Cathedral Catholic Sends 13 Baseball Players to College

Top-ranked high school program boasts impressive academic and athletic achievements

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:20pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, depicting the dynamic action of a high school baseball game through overlapping planes of vibrant colors and shapes.Cathedral Catholic's academic and athletic prowess is captured in a cubist-inspired illustration that deconstructs the energy of a high school baseball game.San Diego Today

Cathedral Catholic High School, ranked No. 1 in San Diego and No. 6 in California, is sending 13 of its 23 baseball players to college on scholarships. Eleven of the players have a 4.0 GPA or higher, and three are headed to Ivy League schools. The school's emphasis on both academics and athletics has helped prepare these student-athletes for success at the next level.

Why it matters

Cathedral Catholic's ability to produce top-tier baseball talent while also maintaining a strong academic focus is a testament to the school's commitment to developing well-rounded students. This achievement highlights the value of balancing athletics and academics, and serves as an inspiration for other high school programs looking to emulate this model of success.

The details

Cathedral Catholic's baseball team is 18-1 this season, led by 13 players who have received college scholarships. The school's mathematics department chair, Christine LaPorte, noted that 11 of the 23 players have a 4.0 GPA or higher, and many are taking advanced courses like AP Statistics and Pre-Calculus. Head coach Gary Remiker, who also teaches AP Statistics, emphasized that no one gets grades handed to them at Cathedral Catholic - students must earn their academic achievements.

  • Cathedral Catholic opened its doors in the summer of 1957.

The players

Griffin Brown

A senior right-handed pitcher who will attend Biola University, a private Christian university ranked No. 242 nationally by U.S. News & World Report.

Ty Daniels

A senior right-handed pitcher and outfielder who will attend Columbia University, an Ivy League school ranked No. 15 nationally.

Shoei Darvish

A senior right-handed pitcher and the son of Padres pitcher Yu Darvish, who will attend UC San Diego, ranked No. 29 nationally.

Evan DePodesta

A senior catcher and the son of Colorado Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, who will attend Rice University, ranked No. 17 nationally.

Alex Harrington

A senior shortstop who will attend Stanford University, ranked No. 4 nationally.

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What they’re saying

“Academics are prioritized here the same as athletics. Certainly, we're known for our athletics — boys and girls. But the kids here push themselves in the classroom. They take a hard schedule, challenge themselves.”

— Christine LaPorte, Mathematics department chairperson and public-address announcer

“No one gets grades handed to them here. If I gave grades to my players, I wouldn't be working here. If you take a tough class, whether you're an athlete or not, you earn your grade.”

— Gary Remiker, Head baseball coach and AP Statistics teacher

“College athletics is big business. You produce or you're gone. The biggest thing is time management. Don't fall behind. Stay up with the material. Ask for help. We stress that here because we want our students to succeed.”

— John Montali, Defensive coordinator

What’s next

The Cathedral Catholic baseball team will continue their season, aiming to win a championship and have their players drafted by Major League Baseball teams in the upcoming draft.

The takeaway

Cathedral Catholic's ability to produce top-tier baseball talent while maintaining a strong academic focus is a model for high school programs nationwide. The school's emphasis on developing well-rounded student-athletes who are prepared for success in college and beyond is a testament to the value of balancing athletics and academics.