Point Loma Fall Report: Can the Sea Lions Return to Cary?

Entering his eighth season at the helm, Head Coach Justin James has established the Point Loma Sea Lions as one of the premier programs in Division II baseball. Consistency has become the hallmark of baseball on the Sunset Cliffs, with the program notching four straight seasons of 35 or more wins. The 2025 campaign was no exception, as the Sea Lions finished with an impressive 39-18 record, including a 32-12 mark in conference play that secured a second-place finish in the PacWest. The season culminated in yet another NCAA West Regional appearance, the program’s sixth since joining Division II, reinforcing their status as a perennial contender.

Despite falling short of a return trip to the World Series, the culture established by James, who now boasts a .676 winning percentage (224-107-1), remains unshaken. The fall season was characterized by the integration of a talented transfer class with a returning offensive core that looks to keep the Sea Lions atop the West Region standings. While the pitching staff faces a significant overhaul with only 4.2% of innings returning, the coaching staff is optimistic, citing the depth and ceiling of the new arms as potentially superior to recent squads. With nearly 57% of their offensive production back in the fold, Point Loma enters 2026 with a roster balanced by veteran savvy and high-upside newcomers.

The Offense

The Sea Lions’ lineup will be the stabilizing force in 2026, anchored by a group of returners who have already proven they can produce at a high level in the PacWest. Leading the charge is Matt Bernath, who provided a steady presence in the middle infield last spring as a Second Team All-PacWest selection. In 180 ABs, Bernath hit .328 with nine doubles, four home runs, and 25 RBI, showcasing elite bat-to-ball skills with a strikeout rate that ranked among the best in the conference. He is joined by the powerful bat of Josiah Rodriguez. The sophomore third baseman brings thump to the lineup; in 177 ABs, he hit .316 with nine doubles, 11 home runs, and 48 RBI, finishing in the top 10 in the PacWest for homers.

Adding length to the order is senior first baseman Jake Schwartz, a reliable run-producer who gives James a veteran presence at the corners. In 178 ABs, Schwartz hit .315 with 10 doubles, three home runs, and 36 RBI. The outfield defense and table-setting will be bolstered by Owen May, who proved to be a versatile asset last season. In 151 ABs, May hit .318 with five doubles and 30 RBI while wreaking havoc on the basepaths with 15 stolen bases, a mark that ranked fourth in the conference. Aiden Arriaga also returns to the outfield mix after a solid redshirt sophomore campaign where in 151 ABs he hit .272 with four home runs and 36 RBI.

To supplement this core, Point Loma dipped into the transfer portal to secure impact bats. Graduate student Tristan Moore, a transfer from Division I New Orleans, is expected to be a middle-of-the-order force. During his 2023 season at New Orleans, Moore led his conference in hits, home runs, and RBI, and last season he slashed .301/.390/.607 with 14 doubles and 14 home runs. Another significant addition is Tyler Stull from Mt. Sac CC, who slashed .360/.475/.561 with 16 doubles and 76 RBI in 245 plate appearances last year. Behind the dish, the Sea Lions added veteran experience in Mason Cook from PacWest rival Hawaii Hilo, who slashed .333/.434/.531 with 10 doubles last spring, and Landen Bailey from San Diego Mesa CC, who hit .294 with 10 doubles.

The Pitching Staff

The biggest question mark, and perhaps the highest upside, lies with a pitching staff that is almost entirely new. With the departure of nearly every key inning-eater from 2025, the Sea Lions have reloaded with a crop of arms that James believes could be the deepest group he has had in years.

Headlining the newcomers is Derek Silva, a right-hander from San Diego Mesa CC. Silva brings swing-and-miss stuff, having posted an 8-4 record with a 3.16 ERA over 82.2 innings, racking up 94 strikeouts to just 28 walks. He is joined by Kyle Scritzky, a left-hander from West Valley CC who excelled in high-leverage situations. Scritzky posted a 3-0 record with a 1.63 ERA over 27.2 innings, primarily out of the bullpen.

A potential two-way impact player to watch is Hank Smith, a transfer from Scottsdale CC. On the mound, Smith recorded five saves and a 2.95 ERA over 21.1 innings with elite command, issuing only four walks. His athleticism also plays offensively, where he slashed .343/.457/.520 with 10 doubles and 13 stolen bases, earning him Second Team All-Conference honors in the ACCAC. The staff's exact roles are still fluid, but the talent influx suggests the Sea Lions won't wait long to find their new aces.

Key Departures

The roster turnover is most evident when looking at the accolades of those who moved on. The offense loses a massive piece in designated hitter Jake Entrekin, a D2 Baseball First Team All-American and First Team All-PacWest selection. Entrekin was a dominant force, hitting .402 with 23 home runs (leading the conference) and 74 RBI. The infield also sees the exit of Luke Reece, an ABCA First Team All-West Region selection who hit .366 with 10 homers.

On the mound, the departures were total. The staff loses First Team All-PacWest lefty Branden Jackel (transferred to UC San Diego), Second Team All-PacWest righty Michael Sarhatt (transferred to Indiana), and reliable arms like Ray Cebulski and Brock Mayer (transferred to Cal State Fullerton). Jackel and Mayer combined for 18 wins last year, leaving massive shoes for the newcomers to fill.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 schedule offers zero runway for the Sea Lions to ease into the season, as they open with a marquee non-conference series at Carroll B. Land Stadium on January 30th. Their opponent, Cal State Monterey Bay, is coming off a stellar 39-19 campaign where they captured the CCAA Championship and the CCAA Tournament title before advancing to the West Super Regionals. Following that heavy-weight bout, Point Loma travels north for a four-game set starting February 5th against Chico State, a perennial CCAA contender that made the conference tournament last year with 31 wins and beat the Sea Lions in a three-game set.

PacWest play begins in mid-February against an emerging Hawaii Pacific team starting February 13th. A critical series looms in March against Azusa Pacific (March 20-21), followed by a road trip to CUI (March 27-28) the following weekend. The Sea Lions also host Westmont in mid-April (17 and 18); the Warriors are the defending PacWest Champions who hosted the West Regional last year after a dominant 43-14 season. With the West Region as competitive as ever, Point Loma’s early tests against the CCAA’s best will be vital in preparing this new-look pitching staff for a postseason push. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball