Sacred Heart Prep Gators

The Gators' return to the PAL Ocean Division will make them an immediate threat for a league crown, especially if senior right-hander Rallin Covey, a Southern California signee, can bounce back from an uneven 2025 campaign.

"We are a true 'in-between' program when it comes to the PAL Bay and Ocean," says Sacred Heart Prep coach Sean McMillan. "We competed at a high level in the Bay but not enough fire power to keep up with the big public schools. We will drop down to the Ocean, and we are one of the clear favorites."

Covey, perhaps the best power pitcher on the Peninsula, went just 1-6 with a 4.45 earned-run average last year. He needs to be better, and McMillan said Covey had a strong summer season that helped him to get back on track.

"He's having fun again," McMillan said. "That's the most important thing."

For Covey, that means everything. The minute baseball stops becoming enjoyable is the time most people quit. With a big-time college scholarship looking, Covey isn't ready to pack it in just yet.

"I just want to have fun in my last high school season with my teammates and not take anything for granted,"

Lefty Kyle Sweeney, a Notre Dame commit, figures to slot into the No. 2 spot in Sacred Heart's pitching rotation. The senior was 2-4 with a 3.85 ERA last year.

"With two power D1 arms leading the rotation we will be in every ball game," McMillan said.

Catcher Nico Pollioni hit .304 with 20 hits last year, while infielder J.P. Durrett, a Serra transfer, played in just nine games last year and collected six hits, two of them homers.

Outfield Brayden Berta and infielder Kye Reed will be counted on after playing junior varsity last year and having big summers, McMillan said.

2026 Schedule

Feb. 24 vs. Serra, Battle of Atherton, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 26 vs. James Logan, Battle of Atherton, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 28 Battle of Atherton finals, TBA

March 3 at Burlingame, 7 p.m.

March 5 Design Tech, 3:30 p.m.

March 7 Los Altos, noon

March 10 Carlmont, 3:30 p.m.

March 14 Washington, 11 a.m.

March 17 at Half Moon Bay, 4 p.m.

March 19 Half Moon Bay, 4 p.m.

March 24 South San Francisco, 4 p.m.

March 26 at South San Francisco, 4 p.m.

March 28 Menlo Atherton at Stanford University, 5:30 p.m.

April 7 Mills, 4 p.m.

April 9 at Mills, 4 p.m.

April 14 at Gunn, 4 p.m.

April 18 at Mountain View, 11 a.m.

April 21 Aragon, 4 p.m.

April 23 at Aragon, 4 p.m.

April 28 San Mateo, 4 p.m.

April 30 San Mateo, 4 p.m.

May 2 Palo Alto, noon

May 5 Terra Nova, 4 p.m.

May 7 at Terra Nova, 4 p.m.

May 9 Menlo, noon

May 12 at Woodside, 4 p.m.

May 14 Woodside, 4 p.m.