Cady’s ‘Luck’ Lifts Grossmont

LA MESA — He said he felt lucky.

But it wasn’t only luck that helped Grossmont’s Todd Cady hit a single, a run-scoring triple and a two-run homer in three at-bats Thursday.

Cady’s “luck,” as he called it, helped host Grossmont defeated Santana, 6-2, and give the No. 2 Foothillers (17-1, 3-0) a two-game lead in the Grossmont 2-A League.

“We were telling our kids before the game that we have a chance to bury them,” Grossmont Coach Jeff Meredith said. “We have five games to go and a two-game lead. Last year Santana was right on us.”

Santana Coach Jim Saska said the ninth-ranked Sultans (11-4-1, 1-2) are realistically out of the league race.

Cady, who has been in somewhat of a slump, is only one hit away from tyingthe San Diego Section record of 135 career hits set by Santana’s Jeff Gay from 1983-86. Cady needs one more home run to tie the section record of 24 set by Santana’s Jim Franco from 1982-85.

“I just had a feeling I’d have a good day,” Cady said. “I didn’t know how many I needed. I knew it was around two or three.”

In the bottom of the third with two outs and Matt Jones on third, Cady tripled to right-center field, scoring Jones. Cady then scored the go-ahead run on an RBI single by Wynter Phoenix.

“Chad (pitcher Barry) threw the ball away (from the strike zone),” Saska said. “(Cady) didn’t even hit it hard.”

Added Meredith: “He just stuck the bat out.”

In the fifth inning, with John Heinrichs on third, Cady homered to give Grossmont a 5-2 lead.

Mike Spears (7-0) had a characteristically rough first inning. He walked the first two hitters and yielded two runs but gave up just one hit the rest of the way.