Monte Vista reverses course, stop Steele

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 24, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com

Monte Vista 3, Steele Canyon 2

SPRING VALLEY – Monte Vista has been the come-from-behind ballclub often this season — yet always seemed to fall short.

On Thursday (Apr. 24) in the Grossmont Valley League opener, the tabled was reverse.

The Monarchs held a 3-0 lead until visiting Steele Canyon broke through in the seventh inning. However, the Cougars were stopped just in time by Tristan Walker to preserve a 3-2 verdict.

Walker, a senior who carried a 2-hit shutout after six innings, finished with a 4-hitter but survived a final resurgence by Steele Canyon.

The Cougars received a leadoff double by second baseman Austin Hall, then a walk to Jonah Arens. Both came home on a one-out double from left fielder Caden Davey, the No. 9 hitter.

However, despite the Cougars turning over the lineup card, Walker escaped with a shallow fly ball, then a strikeout.

Monte Vista scored once in the third, then two additional markers in the fifth.

Freshman third baseman Tanner Meyer led-off and as hit by a pitch.

Meyer moved around on the batting of three seniors: a bunt by Orlando Rupley, a basehit from Reuben Cabugwas, then an RBI ground single to right field by Antonio McComb.

Two innings later, first baseman Damian Ordaz — yet another senior — doubled home both Cabugwas (single) and McComb, who was pitched around for a walk after his RBI hit on his previous at-bat.

Cabugwas and McComb each finished with two hits for Monte Vista (3-15 overall, 1-0 GVL), which snapped a 9-game winless drought.

Steele Canyon (6-12, 0-1 GVL) , which entered with three wins in its previous four starts, has now lost 15 consecutive games in league play (GVL and GHL combined).

Grossmont Hills League

Helix 4, El Capitan 1

LA MESA – Helix Highlanders pitcher Sean Sherrod seems to be corecting a mid-season slump, firsing a complete-game, 2-hitter to stop visiting El Capitan, 2-1.

Sherrod, a senior, opened the season at 2-0 with victories over Westview and Mater Dei Catholic. Then a mild slide occurred, with scouts finding reasons to look elsewhere.

However, Sherrod looks back in form with his second straight triumph after striking out seven Vaqueros batters.

El Capitan starting pitcher Emilio Fearn-Flored matched Sherrod for five innings in a 1-1 deadlock. But the Scotties took control in the sixth.

Kie Smith stroked a leadoff single to right field, then freshman Romeo Briones grounded a ball also to the right side.

On the very next pitch, Antoin Simpson turned on a fastball, drilling a 3-run homer to left field.

The blast was Simpson’s fourth of the season, moving him within one of the East County lead.

Helix (10-9 overall, 2-2 GHL) now holds the inside edge to finish in second place; the Scotties have already played Granite Hills twice.

El Capitan (7-11, 2-4 GHL), down 1-0 in the first, pulled even in the fifth when Matthew Eckis (lead walk) attempted to move to third base on an infield grounder.

However, an error allowed Eckie to take three bases to score.

Granite Hills 14, Grossmont 0

EL CAJON – It was a day of milestones for the Granite Hills Eagles.

1) The ballclub has now gone full calendar year between regular-season losses.

2) With an overall record of 14-0-2, its the school’s longest unbeaten streak to open a season.

3) The ballclub has now gone 20 straight regular-season contests without a loss.

4) And one mark which wasn’t expected: the Eagles posted their largest shutout victory over Grossmont this century. posting a 14-0 thrashing of the Foothillers.

On the mound, Eagles senior Brenden Lewis was pulled after just four innings, saving his arm for more important, future endeavors.

Lewis struck out five Hillers and allowed just one hit, moving his record to 5-0. The senior left after Granite Hills scored seven times in the third inning to mount an 11-0 cushion.

Three members of the Eagles bullpen — Josh Butters, Trevor Smith and Tommy Entrekin — fired one inning each, allowing just one other basehit.

Grossmont (9-11 overall, 1-3 GHL) saw sophomore Tyler Holmes collect three of the team’s four hits.

Note: Teams report their statistics independently.

