Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 468

Cal State Monterey Bay announces layoffs

Cal State Monterey Bay announced Thursday it was laying off 16 employees and another 86 had opted into the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program, taking an early retirement.

The cost-saving moves come in the wake of a roughly $12 million structural deficit the university has been working to decrease over the past two academic years. That deficit has been reduced to $4 million.

According to an email sent out to CSUMB staff, Thursday was the last day of work for those who received layoff notices.

In the email, President Vanya Quiñones said four management employees and 12 unionized staff were sent layoff notices. “We have followed all procedures and steps stipulated by our labor contracts,” said Quiñones.

Along with layoffs and voluntary separation, the university has taken other steps to reduce the deficit including restructuring departments, eliminating open positions and increasing the student faculty ratio to 28 students per faculty member.

Quiñones also announced the moves at a budget update town hall for staff according to employees in attendance. Quiñones seemed apologetic and asked for grace from employees according to employees in attendance who wished not to be identified for fear of retribution. The crowd of more than 300 employees were visibly emotional and upset with administration according to some in attendance.

“While the layoffs represent a small proportion of the 1,000 employees at the university, President Quiñones has acknowledged the effect on those in the positions that have been eliminated as well as their families and other members of the community,” said university spokesman Walter Ryce. “CSU Monterey Bay is addressing the current budget reductions to ensure sustainable growth while providing quality educational opportunities to our students and allowing room to focus on strategic initiatives in the future.”

But more than one employee in the meeting said “the concern for the workers doesn’t sound authentic.”

When asked if this would be the end of layoffs during the town hall, Quiñones stated that she couldn’t guarantee the university will have the funding to avoid future layoffs.

Staff writer Andrea Valadez is also a Cal State Monterey Bay student. 

Sara Boyns, Workplace Law: SB 478 – The end of service charges and other hidden fees?

Question: I own a restaurant, and we include a service charge or automatic gratuity on serving large parties. I heard that restaurants will not be able to charge service charges anymore. Is that true?

Answer: Starting on July 1, California’s “Hidden Fees Law,” SB 478, will become effective. Under this new law, service charges are not banned, but the price listed for goods or services must include all amounts the customer is required to pay (excluding government taxes or fees and certain delivery fees.)

Initially, it was unclear whether SB 478 would apply to the hospitality industry, where it is common to include a 15-20% service charge or automatic gratuity. Such charges are usually listed on the menu or event contract as a 15-20% service charge, and these funds are often distributed to servers and back of the house staff, and/or used to offset the operational costs of serving large parties.

Recently, California Attorney General Rob Bonta made it clear that SB 478 applies to the hospitality industry, telling the San Francisco Chronicle “SB 478 applies to restaurants, just like it applies to businesses across California … The law is about making sure consumers know what they are going to pay and requires that the posted price include the full amount that a consumer must pay for that good or service.”

On May 8, the Attorney General’s Office published FAQs stating SB 478 applies broadly throughout the service industry, including hotels and restaurants. The FAQs state, “a business is generally free to charge whatever amount it wants for a good or service, to provide a subsequent breakdown of the various fees or charges that are included in its listed or advertised price, and to tell the consumer about those fees and charges.” See https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attac...

Restaurants and other hospitality businesses will therefore need to eliminate service charges, include them in the price of the goods or services being sold or itemize the amount of the service charge in dollars and cents that will be added to the base price of the goods or services. For example, a restaurant owner who wishes to charge a service charge could comply with the law by listing the price of a menu item ($28.00) plus the service charge ($5.60) and show the total cost of the item on the menu as $33.60. The customer is then informed of the total price of the menu item. Or, the restaurant could simply eliminate the itemized service charge and charge $33.60 for the item. The Attorney General has clarified that SB 478 does not apply to tips, which are not mandatory fees, or discounts.

SB 478 does not place a cap on prices. As the Attorney General has repeatedly said, “SB 478 is a price transparency bill. The statute does not change what price a business can charge or what may be included in that cost.”

There is confusion about the meaning and application of this new law, and it is anticipated the hospitality industry will lobby for changes and/or clarification of how it applies. Violations of this new law carry mandatory fees of $1,000 per violation, and successful plaintiffs may recover attorneys’ fees if they win.

Business owners should consult with their legal counsel prior to the July 1 effective date to ensure they are compliant with SB 478.

