Lake Elsinore is a champion again.

First-rounder Coleman Borthwick turned in two shutout innings in his first professional start, Lan-Hong Su was dominant in the middle innings and Nu’u Contrades homered in a 13-2 win at San Jose that sealed the Storm’s fifth California League championship.

The best out is the final out 🏆#EmbraceTheStorm🌩️ pic.twitter.com/VtM0eKc3nZ

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) September 17, 2026

The Storm also won titles in 2022, 2011, 2001 and 1996. Their most recent championship before this year occurred after the Juan Soto trade removed James Wood from that Jackson Merrill-led team.

Baseball ops chief A.J. Preller’s trades have continued to remove talent from a system ranked last by Baseball America, which late last month had Padres affiliates ranked last in run differential (minus-483) and third-from-last in overall winning percentage.

Two titles from the lower levels this year, however, show there is talent on the come.

The Padres’ Gold affiliate in the rookie-level Dominican Summer League became the first team to win back-to-back titles since the 2013-2014 Rangers affiliate.

Meantime, the 2025 draft class — Ryan Wideman, Kerrington Cross and Luke Cantwell, to name a few — helped the Storm win a first-half title and the 2026 draft class pushed the team through a 4-1 postseason even after a last-place finish in the second half.

The first four hitters in Wednesday’s lineup were 2026 draftees: second-rounder Elliot Lascelles, seventh-rounder Joe Tiroly, fourth-rounder Alex Conover and sixth-rounder Contrades.

Contrades drove in three runs on two hits, including the home run and a double.

Tiroly drove in two runs on two hits, including a double, and Lascelles went 2-for-5 with a walk and two runs scored.

Right fielder Qrey Lott drove in two runs on three hits, including a triple and two doubles.

Lott led Storm hitters with a 1.468 OPS (.444/.524/.944) as he had two doubles, two triples, a homer and five RBIs in five postseason games.

Two other Storm hitters had an OPS over 1.100 in five playoff games: Contrades (1.167) and Conover (1.145).

Borthwick struck out two and walked two in his first start as a pro. He debuted as a reliever behind 2025 first-rounder Kruz Schoolcraft in the California League division series.

Schoolcraft did not pitch in the championship series.

Su earned the win with eight strikeouts over three innings of one-run ball after Borthwick’s exit. Su scattered four hits and a walk.

LAN-HONG SU GETS OUT OF THE BASES LOADED JAM!!!!

THAT’S 8 STRIKEOUTS IN 3 INNINGS!!!! pic.twitter.com/pr1Umrxznu

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) September 17, 2026

 

Wednesday’s scoreboard

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (59-87)

Oklahoma City 12, Chihuahuas 0: RHP Jason Adam (shoulder) did not record an out in his second rehab appearance as he allowed five runs on four hits and a walk while sitting 92-93 mph with his fastball. Adam threw 12 of his 20 pitches for strikes. LHP Jagger Haynes (0-5, 5.80 EA) struck out three and allowed a run on five hits and a walk in six innings in the start. DH Miguel Andujar (wrist) collected both of El Paso’s hits in hits latest rehab game, going 2-for-4 with a double. Andujar is hitting .300/.300/.467 through seven games.

 

Note: RHP Clay Edmondson was named a Midwest League All-Star. He was 11-for-13 in save chances, struck out 38 in 27 innings (1.67 ERA), walked 13 and held opposing hitters to a .134 batting average. After a promotion from high Single-A Fort Wayne, Edmondson had a 10.80 ERA in 18⅓ innings at Double-A San Antonio. Edmondson was a 14th-round pick out of UNC Ashville in 2025.