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Story and photos by Liz Alper

Cover photo:  Valhalla junior Max Hageman drove in the game-winning walkoff single in the eighth inning.

April 17, 2018 (El Cajon) - Valhalla baseball, usually one of the best high school baseball teams in San Diego County, is off to a rare bad start to 2018.  The Norsemen were 6-11 overall coming into today’s game, but were so far, so good in league with a 2-1 record.  The Cougars of Steele Canyon are quite the opposite.  They’re undefeated in league (3-0) and a solid .500 (8-8) overall.  Both teams met on Norsemen turf today.  In football, this would be the battle for the Jamacha Trophy.  We’ll call it that in baseball too for fun.  Senior Trevor Back started for the Cougars against senior Tanner Smith for Valhalla.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

April 10, 2018 (El Cajon) - ECM Sports couldn’t forget about prep baseball; it’s our reporter’s favorite spring sport to cover and in our first baseball game of 2018, we headed to El Cajon Valley. The Braves sport a decent .500 (4-4) record coming into league play in today’s game against West Hills.  The Pack, on the other hand, need to get things going heading into league as they’re 4-9 to start the season.  Sophomore Joseph Thrailkill took the mound for the Wolf Pack against senior Jesus Favela for the Braves.

By Eric Bartl

April 8, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Smiles are returning to the faces of children in El Cajon when they see Stoney’s Neighborhood Park, which reopened Thursday in front of the El Cajon branch of the County library.

The park had been closed since mid-December for a construction/park improvement project.

Source: Cuyamaca College

Photo: The Ornamental Horticulture nursery at the 2017 Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival.

April 6, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) -- Up to 5,000 visitors will converge on the Cuyamaca College campus when the annual Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival returns for its 25^th year on Saturday, April 28, as the college, The Water Conservation Garden and the Heritage of the Americas Museum present an array of family-friendly events featuring plant sales, craft vendors, wine tasting and more.

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2018 (El Cajon) – A 16-year-old football player from Granite Hills High School was struck by a vehicle and suffered life-threatening injuries tonight.

According to Lieutenant Steve Kirk with the El Cajon Police Department, after a preliminary investigation and interviewing witnesses, “It appears the pedestrian was with three other male juveniles running south across East Washington outside of a controlled intersection” when the teen was struck by a white 2016 Toyota Rav4 traveling eastbound.

By Miriam Raftery

April 1, 2018 (El Cajon) - If you have treasures in your attic or garage that you’d like to have appraised ($5 per item) or just enjoy looking at collectibles, you’re invited to stop by the Antique and Collectible Show on Wednesday, April 11. This event will be held 12 to 4 p.m. at Unity Church Hall, 311 Highland Avenue in El Cajon.

Source: City of El Cajon

April 1, 2018 (El  Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon Recreation Department will be hosting an afternoon of pool safety and fun - called “April Pools Day!”  This family event will be held on Friday, April 13 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Fletcher Hills Pool, 2345 Center Place in El Cajon.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

March 30, 2018 (El Cajon) - It was a Good Friday indeed as ECM Sports traveled to Granite Hills to watch the Lady Eagles, who sit at an impeccable undefeated 11-0 record (5-0 in league) take the field against the Sundevils of Mt. Carmel, who are 5-2 on the season.

Source: Monica Zech, City of El Cajon Public Information Officer

Photos by Michele Miller, City of El Cajon Public Works Dept.

March 26, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon celebrated the 29^th annual Arbor Day at Kennedy Park on Saturday, March 24^th at 8 a.m.  During the ceremony, the City received its 21^st Tree City USA award presented by CAL FIRE.  There was a large turnout by members of the community, including the Lions Club from Granite Hills High School and Key Club from Grossmont High to plant trees at Kennedy Park.

By Miriam Raftery

March 24, 2018 (El Cajon) – The Princess Project will be giving away over 1,500 prom dresses to high school teens across San Diego County at events in April. In East County, the El Cajon Library will host a prom dress giveaway event on April 28^th.

Source:  City of El Cajon

March 20, 2018 (El Cajon) - Join the City of El Cajon to celebrate the 29^th annual Arbor Day at Kennedy Park on Saturday, March 24^th at 8 a.m.  During the ceremony, the City will receive its 21^st Tree City USA award presented by CAL FIRE. If you want to get your hands dirty, join members of the community, including the Lions Club and Key Club to plant trees at Kennedy Park and Granite Hills High School.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Screenshot from surveillance video, courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

March 16, 2018 (El Cajon) – The owner of Forever Fine Jewelry has suffered a devastating loss after thieves stole $200,000 worth of gold and silver jewelry. A group of nine people, including five men and women with babies, distracted the owner while a woman dressed in black, shown on surveillance  video, crawled on the floor to snatch jewelry from display cases and a safe in a back room, 10 News reports.

The owner, an Iraqi immigrant who came here a decade ago,borrowed money from family to start the business and had no insurance for the losses, NBC 7 reports.

East County News Service

Photo by Ron Logan:  Write Out Loud Executive Director Walter Ritter, San Diego Regional Champion Kylie Greaves and Write Out Loud Artistic Director Veronica Murphy

March 15, 2018 (San Diego) -- Kylie Greaves, a Senior at Grossmont Middle College High School in El Cajon took first place in the 2018 countywide Poetry Out Loud competition on February 6th at The San Diego Central Library downtown. Greaves will represent San Diego at the upcoming state finals March 18 and 19 in Sacramento.

East County News Service

March 14, 2018 (El Cajon) — St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. With a plethora of Irish immigrants and many, many more St. Paddy’s Day well-wishers, the holiday is heavily celebrated by most Americans with friendly pinches, bangers n’ mash, and green beer galore. Sadly, all this merry-making can lead to dangerous driving conditions as party-goers head home. 

East County News Service

March 11, 2018 (El Cajon) — Awakened by his dogs barking, a homeowner in the 1100 block of Mona Place near West Chase Avenue looked outside around 1:15 a.m. and reportedly saw a man breaking into his vehicle parked in front of the house.