  0  2  2    Thomason c      0  0  0  0
Haase cf        3  0  0  0    Pichette c      0  0  0  0
TOTALS         29  6 10  5    TOTALS         23  3  2  2
 
  Monte Vista  (2-10)  010 230 0 - 6 10 1
  West Hills   (3-8)   100 020 0 - 3  2 1
 
GWRBI: Palacios (1).
E: Croft, Hall. DP: WH 1. LOB: MV 3, WH 7. 2B: DeAnda, Rodriguez, Cooper, Hooper. 
HR: DeAnda (1) 5th, one on; Leboffe (1) 5th, solo. SB: Hall, Richardson, Palacios.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MONTE VISTA         ip  h  r er bb so
  Leboffe  W(1-3)  4.1  0  3  3  4  3
  Simmons Sv(1)    2.2  2  0  0  0  2
WEST HILLS
  Eddy     L(1-3)  4+   7  5  5  1  0
  Hutchings        2.1  2  1  1  0  2
  Skinner          0.2  1  0  0  0  0
Eddy faced 3 batters in the 5th inning.
HBP: by Simmons (Hooper, Strasburg). WP: Leboffe. PB: Cooper.
*
EAGLES 4, SULTANS 3
GRANITE HILLS    ab  r  h bi    SANTANA       ab  r  h bi
Decker ss         3  1  1  0    Martin ss      4  1  0  0 
Marquis cf        3  1  2  0    Woods p        3  0  1  1
Crawford dh       4  0  1  1    Helmholtz 1b   3  0  0  0
Monette c         4  1  2  1    Haley c        4  0  0  1
Taijeron lf       3  0  1  1    Basnight 3b    3  0  0  0
Humphries rf      3  0  0  0    Hermansen cf   3  0  0  0
Horner 3b         3  0  2  1    Brosnan lf     2  1  0  0
Russell 1b        2  0  0  0    Martinez 2b    1  1  1  0
Cazares 2b        2  1  1  0    Miller rf      2  0  0  0
                                Diaz pr        0  0  0  0
TOTALS           27  4 10  4    TOTALS        25  3  2  2
 
  Granite Hills  (11-3)  300 000 1 - 4 10 3
  Santana        (11-3)  333 020 1 - 3  2 1
 
GWRBI: Monette (3).
E: Horner, Cazares, Martin. DP: Sant 1, GH 1. LOB: GH 6, Sant 8. 2B: Decker, Woods. S: Martinez.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GRANITE HILLS       ip  h  r er bb so
  Krause  W(5-0)   4.2  1  2  0  4  5
  Anderson         2.1  1  1  0  2  0
SANTANA
  Woods   L(4-1)   7.1  1  1  0  2  0
HBP: by Krause (Helmholtz).
*
FOOTHILLERS 14, COUGARS 0
STEELE CANYON   ab  r  h bi    GROSSMONT       ab  r  h bi
Harris 2b        2  0  0  0    Ferrara 2b       4  2  3  0
Shepard 2b       1  0  0  0    Schroeder ph     0  0  0  0
Minich ss        2  0  1  0    Griffin 3b-p     4  2  2  3
Epperson ss      0  0  0  0    Adams ph         1  0  0  0
Inzone 1b        3  0  0  0    Phillips ss      5  2  2  2
Rice rf          2  0  0  0    Snow dh          4  2  3  4
Duby c           3  0  0  0    Pieczynski c     4  1  2  2
Lange dh         3  0  0  0    Passanisi 1b     2  0  0  0
Murray 3b        2  0  0  0    Sobel 3b         2  0  0  0
Lewis lf         2  0  0  0    Cusumano lf      2  0  0  0
Klopp cf         1  0  0  0    Fox lf           2  0  0  0
Jacobsmeier lf   0  0  0  0    Williams cf      2  2  1  1
                               Berry rf         1  2  1  2
                               Medina rf        1  1  1  0
TOTALS          21  0  1  0    TOTALS          34 14 15 13
 
  Steele Canyon  (7-4)  000 000 0 -  0  1 2
  Grossmont      (10-2) 164 210 x - 14 15 0
 
GWRBI: Snow (3).
E: Minich 2. DP: Gro 1. LOB: SC 3, Gro 7. 2B: Phillips 2. 
HR: Berry (1) 2nd, one on; Griffin (4) 2nd, one on; Williams (2) 4th, solo; Pieczynski (4) 5th, solo; 
Snow (6) 3rd, one on. SB: Minich, Epperson, Williams, Ferrara. 
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
STEELE CANYON       ip  h  r er bb so
  Bruder   L(1-2)  1.2  7  7  7  1  1
  Johnson          2.2  6  6  6  1  2
  West             2.0  2  1  1  0  0
GROSSMONT
  Wohlwend W(4-0)  6.0  1  0  0  2  6
  Griffin          1.0  0  0  0  0  1
HBP: by Johnson (Berry); by West (Schroeder); by Wohlwend (Klopp). WP: Bruder.
*
VAQUEROS 6, HIGHLANDERS 1
HELIX           ab  r  h bi    EL CAPITAN       ab  r  h bi
Ledesma cf       3  0  0  0    Russo 2b          4  0  1  0
Rohmer 2b        2  0  1  0    Rauch c           4  0  0  0
Ponce rf         3  1  1  0    N.Garcia 1b       3  1  1  0
Peterson 1b      3  0  0  0    Erickson dh       3  0  2  1
Valles lf        2  0  0  1    D. Garcia pr      0  1  0  0
Rosenthal dh     1  0  0  0    Ksiazek ss        2  0  0  0
Tanida c         3  0  0  0    Walston cf        2  2  1  1
Ritchie 3b       2  0  0  0    Nazzal lf         3  1  2  0
R.Perez ss       2  0  0  0    Griffith 3b       3  0  1  1
                               Hostetler rf      3  1  1  2
TOTALS          21  1  2  1    TOTALS           27  6  9  5
  
  Helix       (8-5)  000 100 0 - 1 2 1
  El Capitan  (5-7)  100 203 x - 6 9 2
 
GWRBI: Walston (3)
E: C.Garcia, Ritchie, Nazzal. DP: EC 1. LOB: Helix 4, EC 5. 2B: Erickson, Walston. 3B: Russo, Hostetler. 
SB: Russo. S: Rosenthal, Ksiazek. SF: Valles.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
HELIX                ip  h  r er bb so
  Schuler   L(1-2)  6.0  9  6  5  0  4
EL CAPITAN
  C.Garcia  W(3-2)  7.0  2  1  0  1  6
HBP: by Schuler (Walston); by C.Garcia (Rosenthal). BK: C.Garcia.
*
BRAVES 17, MATADORS 11
MOUNT MIGUEL     ab  r  h bi   EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi
Calafato ss       2  1  0  0   Carreon rf        4  2  1  1
Freeman-Bolden p  0  0  0  0   Manzo lf-1b       5  3  3  1
Escalante p       1  1  1  0   L.Perez p         3  3  2  0
Newborn cf        2  2  1  2   Abbod 3b-c        4  3  2  3
Sandoval lf-p     4  1  3  1   D.Perez c-3b      4  2  2  3
White c           4  0  1  0   Mansfield 1b      3  1  2  1
Array pr          0  0  0  0   Thomas 1b-cf      1  0  1  2
DeArcos c-lf-rf   4  1  2  1   Sotos 2b          4  2  3  1
Plunkett 3b       3  1  1  0   Hopwood cf-lf     3  0  1  1
Green 3b          1  1  0  0   Dyer ss           3  1  1  1
Williamson rf-ss  4  1  1  0   
Seavello 2b       3  2  2  1
Freeman p-1b      4  0  1  2
Shimizo pr        0  0  0  0
TOTALS           32 11 13  7   TOTALS           37 17 17 14
  Mount Miguel    (0-10)  121 212 2 - 11 13 8
  El Cajon Valley (3-9)   002 933 x - 17 17 4
GWRBI: D.Perez (1).
E: Plunkett 2, Dyer 2, Sandoval 2, Newborn, Calafato 2, White, D.Perez 2. LOB: MM 5, ECV 7. 
2B: DeArcos, Seavello, D.Perez. 3B: Freeman, Thomas. 
SB: Newborn 3, Carreon 3, Seavello 2, L.Perez 3, Thomas 2, Calafato, Dyer, Abbod, Hopwood, Escalante, Array. 
SF: D.Perez, Dyer.
MOUNT MIGUEL          ip  h  r er bb so
  Freeman            3.1  5  6  2  2  2
  Sandoval L(0-3)    0.0  4  5  0  0  0
  Freeman-Bolden     0.2  4  3  3  0  0
  Escalante          2.0  4  3  3  2  1
EL CAJON VALLEY
  L.Perez W(1-2)     7.0 13 11  7  4  7
Sandoval faced 6 batters in the 4th inning.
Freeman-Bolden faced 4 batters in the 5th.
WP: Freeman, Freeman-Bolden. 
(04-06-05)

 


Wolf Pack's Richardson throws Norsemen for a curve in complete-game win
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - West Hills junior AARON RICHARDSON threw so many curveballs that he left host Valhalla lost around the bend. That is, the Wolf Pack pitcher befuddled the 2nd-ranked Norsemen to the brink of madness as visiting West Hills earned a 2-1 victory in Monday's (Apr. 4) opening round of the Grossmont North/South Tournament.
 
Dealing a steady diet of breaking balls, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound Richardson silenced the aggressive Norsemen for his second straight win and complete game. The curveball was Richardson's bread-and-butter on this afternoon. Approximately 70 of his pitches were breaking balls, which resulted in five Norsemen taking third strikes.
 
"I had everything going my way today," said Richardson (2-2), who rationed the Norsemen to 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 8. "I was locked in all game."
 
The pinnacle of Richardson's effort came in the 6th inning with West Hills (3-7) leading 2-1 and SEAN O'SULLIVAN coming to the plate.
 
O'Sullivan, who hit Richardson's first pitch on the concrete adjacent to the football bleachers in left field, was frustrated in all three of his at-bats.
 
"I think I did a pretty good job of keeping him off-balance," Richardson said.
 
Few have handled O'Sullivan more effectively than Richardson did in the 6th inning Monday. The West Hills southpaw was bold enough to challenge O'Sullivan with three fastballs in this at-bat. O'Sullivan took the first one for a strike, fouled a 1-2 pitch straight back and then went down swinging on a shoulder-high heater.
 
"I knew he was anxious, because when I threw my change-up he was waiting for it," Richardson said of O'Sullivan. "But I threw my fastball up in the zone and he chased it."
 
Richardson continued on to strike out the side in the bottom of the 7th inning.
 
"We got the job done and that's all that matters," said Richardson, who lowered his season ERA to 3.96. It was his second complete game in as many starts. Over his last 14 innings, Richardson has compiled a 1.50 ERA.
 
Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE acknowledged Richardson's sterling pitching performance, which required 97 pitches to finish the job.
 
"That's the best anyone has pitched against us since Patrick Henry's Mark Triolo beat us (2-0) in the 2003 playoffs," Perdue said. "The guy (Richardson) was just masterful. And credit (pitching coach) MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN for calling a great game."
 
West Hills capitalized on a 1st inning error and STEPHEN STRASBURG's RBI single to put the pressure on Valhalla (6-4) from the get-go.
 
The Pack could easily have padded its early advantage in the 2nd and 3rd innings, but shaky base-running and heads-up defense by the Norsemen kept the game tight.
 
Valhalla catcher TOMMY McCLAIN picked a West Hills runner off second base as part of an inning-ending double play in the 2nd inning. An inning later, a Wolf Pack runner was ruled out for leaving second base (tagging prematurely) on a fly ball to center field.
 