Sara Boyns is a lawyer with Fenton & Keller in Monterey. This column is intended to answer questions of general interest and should not be construed as legal advice. Email queries to email@fentonkeller.com.

Kurtenbach: The SF Giants’ comeback kids spark hope into season [3 Up, 3 Down]

Who needs a drink?

The Giants’ series win over the Pittsburgh Pirates was unquestionably the wildest three-game set this team has played all season and is well in the running ot the most ridiculous over the last few seasons.

A massive choke job followed by two absurd comebacks — it’s enough to give you whiplash.

But a series win is a series win, and the Giants are in no position to worry about style points.

Let’s go over what’s clicking and what’s rattling with the Giants:

Up: The Kiddos

Last week, I said that the Giants’ downright absurd string of injuries could end up being the best thing for the team. Ready or not, the youth movement for the Giants’ roster was coming.

It’s far, far, far too early to take any sort of a victory lap on that take, but we can all see that the early returns have been positive.

Collectively, the under-25 contingent of the Giants’ roster — Luis Matos, Heliot Ramos, Marco Luciano, Brett Wisely, and Patrick Bailey are hitting .341 with 20 (!!!) RBI over the Giants’ last six games.

I can’t tell you if it is sustainable. Baseball is a cruel and fickle game.

But what we have seen is a team that has a spirit to it and a lineup that feels threatening, even if it will probably never be elite.

That’s a massive upgrade.

And as long as it continues, there’s reason to have some hope not just about the 2024 Giants making something of this season, but the organization in years to come, as well.

Down: The Giants are, umm, out of pitchers

Even with three-batter minimums and a league-wide hitter depression, teams are churning through pitchers.

And the Giants must be at the top of that list.

How many times this season have the Giants found themselves down to their final pitcher in a game?

Off the top of my head, Thursday’s win over the Pirates was the fourth time. It could be far more — this is hardly something you can find on FanGraphs.

I don’t blame manager Bob Melvin for this problem — no modern manager stands a chance in the battle between trying to win games and not having your pitchers’ arms explode from overuse.

And it’s not as if the Giants lack quality arms in the bullpen. That’s the team’s path to victory most nights.

I won’t even blame this issue on Farhan Zaidi.

No, the onus falls on the Giants’ starting pitchers and the baseball gods.

Simply put, the Giants’ starters haven’t been getting the job done. Logan Webb is giving the team six, but everyone else is a crapshoot. Blake Snell has been a disaster. Kyle Harrison is a cherry bomb — but at least he’s young. Jordan Hicks is showing signs that he’s fading, but the Giants are so taxed they needed him to throw five innings in his last start after he spent the morning puking. And Mason Black was never going to be anything more than a short-term stopgap (he lacks big-league stuff and doesn’t have the control to counter that fact) and he hasn’t even shown he can be that, as evidenced by the Giants turning his “start” into a bullpen game Thursday.

We have to presume Alex Cobb isn’t coming back anytime soon. Robbie Ray’s Giants debut isn’t around the corner. Keaton Winn has to be handled with kid gloves given the precariousness of his injury (and poor performance leading into his injured list stint).

Again, the Giants’ bullpen is strong, but the current state of starting pitching puts that status in danger.

Sean Hjelle, with the help of an improved cutter, has finally found a role at the big-league level: long reliever.

Is it time to test fate and move him into the rotation?

Because it’s not time to call up top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt (6.37 ERA with Triple-A Sacramento), and Harden Birdsong is yet to reach Triple-A. After those two, the Giants could return to Landen Roupp (again) or take a chance on Carson Seymour, and neither option is terribly appealing at the moment.

Snell pitching like a top-half-of-the-rotation pitcher, much less an ace and two-time Cy Young winner would considerably shore things up, but even after back-to-back series wins and a justified burst of optimism, the Giants find themselves facing a glaring issue without clear-cut solutions.

Up: Matt Chapman

When I declared that Chapman was a player with MVP upside upon his signing with the Giants, this is what I meant.

One of baseball’s streakiest hitters is, in the parlance of the times, on one.

Against Pittsburgh, he went 5-for-13 with a homer in all three games and a steady diet of truly spectacular plays at third base.

Isn’t it interesting how when Chapman plays well, the Giants look like a team that’s something more than average?

Enjoy the ride while it’s rolling. You don’t know how long it will last — could be days, weeks, or months. But while Chapman is locked in, the Giants have one of the finest players in baseball.

