SAN DIEGO – The Grossmont College Griffins completed the week-long series sweep and, in the process, won the season series over San Diego City College, when they won on Friday, April 7 by a 5-3 score at Morley Field in Balboa Park.
Freshman Luke Mansy led the Griffin (14-11, 7-6 PCAC) attack going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Sophomore's Luke Denos and Ethan Caschetta both went 2-for-5 with an RBI each.
Five Griffin pitchers combined to throw four and one-third innings of shutout ball allowing three hits, while striking out two Knights (15-15, 5-11 PCAC).
After a scoreless first, Freshman Brodie Romero launched a drive over the left field wall to give the Griffins a 1-0 lead.
San Diego City threatened in the bottom of the third when they loaded the bases with only one out, but Griffin starter Caleb Harris escaped the jam without giving up any runs when he induced a foul out and a "can of corn" to centerfield.
In the fifth inning, Skyler Agnew singled to open the frame. After a pop out, Caschetta singled to left to move Agnew to second. UCONN commitment Zavien Watson walked on a 3-2 slider to load the bases. Mansy stepped up and roped a liner to left center. The centerfielder dove but could not catch the ball and it rolled past him. That allowed Agnew and Caschetta to score, but the throw from the outfield beat Watson. That put the Griffins up 3-0 halfway through the game.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Knights had runners on first and second. It was at this point that the Knights power hitter came up. Jacob Pfitzner had been held "quiet" all week, going 4-for-6 with a double and an RBI. He got "loud" real quick as he launched a three-run homer to left to tie the game up. Koda Alto would come in and close the door on any other thoughts City might have of scoring more runs. Alto (1-0) would go on to get the win out of the 'pen.
Grossmont would not allow City to think they had any chance to win the game. The Green and Gold had Juan Nunez on first and two outs. Agnew would step up and get a base hit through the right side of the infield to put runners on first and second. Noah Lane would follow that up with a single through the left side of the infield to load the bases up again. Cachcetta would hit a six hopper up the middle, advancing everyone 90 feet allowing Nunez to score and put the Griffins up 4-3.
In the top of the seventh, Mansy started the inning off with a double that was scorched between the first baseman and the base. A groundout allowed Mansy to advance to third. Denos got his RBI when he doubled to right field, allowing Mansy to score what would eventually be the final run of the day.
Dylan Vail came in for the eighth inning and Bradley Barkley (7) came in for the save. Barkley got the save in all three games this week against the Knights.
SCHEDULE NOTES: The following changes have been made to the schedule in response to the postponements that happened due to weather conditions last month.
All three games against the Palomar Comets next week will be at Noel Michelsen Field (NMF), the game next Thursday (April 13) was originally scheduled to be played in San Marcos.
Also, the three games against Mesa will be played over the final three weeks of the season. The first game will be at San Diego Mesa on Wednesday, April 12. The second game will be made up at NMF on Wednesday, April 19, and the final game will end up being the final game of the regular season, Saturday, April 29. The Saturday game against Mesa will be at 1:00 p.m., while the other two will be at 2:00 p.m.
Finally, the final game of the Imperial Valley series that was scheduled on Friday, April 28 will instead be combined with the game on Thursday with both of those games being played on Wednesday, April 26th with game times being at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Palomar: April 11 (2p), 13 (2p) and 15 (1p). All at Noel Michelsen Field.
Mesa: April 12 (2p, at Mesa), 19 (2p, at GC) and 29 (1p, at GC).
Imperial Valley: April 25 (2p) and 26 (11a & 2p). All at Noel Michelsen Field.