Argh! Eastlake Titans let one get away in 7-6 Open Division loss to Patriots

The San Diego Section’s slate of seven divisional baseball championship game wrapped up Saturday night at the University of San Diego’s Fowler Park with one of the wildest contests imaginable.

The third-seeded Eastlake Titans pushed across three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 3-3 standoff and take a 6-3 lead on the fifth-seeded Patrick Henry Patriots. All the Titans needed was three outs in the top of the seventh inning to wrap up the school’s seventh CIF championship overall — fourth in the Open Division.

But that was better said than done as the Patriots refused to go down quietly.

Patrick Henry struck back against three Eastlake pitchers in the frame with four walks, including a bases-loaded walk that plated what proved to be the game-winning run, one fielding miscue, one wild pitch to score a run and two hits, including a clutch pair with two outs, to stupefy the capacity crowd of 2,100 with an unlikely, but from the Pats’ standpoint, heroic 7-6 win.

It was something that Titan faithful would rather forget actually happened.

But somehow it did.

Either way, onlookers were simply at a loss for words.

Game on
It was an uphill climb for Eastlake from the start after the Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Titans tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the second inning but Patrick Henry, cruising under senior starter Jimmy Gunn (one walk, six strikeouts), tacked on two runs in the top of the fourth inning for a 3-1 lead.

Eastlake tied the game 3-all in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-out bases-loaded hit by senior J.P. Conero.

Gunn’s departure after five innings opened the door for an ensuing Eastlake rally.

Senior Aaron Corona led off the Titan sixth with a single, advanced to second on a ground-out. Junior Zowen Watson followed with a walk and senior Hamza Hatahet drove in the go-ahead 4-3 run with a hit to left field. Junior Erick Villeda received an intentional walk to load the bases with one out.

Senior Tyson Bobo, now on the mound for the Pats, induced a strikeout for the inning’s second out. But junior Isaac Rodriguez followed with a walk to force in a run for a 5-3 lead. A passed ball scored another runner for a 6-3 lead.

But things only unraveled from there for the Metro-Mesa League champions, who only needed one out to preserve an apparent 6-4 victory.

But give Patrick Henry credit for making amends for last year’s 3-0 loss to Granite Hills in the Open Division championship game. That contest, played at SDSU’s Tony Gwynn Stadium, saw the Eagles break up a scoreless match-up on a bases-loaded triple by Parker Vance in the sixth inning to stun the Patriots and, in so doing, become the first team in section history to go undefeated (24-0-2) through the regular season and playoffs.

Despite all the adversity, the game still could have gone Eastlake’s way. The Titans opened the bottom of the seventh inning with a solid base hit by junior Caleb Foss and bunt single by junior Ethan Dang. Freshman Ethan Orozco then successfully bunted the runners up a base, putting the potential tying run at third base and the potential game-winning run at second base with one out.

Watson rocked a pitch to left field. But instead of tagging up to score, the Titans ended their season on a double play when the runner at second base was caught off the bag when the throw went there instead of to home plate.

Call it one for the history books.

Sophomore Lucas Yriqui started for Eastlake with six hits, three runs (two earned), two walks and four strikeouts in four innings. Senior Max Tello, the winner in the first and third games in the playoffs, followed with two innings, allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Senior Jordan Gomez faced eight batters in his part of the sixth inning.

Bobo turned out to be the winning pitcher.

The teams combined for 20 hits — 12 by Henry and eight for Eastlake — and seven errors (four by the Patriots and three by the Titans).

Senior Ian Brooke led the Open Division champions with two RBI while senor Salvaore Gagliano scored two runs.

Eastlake’s string of Open Division titles includes those from 2017, 2019 and 2021. Open Division runner-up finishes have come in 2016, 2023 and now in 2026.

The Titans remain one of the Metro Conference’s most decorated baseball programs since the school opened its doors in 1991.

Eastlake won the Division II championship in 1999, the first in school history, and added another Division II title in 2002 for its second CIF banner.

