Prep roundup: Softball league titles still up for grabs, volleyball and golf postseasons underway

Softball

No. 7 Milpitas 5, No. 14 Willow Glen 0

In a non-league matchup between the top team in the SCVAL-De Anza Division and the second-best squad in the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton Division, the SCVAL’s best won 5-0 thanks to a solid performance by freshman Dominique Walker.

The first-year player pitched all seven innings, allowing just five hits and striking out three. No Willow Glen player got more than one hit. Walker also helped her own cause at the plate, hitting 3 for 4 with one RBI. 

She got more run support from fellow freshman Chloe Cabrera, who batted 4 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs, and senior Madeline Le, who batted 2 for 4 and scored two runs. 

The win improves Milpitas to 20-4, and Willow Glen slips to 17-6. With a 9-3 record in league play, Milpitas can clinch the De Anza Division by beating Wilcox on Thursday, or with a Los Gatos (8-3) loss on Tuesday.

No. 15 Westmont 11, Leland 2

A huge game by centerfielder Alexis Gianatasio keyed a Westmont win that gave the team a two-game lead in the BVAL-Mt Hamilton Division over Willow Glen. Gianatasio had three hits, one being a home run, and scored two runs in the 11-2 victory.

Bella Andrade had an RBI, and Kaili Esters Capilla and catcher Rachel Walker each contributed two hits. Elise Roy pitched all seven innings for Westmont, striking out six and allowing just two earned runs in the first inning.

Leland seniors Shelby Hood and Taylor Bennett each had one RBI for Leland. 

Westmont improves to 17-6 and 10-2, while Leland drops to 8-12 and 4-8. If Westmont defeats Willow Glen on Tuesday, it clinches the league. 

But if Willow Glen wins its last two BVAL matchups and Westmont loses the following game to Branham as well, then Willow Glen and Westmont will share the top spot in the Mt. Hamilton Division. 

No. 6 Pinole Valley 19, De Anza 1 

The best teams from the Tri-County Athletic League’s two divisions matched up on Monday night, and it was apparent which side was stronger as the Rock’s representative shelled the Stone’s regular-season champion in five innings. 

Pinole Valley launched four home runs, one apiece for senior Melina Mendoza, freshmen Ayla Serrano and Kathleen Gonzalez, and superstar senior Kailani Tatro.

Tatro struck out 12 and allowed one run in five innings for Pinole Valley (23-1). De Anza (14-4) junior Giselle Taylor had the team’s only hit and senior Myrionna Crenshaw scored the Dons run.

Baseball

Washington 14, Moreau Catholic 3

Washington-Fremont poured on five runs in the fourth inning and another five in the sixth to run away with a lopsided 14-3 victory over a Mission Valley Athletic League opponent.

Following last week’s 10-1 loss at Irvington and a dramatic 2-1 victory over the visiting Vikings, Washington enjoyed its first win by at least 10 runs since it prevailed 13-3 over Kennedy-Fremont On Mar. 31. 

Senior Noah Morton was 2 for 3 with four RBIs and a home run, his third bomb of the season, and sophomore Ezekiel Venn Porter also displayed his strength with a solo home run. 

Junior Mateo Torres had three hits, and seniors Noah Lazzareschi and Narayan Venkataramana had two hits each for a Washington team that compiled 11 hits. 

Junior Joseph Blanda did most of the work for Washington’s pitching staff. He threw five innings, allowed just one run and struck out five while walking none. Senior Marcos Doyle threw 1.2 scoreless and hitless innings too.

Washington, locked into second-place in the MVAL, improved to 14-8 and 9-3 in the league. Moreau Catholic moved to 9-13 and 5-7.

Upsets are scarce on first day of CCS playoff volleyball

Of the eight first-round playoff matches contested in CCS boys volleyball on Monday, only two of the lower seeds pulled off upsets. In Division I, No. 9 Piedmont Hills defeated No. 8 Leigh in three sets, and No. 10 Seaside swept No. 7 Summit Shasta 3-0 in Division II.

The top four seeds in each division were given a bye, and will play on Tuesday. The top level of competition, the Open Division, starts play on Tuesday. No Open Division team will have a bye.

No. 1 St. Francis (24-7) and No. 2 Archbishop Mitty (20-11) are the top seeds in the Open.

Boys NCS Division II golf championships

Several schools in the Bay Area News Group’s coverage area were represented at the NCS Division II golf championships at Rooster Run golf course in Petaluma on Monday. 

Deer Valley junior Keanu Phillips came in second with a score of 71, two behind Branson’s Ryan Herbst. 

Castro Valley senior Albert Kim was fifth with 73, Clayton Valley golfer Nicky Conti was seventh with 74 and Piedmont senior Max Schleuning finished 10th with a score of 76.

Branson and Head-Royce were tied for the top team performance with 309, but Branson were awarded the championship on tiebreakers. 

East Bay Athletic League baseball/softball playoff schedule

The EBAL’s softball playoff starts on Tuesday, when San Ramon Valley visits Granada while Amador Valley travels to California. The winners will play on Thursday at a yet to be determined site. 

The EBAL’s baseball playoffs is slightly more complicated. On Tuesday, Cal plays at Granada (game one) and Foothill plays at San Ramon Valley (game two). 

The winner of game one will play at EBAL-Mountain Division regular season champion De La Salle on Wednesday, and the winner of game two will play at Amador Valley, the best team from the Valley Division. 

The two remaining teams will play on Friday. Every game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.  

Boys North Coast Section lacrosse playoff semifinals set

In Division I, top-seeded De La Salle (19-3) will host  No. 4 Vista Del Lago (19-3) at 7 p.m., and No. 6 Monte Vista (16-3) will travel to No. 2 Redwood (16-4) at 5:30 p.m. in the other semifinal. The championship will be played on Thursday. 

In Division II, No. 3 Piedmont (13-3) will play at No. 2 Acalanes (16-2) at 7 p.m. The winner will face either No. 1 Tamalpais (16-7) or No. 4 Justin-Siena (19-3) on Thursday. 

The Central Coast Section playoffs do not start until Wednesday. 

Girls North Coast Section lacrosse playoff semifinals schedule

In Division I, top-seeded and unbeaten San Ramon Valley (22-0) will host No. 5 Redwood (13-5) at 7 p.m., and No. 2 Oak Ridge (21-1) will actually travel to No. 3 Amador Valley (13-2) in the other semifinal for a 7 p.m. game. Like the boys championship, the final will be played on Thursday. 

In Division II, No. 3 Campolindo (13-3) will play at No. 2 Marin Academy (14-4) in a 5:30 p.m. game at Marin Catholic. The winner of that game will play either No. 1 Tamalpais (20-2) or No. 5 University-San Francisco (15-5) on Thursday. 

The Central Coast Section playoffs do not start until Wednesday.