HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Rounsifer’s Homer Wins Duel for Vista’s Stone

Fifth-ranked Vista went to Fallbrook Friday afternoon knowing it would face Steve Pack, one of the county’s best pitchers.

But the Panthers took along their ace, Matt Stone, and the two Palomar League strikeout leaders provided a first-rate pitching duel.

Vista’s Aaron Rounsifer homered to the deepest portion of park with one on and two out in the top of the seventh inning to lift the Panthers to a 2-0 victory that kept them tied with Poway atop the Palomar League standings.

“I had a chance to walk him, but then we would have had to pitch to Stone, who has six homers, or walked both of them and pitched to Justin Kern, who has 30 RBIs,” Fallbrook Coach Bill Waite said. “We took our chances against a very good hitter and he beat us.”

Stone (10-1), a left-handed junior who entered with a 0.52 earned-run average and 76 strikeouts, surrendered only three hits, struck out five and walked one.

Pack (6-3, 1.16), who entered with 73 strikeouts, allowed four hits. He struck out eight and walked five, most of them early in the game.

Vista is 18-4-1, 9-3; Fallbrook is 11-11-1, 5-7.

Other Palomar League games:

Poway 3, Mt. Carmel 1--Mark Phillips hit an RBI double in the first inning and a homer in the third to lift No. 7 Poway (17-6, 9-3). A catcher, Phillips also threw out the lead runner in the seventh inning during a double-steal attempt with runners at first and second. Scott Tittrington pitched a three-hitter, allowing Vince Valle’s RBI double in the first inning and back-to-back singles in the seventh, one by Valle. Mt. Carmel is 10-15, 4-8.

Rancho Buena Vista 8, San Dieguito 0--Senior left-hander Jimmy Perez pitched a three-hitter, walked two and struck out 15 for RBV (14-10-1, 8-4). Grady Griffith provided the offense with three hits and three RBIs. San Dieguito is 11-14-1, 5-7.

Orange Glen 5, Torrey Pines 4--Winning pitcher Jeff Freetly (3-6) chopped the game-winning RBI in front of home plate to score Chris Oliva with two outs in the ninth inning to lift Orange Glen (7-16-1, 4-8). Freetly, who struck out 12, pitched a six-hitter. Jeremy McCullough went four for five with three RBIs for Orange Glen, which overcame a 4-1 deficit with three runs in the top of the seventh. Jeff Jahries had two hits for Torrey Pines (6-14-1, 4-8) and I-Chaun Lui had an RBI single.

Avocado League

San Marcos 3, Rancho Bernardo 2--Rancho Bernardo’s Kevin Keefe (3-2) had a perfect game for 4 2/3 innings and had not allowed a ball to be hit out of the infield, but San Marcos (12-10, 9-3) moved alone into second place by scoring three runs in the sixth on an infield single, a walk, an error, a wild pitch, a ground ball and a sacrifice fly. Keefe finished with a three-hitter. Mike Walter and Marcus Romero had two hits apiece for third-place RB (12-10, 8-4). Jeff Huberts (5-1) got the victory with seventh-inning help from Rob McAdams, who drove in the deciding run.

Carlsbad 12, Oceanside 3--Luis Canales homered and drove in three runs for Carlsbad (9-16, 3-9), which scored eight runs in the second inning on six errors by Oceanside (12-13-2, 3-9). Tom Gamelin went two for two, scored three runs and stole two bases, and the county’s stolen base leader, Tim Mulligan, had two hits and two stolen bases to give him 32.

El Camino 5, San Pasqual 0--Robert Price pitched a two-hitter, struck out four and walked only two as El Camino (11-3, 7-5) maintained its hold on fourth place. Ryan Whitson had two hits and an RBI, and Daniel Esposito and Brian Rose had RBI triples. Fifth-place San Pasqual is 6-14-2, 5-7.

Escondido 18, Ramona 2--Everyone shared in a team mauling of the Bulldogs (6-19, 2-10) by the Cougars. However, Escondido (15-8, 11-1) had only two extra-base hits out of their 21-hit attack. Mike Frank allowed only two hits, while striking out 11. Of the 13 Cougars who played, 11 got hits.

Grossmont 3-A League

Grossmont 9, Helix 6--First baseman Benny Craig went three for three with three RBIs, three stolen bases and two runs scored for No. 1 Grossmont (19-2-1, 9-1), which clinched the Grossmont 3-A title. Ryan Smith hit two solo homers for Helix (15-10, 5-4).

Grossmont 2-A League

El Capitan 8, West Hills 4--Sophomore Jason Phillips went two for three, hit his fifth home run and drove in his 31st and 32nd runs of the season to lift El Capitan (17-11, 5-4). Mike Lennon and Matt McFarlane had three hits apiece. Lennon scored three times and drove in a run, and McFarlane had two RBIs. West Hills is 12-12-1, 5-5.

Nonleague

Granite Hills 4, Serra 1--Cory Waterhouse threw a four-hitter with six strikeouts and three walks for Granite Hills (14-10). Chad Burchette’s sacrifice fly and Jeff Vance’s RBI single accounted for two of Granite Hills’ runs.