Down: Giants’ defense

Chapman is out-of-this-world and Ramos looks the part in left field, so let me be specific about this: The drop-off from Nick Ahmed to Luciano and Jung Hoo-Lee to Matos is stark.

And while trading a bit of defense for the kids’ positive hitting is a deal I’ll make time and time again, both youngsters’ play at the two most important positions in the field makes you long for the perfect routes of Lee and steady hands and decision-making skills of the veteran Ahmed.

So long as both keep making loud contact, we’re good, but I don’t need to tell you to keep an eye on this space: It’s impossible to miss.

Up: Randy Rodriguez

Rodriguez more than “stands a chance” of being an impact arm for the Giants. I think he’s one today.

And with Luke Jackson’s struggles, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Rodriguez and his 100-mile-per-hour fastball takes over that “sixth-inning” role in the coming days.

Down: The competition

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I’m not going to pretend anyone should be gung-ho about these Giants, even with the positive week of play.

The realist take is that this team is treading water. Given that the seas are choppy, that’s an accomplishment.

And looking around the National League, a lot of other teams have started to go underwater this month.

Pittsburgh is one of those teams — you just saw that.

Washington is sliding. The Reds are a mess. The Mets are out of it.

In the race for the No. 3 wild card, I feel comfortable saying only four teams remain as we approach Memorial Day: The Cardinals (who are holding on by a thread), and the three other competent National League West teams.

All the Giants need to do is just stick around .500 for as long as they possibly can. Keep treading water.

High School softball: Cardinale to retire as Notre Dame softball coach

SALINAS – The plan was never to fill anyone’s shoes, but to create stability and perhaps add to the legacy that had already been established at Notre Dame High.

That was 14 years ago. Along head coach Tom Cardinale’s path have come five more Central Coast Section divisional titles to the most successful softball program in section history.

While the love for the sport, as well as coaching and molding athletes, remains a passion, the energy and commitment it takes has taken a toll on Cardinale.

“If you see me at practice, I’ve been using a scooter to get around,” said Cardinale, who is 67. “If I don’t, I pay a price. It’s time for the old dog to step aside. It feels good. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

The veteran coach isn’t just stepping aside as the Spirits’ coach, Cardinale is retiring from the sport, one that has engulfed more than half his life.

“I was supposed to retire last spring,” Cardinale said. “But there was so much uncertainly that I stuck around for one more year. It’s a combination of things, including my health. It’s just time. It’s time to do a little more traveling.”

Last year Cardinale guided Notre Dame to a CCS record 17th softball title — its first in Division I — breaking a tie with Mitty of San Jose for the most in the section.

“I have two grandchildren in the program,” Cardinale said. “I did not want to leave them without knowing what is going on. I was trying to see it through. I wish everyone well. I will see them in the stands.”

Runner-ups last spring in the Northern California Division I championships, Notre Dame won 244 games during Cardinale’s tenure, including 16 this fall before falling in the CCS Division I quarterfinals to top-seed King’s Academy.

“I don’t count that stuff,” Cardinale said. “I can’t tell you now how many wins I have. I don’t care. I just coached them to go as far as they could.”

Over the course of 13 full seasons (the COVID-19 pandemic limited Notre Dame to one game in 2020), the Spirits won 20 plus games six times, including 26 in 2013, the fourth most in school history.

Before taking the job in 2010, the Spirits had won 12 CCS titles, including a state record nine straight between 1997-2005 under Salinas Valley Hall of Fame coach Joe Given.

“There was no pressure,” Cardinale said. “Who could ever duplicate what Joe Given did? He was fabulous. When he left, we had to rebuild a little. So I guess I got a year’s grace period.”

The Spirits averaged 19 wins a season during Cardinale’s tenure, with 21 players going off to play Division I college softball — seven of whom were in college lineups last spring.

“I’m so proud of all the girls I have coached,” Cardinale said. “It’s amazing. I remember when I was in the hospital, I had former players knocking on my door that were now nurses. I’m proud of who they have become.”

As the memories have piled up over the past 14 years, Cardinale called them countless. Perhaps because it’s the most recent, last year’s run to a section title still stands out.

“That team has such great chemistry,” Cardinale said. “They really liked each other. I remember the girls telling me after a practice that the team stayed up until 3 a.m. singing karaoke at a parent’s house. It wasn’t a softball thing. It was group thing.”

Cardinale will now become a fan, watching his granddaughters play softball with no regrets, just positive memories that make him smile.

