San Mateo County local diamond briefs • Tuesday, April 21, 2026

This season, San Mateo finds itself squarely in the race for a Bay Division title. Two weeks ago, the Bearcats knocked off current Bay Division leader Hillsdale for the first time in more than 16 years. Tuesday, San Mateo put a 13-2, mercy-rule beating on defending champion Capuchino on the Mustangs’ all-weather field in San Bruno.

The win gives the Bearcats a Bay Division-leading six wins, one more than idle Hillsdale. But San Mateo is one game back of the Knights in the loss column.

Bearcats starting pitcher Celia Hernandez and Capuchino’s Lily Thomas were locked in a pitcher’s duel through the first two innings before San Mateo (6-2 PAL Bay, 12-4 overall) erupted for nine runs in the top of the third inning. The Bearcats tacked on four more in the top of the fourth.

Capuchino (3-4, 6-8) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth, scoring twice. But the Mustangs needed four runs to keep the game going. Instead, the Bearcats walked away with the win.

San Mateo’s Alice Han continues to play at an MVP level as the Bearcats’ leadoff hitter went 2 for 4 with two doubles and drove in a game-high five runs. Demi Alfonso added two hits, including a triple, and drove in three; Aliyah Scheller and Hernandez both added doubles, as well, with Scheller collecting a pair of RBIs.

Hernandez would end up working three innings in the circle, allowing one hit while striking out five and walking one.

The Capuchino pitchers, starter Thomas and reliever Kiki Ngaluafe, accounted for the Mustangs’ offense as each had an RBI in the bottom of the fifth as three San Mateo pitchers limited Capuchino to just three hits.

TUESDAY

Softball

Mills 9, Woodside 3

The Vikings had to rally from a 2-0 deficit to down the Wildcats as fifth-place Mills tries to get into a position for an automatic bid to the CCS playoffs.

The top four teams from the PAL Bay Division earn automatic spots into the playoffs. Mills (3-4 PAL Bay, 10-5) currently sits in a tie for fifth place with Capuchino.

Woodside (3-5, 11-6) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but Mills took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the third.

And the Vikings kept adding on. They scored four more runs in the fourth and tacked on two more in the fifth as they scored 9 runs on 13 hits.

Lucy Esquivel had another big game for Mills, going 2 for 4 with a homer, double and three RBIs. Alyssa Peñas added a two-run single for the Vikings to make a winner of Kalia Woo, who worked the first three innings, allowing one earned run on five hits. Hailey Pedroza went the final four innings.

Gianna Carrig, Vanessa Carlos and Elizabeth Severin each drove in run for Woodside.

In other action ...

Terra Nova-Menlo-Atherton and King’s Academy-Carlmont were both rained out.

PAL Bay Division standings: Hillsdale 5-1, San Mateo 6-2, Aragon 4-2, King’s Academy 4-4, Capuchino 3-4, Mills 3-4, Woodside 3-5, Carlmont 0-6.

Baseball

San Mateo 2, Woodside 0

The Bearcats kept pace with Sacred Heart Prep atop the PAL Ocean Division standings after shutting out the Wildcats in Woodside.

San Mateo (6-1 PAL Ocean, 13-5) scored single runs in the first and third innings and starting pitcher Christian Louie did the rest. The senior southpaw scattered four hits over six innings of work, while striking out a whopping 14 Woodside batters. Tyce Copus struck out the side in the seventh to earn the save.

Hudson Brandt and Jesus Olivas each drove in a run for the Bearcats.

Woodside falls to 4-3 in Ocean play and 10-6 overall.

Terra Nova 3, Mills 0

Tigers starting pitcher Jesse Martinez was a walk away from a perfect game, but a no-hitter is not a bad consolation prize.

Martinez walked one and struck out eight as Terra Nova (4-3 PAL Ocean 10-8 overall) pulled into a three-way tie for second place in the Ocean Division standings, with Aragon and Woodside.

Martinez helped his own cause at the plate, collecting a pair of hits and driving in a run. Wesley McDougal and Dom Paulsen each added an RBI, as well, for the Tigers.

El Camino 8, Priory 2

The Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Colts came roaring back with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to take control on their way to the PAL Lake Division win.

Carlos Alcala went 2 for 4 with three RBIs to pace the offense for El Camino (8-0 PAL Lake, 13-4 overall). That was enough to make a winner of Michael McCauley, who gave up two runs while scattering six hits in six innings of work.

Design Tech 18, Pinewood 0

The Dragons drilled the Panthers in a Private School Athletic League mercy-rule win.

D Tech (8-0 PSAL, 9-5-1 overall) scored four runs in both the first and second innings, added two more in the third and then put the game-away with an eight-run fourth as the Dragons banged out 15 hits.

Diego Carrasco drove in a game-high four RBIs for D Tech, with Aidan Tom adding a trio of RBIs. Reilly Sutton, Logan Garrett and Josiah Hernandez each drove in two runs.

Branden Hom earned the win on the mound, allowing one hit and getting 12 of 15 outs via strikeout.

PAL Ocean Division standings: Sacred Heart Prep 6-1, San Mateo 6-1, Aragon 4-3, Terra Nova 4-3, Woodside 4-3, Half Moon Bay 3-3, South City 0-6, Mills 0-7.

PAL Lake Division standings: El Camino 8-0, Harker 6-1, Priory 5-3, Westmoor 2-5, Crystal 1-6, Jefferson 0-7.

PSAL standing: Design Tech 8-0, Summit Shasta 6-1, More 5-2, North Valley Baptist 3-5, Pinewood 1-4, KIPP-SJ 1-4.