Bellarmine’s Diego Buelna #6 brings in the go-ahead run in the 8th inning against host Archbishop Mitty, Friday, March 24, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
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Baseball
Bellarmine 8, Hollister 7
The last regular season hit of Vincent Matesso’s Bellarmine career was a memorable one. Facing a full count, a runner on third and with the scoreboard tied, the senior hit a slow-rolling infield single down the third-base line.
Nate Escalda sprinted to home plate, and Hollister’s catcher was just a split-second late on the tag. Bellarmine won the non-league game 8-7 and finished its regular season 17-12-1.
Bells win 8-7 in the B7 over Hollister on senior day! #GoBells pic.twitter.com/idzP1P00XY
— Bellarmine Athletics (@BCPSports) May 13, 2023
Bellarmine’s Chris Ruddell and Lucas Lipari drove in two runs apiece, and Luke Rooney and Caden Sta Maria scored two runs each for the Bells.
Six Bellarmine pitchers saw action on Saturday afternoon, with senior Franco Caruso-Commisso performing the best. He pitched two innings, struck out a team-high three and did not allow a run.
Each team put up four runs in the first inning. Bellarmine led 7-4 entering the top of the seventh but gave up three runs to enter the bottom of the frame tied. That set the stage for Matesso’s heroics.
Pioneer 12, Los Altos 9
Pioneer senior Grayden Eister had three hits, including a home run, and had six RBIs in a wild non-league victory over Los Altos.
Junior Noah Morales led the team with three hits and also scored one run. Senior Aidan Subala scored two runs, and senior Derek Izumi had two hits and two stolen bases.
Los Altos junior Stuart Cash batted 3 for 4 with an RBI. Aaron Baum, Dewrell Wesley Jr. and Channing Hautop all had two RBIs.
Pioneer finished the regular season 16-9-1. Los Altos is 13-13.
The King’s Academy 15, Menlo-Atherton 13
The King’s Academy capped its regular season by handing Menlo-Atherton only its second loss in Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division competition.
TKA’s Ethan Johnson went 3 for 4 with four RBIs and one home run. Trevor Polk scored two runs and two RBIs, and Jon Lester and Niko Orozco also drove in two runs each.
M-A junior Trevor Heinz was 3 for 3 and drove in five runs. Junior Rowan Kelly was 3 for 5, hit a double and had three RBIs for the Bears.
After a wild start to the game, which saw TKA lead 14-10 after three innings, the pitching got things slightly under control. Menlo-Atherton did score two runs in the seventh inning, but its rally came up short.
Menlo-Atherton finished the regular season 18-8, 12-2. TKA improved to 10-14-1 and 6-8.
Boys volleyball
CCS championships
Third-seeded Valley Christian beat top-seeded and host St. Francis 25-21, 25-23, 25-22 to win the Central Coast Section Open Division title, denying the Lancers from winning a third consecutive section crown.
Valley Christian improved to 33-5, and St. Francis dropped to 26-9.
In the semifinals, Valley ousted second-seeded Archbishop Mitty.
In Division I, No. 5 Carlmont completed its surprise run with a 3-1 victory over Branham in the final. Carlmont won the first two sets 25-17 and 26-24. Branham took the third set 20-25, and then Carlmont clinched the title with a 25-20 victory.
In Division II, Harker swept Carmel 25-17, 25-21, 25-21 to claim the championship. Harker improved to 21-14.
In other volleyball news, Aragon’s Diean Hala’ufia received the 2023 CCS Honor Coach Award.
Lacrosse
CCS girls playoffs
No. 1 seed St. Ignatius opened defense of its CCS title with a 20-3 rout of Menlo-Atherton in the quarterfinals.
St. Ignatius will host No. 5 St. Francis on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
The Lancers slipped by Los Gatos 14-13 on Saturday.
No. 2 Sacred Heart Prep will host No. 3 Scotts Valley on Wednesday in the other semifinal at 5:30 p.m.
CCS boys playoffs
The semifinals are set in the boys playoffs as No. 1 seed St. Ignatius will host No. 4 Bellarmine and No. 2 Sacred Heart Prep will be at home to face No. 6 St. Francis, which upset No. 3 Menlo School 8-7.
Both games will be played on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
Track and field
NCS Tri-Valley Area championship
In the boys events at Foothill High, Campolindo senior Garrett Nelson took first place in the 100 meters in 10.69, and Acalanes junior Paul Kuhner won the 200 meters in 21.50. Dublin senior Alexander Franco led the pack in the 400 with a time of 48.72 and Granada junior Aleksander Schade ran the fastest time in the 800, reaching the finish line in 1.55.74. De La Salle senior Chukwunonso Udeh won the 110 high hurdles in 14.47. De La Salle won the team competition with 77 points. Granada (53 points) finished second.
In the girls events, Campolindo senior Mari Testa finished first in the 100 in 11.87 and 200 in 24.62. Testa also placed first in the 100 hurdles. In the 400, Monte Vista senior Cate Peters finished first in 55.67. Peters also won the 800 in 2.16.38. Campolindo’s Ellie Buckley placed first in 1,600 in 5.00.46. In the team results, Campolindo finished first with 82 points. Monte Vista (72) was second Pittsburg (70) took third.
CCS semifinals
In the girls events at Gilroy High, St. Ignatius freshman Ellie McCuskey-Hay finished with the fastest time in the 100, running it in 12.04. Mountain View’s Hannah Rutherford’s 24.76 was the fastest in the 200. She also won the 400. Archbishop Mitty placed first in the 4×100 relays, followed by St. Ignatius, Menlo Atherton and Los Altos.
In the boys events, Harker’s Andrew Fu narrowly placed first in the 100 in 10.57 and also topped the 200 in 21.43. Cameron Johnson of Menlo-Atherton took first in the 400 with a time of 48.72. Los Altos was first in the 4×100 relay, followed by Sacred Heart Prep, Serra and Harker.