The Titans finished runner-up in 2015 in Division I and later bounced back to win the Division I title in 11 innings in 2022.

San Diego Section Championships

Baseball Finals
Open Division: (5) Patrick Henry 7, (3) Eastlake 6. Records: Patrick Henry 24-9, Eastlake 24-7
Division I: (3) Madison 3, (5) Mt. Carmel 2. Records: Madison 25-7, Mt. Carmel 19-15-1
Division II: (3) Helix 8, (1) Christian 4. Records: Helix 21-11, Christian 21-10-1
Division III: (2) Westview 5, (4) Ramona 2. Records: Westview 26-6, Ramona 22-9
Division IV: (5) Francis Parker 6, (7) Foothills Christian 4. Records: Francis Parker 24-11, Foothills Christian 22-13
Division V: (1) Coastal Academy 4, (3) Canyon Hills 3. Records: Coastal Academy 23-7, Canyon Hills 24-8
Division V-AA: (1) Borrego Springs 7, (2) Calvin Christian 1. Records: Borrego Springs 18-4, Calvin Christian 17-8

Softball Finals
Open Division: (1) Mater Dei Catholic 5, (2) Point Loma 3. Records: Mater Dei Catholic 29-3, Point Loma 23-9
Division I: (3) Steele Canyon 13, (4) La Jolla 7. Records: Steele Canyon 21-11, Torrey Pines 17-13-1
Division II: (1) Carlsbad 3, (10) Scripps Ranch 0: Records: Carlsbad 21-6, Scripps Ranch 16-12-1
Division III: (2) Helix 6, (1) Brawley 2. Records: Helix 24-4, Brawley 19-11
Division IV: (1) Madison 14, (2) Grossmont 7, Records: Madison 22-9-1, Grossmont 18-11-1
Division V: (3) Monte Vista 17, (1) La Jolla 9. Records: Monte Vista 19-13, La Jolla 16-13
Division V-AA: (2) Borrego Springs 9, (1) Warner 1. Records: Borrego Springs 16-9, Warner 11-8

San Diego Section 2026 Playoff Brackets

BASEBALL

Open Division

Seeding: 1. Cathedral Catholic, 2. San Marcos, 3. Eastlake, 4. Rancho Bernardo, 5. Patrick Henry, 6. Point Loma, 7. Granite Hills, 8. Southwest El Centro

First round winners: Cathedral Catholic (7-0 over Southwest), Patrick Henry (6-3 over Rancho Bernardo), Eastlake (3-1 over Point Loma), San Marcos (6-4 over Granite Hills)

Second round winners: Cathedral Catholic (13-3 over Patrick Henry). Eastlake (6-3 over San Marcos), Rancho Bernardo (8-0 over Southwest El Centro), Point Loma (10-1 over Granite Hills). Eliminated: Southwest El Centro, Granite Hills

Third round winners: Patrick Henry (5-2 over Rancho Bernardo), Point Loma (12-5 over San Marcos). Eliminated: Rancho Bernardo, San Marcos

Semifinals: Patrick Henry (22-9) 18, Cathedral Catholic (26-5), 7 Eastlake (24-6) 6, Point Loma (19-11-1) 4. Eliminated: Point Loma

Double elimination: Patrick Henry 5, Cathedral Catholic 2

Division I

Seeding: 1. La Costa Canyon, 2. Del Norte, 3. Madison, 4. Torrey Pines, 5. Mt. Carmel, 6. La Jolla Country Day, 7. St. Augustine, 8. Sage Creek, 9. Carlsbad, 10. San Ysidro, 11. Coronado, 12. San Pasqual

Play-in round: winners: Carlsbad (7-3 over Sage Creek), Mt. Carmel (1-0 over San Pasqual), LJCD (4-2 over Coronado), St. Augustine (5-2 over San Ysidro). Eliminated: Sage Creek, San Pasqual, Coronado, San Ysidro

First round winners: LCC (11-10 over Carlsbad), Torrey Pines (7-6 over Mt. Carmel), Madison (11-3 over LJCD), St. Augustine (8-4 over Del Norte).