The Norsemen tied the game in the 3rd inning. JAVIER BROWN whistled a ground ball inside the third base bag for a one-out double. Brown stole third and eventually scored on GREG GARCIA's infield groundout.
 
West Hills, which has lost three games by 2 runs or less, broke a 1-1 tie by manufacturing the winning run in the 6th inning.  KOREY HOOPER stroked a one-out double and BRET SKINNER followed with a walk. Strasburg's single loaded the bases against Valhalla reliever COREY STANGYL.
 
TRAVIS IRVIN rolled what appeared to be a double-play grounder to second baseman Garcia, who flipped the ball to shortstop Brown for the second out in the inning. But Brown was unable to deliver the throw to first base to complete the twin-killing and Hooper scored what proved to be the winning run.
 
"Aaron stuck with what we were doing and was just phenomenal today," West Hills first-year head coach SCOT HOPGOOD said. "He was on all day. Other than three or four pitches, he was dialed in."
 
What amazed Hopgood was Richardson's 8-to-2 strikeouts-to-walks ration.
 
"Aaron is usually a 10-strikeouts, 6-walks guy," Hopgood said. "His control was on all day in this game."
 
GRANITE HILLS 5, EL CAPITAN 0: Pitching depth continues to expand in the Granite Hills camp as the Eagles logged their third consecutive complete game in Monday's (Apr. 4) opening round of the Grossmont North/South Tournament.
 
Four of the last 5 Granite Hills starting pitchers have logged complete games, all of which have resulted in victories.  Two of those wire-to-wire efforts have been coined by sophomore DARREN GAY (2-0), who blanked the visiting Vaqueros on six hits in the Grossmont North/South Tournament encounter.
 
"Gay was in control from start to finish," Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said.
 
The No.1 statistic for Gay was he did not walk a batter. His teammates supported his effort with their third straight error-free outing.
 
"Knock on wood, but this is the way baseball was meant to be played," said Davis, whose Eagles have won 8 of their last 9.
 
El Capitan starter BRYAN PAUKOVITS made the Eagles take a couple steps backward as he struck out the first two hitters he faced. After that, though, CODY CRAWFORD doubled and eventually scored on a pair of passed balls in the 1st inning. But the Eagles weren't through as NICK MONETTE walked and scored on a double by TRAVIS TAIJERON.
 
A dropped fly ball opened the door to three Granite Hills runs in the 6th inning. Pinch-hitter NICK BOLTZ ripped a two-run single on a 3-2 pitch, propelling the Eagles into a 4-0 lead. A wild pitch plated Granite Hills' final tally.
 
"Defensively, we just let down," El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said. "I'm disappointed in our effort."
 
SANTANA 9, MONTE VISTA 7:  Not even an iron man performance by Monte Vista's JESSE RODRIGUEZ could snap the Monarchs' 8-game losing streak in Monday's (Apr. 4) Grossmont North/South Tournament opener at Monte Vista.
 
Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a 2-run double and delivered a complete-game pitching effort, firing 142 pitches along the way.
 
"That kid put up quite a fight," acknowledged Santana coach JERRY HENSON, who's Sultans slaughtered the Monarchs 12-0 last month in Santee. "We got to him a bit, but he never gave in."
 
After Santana struck first on a double by DALLAS MARTIN and a single by JEFF WOODS, Rodriguez keyed a 4-run bottom of the 1st inning with a two-run double and scored on a base hit by IAN CROFT.
 
The Sultans (11-2), ranked No. 3 in the San Diego Section's only poll, took the lead with a 5-spot in the 2nd inning. JONATHAN TIPPIN and KYLE HELMHOLTZ hammered 2-run doubles and BRANDON HALEY chimed in with a run-scoring two-base hit.
 
RYAN BROSNAN slugged a one-out triple and scored on Tippin's suicide squeeze,  extending Santana's advantage to 7-4 in the 5th. Martin added an RBI single in the same inning.
 
Haley's second double and ROBERT HERMANSEN's RBI single made it 9-4 in the 6th.
 
Monte Vista countered with a two-out double by sophomore DAVID PALACIOS and BRET HAASE's triple for a run in the 6th. An inning later ERIC LEBOFFE slashed an RBI single and Croft arched a sacrifice fly before reliever Martin put out the Monte Vista fire for the save.
 
Santana racked up 14 hits off Rodriguez, six of them going for extra bases.
 
"We shook up our batting order a little bit and it seemed to make a difference," Henson said. "Sure, we lost a couple of games that we should have won. But our spirits are high."
 
Reliever CHRISTIAN SPICER pitched a powerful 5.1 innings to log his second win without a loss. He struck out 8 and walked none.
 
"I have to commend Spicer for being patient," Henson said. "He hasn't got to pitch that much, but he was ready when his turn came. He did a real good job."
 
GROSSMONT 14, MOUNT MIGUEL 3: It's no secret that Grossmont's A.J. GRIFFIN is one of the top pitching prospects in San Diego County. But the 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior can inflict damage with his bat, too.
 
Griffin accounted for six runs, driving in three and scoring three in five at-bats. He belted his 3rd home run of the season, a double and a single as the Foothillers (9-2) breezed in the Grossmont North/South Tournament opener at Mount Miguel.
 
That batting spree hoisted Griffin's season batting average to .486. He has a dozen RBI.
 
The winless Matadors (0-9) handed the Hillers 2 unearned runs in the 1st inning. Griffin's RBI double made it 3-0 in the 2nd and set the stage for TRISTAN PHILLIPS' 3rd home run with a man aboard.
 
Phillips added a run-scoring single in the 5th inning after MICHAEL MEDINA's sacrifice fly ballooned Grossmont's advantage to 8-0. DONNIE SNOW capped the 5-run frame with a 3-run home run, his East County-leading 5th of the season.
 
Grossmont's THOMAS ADAMS held the Matadors hitless for four innings before KEITH GREEN yanked a 2-2 pitch into the parking lot beyond the left field fence for his 1st home run. That was the only hit allowed by Adams, who struck out 6 batters in 5 innings while running his record to 2-1.
 
Strangest statistical line of the game goes to Grossmont leadoff man TIM FERRARA, who scored 4 runs without getting hit.
 
HELIX 7,  EL CAJON VALLEY 3:  Shoddy defensive play by the Highlanders (8-4) helped the visiting Braves grab a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning of Monday's (Apr. 4) Grossmont North/South Tournament game in La Mesa.
 
But Helix scrambled back with 7 runs over the 3rd and 4th inning to take command and never looked back.
 
Junior ERIK PONCE checked the Braves on 2 hits over the first six innings to run his pitching mark to 3-0. He walked only one and struck out 6. DUSTIN RUNIONS spun a hitless 7th to enable Helix to snap a 3-game losing streak.
 
After Ponce drove in Helix's first run with a single, the Braves issued back-to-back bases loaded walks to give the Highlanders a one-run edge.
 
STEVEN ROHMER ripped an RBI double in a 4-run 4th inning capped by sophomore catcher ZACH TANIDA's two-run triple. Rohmer also stole 2 bases for the Highlanders.
 
This was Helix's second win over the Braves. The Scotties opened the season with an 11-0 romp last month. The road to victory wasn't so easy this time around, although El Cajon Valley damaged its cause by issuing 11 walks. Four of those walks were cashed in four runs.
 
ALAN ABBOD drove in two runs and CLIFTON THOMAS scored twice and stole a pair of bases for the Braves (2-9).
 
POINT LOMA 9, CHRISTIAN 4: Despite missing their top three hitters and ace pitcher due to previous injuries, the Patriots were tied with the visiting Pointers heading into the bottom of the 6th inning of their City Conference Tournament game Monday (Apr. 4) afternoon.
 
That's when Point Loma received the pivotal call of the game. Christian right fielder JIMMY DOSSETT caught a fly ball in his glove for the apparent second out of the inning. Dossett had a bona fide shot to double off a Point Loma base-runner for an inning-ending double play. But the ball bounced out of his glove. Still Dossett was able to make a bare-handed save (catch).
 
Or so he thought. The base umpire said the ball had hit the ground and ruled everybody safe. One runner scored from third with the go-ahead run and the bases remained loaded with one out.
 
The roof fell in from there as Zach Larson belted a grand slam.
 
Game over.
 
"Not having our Nos. 2, 3, and 4 hitters in there certainly didn't help us, but that call on Dossett's catch killed us," Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said.
 
Christian's RYAN ABELL, starting in place of injured catcher MATT HART, enjoyed the best day of his varsity career. Abell doubled in a run for a 2-1 lead in the 2nd inning and drove in two more with a single in the 6th to tie the game 4-4.
 
JOEL McGRANAHAN also had a pair of singles for Christian (6-3), which travels to Orlando, Fla. for four games in the KSA Tournament beginning Thursday (Apr. 7).
(04-04-05)
 

MONDAY, APR 4, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North/South Tournament
FOOTHILLERS 14, MATADORS 3
GROSSMONT       ab  r  h bi    MOUNT MIGUEL     ab  r  h bi
Ferrara 2b       3  4  0  1    Calafato ss-p     4  1  0  0
Griffin 3b-1b    5  3  3  3    Newborn rf        3  0  1  1
Phillips ss      5  2  2  3    Sandoval lf       3  0  0  0
Snow dh          3  2  2  3    White 3b          1  0  0  0
Wohlwend 1b      0  0  0  0    Green 3b          2  1  1  1
Pieczynski c     3  0  0  0    DeArcos p-1b      3  0  0  0
Schroeder c      1  0  0  0    Plunkett dh-p     3  0  1  0
Passanisi 1b-p   3  0  0  0    Array cf          0  0  0  0
Sobel 3b         2  0  0  0    Seavello 2b       3  0  0  0
Cusumano lf      2  1  0  0    Freeman-Bolden 1b 1  0  0  0
Fox lf           2  1  1  0    Williamson p-ss   1  0  0  0
Williams cf      2  1  1  0    Freeman c         1  0  0  0
Longmeier cf     1  0  0  0    Shimizu pr        0  1  0  0
Berry rf         2  0  1  0  
Medino rf        1  0  0  1
TOTALS          36 14 10 11    TOTALS           25  3  3  1
 
  Grossmont     (8-2)  241 050 2 - 14 10 4
  Mount Miguel  (0-9)  000 012 0 -  3  3 5
 
GWRBI:  None.
E: Calafato 2, Seavello, White, Green, Fox, Passanisi, Schroeder, Ferrara. 
DP: Gro 1. LOB: Gro 7, MM 4. 2B: Griffin, Fox. 
HR: Phillips (3) 2nd, one on; Snow (5) 5th, two on; Green (1) 5th, solo; Griffin (3) 7th, one on. 
SB: Ferrara, Williams, Calafato. SF: Medina.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GROSSMONT            ip  h  r er bb so
  Adams    W(2-1)   5.0  1  1  1  0  6
  Mattson           1.0  1  2  0  1  1
  Kinsella          0.2  1  0  0  2  0
  Passanisi         0.1  0  0  0  0  1
MOUNT MIGUEL
  DeArcos  L(0-1)   1+   0  3  1  2  0
  Vanderhyde        3.0  3  4  3  1  1
  Plunkett          0.2  5  5  5  0  0
  Williamson        1.2  2  2  2  0  1
  Calafato          0.2  0  0  0  0  0
DeArcos faced 1 batter in the 2nd inning.
HBP: by DeArcos (Williamson, Pieczynski), by Williamson (Ferrara). WP: Kinsella, DeArcos.
*
HIGHLANDERS 7, BRAVES 3
EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi    HELIX          ab  r  h bi
Thomas cf-p       4  2  1  0    R.Perez ss      3  1  0  0
L.Perez ss        1  1  1  0    Rohmer 2b       3  1  2  1
Abbod 3b          2  0  0  2    Ponce p-rf      3  2  1  1
Manzo lf          3  0  0  0    Peterson 1b     3  1  1  0
Aquiningoc 1b     1  0  0  0    Schuler pr      0  1  0  0
Dyer 1b           1  0  0  0    Valles rf-lf    2  1  1  0
Myer dh-p         3  0  0  0    Rosenthal lf    2  0  0  1
D.Perez c         2  0  0  0    Tanida cf       2  0  1  3
Vega 3b-2b        3  0  0  0    Ritchie 3b      1  0  0  1
Watson p-rf       3  0  0  0    Foy c           3  0  0  0
TOTALS           23  3  2  2    TOTALS         22  7  6  7
 
