Sports Briefs: Lovette’s big blast powers MC softball to win

Gracyn Lovette got Marin Catholic off to a dream start, hitting a three-run homer in the first inning of a 10-3 softball win against Novato on Wednesday. Lovette had three hits, drove in five runs and scored twice to lead the Wildcats on offense. Anya Jaroszewski and Sammy Horn had two RBIs apiece for MC (14-5, 10-4), which finished third in the standings. Pitcher Selena Pena went the distance, allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out seven.

• The game between San Rafael and Tam was rained out and is set to be played on Thursday. San Rafael entered Wednesday a game behind first-place Redwood and a game ahead of third-place MC.

Boys volleyball

Archie Williams coach Greg Jones isn’t looking past the No. 4 Peregrine Falcons’ next opponent in the North Coast Section Division III tournament. Archie Williams is scheduled to host No. 5 Albany in Thursday’s quarterfinals at 7 p.m.

“Albany appears to be a solid team,” Jones said Wednesday, the day after his team’s first-round win over No. 13 Cardinal Newman.

The Falcons defeated No. 13 Cardinal Newman, 25-22, 25-19, 25-20, on Tuesday, with help from Liam Kriessmann, who had seven straight service points in the second game. Jack Levieux set up 25 assists for the Falcons.

• Will Hatch and Brendan King provided nine kills apiece as Tam began its journey through the NCS D-II playoffs with a 25-22, 25-12, 25-7 win against Windsor. Yaseen Ashraf added 26 assists and two digs for No. 2 Tam (27-3) which faces No. 10 Alameda (15-12) on Thursday.

• Eighth-seeded Redwood (18-9) bowed out in the first round of the D-II playoffs, falling 25-9, 25-19, 25-16 to No. 9 Las Lomas on Tuesday.

• Lorenzo Barbagelata-Miller posted a double-double with 17 kills and 10 digs as No. 14 Marin Catholic fell 25-19, 25-15, 25-19 to No. 3 Acalanes in the D-III playoffs. Ryan Geissberger dished out 28 assists and added two kills for MC (9-15) while Charlie Stocker had 10 kills, eight digs and two assists.

Boys lacrosse

Novato’s postseason run continues after the No. 8 Hornets defeated No. 9 Bishop O’Dowd, 9-2, in Tuesday’s NCS Division II opening round. Bryce Callahan led the Hornets with five goals, while Trent Saysette added two goals. Novato goalie Jordan Wadford grabbed 14 saves.

Novato’s next opponent is top-seeded Tam in Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup in Mill Valley.

In other Division II action, the Branson School, seeded 10th, fell to No. 7 Northgate, 19-5, in Tuesday’s opening round. Meanwhile, No. 15 Terra Linda dropped its opening-round match to No. 2 Acalanes, 17-2.

• Fifth-seeded Marin Academy defeated No. 12 Davis, 16-10, in Tuesday’s Division I opener. The Wildcats are scheduled to host No. 4 Vista del Lago of Folsom in Thursday’s quarterfinals at San Rafael High. Delta League champion Vista Del Lago (18-3) and Bay Counties League champion Marin Academy (16-3) are both ranked in the top five in the NCS.

Boys golf

Four teams, plus two individual golfers, will represent Marin County schools at the North Coast Section Division 2 Championships.

Marin Catholic, which placed third at the MCAL championships Monday, will be joined by the Branson School and Terra Linda at Rooster Run Golf Course in Petaluma on Monday. Bay Counties League West champion Marin Academy will also be in the hunt for a NCS team title. Each team sends five players.

Henri Huffer is the lone representative for San Domenico, while San Marin will be represented by Darius Kellogg. The top 18 individuals from Monday’s tournament will qualify for the NCS Division 2 tournament the following week.

MCAL champion Redwood and runner-up Tamalpais are both expected to join the field for the NCS Division 1 tournament at Rohnert Park’s Foxtail Golf Course on May 15.

The Bulls’ Charlie Farrell, Ryan Herbst and Aria Saluja helped lead Branson to the Division 2 championship last season, with Farrell and Herbst advancing to the Division 1 tournament the following week. Herbst placed fifth at Monday’s MCAL tournament at StoneTree with a 7-over 79.

College swimming

College of Marin swimmer Beatrix Franus and diver Camille Davis will compete at the CCCAA Swimming and Diving State Championships, hosted by East Los Angeles Community College from Thursday through Saturday. This is the second year that Marin has sent competitors to the state meet.

Franus will be competing in the 50 freestyle on Thursday, the 100 backstroke on Friday, and the 100 freestyle on Saturday. Davis is ranked sixth in the state in the 1-meter diving event and 11th in the 3-meter.