HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Foothillers Lose 1st League Game in Three Years

Grossmont High blew a three-run lead in bottom of the seventh inning and lost its first league game in three years, 5-4, to Granite Hills Monday in a Grossmont 3-A League game.

The top-ranked Foothillers had won 28 league games in a row dating to 1989. The total was one shy of the San Diego Section record set by Mt. Carmel from 1985 to 1987.

Grossmont was 8-0 the past two seasons in the Grossmont 2-A League and was 7-0 before Monday’s loss to Granite Hills (13-9, 4-4).

Grossmont (17-2-1 overall) led 4-1, but self-destructed in the bottom of the seventh.

Granite Hills catcher John Palmer led off with with a home run. Then, with one out, Bobby O’Donnell reached on an error by the shortstop, and Chad Burchett walked. O’Donnell scored when Eric Nelson reached on a fielding error by the second baseman.

Senior right fielder Jeff Vance tripled to right-center, scoring Burchett and Nelson with the tying and winning runs. Vance finished three for four with three RBIs. Matt Jones had a two-run homer in the first for Grossmont.

In another Grossmont 3-A game:

Helix 5, Mt. Miguel 2--Ryan Smith (6-3) scattered five hits and struck out 10, and Justin Morante had two hits and two RBIs to lead Helix (15-9, 5-3). Mt. Miguel fell to 9-14, 1-7.

City Central League

Madison 7, San Diego 5--Jerry Jones had three run-scoring singles, Jesus Martinez went two for four with two RBIs, and Chris Luce was two for four for first-place Madison (18-6, 8-1). San Diego is 11-11, 5-4.

Lincoln 9, Hoover 6--Jason Brown went three for five with four RBIs, and Kelvin Bynes was three for five with two RBIs for Lincoln (9-14, 3-6). Jim Morgans was three for four, including a two-run homer for Hoover (3-18, 0-9).

City Eastern League

Mira Mesa 9, Point Loma 3--Mira Mesa, two-time defending 3-A champion, became the first team in the county to clinch a league title. The third-ranked Marauders (19-5, 8-1) lead Serra (10-13, 5-4) with three games to play. Bobby Arban led Mira Mesa with two hits, three runs scored and two RBIs and Brendan Hause had two hits, two RBIs and two runs. Ryan Cunningham (5-0) pitched a five-hitter, striking out six.

Serra 5, Morse 4--Jason Williams was three for four with two RBIs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh for Serra (10-13, 5-4). Milo Rodriguez was two for four. He doubled in J.T. Hooks from first for the tying run, then scored the winning run as Williams singled up the middle. Also for the Conquistadors, Jim White was two for three with a home run. Morse is 10-12, 3-6.

City Harbor League

St. Augustine 12, Clairemont 11--The difference was a wild fifth inning when No. 6 St. Augustine scored eight runs and Clairemont seven. Pete Albers led off the fifth for Saints (22-4, 8-1) with a triple and he added a two-run homer later in the inning. In between, Craig DaLuz (three for five, five RBIs) hit a grand slam. Craig Goodwin went three for four with a home run, Danny Langford two for four with a home run and three RBIs and Art McCanless two for four with three RBIs for the Chieftains (8-14-1, 3-6).

Christian 6, Coronado 4--Christian won for only the second time this season, improving to 2-18, 1-8. Second-place Coronado fell to 15-9, 6-3.

City Western League

USDHS 3, Kearny 0--Ian Hamilton pitched a four-hitter and David Cesena and Robb Floco each were two for three with an RBI for No. 4 USDHS (20-4, 8-1). Eddie Feistel (4-2) was the loser for Kearny (10-12-1, 4-5).

Mission Bay 12, University City 4--Eric Serrano went two for three with two RBIs, and Jeff Dufek picked up his fifth victory against one loss for No. 8 Mission Bay (19-7, 6-3). University City fell to 6-16, 2-7.

Grossmont 2-A League

El Capitan 4, Valhalla 0--El Capitan (16-11, 4-4) snapped a three-game losing streak, getting a six-hit shutout from Pat McMillin, who struck out seven and did not walk a batter. McMillin (5-2) was helped by Mike Leone’s three hits and one RBI and Jason Phillips’ fourth home run. Valhalla fell to 8-14-3, 3-5.

El Cajon 7, West Hills 4--Ryan Baker was four for five with two RBIs to lead El Cajon (4-4). West Hills fell to 11-10-1, 5-3, but remained in first place.