Prep roundup: Branham snaps Leigh’s streak, Woodside pitcher throws no-hitter

Branham 2, No. 15 Leigh 1

Branham’s senior pitcher Evan Williams threw a complete game and struck out seven as the Bruins snapped Leigh’s 11-game winning streak. 

Williams also drove in a run with a single into right field in the top of the first. Senior Colin Williams’ fly ball scored Gunnar Paedon in the top of the next inning to double the lead. 

Leigh senior infielder Nate Miller cut the lead to one in the bottom of the third with a home run to left, his third homer of the year. 

With the victory, Branham (17-7, 10-6) spoiled the Longhorns’ (16-8, 12-4) bid to clinch the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton Division and kept the door open for itself or Pioneer to co-win the league with two games left. 

Woodside 1, Hillsdale 0

Woodside junior Harry Pelzman pitched a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts and no walks in a 1-0 victory over second-place Hillsdale. This was two days after Hillsdale (13-8, 8-3) had blown Woodside (15-6-1, 7-5) out 15-0 in five innings in PAL-Ocean competition.  

Pelzman threw 93 pitches, and only an error kept the junior from a perfect game. Braiden Boswel had two hits and a double, and Woodside’s one run by Connor Davison was unearned. 

Hillsdale needs to win its final three league games and hope Sacred Heart Prep drops its final two games to share the league crown with SHP. 

Heritage 1, Liberty 0

Landon Marchetti tossed a complete game shutout with nine strikeouts and zero walks as Heritage (16-7, 8-2) clinched the Bay Valley Athletic League title in a pitcher’s duel against Liberty (15-8, 6-3).

Liberty’s Cole Ehrhorn, who struck out four and allowed only four hits, didn’t allow a run until the final batter, when Elijah Ward scored on a wild pitch to walk it off.

Christopher 6, Pioneer 4

Christopher junior Ricky Wilkerson drove in three RBIs as the Cougars prevented Pioneer from taking advantage of a Leigh loss in BVAL-Mt. Hamilton competition. 

Sophomore pitcher Nick Valentine was also fantastic, striking out nine in five innings for Christopher, which improved to 14-8 and 9-7 in the league.

Sophomore Jayden Flores hit a triple and drove in two RBIs for Pioneer, and Derek Izumi and Grayden Eister each had two hits. 

Pioneer, now 14-8-1 and 10-6 in the BVAL, needs to win its last two league games against Leland and hope Leigh loses its three remaining league games to earn a tie for first place. 

Sacred Heart Cathedral 8, No. 17 St. Francis 2

Sacred Heart Cathedral used a quick start to pull off the upset of third-place St. Francis in a West Catholic Athletic League showdown. 

The Fightin’ Irish, now 12-13 and 5-8 in the WCAL, scored three runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back as it handed defending CCS champs St. Francis (14-11, 6-7) the 8-2 loss. 

SHC junior Aaron Louis batted 2 for 4 and drove in three runs, and fellow junior Jair Marta also batted 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. 

Pitchers Dylan Adelman and Franco Moran combined for 10 strikeouts and only four hits allowed.

St. Francis is now in a three-way tie with Bellarmine and Serra for third-place in the WCAL. 

No. 18 Sacred Heart Prep 4, El Camino 1

Sacred Heart Prep (18-6-1, 11-1) clinched at least a share of the PAL-Ocean Division title with the victory over El Camino (6-12, 4-8). 

Max Courson batted 2 for 2, scored one run and drove in another. Senior Andrew Rocha went 2 for 4 and scored a run, and catcher Mason Chetcuti had one hit, walked twice and drove in a run for the Gators. 

Freshman Rallin Covey was brilliant against El Camino, allowing just four hits while striking out nine and walking none. El Camino right fielder Andy Mak drove in El Camino’s run. 

SHP took control early, scoring a run in each of the first two innings. The Gators can clinch first place with a victory in either of its final two games against San Mateo, or a loss by Hillsdale.  

