The Padres’ High School All-Star Night has become one of the most highly anticipated annual prep baseball traditions in San Diego County. Serving as a showcase of the best prep baseball talent in San Diego, the game is an East versus West format nine-inning game played at Petco Park. Prior to the start of the game, there is a home run derby as well.

The popular game grants players a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in a big-league ballpark. As always, powerhouse schools such as Eastlake were well represented on June 26. But this year, the tiny school on the island would have two of its own selected. Coronado High School baseball players —now graduates— Chance Pettit and Max Murray were selected and played in this year’s game.

“We were proud to send two players to the Petco All-Star game this year,” said Head Coach Morgan Cummins. “Of course, you can only get so many players into the game, but I felt like we had four to five players this past year who were good enough to play in the game. It speaks to the level of commitment the players put into the craft on a daily basis.”

When looking at the numbers both players posted this season, it is no shock to see why each was selected. Pettit manned the three-hole for most of 2024 from the left side. With a quick and compact swing, he possessed legit power from gap to gap. He was perhaps the most consistent bat in the lineup and was one of the most clutch, constantly stepping up in big moments.

In his senior campaign, Pettit would post a 1.167 OPS and .684 Slugging% and lead the team in home runs with three RBIs and 24 on the season. That power would be flashed for those in attendance when he sent a shot to the warning track in dead center in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Along with his big-time power, Pettit also showcased a strong eye for the dish in 2024, punching out just seven times this season.

For Max Murray, the soon-to-be Berkeley Golden Bear would work 52+ innings this season and post a 1.78 ERA, holding opposing hitters to a .184 batting average. Murray’s electric pitch mix would also post a 74.1% soft contact, meaning hitters rarely squared up the ball against the right-hander.

Murray and Pettit’s appearance in the All-Star game not only speaks to the talent and hard work they’ve put in to get where they are, but it also showcases the continuous rise of the Islander baseball program. CHS has now had three players named to the Padres High School All-Star Night in the last three years. The last Islander was 2022 CHS graduate and current USD shortstop Ryan Ward.

“?It is always a goal of ours to compete against the best teams in the county,” noted Cummins. “I think we have proven that we can, and now our next evolution is to get to the point where we become the hunted.”

Pettit and Murray’s appearance at the All-Star Night was well-earned. It allowed them one more opportunity to wear green and white before they took their next step in their baseball journeys.