CIF: Eastlake forges playback final with Patrick Henry

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: May 27, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
CIF-San Diego Section Championships

Eaqst Countyy Sports.com

Open Division

Eastlake 4, Patrick Henry 3

SAN CARLOS – Taking a peek at the recent Granite Hills baseball playbook, Patrick Henry looked to register a walk-off victory, one which would advance the Patriots to the CIF-San Diego Section championship contest.

The Pats fell just one run short.

After Eastlake mounted an erly 4-0 advantage, Patrick Henry inched closer with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. But in the seventh when they needed a pair of
runs to force extra innings, the Titans were finally able to stop the bleeding in a 4-3 triumph.

The ballclubs will meet again on Wednesday in the lower bracket’s playback final. The victory will meets top-ranked and unbeaten Granite Hills for the section crown. OFFICIAL BRACKETS

Eastlake’s quick start inclued a solo home run by second baseman J.P. Conero (game-winning RBI) in the second.

Meanwhile, Titans pitcher Nick Romero rolled along for four innings with 4-hhit, shutout ball until the Patriots found their groove.

In the fifth with twoou, Ian Brooke singled, coming home on cvontact on a line double to center by Vody Vappelletti.

An inning later, the bottom of the lineup card got going on singles byLukas Waite and Jayden Goldman, with Waite scoring on an error.

Then in the seventh, Cappelletti cranked a leadoff home run with a liner to center field.

However, Eastlake releiver Kalani Jaurequi earned the save by retiring the next three Pats batters in order.

The Titans saw center fielder Angel Laya drive in a pair of runs. Trsmmstrd Hamza Hatahet, Joel Vargas and Laya recorded two hits each.

Eastlake (20-9-1) has now captured 20 games over 11 consecutive seasons.

Patrick Henry (20-9-2) received three hits from senior second baseman Preston Conklin.

Division 5-AA

The Rock 8, Liberty Charter 3

OCEAN BEACH – The Rock Academy, the top-
seeded team in the division, broke a 1-all
deadlock with four tuns in the second
inning, then three more in the third to
eliminate Liberty Charter, 8-3, in the
Upper Bracket final held at Presidio
Little League.

The Warriors (21-3) will meet Borrego
Springs (16-2) in the title game. The
Rams completed an unbeaten streak in the
lower bracket after elimjinating Ocean
View Christian, 14-1.

Liberty Charter (13-11) got e jump on The
Rock for the first time this season on
three consecutive singles/

Alex Godinez and LL Hayes opned the
contests with consecutive basehits.

First baseman Drake Keehl, who was
recently named to the All-0East County
team, then made it three straight hits on
a line drive to center, bringing home
Godinez for a 1-0 lead.

However, The Rock answered with eighty
straight runs, despite Lions pitching
limiting the Warriors to just five total
hits.

Godunez entered in relief in the third,
firing 3.1 innings of no-hit ball and
give the Lions an oportunity ti rally.

Hpwever, the Liond registered single runs
in the fifth and seventh. Right fielder
Austin Otero accounted for both late runs
with a bases-loaded walk, then an RBI on
a Warriors error on a one-out grounder to
the right side which would’ve scored the
run anyway.

The Rock went 4-0 against the Lions this
season. The Warriors have never played
Borrego Srings, but the Rams lead the
seriesd 1-0 on 2017 forfeit.

Borrego Springs 14, Ocean View Christian 1

BORREGO SPRINGS – Already leading 6-1,
the Borrego Springs flood gates opened
with 8 runs in the fifth inning, giving
the Rams an easy 14-1 pasting of Ocean
View Christian of Chula Vista.

The Ramsnow adavnce to the CIFSDS
Division 5-AA championship game against
top-seeded The Rock of Liberty Station.