Kyle Secciani is listed on the Grossmont High roster as a switch hitter. Yet, the Foothillers senior center fielder could not recall the last time he took his cuts from the right side.
“It's probably been a month since I hit right-handed,” Secciani said after driving in four runs and scoring four to help host Grossmont dismantle Steele Canyon 17-8 in yesterday's fifth-round playoff game.
The victory vaulted Grossmont (28-7) into tomorrow's Division II championship game against Oceanside (25-7) at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
The top-seeded Foothillers, who had to battle through the bracket after losing early in the double-elimination tournament, will attempt to become the San Diego Section's first baseball team to capture four titles in succession.
“Getting this opportunity has been our goal since the beginning of the season,” said Secciani. “We are right where we want to be.”
Most of Secciani's 50 hits this season have come from the left side. Steele Canyon coach Todd Snyder challenged Secciani in the sixth when he elected to intentionally walk Josh Simms (2-for-4, 3 runs) to load the bases with two outs.
The Cougars, who clawed back from a 12-2 deficit, trailed 13-8. They had a left-handed reliever on the mound, so Secciani stepped in as a righty.
“When they purposely walk the guy in front of you they are basically saying, 'We have a better chance of getting you out,' ” Secciani said. “It made me want to show them they made a mistake.”
And so he did. Secciani slugged the second pitch from Cougars southpaw Nathan O'Toole over the fence in left center, giving Grossmont a nine-run lead.
“Actually, I'm a natural right-hand hitter,” Secciani said. “I picked up switch-hitting when I was 12. I'd probably swing right more often, but we don't face many lefties.”
Although the Foothillers rapped a dozen hits, Steele Canyon (20-11) had a hand in its own destruction. Eight of Grossmont's runs were unearned because of three SC errors. Four Foothillers also scored on wild pitches.
Grossmont's Conor Meredith (2-0), who had pitched only 7 2/3 innings, made the second start of his career. He pitched 4 2/3 innings to pick up the win.
Poway 11, Eastlake 3
Alex Dickerson continued his torrid hitting, driving in four runs with a home run, double and single to propel Poway (30-6) past visiting Eastlake (24-8).
Dickerson, 9-for-11 with three homers and 10 RBI in his last three games, leads the top-seeded Titans into tomorrow's Division I final against La Costa Canyon (22-12) at San Diego State.
