High School Baseball Roundup : Helix Routs Hoover, 21-4, to Avenge Last Year’s Loss

In winning the San Diego Section 3-A championship last season, Helix High School’s baseball team lost just two games all season. One was to Hoover in pool play of the Lions/Mike Morrow tournament; the other was to Mission Bay, the 2-A champion.

In the 39th Lions tournament, which got under way Monday, Helix avenged last year’s defeat by routing Hoover, 21-4, in a AA Division game at Hoover.

Helix, which had 20 hits, scored in every inning before the game was called after six innings because of the tournament’s 12-run rule.

Jason Ledford and Erik West each had three hits and four RBIs for the Highlanders (5-2) and Rob Ippolito (2-2) scattered seven hits in picking up the win.

In other Lions tournament AA Division games:

Torrey Pines, 5, San Marcos 4--With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Scott Gunther hit a home run to break a 4-4 tie for Torrey Pines (3-3-1) at Madison. For the Falcons, John Lynch (two doubles, one RBI), Jason Wright and Preston Bynes were two for three.

Hilltop 16, San Pasqual 4--Hilltop scored 10 runs in the seventh.

Castle Park 3, Serra 0--Left-hander Joe Carrillo (2-0) pitched a two-hitter and struck out 11 against Serra at Grossmont. Benji Gil had a home run, a double and scored twice for Castle Park (6-1-1).

Fallbrook 7, Grossmont 5 (8 innings)--Fallbrook scored six unearned runs, including two in the eighth inning to defeat host Grossmont (4-2-1). John Tatum, Jim Earley and Tom Liles homered for Grossmont.

Vista 8, University City 4--The DeLeon brothers, Reggie and Rodney, led the host Panthers. Rodney picked up the victory, holding University City to two runs in five innings. Reggie, a center fielder, was three for four.

AAA Division

Granite Hills 11, Sweetwater 4--Jason Gandy hit a grand slam to cap a six-run fifth inning for the Eagles. Shane Spencer opened Granite Hills’ scoring with a home run in the first inning.

Patrick Henry 6, Chula Vista 5--The Spartans (2-5) held a 5-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning against Henry (4-5) at Monte Vista. With two outs, Chula Vista walked four batters. Greg Allison singled and drove in two runs to tie the score and Shannon Webb got the game-winning base hit.

San Dieguito 5, Santana 2--Nate Fleck’s two-run home run in the third inning gave the Mustangs (6-2-1) a lead they would never relinquish at Santana (5-1-1).

Mira Mesa 6, Southwest 0--Marc Nielson threw a four-hitter and catcher Albert Domingo hit a home run as the Marauders (7-1) shut out Southwest (5-2) at Santana.

Monte Vista 6, Orange Glen 4--Vern Mullis, the winning pitcher, hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to lead Monte Vista at home.

Morse 9, San Diego 7--Two Steve Smiths did the job for Morse (6-2) at Granite Hills. Steve Smith, a junior center fielder, was four for four with two RBIs. The other Steve Smith, a senior designated hitter, was two for three with three RBIs. He drove in the game-winning run in the fifth.

Poway 8, Mt. Miguel 3--Brock Marsh went three for four as Poway improved to 4-3. Doug Schwenke and Mike Beam went two for four; Mike Schwenke had two RBIs.

A Division

St. Augustine 4, Kearny 3--Juan Lopez’s two-out RBI single in the fifth broke the 3-3 tie and lifted the host Saints at Kearny.

La Jolla 6, Julian 0--In three innings, La Jolla’s Eric Vann gave up one hit and struck out five at La Jolla. Vikings’ Luke Williams and Justin Chaitin hit triples as La Jolla (3-5) scored five runs in the fourth inning.

Crawford 3, El Camino 2-- Roland Watkins was two for three for Crawford (6-2) and scored two runs. For El Camino (1-6), Todd Swanson was two for three and scored once.

Marian 8, Clairemont 3--Sophomore Bobby Applegate (2-0) threw 88 pitches and went the distance for the Crusaders at Escondido.

Oceanside 7, Mar Vista 3--Andrew Acevedo (2-1) pitched a three-hitter for Oceanside (5-2).