Archbishop Mitty's Ava Markert throws perfect game a day after teammate Kyleigh Mace's gem, St. Francis softball dominates again, Capuchino softball ends Sequoia's perfect start, Valley Christian baseball cruises, and more
No. 5 Archbishop Mitty 8, Carondelet 0
What’s better than one perfect game?
How about two perfect games?
One day after freshman Kyleigh Mace crafted her six-inning gem against Sacred Heart Cathedral, teammate Ava Markert followed up by sitting down 18 consecutive Carondelet batters.
Archbishop Mitty’s senior ace, who has now allowed four earned runs across 31.1 innings pitched this season, was untouchable in the Monarch’s 8-0 victory on Thursday night.
Markert’s great performance did not shock Mitty coach Megan Yocke.
“She’s kept us in a lot of games a lot longer than we’d like,” Yocke said. “So it’s not a surprise, and I’m happy for her that she broke through and got the perfect game.”
Markert struck out six on 57 pitches, starring in a matchup that was far closer than the final score indicated.
“We don’t have the experience we had last year,” Yocke said of her talented but young team’s tendency to start slow. “I think it’s about feeling it out and learning.”
Mitty (9-1) took a while to put away Carondelet (4-7-1) at the Livermore Stampede event. The teams were deadlocked in a scoreless tie until midway through the fifth inning.
That’s when freshman McKenna Woliczko hit the first home run of her high school career, a two-run shot.
That blast was the catalyst of an offensive explosion for the Monarchs, who scored one more in the fifth and five runs in the sixth to secure the victory.
“She’s a fantastic athlete,” Yocke said about the girl who was dominating on the basketball court less than a month ago. “In everything she does, she goes at it 100 percent. It’s just fun to be around that kind of energy and that kind of athleticism.”
Junior Keira Brady was also productive, going 3 for 3 and scoring two runs. Mia Rodriguez went 3 for 4 and Lindsey Miller also hit a home run.
After playing the late 7 p.m. game on Thursday, the San Jose school will have 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Friday games against Amador Valley and Benicia respectively.
“This is a great tournament because no matter who you’re playing, it feels like great competition,” Yocke said. “It’s nice to get out of your area and (play) teams you don’t know as well.”
No. 1 Saint Francis 9, Monte Vista 0
No. 1 Saint Francis 9, Freedom 2
The Lancers (11-1) dominated both of their games on Thursday, starting with a lopsided win over Monte Vista (3-4) in five innings. Kate Munnerlyn went three innings and struck out eight, and then Chloe Cummings K’ed two more in relief to close out the game. Munnerlyn also hit a home run and had four RBIs, and Lexi O’Gorman also drove in two runs. Freshman Jaime Oakland was 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Monte Vista shortstop Jasmine Chao had one of three Mustang hits.
Saint Francis was in control against Freedom (2-4) from the very start, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning as the Lancers cruised to another victory. Third baseman Rebecca Quinn hit a home run and drove in three runs, and Hannah Cushing also accounted for three RBIs. Shannon Keighran, who threw a no-hitter last week, struck out seven in five innings. Isabella Beltram drove in both of Freedom’s runs.
No. 9 Capuchino 4, No. 18 Sequoia 1
Capuchino scored three runs in the top of the seventh to saddle Sequoia (10-1) with its first loss of the season. Capuchino (12-2) had Avery Motroni, Madison Choi, Lola Sierra and Elizabeth Do drive in one run apiece during the league matchup. Nohemi Livingston struck out four and held Sequoia scoreless for the final six innings. Freshman Nisha Mehta drove in Sequoia’s only run of the game.
Los Altos 4, Mountain View 0
After its upset of Milpitas on Monday, Los Altos (7-6) followed up a loss to Wilcox with another victory, this time a 4-1 win against league foe Mountain View (7-8). Senior Lauren Han was 2 for 2 with two RBIs, and Maggie Byrne and Sophia Asar each had two hits. Asar was also stellar on the mound, allowing three hits across seven innings. Marissa Tsoi had one of those hits for Mountain View.
