The end to the 2025-26 interscholastic season is now within sight with the San Diego Section baseball and softball playoffs scheduled to take place this weekend and the state boys volleyball and track and field championship meets also this weekend.
Both the baseball and softball brackets will boast seven skill divisions.
Finals venues include San Diego State University, University of San Diego and UC San Diego.
The baseball finals were scheduled to start Thursday at SDSU with Division V-AA and Division IV contests.
The baseball championships continue Friday with a double-header at USD: Division V at 3:30 p.m. and Division III at 7 p.m. A triple-header Saturday at USD closes out section play at 11 a.m. (Division II), 2:30 p.m. (Division I) and 6 p.m. (Open Division).
Softball finals are similarly scheduled, starting with Thursday’s double-header at SDSU: Division V-AA and Division III. The action moves to USD on Friday for a double-header at 4 p.m. (Division IV) and 7 p.m. (Division II).
UC San Diego is slated to host a triple-header on Saturday: Division V at 1 p.m., Division I at 4 p.m. and Open Division at 7 p.m.
The elite Open Division is a straight double-elimination tournament for the eight qualifying teams while Division I through Division V-AA will all feature a single-elimination play-in bracket followed by double-elimination play.
The 2026 playoffs faced off May 18 with any necessary play-in games, followed immediately by the play-in round. Survivors moved on to double-elimination play.
Semifinals were scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.
Baseball
Fourteen South County teams qualified for this year’s playoff field, including Metro-Mesa League champion Eastlake in the Open Division as the No. 3 seed, Bonita Vista as the No. 2 seed in the Division II bracket, Otay Ranch as the No. 3 seed in Division III, Chula Vista Learning Community Charter as the No. 5 seed in Division V and Victory Christian Academy as the No. 4 seed in Division V-AA.
Hilltop and Olympian were both forced to compete in play-in games in Division III. Hilltop defeated Steele Canyon, 5-4, on May 18 to earn the No. 11 seed while Rancho Buena Vista eliminated Olympian, 4-3, to secure the final No. 12 seed.
Hilltop joined six other South County teams in the single-elimination play-in round. Three advanced: Mater Dei Catholic, Mar Vista and Castle Park. Eight local teams were still in contention through two rounds of double-elimination play.
Semifinalists included Eastlake, Bonita Vista, Otay Ranch, Castle Park and Ocean View.
Bonita Vista, Otay Ranch, Mar Vista, Castle Park and Ocean View all went out at 2-2. Mater Dei Catholic, CVLCC and VCA all went out at 1-2.
Eastlake advanced to Saturday’s Open Division final at USD (6 p.m.) with wins over No. 6 Point Loma (3-1 in first round), No. 2 San Marcos (5-3 in second round) and Point Loma again (6-4 in semifinals).
In the win over San Marcos, junior Caleb Ross and senior J.P Conero (four hits) each collected two RBI to brace sophomore Lucas Yriqui (nine strikeouts) on the mound.
Softball
A bounty of 11 South County teams received bids, including No. 1 Mater Dei Catholic and No. 3 Bonita Vista in the Open Division, No. 2 Otay Ranch and No. 9 Eastlake in Division I, No. 9 Olympian in Division II, No. 12 Mar Vista in Division III, No. 6 Montgomery and No. 12 Hilltop in Division IV, No. 2 Southwest in Division V and No. 4 Ocean View Christian Academy and No. 8 Victory Christian Academy in Division V-AA.
Eastlake (3-1 over No. 8 Sage Creek), Mar Vista (6-1 over No. 5 Palo Verde Valley), and Montgomery (19-9 over No 11 Fallbrook) each won play-in games to the double-elimination rounds.
Mater Dei Catholic advanced to the Open Division championship game with consecutive wins over No. 8 Del Norte (6-0 in the first round), 3-0 over No. 4 Rancho Bernardo (3-0 in the second round) and Del Norte again (7-2 in the semifinals).
Other first-round winners included Otay Ranch (6-5 over No. 10 Christian), Montgomery (11-10 over No. 3 Francis Parker), Southwest (9-2 over No. 7 Mt. Miguel) and Ocean View (34-8 over No. 5 Mountain Empire).
Bonita Vista, Montgomery, Southwest nd Victory Christian all went out at 2-2 while Otay Ranch, Eastlake, Mar Vista and Ocean View all went out at 1-2.
Southwest was forced into a double-elimination game on Wednesday after Monte Vista delivered a 21-12 blow on Tuesday. The Lady Monarchs eliminated the Lady Raiders, 15-13, on Wednesday.
