EL CAJON (4-15-16) — The sixth ranked Griffins of Grossmont College defeated Imperial Valley College, 11-0, on Thursday (April 14) at Noel Mickelsen Field to shrink their magic number to four. Any combination of Grossmont wins and Palomar or Mt. San Jacinto losses that total four will clinch the title.
The number shrunk as the Griffins (22-10, 15-5 PCAC) received a great start by DONAVON McCRYSTAL (7-0, West Hills). McCrystal threw seven innings of four hit, nine strikeout ball.
ROBERT BOSTEDT (Granite Hills) had a game-high three hits (in five trips to the plate), while NOAH STROHL (La Jolla) had three RBI’s off of two hits. Both of these student-athletes hit a ball that left the ballpark.
Strohl walked to get the offense rolling in the second inning with one out. JUSTEN BURKEY (San Pasqual) followed with a walk of his own to put runners on first and second. ANDRES RIOS (Mater Dei, San Diego) singled through the left side to bring in Strohl for the first run of the day. CABOT VAN TIL (Patrick Henry) singled through the right side to plate Burkey and move Rios over to third for a 2-0 lead.
Bostedt doubled down the right field line with one out in the third. TRAVOR BEARD (San Clemente) was hit by an inside pitch to put runners on first and second. Strohl then launched a 2-1 fastball over the scoreboard in left center field for his sixth homer of the season and a 5-0 Griffin lead.
One inning later, MICHAEL DIFFLEY (Granite Hills) walked with one out. After a fly out, TANNER PERRY (Steele Canyon) reached on the Arabs lone error of the day. The error allowed Diffley to move to second base. Strohl took a 3-2 slider and hit it so hard that some cars on the Southbound 125 might have had to look out for the ball, giving the Griffins an 8-0 lead.
The fifth inning saw Rios double to right centerfield with one out. Van Til followed that with a double of his own to left centerfield to drive in Rios. Two batters later, Van Til stole third base. JUSTIN MITCHELL (Granite Hills) got his lone hit and RBI with a single to left field bringing in Van Til and a 10-0 lead.
Three innings later, COLE FLINT (Steele Canyon) walked, which was followed by a Bostedt single down the left field line. The single pushed Flint to second. Both runners advanced on a passed ball. CURREN FACER (El Capitan) singled to right field bringing in Flint to put a bow on the scoring.
The same two teams will face each other again on Friday (April 15) at Noel Mickelsen Field at 2 p.m.
Grossmont will enjoy their bye week next week as the PCAC has an odd number of teams. The Griffins will be scoreboard watching as both Palomar (three games against Southwestern) and Mt. San Jacinto (three games against City) will be playing. The Comets and Eagles are tied for second in the conference.
A. Rios singled through the left side, RBI; J. Burkey advanced to third; N. Strohl scored.
C. Van Til singled through the right side, RBI; A. Rios advanced to third; J. Burkey scored.
N. Strohl homered to left center, 3 RBI; T. Beard scored; R. Bostedt scored.
R. Bostedt homered to right field, unearned, 3 RBI; T. Perry scored, unearned; M. Diffley scored, unearned.
C. Van Til doubled to left center, RBI; A. Rios scored.
J. Mitchell singled to left field, RBI; C. Van Til scored.
C. Facer singled to right field, RBI; R. Bostedt advanced to third; C. Flint scored.