  El Cajon Valley  (2-9)  002 010 0 - 3 2 3
  Helix            (8-4)  003 400 x - 7 6 2
 
GWRBI: Tanida (1).
E: Tanida, Peterson, D.Perez, Thomas, Dyer. LOB: ECV 5, Hel 10. 2B: Rohmer, Peterson. 3B: Tanida. 
SB: Rohmer 2, Thomas 2. SF: Rosenthal.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAJON VALLEY    ab  h  r er bb so
  Watson  L(0-2)  2.2  2  3  1  6  1
  Thomas          0.2  1  1  1  2  1
  Vega            0.2  2  3  3  3  1
  Myer            2.0  1  0  0  0  1
HELIX
  Ponce   W(3-0)  6.0  2  3  1  1  6
  Runions         1.0  0  0  0  0  1
HBP: by Ponce (Aquiningoc, L.Perez).
*
WOLF PACK 2, NORSEMEN 1
WEST HILLS        ab  r  h bi    VALHALLA        ab  r  h bi
Mello cf           2  0  0  0    J.Brown ss       3  1  1  0
Hooper lf          3  2  1  0    G.Garcia 2b      3  0  0  1
Skinner rf         2  0  0  0    S.O'Sullivan 3b  3  0  0  0
Strasburg 1b       3  0  2  1    Baum 1b          2  0  1  0
Parker pr          0  0  0  0    A.Brown pr       0  0  0  0
Irvin 2b           3  0  0  1    McClain c        2  0  0  0
Gagnon c           2  0  0  0    R.O'Sullivan dh  3  0  1  0
Hall 3b            2  0  1  0    D.Smith lf       3  0  0  0
Hoffard ss         2  0  0  0    Sopata cf        3  0  0  0
Stoner ph          1  0  0  0    Wilson rf        2  0  0  0
Hutchings dh       3  0  0  0
TOTALS            23  2  4  2    TOTALS          24  1  3  1
 
  West Hills   (3-7)  100 001 0 - 2 4 1
  Valhalla     (6-4)  001 000 0 - 1 3 1
 
GWRBI: Irwin (2).
E: G.Garcia, Hall. DP: WH 1, Val 2. LOB: WH 4, Val 4. 2B: Hall, J.Brown, Hooper. 
SB: R.O'Sullivan, D.Smith, J.Brown, Mello, Hooper. S: Hall.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
WEST HILLS           ip  h  r er bb so
  Richardson W(2-2) 7.0  3  1  1  2  8
VALHALLA
  Julienne          5.0  2  1  0  2  4
  Stangyl    L(0-2) 2.0  2  1  1  1  1
*
EAGLES 5, VAQUEROS 0
EL CAPITAN     ab  r  h bi    GRANITE HILLS  ab  r  h bi
Russo 2b        3  0  0  0    Decker ss       2  0  0  0
Rauch c         3  0  0  0    Marquis cf      3  0  0  0
N.Garcia 1b     3  0  1  0    Crawford dh     2  2  1  0
Walston cf      2  0  0  0    Monette c       1  2  1  0
Ksiazek ss      3  0  1  0    Taijeron lf     3  0  1  1
Nazzal lf       3  0  1  0    Humphries rf    2  1  0  0
Henson dh       2  0  0  0    Horner 3b       3  0  0  0
Royer ph        1  0  0  0    Russell 1b      2  0  0  0
Erickson rf     3  0  2  0    Boltz ph        1  0  1  2
Griffith 3b     3  0  1  0    Cazares 2b      2  0  0  0
                              Roberts 2b      1  0  0  0
TOTALS         27  0  6  0    TOTALS         22  5  4  3
 
  El Capitan     (4-7)  000 000 0 - 0 6 2
  Granite Hills  (10-3) 200 003 x - 5 4 0
 
GWRBI: None.
E: N.Garcia, Erickson. LOB: EC 6, GH 6. 2B: Crawford, Taijeron, Monette. 
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAPITAN           ip  h  r er bb so
  Paukovits L(1-2)  6.0  4  5  2  3  7
GRANITE HILLS
  Gay       W(2-0)  7.0  6  0  0  0  4
HBP: by Paukovits (Crawford, Decker); by Gay (Walston). PB: Rauch 4.         
*
SULTANS 9, MONARCHS 7
MONTE VISTA    ab  r  h bi    SANTANA         ab  r  h bi
Sopher lf       3  1  1  0    Martin 3b-p      3  2  2  1
Haase lf        1  0  1  1    Woods ss         5  0  2  1
DeAnda rf       4  1  1  0    Helmholtz 1b     5  1  1  2
Lopez 1b        3  2  1  0    Haley c          4  1  2  1
Rodriguez p     4  1  2  2    Basnight dh      4  0  1  0
Starling pr     0  1  0  0    Hermansen cf     3  1  2  1
Leboffe cf      4  0  1  1    Brosnan lf       2  2  2  0
Croft ss        3  0  2  2    Martinez 2b      3  1  0  0
Cooper c        3  0  0  0    Tippin rf        1  1  1  3
Mendiola ph     1  0  0  0    Miller rf        1  0  1  0
Simmons 3b      2  0  0  0
Dawson 3b       1  0  0  0
Palacios 2b     3  1  2  0
TOTALS         32  7 11  6    TOTALS         31   9 14  9
 
  Monte Vista   (1-10)  400 001 2 - 7 11 1
  Santana       (11-2)  150 021 0 - 9 14 3
 
GWRBI: Helmholtz (2).
E: Medrud, Helmholtz, Haley, Croft. DP: MV 1. LOB: MV 7, Sant 10. 
2B: Rodriguez, Palacios, Martin, Helmholtz, Haley 2, Tippin. 3B: Sopher, Haase, Brosnan. 
SB: Woods, Helmholtz. S: Tippin. SF: Croft.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MONTE VISTA          ip  h  r er bb so
  Rodriguez  L(1-5)  6.0 14  9  9  6  4
SANTANA
  Medrud            0.2  3  4  2  2  0
  Spicer     W(2-0) 5.1  5  1  1  0  8
  Martin            1.0  3  2  2  0  1
HBP: by Rodriguez (Martin, Tippin). WP: Rodriguez 2, Medrud.
*
City Conference Tournament
At Christian
POINTERS 9, PATRIOTS 4
Christian   (6-3)  020 002 0 - 4 6 2
Pt. Loma    (5-6)  010 215 x - 9 9 1
O'Donnell, Plum (5) and Abell; Rodriguez, Wilson (6) and Larson. W: Wilson. L: Plum (0-1).
(04-04-05)



Norsemen find power stroke, but lose third-place tourney game to El Dorado
EastCountySports.com
 
FULLERTON - Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE would have a right to be upset with the play of his Norsemen in the final two games of the Phil Nevin/El Toyo Tire National Classic. While the veteran skipper was obviously disappointed after the Norsemen suffered back-to-back losses, including an 11-8 setback to host El Dorado in Thursday's (Mar. 31) third place game, he was pleased to see the Valhalla offense come alive.
 
Senior SEAN O'SULLIVAN, who clubbed 16 home runs as a junior, went deep twice against El Dorado as the Norsemen (6-3) fought back from an early 9-0 deficit.
 
O'Sullivan's first home run was a 450-foot shot over the center field fence with two runners aboard. But the hungry third baseman wasn't done. O'Sullivan launched a 2-run homer in the 5th inning that cut the Golden Hawks (8-6) lead to 11-5.
 
"Both of Sean's home runs were bombs," Perdue said. "It's great to see him finally break out."
 
CHAD WILSON joined the Valhalla home run parade with a solo shot in the 6th inning.
 
The Norsemen had not hit a single home run in their first eight games.
 
The top third of the Valhalla batting order - JAVIER BROWN (3-for-4), GREG GARCIA (2-for-3) and Sean O'Sullivan (2-for-3) - accounted for all but two of the Valhalla hits, scored seven of the eight runs and logged six of the team's seven RBI.
 
Valhalla employed 5 pitchers in an attempt to ground the Golden Hawks. Starter MIKE PETRIVELLI couldn't get out of the 1st inning as he surrendered six runs on four hits, two walks and a pair of hit batters.
 
"We didn't get much pitching and our defense was poor," Perdue said. "That's too bad, because we got more than enough offense to win."
 
HORIZON 5,  SANTANA 0:  Coach JERRY HENSON said his Santana Sultans were still on spring break even though they were hosting Horizon in a non-league game Thursday afternoon (Mar. 31).
 
"Our kids looked like they were just going through the motions," said Henson after his Sultans (10-2) saw their six-game winning streak come to an end. "We've scored 2 runs in our last 14 innings. That kind of offense isn't going to win you too many ballgames."
 
Santana could muster but 6 singles against Horizon starter and winner David Guillent (1-0), who has not allowed an earned run in 13 innings.
 
The Sultans' best chance to break through came in the 4th inning when they loaded the bases with two outs. Guillent was up to the challenge as he logged an inning-ending strikeout.
 
ROBERT HERMANSEN collected two of Santana's hits. Sultans' reliever ERIK MEDRUD blanked the Panthers (5-4) on 3 hits over the final three frames.
 
Santana's two losses - including a one-run setback to Marian Catholic - have come to teams with a combined record of 7-11.
 

THURSDAY, MAR 31, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Phil Nevin/El Toyo Tire National Classic
GOLDEN HAWKS 11, NORSEMEN 8
El Dorado  (8-6)  621 200 0 - 11 9 3
Valhalla   (6-3)  003 023 0 -  8 9 2
Petrovelli, Azevedo (1), Wilkins (4), Stangyl (5), Julienne (7) and McClain; Lane and N/A. 
HR: S.O'Sullivan (V) 2(1,2): 3rd, two on, and 5th, one on; Wilson (V) (1), 6th, solo. W: Lane. L: Petrovelli (0-1).
*
PANTHERS 5, SULTANS 0
Horizon (5-4)   003 200 0 - 5 11 5
Santana (10-2)  000 000 0 - 0  6 0
Guillent, Regner (6) and Powers; Martin, Medrud (5) and Haley. W: Guillent (1-0). L: Martin (2-1).
(03-31-05)



Doubleheader sweeps give Eagles, Cougars early South lead
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - The two teams atop the Grossmont South League standings might not be the ones expected to be there. That is, Granite Hills and Steele Canyon share the South league lead at 2-0 following doubleheader sweeps in Wednesday's (Mar. 30) opening round of loop play. Favorites Santana and El Capitan claimed victories in the Grossmont North, while Valhalla took a pratfall in the Phil Nevin/El Toyo Tire Classic semifinals.
 
STEELE CANYON 3-13, MONTE VISTA 2-4 -- Typically the table setters to the Cougars' lineup, second baseman DANNY HARRIS and center fielder KENNY KLOPP came through with the clutch hits, propelling Steele Canyon to a doubleheader sweep of the visiting Monarchs in the Grossmont South League opener for both teams.
 