San Diego Section 2026 Playoff Seeding
BASEBALL
Open Division: 1. Cathedral Catholic, 2. San Marcos, 3. Eastlake, 4. Rancho Bernardo, 5. Patrick Henry, 6. Point Loma, 7. Granite Hills, 8. Southwest El Centro
First round winners: Cathedral Catholic (7-0 over Southwest), Patrick Henry (6-3 over Rancho Bernardo), Eastlake (3-1 over Point Loma), San Marcos (6-4 over Granite Hills)
Second round winners: Cathedral Catholic (13-3 over Patrick Henry). Eastlake (6-3 over San Marcos), Rancho Bernardo (8-0 over Southwest El Centro), Point Loma (10-1 over Granite Hills). Eliminated: Southwest El Centro, Granite Hills
Third round winners: Patrick Henry (5-2 over Rancho Bernardo), Point Loma (12-5 over San Marcos). Eliminated: Rancho Bernardo, San Marcos
Semifinals: Patrick Henry (22-9) 18, Cathedral Catholic (26-5), 7 Eastlake (24-6) 6, Point Loma (19-11-1) 4. Eliminated: Point Loma
Double elimination: Patrick Henry 5, Cathedral Catholic 2
Division I
Seeding: 1. La Costa Canyon, 2. Del Norte, 3. Madison, 4. Torrey Pines, 5. Mt. Carmel, 6. La Jolla Country Day, 7. St. Augustine, 8. Sage Creek, 9. Carlsbad, 10. San Ysidro, 11. Coronado, 12. San Pasqual
Play-in round: winners: Carlsbad (7-3 over Sage Creek), Mt. Carmel (1-0 over San Pasqual), LJCD (4-2 over Coronado), St. Augustine (5-2 over San Ysidro). Eliminated: Sage Creek, San Pasqual, Coronado, San Ysidro
First round winners: LCC (11-10 over Carlsbad), Torrey Pines (7-6 over Mt. Carmel), Madison (11-3 over LJCD), St. Augustine (8-4 over Del Norte).
Second round winners: LCC (7-6 over Torrey Pines, Madison (3-2 over St. Augustine), Mt. Carmel (2-1 over Carlsbad), LJCD (6-5 over Del Norte). Eliminated: Carlsbad, Del Norte
Third round winners: Mt. Carmel (5-3 over Torrey Pines), LJCD (15-1 over St. Augustine). Eliminated: Torrey Pines, St. Augustine
Semifinals: Mt. Carmel (18-14-1) 5, LCC (16-15) 3, Madison (24-7) 6, LJCD (21-12). Eliminated: LJCD
Double elimination: Mt. Carmel at LCC (Thursday)
Division II 1. Christian, 2. Bonita Vista, 3. Helix, 4. Santa Fe Christian, 5. Poway, 6. Brawley, 7. Mission Hills, 8. University City, 9. Clairemont, 10. Montgomery, 11. El Camino, 12. Grossmont
Play-in round winners: University City (8-5 over Clairemont), Grossmont (5-2 over Poway), Brawley (5-4 over Mt. Carmel), Mission Hills (5-4 over Montgomery). Eliminated: Clairemont, Poway, Mt. Carmel, Montgomery
First round winners: Christian (6-2 over University City), SFC (6-1 over Grossmont), Helix (9-5 over Brawley), Mission Hills (8-5 over Bonita Vista)
Second round winners: Christian (8-2 over SFC), Helix (7-5 over Mission Hills), Grossmont (4-3 over University City), Bonita Vista (2-1 over Brawley). Eliminated: University City, Brawley
Third round winners: SFC (8-6 over Grossmont), Bonita Vista (14-4 over Mission Hills). Eliminated: Grossmont, Mission Hills
Semifinals: Christian (21-9-1) 13, SFC (17-14) 5; Helix (20-11) 5, Bonita Vista (22-10) 3. Eliminated: SFC, Bonita Vista
Division III
Seeding: 1. Palo Verde Valley, 2. Westview, 3. Otay Ranch, 4. Ramona, 5. Classical Academy, 6. Mater Dei Catholic, 7. Imperial, 8. Vista, 9. La Jolla, 10. Santana, 11. Hilltop, 12, Rancho Buena Vista
Play-in games: Hilltop 5, Steele Canyon 4 RBV 4, Olympian 3
Play-in round winners: La Jolla (8-4 over Vista), RBV (4-2 over Classical Academy), MDC (13-4 over Hilltop), Santana (5-0 over Imperial). Eliminated Vista, Classical Academy, Hilltop, Imperial
First round winners: Palo Verde (5-4 over La Jolla), Ramona (17-5 over RBV), Otay Ranch (8-4 over MDC), Westview (14-7 over Santana).
Second round winners: Ramona (8-4 over Palo Verde), Westview (5-4 over Otay Ranch), La Jolla (6-5 in 8 innings over RBV), Santana (10-6 over MDC). Eliminated: RBV, Mater Dei Catholic
Third round winners: La Jolla (5-4 over Palo Verde), Otay Ranch (12-2 over Santana). Eliminated: Palo Verde, Santana
Semifinals: Ramona (22-8) 13, La Jolla (17-16) 3; Westview (25-6) 3, Otay Ranch (19-13) 2. Eliminated: La Jolla, Otay Ranch
Division IV
Seeding: 1. San Dieguito Academy, 2, Mountain Empire, 3. Central Union, 4 . Escondido Charter, 5. Francis Parker, 6, Holtville, 7. Foothills Christian, 8. Mission Vista, 9. San Diego, 10. High Tech San Diego, 11. Mar Vista, 12. Oceanside
Play-in round winners: San Diego (9-3 over Mission Vista), Francis Parker (5-4 over Oceanside), Mar Vista (9-4 over Holtville), Foothills Christian (7-6 over High Tech San Diego). Eliminated Mission Vista, Oceanside, Holtville, High Tech San Diego)
First round winners: SDA (4-1 over San Diego), Escondido Charter (9-5 over Francis Parker), Central Union (6-0 over Mar Vista), Foothills Christian (4-3 over Mountain Empire)
Second round winners: SDA (4-1 over Escondido Charter), Central Union (11-9 over Foothills Christian), Francis Parker (4-2 over San Diego), Mar Vista (10-2 over Mountain Empire). Eliminated: San Diego, Mountain Empire
Third round winners: Francis Parker (7-3 over Escondido Charter), Foothills Christian (10-9 over Mar Vista). Eliminated: Escondido Charter, Mar Vista
Semifinals: Francis Parker (22-11) 5, San Dieguito (20-11) 0, Foothills Christian (21-12) 4, Central Union (11-18-1) 2
Double elimination: Francis Parker 5, San Dieguito 0; Foothills Christian 5, Central Union 3
Division V
Seeding: 1. Classical Academy, 2. Pacific Ridge, 3. Canyon Hills, 4. High Tech High Mesa, 5. Chula Vista Learning Community Charter, 6. Orange Gen, 7. Castle Park, 8. Hoover, 9. High Tech High Chula Vista, 10. Crawford
Play-in round winners Hoover (11-5 over High Tech High Chula Vista), Caste Park (11-6 over Crawford)
First round winners Classical Academy (17-1 over Hoover), CVLCC (13-2 over High Tech High Mesa), Eliminated High Tech High Chula Vista, Crawford Canyon Hills (15-0 over Orange Gen), Castle Park (2-1 over Pacific Ridge)
Second round winners Coastal Academy (21-1 over CVLCC), Canyon Hills (13-8 over Caste Park), Hoover (16-2 over. High Tech High Mesa), Pacific Ridge (7-3 over Orange Glen). Eliminated: High Tech Mesa, Orange Glen
Third round winners: Hoover (16-1 over CVLCC), Castle Park (18-6 over Pacific Ridge). Eliminated: CVLCC, Pacific Ridge
Semifinals: Coastal Academy (22-7) 13, Hoover (9-22-1) 5; Canyon Hills (24-7) 9, Castle Park (14-19) 5. Eliminated: Hoover, Castle Park
Division V-AA
Seeding: 1. Borrego Springs, 2. Calvin Christian, 3. Liberty Charter, 4. Victory Christian Academy, 5. Ocean View Christian Academy, 6. Tri-City Christian, 7. St. Joseph Academy, 8. Army-Navy Academy, 9. Bonsall, 10. Vincent Memorial
Play-in round winners: Army-Navy (10-1 over Bonsall), Vincent Memorial (12-11 over St. Joseph). Eliminated: Bonsall, St. Joseph
First round winners: Borrego Springs (12-1 over Army-Navy), Victory Christian (18-8 over Ocean View), TCC (8-4 over Liberty Charter), Calvin Christian (8-4 over Vincent Memorial)
Second round winners: Borrego Springs (16-1 over Victory Christian), Calvin Christian (2-0 over TCC), Ocean View (1-0 forfeit over Army-Navy), Liberty Charter (11-4 over Vincent Memorial). Eliminated Army-Navy, Vincent Memorial
Third round winners: Ocean View (4-2 over Victory Christian), TCC (24-20 over Liberty Charter). Eliminated: Victory Christian, Liberty Charter
Semifinals: Borrego Springs (17-4) 15, Ocean View (13-10) 1; TCC (16-4) 11, Calvin Christian (16-7) 0. Eliminated: Ocean View
Double elimination: Calvin Christian 14, TCC 9
SOFTBALL
Open Division 1. Mater Dei Catholic, 2. Point Loma, 3. Bonita Vista, 4. Rancho Bernardo, 5. Escondido Charter, 6. La Costa Canyon, 7. Imperial, 8. Del Norte
First round winners: Mater Dei Catholic (6-0 over Del Norte), Rancho Bernardo (7-5 over Esondido Charter), LCC (7-2 over Bonita Vista), Point Loma (9-2 over Imperial)
Second round winners: Mater Dei Catholic (3-0 over Rancho Bernardo), Point Loma (3-2 over LCC), Del Norte (9-1 over Escondido Charter), Bonita Vista (9-3 over Imperial). Eliminated: Escondido Charter, Imperial.