“I didn’t see myself being here 14 years,” Cardinale said. “The time went by so fast. I tried to do what was best for the girls. All these girls made me smile. They still make me smile today. I’m a lucky guy.”

Salinas, North Salinas high schools break ground on new buildings

Two Salinas high schools are getting a makeover as part of a district-wide construction plan.

Salinas and North Salinas High Schools broke ground on new two-story steel-frame buildings this week. The plan, which has been in motion since 2022, is set to replace the portable villages at Salinas, North Salinas and Alisal high schools. The Alisal high school groundbreaking hasn’t been scheduled yet but is in motion, according to Salinas Union High School District spokesperson Marcos Cabrera.

“These building initiatives play a pivotal role in meeting the growing needs of our dedicated staff and students, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality education,” said Superintendent Dan Burns in a prepared statement. On May 16, Burns announced he will be stepping down and will stay on as an advisor for the district after a successor is hired.

North Salinas High School broke ground Monday on a two-story steel-frame building that will replace portable classrooms. (Courtesy of Marcos Cabrera, SUHSD).

The construction projects will result in a “big upgrade for morale and environment of the schools to get rid of those portables,” said Cabrera. Many of the rooms that are being replaced have remained the same since their construction in the 1960s.

North Salinas celebrated its groundbreaking on May 20. Burns unveiled the plan for the $32 million building which will include a new Associated Student Body classroom, 13 standard classrooms, four special education classrooms, a sports medicine classroom and a new administrative office. The building will measure just under 27,000 square feet.

The new administration office will “change the whole look of the school site,” said Cabrera. “Having that large building is going to change the look of one of the bigger streets in town. It’s really exciting.”

The funding for the North Salinas building comes mostly from bonds, including Measure B which was passed in 2014 and Proposition 51, a voter-approved state allocation approved in 2016. Prop 51 was designated for construction upgrades. Special reserve funds also contributed to the North Salinas construction.

The project also includes the reconfiguration of the school’s parking lot. New fencing and gates will be built as well as an added covered walkway. The North Salinas site is projected to finish construction in fall 2025.

Salinas High broke ground on its new $32 million two-story building Thursday. This building is also funded by Measure B and Prop 51. Measure W, an approximately $140 million bond approved in 2020, also comes into play.

“Investors saw investing in school facilities as worthwhile. The community saw we were doing good during the pandemic (by) feeding families,” said Cabrera. The passing of Measure W was a result of the help of Salinas Union’s frontline workers during the pandemic, according to Cabrera.

Set to be ready at the end of the calendar year in 2025, Salinas High is getting three new science labs, six science classrooms and 16 standard classrooms. The 42,000 square-foot building will also replace the current administration office, include restrooms for students and staff, add an office workroom for staff and create new janitorial rooms.

Alisal High School hasn’t broken ground on its project yet, but the ceremony is on the horizon, according to Cabrera. The $25.5 million building will be similar to the Salinas High building, and will include 14 standard and eight science-dedicated classrooms.

The focus on science classrooms is necessary, according to Burns. “As our educational programs continue to evolve alongside advancing technology, the demand for additional space on our school campuses becomes increasingly apparent,” he said in a prepared statement.

Alisal is also getting an update to its cafeteria. With more than 3,000 students, Cabrera said it came to the district’s attention that it has gotten increasingly difficult to keep order within the lunch room. Part of the improvements include an express service lane for the food service department and cafeteria staff to get students through quicker and allow more space to feed students.

The district also has plans to build a new performing arts center at Everett Alvarez High School. That project will cost approximately $25 million.

Santa Cruz Warriors named G League Franchise of the Year

For the third time in the past four years, the Santa Cruz Warriors was named the G League Franchise of the Year.

The Warriors’ affiliate has now won the distinction four times since the award began in 2017-18. The honor is determined by a vote among league executives, evaluating based on three core pillars: “compete with intensity, lead with integrity, and inspire play.”

“The Warriors are honored to accept the Franchise of the Year recognition for the fourth time,” Santa Cruz Warriors president Chris Murphy said in a statement.

“This award is a celebration of our collective effort, dedication and synergy as a team, and we are honored to share this recognition with the entire Santa Cruz community.”

Nicholas Kerr, Steve Kerr’s son, served as head coach for the first time after three years as an assistant. The Sea Dubs went 31-19 overall, the third-best record in the league. The Stockton Kings, Sacramento’s affiliate, eliminated Santa Cruz in the G League Western Conference Semifinals.