Klopp punched home the game-winning run in the opener, giving the Cougars a 3-2 victory in eight innings. In the nightcap, Harris found the bases loaded in the 2nd inning, then promptly cleared them with a triple to highlight a 7-run rally to as the Cougars cruised to the second game win and a sweep.

"Both of us have some speed and we get on base," noted Harris, who went 3-for-3 in the second game. "Then we have some great hitters, so we can hit-and-run and do some things."

After Steele Canyon's No. 8 hitter DAVID LEWIS stroked an RBI single to open the second game scoring, Klopp walked to load the bases. That brought up Harris, who found the gap in right-center field. The hit opened a stretch of four consecutive extra-base hits by the Cougars, as shortstop CODY MINICH, right fielder CHRIS RICE and catcher DEVON DUBY each followed with run-scoring doubles to blow the game open early to clinch the sweep.

Along with Harris' three RBI, the bottom third of the lineup -- third baseman WILL MURRAY, Lewis and Klopp - each knocked home two runs each.
 
The onslaught of offense made a winner of starting pitcher ROSS EPPERSON, who tossed five innings without a walk, before ANDREW BRUDER tossed the final two shutout innings for the close.

In the opener, Monte Vista struck for two early runs, then Cougars pitcher KYLE JOHNSON outdueled the Monarchs' JESSE RODRIGUEZ, as both starters tossed complete games.

"This is the first year that we've won our league opener," said Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY, who is guiding the Cougars into their third season of varsity competition. "We'd like to think we have a chance to contend in our league this year."

After allowing three hits, including doubles to ALAN SOPHER and ANTHONY LOPEZ in the 1st frame, Johnson scattered 7 other hits over the final seven innings. Included was a bases-loaded situation in the 8th that the right-handed pitcher escaped damage with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Johnson's complete game was surprising considering he is still pitching with an injured ankle.

"I rolled it against Bonita Vista," noted Johnson, who plans to play for defending NCAA Division III champion George Fox University (Ore.) next season. "It didn't hurt on the mound, but now I'm feeling it."

The game's lone error led to the deciding run in the home-half of the 8th. With one out, a ground ball was thrown wide of first to allow Murray to reach first, then the bottom of the order quickly took charge.

Lewis followed with a single to right field. Klopp sent a basehit to center to score pinch-runner GARRETT JENNER.

"It's good to have two leadoff hitters," noted Klopp. "We just want to put the ball in play, then we have some good hitters to follow to produce some runs."

Rodriguez struck out six and walked six, but got out of difficulties several times, as Steele Canyon stranded 11 baserunners.

Monte Vista center fielder ERIC LEBOFFE was 2-for-4 for the Monarchs, finishing the twin bill with four hits in seven at-bats.

Steele Canyon lost its top hitter in the opener, as JOE INZONE twisted an ankle landing on first base awkwardly after beating out a scratch single in the 7th.  Although Inzone did not play in the second game, he is not expected to miss any additional time.

The sweep places Steele Canyon into an early deadlock for first place with Granite Hills, which swept a pair from Helix, a team the Cougars would love to face.
"They've seemed to have our number the last few years," stated Harris. "But we can't wait to play them because this year will be different."
 
GRANITE HILLS 5-3,  HELIX 2-2: Pitchers took command in this Grossmont South League doubleheader Wednesday (Mar. 30) at Helix. It was complete-game efforts all around, with the visiting Eagles gaining the edge.
 
The high-flying Eagles received complete game performances from sophomore ERIC KRAUSE (4-0) and steadfast senior DONNIE ANDERSON (3-0) as they proved themselves worthy of a No. 8 ranking in the San Diego CIF ratings.
 
The surprise package in the Granite Hills stable is the 5-foot-8, 147-pound Krause, who has turned his 4 starts into victories as well as 3 complete games.
 
"The kid is a bulldog," Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said. "He always wants the ball."
 
Krause rationed the Highlanders to 5 hits as he struck out 9 and walked 2.
 
"At first I just wanted to make the (varsity) team," said Krause, who was 8-1 as a freshman hurler on the Granite Hills junior varsity squad. "Now that they've given me the ball, I just try my best."
 
So far that's been top drawer.
 
Krause was approaching the high end of pitches after six innings, but received the nod to finish the job from Davis as he walked to the mound to being in the 7th.
 
"Coach Davis gave me a little look and I responded with 'I've got this,'" said Krause, who has a 0.81 ERA.  "I felt strong and I went after them (the Helix hitters)."
 
And the Highlanders (7-4, 0-2) were aggressive at the plate. Perhaps too aggressive.
 
"I was kinda nervous for the first four or five innings, considering this was our league opener," Krause said. "But I calmed down in 6th and I knew I had things in control after that."
 
Davis, albeit surprised, is pleased by Krause's sterling start.
 
"He's such a grinder," Davis said of Krause. "What he's done so far is shocking. I knew he was a good pitcher, but the teams that he's beaten are no slouches (RBV, St. Augustine, Green Valley-Nevada and Helix)."
 
Anderson gave Granite Hills a nifty encore. The Eagles' senior stalwart used just 72 pitches to stuff Helix in the nightcap, retiring the final 12 batters he faced.
 
This was a long afternoon for hitters although BRETT HORNER hammered a solo home run in the opening game for Granite Hills (9-3,2-0).
 
Helix received standout pitching from MIKE SCHULER and MATT WENHAM. Both hurlers turned in complete game performances.
 
"It was a shame to waste an effort like that," Helix coach COLE HOLLAND said. "We were just atrocious on offense. We continuously put ourselves in a pitcher's count by taking strikes on the outer half."
 
The Highlanders totaled 7 hits in the twinbill.
 
SANTANA 2,  WEST HILLS 1:  Senior right-hander JEFF WOODS ran his string of perfect innings to 10 before West Hills leadoff man JOE MELLO lined a single to left-center field on the first pitch of the 4th inning of Wednesday's (Mar. 30) Grossmont North League opener between Santee rivals.
 
Woods (4-0) settled for a complete-game 2-hitter and struck out 12 as he out-dueled West Hills' STEPHEN STRASBURG (0-4) in a game that featured a mere 5 hits.
 
"Honestly, I thought we were going to get them," West Hills coach SCOTT HOPGOOD said. "They were doing a lot of talking at first, but they quieted down about the 4th when they knew they were in a ballgame."
 
Strasburg, perhaps the most unlucky pitcher in the San Diego Section, suffered his 4th loss without reward.
 
"He's the best 0-4 pitcher (with a 3.67 ERA) in the state," Hopgood offered. "He's given us a chance to win in every game he's pitched.  We just haven't given him any run support."
 
Certainly, Santana made its 3 hits against Strasburg count. Both of the Sultans scoring innings came after two outs.
 
In the opening frame, Strasburg pegged KYLE HELMHOLTZ with a pitch. The West Hills 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior then uncorked a wild pitch advancing Helmholtz to second base. BRANDON HALEY hoisted a fly ball over the head of the West Hills center fielder for an RBI double and a 1-0 Santana lead.
 
RYAN BROSNAN stroked a two-out single to give Santana life in the 3rd inning. Brosnan stole second and scored on a base hit by Helmholtz.
 
West Hills cut the lead in half with an unearned tally in the 6th inning. MICHAEL HALL reached base on an error, stole second and scored when Mello slapped a ground ball that caught the lip of the infield grass and kangarooed over the head of 6-foot-1 Santana first baseman Helmholtz for a double.
 
"We've come to expect a tough game from West Hills every time," Santana coach JERRY HENSON said.
 
Woods, who has suddenly become one of the San Diego CIF's top pitchers, has not allowed an earned run in 22.1 innings this season. The senior right-hander has surrendered just 5 hits and 8 walks while striking out 34.
 
EL CAPITAN 7,  EL CAJON VALLEY 1: This Grossmont North League opener was closer than the final score indicates. The visiting Vaqueros (4-6, 1-0), winners of two straight San Diego CIF Division II championships, were locked up in a 1-1 deadlock through five innings Wednesday (Mar. 30) at El Cajon Valley High.
 
El Capitan snapped the tie with 4 runs in the 6th inning. LOUIE RUSSO ignited the scoring parade with a double and AUSTIN RAUCH followed with a walk. The runners moved up on a wild pitch. NIK GARCIA's fly ball to right brought home Russo with what proved to be the winning run.
 
JOSH WALSTON lofted a flare down the right field line for a double that chased home Rauch. JASSON KSIAZEK followed with an RBI single and D.J. HENSON's double scored Ksiazek, giving El Capitan a 5-1 advantage.
 
A two-run double by Rauch in the 7th gave the Vaqueros what appeared to be an easy win.
 
The late support was more than enough for CRISTIAN GARCIA (2-2), who scattered 5 hits, walked none and struck out 8 in a route-going performance.
 
"We are playing a little better ball right now," El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said. "We had another outstanding pitching performance by Cristian Garcia. Our pitching continues to be our strength. We've had no earned runs given up in our last 14 innings of baseball."
 
After a throwing error gave El Capitan a 1st inning lead, the upstart Braves (2-8, 0-1) tied the game with an unearned run in the 4th frame. JONATHAN MANZO and RAY AQUININGOC began the 4th with back-to-back singles. One out later, an El Capitan error loaded the bases.  ALAN ABBOD's groundout scored Manzo with the equalizer.
 
El Cajon Valley coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN was pleased by the pitching of Manzo.
 
"He threw his best, holding El Cap to one unearned run until he ran into a snag in the 6th inning," the coach said. "Walston had a big hit cue ball double to shallow right that broke our backs!"
 
ESPERANZA 6,  VALHALLA 1:  For the first time in three starts, the Valhalla Norsemen did not live up to their lofty rating in Wednesday's (Mar. 30) third round of the Phil Nevin/El Toyo Tire National Classic in Placentia. The No. 2 ranked team in the San Diego CIF Section, produced just 3 hits and hit into three double plays as they fell to the host  Esperanza Aztecs (11-2), who won their 11th straight game.
 
The Norsemen (6-2), who will play El Dorado in Thursday's (Mar. 31) third place game of the tournament at 2 p.m., were listless to say the least. Esperanza advances to the championship game opposite Mater Dei, which downed El Dorado 13-4 in Wednesday's semifinals.
 
"It was still anybody's ballgame until we gave them 3 runs in the 7th inning," Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE said. "We just weren't sharp."
 
Valhalla wasted a strong pitching effort by freshman RYAN O'SULLIVAN, who limited the Aztecs to 3 hits and one earned run over five innings.
 
Perdue wanted to emphasize the positive - look ahead to a possible 3-1 finish in this tournament of powerhouses.
 
"If we can finish in third place at 3-1, I'll be happy with that," Perdue said.
 
Esperanza's Kelby Aase, the son of former major leaguer Don Aase, checked the Norsemen on three hits through five innings before handing the game over to the bullpen. Nevertheless, Aase was awarded his 3rd win in four decisions.
 
Valhalla missed a chance in the 6th inning after placing runners at first and second with nobody out. Esperanza reliever Joe Dickerson coaxed SEAN O'SULLIVAN to hit into his second double play and the budding rally wilted.
 

