Fourteen South County high school baseball teams participated in this week’s 67th annual San Diego Lions tournament.
•Eastlake, ranked second among San Diego Section teams, opened play in the Classic Division with a 4-3 loss to unranked Torrey Pines on Monday but bounced back to defeat El Camino Real (Woodland Hills) by a score of 4-3 on Tuesday. Casey Schmitt took the loss in Monday’s game but earned the victory in Tuesday’s game for the Titans (14-2).
•Montgomery (Premier Division) opened tournament play with a 2-1 win over Santa Monica on Monday but dropped a 2-1 decision to Francis Parker on Tuesday. Reyes Murillo picked up the win in Monday’s game while Iran Torres received credit for the save. Jose Cerda and Juan Cerda each scored runs for the Aztecs (11-5) while Murillo drove in one run.
•Bonita Vista (6A Division) opened tournament play on Monday with a 6-3 win over Mission Hills but suffered a 6-5 setback to Patrick Henry on Tuesday. Omar Vega drove in four runs while Alex Verdugo pitched four innings with five strikeouts to highlight Monday’s game for the Barons (7-8).
•Olympian defeated Hilltop, 4-3, in an eight-inning 3A Division game on Tuesday. Daniel Dorado drove in two runs while Octavio Galasso and Jacob Chacon combined to pitch eight innings, scattering seven hits. Chacon got the win in relief.
Hilltop (7-8) defeated Valley Center, 5-4, on Monday while Olympian (8-8) lost, 10-9, to Roosevelt (Los Angles) on Monday.
Chula Vista (3A Division) defeated the Menlo School (Atherton), 5-4, on Tuesday after dropping a 7-1 decision to Del Oro on Monday. Alex Celiceo earned the win in Tuesday’s contest for the Spartans (14-4).
In other tournament games:
•High Tech High Chula Vista (1A Division) defeated Kearny, 8-5, on Tuesday as Jamar Mack drove in four runs and teammates Benjamin Williams and Kai Saterstrom collected two RBI each. Arky Hernandez struck out five batters in six-plus innings to pick up the win for the Bruins (3-8).
•Southwest (1A Division) defeated Lincoln, 4-3, on Monday behind two RBI from Edgar Jacome and four strikeouts by winning pitcher Ricardo Dominguez. The Raiders (10-8) dropped Tuesday’s game against Linfield Christian (Temecula) by a score of 26-1.
Castle Park (1A Division) clubbed Sunrise Mountain (Las Vegas) by a score of 16-1 on Tuesday. The Trojans (10-6) used an 11-hit attack led by Eleazar Cruz with three hits. Cruz knocked in three runs while Emilio Luna and Ediberto Pilotin each drove in two runs. Luna, Cruz and Diego Martinez each scored three runs. Cruz also picked up the victory on the mound. Castle Park fell, 9-4, to Sacramento’s Capital Christian on Monday.
Mar Vista (3A Division) opened tourney play with an 11-1 win over the South Gate Rams on Monday as Elijah Burns drove in three runs and teammates Edmund King and Zack Hastings each had two RBI in support of winning pitcher Jacob Hinojosa (six strikeouts in five innings). The Mariners (9-7) lost, 1-0, to San Dieguito Academy on Tuesday.
Athlete of the Month
University of San Diego senior first baseman Roman Garcia earned recognition as one of the San Diego Hall of Champions’ collegiate Stars of the Month for March.
Garcia, an Eastlake High School alumnus, got off to a fast start by leading the Toreros in three categories while helping USD post a 13-4 mark in March.
Batting .350, the 6-1, 210-pounder led the Toreros with five home runs, 20 RBI and eight doubles. He had a .733 slugging average and committed just two errors in the field.
BMX Open House
Chula Vista BMX is starting a new beginner league for BMX racing and there will be an open house event this Saturday, April 15, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the BMX track adjacent to the Visitor Center at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center (2800 Olympic Parkway).
Weekly Chula Vista BMX races are held Saturday at 3:30 p.m., so it’s a great time for kids and adults to come out and see what it is all about. This Saturday they can stick around to hop on a bike themselves from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and try it out to see if they would want to be a part of the beginner league. Participants can bring their own bikes and helmets or borrow one for the day. Participants just need be sure to wear closed-toe shoes, long pants and long sleeves.
As a bonus, 2016 Olympic Silver medalist (and Chula Vista resident) Alise Post will be there to sign autographs from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