Second round winners: LCC (7-6 over Torrey Pines, Madison (3-2 over St. Augustine), Mt. Carmel (2-1 over Carlsbad), LJCD (6-5 over Del Norte). Eliminated: Carlsbad, Del Norte

Third round winners: Mt. Carmel (5-3 over Torrey Pines), LJCD (15-1 over St. Augustine). Eliminated: Torrey Pines, St. Augustine

Semifinals: Mt. Carmel (18-14-1) 5, LCC (16-15) 3, Madison (24-7) 6, LJCD (21-12). Eliminated: LJCD

Double elimination: Mt. Carmel 9, LCC 6

Division II

Seeding: 1. Christian, 2. Bonita Vista, 3. Helix, 4. Santa Fe Christian, 5. Poway, 6. Brawley, 7. Mission Hills, 8. University City, 9. Clairemont, 10. Montgomery, 11. El Camino, 12. Grossmont

Play-in round winners: University City (8-5 over Clairemont), Grossmont (5-2 over Poway), Brawley (5-4 over Mt. Carmel), Mission Hills (5-4 over Montgomery). Eliminated: Clairemont, Poway, Mt. Carmel, Montgomery

First round winners: Christian (6-2 over University City), SFC (6-1 over Grossmont), Helix (9-5 over Brawley), Mission Hills (8-5 over Bonita Vista)

Second round winners: Christian (8-2 over SFC), Helix (7-5 over Mission Hills), Grossmont (4-3 over University City), Bonita Vista (2-1 over Brawley). Eliminated: University City, Brawley

Third round winners: SFC (8-6 over Grossmont), Bonita Vista (14-4 over Mission Hills). Eliminated: Grossmont, Mission Hills

Semifinals: Christian (21-9-1) 13, SFC (17-14) 5; Helix (20-11) 5, Bonita Vista (22-10) 3. Eliminated: SFC, Bonita Vista

Division III

Seeding: 1. Palo Verde Valley, 2. Westview, 3. Otay Ranch, 4. Ramona, 5. Classical Academy, 6. Mater Dei Catholic, 7. Imperial, 8. Vista, 9. La Jolla, 10. Santana, 11. Hilltop, 12, Rancho Buena Vista

Play-in games: Hilltop 5, Steele Canyon 4 RBV 4, Olympian 3

Play-in round winners: La Jolla (8-4 over Vista), RBV (4-2 over Classical Academy), MDC (13-4 over Hilltop), Santana (5-0 over Imperial). Eliminated Vista, Classical Academy, Hilltop, Imperial

First round winners: Palo Verde (5-4 over La Jolla), Ramona (17-5 over RBV), Otay Ranch (8-4 over MDC), Westview (14-7 over Santana).

Second round winners: Ramona (8-4 over Palo Verde), Westview (5-4 over Otay Ranch), La Jolla (6-5 in 8 innings over RBV), Santana (10-6 over MDC). Eliminated: RBV, Mater Dei Catholic

Third round winners: La Jolla (5-4 over Palo Verde), Otay Ranch (12-2 over Santana). Eliminated: Palo Verde, Santana

Semifinals: Ramona (22-8) 13, La Jolla (17-16) 3; Westview (25-6) 3, Otay Ranch (19-13) 2. Eliminated: La Jolla, Otay Ranch

Division IV

Seeding: 1. San Dieguito Academy, 2, Mountain Empire, 3. Central Union, 4 . Escondido Charter, 5. Francis Parker, 6, Holtville, 7. Foothills Christian, 8. Mission Vista, 9. San Diego, 10. High Tech San Diego, 11. Mar Vista, 12. Oceanside

Play-in round winners: San Diego (9-3 over Mission Vista), Francis Parker (5-4 over Oceanside), Mar Vista (9-4 over Holtville), Foothills Christian (7-6 over High Tech San Diego). Eliminated Mission Vista, Oceanside, Holtville, High Tech San Diego)