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 30, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Grossmont North League
VAQUEROS 7, BRAVES 1
EL CAPITAN    ab  r  h bi    EL CAJON VALLEY  ab  r  h bi
Russo 2b       3  3  2  0    Carreon rf        4  0  1  0
Rauch c        3  1  1  2    Thomas cf         3  0  0  0
N.Garcia 1b    2  0  1  1    Manzo p-1b        3  1  2  0
Walston cf     3  1  1  1    Aquiningoc dh     3  0  1  0
Ksiazek ss     3  1  2  1    Leon lf           0  0  0  0
Henson dh      2  0  1  1    Myer 1b-p         3  0  1  0
Sullenger ph   0  0  0  0    D.Perez c         3  0  0  0
McCarthy 3b    3  0  0  0    Abbod 3b          3  0  0  1
Nazzal lf      3  0  1  0    Dyer ss           1  0  0  0
Hostetler rf   3  1  1  0    Mansfield ph      1  0  0  0
C.Garcia p     0  0  0  0    L.Perez ss        0  0  0  0
                             Sotos 2b          3  0  0  0
TOTALS        25  7 10  6    TOTALS           27  1  5  1
 
  El Capitan        (4-6)   100 004 2 - 7 10 1
  El Cajon Valley   (2-8)   000 100 0 - 1  5 1
 
GWRBI: N.Garcia (3).
E: Ksiazek, D.Perez. LOB: EC 2, ECV 4. 2B: Myer, Russo, Rauch, Henson, Walston. SB: Russo 2. S: Sullenger. SF: N.Garcia.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
EL CAPITAN            ip  h  r er bb so
  C.Garcia  W(2-2)   7.0  5  1  0  0  8
EL CAJON VALLEY
  Manzo     L(0-1)   5.2  5  5  4  3  1
  Myer               1.1  5  2  2  0  1
HBP: by C.Garcia (L.Perez). WP: Manzo.
*
SULTANS 2, WOLF PACK 1
WEST HILLS    ab  h  r bi    SANTANA       ab  h  r bi
Mello cf       3  0  2  1    Woods p        3  0  0  0
Hooper lf      3  0  0  0    Brosnan lf     3  1  1  0
Skinner 1b     3  0  0  0    Helmholtz 1b   1  1  1  1
Strasburg p    3  0  0  0    Haley c        2  0  1  1
Gagnon c       3  0  0  0    Hermanson cf   1  0  0  0
Richardson rf  2  0  0  0    Tippin cf      2  0  0  0
Irvin 2b       2  0  0  0    Basnight 3b    3  0  0  0
Eddy ph        1  0  0  0    Martin ss      2  0  0  0
Hall 3b        2  1  0  0    Martinez 2b    2  0  0  0
Stoner dh      2  0  0  0    Miller rf      2  0  0  0
TOTALS        24  1  2  1    TOTALS        23  2  3  2
 
  West Hills   (2-7)   000 001 0 - 1 2 1
  Santana      (10-1)  101 000 x - 2 3 1
 
GWRBI: Haley (2).
E: Martin, Irvin. DP: WH 1. LOB: WH 3, Sant 5. 2B: Mello, Haley. SB: Hall, Brosnan, Helmholtz.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
WEST HILLS              ip  h  r er bb so
  Strasburg  L(0-4)    6.0  3  2  2  2  4
SANTANA
  Woods      W(4-0)    7.0  2  1  0  1 12
HBP: by Strasburg (Martin, Helmholtz). WP: Strasburg.
*
Grossmont South League
Game 1:
EAGLES 5, HIGHLANDERS 2
GRANITE HILLS   ab  r  h bi    HELIX         ab  r  h bi
Decker ss        4  0  1  0    Rohmer 2b      4  0  0  0
Marquis cf       3  0  0  0    Tanida c       4  0  0  0
Crawford DH      4  1  2  0    Ledesma cf     2  1  0  0
Monette c        3  1  1  0    Ponce rf       3  0  1  1
Taijeron lf      3  0  0  0    Rosenthal dh   3  0  0  0
Boltz ph-lf      1  0  0  0    Peterson 1b    3  1  2  0
Humphries rf     3  0  1  2    Valles lf      3  0  1  1
Horner 3b        2  1  1  1    Ritchie 3b     2  0  0  0
Russell 1b       3  1  1  0    R.Perez ss     1  0  0  0
Cazares 2b       3  1  2  1    Webb ph        1  0  1  0
Krause p         0  0  0  0    Schuler p      0  0  0  0
TOTALS          29  5  9  4    TOTALS        26  2  5  2
 
  Granite Hills  (8-3, 1-0)   010 002 2 - 5 9 0
  Helix          (7-3, 0-7)   100 100 0 - 2 5 3
 
GWRBI: Humphries (1).
E: Tanida, Schuler, Ritchie. 2B: Crawford, Ponce, Peterson, Valles. HR: Horner (1) 2nd, one on. SB: Decker.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GRANITE HILLS        ip  h  r er bb so
  Krause  W(4-0)    7.0  5  2  2  2  9
HELIX
  Schuler L(1-2)    7.0  9  5  4  1  5
HBP: by Krause (R.Perez); by Schuler (Monette, Horner).
*
Game 2:
EAGLES 3, HIGHLANDERS 2
GRANITE HILLS   ab  r  h bi    HELIX         ab  r  h bi
Decker ss        4  1  2  1    Ledesma cf     3  0  1  1
Marquis cf       3  0  0  0    Rohmer 2b      3  0  0  0
Crawford dh      3  0  1  0    Ponce rf       2  1  0  0
Russell 1b       0  0  0  0    Peterson 1b    3  0  1  0
Monette c        3  0  1  1    Valles lf      3  0  0  0
Taijeron lf      2  0  0  0    Webb dh        3  0  0  1
Humphries rf     3  1  1  0    Tanida c       2  0  0  0
Horner 3b        3  0  1  0    Beltran ph     1  0  0  0
Anderson p       2  1  1  1    Ritchie 3b     1  1  0  0
Cazares 2b       3  0  0  0    R.Perez ss     2  0  0  0
TOTAL           26  3  7  3    TOTAL         23  2  2  2
 
  Granite Hills   (9-3, 2-0)   002 100 0 - 3 7 0
  Helix           (7-4, 0-2)   001 100 0 - 2 2 4
 
GWRBI: Decker (2).
E: Rohmer, Valles, Ritchie 2. DP: Hel 3. LOB: GH 5, Hel 2. 2B: Ledesma, Humphries, Peterson. 
SB: Horner, Taijeron. SF: Anderson.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
GRANITE HILLS        ip  h  r er bb so
  Anderson  W(3-0)  7.0  2  2  2  1  4
HELIX
  Wenham    L(2-1)  7.0  7  3  3  1  5
HBP: by Wenham (Taijeron); by Anderson (Ponce). WP: Wenham.
*
Game 1:
COUGARS 3, MONARCHS 2 (8 Inn.)
MONTE VISTA   ab  r  h bi   STEELE CANYON ab  r  h bi
Sopher lf      4  1  2  0   Minich ss      3  0  0  0
DeAnda 2b      4  0  1  0   Inzone 1b      3  1  1  0
ALopez 1b      4  1  1  1   Jacobsmeier pr 0  0  0  0
Rodriguez p    4  0  2  0   Lange 1b       0  0  0  0
Freeman pr     0  0  0  0   Rice rf        4  0  2  0
Leboffe cf     4  0  2  0   Duby c         2  1  2  0
Croft ss       3  0  1  0   Knaust dh      4  0  1  1
Haase ph       1  0  0  0   Epperson 2b    2  0  0  0
Dawson dh      2  0  0  0   Harris 2b      2  0  0  0
Hale 3b        2  0  0  0   Murray 3b      3  0  0  0
Cooper c       4  0  0  0   Jenner pr      0  1  0  0
Starley 2b     2  0  1  0   Lewis lf       3  0  2  1
Palacios 2b    1  0  0  0   Klopp cf       3  0  1  1
TOTALS        35  2 10  1   TOTALS        25  3  9  3
   Monte Vista   (1-8, 0-1)   200 000 00 - 2 10 1
   Steele Canyon (6-3, 1-0)   101 000 01 - 3  9 0
One out when winning run scored.
GWRBI: Klopp (1).
E: Croft, Johnson, Minich. LOB: MV 9, SC 11. 2B: Sopher, A.Lopez. SB: Inzone, Lewis. 
MONTE VISTA            ip  h  r er bb so
  Rodriguez L(1-5)    7.1  9  3  2  6  6
STEELE CANYON
  Johnson   W(2-0)    8.0 10  2  2  0  5
HBP: by Rodriguez (Inzone).
*
Game 2: 
COUGARS 13, MONARCHS 4
MONTE VISTA   ab  r  h bi   STEELE CANYON ab  r  h bi
Haase rf-cf    4  1  2  0   Harris 2b      3  1  3  3
DeAnda p-rf    3  0  1  0   Shepard 2b     0  0  0  0
Cogley rf      1  0  0  0   Minich ss      4  1  2  1
ALopez 1b      4  1  1  0   Rice rf        4  2  2  1
Rodriguez dh   4  1  1  0   Duby c         2  2  1  1
Leboffe cf-p   3  1  2  1   Lange dh       2  1  1  0
Sopher p       0  0  0  0   Knaust 1b      3  1  0  0
Hale cf        0  0  0  0   Murray 3b      3  2  2  2
Simmons 3b-p   4  0  2  1   Lewis lf       4  2  2  2
Croft ss       3  0  0  0   Klopp cf       2  1  1  2
Messenger ph   1  0  1  1
Palacios 2b    3  0  0  0
Dqawson ph     1  0  0  0
RGarcia lf     3  0  0  0
Cooper c       0  0  0  0
TOTALS        35  4 10  3   TOTALS        27 13 14 12
  Monte Vista   (1-9, 0-2)   103 000 0 -  4 10 2
  Steele Canyon (7-3, 2-0)   070 051 x - 13 14 3
GWRBI: Lewis (1).
E: Knaust, Minich, Murray, Garcia, Cooper. DP: MV 2. LOB: MV 10, SC 4. 2B: Minich 2, Rice, Duby. 3B: Harris. SB: Harris. 
MONTE VISTA            ip  h  r er bb so
  DeAnda   L(0-1)     1.2  5  6  6  3  0
  Leboffe             3.1  7  6  5  2  3
  Sopher              0.1  1  1  1  1  0
  Simmons             0.2  1  0  0  0  1
STEELE CANYON
  Epperson W(2-0)     5.0  8  4  3  0  4
  Bruder              2.0  2  0  0  0  0
HBP: by Sopher (Lange), by Bruder (Hale).
*
PHIL NEVIN/EL TOYO TIRE NATIONAL CLASSIC
AZTECS 6, NORSEMEN 1
Esperanza  (11-2)  010 010 3 - 5 6 0
Valhalla   (6-2)   000 001 0 - 1 3 2
R.O'Sullivan, Stangyl (7) and McClain; Aase, Dickerson (6) and Larson. W: Aase (3-1). L: R.O'Sullivan (2-1). 
(03-30-05)


Norsemen, Sultans and Madison rate as teams to beat
EastCountySports.com
 
Two-time defending Valhalla gets a slight edge over challengers Granite Hills and Helix in what should be an interesting race in the Grossmont South League. Across town in the Grossmont North, Santana gets the nod over a solid Grossmont club.  El Capitan, which has won back to back SDCIF Division II titles, can't be counted out despite a 3-6 start. In the Harbor League, Madison is a sure-thing to take the gold, while Christian hones in on the runner-up spot.
 
GROSSMONT SOUTH
 
1. Valhalla: Only the wildest of gamblers would bet against Sean O'Sullivan and the Norsemen, who have won 29 of 30 league games over the past two seasons.
 
2. Granite Hills: The 7-3 Eagles are probably better than their record indicates, since two of their three losses are to top-ranked Rancho Bernardo.
 
3. Helix: Coach Cole Holland's club has grown from hapless also-ran to bona fide contender in less than a year.
 
4. Steele Canyon: This club has enough offensive firepower to challenge for the top spot, but lacks the pitching.
 
5. Monte Vista: Losing two of its top three pitchers has all but eliminated Monte Vista from playoff contention.
 
6. Mount Miguel: First-year coach Byron Grigsby is hoping his club can notch a couple of wins and play spoiler.
 
GROSSMONT NORTH
 
1. Santana: A fast start has the Sultans thinking league championship for the second year in a row. The Sultans shared the league laurels with El Capitan a year ago, but they have no plans of spreading the wealth this time around.
 
