Playoff prep roundup: Santa Teresa dominates CCS D-III softball semifinal, “fired up and ready” for title game
Playoff prep roundup: 'Fired up' Santa Teresa, Leigh softball, Christopher baseball punch tickets to CCS title games
Softball
Division III
No. 2 Santa Teresa 10, No. 6 North Salinas 0
The Saints made quick work of North Salinas, scoring 10 runs on 14 hits and defeating the Vikings by mercy rule in five innings.
Senior Haley Saole capped off a three-run second inning when she doubled to left field, scoring Savannah Herbst to take a four-run lead.
In the fourth inning, Hailey Barrera hit a double deep to right field with the bases loaded to score two runs and put the game out of reach for North Salinas.
“Our mindset was to hit right away and be continuous,” said Santa Teresa coach Michaela Motch. “We didn’t want to give them any room. I have to attribute the win to our base running. They were aggressive when they needed to and they were able to back up their defense.”
Saole was 4 for 4 with two RBIs and two doubles. Barrera and Mariah Avalos each knocked in two runs.
Avalos got it done in the pitcher’s circle too, striking out four and allowing two hits.
The Saints will play No. 4 Everett Alvarez which will be looking for its third consecutive CCS title.
Santa Teresa played Alvarez in the CCS Division III title game last season and fell 5-2.
Motch said there will be an edge to the team heading into the rematch game on Saturday.
“We’re ready and fired up,” she said. “We’re ready to come back strong and hard to get that CCS title. That’s what this team wants and they’re determined to get regardless of who we’re playing.”
Division II
No. 2 Capuchino 3, No. 6 Mountain View 1
Junior pitcher Lola Sierra pitched one her best games of the season and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Sierra struck out six and allowed a run to lead Capuchino to a 3-1 win over Mountain View and helped the Mustangs advance to the CCS Division II title game where they will face No. 4 Milpitas.
Sierra added two hits and an RBI double. Junior Avery Moroni had a hit and an RBI.
Capuchino will be going to its second Division II championship game in three years.
Division V
No. 4 Leigh 3 vs. No. 1 Burlingame 1
The Longhorns scored all their runs in the first inning, but it’s all they needed to put away Burlingame.
Brianna Buchanan had a hit and two RBIs for Leigh. Sophia Gandara pitched a complete game, striking out 12 and allowing a run.
Leigh will face St. Ignatius in the title game on Saturday.
Baseball
Division III
No. 2 Christopher 8, No. 3 Palma 7
Christopher withstood a spirited rally by visiting Palma to clinch a spot in Saturday’s 4 p.m. CCS Division III title game, despite being outhit 15-7 by the Chieftans.
Christopher scored five runs in the first inning and all eight of its runs by the fourth inning, and then saw Palma score three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to make things interesting. Devin Aragon was able to get the last out on a lineout.
Right fielder Mason Dubenko was 2 for 3 with a team-high two RBIs, and catcher Jesus Castro drove in another run.
Palma committed six errors, helping the Cougars put up five unearned runs on top of that. Christopher improved to 18-8.
No. 8 Hollister 13, No. 5 Pioneer 0
A year removed from competing for the CCS Division I baseball title, the Haybalers are back in the section championship, albeit in Division III.
Hollister’s second consecutive victory by double-digits was actually scoreless for the first two innings as Pioneer pitcher Nathaniel Forbes worked through the formidable Baler lineup.
But after Hollister found its groove, there was no stopping the Balers. They scored 12 runs in the third to blow the game open.
Pioneer senior Noah Morales and his two hits was one of the few bright spots for the San Jose school, which finished the season 14-14.