HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Vista Wins to Stay Tied for Lead

Aaron Rounsifer picked an opportune time to have his best pitching outing of the year. Then again, it was his first time on the mound, and his Vista High teammates helped out immensely by scoring five runs in the first.

Rounsifer, normally Vista High’s shortstop, yielded only two hits in four innings, and the Panthers defeated Fallbrook, 5-3, Tuesday to remain tied for first with Poway in the Palomar League baseball standings.

Eighth-ranked Vista improved to 14-8-1, 9-2. Fallbrook fell to 11-8, 6-5.

After Rounsifer tired, Blake Landis pitched three inning of one-hit relief.

Tim Cowell had a run-scoring triple in the first for Vista. Then after Matt Stone was hit by a pitch, Justin Kern knocked in Cowell and Stone with another triple. Teammate Jay Kjeldsen was two for two with an RBI.

Other Palomar games:

Poway 5, Mt. Carmel 1--Behind a four-hitter by Miles Kelly, third-ranked Poway (19-4, 9-2) handed sixth-ranked Mt. Carmel (14-8-2, 7-4) its third loss in a row. Armando Sanchez homered in the first, but that was all Mt. Carmel would get off Kelly, who improved to 7-1.

Orange Glen 10, Torrey Pines 7--In the first inning, Orange Glen (10-10, 3-8) scored seven runs on eight hits, including seven in a row. Torrey Pines (9-12, 6-5) scored four runs (two unearned) in the top of the seventh to make it interesting, but Brian Kooiman relieved and got the next two batters out to pick up his second save. Damon Vinje (4-3) was the winner.

Vinje, Jeremy McCullough and Omar Navarro each had two hits. Navarro, Gavin McQueen and Ryan Eldridge each had two RBIs.

Rancho Buena Vista 4, San Dieguito 1--Jimmy Perez pitched a three-hitter, struck out 10 and did not allow an earned run in picking up his fourth victory in seven decisions. Mark Pallotto was three for four with an RBI and Grady Griffith two for four with an RBI for the Longhorns (8-13, 2-9). San Dieguito fell to 3-16, 2-9.

Avocado League

San Pasqual 9, El Camino 1--San Pasqual scored its runs on 10 hits and nine El Camino errors. Marin Soto was three for four, Shawn Brooks two for three and Kris Phillips two for three for the Eagles (8-12, 5-6). Brooks and Phillips each had two RBIs.

Ernie Silva had five strikeouts in five innings, before being replaced by Brooks. The two combined on a three-hitter. Perry Swanson had two of those hits for El Camino (5-13-1, 3-8).

San Marcos 11, Rancho Bernardo 4--Each team had nine hits, but No. 5 San Marcos (17-3, 11-0) proved why it is the class of the league, outscoring the Broncos (7-15, 4-7) by seven and winning its 11th in a row.

Four Knights had two RBIs--Brian Calloway, Curt Vallego, Denny McAdams and Albert Canedo--to make a winner of Ryan Dunne (6-0).

Escondido 13, Ramona 10--After falling behind, 8-0, Escondido scored 11 runs in the fifth inning to improve to 11-10, 8-3. Mike Frank had a two-run double and Chris Ellis a two-run single in the big inning as the Cougars sent 14 batters to the plate.

Frank (5-1) was the winner, pitching 1 2/3 middle innings and then returning to get the final out in the seventh with the tying run at the plate. Teammate Mike Singleton was two for two, including a bases empty home run.

City Western League

USDHS 4, Kearny 1--USDHS (15-9, 6-3) moved within a half-game of co-leaders Mission Bay and University City with a four-hitter by Rob Floco (4-3). Don leadoff batter Ryan Walker was two for four and No. 2 David Sanchez was two for three. Each had an RBI. Kearny fell to 4-16, 1-8.

Grossmont 3-A League

Helix 4, El Capitan 3--With Chris Bright at first and one out in the bottom of the seventh, Bobby Miller doubled to score the tying run and later scored the game-winner on a single from Brad Werdick.

Helix improved to 13-8, 4-1, and El Capitan fell to 11-11-1, 2-3-1.

Desert League

Imperial 9, Holtville 5--In a strange one, Imperial (11-3-1, 4-1) clinched at least a tie for the league title, scoring nine runs on only two hits and one Holtville error. Two Holtville pitchers assisted by walking 13.

Holtville, on the other hand, had 13 hits but managed only five runs off starter Mike Charney and winner Mike Pena (3-2).

Omar Garcia was the offensive standout for Imperial with three walks, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly.

Anthony Iten was three for three and Albert Valenzuela two for three for Holtville (10-7, 2-2).

Citrus League

Midway Baptist 9, Borrego Springs 1--Both teams came in tied for first place in league with 8-1 records, but Midway Baptist (15-3 overall) emerged atop the standings after Matt Fieser led the way with a triple, double and two RBIs. Pitcher Brian Hendry also had something to say about things. He struck out 11 and, offensively, was two for three with two RBIs. Borrego Springs fell to 9-7 overall.

Coastal League

La Jolla Country Day 9, Bishop’s 0--Eugene Park and Eric Abrams each had two hits and two RBIs to lead LJCD (5-8, 3-5).

Santa Fe Christian 9, Francis Parker 3--Keith Galloway went three for four with a triple and two RBIs, and teammate Deric Shires was three four four with a double, triple, home run and four RBIs to lead Santa Fe Christian (9-7, 5-3) over Francis Parker (9-8, 6-3).