The North Coast Section Division 5 bracket is deep, and there are many players to watch in this bracket in the next two weeks. We will tell you how each team earned their seeding, a sleeper team to watch out for, and our projected NCS D5 Championship game.
#1 Berean Christian
They are in the tough Diablo Valley Athletic League, as they split a pair of 1-0 games to Division 3 Alhambra. They also have wins over the Bay School, Head Royce and Stuart Hall. They also have wins over Division 4 St Helena and Piedmont.
#2 St. Bernard’s
St. Bernard’s finished 9-3 in the Little 4 league. They took 3 out of 4 from Ferndale, and have a good win over Middletown.
#3 Athenian
The Owls were 8-2 in the BCL East, finishing champions since they beat St. Joseph Notre Dame twice. They have a big win over Fremont Christian, as well as wins over Stuart Hall, Head Royce, and splitting two games with College Prep.
#4 The Bay School
The Bay school finished 12-0 in the BCL-Central. They have a big win over St. VIncent de Paul, beat University, and swept Drew. They also have a win over International, but losses to Berean Christian and Stuart Hall hurt their chances of a top 2 seed. They have scored the third highest runs in the division with 221.
#5 St. Vincent de Paul
The Mustangs finished 13-1 in the NCL II, one game from going undefeated for the third straight season in the league before they lost to Technology on Wednesday. They lost to the Bay School, but beat Division 4 St. Helena. They also defeated Sonoma Academy and Upper Lake twice. They have scored 273 runs, second highest in Division 5.
#6 Fremont Christian
Fremont Christian lost to Athenian to start the season, but beat Head Royce, University, and Sonoma Academy. The Warriors have scored 286 runs, the most in the division.
#7 Branson
The Bulls play in the very tough MCAL, but are 2-0-1 against Division 5 opponents. They beat Fremont Christian and University, but tied to the Bay School.
#8 Ferndale
Ferndale split four games with South Fork, and lost 3 out of 4 to St. Bernard’s.
#9 Cloverdale
The Eagles went 7-7 in the NCL I, which is made up of all Division 4 teams. Their only win in Division 5 was against Sonoma Academy early in the season, in walk off fashion 5-4.
#10 Urban
The Blues beat Drew to start the season, and split season series’ with University, and Marin Academy, but beat Stuart Hall 2 of 3.
#11 Stuart Hall
The Knights beat College Prep, but split with University. They have a win over Head Royce, and a sweep over Marin Academy. Losses include The Bay School, and Berean Christian.
#12 University
The Red Devils have a win over Drew. They swept Marin Academy, and split a series with Stuart Hall. They were swept by Urban. Losses include, The Bay School, Branson, and Fremont Christian.
#13 Drew
Drew has a win over Sonoma Academy, and a sweep over International. They lost twice to the Bay School, their only two league losses.
#14 International
The Jags lost to Drew twice, as well as the Bay School, but have a win over San Domenico.
#15 Sonoma Academy
The Coyotes finished 11-3, second in the NCL II. They have season sweeps of Technology and Upper Lake. Losses include Drew, Cloverdale, and Fremont Christian. They have scored 218 runs, fourth highest in Division 5.
#16 Head Royce
Head Royce won their last four games to sneak into the playoffs, sweeping College Prep and Bentley. Losses include, Fremont Christian, Berean Christian, Stuart Hall, and Athenian twice.
Sleeper team
#7 Branson
Branson’s record doesn’t look appealing, but they play in the ultra tough Marin County Athletic League, surrounded by Division 2 & 3 schools. They beat Marin Catholic in their second go around, played Drake tough to one run games twice, and Tamalpais to two run games twice. They are 2-0-1 against Division 5 opponents, beating #12 University and #6 Fremont Christian. The also tied with #4 The Bay School. They have the best strength of schedule by far of anyone in the division, as they have been tested many times. Look for Branson to make a deep run in this bracket.
Players to watch
Cole Duey (Berean Christian) - In 60.2 innings pitched, has a 1.22 ERA with 79 strikeouts.
Andrew Meyer (Berean Christian)-In 59.1 innings pitched, has a 1.18 ERA with 85 strikeouts.
Caleb Ruiz (St. Bernard’s) - Has a 0.72 ERA in 58.2 innings pitched with 122 strikeouts.
Hunter Davis (St. Bernard’s) - Hitting at a clip of .397, with 3 home runs and an OPS of 1.199.
Peter Coholan (The Bay School) - Hitting .434, has 6 extra base hits, 18 stolen bases and has an OPS of 1.114
Trent Free (St Vincent de Paul) - Hitting .455 with 17 extra base hits. Also sports a 5-0 record on the mound with 51 strikeouts in 30.1 innings pitched.
Bubba Gomez (Fremont Christian) - hitting .500 with 18 extra base hits. Author of 2 no hitters this season, and 120 strikeouts in 60.2 innings pitched.
Charlie Adams (Athenian) - hitting .400 with 9 RBI
Bryan Tierney (Athenian) - Sports a 2.09 ERA in 50.1 innings with 64 strikeouts.
Chalom Rosenberg (Drew) - Has 7 extra base hits and a .451 average with 17 RBI.
Chance Colbert (Sonoma Academy) - Hitting .410 with 15 RB, OPS of 1.090 and has stolen 25 bases this season.
Ben Weaver (Sonoma Academy) - The lefty hitting freshman has hit .438 with 9 RBI and an OPS of 1.021.
Projected finalists
Berean Christian and Athenian.
Berean Christian has a tough path, having to get through the Bay School, possibly in the Semi Finals, but has the pitching. Athenian has a path that goes through Fremont Christian, whom they beat 13-1 already this season. Standing in their way would be St. Bernard’s in the semi finals.
Projected Champion
Berean Christian
