Preps of the week: Four teams remain alive in softball, baseball playoffs

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21 May 2024 00:46

LARKSPUR CA - APRIL 2: San Rafael Thomara Drummer throws against Redwood during their MCAL softball game in Larkspur, Calif. on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. San Rafael defeated Redwood 4-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Jaela Brown (8) of San Rafael bats during their MCAL softball semifinal game against San Marin in San Rafael, Calif. on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. No. 4 San Marin defeated No. 1 San Rafael 3-2. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
San Marin starting pitcher Sean McGrath (12) throws against Redwood at the MCAL baseball final at Albert Park in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, May 10, 2024. No. 1 Redwood defeated No. 2 San Marin 6-5 for the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
San Marin first baseman Tyler Keehn takes the throw as Cash Campbell (13) of Novato dives back into the bag on a pick-off attempt during their MCAL baseball semifinal game in Novato, Calif. on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. No. 2 San Marin defeated No. 3 Novato 9-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood relief pitcher Chas Veley (5) throws against Tam during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood second baseman Theo Trono (4) holds the ball as out PJ Ceral (12) of Tam reacts to being called out trying to steal second base to end their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Branson third baseman Tom Lardner (20) catches an Athenian fly ball for an out during their North Coast Section Division V playoff game against Athenian at College of Marin in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. No. 5 Branson defeated No. 12 Athenian 11-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Branson starting pitcher Wilson Wendt (3) throws against Athenian during their North Coast Section Division V playoff game against Athenian at College of Marin in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. No. 5 Branson defeated No. 12 Athenian 11-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Gio Castaing (22) of Novato yells to his bench after getting a base hit against San Marin during their MCAL baseball semifinal game in Novato, Calif. on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. No. 2 San Marin defeated No. 3 Novato 9-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Ben Friedman of Tamalpais tees off on the eight hole during the MCAL boys golf championship at Stonetree Golf Club in Novato, Calif. on April 29, 2024. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Hayden Thill of Tamalpais takes a tee shot on the third hole during the MCAL boys golf championship at Stonetree Golf Club in Novato, Calif. on April 29, 2024. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Ellie McCuskey-Hay of St. Ignatius beats Hannah Rutherford of Mountain View in the 200 meter race at the Central Coast Section track and field championships, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Gilroy, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
William Ghalam of Redwood crosses the finish line first as the last leg of the 4x100m race during the MCAL Track Tri-meet between Archie Williams, Tam, and Redwood at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on April 18, 2024. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Antonio Bayon of Redwood attempts a pole vault during the MCAL Track Tri-meet between Archie Williams, Tam, and Redwood at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on April 18, 2024. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Annalise Horn of Redwood (center) races in front of Indeya Sanders of Tamalpais and Sabine Szylko of Tamalpais in the girls 100 meter dash during the MCAL Track Tri-meet between Archie Williams, Tam, and Redwood at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on April 18, 2024. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)

Four Marin teams were able to navigate their way into the semifinals of the North Coast Section softball and baseball tournaments this past week.

Leading the way was No. 1 seed San Rafael, which leaned on its ace to advance to the softball Division III semifinals.

Three baseball teams remain in the hunt — No. 2 Redwood in D-II, No. 2 San Marin in D-III, and No. 5 Branson in D-V.

Elsewhere, Tam’s top two golfers helped the team advance to the NorCal tournament following a strong showing at NCS.

In track, San Rafael resident Ellie McCuskey-Hay qualified for State in four events for St. Ignatius. A trio of Redwood athletes were among the standout performers and state qualifiers at the NCS Meet of Champions.

Thomara Drummer and Jaela Brown, San Rafael softball

Drummer had arguably her most dominant week of the season in the first two rounds of the D-III playoffs, throwing a perfect game against De Anza followed by a no-hitter in a 3-0 win against Sonoma Valley. Drummer pitched 12 innings of no-hit ball while striking out 25 hitters against no walks. Drummer struck out 16 against Sonoma Valley. Brown was one of two Bulldogs — along with Gabby Rodriguez — who drove in four runs in the 16-0 win against De Anza. Brown also had an RBI against Sonoma Valley.

