The ending to Sunday’s 2023 Padres High School All-Star Night at Petco Park couldn’t have been more perfect for Eastlake’s Isaiah Lane.
He was presented with the Most Valuable Player award after scoring twice and knocking in another run in a 9-2 victory by the East team over the West team.
“I’m just so grateful, it’s so blessed by God to be here to show off the talent. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” said Lane, who is bound for the University of Oklahoma to continue his baseball career after helping lead the Titans to a runner-up finish in the Open Division championship game with a 0.291 hitting average, 30 runs scored and team-high 33 RBI.
Eastlake head coach Dave Gallegos, who attended Sunday’s game, called Lane’s performance “awesome.”
“He was able to showcase how good a player he really is,” Gallegos said. “His last high school game being MVP at Petco Park is awesome.”
Lane completed four varsity seasons with the Titans, hitting 0.291 as a sophomore with 30 runs scored, 27 RBI and two home runs and 0.388 as a junior with 29 runs scored, 18 RBI and two home runs.
He hit 0.312 with five runs scored and two RBI in just six games as a freshman due to the season being cut short by the COVID pandemic.
He said he was proud to be a Titan and accept the challenge that goes with playing at the school.
“There is an expectation at Eastlake to win,” Lane said. “Every day you’re out there to compete to the best of your ability.”
No excuses.
All-star cast
Lane was among five Metro Conference participants in Sunday’s game. Joining the Eastlake standout on the East team were Otay Ranch senior Allan Camarillo and Bonita Vista senior Victor “Coco” Castaneda. Montgomery senior Jose Mendoza and Aztec junior Khalyl Perez both suited up for the West team.
Lane beat out an infield grounder in his first at-bat and took third base on an ensuing double down the left field line by Camarillo. With Rancho Bernardo senior Kevin Takeuchi at bat, Lane scored the East’s first run on a wild pitch.
Camarillo made it 2-0 East when he scored on a passed ball with Granite Hills senior Jacob Embleton at the plate.
Embleton later drove in Takeuchi with a base hit. Embleton then stole second base and scored on a base hit by Poway senior Ryan Kroepel to boost the East to a quick 4-0 advantage.
The West cut the lead to 4-2 as La Jolla Country Day senior Van Coughlin plated two runs with a hit in the bottom of the third inning.
Lane singled in Christian junior Ashton McCurty to open the top of the eighth inning and later scored on a passed ball to up the East lead to 8-2.
Mendoza and Perez were battery mates in the top of the fifth inning, with Mendoza pitching and Perez catching. Mendoza allowed a one-out double to Classical Academy senior Jacob Campagna and hit Rancho Bernardo senior Trent Abel but got out of the jam when Helix Charter senior Anthony Matthiesen’s bid for a home run fell short in deep center field.
Perez showed his own muscle when he hit a ball to the wall in the bottom of the fourth inning and later singled in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With seven errors and 23 runners left on base between the teams, Sunday’s all-star game was not necessarily the greatest show on earth, but it carried extra meaning to those who participated in it.
“I feel so blessed and thrilled to be on this field,” said Camarillo, who will continue his baseball career at Azusa Pacific University.
“I feel happy to be here and fired up,” added Castaneda, who has committed to Cal State San Marcos.
The East extended its lead to 5-2 when Santana senior Landen Bailey scored on a fielder’s choice by Kroepel in the top of the fourth inning.
Kroepel later scored on an errant throw during a run-down in the top of the sixth inning as the East extended its lead to 6-2.
Lane subsequently drove in a run to make the score 7-2 and then scored himself for an 8-2 lead.
The West loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning but could not score. The East closed out scoring in the top of the ninth when McCurty singled in a run.
Kroepel had yet another chance to shine when he took the mound in the bottom of the ninth. LCC senior James Theodore reached base on an infield hit but the Poway all-star set down the next three hitters, including two on strikeouts.
St. Augustine senior M.J. Sweeney, the winner of the pregame home run hitting contest, went down swinging for the final out.
Sweeney battled Madison senior Jake Jackson in the home run derby finals, sending six balls out of the park to four for Jackson.
Eight players took turns in the long-ball hitting contest, with two advancing to the final round.
“It’s definitely an honor to be out here with the best players in San Diego,” Lane summed up.
Photos by Phillip Brents
