K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune Vista's trip to the East County got off to a good start when Eilert Meyers was greeted at home plate after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning of the Panther' 6-5 victory over Granite Hills in the third round of the Division I playoffs.

Better add baseballs to that list. The Panthers junior third baseman dived into the Vista dugout and then hurled himself over a fence yesterday in a bid to catch foul balls. Both times he went head first. Neither time was he successful in recording an out.

Davis did, however, make the defensive play of the game as the visiting Panthers eliminated Granite Hills 6-5 in nine innings in the third round of the section Division I playoffs.

Second-seeded Granite Hills (22-10), which overcame a 5-0 first-inning deficit, had runners at first and second with two outs in the eighth and the game tied.

Jared Rapoza ripped a ground ball past third base that appeared headed for the left field corner.

It never got there. Davis made a diving stop, scrambled to his feet and beat Jared Hunt – the Granite Hills runner coming from second base – to the bag for an inning-ending force out.

“I was trying to protect the line,” said Davis, who was positioned to take away the extra-base hit. “When I dove I didn't think I had the ball in my glove at first. Then I looked down, and said 'Oh gosh.' I'm not sure how I got that ball, but I never give up on anything hit my way.”

Davis' defensive gem set the stage for Sean Campbell's game-winning single. Campbell, a freshman who had been keeping score on the bench until getting the call from Vista coach Rick Lepire, was making his fourth plate appearance of the season for the third-seeded Panthers (22-11).

Campbell didn't disappoint, slicing a 3-1 delivery from pitcher Dean Miller into right-center to score John Leal from second.

“It seemed like (Miller) wasn't throwing as hard as he had been, and his control was a little off,” Campbell said after collecting his first varsity hit. “I was just happy I could contribute.”

Pitcher Bobby Orozco turned in an ironman performance for Vista. The senior right-hander stranded runners in scoring position in the second, sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

“I didn't do that great,” said Orozco (10-2), who allowed 11 hits. “It was about John making plays, people hitting when we needed it. My team picked me up. I give everything to them.”

Miller was burned in the opening inning by a key error and three Vista hits, including Eilert Meyers' three-run homer.

“I was proud of how our kids fought back, dug themselves out of that early hole,” said coach James Davis of Granite Hills, the defending Division I champ. “And I really thought we had the thing won, that Rapoza's ball was going through. Give their guy credit – he made a great play.”