HEIDER DOMINATES FOR FIFTH WIN OF THE SEASON

KEARNY MESA – All nine starters for the Griffins registered a base hit in their 10-3 victory over San Diego Mesa on Wednesday, April 12 in a game that was being made up from a couple of weeks ago when a rash of illness went through the Olympian clubhouse. 
 
It was a complete ballgame for the Griffins (15-12, 8-7 PCAC) as starting pitcher Ethan Heider (5-1) went seven strong innings scattering six hits and two walks while striking out four batters. Dylan Vail came in relief and continued the pitching dominance allowing two hits while striking out half of the outs he recorded. 
 
The top two in the order, Ethan Caschetta (committed to Hawai'i Pacific) and Zavien Watson (committed to UCONN) went a combined 6-for-10 five runs scored and three runs batted in. 
 
Grossmont got on the board in the top of the first when Caschetta singled to get the game underway. Watson followed with a single, moving Caschetta to second. Freshman Luke Mansy walked to load the bases full of Griffins. Broadie Romero unfortunately hit into a double play, but that allowed Caschetta to score the first run of the game. Nevan Noonan singled to bring in Watson and a 2-0 Griffin lead. 
 
San Diego Mesa (9-21, 7-8 PCAC) scored a pair in the bottom of the frame to tie it up. That would be all Heider would allow during his outing. 
 
When looking at the play-by-play of the game, the second inning looked like it was rather non-eventful. A fly out, a walk, a pickoff and a strikeout for Grossmont. While Mesa countered with three ground outs. That only tells a small portion of the story. The chirping from both benches to both the umpires and to each other, that the home plate umpire issued warnings to both benches for their conduct. 
 
In the third and fourth innings the Griffins scored a run in each frame. With one out in the third, Mansy reached via an error and was immediately brought around to score when Romero doubled to right-center field. An inning later, Luke Denos singled and was awarded second on a balk. Juan Nunez singled to put runners on the corners. Noah Lane reached via an error by the Olympian pitcher allowing Denos to score and Nunez advanced to second. 
 
The Griffins would add two runs in each of the fifth, seventh and ninth innings. 
 
Mesa finished the scoring with a single run in the ninth inning. 
 
Grossmont will play the second of three games against Palomar tomorrow at Noel Michelsen Field with the first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.