No. 17 Branham 3, Live Oak 1
Branham improved to 9-2 and remained unbeaten in BVAL Mount Hamilton play thanks to great play from standouts such as Kaliya Yco, who scored a run by stealing home. Third baseman Gabriella Diotalevi was 2 for 3, and Sarina Nunes and Marisa Mendez drove in one run each. Jacqueline Connolly Hojas struck out five and allowed one unearned run against Live Oak. The Acorns (4-7) got two hits from senior Jasmine Mixco and junior Mara DiFrancesco.
No. 12 Westmont 3, No. 13 Willow Glen 0
After knocking off two top teams in the last two weeks, Willow Glen had the tables turned as it was defeated by a Westmont team that held the Rams to four hits. Westmont (10-5) senior Bella Andrade struck out seven in a complete game, and also helped her own cause by driving in one run at the plate. Senior Caitlin Sredanovich also had an RBI. Willow Glen (9-3) senior Aleki Ulu had an RBI and freshman pitcher Alanna Clincy struck out 10.
College Park 8, No. 6 Foothill 3
No. 2 San Ramon Valley 5, College Park 1
College Park split its two games against quality competition on Thursday evening. College Park scored six runs in the fifth inning to pull away from crosstown rival Foothill (6-3) in the final frame of the shortened game. Jessica Delatorre hammered a home run, and Emma Wood went 2 for 3, drove in two RBIs and scored two runs herself. Junior Dulce Harris also scored and drove in a run against Foothill, who had 11 hits and got RBIs from Kayla Springer and AvaMarie Perry.
In the next game, San Ramon Valley controlled the action. Pitcher Paige McLeod allowed three College Park hits in six innings and struck out five. SRV’s Addie Layous, Ava Lyons and Mikaela Finley had two multi-hit outings. They saddled College Park (5-1) with the Pleasant Hill school’s first loss of the season.
Cardinal Newman 8, No. 6 Bellarmine 0
Bellarmine’s great run through the Boras Classic tournament ended with disappointment, with the WCAL power being routed by Cardinal Newman in the final. The Bells (11-4-1) kept it within two runs until the bottom of the fifth, when Cardinal Newman scored five runs to break the game open. Bellarmine could only muster three hits, and Trent Malik had two of those.
No. 2 Valley Christian 9, Pleasant Grove 0
The Warriors (13-3) ended its time at the National Classic hosted by El Dorado high school with an easy victory over Pleasant Grove in a consolation matchup. Valley Christian scored seven runs in the third inning to break the game open. Senior Carmelo Rivera went 3 for 3 with two RBIs, and also stole three bases. Senior Jacob Hudson had two RBIs and senior Michael Castenada was 2 for 4. Sophomore Quinten Marsh pitched five innings and struck out six.
No. 3 Archbishop Mitty 9, Woodcreek 1
Junior Luka Pintar went the distance for Mitty in a stellar performance at the Boras Classic, striking out 11 and walking only one batter. Makoa Sniffen went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, and Luka Brocilo, Jarren Advincula and David Estrada also had multi-hit days. Senior Alijah Ramos hit a triple and had two RBIs. Archbishop Mitty scored four runs in the third inning to pull away from Woodcreek.
Heritage 8, Freedom 4
The Patriots survived a sixth-inning scare to improve to 7-4 and earn a victory over Bay Valley Athletic League rival Freedom (6-4). Freedom scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut Heritage’s lead to one run, but Heritage answered with three runs in the top of the seventh. Anthony Potestio went 3 for 3, drive in five runs and hit a home run. Sophomore JJ Kinnaird went 2 for 4 and scored two runs, and Riley Pimentel hit a double and had one RBI. Zach Fesinmeyer hit a double and drove in one RBI.