2. Grossmont: The Foothillers arguably have the best pitching depth in East County, which makes Grossmont a primary contender for the crown.
 
3. El Capitan: The defending co-champions haven't impressed in the preseason, but should never be counted out when coach Steve Vickery is calling the shots.
 
4. West Hills: Everything is new at West Hills, which means the Wolf Pack is a year away from making a move for the top.
 
5. El Cajon Valley:
Gallant as these Braves have been at times, escaping the cellar should be the primary goal.
 
HARBOR LEAGUE

 
1. Madison: A veteran pitching staff gives the Warhawks the nod here.
 
2. Christian: The Patriots lack the pitching to capture the Harbor League flag, but somehow generate enough runs and chaos to make their muscle felt.
 
3. Hoover: Remember, the Cardinals were 0-26 a year ago. A new coach has brought new life and hope.
 
4. Crawford: The Colts can swing the bat a bit, but lack the pitching to be considered a serious contender.
 
5. Kearny:  Just finishing the season is the goal for the short-handed Komets.


Hart attack leads Christian past Crawford
EastCountySports.com
 
EL CAJON - Finding runners in scoring position during his first three at-bats Tuesday (Mar. 29), Christian High catcher MATT HART collected four RBI with three hits to spur a 14-hit attack, then the host Patriots (6-1) staved off a late rally to best Crawford, 12-9, in the City Conference Tournament.

Hart drove home two runs in the 1st inning, then scored on a double by KELLEN ROSSITTO for a quick 3-0 lead, as Christian posted multiple-run innings over four of the team's six trips to the plate to mount an 8-run lead.

The Colts (3-5) rallied late and brought the tying run to the plate in the 7th. However, reliever TODD JONES entered to strikeout the only batter he faced to collect the save, leaving Crawford clean-up batter James Newman -- who earlier slammed a 2-run homer in the 5th -- on deck to make a winner of starting pitcher GRANT MILLS.
 
It was the third win in four decisions for Mills, who suffered a broken ankle during football and is ticketed for surgery on April 19.
 
Mills was backed by a 14-hit attack against Crawford. The Patriots, in fact, have scored 26 runs in their first City Conference Tournament games.
 
"We had a lot of hits falling, and we have a lot of people who can hit," said Hart, who added an RBI double in the 3rd, then singled home another run in the 4th. "And Grant did well for us throwing hard "

While the Patriots slugged six extra-base hits, including a solo homer by designated hitter JOEL McGRANAHAN in the 2nd, the Colts stayed in the game thanks to eight walks and two hit batters.
 
Jones quelled the storm, needing just 4 pitches for his game-ending strikeout.

Hart was forced into espionage mode when he noticed Crawford batters seeking a peek on his signs to the pitcher.

"We definitely needed to change things up," said Hart. "I actually enjoy that part of the game, because we're always changing (the signs) all the time."

Rossitto capped a three-RBI performance with a bloop single in the 5th, scoring two runners for a 12-4 advantage. Among those crossing home was ADAM PERRY, who scored three times despite batting just 1-for-4, yet reaching twice on Colts errors.

Mills struck out three and yielded just four hits over his five innings.
 
Freshman shortstop EDDIE YOUNG, third baseman RICKY PLUM and second baseman NICK ADAMS all had doubles for the Patriots.
 
VALHALLA 14, DEER VALLEY 2: The Norsemen, ranked No. 2 in the San Diego CIF's only poll, snapped a scoreless tie with an 8-run 4th inning in Tuesday night's (Mar. 29) second round of the Phil Nevin/El Toyo Tire National Classic in Placentia.
 
Valhalla put up the eight runs before Deer Valley, which used seven pitchers in the rout, could get an out.
 
"I could tell after taking our best pre-game infield of the season that we were ready to play," Valhalla coach STEVE PERDUE said. "We were aggressive and took it to them as a team. This is the first complete game we've played all year."
 
Senior MICHAEL YOUNG pitched 2.1 innings of shutout relief to earn the victory. He did not allow a hit, while striking out 3 and walking one. Young also contributed a hitter, drawing a bases-loaded walk giving the Norsemen a 1-0 edge. Young later drove in a run with a base hit.
 
JEFF SOPATA, BRENNAN BAUM and SEAN O'SULLIVAN all had 2-run doubles in the decisive 8-run breakout 4th inning.
 
Baum finished the night 3 for 4 with 3 RBI. Sean O'Sullivan drove in 3 runs and scored 3.
 
ERIC JULIENNE, Young and MIKE PETRIVELLI combined to spin a 2-hitter for the Norsemen.
 
Valhalla (6-1) takes on the host Esperanza Aztecs (10-2) on Wednesday (Mar. 30) at 2 p.m.  The winner advances to Thursday night's (Mar. 31) championship game at 7 p.m.
 

TUESDAY, MAR. 29, 2005
EastCountySports.com
Harbor League
PATRIOTS 12, COLTS 9
CRAWFORD  (3-5)     020 022 3 -  9  8 3
CHRISTIAN (6-1)     330 240 x - 12 14 3
Jacobs, Wright (5) and Jas. Newman; Mills, Murray (6), T.Jones (7) and Hart. 
HR: McGranahan (Chr), 2nd, solo (#1); Jam. Newman (Cr), 5th, 1 on. W: Mills (3-1). L: Jacobs. Sv: T.Jones (1). 
*
El Dorado-El Toyo Tire Tire National Classic
NORSEMEN 14, DEER VALLEY 2
Valhalla    (6-1)  000 841 1 - 14 11 0
Deer Valley        000 200 0 -  2  2 3
Julienne, Young (4), Petrivelli and McClain, Wilkins (7). W: Young (1-0). Deer Valley battery not available.
(03-29-05)

Valhalla's Sean O'Sullivan picked up his first win of the season against Covenant High of Charlottesville, VA in the El Dorado-El Toyo Tire National Classic. (Photo by R. L. Young)

O'Sullivan has first win of year, while Perdue has 100th win of career
EastCountySports.com
 
PLACENTIA:  It was hardly a thing of beauty, but it was a landmark of sorts for the Valhalla Norsemen who handed coach STEVE PERDUE his 100th coaching victory in Monday's (Mar. 28) opening round of the El Toyo Tire National Classic at El Dorado High School. The Norsemen, behind the pitching of senior SEAN O'SULLIVAN, defeated Covenant High of Charlottesville, Va. 8-4.
 
Perdue, who was 27-5 a year ago, is 5-1 in this, his sixth season at the Valhalla helm. But the Norsemen skipper wasn't popping champagne corks. He wanted to talk about Valhalla's latest performance.
 
Hordes of professional scouts surrounded the diamond to watch Sean O'Sullivan pitch 5 innings to gain his first win of the season.
 
"The bleachers were full of scouts," said O'Sullivan, who gave up 4 runs and 8 hits, while striking out 5 and walking one.
 
"I didn't have my "A" game going, but I did alright. They only hit two balls hard, but we had some mental errors. Bottom line, though, is we won the game."
 
Perdue agreed that O'Sullivan's outing was better than the statistics indicate.
 
"Had the two balls they hit hard been with wooden bats, Sean would have broken them," Perdue said. "He was in the high 80s and low 90s (mph). He had more than a dozen pitches in the low 90s. Sure, I've seen him pitch better. But the season is young and he's still building his stamina."
 
O'Sullivan has pitched only 10 innings, yet is averaging one strikeout per frame.
 
"I didn't go out there and throw gas on every pitch," O'Sullivan said. "But I brought it when I needed it."
 
COREY STANGYL picked up for O'Sullivan and pitched two hitless innings.
 
BRENNAN BAUM was 2 for 4 with a double, 2 runs and one RBI to pace the Valhalla offense. CHAD WILSON also had 2 hits with a double.
 
Covenant committed 4 errors that handed Valhalla 7 unearned runs. Five of those tallies were a direct result of those miscues, as Valhalla had only 3 RBI.
 
The Norsemen take on Deer Valley of Antioch in Tuesday's (Mar. 29) second round at 6 p.m. Deer Valley clubbed Villa Park 16-6 in the first round of the El Toyo Tire National Classic.
 
CHRISTIAN 12, MIRA MESA 5:  
After a 10-day layoff, Christian High returned to the winning track in Monday's (Mar. 28) first round of the City Conference Tournament by mauling the visiting Marauders.
 
SHANE STANOVIC pitched 5.1 innings to pick up his first win. The junior southpaw blanked Mira Mesa (4-4) on 2 hits over the first 4 innings before the Marauders broke through for two runs in the 5th, and a misjudged fly ball set the stage for a potential big inning in the 6th.
 
"I was throwing a combination of fastballs, curves and knuckleballs," Stanovic said. "My curveball was my best pitch. I kinda changed my arm slot a little bit, a little lower. And that worked out a little better for me. They were fishing for the curve all day, so gotta love that."
 
CHAD O'DONNELL took over for Stanovic with the bases loaded and one out in the 6th inning. The Patriots were in control 9-3 at the time, but Mira Mesa had its top hitter, Pat Akers at the plate. Akers earlier smacked a 2-run home run in the 5th inning. Not this time.
 
O'Donnell, who delivered three straight balls to Akers, suddenly found the strike zone, spinning three consecutive strikes past Akers for the second out. Deryk Hooker then lofted a fly ball out to center field to end the inning.
 
Mitchell has high hopes for Stanovic.
 
"He doesn't know it yet, but he's going to end up being our ace," Christian coach MIKE MITCHELL said. "He throws decent hard, has a good curveball. He has a little bit of a knuckleball.
 
"When he's throwing strikes, he's good. But there are sometimes that he just loses it. He's all over the place."
 
Case in point was the late innings against Mira Mesa.
 
"We are kinda bringing Shane along slowly," Mitchell said.
 
Christian is going to lose the services of junior GRANT MILLS, who is batting .600 and owns a 2-1 record as a left-handed starting pitcher. Mills suffered a broken ankle during football and is ticketed for surgery on April 19.
 
"I still haven't figured this out," Mitchell said. "He can't run, but they are going to let him pitch (until he has surgery). He can't play in the field, but he can hit. If he gets on base, we have to run for him."
 
No matter, Mills is done in three weeks.
 
ADAM PERRY sparked an 11-hit attack with a 4 for 4 effort and 3 runs scored against Mira Mesa. MATT HART and KELLEN ROSSITTO drove in 2 runs apiece for the Patriots (5-1).
 
Eight Mira Mesa errors helped the Patriots pad their totals.
 

MONDAY, MAR 28, 2005
EastCountySports.com
City Conference Tournament
PATRIOTS 12, MARAUDERS 5
Mira Mesa (4-4)  000 021 2 -  5  7 8
Christian (5-1)  101 163 x - 12 11 1
Akers, Black (5), Bradley (6) and O'Mary; Stanovic, O'Donnell (6) and Hart. 
HR: Akers (M) 5th, one on. W: Stanovic (1-0). L: Akers.
*
El Dorado-El Toyo Tire National Classic
NORSEMEN 8, COVENANT (VA) 4
Valhalla  (5-1)  103 013 0 - 8 8 0
Covenant         102 010 0 - 4 8 4
S.O'Sullivan, Stangyl (6) and McClain; Enos, Dernick (7).
W: S.O'Sullivan (1-0). L: Enos.
(03-28-05)
 

Steele Canyon's Kyle Johnson pitches against Bonita Vista in a game won by the Barons. (Courtesy photo)

Top-ranked Broncos deck Decker-less Eagles in Lions Classic final
EastCountySports.com
 
POINT LOMA - Defensive lapses have no doubt cost Granite Hills a couple of ballgames this season. A bigger problem for these Eagles, however, has been finding a way to defuse the explosive Rancho Bernardo Broncos.
 
