CCS softball playoffs: Willow Glen’s Clincy dominates, sets up showdown with St. Francis juggernaut
Central Coast Section softball playoffs: St. Francis run-rules San Lorenzo, Sobrato wins thriller and more
Open Division
Alanna Clincy started the season as a closer for Willow Glen, splitting pitching duties with fellow freshman Lea Crawford.
Midway through the season, coach Don Spingola pushed her into the starting role, a transition Clincy described as “rough.”
But since finding her groove in late-April, opponents have been the only ones who have looked unnerved when Clincy is pitching.
“I’m more comfortable because I was pushed to do it,” Clincy said.
She entered Saturday having struck out 42 over her last three starts, and that dominance continued at Milpitas in the Central Coast Section Open Division quarterfinal.
Clincy K’ed 13 as No. 5 Willow Glen romped past No. 4 Milpitas 10-1.
“She’s very calm and collected and she doesn’t let little things affect her,” Spingola said about the freshman who hardly cracked a smile before, during or after the win.
She got plenty of help from her offense, which put up eight runs in the first two innings.
Senior Aleki Ulu was 2 for 4 with a triple, a home run and six RBIs, and Sienna Wilson was 1 for 3 with two runs. Milpitas senior Madeline Le hit a home run in the seventh to avoid the shutout.
Up next is No. 1 St. Francis, the third West Catholic Athletic League school Willow Glen has faced this season. The Rams defeated Archbishop Mitty and Valley Christian during the regular season.
“We took care of a couple of Catholic schools this year, and we want to get rid of another one,” Spingola said.
No. 1 St. Francis 14, No. 8 San Lorenzo Valley 0
The St. Francis pitching duo of Shannon Keighran and Kate Munnerlyn combined to allow just one hit and struck out seven in a five-inning rout of visiting San Lorenzo Valley. Senior Madison Ferraro hit a home run and had a game-high five RBIs.
Munnerlyn hit a home run and had three RBIs, and senior teammate Alexis O’Gorman was 3 for 3 with three RBIs. St. Francis improved to 25-2 and will host No. 5 Willow Glen next.
No. 2 Archbishop Mitty 3, No. 7 Sequoia 2
Archbishop Mitty’s Mia Rodriguez knees may have been shaking, but she made the big play in the clutch for the Monarchs, who will host No. 3 Hollister next week. Read more about it here.
No. 3 Hollister 7, No. 6 Capuchino 1
The Mustangs’ great season ended in the first round of section play, with Hollister holding Capuchino to only four hits. Senior Madison Choi was 2 for 2 and had the team’s only RBI of the day. Capuchino ends its season 22-6.
Division I
No. 2 Sobrato 13, No. 7 Wilcox 12
With the game tied at 11 apiece after seven innings, each team notched one run in the 10th inning. After holding Wilcox scoreless in the top of the 11th, senior Leah Grifall singled into left and scored the runner.
Sobrato had 18 hits, with Grifall, Raylene Cruz and Sofia Ferrante all totalling three hits apiece and combining to drive in nine runs. Freshman Jordan Bouton was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, and leadoff hitter Brooklyn Amato was 3 for 6 with three runs scored.
Wilcox’s Lauren Rodriguez was 4 for 5 with four RBIs, and third baseman Tyler Scott was four for six with two RBIs. Senior Athena Gonzales was 2 for 6 with two runs scored as Wilcox ended the season 14-11.
Sobrato improved to 19-3 and will host No. 6 Hillsdale in the semifinal.
No. 5 Carlmont 14, No. 4 Stevenson 2
An eight-run fourth inning propelled the Scots to a five-inning run-rule rout at Nol. 4 Stevenson. Senior Grace Schumacher was 3 for 4 with four RBIs and a double, and sophomore Katherine Fung went 3 for 4 with two RBIs.
Kylie Rouspil was 2 for 4 too as Carlmont had 16 hits. Schumacher also had eight strikeouts while pitching four innings. Carlmont (16-8) will play at No. 1 Notre Dame-Salinas in the semifinal.
No. 1 Notre Dame-Salinas 1, No. 8 Branham 0
Branham came close to upsetting the No. 1 seed, but couldn’t muster enough offense to complement a spectacular outing from sophomore pitcher Jacqueline Connolly Hojas. She struck out five, allowed just four hits, and gave up only one earned run. Branham collected two singles at Salinas, and finished its season 16-10.
Division II
No. 6 Los Altos 6, No. 3 Los Gatos 3
Lauren Han and Zoe Aguilar were both 2 for 4 with two RBIs for Los Altos, which took down host Los Gatos to advance to a semifinal matchup with the winner of Gilroy and Salinas. Los Altos improved to 15-9, had nine hits as a team. Los Gatos (14-11) had 11 hits, including a home run from senior Anna Bean.
No. 5 Leigh 10, No. 4 Fremont-Sunnyvale 0
Leigh had 15 hits in five innings as the Longhorns routed Fremont-Sunnyvale to advance to the semifinal at No. 1 Monterey. Sophomore Sophia Gandara was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and freshman Elliana Snyder was 2 for 4 with three RBIs.
Gandara had eight strikeouts against Fremont Sunnyvale, which ended its season 14-6. Leigh improved to 19-8 and will play No. 1 Monterey, which defeated No. 8 Valley Christian 11-0.