South City, San Mateo both headed to first-ever CCS softball finals

San Mateo will now advance to the CCS finals for the first time in program history to face crosstown Hillsdale, the No. 1 seed in the bracket. The two are set to meet Saturday at West Valley College in Saratoga. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.

This was the Bearcats’ third all-time appearance in the CCS semifinals, previously doing so in back-to-back years in 2018 and ’19.

In Division V, No. 2-seed South City won its second straight playoff game via mercy rule, knocking out No. 3 Soledad Wednesday afternoon at MacDonald High School in San Jose. The Warriors are also set to make their first CCS championship appearance, facing No. 4 King City Saturday at San Jose City College. First pitch is slated for 12:30 p.m.

South City defeated Design Tech in the tourney opener, marking the program’s first win ever in a CCS postseason game.

In Division IV, No. 3-seed Woodside is also headed to the CCS finals. The Wildcats eliminated No. 2 Watsonville in Wednesday’s matchup at Los Gatos High School. Woodside will face No. 8 Palma-Salinas in Saturday’s finals at San Jose City College. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.

It will mark Woodside’s second trip to the CCS finals. The Wildcats, falling 8-5 to Gilroy in the 2021 Division III championship game, are still in search of their first CCS title.

WEDNESDAY

San Mateo 2, Alvarez 1

The Bearcats (16-9) rallied in their final at-bat to claim the win in the Division II semifinals. Alvarez jumped out to an early lead with a run in the first. San Mateo tied it with a single run in the fourth.

The all-underclassman San Mateo team was fueled by sophomore Alice Han, who went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Freshman Rachel Warner added a single and an RBI. Sophomore Demi Alfonso had two hits. Alvarez senior Michelle Wallace drove in her team’s only run.

San Mateo starting pitcher Anushka Singh locked up with Alvarez senior Dani Amendola for a splendid pitching duel. Singh worked 6 1/3 innings to earn the win, marking the longest outing of her varsity career. The sophomore allowed one unearned run on five hits and two walks, while striking out four. Amendola went the distance, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, one walk and one hit batsman, while striking out 10.

Sophomore Celia Hernandez entered in relief for the Bearcats and retired both batters she faced to earn the save.

South City 11, Soledad 1

The Warriors (16-8) swung their way to their second straight mercy-rule victory in a five-inning Division V semifinal win over Soledad (12-10). South City rallied for five runs in the top of the first, and scored in four of their five at-bats. A three-spot in the fifth gave the Warriors the 10-run mercy-rule buffer.

Freshman Madyson Jade Quintanilla led the hit parade, going 3 for 3 with a double, a triple, an RBI and four runs scored, improving her batting average to .671, ranking eighth in the CCS and first among all PAL hitters. Sophomore Sydney Semans added two hits and three RBIs, while sophomore Miley Salvatore had two hits with a double and two RBIs.

Semans earned the win in the circle, allowing one unearned run on six hits and one hit batsman while striking out one. Her record improves to 13-3 on the year.

Woodside 2, Watsonville 1

The Wildcats (15-11) generated two unearned runs in the first inning, and starting pitcher Hannah Walker did the rest in pitching duel against Watsonville (14-14). Freshman Ava Baker drove in both Woodside runs with a two-run double in the first.

Walker followed with her fifth straight complete game, allowing one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out four. She improves to 15-9 with a 2.16 ERA. Watsonville starter Amelia Martinez took the hard-luck loss, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out eight.

Ashley Jimenez drove in Watsonville’s only run in the seventh.

TUESDAY

Willow Glen 6, Capuchino 1

The No. 4-seed Lady Mustangs (21-7) saw their CCS run end with their senior pitcher Lola Sierra locking up with junior Alanna Clincy, one of the best in the CCS, for a classic pitchers duel.

Both pitchers took shutouts into the fourth, when No. 1 Willow Glen (28-0) broke through with two runs. The Lady Rams added two in the fifth. Cap scored once in the top of the sixth, but Willow Glen got the run back in the bottom of the frame.

Clincy allowed one unearned run on three hits and three walks, with 10 strikeouts, surpassing the 200-strikeout mark for the first time in her varsity career. The Cal commit’s record improves to 22-0 with a 0.29 ERA on the year. She now has 209 strikeouts in 121 2/3 innings pitched.

Sierra recorded a complete game, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits, three walks and a hit batsman, while striking out five.

Avery Motroni recorded Cap’s one RBI. Freshman Star Gutierrez added a single and a run scored.

Despite being knocked from the CCS playoffs, the season is still not over for Capuchino. All four teams that make the Open Division semifinals earn automatic berths into the Northern California regional tournament which begins Tuesday, June 3.