Sports briefs: San Rafael stuns San Marin with massive eighth inning
The San Rafael High softball team was shut out into the seventh inning but got the run it needed to extend the game then scored eight times in the top of the eighth in a 9-2 win against San Marin on Monday night.
The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead on an RBI by Taylor Testa in the bottom of the sixth but the Bulldogs tied the game on an RBI single by Larissa Baltazar. San Rafael pitcher Thomara Drummer retired the side in the bottom of the seventh then got the big inning going with a bases-loaded single in the eighth for a 3-1 lead.
San Rafael (17-2, 9-2), now winners of 11 consecutive games, piled on from there with RBIs from Gabby Rodriguez, Cherise Castagne, Luca Fondnazio, Jaela Brown, and Sophia Everett. All told, eight consecutive batters reached base, with a walk then six consecutive singles followed by another walk. The win allowed the Bulldogs to remain in a three-way tie for first with Redwood and Archie Williams, who also picked up victories on Monday.
Drummer pitched all eight innings, allowing seven hits and one earned run with eight strikeouts. San Marin starter Brittany Casper matched Drummer for seven innings before running into trouble in the eighth. Testa had three hits for San Marin (8-8, 6-4).
- Addy Dunn and Gia Meyers combined for seven hits and Stella Belluomini had three RBIs as Redwood rolled to a 12-5 win against Marin Catholic Monday. Dunn had three hits and an RBI while Meyers had four hits and scored twice. Redwood (13-5, 9-2) scored three times in the first and five more times in the third to break the game open early. Morgan Carlson had three hits, two RBIs, and three runs atop the order for MC (5-7-1, 4-6).
- Chase Unger had three hits and pitcher Paige Murphy struck out 17 as Archie Williams defeated Novato 6-1 on Monday. The Nos. 2 through 4 hitters had good games for Archie Williams (13-4, 9-2) with Unger also driving in a run and scoring once. Kennedy Dunsing had a hit and two RBIs and Lydia Battaglia had two hits. Murphy limited the Hornets (2-18, 0-11) to six hits and one earned run. Elle Fox had two hits for Novato.
- Eleanor Johnson had another strong game as Terra Linda — which had gone winless each of the past two seasons — earned its fourth MCAL win with an 8-2 victory against Tam (3-13, 1-10). Johnson had three hits, four RBIs and scored twice for TL (5-6, 4-5) in addition to pitching a complete game with eight hits and nine strikeouts.
Boys tennis
The MCAL quarterfinals are set following Monday’s first-round action at Marin Tennis Club in San Rafael. Top-seeded Jackson Sichel of Redwood received a bye into the quarterfinals and faces Julian Khetawat of Tam on Tuesday.
Second seed Tyler Byrne of Tam will clash with Novato’s Indy Stanic while third seed Chase Hoeveler of Branson takes on Alejandro Puentes of Redwood. MC’s Jack Millar made it 3 for 3 with seeded players advancing and he faces Branson’s Ishwar Jayaraman in the quarters. The semifinals are set to take place later Tuesday with the finals on Wednesday.
The seeds also held true in the double competition with No. 1 Cal Fazal and Chris Lee of Redwood, No. 2 Tommie Higgins and Finn Higgins of Branson, No. 3 Johan Jacobs and Anders Jacobs of Archie Williams, plus No. 4 James Stovell and Oliver Goldman of Branson all advanced.
- San Domenico moved into the Bay Counties League West semifinals following a 6-1 win against Stuart Hall on Monday. The No. 3 Panthers advance to face No. 2 Lick-Wilmerding at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Golden Gate Park.
Boys golf
Branson closed out the regular season with a 190-195 win against Redwood and a 190-235 win against San Rafael at Peacock Gap on Monday. Jack Hilleboe and Barry Liu paced the Bulls with 36s to share medalist honors. Sam Sumdki shot a 37 for Redwood. Branson ends the season at 10-6 and is qualified for the MCAL championship next Monday at StoneTree Golf Club. Tam, Redwood, TL, MC and Branson were all expected to qualify.