2026 All-East County Baseball Team

By Ramon Scott
Updated: July 17, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

2026 ALL-EAST COUNTY BASEBALL TEAM

East County Sports.com

EAST COUNTY — Helix returned to the CIF championship circle for the first time since 2011, Patrick Henry climbed to the top of San Diego County, Granite Hills remained one of the area’s premier programs, and a deep class of East County standouts gave the 2026 prep baseball season one of the strongest local award fields in recent memory.

Helix, which shared the Grossmont Hills League championship with Granite Hills and went on to capture the CIF San Diego Section Division II title, leads this year’s award list.

Patrick Henry won the Open Division championship and placed several players on the team. Granite Hills, the other Grossmont Hills co-champion, again had one of the deepest rosters in the area. Christian, Foothills Christian, El Capitan, Monte Vista, Santana, West Hills, Steele Canyon and Grossmont also produced strong individual seasons.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kie Smith, Helix

Smith earns All-East County Player of the Year honors after becoming one of the leading figures in Helix’s championship season. The Highlanders standout hit .418 with 46 hits, 39 runs, 15 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 11 stolen bases while helping Helix share the Grossmont Hills League championship and win the CIF Division II title.

PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Romeo Briones, Helix

Briones may have been the area’s most valuable two-way player. On the mound, he went to the front of the Highlanders’ staff with a 1.93 ERA over 69 innings. At the plate, he hit .374 with 34 hits and seven home runs. Smith was the Player of the Year choice, but Briones was one of the most impactful players in East County from the first pitch to the final playoff run.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Colton Windham, Granite Hills

Windham delivered one of the top freshman seasons in recent East County memory, batting .495 with 45 hits, 11 doubles, one triple and four home runs for Granite Hills. In a Grossmont Hills League loaded with quality pitching and veteran players, Windham immediately became one of the area’s most dangerous bats.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Diego Reynoso, Helix

Reynoso guided Helix to a share of the Grossmont Hills League championship and the program’s first CIF baseball title since 2011. In a season when the Highlanders celebrated 75 years of baseball history and honored their former coaches, Reynoso — a Helix alumnus who played for and coached under Cole Holland — added his own championship chapter to a program lineage that includes Bob Lucas, Jerry Schniepp, Jeff Boutelle, Jerry Oedewaldt and Holland.

TWO-WAY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jack Morgan, Foothills Christian

Morgan led Foothills Christian during a historic season that ended with the program’s first CIF championship-game appearance. He hit .455 with a .562 on-base percentage, .673 slugging percentage, 46 hits, 14 doubles, two home runs, 37 runs, 39 RBI and 12 stolen bases. He also posted a 1.70 ERA, giving the Knights a senior leader who impacted the game in several ways.

PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Angel Watkins, Helix

Watkins produced one of the season’s signature moments, driving in eight runs in a regional playoff game and setting a conference record. He also hit .357 with 35 hits, six doubles, two triples and 10 home runs for the Division II champion Highlanders.

FIRST TEAM

Kie Smith, Helix
Romeo Briones, Helix
Ben Williams, Helix
Angel Watkins, Helix
Colton Windham, Granite Hills
Jake Ervin, Granite Hills
Anthony Miotti, Granite Hills
Eurijah Schutza, Granite Hills
Preston Hendry, Granite Hills
Hoss Harper, Granite Hills
Alex Mestman, Patrick Henry
Ian Brooke, Patrick Henry
Brady Gunn, Patrick Henry
Jimmy Gunn, Patrick Henry
Tyson Bobo, Patrick Henry
Benji Molina, Christian
Roman Gustin, Christian
Matthew Eckis, El Capitan
Jack Morgan, Foothills Christian
Ivan Virto, Monte Vista
Tatum Morehouse, Santana
Wyatt Stanka, West Hills
Andrew Bravo, Steele Canyon

SECOND TEAM

Brett Engle, El Capitan
Kasen Baker, El Capitan
Branden Hawkins, El Capitan
Talon Brown, Christian
Landan “L.J.” Rook, Christian
Walker Kane, Christian
Braeden Casey, Christian
Jayden Goldman, Patrick Henry
Lukas Oquendo, Patrick Henry
Parks Kronk-Hawley, Patrick Henry
Johannes Jansen Granillo, Foothills Christian
Trevor Cochrum, Foothills Christian
Austin Hall, Steele Canyon
Griffin Morrison, Steele Canyon
Landen Braaksma, Santana
Michael “Mikey” Ortiz, Monte Vista
Adrian Gutierrez, Monte Vista
Andy Mildenstein, West Hills
Max Tufugafale, Grossmont
Jesse McCormick, Grossmont
Trey Crawford, Grossmont
Tyler Holmes, Grossmont
Bryan Herman, Helix

HONORABLE MENTION

Chris Alcaraz, Borrego Springs
Xander Molina, Christian
Max Villalva, Christian
Gavin Kelly, Santana
Ryder Davey, Santana
Mekhi Yancy, Mount Miguel
Emilo Lopez, Mount Miguel
Madden McBride-Rodriguez, Steele Canyon
Griffin Morrison, Steele Canyon
Riley Kulak, West Hills
Anthony Rosolino, West Hills
Logan Struck, Grossmont
Bryan Herman, Helix
Jake Johnson, Helix
Jaden Macias, Granite Hills
Brodey Vicars, Granite Hills
Johannes Jansen Granillo, Foothills Christian
Anthony Garcia, Foothills Christian
Tylor Burrell, Foothills Christian