When Freedom High won the Bay Valley Athletic League title after struggling in non-league play this season, it ensured that all three playoff teams from the league would receive low seeds for the Division I playoff bracket. But as the dust settled on the first round of play Wednesday evening, we were reminded once again that seeding means very little in this post-season, as opposed to who is playing their best baseball at the right time of the year.
Facing Foothill, in a rematch from a non-league game which Foothill won by a single run with a late comeback, the BVAL champs joined Heritage as lower seeds from the league to advance to the quarterfinals. Seth Salter’s complete game start and some clutch hitting propelled Freedom to the 5-3 victory on Wednesday, and a date this Friday with Monte Vista.
“The boys played with a lot of heart and energy, especially after spotting them an early lead,” said Freedom coach Francisco Zelaya. “Seth (Salter) did what he does, which is throw strikes and trust his defense. That being said, the defense did a terrific job behind him.”
Foothill jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, when junior Brett Hansen continued his stellar season, driving in two runs with a one-out single to right, scoring Adam Jue and Sam Novitske. Freedom wasted no time responding, however, as Dario Gomez’ two-out double to right followed a walk to Ryan McKinley, scoring McKinley and cutting the lead to one run.
A leadoff walk in the bottom of the second came back to haunt Salter in the next frame, as Jeremy Lea’s two-out single to right scored Owen Camp, but that would be all the runs for Foothill on this day. Meanwhile, Freedom took the lead for good in the top of the fourth.
Kyren Paris singled to right following a leadoff walk to Kevin Lonergan and a passed ball, allowing Lonergan to score and make the score 3-2 with no outs in the inning. McKinley then reached on an error and Gomez laid down a bunt single to load the bases. On the mound, Hansen responded with a strikeout and inducing Kyle Wise to pop up for the second out of the inning, but Neko Capsaliaris came through with the huge two-out at-bat, singling to left on a 2-0 count to score both Paris and McKinley for the 4-3 lead.
Salter escaped some trouble in the bottom of the sixth, when Foothill got runners to second and third with two outs, inducing a ground ball to Capsaliaris at third base, and Richie Kabasinskas’ one-out single in the top of the seventh provided some insurance, bringing in pinch runner Andrew Neil, who was on base following Capsaliaris’ leadoff single.
Hansen did his best to start a final rally for Foothill, singling to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but Salter then induced a ground ball to Paris at short. The Area Code Games All-Underclass selection last summer turned a pivotal double play, erasing the early threat. It proved key for the win, as Foothill came up with one more last-ditch effort.
Jake Simons doubled to left with two outs, following a Justin Lavell single, getting the tying run to second base. But Salter got Brandon Kinsey to ground out to Travis Gobel at first base, ending the game, and sending Freedom to the quarterfinals.
Rego’s walk-off lifts Campolindo
Josh Rego’s two-out single in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted Campolindo past Arcata, 7-6, in the first round of the Division III playoffs on Wednesday.
Neither team had scored since the top of the sixth inning, when Arcata forced extra innings with Wyatt Rohn’s two-run homer, tying the game at six. Michael McAuliffe led off the 11th with a single, and two batters later, Michael Hooper singled to right, getting runners on first and second with one out. Matt Mead flied out to center for the second out of the inning, but Rego then ended the game by driving a 1-0 pitch to left field, scoring McAuliffe with the winning run.
Arcata grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and led 4-1 midway through the second, but the Cougars scored three times in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 6-4 lead, on Will Bishop’s three-run shot to center with two outs.
Campolindo plays at Kennedy-Fremont this Saturday afternoon.
Sixth-inning score lifts Berkeley past Acalanes
Reuben Drogin’s one-out single to left field in the top of the sixth inning scored Michael Dixon to give Berkeley a 2-1 lead over Acalanes, one that would hold up for the remainder of the game, sending the Yellowjackets on to the Division I quarterfinals.
Dixon singled to left with one out, and the speedy sophomore outfielder promptly stole his 18th base of the season to get in scoring position during Drogin’s at-bat. Drogin then took the mound in relief of starter Antonio Triest-Escobar, and allowed just one baserunner in the final two innings to record the save.
Acalanes had tied the game on a Cole Gallagher single in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Tyler Schenone. Berkeley had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning, when Max Burdock stole third and scored on a throwing error.
Triest-Escobar threw the first five innings for the Yellowjackets, and extended his unbeaten record this season, improving to 9-0 for the year. He allowed two hits and no earned runs.
Berkeley will now play at Heritage this Saturday afternoon, despite being the higher remaining seed.
Biles makes early lead hold up for Clayton Valley
James Biles allowed just two hits, while striking out seven, and Clayton Valley scored three times in the first inning en route to the 4-2 first-round victory over Castro Valley in the Division I playoffs.
Castro Valley took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, on Matt Mascio’s two-out single to score London Penland, but the first five Clayton Valley batters reached base in the bottom of the first, resulting in three runs.
Doug Bermudez’ single to center scored Justin Roper, and Vince Lontz’ double two batters later brought home both Bill Ralston and Bermudez for a 3-1 lead.
Castro Valley cut the lead to a single run in the fifth, on Manny Garcia’s one-out triple, but Clayton Valley pushed the lead back to two in the bottom half on Ralston’s solo home run.
Clayton Valley hosts De La Salle this Saturday afternoon in the quarterfinals.
Around the horn
Drake must have enjoyed its 19-inning, MCAL title game victory over Marin Catholic so much last weekend, the Pirates decided to play extra innings in their opening game against Bishop O’Dowd, beating the Dragons 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, on an Eric Woodrow solo home run to lead off the inning.
Alameda’s Bryan Woo allowed just one hit over six innings, striking out five, as Alameda cruised past Concord, 6-0. The Hornets play at Arroyo on Friday evening.
Casa Grande’s Parker Ruoff allowed one hit in six innings, also striking out five, as the Division II top-seeded Gauchos took down Mt. Eden, 5-0. They now host Marin Catholic on Saturday afternoon.
Tamalpais knocked off seven-seed Maria Carrillo, 4-1, in the Division II playoffs behind Nick Kennison’s complete game three-hitter.
Ukiah’s Devin Kirby struck out six and allowed just four hits as the Wildcats beat Washington, 3-0, in the Division II bracket. Ukiah plays at Petaluma on Saturday afternoon.
Two seed Northgate needed 11 innings, but finally took down El Cerrito, 6-5, to survive the first round in the Division II bracket. The Broncos now face Tamalpais.
Sophomore Caleb Ruiz went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and four RBI, as eight seed St. Bernard’s took down Sonoma Academy, 10-5, in the Division V bracket. The Crusaders now face top seed Redwood Christian, who beat Upper Lake 11-1.
