Patriots, Warhawks belong to the City

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: May 15, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County Sports.com
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The fijal day of the regular season in high school baseball saw both area schools from the East County directly involved in pennant races.

Patrick Henry was attempting to win an out0-right title in the Western League, while Christian tried to become spoilers in the City Eastern circuit.

Western League

Patrick Henry 15, Scripps Ranch 0

SCRIPPS RANCH – Holding destiny in their own hands — while playing the last-place ballclub in the league — the Patrick Henry Patriots wated no time in becoming the outright champions in the Western League.

Patriots starting pitcher Jimmy Gunn fired a 1-hitter during his 5.2 innings on the mound, then Ethan Rhee registered the final five outs in a blanking of the Scripps Ranch Falcons, 15-0, Thursday (May 15).

In the most one-sided ballgame of the season, the Patriots registered their ninth shutout, including a scoress dar with St. Augustine whioch proved to be the difference in the final standings.

Patrick Henry (18-8-2 overall) capped its league dlaste with an 8-3-1 mark. The runner-up Saints (18-9-1) fell to third place at 7-4-1, as Cathedral Catholic (17-10) rallied late in league play to finish as the runner-up at 8-4.

Meanwhile, it wa the poorest season this century for Scripps Ranch (6-22, 1-11); the Falcons lone triuph was a 3-1 decision over… defending league titlist St, Augustine on April 17, otheerwise the Saints would’ve sared the league crown.

Ironically, the Saints took the 2004 crown by a half-game over Patrick Henry because of a Patriots tie against evebtual CIF Division 2 champion Point Loma.

This is the second league title for the Pats. They shared the crown with Cathedral Catholic in their first season uponj joining the league in 2023.

Tie for first, second by a half-game, and now first out-right — not too bad in a very competitive league

Game stuff

Patrick Henry senior second baseman Preston Conklin belted a home run a spart of a 3-for-4, three RBI performance. The POS also scored twice.

Third baseman Sal Gagliano also drove home three runs on 2-for-2 hitting, while first baseman Nate Moloney knocked in a pair of runs for the first time this season.

The Falcons knew they were in trouble early afer the Patriots scored four times in the first, mounting an 8-0 lead through three frames.

Meanwhile, Gunn struck out five Scripps Ranch batters. The lone basehit off Gunn was a first-inning single by Cooper Sitton, who had two of the ballclub’s hits.

Other Scores
Cathedral Catholic 12, Point Loma 6
Bye – vSt. Augustine

City Eastern

Madison 8, Christian 2

CLAIREMONT MESA – In order for Madison yo earn a share of the league title, they needed to play catch-up against idle Coronado bysweeping all three contests from Christian.

After the Warhawks barely survived in Monday’s opener in extra innings, the aeaken Hawks got down to business, capped by Thursday’s (May 15) 8-3 verdict ovrer the Patriots.

Madison (22-6 overall) and CoronadoLeague coaches must decide whoch school will be the No. 1 representative in the CIF playoffs, thus gaining a first-round home game if they don’t receive a bye into the double-eliminatuion portion of the postseason brackets.

Coronado captured the regular-season series, 2-1, posting shutout win in the first two meetings.

Meanwhile, Christian (12-15) finished at the bottom at 2-10.

Game Stuff

The fired-up Patriots tried to knock Madison’s name off the trophy, scroing twic ein the first inning.

However, Warhawks pitch pitcher Jorge Luque tossed shutout ball during the remainder of his 5.1 innings stint. Luque was tagged for seven hits with two walks, but escaped several james.

Relief pitcher Charlie Kroning closed by retiring all five Patriots batters he faced.

Christian’s esrly offense saw Benji Molina moved up the leadoff role, opening the contest with a double to right fied, then scoring on a pair of ground outs.

However, a two-out rally then started when cleanup batter Roman Gustin also doubled, immediately follwed by an RBI single by freshmanMNax Villalva, who tofasy played at second base.

Madison answered a run in the first, two in the second to take the lead, then four more in the fourth to grab full control.

Seven different Hawks drov ein runs, including a pair by Luque. Designated hitter Landis Nguyen, the leadoff batter, mustered three hits with a run and an RBI.

Other Scores
University City 2, Mira Mesa 1
Bye – Coronado