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According to the team’s press release, Santa Cruz finished first in the league in both ticket sales and partnership revenue, setting a new league record for the latter. The Warriors closed out the 2023-24 regular season with an 18-game sellout streak.

The Warriors brought several G League players up to the NBA, including Pat Spencer, Lester Quinones, Usman Garuba and Gui Santos.

Monterey High, Carmel River School win state honors

In recognition of their academic and student success, Monterey High School and Carmel River School have been deemed top performing schools on the 2023 state Honor Roll list. The list is determined by student achievement data via standardized state testing. The list also takes into account various socioeconomic demographics.

Conducted by the Educational Results Partnership, the Honor Roll list is part of the national Campaign for Business and Education Excellence, which aims to recognize successful schools and districts that prepare students for the workforce. In order to be eligible for recognition, students must perform higher than the state average on the English Arts and Math Assessments on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress test.

According to the Honor Roll’s methodology, the recognition is also reserved for schools that serve underrepresented students. Schools and districts in the same counties are compared against each other for the list. In Monterey County, Carmel River School and Monterey High School were the only two schools recognized.

“Great schools are more than just students and staff, although ours have done a great job,” said Monterey High Principal Thomas Newton. “It takes parents and community members coming together and when they do, students feel good and feel like they matter.”

Monterey High School was one of two Monterey County schools to be recognized as a top-performer in the state. (Courtesy of Marissa Schwartz).

Honoring these students, schools and districts is a statewide initiative. In collaboration with Educational Results Partnership, the California Honor Roll is presented by the California Foundation for Commerce and Education, California Black Chamber of Commerce, CalAsian Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and various other business leaders throughout the state.

The search for top performers takes into account the past four years of state testing. Schools and districts must test above state metrics at least 80% of the time for three of those four years to be eligible for recognition. According to the methodology, 2020 test scores were not evaluated, due to the reduced reporting requirements amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

To further categorize the schools, they are split into Scholar and STAR categories. A school like Monterey High, with more than 33% of its population designated as lower income, is designated a STAR school. A Scholar school means that 33% or less of the student population is considered lower income – Carmel River School was placed in the Scholar category.

Much of the student population at Monterey High is “socioeconomically disadvantaged, yet our students are doing great and go on to do great things,” said Newton.

Another eligibility requirement was a minimum population of 100 students per school, and 500 students per district. Home schools, Juvenile Court Schools and Continuation Schools were not eligible for the Honor Roll.

For the standardized testing requirement, schools and districts had to meet all 19 performance requirements in order to be recognized as a top performing school. Some of those requirements include meeting or exceeding the expectations for math for socio-economically disadvantaged students, Hispanic/Latino students and Native/American or Alaska native students.

The requirements for the English Language Arts portion of the test is similar. Schools and districts must meet or exceed the expectations for students of various underrepresented or minority groups.

To ensure the methodology is accurate, after analyzing the data, the results were validated through a three-step process. A testing suite was performed to determine that the procedures used to generate the list were functioning properly. Then, integration tests were conducted to ensure the data was correct. Functional tests were then performed to confirm the requirements were all met.

After the data analysis, the final Honor Roll list is then reviewed by two individuals not associated with the Educational Results Partnership. They have experience working with educational data and ensure that the final schools and districts on the list meet the methodology.

For Newton, the recognition is “validation for the work we’re trying to accomplish. (It’s) something we can be proud of and motivation to keep growing.”

Horoscopes May 23, 2024: Joan Collins, don’t look back

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kelly Monaco, 48; Jewel, 50; Drew Carey, 66; Joan Collins, 91.