First round winners: SDA (4-1 over San Diego), Escondido Charter (9-5 over Francis Parker), Central Union (6-0 over Mar Vista), Foothills Christian (4-3 over Mountain Empire)

Second round winners: SDA (4-1 over Escondido Charter), Central Union (11-9 over Foothills Christian), Francis Parker (4-2 over San Diego), Mar Vista (10-2 over Mountain Empire). Eliminated: San Diego, Mountain Empire

Third round winners: Francis Parker (7-3 over Escondido Charter), Foothills Christian (10-9 over Mar Vista). Eliminated: Escondido Charter, Mar Vista

Semifinals: Francis Parker (22-11) 5, San Dieguito (20-11) 0, Foothills Christian (21-12) 4, Central Union (11-18-1) 2

Double elimination: Francis Parker 5, San Dieguito 0; Foothills Christian 5, Central Union 3

Division V

Seeding: 1. Classical Academy, 2. Pacific Ridge, 3. Canyon Hills, 4. High Tech High Mesa, 5. Chula Vista Learning Community Charter, 6. Orange Gen, 7. Castle Park, 8. Hoover, 9. High Tech High Chula Vista, 10. Crawford

Play-in round winners Hoover (11-5 over High Tech High Chula Vista), Caste Park (11-6 over Crawford)

First round winners Classical Academy (17-1 over Hoover), CVLCC (13-2 over High Tech High Mesa), Eliminated High Tech High Chula Vista, Crawford Canyon Hills (15-0 over Orange Gen), Castle Park (2-1 over Pacific Ridge)

Second round winners Coastal Academy (21-1 over CVLCC), Canyon Hills (13-8 over Caste Park), Hoover (16-2 over. High Tech High Mesa), Pacific Ridge (7-3 over Orange Glen). Eliminated: High Tech Mesa, Orange Glen

Third round winners: Hoover (16-1 over CVLCC), Castle Park (18-6 over Pacific Ridge). Eliminated: CVLCC, Pacific Ridge

Semifinals: Coastal Academy (22-7) 13, Hoover (9-22-1) 5; Canyon Hills (24-7) 9, Castle Park (14-19) 5. Eliminated: Hoover, Castle Park

Division V-AA

Seeding: 1. Borrego Springs, 2. Calvin Christian, 3. Liberty Charter, 4. Victory Christian Academy, 5. Ocean View Christian Academy, 6. Tri-City Christian, 7. St. Joseph Academy, 8. Army-Navy Academy, 9. Bonsall, 10. Vincent Memorial

Play-in round winners: Army-Navy (10-1 over Bonsall), Vincent Memorial (12-11 over St. Joseph). Eliminated: Bonsall, St. Joseph

First round winners: Borrego Springs (12-1 over Army-Navy), Victory Christian (18-8 over Ocean View), TCC (8-4 over Liberty Charter), Calvin Christian (8-4 over Vincent Memorial)

Second round winners: Borrego Springs (16-1 over Victory Christian), Calvin Christian (2-0 over TCC), Ocean View (1-0 forfeit over Army-Navy), Liberty Charter (11-4 over Vincent Memorial). Eliminated Army-Navy, Vincent Memorial

Third round winners: Ocean View (4-2 over Victory Christian), TCC (24-20 over Liberty Charter). Eliminated: Victory Christian, Liberty Charter

Semifinals: Borrego Springs (17-4) 15, Ocean View (13-10) 1; TCC (16-4) 11, Calvin Christian (16-7) 0. Eliminated: Ocean View

Double elimination: Calvin Christian 14, TCC 9

SOFTBALL

Open Division

Seeding: 1. Mater Dei Catholic, 2. Point Loma, 3. Bonita Vista, 4. Rancho Bernardo, 5. Escondido Charter, 6. La Costa Canyon, 7. Imperial, 8. Del Norte

First round winners: Mater Dei Catholic (6-0 over Del Norte), Rancho Bernardo (7-5 over Escondido Charter), LCC (7-2 over Bonita Vista), Point Loma (9-2 over Imperial)

Second round winners: Mater Dei Catholic (3-0 over Rancho Bernardo), Point Loma (3-2 over LCC), Del Norte (9-1 over Escondido Charter), Bonita Vista (9-3 over Imperial). Eliminated: Escondido Charter, Imperial.

