CCS, NCS softball playoffs: Wednesday’s surprises, trends and more
Top 3 seeds in CCS D-I bracket postponed
Fearing the inclement weather, a trio of heavyweights in the CCS Division I bracket spent Wednesday afternoon indoors. Top-seeded Watsonville (20-4) opted to wait 24 hours to play its first-round game against No. 16 Lincoln-San Jose (14-8) until Thursday at 4 p.m. Meanwhile, No. 2 San Mateo (15-5) and No. 3 Aragon (18-6) will participate in a Friday doubleheader at the College of San Mateo. The Bearcats take on No. 15 North Salinas (13-10) at 5 p.m., while the Dons take the field at 3 p.m. against No. 14 Alvarez (16-8-1). In Division II, No. 4 San Lorenzo Valley (18-5-1) postponed its matchup with No. 13 Sobrato (8-10) until Thursday at 4 p.m., while No. 8 Mills (16-5) and No. 9 Burlingame (12-9) must wait to complete their game Friday at 4 p.m. after play was suspended.
No problems for Heritage
The Patriots improved their winning streak to 15 games with an 11-1 win over Concord. Heritage (23-2), the No. 2 seed in the NCS Division I bracket, received a two-run home run from Morgan Hess and two RBIs from Tianna Bell against 15th seed Concord (12-12). The Patriots will face No. 7 Carondelet (14-9-1) in the quarterfinals. The Cougars took a 3-0 lead in the third inning against No. 10 Vintage on their way to a 5-2 victory.
Granada rallies to upset College Park
The 11th-seeded Matadors produced three runs in the top of the fifth inning, the last inning of the game, to break a 3-3 tie against No. 6 College Park (15-6) in the NCS Division I bracket. Then the Matadors held off a two-run change in the bottom of the frame by the Falcons to win 6-5. Marissa Herrera, a freshman, was 3 for 3 and drove in five runs for Granada (15-9). Tatum Hayes added two hits and two runs scored. The Matadors will face a league rival in the quarterfinals, No. 3 California (19-6), which knocked off No. 14 American 7-2 in the first round.
Painter strokes a masterpiece for Antioch
Haley Painter, a sophomore, was the hitting star for the Panthers in a 10-inning, 4-3 victory over American Canyon in the NCS Division II opening round. Painter had a home run and a double for Antioch, scoring two runs and driving in two runs. Jazmine Alanis was also 3 for 5 with an RBI for Antioch (17-8), the No. 7 seed.
CCS D-II favorites make a statement
Top-seeded Valley Christian (16-10), which was left out of the cutthroat Open Division, is the team to beat in the Division II. Need proof? How about an 18-0 rout of No. 16 Pacific Bay Christian that included a 14-run rally in the bottom of the second? Things are bound to get tougher, but it might have to wait until after No. 2 Carmel (15-3) and No. 3 Hillsdale (15-7) meet in the other side of the bracket. Carmel recorded a 5-0 shutout of No. 15 The King’s Academy, while Hillsdale cruised 11-1 past No. 14 Mercy-Burlingame.
Mystery is over for CCS Open quarterfinalists
Ever since the brackets were announced Sunday afternoon, the best of the best in the Central Coast Section had to wait until Wednesday night to find out the where and the when — the only certain was the who. (All quarterfinals are Saturday). In a West Catholic Athletic League rematch, it’s No. 1 Presentation (19-4) vs. No. 8 Archbishop Mitty (15-7) at Los Gatos, 3 p.m. Defending champion No. 3 St. Francis (22-5-1) takes on No. 6 Santa Teresa (21-6) at Fremont-Sunnyvale, 10 a.m. The other early risers? No. 4 Mountain View (17-6) hosts No. 5 Carlmont (16-9) at Hawes Park in Redwood City, 10 a.m. The longest trip? No. 7 Silver Creek (16-6) visits No. 2 Notre Dame-Salinas (22-3) to play at Salinas Sports Complex, 4 p.m.
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