Happy Birthday: A little compassion paired with insight will have you off to the races. Put pressure on yourself to tidy up loose ends, and free yourself to indulge in some pastimes you want to conquer. Consider who you can pass jobs and responsibilities to, and don’t look back. Set the stage for a year to remember instead of enduring. Your numbers are 6, 17, 23, 30, 38, 41, 46.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You have the drive and desire to get things done. Budget, plan and gather those you want along for the ride. Idle time is the enemy, so stay focused on your goal. It’s time to finish what you start. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take the initiative and stand up for your beliefs. The only way things will get done is if you do them yourself. Make a change that leads to new beginnings and opportunities, and stop worrying about who keeps up and who falls by the wayside. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Put a plan in place that allows you to fulfill your dreams, and take care of your responsibilities. Leave no room for your critics to point the finger or dismantle your plans. Show passion in everything you do, and you’ll gain momentum. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Keep an open mind, learn as you go and put your imagination to good use. What you discover about yourself will help map out your course of action. A change will lead to an unexpected opportunity. Prepare to make a positive change. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Keep moving forward until you are satisfied with the results. Refuse to let anyone stand between you and your objective. Trust your intuition in joint ventures, finances, health issues and love. If you pay attention, you’ll make better decisions. 5 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Rely on facts and control emotions. Taking a walk down memory lane will remind you why you are heading where you are. Completion is necessary if you want to reach your goal and gain the freedom you deserve to follow your heart. 2 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t stop yourself from having fun. Engage in activities that stimulate your mind and encourage you to look your best. Sharing feelings and intentions with someone special will ground you and help you decide what you want to pursue next. Romance is in the stars. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ll feel discombobulated if you don’t take control and know when to say enough is enough. Step outside your comfort zone if that’s what it takes to get things done to your specifications. Recognize an opportunity and jump at the chance to make it happen. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Gather the facts and act accordingly. If you act on gossip, the results will be a letdown. Problems at home or with someone close to you will require time, energy and redirection to improve the situation. Think outside the box, and you’ll find workable solutions. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Try something new, research, let your imagination play a role and see where it leads. An incident will give you the push to bring about positive change and encourage you to take better care of yourself, your finances and what’s important to you. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Size up situations, say what you think and proceed. Recognizing what’s happening and acting to modify the results will give you the confidence to reinvent yourself and what you want to do next. Don’t let anyone stand in your way or cause you to miss out on something you want. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Rise above inevitable situations and live in the moment. Take in the positive and release the negative. A mindset change will help you reverse what is no longer working for you and pave the way to a brighter future. Follow your intuition and heart. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are innovative, spontaneous and pioneering. You are loving and kind.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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CCS playoffs: Jones hurls Salinas into Division I softball finals

LOS GATOS — Stubborn, determined, unflappable.

Two consecutive appearances in the Central Coast Section Division II softball finals have ended in heartbreaking fashion for Salinas.

“It always weighs on you,” Salinas coach Ron Guzman said. “Last year is still in the back of our minds. What could we have done to finish that game? From a players standpoint, it’s about redemption.”

Perhaps landing in Division I this spring will offer a change of fortune as the Cowboys are headed back to a title game for a third straight year.

Abi Jones pitched another gem Wednesday, tossing a four-hitter as Salinas shut out top-seed King’s Academy of Sunnyvale 2-0 at Los Gatos High to advance to the championship.

The No. 4 seeded Cowboys (20-9) will face Thursday’s Monterey-Branham winner on Saturday at a site and time yet to be determined.

Last spring Salinas fell 4-2 in the Division II title game to Monterey on a walk-off homer. In 2022, it dropped a 3-2 decision to Carlmont.

“What happened last year is very motivating,” Jones said. “It’s one of my biggest motivations. I look back at that moment a lot. I want to make sure it never happens again. I haven’t forgotten.”

The Cowboys have faced Monterey twice this year, falling 2-0 in both games — finishing third in the Gabilan Division behind the Toreadores and league champion Hollister.

“We want Monterey — all day,” said Jones, whose last loss in the circle came against the Toreadores on May 6.

Salinas did knock off Branham 4-0 on March 8 in the Circle of Champions Tournament.

It’s been 26 years since the Cowboys won the programs first and only section softball title, ironically coming in Division I.

“It’s sinking in more and more what our expectations are and the level of play we want to get to,” Guzman said. “When they saw the schedule I set up in the preseason, the kids understand it prepares us. You have to earn the respect.”

Jones was masterful in taming King’s Academy (21-4) on just four hits. The San Jose State bound junior hurler struck out 11 and has 28 strikeouts in two postseason games.

“My energy was my strength,” Jones said. “I wanted this game so bad. I fed off the energy of my teammates. We were going to make this happen no matter what.”

Salinas broke up a scoreless battle in the fourth inning when Sam Merillana laid down a bunt that moved Sam Regalado to third base. However, when the ball was misplayed, Regalado continued home.

“She has wheels,” said Jones, in speaking of Regalado, who doubled to start the rally, and finished with a pair of hits.

The Cowboys added insurance in the sixth inning when Jones singled home a run, her fifth run batted in over two playoff games.