Tyler Keehn and Sean McGrath, San Marin baseball

Keehn was one of the heroes of San Marin’s 7-2 win against Analy with four hits at the plate while also pitching four shutout innings to start the game. McGrath, the MCAL pitcher of the year, was at his best in the ensuing D-III quarterfinal against Novato. McGrath pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing one hit while striking out eight as the Mustangs won a 1-0 pitchers’ duel.

Chas Veley and Theo Trono, Redwood baseball

The Giants won a pair of one-run games against Tam and Petaluma last week to advance in the D-II playoffs. Veley came in and struck out nine hitters while pitching four scoreless innings of relief against Tam as Redwood came from behind for a 2-1 win. The Giants found themselves in another tight game against Petaluma with Trono providing the winning hit with two outs in the sixth after freshman Chase Johnson tied the game with a single.

Wilson Wendt and Thomas Lardner, Branson baseball

Wendt pitched three shutout innings in an 11-0 first-round win against Athenian then threw a complete game in a 5-1 upset win against Bay School. Wendt allowed four hits and an unearned run for the No. 5 Bulls against the No. 4 Breakers. Lardner was one of the key hitters in both victories, with one hit, two RBIs, and a run against Bay, plus a four-RBI game against Athenian.

Taylor Testa and Shelby Atkinson, San Marin softball

Testa threw a no-hitter in a 9-0 first-round win against Albany then took a shutout into the sixth inning in an upset bid against Cardinal Newman. The No. 6 Mustangs eventually fell to the No. 3 Cardinals 2-1 in eight innings. Testa also had three hits and drove in two runs against Albany. Atkinson had a two-hit, two-RBI, two-run stat line against the Cougars.

Lydia Battaglia and Sarah Conway, Archie Williams softball

The Peregrine Falcons went into the bottom of the seventh inning against Analy staring at a 5-3 deficit. Battaglia came up big with a two-out, two-triple to tie the game at 5-5 and force extra innings. Conway eventually delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth after Emma Freed reached on a walk and took two bases. The No. 7 Peregrine Falcons were eliminated by No. 2 Encinal in the quarterfinals.

Gio Castaing, Novato baseball

The Hornets needed a walk-off win to get to that quarterfinal against San Marin and Castaing delivered with a double in the bottom of the seventh to drive in the winning run of a 5-4 win against Miramonte. The hit was Castaing’s second of the day and he also scored a run.

Ben Friedman and Hayden Thill, Tam boys golf

Friedman and Thill were among the best golfers at the NCS D-I championship last Monday, shooting a 70 and a 72, respectively, to guide Tam to a third-place team finish and a spot in the NorCal tournament.

Ellie McCuskey-Hay, St. Ignatius track

The Marin Waves standout won two events at the Central Coast Section championships and also qualified for the State Meet in two other events. McCuskey-Hay’s marks in the long jump (18 feet, 1.5 inches) and the 100 (11.99 seconds) earned her a pair of CCS championships. She also finished third in the 200 (24.98) and helped the 4×100 relay team to a third-place finish (48.19).

William Ghalam and Antonio Bayon, Redwood boys track

Ghalam was the lone Marin winner at the NCS Meet of Champions on Saturday, taking first-place in the 400 meters with a time of 48.97 seconds. Bayon cleared 14 feet, 4 inches to take second in the pole vault. He also placed eighth in the 110 hurdles in 15.47. Both athletes qualified for the State Meet.

Annalise Horn, Redwood girls track

Horn was the top Marin finisher at NCS on the girls side, placing second in the long jump with a new personal record of 18 feet, 5.5 inches. Horn’s effort was good enough to qualify her for the State Meet as a freshman.