Regional Round 1 Recaps: Low Seeds LA Pierce, Hartnell Break Through To Super Regionals
With a new format for Round 1 of the California Community College Baseball Regional Playoffs, 16 different mini, 3-team tournaments took place May 1-4 involving an assortment of high, middle and low seeds.
The end result was that of the 16 teams advancing to this week's Super Regionals include a mixture of the host high seeds, a group of middle seeds, and two teams from the lower #17 through #24 group in #19 LA Pierce from the South and #21 Hartnell from the North.
The following hosts were eliminated in South #3 El Camino, #4 Riverside City, #6 Glendale, and #8 Desert. In the North ending their seasons were #4 San Joaquin Delta, #6 College of Marin, #7 Chabot, and #8 Skyline.
The Big 8, OEC and the Western State North conferences all saw three of their squads advance.
All four South Coast teams were knocked out, and each of the three representatives from the Bay Valley, Coast North, and IEAC were eliminated.
Here are brief recaps of the 16 tourneys:
SOUTH REGIONALS
Regional #1
1-Palomar, 16-Mt. San Antonio, 24-Mt. San Jacinto
Friday-Mt. SAC 5, MSJC 4, PAL 12, MSJC 0
Saturday-PAL 12, Mt. SAC 5
Sunday-PAL 14, Mt. SAC 4
The top-seeded and PCAC champion Comets had no problem with the Mount twins in winning three games to advance, outscoring the two, 38-9. In eliminating the Eagles in game 2, Elijah Stephens did it all in pitching seven innings of 1-hit ball with six strikeouts and helping himself out at the plate by going 4-for-5 with a home run and five RBI.
The next day it was Rainn McMillan's 4-for-5, a HR and four RBI to beat the South Coast co-champ Mounties. In Sunday's finale, Palomar scored three in the third and six in the fourth to put it away. Braedon Peterson-Cheek was 3-for-6, all doubles, and three ribbies.
Regional #2
2-Santa Ana, 15-Orange Coast, 23-Cerro Coso
Friday-SAC 17, OCC 8, CC 6, OCC 3
Saturday-SAC 24, CC 5
Sunday-SAC 7, CC 3
The No. 2 seed and OEC champ Dons put on an offensive show to win three contests in advancing. Nikko Paoletto torched pitching in the opening two routs as he was a combined 7-for-12 with three homers, a double and 10 RBI. In the finale, SAC trailed 3-0, but roared back with seven unanswered runs by the fifth inning. Ken Tomitaka was 4-for-5 with a dinger.
Regional #3
3-El Camino, 14-Fullerton, 22-Southwestern
Friday-FUL 10, SWC 9, SWC 5, ECC 4
Saturday-FUL 7, ECC 5, SWC 6, FUL 5
Sunday-FUL 11, SWC 6
In a shocker, the host No. 3 SCC co-champ Warriors were the first to be ousted, allowing the Hornets to battle it out with the Jaguars in three contests in punching their ticket. In the opener, Southwestern scored two in the 9th to go ahead 9-7, but Fullerton scored three as Coen Goeas singled in the tying run and then scored on a wild pitch for the walk-off. Then Andrew Guevara's second HR of the game in the top of the 9th allowed the Jags to upset ECC in game 2.
In game 3, Niko Mendez's ninth inning, 2-run single after another 2-run hit in the eighth allowed Fullerton to eliminate El Camino. SWC sent it to day 3 with a 1-run win, but Fullerton responded on a 3-run HR by Sean Green who later drew a bases-loaded walk during a 5-run sixth as the Hornets advanced.
Regional #4
4-Riverside City, 13-Santa Barbara City, #21 San Diego Mesa
Friday-SBCC 13, SDM 3, SDM 10, RCC 9
Saturday-SBCC 8, RCC 7, SDM 11, SBCC 4
Sunday-SBCC 15, SDM 6
Another host school that got knocked out in two games in the Tigers that placed the lower seed Vaqueros and Olympians in a 3-game matchup. SBCC won its opener over Mesa as Parker Hellekson was 3-for-4 with a triple and four RBI. Mesa then rallied with six runs in the ninth capped by a 3-run HR by Kerim Orucevicto to shock RCC in game 2. The next day, RCC let a 6-0 lead get away as Santa Barbara won it in the ninth on Sean Asperger's sacrifice fly to eliminate the host.
After Mesa sent it to a third day with a 7-run win, SBCC bounced back with Bradley Cekada going 3-for-5 and three RBI to advance with the finale victory.
Regional #5
5-Allan Hancock, 12-Grossmont, 20-Cuesta
Friday-GRSMT 8, CUE 7, AHC 7, CUE 3
Saturday-AHC 5, GRSMT 4, GRSMT 7, AHC 5
Sunday-AHC 6, GRSMT 3
The WSC North champion Bulldogs went 3-1 eliminating the Cougars on day 1, then ultimately getting past the Griffins over the final three games to advance. Parker Schwake was 3-for-4 in an AHC 1-run win in game 3, then Grossmont won game 4 helped by a 3-run blast by Justin Heffler. In the finale, Hunter Beck closed it out with his second save in four appearances (five shutout innings, six Ks).