When the Eagles had to play Thursday's (Mar. 24) Classic Division championship of the 55th annual Lions Tournament without catalyst BRANDON DECKER, it certainly didn't help matters.  Decker missed the contest after spraining a knee in the semifinal-round victory over Vista earlier in the day.

In the end, though, this game wasn't decided by defense or a lack of it. The bats of undefeated and top-ranked Rancho Bernardo (11-0) proved to be too much. The Broncos scored six times in the 3rd inning to build an 8-run lead, racing to the easy victory on a soggy afternoon at Point Loma Nazarene University's Carroll Land Stadium.

"They came to play and swung the bats," said Eagles senior catcher NICK MONETTE. "They don't give away any at-bats. If you make any little mistake, they capitalize on it."

Granite Hills (7-3), after a defensive disaster in a Hilltop Tournament setback to the Broncos two weeks ago, only committed one small mistake in the rematch. But it opened the flood gates.

After third baseman BRET HORNER made a solid throw to the plate to cut down the lead runner after Rancho Bernardo loaded the bases, the relay to first in an attempt for a double play wasn't caught. That extended the 4th inning. Suddenly, a one-run rally expanded to five runs to place the Broncos in position to run-rule the Eagles.

"The defense has got to pick-up if we want to beat a team like Rancho Bernardo," added Granite Hills head coach JAMES DAVIS. "They don't beat themselves and we have to learn to do the same."

Granite Hills rebounded with three runs in the 3rd, as LOUIS CAZARES and Monette hit ground balls to score a run each, then TRAVIS TAIJERON ripped a line single to left for another run.

In the 5th, the Eagles collected their lone extra-base hit when CODY CRAWFORD slammed a double over the right-fielder's head to score GARRETT RUSSELL.
 
In the end, though, it was far too little too late. Rancho Bernardo has outscored Granite Hills 24-6 in 12 innings. The Eagles are 7-1 against their other opponents.
 
Davis was not disappointed by the Eagles' 4-1 showing in the tournament. Granite Hills applied the domino theory, knocking off La Costa Canyon, Fallbrook, Green Valley (NV) and Vista is succession.
 
"That's pretty impressive," Davis noted. "We won four games against some of the better programs in the San Diego CIF Section. We have to be pleased, but not satisfied where we are."
 
SEMIFINALS
 
CLASSIC DIVISION
GRANITE HILLS 5, VISTA 2:
 CODY CRAWFORD and NICK MONETTE batted home the go-ahead runs to snap a 2-all tie in the 7th, powering the Eagles past the Panthers in Thursday's (Mar. 24) semifinals at Mesa College.

A defensive mistake finally went the Eagles' way. With the bases loaded, the score tied and nobody out in the 7th inning, the Vista third baseman threw to first base rather than to home plate after fielding a ground ball. That decision allowed LOUIS CAZARES to score the go-ahead run and Crawford to pick up the-winning RBI.
 
Monette ripped a single to deep shortstop to plate a second Granite Hills run for a 4-2 lead. In his haste, the Vista shortstop threw the ball away to hand the Eagles additional insurance run.
 
The other Granite Hills runs came in the 1st when both RYAN MARQUIS and Crawford scored after coaxing one-out walks, as TRAVIS TAIJERON and BRIAN HUMPHRIES rattled consecutive RBI singles.

Meanwhile, pitcher DARREN GAY, who picked up a key save earlier in the week, tossed a complete game at Vista, striking out five without issuing a single walk as he scattered 7 hits and logged a complete game victory.

"Mony (Monette) called a great game and I was able to hit my spots," said Gay, a sophomore, who survived three Eagles errors that allowed Vista to knot the game with unearned runs in the 5th and 6th. The team turned it up when they had to."

The top six batters in the Eagles' lineup produced either a run, hit or RBI.

5A DIVISION
MT. CARMEL 7,  GROSSMONT 5:
The visiting Sundevils stormed in front 5-0 before Grossmont was afforded its third at-bat Thursday (Mar. 24) and continued on to deal the third-ranked Foothillers (8-2) their second loss of the Lions Tournament.
 
Three Grossmont errors handed Mt. Carmel three unearned runs. The Foothillers further added to their demise when they issued a season high 5 walks.
 
"Two of those walks turned into runs," Grossmont coach ROB PHILLIPS said. "That's something we haven't been doing."
 
Mt. Carmel also out-hit the Hillers 10-8, although Phillips insisted that was a misleading statistic.
 
"We hit the ball harder than they did," the Grossmont coach said. "But that doesn't really matter when you sort things out. The bottom line is we didn't do the things you need to do to win.
 
"When you get into the latter stages of a tournament like this, when you are mentally tired and physically tired, it's a matter of who wants it more."
 
Garrett Roth, the third batter of the game, ripped a 3-run home run and Grossmont was playing catch-up from there on in.
 
AUGIE WILLIAMS swatted a two-run home run for the Foothillers.
 
4A DIVISION
SAN MARCOS 2,  HELIX 1
:  Both pitchers settled down after allowing runs in the 1st inning, as a two-run double by Michael Lozano proved to be the difference for the Knights (5-4) at Hilltop's Baumgarten Field.

San Marcos starter Cameron Aspaas allowed only three hits over five innings, outdueling Helix starter JEREMY PETERSON, who yielded just four hits in four frames. The bullpens from each team were a perfect 6-for-6 in retiring batters, including the Highlanders' senior MIKE SCHULER, who got two of his three outs on strikeouts.

The Scotties' lone run came on a two-out walk to STEVEN ROHMER, who took second on a wild pitch, then circled the bases on a double by NICK LEDESMA.
The only other hits for Helix (7-2) came from the bottom of the lineup, when RAUL RITCHIE and ANDREW VALLES collected consecutive one-out singles in the 5th, but the baserunners were left stranded.
 
EL CAPITAN 7,  COOPER CITY (FLA.) 0:  Victories have not materialized as swiftly as they normally do for the tradition-rich Vaqueros of El Capitan. However, after a sluggish start, coach STEVE VICKERY's crew appears to be peeking around the corner if not turning in that direction following a four-game stint in the Cleats National Invitational in Scottsdale, AZ.
 
El Capitan didn't do anything spectacular, splitting four games during the four-day stay in Arizona. But Vickery had to be pleased by the pitching of BRYAN PAUKOVITS in Thursday's (Mar. 24) finale against Cooper City (Fla.). The senior right-hander struck out 10, walked one and scattered six hits as he logged his first win.
 
"Key to this game was no errors," said Vickery. "We put the pressure on the other team this time."
 
"(BRYAN) PAUKOVITS had a tremendous performance today. He has now pitched 13 scoreless innings in a row," Vickery said. "(JASSON) KSIAZEK hit the ball hard three times. Everything today went right for him."
 
Indeed. Ksiazek was 4 for 4 with 2 RBI.
 
Vickery mused that the last game of this tournament was a family affair.
 
"We started all three GARCIA brothers today -- senior NIK and junior twins CRISTIAN and DAMIAN," Vickery said. "That's a first for me, to have three brothers on a team."
 
As back-page as this win was in general, it could be the emotional spark the two-time San Diego CIF Division II champions need to jump-start the 2005 season.
 

Las Vegas Perfecto:  A second look 
WEDNESDAY, MAR 23, 2005
Blazer SportCo Spring Bash
MOHAVE (NV)    ab  r  h bi   SANTANA       ab  r  h bi
Wachter c       3  0  0  0   Woods p        3  0  0  1
Blazek 3b       3  0  0  0   Brosnan lf     3  0  0  0
Sweat p         3  0  0  0   Helmholtz 1b   2  1  1  0
Tilsat ss       2  0  0  0   Haley c        2  0  0  0
Rios 1b         2  0  0  0   Hermansen cf   3  0  1  0
Brickerhoff lf  2  0  0  0   Basnight 3b    3  1  1  0
Whitehead cf    2  0  0  0   Martin ss      2  0  1  1
Gloria 2b       2  0  0  0   Martinez 2b    1  0  1  0
Schwess rf      2  0  0  0   Miller rf      3  0  1  0
TOTALS         18  0  0  0   TOTALS        22  2  6  2
 
  Mojave          000 000 0 - 0 0 0
  Santana (9-1)   011 000 x - 2 6 0
 
GWRBI:  Woods.
E: Tilsant, Gloria. LOB: Mojave 0, Santana 5. SB: Helmholtz, Hermansen. S: Martin. SF: Woods.
 
PITCHING SUMMARY
MOHAVE           ip  h  r er bb so
  Sweat  L      6.0  6  2  1  4  3
SANTANA
  Woods  W(2-0) 7.0  0  0  0  0 12
* 
THURSDAY, MAR 24, 2005
EastCountySports.com
55th Lions Invitational Tournament 
CLASSIC DIVISION
Finals:
BRONCOS 13, EAGLES 4
RANCHO BERNARDO ab h r bi  GRANITE HILLS   ab r h bi
Cable rf         4 2 3 4   Russell 1b-p     2 2 1 0
Drennen cf       1 2 1 0   Marquis cf       3 1 1 0
Dykstra 1b       4 1 2 2   Crawford dh      2 0 2 1
Wilson lf        3 1 2 2   Monette c        3 0 0 1
Kuehl ss         3 1 2 1   Taijeron lf      3 0 1 1
Palmer ph        1 0 0 0   Humphries rf     2 0 0 0
Jusino 2b        3 0 1 2   Horner 3b        2 0 0 0
Navarro ph       0 0 0 0   Harkins 2b       2 1 1 0
Robinson dh      1 0 0 0   Cazares ss       2 0 0 1
Haynal dh        3 2 2 1   Coleman p-1b     0 0 0 0
Buckley 3b       3 2 1 0   
Laws c           0 1 0 0
Alarcon ph       1 1 0 0
TOTALS       27 13 14 12   TOTALS          21 4 6 4
RANCHO BERNARDO (11-0)    206 50 - 13 15 1
GRANITE HILLS   (7-3)     003 01 -  4  6 1
Called after five innings, rain.
GWRBI: Wilson.
E: Peabody, Coleman. DP: GH 1. LOB: RB 6, GH 4. 2B: Harkins, Crawford, Kuehl, Cable, Drennen. SB: Wilson. SF: Wilson.
                      
