San Diego Prep Baseball : New Attitude Works at San Diego High

SAN DIEGO — First-year Coach Tom Lopez has instilled a new attitude in his San Diego High School baseball players. A winning attitude.

The Cavers, who finished last in the City Central League last season with an 0-10 record, came from behind Monday afternoon for a 7-6 win over Christian (3-7 in league, 9-11-1 overall). The win puts San Diego High (6-3-1, 10-10-1) into sole possession of second place, a half-game behind Hoover.

“We basically just changed the whole attitude this year,” Lopez said. “Once we set some new ground rules, we started to play better.”

San Diego trailed 6-4 going into the bottom of the seventh inning. With two on and one out, Robert Howard, Tony Farrell and Sean Tucker hit successive RBI singles. Tucker (4-3) went the distance for the victory.

In the Grossmont League:

Valhalla 3, Helix 2 (eight innings)--The No. 1-ranked Norsemen, who made a habit of rallies this season, scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to erase a 2-1 deficit. Ted Gilmore homered to tie the game at 2-2. Scott Dennison followed with a single, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error. After Rob Sharp walked, Helix pitcher Damon Luban was called for a balk and Dennison scored the winning run. Valhalla is 8-1-1, 15-4-1. Helix is 4-6, 6-12.

Santana 6, Mount Miguel 5 (eight innings)--Mark Medford singled in Scott Papillon from second base with one out in the top of the eighth to give the No. 3 Sultans (8-1, 16-2) the win at Mount Miguel. Jeff Gay and Dale Henson hit back-to-back homers in the third to give Santana a 5-0 lead. Mount Miguel (4-5-1, 9-9-1) tied the game on Ron Jaecks’ two-run homer in the fifth.

El Capitan 9, El Cajon 2--Carlos Gutierrez had two hits and drove in four runs to lead the Vaqueros (5-5, 10-10) past the Braves (1-9, 1-12) at El Cajon.

Monte Vista 7, Grossmont 4--Paul Howard hit a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to help the Monarchs (2-8, 6-12) beat the Foothillers (6-4, 10-9) at Grossmont.