Third round winners: Del Norte (8-5 over Rancho Bernardo), Bonita Vista (9-2 over LCC). Eliminated: Rancho Bernardo, LCC
Semifinals: Mater Dei Catholic (28-3) 7, Del Norte (14-14) 2; Point Loma (23-8) 9, Bonita Vista (22-7) 3
Division I
Seeding: 1. Mission Hills, 2. Otay Ranch, 3. Steele Canyon, 4. Torrey Pines, 5. Cathedral Catholic, 6. Poway, 7. San Marcos, 8. Sage Creek, 9. Eastlake, 10. Christian, 11. Rancho Buena Vista, 12. West Hills
Play-in round winners: Eastlake (3-1 over Sage Creek), Cathedral Catholic (12-2 over West Hills), Poway (1-0 over RBV), Christian (4-2 over San Marcos). Eliminated: Sage Creek, West Hills, RBV, San Marcos)
First round winners: Mission Hills (4-0 over Eastlake), Cathedral Catholic (3-0 over Torrey Pines), Steele Canyon (6-3 over Poway), Otay Ranch (6-5 over Christian)
Second round winners: Mission Hills (5-0 over Cathedral Catholic), Steele Canyon (5-1 over Otay Ranch), Torrey Pines (6-3 over Eastlake), Christian (1-0 over {Poway). Eliminated: Eastlake, Poway
Third round winners: Torrey Pines (6-5 over Cathedral Catholic), Christian (5-0 over. Otay Ranch). Eliminated: Cathedral Catholic, Otay Ranch
Semifinals: Torrey Pines (16-12-1) 3, Mission Hills (16-12) 2; Steele Canyon (20-11) 8, Christian (14-14-1) 6
Double elimination: Torrey Pines 7, Mission Hills 4
Division II
Seeding: 1. Carlsbad, 2. Mt. Carmel, 3. San Pasqual, 4. Westview, 5. Santana, 6. El Capitan, 7. Clairemont, 8. Mira Mesa, 9. Olympian, 10. Scripps Ranch, 11. El Camino, 12. Patrick Henry
Play-in round winners: Mira Mesa (6-2 over Olympian), Santana (8-4 over Patrick Henry), El Capitan (7-3 over El Camino), Scripps Ranch (12-0 over Clairemont). Eliminated: Olympian, Patrick Henry, El Camino, Clairemont)
First round winners: Carlsbad (3-1 over Mira Mesa), Westview (5-1 over Santana), El Capitan (9-0 over San Pasqual), Scripps Ranch (5-0 over Mt. Carmel)
Second round winners: Carlsbad (3-0 over Westview), Scripps Ranch (8-7 over El Capitan), Santana (4-3 over Mira Mesa), Mt. Carmel (3-0 over San Pasqual). Eliminated: Mira Mesa, San Pasqual
Third round winners: Westview (4-2 over Santana), El Capitan (2-0 over Mt. Carmel). Eliminated: Santana, Mt. Carmel
Semifinals: Westview (20-6-2) 7, Carlsbad (19-6) 0; Scripps Ranch (16-11-1) 1, El Capitan (15-14) 0. Eliminated: El Capitan
Double elimination: Carlsbad 7, Westview 1
Division III
Seeding: 1. Brawley, 2. Helix Charter, 3. Mission Vista, 4. Mission Bay, 5. Palo Verde Valley, 6. University City, 7. Ramona, 8. Coronado, 9. Tri-City Christian, 10. Morse, 11. Bishop’s, 12. Mar Vista
Play-in round winners: Coronado (6-4 over TCC), Mar Vista (6-1 over Palo Verde), University City (5-4 over Bishop’s), Ramona (11-7 over Morse). Eliminated: TCC, Palo Verde, Bishop’s, Morse
First round winners: Brawley (11-2 over Coronado), Mission Bay (6-3 over Mar Vista), Mission Vista (8-1 over University City), Helix (2-1 over Ramona)
Second round winners: Brawley (1-0 over Mission Bay), Helix (11-0 over Mission Vista), Coronado (4-0 over Mar Vista), University City (9-6 over Ramona). Eliminated: Mar Vista, Ramona
Third round winners: Coronado (2-1 over Mission Bay), Mission Vista (3-0 over University City). Eliminated: Mission Bay, University City
