CIF: State-ranked foes to battle for section Open Division crown

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: May 28, 2025

3035 EAST COUNTY PTRP BASEBALL
CIF-San Diego Secgtion Championships

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior wtier

SAN CARLOS – Patrick Henry senior pitcher Cody Cappelletti fired a 3-hit shutout Wednesday (May 28), stopping Eastlake, 2-0, in the Open Division playback final of the CIF-San Diego Sectrion baseball championships

The Patriots, seeded fifth in the event and ranked 21st in Califonia by CalHiSports, will take on the role of spoilers by advancing to the title copntests against top-seeded Granite Hills.

The Eagles, which hold a 23-0-2 rfecord and are ranked second in the state by CalHiSports, seek to become the first team in San Diego County — not just the section — history to go unbeaten in a season.

Many ballclubs have lasted a complete seasonm, with one loss, but the ballclubs with the most victories in a 1-loss season was the 1991 Grosamont Foothillers, which went 29-1 under head coach Jeff Meredith en route to the section championship.

Granite Hills heasd coach Javis Davis, the East County coach of the year, will enter Friday’s title game with 740 victories, breaking ionto the sate Top 20.

The Eagles and Patriots will meet Friday at San Diego State’s Tony Gwynn Stadium, starting at 7:30 p.m. OFFICIAL BRACKETS

Game stuff

All-East County Baseball Team

Cappelletti struck out seven Titans batters in his without a walk in his complete-game effort.

Cappelletti retired nine of the first 10 batters (safe on error), carrying a no-hitter though three innings.

Eastlake center felder Angel Laya singled to open the fourth, but Patrick Henry shortstop Preston Conklin erased Laya by starting a double play.

The only hit of consequence off Cappelletti was a double by second baseman J.P. Conero , but the next two batters popped out to end the fifth.

Eastlake oitcher Max Tello was carrying a shuotut into the fifth, when the Patriots vats broke through thanks to the bottom third of the lneup card.

Third baseman Sal Gagliano opened with ground double down the lefdt field line, moving to third on a sacrifice bunt from left fielder Skyler Stewart.

With the batting order turned over, center fielder Alex Mestman opened the scoring with a sacxrifice fly to left.

The run effected Eastlake to an extreme negative fashion.

With two down and no one on base, Preston Conklin followed with a basehit, then Ian Brooke reached on an infield error to place runners on the corners.

Eastlake then made three pick-up tosses to first base, but on the thitrdattempt,

Cappelletti, who recently was named to the All-East County first tteam, Conklin took off and stole home for a 2-0 lead.

The Titans final foray was another lead single to start the sixth. Gagliano hauling in a soft line, then firing to first baseman Jimmy Gunn for a second double play.

Thus, Cappolletti faced just two batters above the minimum in spinning his masterful performnce.