Things were tense for host Half Moon Bay in the top of the sixth inning on Wednesday evening, despite leading The King’s Academy by a run. The Knights had just loaded the bases on a bunt by Elizabeth Chae, the first batter to face Cougars’ pitcher Grace Garcia, who had just entered in relief. But then Garcia slammed the door, striking out five of the next six batters she faced, allowing Half Moon Bay to hold for a thrilling 2-1 victory in the first round of the Central Coast Section Division II oftball playoffs.
The host Cougars only managed three hits in the game off TKA standout Ilona Sullivan, but they only needed one hit, and that was Genevieve Belmonte’s two-run homer in the bottom of the third, which came immediately after Jerika D’Acquisto reached on an error.
The visiting Knights threatened in the sixth, when Kenzie Yamakoshi and Sullivan singled to lead off the inning, and Chae reached on a bunt in front of the plate to load the bases with nobody out. But Garcia, who entered in relief of starting pitcher Chloe Moffitt, was up to the challenge and sent the Knights home, also ending their 12-game winning streak.
Sullivan, Chae, and Elise Wilkinson each had two hits in the loss for the Knights, while Sullivan notched 15 strikeouts in the circle. Moffitt scattered seven hits in five hits to earn the win for Half Moon Bay, who advances to face Notre Dame-Salinas in the quarterfinals. Notre Dame beat San Lorenzo Valley, 9-1, led by a triple and home run by Alexia Torculas.
Around the CCS playoffs
Paige Maier struck out nine and allowed just one hit as 14 seed Presentation blanked Mountain View, 3-0, in the Division I playoffs. Jade Henry had two hits and Vanessa Moore homered for the Panthers, who advance to face 11 seed San Mateo. San Mateo beat Santa Teresa, 5-2.
Top seed Hillsdale rolled past Mercy-Burlingame in the Division II bracket, 16-0. 11 different Fighting Knights had hits in the win, including triples from Mika Chong and Addison Eftakarri. They advance to face Sobrato, who got two home runs and five RBI from Ashley Burke, in an 11-7 win over Aragon.
Two seed Santa Catalina got a run-scoring ground out off the bat of Emma James in the bottom of the sixth to beat South San Francisco, 7-6. Her ground ball scored Emily Hayes, who went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI in the win. The Cougars will face Notre Dame-Belmont in the Division II quarterfinals.
Division I top seed Gilroy rolled past Independence, 10-0, as Gianna Vanni struck out 12 and allowed just three hits. Lauryn Yslava had two hits and a pair of RBI in the win for the Mustangs.
Christopher scored in five of six innings at the plate, and Gabriella Howard allowed just three hits, as the Cougars took down Piedmont Hills, 12-1. Antonia Martinez went 4-for-5 with a double, triple, and three RBI in the win. Christopher will face San Benito in the Division I quarterfinals, after the 15 seed Balers beat Santa Clara, 2-1.
