Prep playoffs: Redwood softball poised for deep run as top seed

The Redwood High softball team already has MCAL regular-season and postseason championships on its resume this year. The Giants could soon add to that list of accomplishments after being named the No. 1 seed in the North Coast Section Division II playoffs on Saturday.

The Giants (18-4-1) open up the tournament at home at 5 p.m. on Tuesday against No. 16 Ukiah (17-7). A potential rematch against long-time rival Marin Catholic looms in the quarterfinals.

The Wildcats (15-6) are seeded eighth but have to travel to face Diablo – Valley conference champion Northgate (14-4) in Tuesday’s first round.

Should both teams handle their business, they’d meet for a fourth time this season in a quarterfinal on either Friday or Saturday.

The two programs met four times last season as well, going into extra innings every time. They split the 2022 season series 2-2 with MC winning both of the postseason matchups.

So far this season, Redwood holds a 2-1 edge. The programs split a pair of one-run games in the regular season before Redwood emerged with a 7-4 win in the MCAL title game.

D-II is where most of the action is in the baseball brackets as all four MCAL playoff teams reside there. Regular-season champion Marin Catholic (19-6) checks in as the No. 3 seed and opens at home at 5 p.m. Wednesday against No. 14 Washington of Fremont (15-9).

Another potential rematch from last week’s playoffs looms in those quarterfinals with MCAL postseason champion Tam seeded 11th. As a result of their title victory, the Red-tailed Hawks (14-12) get to host No. 6 Maria Carrillo (13-9) at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Tam split a pair of games against MC in the regular season and won 7-1 in the MCAL semifinals.

Redwood (17-8) is seeded fifth and hosts No. 12 Livermore (10-14) at 5 p.m. Wednesday. San Marin (16-10) snagged the ninth seed and makes the short trek to face No. 8 Petaluma (15-10-1) at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Prep baseball

Half of the eight Marin teams that advanced reside in D-II. Novato (16-8) is the lone team in the D-III bracket as the No. 6 seed. The Hornets travel to face No. 11 Encinal (14-11), the West Alameda County – Shoreline champion, in the lone Tuesday game.

Branson (12-11) is the No. 9 seed in D-IV and travels to face No. 8 Piedmont (12-10) at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

San Domenico could make a run as the No. 3 seed in the D-VI playoffs. The Panthers (12-6) host No. 6 Jewish Community (6-7) in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Albert Park.

Should an upset happen in the opposite quarterfinal, San Domenico could face No. 7 Tomales in the semifinals. The Braves (6-10) hit the road and face No. 2 Ferndale (7-8) on Wednesday.

Prep softball

The other three Marin teams to advance to the section playoffs all reside in D-III. San Rafael leads the way as the fifth seed. The Bulldogs (14-7) host No. 12 Sonoma Valley (11-12) at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Novato (12-12) made it as the No. 13 seed and would need to upset No. 4 Albany (12-7) to set up a potential quarterfinal against San Rafael.

San Marin (8-12) secured the No. 8 seed and hosts No. 9 McKinleyville (15-7) at 7 p.m. Wednesday.