Villa Park goes nine to eliminate Eagles

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: June 3, 2025

2025 EAST PREP BASEBALL
CIF State Championships
South Region Quarterfinals

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

EL CAJON – A trio of diverse elements were in play during Tuesday’s (June 3) CIF Division 1 South regional open. All three were close, yet all three went to Villa Park.

The visiting Spartans (25-7) from northeast Orange County were more composed early, held a touch more clutch hitting late, then made the key, decisive plays in extra innings to take down previously unbeaten Granite Hills, 5-4, at Granite Hills Field.

The decisive blow was by the “other” Lewis — Villa Park senior outfielder Nate Lewis, who slugged an RBI double in the ninth to advance the Spartans o the Southland semifinals.

Both ballclubs had opportunities to win in extra innings. However, the Spartans made the key, defensive stop.

In the 8th, the Eagles advanced a runner to third base, as Brodey Vicars lined a lead single to right field. Pinch runner Dominic Rose advanced station-to-station on a passed ball and a Luke Bailey basehit.

All Granite Hills needed for the victory was a sacrifice fly, with Jody Macias lifting a fly ball to center field… but was the ball deep enough?

Villa Park’s Lewis proved the ball was too shallow, firing a strike to Spartans catcher Shawn Romero for an inning-ending double play.

Villa Park rode the ensuing momentum to post the winning run.

A lead walk and a sacrifice bunt set-up the decisive blow, with Lewis sending a ground double into the left field corner to bring home Dominic Gutierrez.

Granite Hills (24-1-2) trailed by the very start before suddenly taking a sixth-inning lead when Tommy Entrekin launched a two-run homer to left in the sixth.

However. Villa Park quickly pulled even in the seventh on a lead homer by right fielder Aidan Young.

The Spartans took an early 2-0 lead on a two-out rally while Eagles starter Breden Lewis had trouble locating his pitches.

A lead-off hit batter was erased on a double play, but the Spartans a 2-run single by Nate Lewis.

The runs were set-up on a dropped third strike — making the runs unearned –and a double.

The Eagles immediately answered on an Entrekin basehit to bring Brender Lewis home with two down in the 1st.

Entrekin was also a part of the middle Eagles run. Entrekin led off with a basehit on a liner to left, eventually racing home on a double by Anthony Miotti.

For the Eagles, Entgrekin, Lewis and third baseman Eurijah Schutza all registered two hits.

ENtrekin recorded three RBI, but took the pitching loss in relief.

For Villa Paek, Alex Lopez batted 3-for-4, qhilw Yppung posted two of the team’s 11 hiots.

The fifth-seeded Spartans will play the winner of the St. Augustine at St. John Bosco (Bellflower) game, which was rained out.

Eagles File Photos

Division 1

Patrick Henry at Santa Margarita

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — This CIF South Regional Division I game in the lower bracket was postponed because of rain after the third inning, with the visiting Patriots (21-10-2) — the Eastern League champions — holding a 2-0 lead.

Patrick Henry starting pitcher Nate Moloney carried a no-hitter through three frames. The senior struck out three batters from the Eagles (20-13).

Santa Margarita was the third-place team from the powerful Trinity League at 7-8.

Division 4

Rancho Mirage 7, Ramona 3

RAMONA – Fifth-seeded Rancho Mirage posted a minor upset by stopping the fourth-seeded Ramona Bulldogs, 9-8, in Tuesday’s (June 3) CIF South Regional Division 4 quarterfinals.

Ramona (23-8) committed five errors, leading to three unearned runs — the difference in the win for the Rattlers (19-13) from the Coachella Valley.

Rancho Mirage was gifted three runs in the first, then added on for a 5-0 advantage — a deficit to deep for Ramona to rally back from.

For the Dawgs, sophomore Zach Nightingale clubbed a solo home run, while first baseman Tallon Ogilive (3-for-3) and junior Austin Jarrett also drove home runs.

Rancho Mirage received two RBI from Josiah Thrasher, while juniors Kobee Finnikin and Gael Martinez both scored twice.