The season continues for the Scotts Valley High baseball team following a gem performance on the mound from senior Blake LaRiviere.
The ace hurler tossed six innings allowing just two runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts for the Falcons in a 3-2 win over Willow Glen High in the Central Coast Section Division IV quarterfinals May 18.
“I felt locked in, everything was working for me,” he said. “A couple of times there I got wild, but then I was able to just center myself and block out that noise that was happening.”
Willow Glen’s dugout was boisterous throughout the contest, shouting and at times shaking the chain-linked fence.
“I think everyone could hear it,” LaRiviere said. “It was definitely hard to block that out and keep pounding the strike zone.”
The Falcons turned to freshman Bryce McDonnell in the seventh frame after he replaced LaRiviere. McDonnell had a shaky start by allowing two walks, including the game-tying run at third base.
However, the young pitcher blocked out the noise from the visitors dugout and got out of the jam with a force out at first base and two pop-flys.
“Just gotta be dialed, block that noise out. I got a good group of teammates to support me when I’m on the mound,” McDonnell said.
McDonnell mentioned how he wanted to extend the season for his senior teammates who have believed in him since arriving to the team.
“Just one more game. Win this one and get to the next one,” he said.
Scotts Valley advanced into the semifinals game against No. 8 Homestead High, which is coming off a 5-2 win against top seeded Salinas High in last week’s quarterfinals.
The Falcons have won 10 straight including last week’s playoff win against Willow Glen.
Scotts Valley junior Kaleb Wing batted 1-for-2 with two RBIs and one run scored. Senior Quinn Turowski had one hit and scored one run and sophomore Jacob Pauka scored one run and had two hits, including one that started a rally in the fourth inning.
“I was just thinking line drive, top of the ball,” Pauka said. “Just trying to make contact, get something going.”
Prior to that, the Rams were leading 2-1 going into the fourth frame led by senior Jesse Livezey who had one hit and one RBI.
Fellow teammate senior Alex Rose had a team-best two hits, while seniors Aiden Januario and Mark Bonenberger each scored one run.
At this point of the season, the Falcons will get a win any way they can. Yet, LaRiviere believes there were some moments where they failed to capitalize or take advantage against the Rams.
LaRiviere said they have to keep pounding the ball and play more aggressively on the base paths. He recalls a couple of times during Saturday’s game where they missed on golden opportunities to take an extra base or even steal one.
“Throughout the season we have had trouble with that,” he said. “If we’re able to stop leaving people on base and be more aggressive, get the 90 feet, we’ll be good.”
Next up, Scotts Valley plays Homestead in the D-IV semifinals at Sollecito Park in Monterey on Wednesday at 4pm. Purchase tickets ahead of time at https://gofan.co/event/1528631?schoolId=CIFCCS.
D-II
No. 7 The King’s Academy 16, No. 2 St. Francis 4: The Sharks were eliminated from the postseason following a loss to the Knights in the quarterfinals May 18.
TKA took a 4-1 lead in the first inning and never looked back en route to a road victory.
St. Francis finished with a 22-5 overall record and was runner-up in the Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division going 18-3 in league play this season.
D-III
No. 8 Hollister 11, No. 1 Aptos 0: The top seeded Mariners were stunned in the opening round of the playoffs following a loss to the Haybalers in the quarterfinals May 18.
Hollister jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning after scoring on a sacrifice fly, a balk and an RBI single.
Aptos finished with a 12-12-1 overall record and captured the SCCAL crown going 10-4-1 in league play this season.
Softball
D-I
No. 3 Monterey 10, No. 6 Watsonville 0 (5 innings): Julia Maldonado, Jillian Lerma and Audrina Gonzalez each had one hit for the Wildcatz in a loss to the Toreadores in the quarterfinals May 18.
Sophomore pitcher Amelia Martinez allowed 10 runs (four earned) on 10 hits with four walks and six strikeouts for the ‘Catz.
Monterey senior pitcher Ella Myers allowed three hits with nine strikeouts for the complete game shutout victory, while Kyie Goud had two hits with one double, two RBIs and one run scored.
The Wildcatz finished with a 15-5 overall record and captured the PCAL Mission Division crown going 11-1 in league play this season.
D-II
No. 4 Milpitas 3, No. 5 Scotts Valley 0: Junior pitcher Sofie Seese allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts for the Falcons in a loss to the Trojans in the quarterfinals May 18.
Abby Howell and Taylor Wilson each had one double, and Gracie Delgado had one hit for Scotts Valley.
Milpitas was led by senior pitcher Priyah Quinonez, who recorded eight strikeouts and allowed two hits for the complete game victory. Sophomore Chloe Cabrera had a two-run double in the fourth inning for the Trojans.
Scotts Valley finished the season with a 14-7 overall record and captured its first Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League crown since 2017, going 13-2 in league play this season.
No. 1 Valley Christian 16, No. 8 Aptos 5 (5 innings): The Warriors poured in 12 runs in the fourth inning en route to a victory over the Mariners in the quarterfinals May 18.
Aptos pitcher Ava Servin tossed three innings allowings 11 runs (nine earned) on eight hits with five walks.
Fellow teammate Raegan Fulton batted 3-for-3 with one home run and a pair of RBIs, while Bailey Fulton had two hits and scored three runs.
Nova Neu had one home run and two RBIs, and Emma Burgueno had one hit and one RBI for Aptos.
The Mariners finished with a 16-7 overall record and was runner-up in the SCCAL standings with a 12-3 record in league play this season.
D-IV
No. 7 Cupertino 9, No. 2 San Lorenzo Valley 5: Senior catcher Olivia Renouf had two hits with one double and one RBI for the Cougars in a loss to the Pioneers in the quarterfinals May 18.
Alyssa Struthers, Sophia Sarmiento and Grace Purtscher each had one hit with one RBI for SLV. Fellow teammates Olive Colby, Ray Alvarez and Jori Fields-Rapley each had one base hit.
SLV pitcher Abigale Krepelka tossed 3 1/3 innings allowing nine runs (seven earned) on seven hits with six walks and three strikeouts. Fields-Rapley allowed two hits with two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.
The Cougars finished with a 15-11 overall record and placed third in the SCCAL standings with an 11-4 record in league play this season.
Track and field
Lantz takes fifth at CCS Finals: Scotts Valley High senior Mason Lantz placed fifth in the 800-meters boys’ race in 1 minute, 55.15 seconds at the CCS Track and Field Finals at Gilroy High School on May 18.
On the girls side, San Lorenzo Valley High junior placed 10th in the high jump with a mark of five feet. Scotts Valley senior Ashlyn Boothby opted not to compete in the girls’ 800 final.
