The Coronado Islanders baseball program had everything to play for this past Thursday: senior night, the chance to clinch a league title, the opportunity to lock up a top seed, and a bye in the CIF playoffs.

In spite of the rather large stakes, the Islanders did not crack or fold under pressure. Instead, they rose to the occasion. Delivering a 7-6 win in extra innings on senior day and clinching the 2025 Eastern League title.

“Exciting nail-biter on senior day. Proud of the guys for digging deep and finding a way to win,” said Islanders Manager Morgan Cummins. “It was really enjoyable to sit back and watch them celebrate as a family.”

Prior to first pitch, Coronado honored their senior group of Johnny Nelson, Taylor Werth, Shane Cannon, Patch Moore, Noah Pierre, Cable Fledderjohn, Andrew Hammond, Louis Harrington, Colin Schrum, Dylan Matter, Parker Freeman, and Wilson Blumenthal for their time and contributions to the Islanders baseball program.

For Thursday’s must-win match-up, Coronado turned the ball over to junior Stanley Guymon. The big southpaw wasn’t perfect, but he battled into the fifth inning, working 4.2 IP and allowing five runs, only two of which were earned, on seven hits, three walks, while punching out six.

The Islanders provided Guymon with some early run support, tallying their early runs in the bottom of the second thanks to an RBI single from Jake Nelson, a bases-loaded hit by pitch from Patch Moore, and an RBI fielder’s choice from Shane Cannon. At the time, the three second-inning runs provided the Islanders with a 3-2 lead.

However, Coronado’s bats would fall silent for the next four innings. As a result, they’d find themselves trailing 5-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh. In desperate need of a spark, a pair of Islanders seniors would deliver to reignite the Islanders’ offense.

To start the inning, Shane Cannon got things going by lacing an 0-2 changeup into left center for a lead-off double. One batter later, Johnny Nelson would deliver, hooking a 1-2 fastball just fair down the left field line. Scoring Cannon and making it a one-run game, with the tying run on second with none away.

“Those were a couple of senior at-bats on senior day,” Cummins said. “I liked that they stayed composed, didn’t let the pressure get to them, and they fought hard to put the ball in play. Those were two huge hits to build the momentum.”

After a sacrifice bunt from Noah Pierre, Cable Fledderjohn would deliver a sac-fly. Tying the game at 5-5 and moving things to extras.

After a scoreless eighth, University City grabbed a 6-5 lead in the ninth. With their backs again pressed against the wall, Coronado found a way to get it done. After leading HBP of Cannon and a walk of Johnny Nelson, Pierre stepped into the box and delivered a game-tying RBI single to left.

The Islanders would eventually load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. On a 2-2 offering, the ball would get away from the catcher, allowing Noah Pierre to score on the passed ball to walk things off for the Islanders.

“In order to be a champion, you have to overcome adversity,” said Cummins. “We haven’t been the best at coming back this year, but we answered back twice in two big moments of the game to respond to the adversity the game presented.”

The 7-6 win, along with Madison’s loss, locked up the Eastern League title for the Islanders. While CIF seedings won’t be announced until later this week, Coronado’s 20-7 record will likely earn them a top seed, if not the No.1 seed in CIF DII.

The Islanders will return to action this week for their final game of the regular season, which will be against the Saints on Wednesday, May 14th.