GAME RECAP: Guy, Newport Harbor Sailors Win Second CIF Regional Title In 5 Years

By Justin Tatsuki Lee

Saturday 6 June 2026

CIF DII Southern California Regional Championship Game

NEWPORT BEACH, CA- Within five years since Josh Lee took command of the ship at Newport Harbor High School, he has established a program on the rise — winning two Regional titles in his short tenure and letting the world know what Tar Baseball is. On Saturday, June 6th, Newport Harbor won the Division II CIF Southern California Regional title 5-1 over CIF Central Section division champions the Bakersfield Christian Eagles at Stuart Fine Field in Newport Beach. Four seasons after winning the Division III Southern California Regional title, the Sailors have done it again.

Just days after trading their uniforms for caps and gowns, Gavin Guy and the other eleven seniors on the varsity roster earned themselves a massive graduation gift — and one of the biggest memories they’ll ever have — in front of a sold-out crowd filled with former alumni and Tar faithful.

A similar scenario unfolded to the last championship team in 2022, when Newport Harbor defeated Oaks Christian after having previously lost to the Lions in the CIF Southern Section Semi-Finals before the Lions ultimately went on to win the title. During this year’s playoffs, Newport had originally been knocked out by Ganesha in the semi-finals, who would also go on to win the CIF-SS title. A saving grace allowed the Sailors to continue their season after Ganesha opted out of the regional playoffs, and Newport happily filled in as the #2 seed.

Bakersfield Christian came in as the 4th seed. After walking off Arroyo Grande in the Central Section championship game, they arrived poised, looking to claim a title that had eluded both the school’s football and basketball programs earlier in the academic calendar. The Eagles had cleared through St. Francis and beaten Arroyo Grande once again — the same Arroyo Grande squad that had taken out the #1 seed, which is why Newport held home advantage. However, after McCoy Silicz threw a complete game in the semi-final matchup, the Eagles were forced to turn to their secondary top arm to challenge a Newport team that had gotten the job done in a big way against Point Loma in the semi-final.

For Newport, it would be Ryan Williams who took the start — his first since the opening CIF playoff game against Trabuco Hills. Off the bat, it was a strong start with a strikeout on London Anderson, but Deakin Brinkley followed with a double before coming around to score on Ryan Burgess’ RBI single, giving Bakersfield Christian an early 1-0 lead. Williams limited the damage by fielding a bunt down the third-base line, tagging out the lead runner, and then getting a strikeout to end the inning. In the bottom half of the first, Newport started slow against Spencer Watkins, who had earned Second Team All-League honors in the South Yosemite Valley League. Newport’s defense eventually found its footing, highlighted by three straight plays by Grant Horsley at shortstop in the top half of the second — setting the stage for the Tars to finally get on the board.

Henry Mann stepped to the plate and knocked a leadoff single through the right side of the infield, with Horsley right behind him on a single to center. Brooks Francis laid down a bunt, forcing Watkins to hesitate toward third before throwing to first — the ball was knocked free from the glove of Maddox Garza, and Francis ran through the bag safely, allowing Mann to score the tying run. Cam Hatfield followed with a fly ball to center that scored Horsley, giving the Sailors a 2-1 lead.

Williams was soon lifted in favor of Grant Horsley, who took the mound for an inning and struck out three to continue quieting a Bakersfield lineup that, on paper, had far better offensive numbers than the Newport Tars — setting the table for Gavin Guy to cap his senior year with a fitting sendoff on the way to UC Santa Barbara.

In the fifth inning, Newport added insurance runs. Keoni Wun led off with a hit by pitch and eventually scored on Gavin Guy’s RBI single up the middle. Henry Mann followed with a single, capping a 2-for-2 performance on the day. Grant Horsley laid down a perfect bunt down the third-base line to reach first, putting the finishing touch on a scorching playoff run in which he contributed immensely — hitting over .500 with ten hits, twelve runs, and eight RBIs across seven playoff games, including a 4-for-4 outing with four RBIs against Point Loma in the semi-final. Brooks Francis then drew a bases-loaded walk, and an RBI groundout by Hatfield capped a three-run frame, pushing Newport’s lead to 5-1 heading into the final innings.

Gavin Guy, who had thrown a complete game against Madison in the opening round of the regional playoffs, showed no mercy to the Eagles. He struck out two in the sixth inning and, entering the seventh, fanned Fabian Castaneda, walked Sterling Silicz, and struck out London Anderson. Deakin Brinkley stepped in as the final out — the same Brinkley who, not long ago, had delivered the walk-off double in the Central Section Championship game against Arroyo Grande with the Eagles’ backs against the wall. On a 2-2 count, Guy delivered a perfect inside cutter. Brinkley bit on it, swinging and missing for the final out. A second chance. A true champion.

Newport Harbor had won the Division II CIF Southern California Regional title as alumni and the Sailor varsity team piled onto centerfield.

For Coach Josh Lee, it was another step up the ladder for Newport Harbor. In just five years, he had accomplished what no coach in Newport Harbor history had — winning two state regional titles, in Division III and Division II. With a state championship format reportedly in discussion for next season, the future of this Newport program will only draw more attention. Most importantly, Lee highlighted what his team had truly accomplished: not just winning a title, but coming together as a baseball family and delivering a proper sendoff for the senior class. Memories that will last a lifetime.

Top Performers:

Newport: Gavin Guy: 3 IP, 5 K, 1 RBI single Henry Mann: 2-for-2, 2 singles, 2 runs, 1 walk Cam Hatfield: 0-for-2, 2 RBI, sacrifice fly, 1 walk

Bakersfield Christian: Spencer Watkins: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K Deakin Brinkley: 1-for-3, double, run, walk, strikeout