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CIF Championships: Helix claims D2 Title
- Updated: May 30, 2026
2026 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
CIF-San Diego Section Championships
East County Sports.com
Division 2 – Championship
Helix 8, Christian 2
ALCALA PARK — Helix slugger Angel Watkins, who ranks second in the CIF-San Diego Section with nine home runs, failed to slug another dinger on Saturday (May 30). Instead, the senior went deep to center field with a go-ahead triple, which short-hopped the fence.
Although top-seeded Christian would immediately get even, the short by Watkins energized the Scotties, who scored eight times over the final three innings to top the Patriots, 8-4, to claim the section Division 2 title, held at USD’s Fowling Field (formerly Cunningham Stadium).
Angel Watkins
Trailing 3-0 on just two hits through four innings, Helix rallied back with four runs in the fifth, mostly on the club’s usual small-ball antics.
Josh Rivera accepted a one-out walk, followed by a basehit by Kei Smith through the left side of the infield.
Ben WIlliams ended Christian’s shutout bid with a line RBI single to right, then additional runs came home on an error and a fielder’s choice to knot the contest at 3-all
Then Watkins followed with his blast to center, brining home Bryan Herman and a 4-3 lead.
The Patriots fought back to tie in the home-half of the dining on three walks and an error, but the rest of the afternoon belonged to the Highlanders — again on station-to-station baseball.
The sixth started on an error, a Jake Johnson sacrifice bunt, a walk, then a go-ahead, two-run single by Smith on a line drive to left for what proved to be the game-winning RBI.
An inning later, Romeo Briones stroked a lead single, then took three bases when a sacrifice bunt by Herman was thrown away into the right-field bullpen.
Johnson later posted a sacrifice fly, one of five sacrifice hits (bunts or fly outs) registered by Helix, the third seed.
In the mound, Romeo Briones pitched the first 4.2 frames, but he left in a tied ballgame. Owen Liddell gained the final out in the fifth, becoming the winning pitcher when Helix took the lead in the sixth.
From there, Williams, the closer, fired a pair of near-perfect frames. Williams struck out three Christian batters and yielded just one hit in facing just seven Patriots batters.
The Scotties (21-11), the winners of six straight and 13-of-1, advance to the CIF Southern California regional.
For Christian (21-10-1), freshman Talon Brown carried a two-hitter into the fifth before coming out. Brown struck out four Helix batters.
Along the eight runs by Helix, five were unearned due to five Patriots bobbles.
The Patriots took a 3-0 in the third on consecutive doubles by center fielder Braeden Casey (1 RBI) and right fielder Caleb Brierley (2 RBI). They finished with two of the ballclub’s six hits.
Watkins, Smith, and Briones all posted two hits for Helix.
Historical Note: This was the first contest between the schools in 45 years… In the 1980-81 school year, Christian was a member of the Grossmont Conference — really! –with Helix sweeping the two-game series… Patriots head coach Mike Mitchell is now 5-4 in CIF section championship games, the highest coming in Division 3 in 1997… For Helix head coach Diego Reynoso, this was his first title in his first championship game appearance… Former Helix head coach Cole Holland won the D2 crown in 2011, a year after falling in the division’s finale. He also fell in the 2017 Open Division game to Eastlake.
— Nick Pellegrino
READY FOR THE BIG STAGE
ALCALA PARK — Helix entered the postseason believing it had already faced the toughest challenges San Diego County baseball could offer.
Helix head coach Diego Reynoso
The Highlanders spent the spring testing themselves against many of the county’s top programs, including victories over Cathedral Catholic, Point Loma and Granite Hills.
That demanding schedule helped prepare Helix for a championship environment at USD’s Fowler Field.
The Highlanders were unfazed after falling behind 3-0 Saturday and showed the composure of a club that had repeatedly played in high-pressure situations throughout the season.
The victory marked another example of Helix’s growth during the second half of the campaign.
After enduring its share of ups and downs early in the season, the Highlanders closed the year by winning 13 of their final 14 contests and carrying a six-game winning streak into the CIF championship game.
That late-season surge now sends Helix into the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs with considerable momentum.
CLUTCH PERFORMANCE FROM WILLIAMS
ALCALA PARK — Helix senior Ben Williams made his impact felt both at the plate and on the mound during Saturday’s championship victory.
Williams delivered the Highlanders’ first run with an RBI single during the decisive four-run fifth inning, helping spark Helix’s comeback from a three-run deficit.
He later took over on the mound and shut down the Christian offense over the final 2 1/3 innings to earn the save. Williams struck out three batters and allowed just one hit while preserving the championship victory.
The outing was particularly noteworthy considering Williams had been dealing with shoulder soreness earlier in the week. Nevertheless, he was available when Helix needed him most and helped secure the program’s latest CIF title.
The senior has been one of Helix’s most consistent contributors all season, entering the championship game with 15 doubles, five home runs and 24 RBIs.
BRIONES ANSWERS THE CALL
ALCALA PARK — While the late innings belonged to the Helix offense, senior Romeo Briones played a major role in keeping the Highlanders within striking distance.
Briones started on the mound and worked the first 4 2/3 innings against the top-seeded Patriots. Although Christian built a 3-0 lead, the Helix starter prevented the game from getting out of hand and allowed the offense time to rally.
Briones also contributed at the plate, collecting three singles and reaching base four times. His leadoff hit in the seventh inning helped set up an insurance run as Helix expanded its advantage.
The senior has been one of the Highlanders’ most valuable two-way players throughout the season. Entering the championship game, Briones owned a 7-2 pitching record with a 1.39 ERA while also supplying seven home runs and 27 RBIs.
His steady performance Saturday helped pave the way for Helix’s Division 2 championship.
ANOTHER BANNER FOR THE HIGHLANDERS
ALCALA PARK — Saturday’s victory added another chapter to Helix’s rich baseball history.
The Division 2 title marked the second CIF championship captured by head coach Cole Holland and the program’s first section crown since the 2011 season.
Helix previously reached the Division 2 championship game in 2010 before breaking through with a title one year later. The Highlanders also advanced to the Open Division final in 2017.
Saturday’s triumph came against a Christian program that entered the game as the tournament’s No. 1 seed and had won 15 of its previous 17 contests.
The championship was also notable historically because it marked the first postseason meeting between the East County rivals and the first baseball game between the schools in approximately 45 years.
Now, with a CIF championship secured, the Highlanders turn their attention to the Southern California Regional playoffs.