“I don’t think you’ll find a league with the strength we have in the Gabilan Division,” said Guzman, in speaking about the four teams still alive in the postseason. “With all the young pitching, it will continue to remain strong.”

Baseball

St. Ignatius 10, Carmel 0, five innings: A seven-run second inning derailed the Padres, who fell in the Division I semifinals to the San Francisco-based private school.

Despite the setback, the Gabilan Division champions will still qualify for the Northern California tournament, where they will be seeded Sunday into one of six, eight-team divisions.

“The only way this becomes a true loss is if we don’t take something from it and get better,” Carmel coach Mike Kelly said. “We’ll learn and we’ll be better in our next game. We will make adjustments and corrections.”

Carmel earned an automatic bid into the Northern California tournament after opening the section tournament with an upset win over Los Gatos. All Division I teams that won their first-round game advanced.

The Padres (23-6) took part in the Northern California Division III tournament last year, reaching the semifinals before falling 1-0 to Oakmont of Roseville.

“The kids understand that we live for another day and are very grateful for it,” Kelly said.

One inning changed the moral in the No. 6 seeded Padres dugout when St. Ignatius, who plays in the West Catholic Athletic League, erupted for seven runs.

“We didn’t play that terribly,” Kelly said. “But it happened, and we didn’t respond back. I know we tried. It wasn’t due to a lack of effort. You have to hand it to the other team. No excuses.”

Seeded No. 7, St. Ignatius (20-9) has knocked off two higher seeded opponents by a combined score of 12-0. It’s one of five teams from the WCAL that were seeded into the eight-team bracket.

SF Giants give Pirates taste of their own medicine in dramatic comeback win

PITTSBURGH — Consider them even.

If the Giants lost a game they should have won to open their series with the Pirates, they enjoyed a reversal of fortune Wednesday evening.

This time, it was the Pirates who built a five-run lead against Blake Snell and watched it slip away as their relievers provided little relief and their fielders forgot how to field. In a game they had little business winning, the Giants prevailed in extra innings, 9-5, for their ninth come-from-behind win of the season.

Down to their final out in the ninth inning, LaMonte Wade Jr. drove home Luis Matos with his third hit of the game to tie the score at 5, and after failing to score their automatic runner in extra innings the previous night, they piled on with four runs in the top of the 10th.

“This was a really big game for us,” manager Bob Melvin said. “If we come back and don’t win that game, it’s almost like losing another really, really, really tough game. So when (Wade’s) at-bat comes up there and we’ve got a chance to tie the game, you’ve feel pretty good about it. He’s very calm in those at-bats. He’s knows what he wants to do and he knows what he’s looking for and he never alters his game plan, so that was a huge hit.”

To go along with his three hits, Wade drew three walks, becoming the first Giants player to reach base six times in one game since he did it last June in Colorado. In the most important moment, he lived up to his “Late Night” moniker.

“It’s a great feeling know that’s his moment, knowing that he has a good reputation,” Matos said through Spanish-language interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I knew that when I got to second base it was going to be his moment.”

Matos was able to score on Wade’s line drive to right field thanks to Bryan Reynolds’ error in left field, as he bobbled his base hit, allowing Matos to hustle to second. He extended the inning with a two-strike liner that Reynolds cut off but didn’t field cleanly.

“My whole intention during that at-bat and when I hit the ball, I was going to go to second, regardless,” Matos said. “So when he fumbled the ball, it just made it easier for me.”

Added Wade, “That doesn’t happen if Matos doesn’t get to second base.”

It was Reynolds, the former Giants farmhand, who had been set up to play the hero for Pittsburgh before his defensive misplay.

After Snell loaded the bases in the fourth inning and was forced from the game, Reynolds unloaded them with one swing of the bat off Sean Hjelle, who was called on to relieve Snell with one out and one run already in. Prevailing in a seven-pitch battle, Reynolds’ grand slam halfway up the right field grandstands opened a 5-0 Pittsburgh lead.

Four of the runs were charged to Snell, whose previous three starts were so poor that the performance lowered his ERA, to 11.40 from 11.57.

Besides battling a blister in his foot, though, Snell and Melvin both came away from his 3⅓ innings with more positive takeaways than his first three.

“Results-wise, fans will be upset … I felt good today, so it’s frustrating not doing what I know I should have done,” Snell said. “But I like where I’m at. I’m confident. I feel good about how the ball’s coming out. … I’ll be getting better.”

