San Diego High School Baseball : Granite Hills Returns Favor, 20-8

Granite Hills High School has had only one bad moment in its Grossmont League season. In the first week of league play, the Golden Eagles--who have made a habit of routing their opponents--were beaten by visiting Santana, 13-3.

The Granite Hills players apparently remembered this clearly Monday, when they traveled to Santana and returned the favor, beating the Sultans, 20-8.

“The kids really wanted this,” Coach Gordy Thompson said. “We’d won 12 in a row and (the Granite Hills players) weren’t going to have this team beat them again.”

After pitching to four batters, Santana starter Tim Barry left the game after being struck in the leg by a line drive. Five more Sultan pitchers followed, allowing a total of 13 hits, nine walks and four hit batsmen.

Every Granite Hills batter had at least two RBIs. Jason DeGroote had a two-run homer and drove in two more with a single. Donnie Carroll drove in three with a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly. Jeremy Kay hit a three-run home run, and Jeff Waymire drove in three runs with a single and a sacrifice fly.

Mike Raskind (9-1) allowed nine hits and walked eight in six innings for the victory.

Granite Hills (11-1, 19-3) now leads runner-up Grossmont by three games. With the loss, Santana (8-5, 14-8) fell to third place.

In other Grossmont League games:

Grossmont 4, El Capitan 2--Lance Dickson struck out 13 and drove in the winning run to lead Grossmont (8-4, 16-6) at El Capitan (7-6, 12-10). In the sixth, with the score tied, 2-2, and teammate Noel Gillespie on first base, Dickson attempted to lay down a bunt but missed. Dickson swung at the next pitch, hitting a game-winning double.

Mount Miguel 11, Valhalla 3--Mount Miguel shortstop Eddie Cervantes hit a grand slam in the second inning to pace visiting Mount Miguel (6-6, 11-7) over Valhalla (7-6, 9-10). Cervantes added a single and an RBI double. Teammate Rick Ayala was also 3 for 4 with a run scored and two RBIs.

Briefly--Valhalla 7, Monte Vista 6.