Salinas entered the postseason on a two-game losing streak, including a 14-2 thrashing at the hands of PCAL-Gabilan champ Hollister. But the Cowboys turned into high gear in the postseason and they won the CCS Division 1 championship with a 7-5 victory over Monterey Saturday afternoon at West Valley College. It was the first section championship in 27 years for Salinas, which lost both regular-season matchups with Monterey by identical 2-0 scores.
Salinas senior Abi Jones struck out 17 to deny Monterey a third straight CCS title. The Toreadores rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seven, but Jones finished the game with a called third strike. Salinas next hosts Rocklin in the NorCal Division 2 playoffs. Monterey ends its season at 21-8.
Jones, who will pitch at San Jose State next year, struck out 17 batters in the first-round 5-1 win over Ann Sobrato. She then tossed a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a 2-0 win over The King’s Academy in the semis.
Monterey reached the title game with wins over Watsonville and Branham. Junior Ella Myers had 9 strikeouts and allowed just three hits in a 10-0 win over Watsonville. Myers then pitched – and hit – the Dores to a 4-3 win over Branham, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI. Sophomore Ryanna Elliott hit a key three-run HR in the third inning to give Monterey a 4-1 lead.
