Patriots leave Mission Bay all wet

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 13, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

East County hi

East County Sports.com

PACIFIC BEACH — Sir massaged containing clouds are drawn to mountain slops, causing changed in air pressure and temperature — the land mast becomes a sort of magnet for the clouds.

Thus, while while almost every East County high schools baseball game was rained out on Monday (Apr.3), the large enough portion of rainfall at Dennis Pugh Memorial Field were drawn by Mt. Soledad, leaving a window just lage enough to allow Christian to conduct its Eastern League opener at Mission Bay.

It was blustery, wet and cold, so it was ballgame survival, especially when the contest drifted into extra innings.

Despite Mission Bay out-hit out-pitched the Patriots, three Buccaneers errors — including a major mistake in the 8th inning — allowed Christian to secure a 3-2 verdict.

Braeden Casey would score the the tie-breaking run, more because of his speed than any other factor.

Casey, a junior, accepted a leadoff walk, then stole second base. then took third base on a deep fly ball to center field by left fielder Xander Molina.

However, with two down, Mission Bay should’ve escaped, but a ground ball y Walker Kane was booted to plate Casey.

The Bucs’ lat chance saw Vinny Kasunich collect a two-out single, but Patriots closer Trae Pheasant coaxed a game-ending pop out. Pheasant tossed two frames of 1-hit ball, retiring six of the seven batters he faced.Pats starter L.J. Rook struck out eight Mission Bay batters over his six innings, leaving with a no-decision.

Both Rook and Mission Bay sophomore starter Branden Heaney settled down, not allowing much after the teams scored early, tied at 2-all by the middle of the third.

Both ballclubs held early 1-run leads.

In the first, shortstop Benji Molina scored on the first Bucs error, but David Osborne answered with a two-out, solo homer to right.

Mission Bay added another run in the second, but Christian then immediately answered back in the third.

After Mission Bay turned double play, Casey, the center fielder, walked, stole a pair of bases, then scored on another error.

For the ballgame, Christian scored three unearned runs — all on errors without the aid of an RBI.

Among the Pats four hits, three were collected by Roman Gustin.

Still, Christian (9-6-1 overall) rests in first place. The second game in the 3-game set with Mission Bay (9-7) will by Wednesday at Christian, starting at 3 p.m.

Elsewhere

Postponed games included Bonita Vista at Steele Canyoon and an Avocado League game of Poway at Ramona.

The Barons-Cougars contest will be played Wednesday, but a site change might happen (both sites are listed(. Titans-Bulldogs contest will be made-up on Friday, with the regularly-scheduled game at Poway still set for Wednesday.

Poway is tied for second place with Westview after upsetting the Woverines, 5-4, on Saturday.

— Nick Pellegrino