Third round winners: Del Norte (8-5 over Rancho Bernardo), Bonita Vista (9-2 over LCC). Eliminated: Rancho Bernardo, LCC

Semifinals: Mater Dei Catholic (28-3) 7, Del Norte (14-14) 2; Point Loma (23-8) 9, Bonita Vista (22-7) 3

Division I

Seeding: 1. Mission Hills, 2. Otay Ranch, 3. Steele Canyon, 4. Torrey Pines, 5. Cathedral Catholic, 6. Poway, 7. San Marcos, 8. Sage Creek, 9. Eastlake, 10. Christian, 11. Rancho Buena Vista, 12. West Hills

Play-in round winners: Eastlake (3-1 over Sage Creek), Cathedral Catholic (12-2 over West Hills), Poway (1-0 over RBV), Christian (4-2 over San Marcos). Eliminated: Sage Creek, West Hills, RBV, San Marcos)

First round winners: Mission Hills (4-0 over Eastlake), Cathedral Catholic (3-0 over Torrey Pines), Steele Canyon (6-3 over Poway), Otay Ranch (6-5 over Christian)

Second round winners: Mission Hills (5-0 over Cathedral Catholic), Steele Canyon (5-1 over Otay Ranch), Torrey Pines (6-3 over Eastlake), Christian (1-0 over {Poway). Eliminated: Eastlake, Poway

Third round winners: Torrey Pines (6-5 over Cathedral Catholic), Christian (5-0 over. Otay Ranch). Eliminated: Cathedral Catholic, Otay Ranch

Semifinals: Torrey Pines (16-12-1) 3, Mission Hills (16-12) 2; Steele Canyon (20-11) 8, Christian (14-14-1) 6

Double elimination: Torrey Pines 7, Mission Hills 4

Division II

Seeding: 1. Carlsbad, 2. Mt. Carmel, 3. San Pasqual, 4. Westview, 5. Santana, 6. El Capitan, 7. Clairemont, 8. Mira Mesa, 9. Olympian, 10. Scripps Ranch, 11. El Camino, 12. Patrick Henry

Play-in round winners: Mira Mesa (6-2 over Olympian), Santana (8-4 over Patrick Henry), El Capitan (7-3 over El Camino), Scripps Ranch (12-0 over Clairemont). Eliminated: Olympian, Patrick Henry, El Camino, Clairemont)

First round winners: Carlsbad (3-1 over Mira Mesa), Westview (5-1 over Santana), El Capitan (9-0 over San Pasqual), Scripps Ranch (5-0 over Mt. Carmel)

Second round winners: Carlsbad (3-0 over Westview), Scripps Ranch (8-7 over El Capitan), Santana (4-3 over Mira Mesa), Mt. Carmel (3-0 over San Pasqual). Eliminated: Mira Mesa, San Pasqual

Third round winners: Westview (4-2 over Santana), El Capitan (2-0 over Mt. Carmel). Eliminated: Santana, Mt. Carmel

Semifinals: Westview (20-6-2) 7, Carlsbad (19-6) 0; Scripps Ranch (16-11-1) 1, El Capitan (15-14) 0. Eliminated: El Capitan

Double elimination: Carlsbad 7, Westview 1

Division III

Seeding: 1. Brawley, 2. Helix Charter, 3. Mission Vista, 4. Mission Bay, 5. Palo Verde Valley, 6. University City, 7. Ramona, 8. Coronado, 9. Tri-City Christian, 10. Morse, 11. Bishop’s, 12. Mar Vista

Play-in round winners: Coronado (6-4 over TCC), Mar Vista (6-1 over Palo Verde), University City (5-4 over Bishop’s), Ramona (11-7 over Morse). Eliminated: TCC, Palo Verde, Bishop’s, Morse