No. 2 De La Salle 7, California 1

De La Salle (19-4, 11-1) has already clinched the top spot in the East Bay Athletic league’s Mountain Division and set California (10-13, 5-7) back in its quest to claim the third playoff spot.

De La Salle junior Max Ghiglieri went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, senior Smith Chandler had a triple and senior Connor Harrison collected two hits. Junior RJ Meyn pitched six innings and struck out seven.

California senior Zac Ragland batted 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored. 

No. 6 Amador Valley 3, No. 8 Foothill 0

Amador Valley (17-4, 8-4) got a gem from pitcher Matthew Foley, who allowed three hits over seven innings and struck out seven as the Dons shut out Pleasanton rival Foothill (15-7, 7-5). Left fielder Braden Whitworth hit a home run and drove in two runs for Amador Valley. Senior Tyler Gebb struck out 10 for Foothill. 

College Park 3, No. 5 Clayton Valley Charter 2

One inning away from clinching the Diablo Athletic League’s Foothill Division, Clayton Valley Charter (16-5, 7-1) blew a 2-0 lead to host College Park (11-10, 5-3) to lose its first DAL game and keep the league race alive.

College Park senior Charlie Malton drove in two RBIs, and freshman Desmond Cobb drove in the other Falcon RBI. CVC will clinch the league if it can win one of its last two league games. 

Softball

No. 15 Amador Valley 12, Foothill 8

Amador Valley (14-10, 9-4) continued its outstanding run of play with a victory over crosstown rival Foothill (9-12, 5-7), winning its seventh in a row. 

The Dons used the long ball to outscore Foothill, with catcher McKenna Charbonneau hitting two home runs and driving in three RBIs, giving her three home runs this week. Aleena Helms also hit a homer for one of her two hits on the day.

Foothill also displayed power in a losing effort, as junior Marissa Anderson belted two home runs, giving her six on the season, and driving in two runs. Alexia Garcia and Ava Haubner each drove in two RBIs. 

Lauren Tran was credited with the Amador Valley win after she closed the game out with 3.2 innings of three-hit ball. 

No. 6 San Ramon Valley 3, Monte Vista 0

San Ramon Valley controls its destiny in the EBAL thanks to a one-hit complete game from ace Paige McLeod. She also batted 1 for 3 and drove in one RBI. Gianna Baccei and Ava Lyons each had one RBI for the host Wolves (17-5, 9-3). Angelina Betti had Monte Vista’s (10-10, 8-4) only hit. 

If San Ramon Valley can defeat Carondelet on Friday and California (9-3) loses, the Wolves will clinch the EBAL-Mountain Division. 

If SRV loses and California wins, then California will win the league. If both teams lose their last EBAL game and Monte Vista (8-4) defeats Dougherty Valley, then that will create a four-way tie at the top of the division with Amador Valley.

No. 20 Heritage 9, Liberty 1

Heritage’s (13-5, 6-3) bats were unstoppable in a rout of BVAL leaders Liberty (11-12, 7-2).  Heritage’s Alex Cutonilli hit a home run, Skylar Stroh knocked out two hits and two RBIs, and Jessica Im drove in three runs and hit a triple.

Kylie Garcia pitched a complete game and struck out four. If Heritage can defeat Liberty again in the season finale, the teams will be tied atop the BVAL standings. 

Hillsdale 3, No. 4 Sequoia 1

After Lexi Kuka pitched a complete game and struck out seven, Hillsdale dealt a blow to Sequoia’s hopes of winning the PAL-Bay Division. Hillsdale (14-5, 8-4) got RBIs from Claire  Shelton, Mia DeMartini and senior Bianca Erickson. 

Ainsley Waddell hit a pair of doubles and struck out seven for Sequoia (15-5, 7-4). Capuchino and Carlmont are tied for first at 9-2 in the PAL-Bay.