ACP Dominates Horizon to Win First Baseball Championship in Program History

The ACP Knights defeated the Horizon Huskies 11-3 in the 5A championship game at Diablo Stadium. 

For ACP head coach Andrew Pollak and his team, they had to treat it like any other game

“It’s just another game,” Pollack said to his team prior to the first pitch. “This whole playoff run we’ve been talking about being relentless.” 

Starting the game, the Knights were relentless as they only needed six pitches to get on the board. 

2028 right fielder CJ Estrella hit a ball to deep center field that bounced off the wall for a sacrifice fly.

Scoring off the sacrifice fly was 2026 shortstop Ashton Sanchez.

The Knights were able to add another run before the inning concluded.

Capping off the fast start was 2026 catcher Brodie May, who hit a ball over second base for an RBI single. 

The run was scored by 2026 infielder Jaden Guglielmo. 

At the top of the second inning, the Huskies were able to get the bases loaded.

However, ACP 2026 pitcher Clayton Nachman managed to get out of the jam. 

He struck out one batter, then forced two pop flies to get out of the top of the second inning. 

In the bottom of the second, ACP fed off their previous momentum and took control of a strong lead. 

2026 left fielder PJ Vega singled past first base for an RBI and brought in 2027 infielder Ryan O’Donnal. 

The next at bat saw Sanchez launch the ball well over 350 feet.

Sanchez barreled the ball perfectly, and it was a no-doubter over the left field wall for a two-run blast. 

The other player who scored off the homer was Vega. 

As soon as the ball left the bat, everyone in the stadium, including Sanchez, knew it was gone.

“A bunch of joy,” Sanchez said after he hit the home run. “I saw it off the bat, and it was gone.” 

With two innings concluded, the Knights held all the control in the game and had a 5-0 lead. 

The Huskies were able to put up their first run of the game at the top of the third inning. 

Horizon 2027 infielder Ben Patton hit a groundout, but still got the RBI as 2026 outfielder Kanon Faseler ran from third to home.

Fast forward to the bottom of the fourth, and the Knights started to take over. 

Pollak said his players were able to loosen up on their swings after the great start they had.

“They knew if they got out and got ahead early, they could play free,” Pollack. “Played our game.”

In the bottom of the fourth, the Knights dominated, and almost as if they were back at the park when they were younger, playing freely.

Guglielmo hit a ground ball near the mound that ended up becoming an RBI double.

Horizon committed an error when they made the throw to first, and it allowed Vega to score from second. 

Adding two more runs, Estrella once again hit a bomb centerfield, this time for an RBI triple. 

Being brought to home plate from the triple was Guglielmo and Sanchez. 

Already having an exceptional inning, ACP wasn’t quite done. 

2026 center fielder Austin Longfellow launched a ball over the left field wall for a three-run blast. 

Scoring off the home run from Longfellow were Estrella and May. 

Concluding the fourth inning, ACP held a dominant 11-1 lead. 

Horizon avoided the 10-run rule, though, as they added a run in the top of the fifth. 

2026 infielder Hunter Walker hit a ball over second base for an RBI single that brought Patton in for the run.

In the sixth and seventh innings, ACP held down the fort and prevented Horizon from mounting a comeback. 

As the game concluded and the Knights got the final out, the players threw their gloves in the air as they knew they were the 2026 5A champions. 

In their very first championship game appearance, ACP got the job done and secured the first baseball state title in program history.

For everyone on the team, it was the perfect ending to a great year. 

“I couldn’t ask for a better ending with this group of guys,” Sanchez said. “It’s a perfect ending.”