Prep roundup: Pioneer hands Leigh its first BVAL loss, Mills dominates SI in nonleague softball action
The Leigh Longhorns are undefeated no more.
No. 10 Leigh took its first Blossom Valley Athletic League loss of the season at home, dropping a 4-1 decision to visiting Pioneer.
The Mustangs (8-9, 5-3 BVAL) put up three runs in the first inning and held the line from there, adding another tally in the third and conceding their only run of the game in the bottom of the frame.
Adam Larson drove in two runs for Pioneer, with Jayden Goodrich and Griffin Bacon each batting in one. Jacob Madonna had the lone RBI for Leigh.
Andre Valdespino picked up the win for Pioneer, pitching five innings with just one hit allowed, one unearned run and three strikeouts against two walks. Evan Holmes earned the save with two scoreless frames.
The result adds some additional spice to what was already shaping up to be an intriguing race in the BVAL’s Mt. Hamilton Division. Leigh still enjoys a two-game lead, but other teams are closing fast.
Branham, Pioneer and Christopher are all nipping at the Longhorns’ heels at 5-3. And Willow Glen is showing signs of life, sweeping Branham this week to get back on track after being swept by Leigh last week.
No. 1 Granada 1, No. 8 Foothill 0
Granada got revenge on Foothill for Wednesday’s loss as Tyler Kennedy pitched a complete-game shutout. Nathan Canilao was in Livermore and has the details here.
No. 5 St. Francis 2, Marin Catholic 0
The Lancers (16-4) picked up a nice win against North Bay foe Marin Catholic (10-8) to ease back in after two weeks off. Nick Chow went six innings for the Lancers on the mound, giving up just three hits, and Landon Kim finished off the game with a hitless inning of relief to pick up the save. Freshman Hudson Watten drove in both runs for the Lancers.
Amador Valley 4, No. 7 Dublin 1
A topsy-turvy week in the East Bay Athletic League continued with AV knocking off Dublin on the road. This one was tied 1-1 heading into the seventh, when AV seized control with a three-run frame. Kade Robertson drove in two runs for the Dons (13-7) and Elliot De La Torre batted in one. Brandt Nunemacher had an RBI double for Dublin (16-5). De La Torre was stellar on the mound for AV, pitching a complete game with just four hits allowed, one walk and six strikeouts.
Hollister 5, No. 17 Bellarmine 3
Bellarmine dropped a competitive contest after a long trip down to Hollister on Friday. The Haybalers (13-7) had their big inning in the fifth, plating three runs to go up 4-1. The Bells (11-9) responded with two in the sixth, but Hollister added an insurance run in the bottom of the frame, and that was all she wrote.
Willow Glen 3, Branham 1
Speaking of the Rams, Willow Glen gritted out a tough road win on Friday in San Jose, taking better advantage of its opportunities in a wacky game that could have gone either way. Christian Babcock was on site and has the details here.
Softball
No. 9 Mills 8, No. 13 St. Ignatius 1
Is Mills softball for real?
The Vikings keep racking up data points that suggest they are. The latest one is an easy victory over West Catholic Athletic League power St. Ignatius that Mills didn’t have to sweat very much.
The Vikings (15-3-1) scored thrice in the second inning and thrice again in the fifth after giving up one run in the third. Two insurance runs in the sixth sealed the deal.
Morgan Chu and Jazzy Maske each drove in two runs for Mills, with Sydney Wong, Lucy Esquivel and Audrey Jang also adding RBIs. Cassidy Chew had the lone RBI for SI (9-6).
Kalia Woo had a strong game in the circle for the Vikings, going the distance with five strikeouts, no walks and nine hits allowed.
No. 2 Willow Glen 2, King’s Academy 1
Willow Glen’s undefeated record got its toughest test of the season against King’s Academy on Friday night. The two teams played to a scoreless tie through nine innings.
Just when the hope of scoring may have disappeared entirely, King’s added an RBI sac fly in the 10th off the bat of Kes Wong, breaking the ice and putting the Rams’ unbeaten mark in serious jeopardy. Mia Bennette, who scored the run, doubled to reach base.
But never fear – Alanna Clincy was there for WG. The Rams’ junior superstar, typically known for her exploits on the mound, laid down a bunt attempt and reached on an error, which led to Willow Glen scoring the tying run. Clincy later scored in the inning, giving the Rams their 17th win of the season. King’s Academy dropped to 9-7.
No. 8 Capuchino 7, Inderkum 1
Salinas 3, No. 8 Capuchino 2
Capuchino took a heartbreaking loss to Salinas and picked up a decisive win over Inderkum at the NorCal Classic tournament held at the Tracy Sports Complex. Against Salinas, Cap broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh on Avery Motroni’s RBI single, but pinch-hitter Yareli Alcaraz roped a two-run walk-off home run to give Salinas the win. There would be no such ambiguity against Inderkum. Capuchino scored first, led 3-0 after three innings and put the hammer down in the fourth with four more runs to seal the game. Freshman Star Gutierrez was, well, the offensive star for Cap, driving in four runs on three hits, including a triple and homer, to key the Mustangs’ attack. Lola Sierra drove in two runs. Lily Thomas pitched a shortened complete game, going six innings and allowing three hits and three walks with nine strikeouts.