RANCHO BERNARDO        ip  h  r er bb so
  Peabody   W         3.0  4  3  3  1  1
  Zabel               2.0  2  1  1  0  3
GRANITE HILLS
  Sylvester L(0-1)    2.0  5  4  4  1  3
  Coleman             1.1  7  7  7  3  1
  Russell             1.2  2  2  1  1  4
Sylvester faced two batters in the third.
HBP: by Peabody (Russell), by Russell (Drennen). WP: Zabel 2, Russell.
*
SEMIFINALS:
 
Classic Division
EAGLES 5, PANTHERS 2
Granite Hills  (7-2)  200 000 3 - 5 6 3
Vista          (6-2)  000 011 0 - 2 8 1
Gay and Monette; Lewis, Richardson (1), Cahill (7) and Carroll, Craig (5). W: Gay (1-0). L: Richardson (1-1).
*
5A Division
SUNDEVILS 7, FOOTHILLERS 5
Mt. Carmel   (6-3)  302 200 0 - 7 10 1
Grossmont    (8-2)  002 210 0 - 5  8 3
Findley, Ferguson (5) and Ferguson, Rehkopf (5); Adams, Kinsella (4), Mattson (4), Passanisi (6) and Pieczynski. 
HR: Roth (MC) 1st, two on; Williams (G, #1) 4th, one on. W: Findley (3-0). L: Adams (1-1). Sv: Ferguson (3).
*
4A Division
KNIGHTS 2, HIGHLANDERS 1
Helix      (7-2)  100 000 0 - 1 3 0
San Marcos (5-4)  200 000 x - 2 4 0
Peterson, Schuler (5) and Tanida; Aspaas, Hays (6) and K.Cooper. W: Aspaas (2-1). L: Peterson (1-2). Sv: Hays (3).
*
Cleats National Invitational (Scottsdale, AZ)
VAQUEROS 7, COOPER CITY (FLA) 0
El Capitan  (2-6)  001 130 2 - 7 7 0
Cooper City        000 000 0 - 0 6 5
Paukovits and Rauch; Kahn, Javins (5), Pilkey (7), Nelson (7) and Housey. W: Paukovits (1-1). L: Kahn.
(03-24-05)



Santana's Woods deals perfect game at Las Vegas tournament
EastCountySports.com
 
SAN DIEGO: Known more for his play as a shortstop, Santana senior JEFF WOODS proved he's not too bad as a pitcher either. The senior right-hander recorded only the sixth perfect game in Grossmont Conference history and just the 9th on the 45-year San Diego CIF charts Wednesday (Mar. 23) as the Sultans edged Mojave 2-0 in the semifinals of the Blazer's SportCo. Spring Bash in Las Vegas. Santana went on to capture the tourney title, defeating Boulder City (NV.) 9-3. ELSEWHERE, three East County teams advanced to Thursday's (Mar. 24) semifinals of the 55th annual Lions Baseball Invitational. Granite Hills (6-2) takes on Vista in the Classic Division semifinals at Point Loma Nazarene University, while Grossmont (8-1) hosts Mt. Carmel in the 5A Division semifinal and Helix (7-1) travels to South Bay to meet San Marcos in the 4A Division semis. All start at 10 a.m. A win will put these teams in the division championship games at 2 p.m.
 
SANTANA 2, MOJAVE (NV) 0:  This game was all about JEFF WOODS.
 
Woods' perfect game was completed by a combination of 12 strikeouts, eight ground outs, and a pop-up to the pitcher.
 
Woods also accounted for the game-winning RBI with a sacrifice fly in the 2nd inning and DALLAS MARTIN singled in a run to make it 2-0 in the 3rd inning.
 
SANTANA 9, BOULDER CITY (NV) 3:  Sophomore DALLAS MARTIN was 3 for 3 with 2 doubles and a pair of RBI in Wednesday's (Mar. 23) Blazer's SportCo Spring Bash championship game in Las Vegas, NV.
 
Martin's 2-run double ignited a 3-run 2nd inning as Santana completed a 5-game tournament sweep. On top of that, the youthful right-hander pitched 3 shutout hitless innings while striking out 3.
 
While Santana coach JERRY HENSON was pleased by his Sultans' domination, he was not happy by the tournament's postseason awards ceremony.
 
The presentation of the tournament's championship trophy consisted of the following:
 
"Their coach walked out to the mound and put the (championship) trophy on the mound," Henson said. "And then the guy walks away to talk to his team without saying a thing to me or my kids."
 
Somewhat angered by the hosts' rude behavior, Henson picked up the trophy and hoisted it above his head to the cheers of his players and fans.
 
GRANITE HILLS 2, GREEN VALLEY (NV) 0:  Sophomore ERIC KRAUSE flirted with a no-hitter in Wednesday's (Mar. 23) Classic Division semifinals against Green Valley (NV) under the lights at Helix High.
 
In fact, the Eagles' 5-foot-8,147-pounder came within one out of spinning a no-hitter against one of Nevada's traditional powerhouses.
 
"That kid is a bulldog," Granite Hills coach JAMES DAVIS said. "He had great placement all night long. I doubt if he threw more than five breaking balls."
 
Krause, who struck out 9 and walked only one, threw perhaps one fastball too many.
 
"The guy who broke it (the no-hitter) up hit a first-pitch fastball with 2 outs in the 7th," Davis said. "It was a clean hit, a one-hopper to my left fielder."
 
The Eagles (6-2) scored the only run they needed when TRAVIS TAIJERON drilled a solo home run over the center field fence in the 4th inning. Granite Hills plated its second run in the 6th when Eagles catcher NICK MONETTE reached base on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored on back-to-back balks.
 
WEST HILLS 2, Santa Cruz HARBOR 1:  For the longest time, AARON RICHARDSON's strong pitching effort seemed like it would be wasted.  The junior left-hander allowed just three hits in seven innings of Wednesday (Mar. 23) Lions Invitational 3A Division contest.  However, KOREY HOOPER came to the rescue, giving West Hills its second win in three starts.
 
Hooper deposited the first pitch of the 6th inning over the fence in straightaway center field to snap a 1-1 tie, as the Wolf Pack outlasted Harbor High of Santa Cruz in a Division 3A contest to finish second in their pool

"I was just looking for a fastball to try to take it up the middle," said the junior right-fielder. "The pitcher got it up and it went out."

Two years earlier, Hooper's fly ball would've been a deep out, with the closest fence located a pair of football fields in length away. However, host Clairemont High installed an outfield barrier last season at Ernie Beck Field, as the ball went over right at the 400-foot marker.

Meanwhile, Richardson cruised along without his best stuff, especially early when the Pirates (7-5) placed their first three batters on base on a hit, a walk, and an error on a sacrifice bunt. However, the only run Richardson would allow came on the first of two double plays turned in by the Wolf Pack defense.

"My fastball was nothing today," said Richardson, who threw 106 pitches and walked four in the first two innings. "It was 15 miles per hour slower than I normally throw it.  So I had to rely on my curveball about 90 percent of the time, then the defense stuck with me and made the plays."

Both double plays occurred immediately after the team posted errors, allowing Richardson to escape potential big innings. For the contest, he allowed three hits (two singles and a two-out double in the sixth) while striking out six Pirates.

West Hills tied the contest in the 4th as MICHAEL HALL roped a double off the base of the center field fence for the RBI.
 
HELIX 6,  NARBONNE 1:  Senior MANUEL MENDOZA and junior DUSTIN RUNIONS ganged up on the visiting Gauchos from Harbor City to spin a 5-hitter in Wednesday's (Mar. 23) Lions Tournament 4A Division semifinals in La Mesa.
 
"Yeah, I think we have decent pitching depth," said Helix coach COLE HOLLAND. "Those two guys proved that again today."
 
Mendoza worked the first 5 frames, scattering 4 hits while striking out 2 to earn his first win.
 
A two-run single by ALEX ROSENTHAL followed by an RBI double by JEREMEY PETERSON staked Mendoza and the Highlanders to a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning.
 
ANDREW VALLES' RBI triple keyed a 2-run 2nd inning as Helix forged in front 5-0.
 
Peterson finished with a pair of doubles, giving him an East County high 9 for the season.
 
Valles was 2 for 2, including a double.
 
Helix (7-1), which won only 8 games in 28 starts a year ago, could surpass that total with a sweep to the Lions 4A crown.
 
GROSSMONT 5, LOMPOC 0:  A.J. GRIFFIN is looked upon as the closer for the No. 3-ranked Grossmont Foothillers. But the 6-foot-4, 205-pound right-hander proved he has what it takes to go the distance when called upon.
 
Griffin got the call in Wednesday's (Mar. 24) semifinals of the 5A Division of the Lions Invitational. And, as usual, he answered the bell, mowing down 10 Braves on strikes as he coined a complete-game 2-hitter.
 
Griffin retired the final 10 batters, striking out the side in the 7th.
 
Grossmont shortstop TRISTAN PHILLIPS fueled a 13-hit attack with a 3 for 3 performance at the plate. The Foothillers' senior catalyst doubled and scored in the 2nd inning, slugged a solo home run in the 4th and singled in a run in the 5th.
 
After TONY CUSUMANO's RBI single gave Grossmont (8-1) a 1-0 edge in the 2nd inning, DONNIE SNOW's solo home run made it 2-0 in the 3rd.
 
TIM FERRARA chipped in three hits and NICK SOBEL and Cusumano pitched in 2 apiece, as Grossmont totaled 13 safeties in the game.
 
EL CAJON VALLEY 14, SAN YSIDRO 5:  
The Braves made it back-to-back wins and they did it in style, knocking out 20 hits in Wednesday's (Mar. 23) romp over host San Ysidro in the final round of Lions Tournament Division 2A pool play.
 
ECV coach WAYNE WEIGHTMAN promoted sophomore RAY AQUININGOC to the varsity and the young man delivered in a major way, driving in 6 runs with a pair of triples and a double.
 
FEDERICO CARREON was 2 for 5 with a triple and 3 RBI, and SHANE MYER blasted a home run for El Cajon Valley (2-7).
 
DEREK PEREZ was 3 for 4 with a pair of RBI, while CLIFTON THOMAS contributed a double and two singles, scoring twice and stealing once.
 
The Braves broke the game open with 5 runs on 7 hits in the 5th inning, giving El Cajon Valley a 10-0 advantage.
 
BROPHY PREP (AZ) 7, EL CAPITAN 3:  A dropped fly ball in the 2nd inning helped the Broncos score 4 runs that wiped out El Capitan's fast start in Wednesday's (Mar. 23) third round of the Cleats National Invitational in Scottsdale, AZ.
 
"The story of this ballgame is we were 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position," El Capitan coach STEVE VICKERY said.
 
NIK GARCIA stroked 3 singles to account for nearly half of El Capitan's eight hits. AUSTIN RAUCH was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored, a double, a stolen base and one RBI.
 
El Capitan junior reliever KYLE KING, who notched Tuesday's pitching win, blanked Brophy on 3 hits over the final 2.2 innings. He struck out 2 and walked one.
 
ESCONDIDO 6, STEELE CANYON 1:
 The Cougars probably lost this game before they ever set foot on the field in Wednesday's (Mar. 23) final round of Lions Invitational Division 4A pool play.
 
Rainy weather throughout the night left many playing surfaces unfit for Wednesday's activity. Thus, Steele Canyon coach PHIL MITTRY and his players were virtual nomads until they final were informed by the Lions Club when and where they would play.
 
The lack of information and communication did not sit well with Mittry.
 
"My kids were driving all over the flippin' county and then waiting around two hours before their game," Mittry said. "That certainly didn't help us."
 
Neither did the hitting of Escondido catcher Buck Afenir. The Cougars senior receiver went 4 for 4 with a two-run home run as Escondido improved to 7-1.
 
The Cougars (5-3) were limited to five singles.
 
OTAY RANCH 4, MOUNT MIGUEL 2:  The Mustangs scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to deny the Matadors their first victory of the season in Wednesday's (Mar. 23) Lions Invitational 3A Division encounter.
 
Despite generating only 3 hits, Mount Miguel (0-8) took a 2-1 lead on RBI by JEREMIAH WHITE and EDDIE DeARCOS.
 
Ricky Alvarez
foiled Mount Miguel's victory celebration with a 2-run triple in the decisive 6th frame.
 
JAIME SANDOVAL, who allowed only 2 earned runs in 5.1 innings, was the hard-luck loser for the Matadors.
 
"Sandoval threw well enough to win," Mount Miguel coach BYRON GRIGSBY said.
 
SWEETWATER 3, MONTE VISTA 2: Things were looking good for the Monarchs (1-7) after IAN CROFT's 1st inning double gave Monte Vista a 2-1 edge in Wednesday's (Mar. 23) 5A Division Lions Invitational contest in Spring Valley.
 
Sweetwater senior <