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.
