CCS postseason: Alvarez to play for third straight section softball title
SALINAS — A season that began with such promise along with a record-breaking start hit a pair of roadblocks that changed the dynamics of Alvarez’s spring.
Perseverance meant overcoming a seven-game losing streak from a pair of tournaments, followed by a five-game skid — at one point sitting at 2-9 in the Gabilan Division.
“We had to let them know that the losses are learning lessons,” Alvarez coach Andy Meza said. “We had two key injuries. A lot of the younger players had to step up and fill some shoes. We told them we’re still a strong team.
That championship pedigree that catapulted the Eagles to a pair or Central Coast Section didn’t disappear. It just needed to be redefined.
Alvarez will await the North Salinas-Santa Teresa winner in its bit to three-peat after Tuesday’s 10-0, six inning win over San Mateo in the Division III semifinals at the Salinas Sports Complex.
“I’d love to see an all local championship,” Meza said. “We’ve battled adversity throughout the year. I like to get another shot at North Salinas.”
Alvarez (16-12) dropped both of its Gabilan Division games to North Salinas — the defending CCS Division V champion — by scores of 5-2 and 6-2.
A meeting with No. 2 seed Santa Teresa would mean a rematch of last year’s CCS Division III title game, in which the No. 4 seeded Eagles secured a 5-2 win.
“Honestly, at the end of the game, there wasn’t a big celebration,” Meza said. “The talk was we’re not finished yet. We have more work in front of us.”
Opening the season with a school record nine-game winning streak, the Eagles suffered a pair of injuries to two key parts to its offense. What transpired was a 2-12 stretch.
“The 0-7 skid hurt the ego,” Meza said. “We went through a rough stretch. But we battled. We had to findn ourselves until these kids came back.”
Closing the regular season with three straight wins and a play-in win brought the confidence back for the postseason, where for the first time in two months, Alvarez has its entire lineup intact.
“No, I didn’t expect this a month ago,” Meza said. “I love my coaching staff. They inspire the girls and push them. There part of the season we’re at this point.”
It doesn’t hurt have an ace in the circle in junior Dani Amendola in the circle, as the right-hander struck out 12 in six innings, allowing one hit.
In two postseason game, the all-county hurler has 22 strikeouts in 13 innings, allowing just one earned run. Amendola also has a game-winning hit to her credit.
Amaris Perez continued to swing a hot bat for the Eagles with three hits, including a double and triple. In two playoff games, she is 5-for-7 at the plate with three steals.
Alexia Meza doubled and tripled and drove in two runs, while Lizbeth Ramirez finished with two hits and an RBI. Having Jazzy Riemedio back in the lineup has been bonus, as she drove in three runs, two coming on a single to end the game.
Baseball
Capuchino 4, Monterey 3: The top-seeded Mustangs erupted for four runs in the sixth inning to erase a three-run deficit and knock off Monterey under the lights at Sollecito Park.
The No. 4 seeded Toreadores, who came into the semifinals riding a three-game winning streak, including a playoff opening win over Soledad, jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Capuchino rallied in the bottom of the sixth.
Monterey left the bases loaded in the seventh.
Jackson Everett was sailing along with a shutout through five innings for Monterey, who finishes the season 14-16, having missed the playoffs just once in the last 30 years.
Capuchino and Monterey both finished sixth in their respective leagues this past spring. The San Bruno-based school is 13-2 outside the Peninsula Bay Division, improving to 19-10 overall.
The Mustangs are making their second straight finals appearance, having fallen 3-0 last year to Hillsdale. Prior to that, they hadn’t reached the CCS finals since 1981.
A sacrifice fly from Gino Grammatico staked Monterey to a 1-0 lead. A run-scoring single from Matteo Marotta-Gallegos drove in Pat Adams in the sixth to give them a three-run cushion.
Lincoln 6, Alisal 4: The Grizzlies rallied for four runs in the seventh inning to stun No. 2 seed Alisal in the CCS Division VI semifinals at Hartnell College.
Champions of the Mission Division, Alisal had jumped out to a 4-1 lead through five innings, pushing across runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings — with the benefit of just three hits.
Pitcher Julian Valadez was sailing along for the Trojans (19-8) through six innings, before a hits batsman with one out in the seventh inning ended his night.
What transpired was a fielders choice and error that paved the way for No. 3 seed Lincoln to push across four runs to erase a two-run deficit.
While Alisal got the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning, a double play whipped it out, sending Lincoln to the finals for the first time in school history.
Angel Barajas, Xavier Mendez, Caleb Gabriel and JP Serrato all drove in runs for Alisal.