Semifinals: Brawley (19-10) 8, Coronado (18-12-1) 2; Helix (24-4) 7, Mission Vista (18-11-1) 1
Division IV
Seeding: 1. Madison, 2. Grossmont, 3. Francis Parker, 4. Liberty Charter, 5. Central Union, 6/. Montgomery, 7. Escondido, 8. Valley Center, 9. Maranatha Christian, 10. Bonsall, 1Academy1. Fallbrook, 12. Hilltop
Play-in round winners: Maranatha Christian (9-5 over Valley Center), Central Union (2-1 over Hilltop), Montgomery (19-9 over Fallbrook), Escondido (5-3 over Bonsall). Eliminated: Valley Center, Hilltop, Fallbrook, Bonsall)
First round winners: Madison (13-2 over Maranatha Christian). Central Union (6-5 ovr Liberty Charter), Montgomery (11-10 over Francis Parker), Grossmont (12-2 over Escondido)
Second round winners: Madison (10-0 over Central Union), Grossmont (10-0 over Montgomery), Liberty Charter (3-1 over Maranatha Christian), Francis Parker (8-1 over Escondido). Eliminated: Maranatha Christian, Escondido
Third round winners: Liberty Charter (5-3 over Central Union), Francis Parker (6-3 over Montgomery)
Semifinals: Madison (21-9-1) 6, Liberty Charter (16-6) 4; Grossmont (18-10-1) 8, Francis Parker (19-6) 6. Eliminated: Liberty Charter, Francis Parker
Division V
Seeding: 1. La Jolla, 2. Southwest San Diego, 3. Monte Vista, 4. Hoover, 5. Kerny, 6. High Tech San Diego, 7. Mt. Miguel, 8. Orange Glen
First round winners: La Jolla (19-3 over Orange Glen), Kearny (24-17 over Hoover), Monte Vista (12-2 over High Tech San Diego), Southwest (9-2 over Mt. Miguel)
Second round winners: La Jolla (14-0 over Kearny), Southwest (9-7 over Monte Vista). Orange Glen (17-9 over Hoover), Mt. Miguel (6-3 over High Tech San Diego). Eliminated: Hoover, High Tech San Diego
Third round winners: Orange Glen (22-7 over Kearny), Monte Vista (10-8 over Mt. Miguel). Eliminated: Kearny, Mt. Miguel)
Semifinals: Orange Glen (10-15) 14, La Jolla (15-12) 8, Monte Vista (17-13) 21, Southwest (13-14) 12
Double-elimination: La Jolla 11, Orange Glen 1; Monte Vista 15, Southwest 13
Division V-AA
Seeding: 1. Warner, 2. Borrego Springs, 3. Julian. 4. Ocean View Christian Academy, 5. Mountain Empire, 6. St. Joseph Academy, 7. Guajome Park, 8. Victory Christian Academy
First round winners: Warner (15-10 over VCA), Ocean View (34-8 over Mountain Empire). St. Joseph (17-5 over Julian), Borrego (12-2 over Guajome)
Second round winners: Warner (24-1 over Ocean View), Borrego (11-2 over St. Joseph), VCA (? over Mountain Empire), Julian (11-0 over Guajome). Eliminated: Mountain Empire, Guajome
Third round winners: VCA (38-18 over Ocean View), St. Joseph (18-14 over Julian). Eliminated: Ocean View, Julian
Semifinals: Warner (11-7) 20, VCA (9-11) 3, Borrego (15-9) 2, St. Joseph (5-15) 0. Eliminated: VCA, Borrego
Softball add
A bounty of 10 East County teams joined the section’s postseason party: Steele Canyon as the No. 3 seed in Division I and Christian as the No. 10 seed, Santana and El Capitan as the fifth and sixth seeds, respectively in Division II, Helix at the No. 2 seed in Division III, Grossmont as the No. 2 seed in Division IV along with No. 4 Liberty Charter, No. 3 Monte Vista in Division V along with No. 7 Mt. Miguel and No. 3 Mountain Empire in Division V-AA.