Regional #6
6-Glendale, 11-Golden West, 19-LA Pierce
Friday-GWC 9, LAP 4, LAP 15, GLE 7
Saturday-GLE 10, GWC 5, LAP 7, GWC 6 (10 inn)
Sunday-LAP 8, GLE 6 (15 inn)
The Brahmas didn't just get past two higher seeds, they did so facing elimination on three occasions to perform an underdog advancement. After losing the opener to the Rustlers, Juan Tirado hit a grand slam and finished with six RBI to surprise the WSC South champion Vaqueros.
Glendale would knock out Golden West as Adrian Contreras totaled three RBI. In game 4, GWC led Pierce, 6-1, and the Brahmas were one out from elimination but a walk was followed by a tying, run-scoring double by Isaiah Chaves. In the 10th, JJ Fagfoomsintu hit a walk-off single to eliminate Golden West.
In the finale, it was an epic war as David Lozano RBI single and an error tied it for Glendale in the ninth, 6-6. In the 15th, Braden Seliz was the hero for Pierce with a 2-run, walk-off homer.
Regional #7
7-Citrus, 10-Cypress, 18-Pasadena City
Friday-CYP 7, PCC 5, CIT 14, PCC 5
Saturday-CYP 8, CIT 7
Sunday-CIT 12, CYP 3, CIT 6, CYP 2
The host Owls overcame a game 3 loss and won twice on the final day v. the Chargers to advance. Cypress rallied to beat the Lancers in the opener, then Citrus used four homers, two by Derek Almeda (5-for-6), to eliminate Pasadena. Cypress next used a 2-RBI double in the eighth by Justin Tillar to defeat the Owls in game 4.
With Citrus facing elimination, Cam Casado rocked the house with two HR, six RBI (4-for-6. grand slam) and Nick Velazquez also blasted two bombs over the Ivy to keep its season alive. Then in the finale, Jordan Daniels went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a HR as Citrus outlasted Cypress.
Regional #8
8-Desert, 9-Saddleback, 17-Cerritos
Saturday-SAD 7, CER 2, CER 14, COD 2
Sunday-COD 7, SAD 6, SAD 4, CER 0
Monday-SAD 7, COD 2
In the only series that went into Monday due to field maintenance issues that pushed it back a day, the Bobcats beat the Falcons twice, lost a heartbreaker to the Roadrunners, then advanced with a 5-run over COD in the finale. Jack Borges was 2-for-4 with three RBI in the opening Saddleback triumph.
After Cerritos routed Desert, Desert put all three teams one step away from elimination with a game 3 win over Saddleback. Kaden Prosofsky's walk-off single capped a 2-run, Desert rally for the one-run victory. In game 4, the Bobcats' Brennan Bauer (6.1 innings) and two relievers combined for the 8-hit shutout that ended Cerritos season.
Saddleback advanced on Monday again with more solid pitching as Ryan Rios went the complete-game route, tossing a 5-hitter, no walks, one earned run and five Ks. Matt Henning was 4-for-5 with two doubles.
NORTH REGIONALS
Regional #1
1-Fresno City, 16-Sierra, 24-Merced
Friday-MER 8, SIE 3, FCC 11, SIE 2
Saturday-FCC 7, MER 2
Sunday-FCC 12, MER 2
The top seed and Central Valley Conference champion Rams allowed a stingy six runs over three wins to advance. Fresno eliminated the Wolverines as Nathan Leffel (6 IP, 2 ER, 8 K) picked up the mound win. That left the Blue Devils and FCC ended up going 6-0 this season v. their CVC rival with two straight victories.
Bowen Salyards (6 IP, 1 ER, 7 K) pitched the game 3 triumph and Wyatt Johnson (6 IP, 5 H, 2 R) and Warren Vercher (2 IP, struck out 6 for all the outs) completed Fresno's outstanding pitching efforts in the series finale.
Regional #2
2-Ohlone, 15-Lassen, 23-Solano
Friday-LAS 9, SOL 6, OHL 10, SOL 4
Saturday-OHL 8, LAS 0
Sunday-OHL 9, LAS 5
The Coast South champ Renegades eliminated the Falcons on day 1, then swept the final two games v. the Cougars to advance. Chuy Vasquez batted 4-for-5 with a triple in the Solano win. On day 2, Matthew Anderson (7.1 IP, 6 H, 6 K) combined with Bryce Monte for the shutout. In the finale, Julian Cambra went 3-for-4 with three RBI to help close out Lassen.
Regional #3
3-Modesto JC, 14-San Mateo, 22-Reedley
Friday-CSM 3, REED 1, MJC 6, REED 5
Saturday-MJC 14, CSM 6
Sunday-CSM 9, MJC 5, MJC 16, CSM 4
The Big 8 champion Pirates eliminated the Tigers on day 1, then took 2-of-3 to get past the Bulldogs in advancing. Troy Morrow's 3-RBI triple helped the day 2 Modesto win, but San Mateo would turn it into a winner-take-all fifth game with Joseph Hoskins 3-for-5, three RBI effort in a 4-run, game 4 win. In the finale, Jedediah Stange-Tregear roped two doubles, went 2-for-3 and four RBI as MJC routed San Mateo.