First round winners: Brawley (11-2 over Coronado), Mission Bay (6-3 over Mar Vista), Mission Vista (8-1 over University City), Helix (2-1 over Ramona)

Second round winners: Brawley (1-0 over Mission Bay), Helix (11-0 over Mission Vista), Coronado (4-0 over Mar Vista), University City (9-6 over Ramona). Eliminated: Mar Vista, Ramona

Third round winners: Coronado (2-1 over Mission Bay), Mission Vista (3-0 over University City). Eliminated: Mission Bay, University City

Semifinals: Brawley (19-10) 8, Coronado (18-12-1) 2; Helix (24-4) 7, Mission Vista (18-11-1) 1

Division IV

Seeding: 1. Madison, 2. Grossmont, 3. Francis Parker, 4. Liberty Charter, 5. Central Union, 6/. Montgomery, 7. Escondido, 8. Valley Center, 9. Maranatha Christian, 10. Bonsall, 1Academy1. Fallbrook, 12. Hilltop

Play-in round winners: Maranatha Christian (9-5 over Valley Center), Central Union (2-1 over Hilltop), Montgomery (19-9 over Fallbrook), Escondido (5-3 over Bonsall). Eliminated: Valley Center, Hilltop, Fallbrook, Bonsall)

First round winners: Madison (13-2 over Maranatha Christian). Central Union (6-5 ovr Liberty Charter), Montgomery (11-10 over Francis Parker), Grossmont (12-2 over Escondido)

Second round winners: Madison (10-0 over Central Union), Grossmont (10-0 over Montgomery), Liberty Charter (3-1 over Maranatha Christian), Francis Parker (8-1 over Escondido). Eliminated: Maranatha Christian, Escondido

Third round winners: Liberty Charter (5-3 over Central Union), Francis Parker (6-3 over Montgomery)

Semifinals: Madison (21-9-1) 6, Liberty Charter (16-6) 4; Grossmont (18-10-1) 8, Francis Parker (19-6) 6. Eliminated: Liberty Charter, Francis Parker

Division V

Seeding: 1. La Jolla, 2. Southwest San Diego, 3. Monte Vista, 4. Hoover, 5. Kerny, 6. High Tech San Diego, 7. Mt. Miguel, 8. Orange Glen

First round winners: La Jolla (19-3 over Orange Glen), Kearny (24-17 over Hoover), Monte Vista (12-2 over High Tech San Diego), Southwest (9-2 over Mt. Miguel)

Second round winners: La Jolla (14-0 over Kearny), Southwest (9-7 over Monte Vista). Orange Glen (17-9 over Hoover), Mt. Miguel (6-3 over High Tech San Diego). Eliminated: Hoover, High Tech San Diego

Third round winners: Orange Glen (22-7 over Kearny), Monte Vista (10-8 over Mt. Miguel). Eliminated: Kearny, Mt. Miguel)

Semifinals: Orange Glen (10-15) 14, La Jolla (15-12) 8, Monte Vista (17-13) 21, Southwest (13-14) 12

Double-elimination: La Jolla 11, Orange Glen 1; Monte Vista 15, Southwest 13

Division V-AA

Seeding: 1. Warner, 2. Borrego Springs, 3. Julian. 4. Ocean View Christian Academy, 5. Mountain Empire, 6. St. Joseph Academy, 7. Guajome Park, 8. Victory Christian Academy

First round winners: Warner (15-10 over VCA), Ocean View (34-8 over Mountain Empire). St. Joseph (17-5 over Julian), Borrego (12-2 over Guajome)

Second round winners: Warner (24-1 over Ocean View), Borrego (11-2 over St. Joseph), VCA (? over Mountain Empire), Julian (11-0 over Guajome). Eliminated: Mountain Empire, Guajome

Third round winners: VCA (38-18 over Ocean View), St. Joseph (18-14 over Julian). Eliminated: Ocean View, Julian

Semifinals: Warner (11-7) 20, VCA (9-11) 3, Borrego (15-9) 2, St. Joseph (5-15) 0. Eliminated: VCA, Borrego