MEET THE TOP TEAM: WILLOW GLEN
In one thing of a shock, it’s Willow Glen, not St. Francis, who’s the No. 1 seed within the Central Coast Part Open Division bracket.
The Rams are hardly an undeserving high seed. Willow Glen completed the common season 26-0, together with a 14-0 mark in Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division play.
To high issues off, Willow Glen picked up some key nonleague wins, essentially the most important of which was a 10-3 victory over Valley Christian at dwelling on April 15.
That nonconference triumph often is the largest cause the Rams have been slotted forward of St. Francis.
The Lancers (24-3) break up their two conferences with Valley this yr in West Catholic Athletic League play. St. Francis received 9-2 at dwelling on April 30, however the Lancers dropped a 9-7 loss to the Warriors simply three days in the past.
The loss to VC was St. Francis’ solely defeat to a Bay Space staff this season.
“With all the good teams out there, it’s an honor to be the No. 1 seed,” Willow Glen coach Don Spingola informed the Bay Space Information Group. “These young ladies have competed all season against some of the Bay Area’s best teams, and have continued to win one way or another. This No. 1 seed is well deserved.”
St. Francis is at present the No. 1 staff within the San Francisco Metro MaxPreps rankings, with an total score of 31.04 and energy of schedule score of 17.8.
Willow Glen’s total score is 28.92, and the Rams’ energy of schedule score is 12.4.
Spingola stated the Rams have a gaggle of people that calculate metrics that mimic the CCS choice standards. Willow Glen was near St. Francis earlier than Valley Christian’s win on Friday, and after the Warriors topped the Lancers, Willow Glen was assured it might be the highest seed.
Nonetheless, if each groups maintain enterprise, the one distinction can be which staff will get the final at-bat. The Open remaining is scheduled to be performed on Could 31 at a impartial web site, both West Valley School or San Jose Metropolis School, negating a possible home-field benefit that may include incomes the upper seed.
“There’s a lot of good teams out there,” Spingola stated. “We performed a number of good groups. The groups which might be enjoying on this Open CCS are all good and have performed good groups and have received and misplaced.
“It’s truly going to be who makes the least amount of mistakes. Who pitches the best? It’s going to be pitching, it’s going to be defense that it’s going to come down to in these CCS games. We feel we’re pretty solid across the board right now, which gives us a good opportunity. But that’s why it’s a game, because you got to perform and you got to play.”
TOP STORYLINES
That’s not the one intrigue within the Open bracket. Aforementioned Valley Christian pulled down the No. 5 seed within the Open match and will make some noise within the backside of the bracket.
However the Warriors should first get previous No. 4 Capuchino, which has had a superb near the season and is at present MaxPreps’ No. 3 rated staff within the San Francisco metro space.
On the opposite facet of the Open bracket, an all-Pacific Coast Athletic League matchup between No. 6 Salinas and No. 3 Monterey will resolve who advances to face the winner of No. 2 St. Francis and No. 7 Los Gatos.
Willow Glen will first face No. 8 Archbishop Mitty, internet hosting the WCAL college at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Within the Division I bracket, Stay Oak was rewarded after a stellar 23-2 common season with the highest seed. Different sturdy contenders within the division embrace No. 2 Gilroy, additionally from the BVAL, and No. 4 King’s Academy, which has wins over Valley Christian, Gilroy and Capuchino on its resume.
The Knights additionally pushed Willow Glen more durable than every other staff, shedding a 10-inning thriller at Willow Glen 2-1 on April 25.
WHO CAN MAKE A SURPRISE RUN?
Shock is maybe an overstatement, however Capuchino has been as scorching as any staff within the Bay Space down the stretch. The No. 4 Mustangs have a tall job forward to get to the ultimate, with matchups towards Valley Christian and sure Willow Glen looming.
However Cap has been dominant of late. The Mustangs haven’t misplaced since April 26, and that was to non-Bay Space opponent Calaveras.
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Strictly towards Bay Space groups, Cap has not misplaced since falling 2-1 to Hillsdale on April 8, a stretch of 13 consecutive wins.
They aren’t squeaking out victories both. Three of their final 5 triumphs have come by run rule within the powerful Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division.
One other PAL staff, Mills, might make noise within the Division I bracket. The Vikings (21-3-1), who loved a near-perfect season 9-1 in league play, have been seeded No. 6 within the D-I match.
Their first-round opponent, No. 3 Saratoga, is 19-2 however ranks exterior the highest 50 in MaxPreps’ San Francisco metro rankings. Saratoga is available in at No. 55, whereas Mills is No. 7.
