Carmel is the only non-WCAL team standing following a big win over Los Gatos and familiar rivals Valley Christian and Archbishop Mitty meet again as the CCS Division 1 semifinals get underway Wednesday.
Division 1
'First-round:
No. 6 Carmel 7, No. 3 Los Gatos 3
No. 7 St. Ignatius 2, No. 2 Serra 0
No. 5 Archbishop Mitty 12, No. 4 Burlingame 1
No. 1 Valley Christian 7, No. 8 Saint Francis 0
Semifinals (all games Wed 5/22):
No. 7 St. Ignatius vs No. 6 Carmel, 4:00 at Excite Ballpark
Carmel scored 7 runs in the 4th inning and held on to beat Los Gatos 7-3 in the opening round. Sophomore Matt Maxon had the key three-run HR and junior Jackson Loyd added a solo shot in the decisive frame. Maxon also tossed 4 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs despite 10 baserunners. Senior Bixby Moranda went 3-for-4 with a run scored and RBI for the Padres, who will likely hand the ball to senior JJ Sanchez (6-0, 1.68 ERA) against the Wildcats.
SI pulled off the upset of Serra behind strong pitching from senior Will Siwinski (6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) and sophomore Archer Horn, who picked up the save with a strong seventh inning, allowing just one hit and striking out three. Horn was also the hitting star, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. With Siwinski unavailable, the Wildcats could go in multiple directions for Wednesday’s starter, including junior Beau Schaffer (5-3, 2.69 ERA), who gave up 3 HRs in his most recent start against Valley Christian.
Pick: St. Ignatius 5, Carmel 2
No. 1 Valley Christian vs No. 5 Archbishop Mitty, 7:00 at Excite Ballpark
These two teams are obviously familiar with each other, with the top-seeded Warriors having won both regular-season meetings. Valley Christian had no trouble with Saint Francis in the first round, as junior Quinten Marsh went the distance, allowing just four hits and striking out 10 in a 7-0 win. Senior Tatum Marsh went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs to lead the way for the Warriors, who will likely turn to junior ace Kole Laubach (7-0, 0.47 ERA) against the Monarchs.
Mitty fell behind 1-0 early but blasted Burlingame 12-1 as senior Luka Pintar went the distance on a 4-hitter, allowing just one unearned run. Junior Waylon Walsh led the 14-hit attack, going 3-for-3 with 6 RBIs. Junior Grayson Munoz also had three hits for the Monarchs, who have several options to start the semifinal including junior Carson Seeger (3-4, 2.17 ERA).
Pick: Valley Christian 7, Archbishop Mitty 2