“They made Blake throw some pitches, but his stuff was a lot better today,” Melvin said. “Unfortunately I had to go get him in the middle of the inning and that didn’t work out, but I thought his stuff was way better. … (His) velo was a little bit higher. The breaking balls were sharper; he was throwing strikes with them. He just got a little bit tired. But it looked different to me, in terms of the quality of the stuff.”

The grand slam allowed by Hjelle was the first home run served up by the 6-foot-11 reliever since April 24, a span of nine appearances and 12⅓ innings over which he had a 1.46 ERA.

Once Hjelle escaped the nightmare fourth inning, though, he and four other Giants relievers combined to hold the Pirates scoreless for the next six frames.

From the final out of the fourth inning on, the Giants’ bullpen retired 18 Pirates in a row with contributions from Randy Rodriguez (2 IP, 4 K), Tyler Rogers (1 IP, 1K), Ryan Walker (1 IP, 1 K) and Camilo Doval (1 IP, 1 K), who broke the streak with an inconsequential two-out walk in the 10th.

The relief effort kept the Giants in the game as they scratched two runs back on Matt Chapman’s seventh home run of the season — his third in the past 10 games — and another on an RBI single from Jorge Soler. Driving home Patrick Bailey from second, Soler’s fifth-inning line drive into left field was only his sixth hit of the season in 32 at-bats with runners in scoring position and he later added another to pad their advantage in extra innings.

For contrast, the comeback was made possible by Aroldis Chapman, who faced three batters after relieving Pirates starter Jared Jones to start the eighth inning and walked them all. Cutting the deficit to a single run heading into the ninth, Wade, the recipient of the first free pass, came around to score when Joey Bart, the Pirates’ catcher, opted to go for the easy out at first base on a dribbler from Soler in front of the plate.

“We felt like we should’ve done a little more damage that inning, too,” Melvin said of the bases-loaded, no outs opportunity that resulted in one run. “But we did just enough to now we’re bringing Tyler (Rogers) into the game, which was a little different than what we might have done.”

San Francisco’s win also made it easier to forget Snell’s suboptimal return to the starting rotation, a departure from the dominance displayed in two rehab outings against minor-league hitters and more of the same from the three starts he made against major-league competition before a monthlong stint on the injured list with an adductor strain.

After striking out 17 and issuing only one walk over nine hitless rehab innings, Snell walked four Pirates, hit a batter and unleashed a wild pitch that put a runner in scoring position. He faced 20 batters and fell behind in the count against half of them, running three-ball counts to nine hitters, including the four he walked.

“The bullpen was really good before the game,” Snell said. “First inning was good. I just feel like it’s coming out effortlessly. My adjustments are a lot quicker. And being able to repeat things is a lot better. Today, the last couple innings were not good. But I understand why.”

His start began by firing three straight fastballs outside the strike zone to the Pirates’ leadoff man, Andrew McCutchen, though he eventually recovered to record the first of his five strikeouts. It came to an end when he spiked a curveball into McCutchen’s back foot in the fourth.

The hit batter forced in the Pirates’ first run of the game after Snell loaded the bases with a pair of walks and an infield single that he failed to field, giving way to a barehanded attempt from third baseman Matt Chapman that arrived late to first base. A batter later, Reynolds cleared the bases.

“I should’ve got that,” Snell said. “He said I got it, but it was right there. I should have gotten it. That’s on me, for sure.”

The comeback ensured the Giants won for the first time with their prized free-agent addition on the mound, though Walker earned the win in relief.

“It was fun to see the boys come through, especially after yesterday,” Snell said. “To see that happen to us and show a little bit of resiliency there and make it happen, that was awesome. We’ve just got to keep winning.”

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RHP Nick Avila was optioned to Double-A Richmond in a corresponding move when the Giants activated Snell. Like Blake Sabol a day earlier, Avila was sent down two levels to keep him nearby in case he is needed again while the team is on the East Coast, in the likely event Snell heads on the paternity list after his start.

His girlfriend, Haeley Mar, is expected to give birth to their first child by the end of the month.

Up next

RHP Mason Black (0-1, 7.70) is expected to take down bulk innings in a bullpen game against RHP Paul Skenes (1-0, 2.70), the Pirates’ flamethrowing rookie sensation, with first pitch of Thursday’s series finale scheduled for 9:35 a.m. PT, airing out-of-market on MLB Network.