Here is a brief look at the CCS Division 3 baseball semifinals:
No. 2 Hollister vs No. 3 Wilcox
Tuesday 4:00 pm
Sollecito Ballpark (Monterey)
How they got here: Wilcox broke open a close game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to ease past Santa Teresa, 6-1.
Hollister battled back from a 6-1 deficit with two runs in the sixth and four in the seventh to pull out a 7-6 win over Carlmont. Sophomore Layton Smith hit a two-run homer to pull the Balers within 6-3 in the sixth and sophomore Nate Candelaria brought in the winning run with an RBI single in the seventh to cap a four-run rally.
Previous meetings: Wilcox defeated Hollister 9-7 on March 7.
Outlook: Wilcox put together an eight-game winning streak in the middle of the season, but finished with three losses in its last five games to wind up third in the SCVAL-De Anza. Hollister, which finished third in the PCAL-Gabilan, enters the semifinals with eight wins in its last 10.
No. 1 Menlo vs No. 5 Aptos
Tuesday 6:30 pm
Santa Clara University
How they got here: Aptos rode the outstanding pitching of Cole McGillicuddy (6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 7 Ks) and reliever Jacob Kissinger, who pitched a perfect seventh for the save in a 3-1 win over Sacred Heart Prep.
Menlo cruised to an 8-3 win over Christopher behind a strong effort from sophomore Reid Plamondon, who conceded just one run through six innings before fading in the seventh. Sophomore Liam Widner led the offensive attack with three hits and three RBIs and senior Chuck Wynn homered and drove in two.
Previous meetings: Menlo defeated Aptos 17-1 on April 4.
Outlook: The good news for Aptos is that baseball is probably the one sport where a 17-1 defeat shouldn’t spell complete doom for the losing team. In that first meeting, Wynn hit three home runs and drove in eight, so the Mariners might be advised to pitch around him. The Knights will probably go with senior Jackson Flanagan (6-0, 3.75) on the hill, while the Mariners could counter with a series of pitchers including Damien Espinoza (3-1, 5.53 ERA).
