Top prospect stars on mound, at plate as Huntington Beach beats Patrick Henry in SoCal playoffs

The magic carpet ride of a season that included a Western League co-championship and a playoff run through the Loser’s Bracket that culminated in a CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship came to a crashing end Tuesday for the Patrick Henry High School baseball team.

Facing a Huntington Beach team that is ranked No. 10 in the state - and a starting pitcher that is projected to be taken in the first round of July’s MLB draft - the Patriots fell 10-3 in the quarterfinals of the Southern California Division 1 Regionals.

“I told the players that this in no way detracts from what we accomplished this season,” said Patrick Henry coach Sheldon Watkins.

Left-hander Jared Grindlinger started on the mound for the Oilers (23-8-1), who were ousted in two games in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.

Grindlinger’s appearance attracted more than 30 MLB scouts. He hit 96 mph on the radar gun.

A Tennessee commit, he was on a pitch limit, but the scouts saw what they came to see as he went three innings, allowing two hits, no runs, walked two and struck out three. He also hit a home run, added a double, two singles and a walk.

The look Henry leadoff batter Alex Mestman gave his teammates - a shake of the head and a “Wow” said it all.

“I knew he was good, but that was special,” Mestman, a senior, said. “We’ve faced some really good pitchers, but he’s at a different level.

“He’s going to go far.”

Mestman, who plans to play at Grossmont College, walked, drove in Henry’s first run, and had a single, echoed Watkins’ thoughts.

“Saturday, winning the Open Division (over Eastlake), was the ultimate goal,” Mestman said. “Tiday suckes. Losing sucks. But it doesn’t take away from the season we had. I love the guys on this team. They are my boys. We hang out together. We’re connected for life. That’s what a championship does.”

Henry, seeded No. 2, finished the season 24-10 while No. 7-seeded Huntington Beach advances to Thursday’s semifinals.

While Huntington Beach had its ace ready to pitch, the Patriots were without Brady Gunn, their ace, who was 7-1 with an 0.46 ERA. He didn’t pitch in any of Henry’s five playoff games and the Patriots tried to patch things together Tuesday.

Watkins said he expects Gunn to pitch in the San Diego Section All-Star Game later this month in Petco Park.

Several Patriots had big games Tuesday.

Lukas Oquendo reached base three times. Jayden Goldman singled in a run while Ian Brooke, Max Gibson and Sal Gagliano all scored a run.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished here,” Watkins said. “We’ve made this into one of the most-respected programs in the county. I don’t think anyone saw this coming.”

Elsewhere in the playoffs:

• Eighth-seeded Cathedral Catholic stunned Bellflower St. John Bosco, the No. 1 team in the state, 4-2.

• In Division 2, Point Loma beat Long Beach Millikan and Madison lost to Newport Harbor.

• In Division 3, top-seeded Mt. Carmel fell 2-0 to Fontana Kaiser, but Helix beat Laguna Beach 13-4, and Westview beat Carson 7-2.

• In Division 4, Francis Parker beat Covina 6-1.

• In Division 5, Coastal Academy beat Los Angeles Fremont 5-4.

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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 8:46 PM.