CCS roundup: Mateo, Aragon softball; Serra baseball advance

Aragon, Mateo to meet in semis

Aragon and San Mateo each won in Monday’s CCS Division I softball quarterfinals. The crosstown rivals will meet Thursday at Saratoga High School at 6 p.m. with a berth in the Division I title game on the line.

No. 2-seed San Mateo (17-5) took down No. 7 Branham 8-4 in the quarters at College of San Mateo. The Bearcats got on the board in the third inning on a two-run home run by Jada Walker. After Mateo jumped out to a 5-0 lead, Branham rallied back to close it to 5-4 in the sixth on a three-run homer by Lindsay Mullins. But Mateo starting pitcher Sage Hager induced a ground ball to end the inning, and the Bearcats answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Mateo banged out 15 hits in the contest. Izzy Borges and Bethany Shih led the way with three hits apiece.

No. 3-seed Aragon (20-6) earned its 20th win of the year with a 7-4 victory over No. 6 Gilroy (14-12) at College of San Mateo. Gilroy led twice — 2-0 after two innings, and 4-2 after four — but Aragon answered swiftly both times. Then tied 4-4 in the fifth, the Dons took the lead on an RBI single by Samantha Kennedy, who later scored on an error. Then freshman Liv DiNardo produced an RBI double to cap a three-run rally.

Division II

Bgame eliminated by top-seed Valley Christian

The No. 9-seed Lady Panthers (13-10) were overcome 13-3 at No. 1 Valley Christian in Monday’s CCS Division II quarterfinals. Valley opened with a three-run first and scored in all but one inning for the mercy-rule win, including a three-run rally in the bottom of the fifth for the walk-off win.

Burlingame junior Sophia Palacio was 2 for 2 with an RBI.

Baseball

Serra advances to Open semis

The No. 5-seed Padres (19-10) rallied for three runs in the first and led the entire way in a 5-2 win at No. 4 Santa Cruz (22-6) in Monday’s CCS Open Division opener. Senior right-hander Juliano Rodriguez returned to action for the first time since April 16 and worked 4 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out seven to earn the win. Senior right-hander Christian Falk entered with one on and one out in the seventh to nail down the save.

Marek Palladino produced a two-run single in the first. Palladino, Falk and Kannon Clayton had two hits apiece.

Serra now advances to Wednesday’s Open Division semifinals to take on top-seed Valley Christian at San Jose Municipal Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Cap eliminated in DII quarters

No. 10-seed Capuchino (15-13) fell 5-2 to No. 2 Aptos (21-6-1) in Monday’s CCS Division II quarterfinals. Aptos rallied for a run in the first, and two runs in each the third and fourth to mount a five-run lead. The Mustangs totaled five hits on the day.