Regional #4
4-San Joaquin Delta, 13-Sacramento City, 21-Hartnell
Friday-HART 11, SCC 5, SCC 10, SJD 6
Saturday-HART 3, SJD 1, HART 11, SCC 4
Hartnell, the fourth place team from the Coast North, not only was the lowest seed in the state to advance, it did so in one of two series that only took two days to finish. Ethan Stelzer went 3-for-6 with a HR in Hartnell's win over Sac City. Sacramento jumped out to an 8-0 lead including a solo HR and RBI single by Jackson Norton en route to winning the day 1 nightcap over Delta.
On day 2, first Hartnell surprisingly ousted the host Mustangs as George Jewell tossed a complete-game, 5-hitter. That left Panthers v. Panthers as Hartnell completed the double elimination of Sacramento with a 7-run win. Kaden Raymond was 2-for-5, slugging a HR, a double and six RBI.
Regional #5
5-Feather River, 12-Monterey Peninsula, 20-American River
Friday-ARC 7, MPC 4, FRC 6, MPC 5
Saturday-ARC 24, FRC 9, FRC 4, ARC 2
Sunday-FRC 19, ARC 8.
The GVC champion Golden Eagles faced elimination after being routed by the Beavers on day 2, but roared back with two wins v. American River to advance. Feather River first rallied with five runs in the ninth to eliminate the Lobos. In that win, FRC was down to its final out, but Jackson Phillips slugged a 2-run bomb, then appropriately named Legend Lancaster walked it off with a 2-run single.
On day 2, Brandon Pelechowicz hit for the cycle and had four RBI as ARC pounded out 24 hits for the lopsided win. FRC scored seven runs in the ninth to not make it a complete laugher, but that rally may have lit a fire under it. In game 4, Carl Colavecchio pitched 4.2 shutout innings of relief to keep the series going in Feather River's 2-run win.
Finally, it was FRC's time to rock at the plate with 22 hits, led by a 5-for-7 (three RBI) by Walker DesRosier to knock out ARC and move on.
Regional #6
4-Marin, 11-Santa Rosa JC, 19-Sequoias
Friday-SRJC 9, COS 2, MAR 4, COS 0
Saturday-SRJC 17, MAR 11
Sunday-SRJC 7, MAR 4
The Bear Cubs took it one day at a time and won one each day, taking two from the host Mariners to punch their ticket to the Super Regionals. Lucas Hermes tossed a complete-game, 8-hitter for the opening win. Marin then used a 3-hit CG, shutout by Anthony Del Prete to end the Giants playoff trip.
On day 2, Chase Sutherland went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and six RBI, but it took six runs in the ninth by SRJC to break an 11-11 tie. Marin had tied it in the eighth on back-to-back HRs by Ben Sebastiani and Noah Peterson. In the finale, JT Summers launched 3-run homers in both the first and second innings to lift Santa Rosa to the series clinching win.
Regional #7
7-Chabot, 10-Folsom Lake, 18-Cosumnes River
Friday-FLC 2, CRC 0, CRC 7, CHAB 5 (10 inn)
Saturday-FLC 2, CHAB 1, FLC 9, CRC 5
Outstanding pitching allowed the Falcons to advance with three wins in a tidy two days. Folsom Lake opened as Gavin McLendon (5.2 IP, 7 K) and Andrew Balentine (3.1 IP) combined for a 7-hit shutout over the Hawks. Balentine struck out eight in the 10 outs he recorded. In the nightcap, CRC stayed alive by scoring two in the 10th to beat the host Gladiators. Tye Thompson was 4-for-5.
On day 2, Jake McKowen pitched 8.1 innings, scattered eight hits, and struck out six and Balentine picked up the save as FLC edged and eliminated Chabot. The Falcons clinched things v. CRC as Connor Barth ripped two homers and another solid pitching effort this time by Keisen Hayden (6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 7 K).
Regional #8
7-Skyline, 9-West Valley, 17-Los Medanos
Friday-LMC 7, WV 4, WV 22, SKY 7
Saturday-SKY 7, LMC 2, WV 11, LMC 5
Sunday-WV 16, SKY 10
A high-powered offense lifted the Vikings to win three straight after facing elimination with a 7-4, opening loss v. the Mustangs in advancing. West Valley scored 49 runs in those last three contests. In game 2, they routed the Trojans, as Jordan Montez (five RBI), Kenji Colston (four RBI), and Max Ghiglieri all had 2 HR games. In a 14-run, seventh inning, West Valley slugged five homers, back-to-back dingers not once, but twice by Colston and Ghiglieri.
On day 2, Steven Dalton (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 7 K) pitched Skyline over Los Medanos. West Valley then eliminated LMC as Parker Kristall hit a double, a HR and had three ribbies in a 6-run victory. In the finale, David Estrada went 3-for-5 with a double, a HR, and four RBI to offset four Skyline homers as West Valley clinched the series.
Recaps by Robert Lewis, CCCBCA Publicist