City league

Mira Mesa 10, Christian 7

EL CAJON – Mira Mesa tallied five times in the second inning, but when Christian closed the gap to 5-4, the Marauders’ offense re-ignited to take a 10-7 decision in City League play Thursday (Apr. 24) at Christian.

Shortstop Nathaniel Widelski stroked a pair of run-scoring doubles for Mira Mesa, including one as the second batter of the ballgame to give the Marauders a gate-to-wire victory.

Widelski joined teammates Blake Rothrock and Caleb Gerlach with three hits each, allowing Mira Mesa to take two ballgames in the 3-game series.

For the Patriots, Logan Major gained two RBI, yet never recorded an extra-base hit among their seven knocks all afternoon.

Mira Mesa (9-10 overall, 2-1 league) moves into a virtual three-way tie for first place with Coronado and Madison(both 4-2).

Next week, Christian (123-8, 2-4 league) meets last-place University City, needing a sweep to stay in title contention.

Western League

St. Augustine 10, Patrick Henry 0

SAN CARLOS – St. Augustine right-handed Sonny Haskett might have saved the season for the Saints, firing a 1-hit shutout to stop Patrick Henry, 10-0, in Western League action.

Haskett, who struck out six Patriots batters, allowed his team to “split” this week’s 3-game series. Both ballclubs went a soccer-like 1-1-1 following a tie game due to darkness on Tuesday.

The lone Patrick Henry (12-7-2 overall, 3-2-1 league) was registered by Sal Gagliano, with a two-out single to left field in the third.

The Saints (13-7-1, 3-2-1) received a 3-run homer from University of Texas-bound senior Grayson Boles.

Drake Konja also registered three RBI, including a two-run double.

Grossmont Valley League

West Hills 7, Mount Miguel 1

SANTEE – West Hills pitcher Rosolino was coming out of the bullpen as recently as last week, going four innings to stop Monte Vista.

So, Wolf Pack coaches elected to give Rosolino the start — and with golden results.

Rosolino, an occasional starter, finished with a complete game in stopping Mount Miguel, 7-1, in GVL action Thursday (Apr. 24) at Wolf Pack Field.

The junior struck out eight Matador batters for his third win of the season. He earlier defeated Morse, then last week’s ballgame with Monte Vista (improperly listed asd a save)_.

West Hills (8-10 overall, 1-0 GVL), following a first-inning run, scored three times in the third and fifth frames to mount a 7-run cushion.

Riley Kulak stroked a two-run double, while Joey Monetti posted two hits, including an RBI double to lead the offense, giving the Pack a 3-game win streak.

Mount Miguel (7-9, 0-1 GVL) avoided the shutout in the sixth, when Easton Sanchez brought home Angel Martinez.

Santana 23, El Cajon Valley 1 (5 inn.)_

EL CAJON – The Santana Sultans scored seven times in the second inning, eventually building a 210-0 lead by the third in downing host El Cajon Valley.

The Sultans utilized a “bullpen” game, with five pitchers going an inning each. Thus, starter Brandon Landers gainedd the victory in the combined 3-hitter.

The RBI leader was freshman shortstop Gavin Kelly with four, followed by center fielder Nathan Dowers (3) and left fielder Brady Johnson (2), as 10 players drove in runs.

ECVHS’ Luis Espinoza registered two hits, including an RBI single in the third to bring home Alex Vargas.

The ballgame was the GVL debut for Santana (8-10 overall, 1-0 GVL). The Braves (0-11, 0-1 GVL) saw their league streak reach 91 ballgames (since 2015).

Summit League

Mountain Empire 27, Bonsall 2 (5 inn.)

BUCKMAN SPRINGS – Mountain Empire moved into position for its highest run total this century, but when you only are allotted four trips to the plate, such records are dubious.

Looking to eclipse the 2007 mark of 30 runs against Vincent Memorial, the RedHawks scored inning totals of 5, 14, 8 and 1 before the Scots called it quits.

The Empire (11-4 overall, 3-0 league) extended their Summit League lead to a full game over idle Liberty Charter (2-1), which doesn’t play again until Monday when they host CV-High Tech.

The Legionnaires fall to 5-8 (1-3 league).