San Mateo County local diamond briefs • Friday, May 9, 2025

Nor Cal super regional

No. 3 Fresno 8, No. 6 CSM 6

A five-run fourth propelled the host Rams to the win in Game 3 in one of four Nor Cal super regionals.

Fresno (35-7) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but CSM (28-15) answered with two runs in the top of the third and fourth for a 4-2 lead.

But the Rams took control of the game with a five-run fifth for a 7-4 lead. The Bulldogs closed to 7-6 with two runs in top of the sixth, but Fresno got an insurance run in the bottom of the inning.

Dylan Hillman homered for the second game in a row for CSM, driving in two runs. Aaron Babeav had three hits, including a homer and two RBIs. AJ Minyard took the loss, allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits in just three innings.

CSM will need to win a pair of games Saturday to advance to the final eight teams in the state tournament. The Bulldogs and Rams will play at 11 a.m. Saturday and an if-necessary game following a half hour later if CSM wins.

No. 2 West Valley 11, No. 7 Skyline 10

The Trojans rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game, but the host Vikings walked off with the win in the bottom of the inning to take the win in what is a best-of-3 series.

This was a gut-punch loss for Skyline (32-11), which trailed 9-0 after three innings. But the Trojans got back into the game with four runs in the fourth and three more in the sixth to cut the deficit 10-7.

Vihnson Nguyen hit a three-run homer for Skyline, with Nick Tobin and Jacob DuFrene drove in a pair of runs each for the Trojans.

Colin Spear drove in three runs for West Valley (35-9), with David Estrada, Carmelo Rivera and Isaac Hawthorne adding two RBIs apiece.

The two teams will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday, with an if-necessary game played 40 minutes later.

College softball

Nor Cal second-round regional

No. 2 CSM 3, No. 10 Hartnell 0

The Bulldogs posted their third straight shutout win in the playoffs as they took another step closer to the state tournament winning Game 1 of the best-of-3 series.

Hartnell (25-15-1), however, made CSM (38-3) work for the win as the two teams were scoreless through the first five innings. But the Bulldogs secured the win with a three-run bottom of the sixth.

Nohemi Livingston doubled and drove in a run for CSM while also getting the win in the circle with a complete-game, three hitter. Ava Mendoza drove in a run for the Bulldogs, as well.

The two teams will meet again at noon Saturday.

THURSDAY

Baseball

Crystal 3, South City 2

The Gryphons snapped the Warriors’ 13-game winning streak and moved just a game behind South City for the Lake Division title with two games left in the regular season.

Crystal (10-3 PAL, 17-3 overall) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, but South City (11-2, 19-5) tied it with two runs in the top of the fifth.

But the Gryphons pulled out the win with a run in the bottom of the sixth.

Tyler Hanebrink drove in all three runs for Crystal with two of the Gryphons’ four hits. Brandon Ma got the win, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out six and walking six in six innings of work. Hiro Wong got the save.

Emilio Oseguera was the hard-luck loser for the Warriors, giving up three runs on four hits. Adam Keith and Gio Bernal each drove in a run for South City.

Mills 15, El Camino 14

The Vikings scored a 2-point conversion to beat the Colts...

Oops. Wrong sport. After seeing El Camino come roaring back with four runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 14-all, Mills walked off with the win in the bottom of the innings to post the wild Ocean Division victory.

El Camino (2-10 PAL Ocean, 6-17 overall) scored three runs in each of the first three innings. Mills (6-6, 9-10) countered with two in the first, one in the second, three in the fourth and five in the fifth for a 14-10 lead before the Colts rallied in the seventh.

Carlos Alcala had two doubles and drove in three runs for El Camino, Nicolas Jang also had a pair of doubles and drove in two runs, Rocco Bromaghim and Adrian Iniguez each drove in a pair of runs, as well, for the Colts.

Terra Nova 12, San Mateo 2

The Tigers kept the pressure on Ocean Division leader Menlo School, completing the sweep of the Bearcats.

Terra Nova (10-2 PAL Ocean, 17-5-1 overall), which clinched a playoff spot with Tuesday’s win over the Bearcats, remains a game behind Menlo with two game left in the regular season.

Terra Nova scored four runs in the top of the second and put the game away with eight runs in the fifth as the Tigers scored 12 runs on 12 hits. Aiden James hit a three-run homer for Terra Nova. Luke Ornelas and JT Snead also drove in three runs each, as well. Jesse Martinez got the win, giving up one run on three hits in five innings of work.

San Mateo (4-8, 11-14) scored single runs in fourth and seventh innings with Ben Delfin picking up an RBI.

Half Moon Bay 6, Aragon 4

Trailing 4-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Cougars turned the tables, scoring four runs to pull out the win.

Aragon (5-7 PAL Ocean, 8-16 overall) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and added two more in the top of the fourth. HMB (5-7, 10-15) answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, but the Dons regained their two-run cushion with a run in the top of the sixth before the Cougars rallied in the bottom of the frame.

Ian Ehrhardt drove in a pair of runs to make a winner Andreas Hipkins, who worked the first six innings, giving up four runs (one earned) while allowing just one hit. Ian Lemens locked down the save.

Aragon managed four runs on just one hit, with Charlie Henderson and Saxon Lucia driving in runs for the Dons.

In other action...

Harker (8-5 PAL Lake, 11-8 overall) shut out winless Jefferson (0-13, 0-20), 17-0.

Priory (6-7 PAL Lake, 9-8 overall) rolled past Westmoor (4-9, 8-10), 11-1.

Softball

King’s Academy 1, Hillsdale 0

King’s kept alive their hopes for a Bay Division title as it slipped past Hillsdale.

King’s stays two games behind Bay-leading Capuchino with two games left in PAL play.

King’s pitcher Katia Nesper made an unusual second start in row against a PAL opponent, limiting Hillsdale (6-6 PAL Bay, 14-9-1 overall) to just two hits, striking out nine. As a Northwestern University commit, Nesper has been asked to limit her pitching this season.

So of course it was Nesper who drove in the game’s only run for King’s (8-4, 14-7).

Maddy Penña made a rare start in the circle for Hillsdale and matched Nesper. Peña allowed one run on just three hits in taking the hard-luck loss. Lexi Kuka, who has been injured most the season, pitched the final two innings, giving up just one hit.

Carlmont 4, Woodside 3

The Scots dealt the Wildcats’ playoff hopes a blow with the win in Belmont.

With the top four teams from the Bay Division earning automatic berths, Woodside (6-6 PAL Bay, 12-10 overall) find itself in a tie with Hillsdale for fourth place. The two teams split their series this season.

Carlmont (3-9, 6-17) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second before adding two in the third and one more in the fourth to lead 4-1. The Scots then weathered a Hillsdale rally, that saw the Knights score two runs in the top of the sixth.

Zoe Wodarczyk, Katherine Fung and Jordyn Sbragia all drove in a run for the Scots, while Sophia Cerelli and Emma Gonnikman combined for the win in the circle. Cerelli got her first win of the year, working the first four innings, giving up one run on two hits. Gonnikman went the final three, wobbling home for the save.