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San Francisco Chronicle
09-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
De La Salle pulls off another comeback win for CIF D1 NorCal baseball title
For the third time in four years, the top-seeded De La Salle Spartans of Concord (29-4) pulled off an improbable seventh-inning rally on Saturday, each against a different West Catholic Athletic League opponent to win a CIF Northern California Division 1 title, this one 5-4 at home over Serra. Niko Baumgartner, a scholarship football player headed to Fresno State, completed a three-run uprising with a two-out chopped infield single, scoring Antonio Castro who had doubled home Tyler Spangler, who had doubled home Ethan Sullivan, who started the rally with a one-out single. 2025 Final Chronicle Baseball and Softball Rankings Final 2025 Baseball Rankings Rank Team W-L Last Week 1. De La Salle 29-4 1 2. Serra 28-7 2 3. Valley Christian 25-8-1 3 4. Granada 22-6 4 5. Los Gatos 25-6 6 6. Foothill 21-8 5 7. St. Francis 22-11 9 8. St. Ignatius 17-10-2 7 9. Acalanes 18-11-1 NR 10. Bellarmine 17-14 NR 11. Menlo 24-8 NR 12. Santa Clara 29-4 NR 13. College Park 17-12 NR 14. Cardinal Newman 18-11 13 15. Rancho Cotate 19-13 NR Final 2025 Softball Rankings Rank Team W-L Last Week 1. St. Francis 28-4 1 2. Liberty 25-5 8 3. Hillsdale 21-9-1 NR 4. Casa Grande 22-7-1 2 5. King's Academy 22-8 NR 6. Cardinal Newman 24-7 NR 7. Capuchino 21-8 9 8. Valley Christian 21-7 3 9. Mills 21-4-1 5 10 Notre Dame-Belmont 20-5-1 7 11 Castro Valley 17-5 4 12. San Ramon Valley 16-8-2 10 13. California 19-9 11 14. Livermore 19-10 12 15. Saratoga 20-3 NR In the top of the seventh, Serra (28-7) had secured the insurance run it thought needed to go up 4-2 on a one-out RBI double from Evan Bradshaw, his third hit of the game. But right fielder Baumgartner set up his own heroics by throwing out Ian Josephson at the plate on Davis Minton's fly ball that appeared to be plenty deep enough. Josephson, nursing a sore hamstring, stumbled slightly and Baumgartner's throw and catcher Zach Tchejeyan's tag gave De La Salle all the momentum needed to continue the seventh-inning magic that occurred in 2022 to beat St. Francis 7-6 (scored four in the bottom half) and in 2023 to defeat Valley Christian 11-8 (scoring six in the top half). The Spartans were held scoreless and hitless for five straight frames by Riley Lim and reliever Minton before Saturday's latest blockbuster rally. After Baumgartner easily beat shortstop Josephson's throw to the bag, he just kept sprinting toward the right-field corner where his teammates sprinted after him and dog-piled in a wild celebration, a far cry from two painful defeats last season to Granada-Livermore in the NCS finals and NorCal semifinals. The speedy 6-foot-3, 195-pound Baumgartner, who plays linebacker on the football team, said he had never had either a walk-off hit or assist at the plate as a Spartan. 'Perfect timing,' Baumgartner said for the firsts. 'Best timing. … Walk-off. Last game. Tie game. That's the best it could get.' De La Salle center fielder Alec Blair, headed to Oklahoma on a baseball and basketball scholarship, said his team never flinched despite the early hole they found themselves in. 'We always find a way,' Blair said. 'I honestly wasn't worried. … How many times do you have to watch the same movie to know how it's going to end?' Sullivan, who led off the first with a double and scored immediately on a double by the Stanford-bound Spangler, said the late rally came down to something more basic. 'Honestly, it's because we're just playing for each other,' Sullivan said. 'We're a good team, we're talented and we work really hard, but our bond, our relationship, at the end of the day is what won us the game, why we weren't nervous. Everyone on our team knew we had it.' De La Salle coach David Jeans wasn't quite as sure, noting that Serra coach Mat Keplinger 'has been in big games at USF and San Jose State, and he knows the emotions of it. And they play with emotion and fire and grit. We just happened to get 'em this time.' Baseball title games roundup: Despite RBIs from Gino Cappellazzo and Henry Dommer, St. Francis (22-11) dropped a 3-2 Division 2 title matchup at No. 1 seed Yuba City of Sutter County (31-5), which won its 14th straight game. Both teams scored two runs in the first before Max Guth singled home the game-winner in the seventh. … In Division 3, Camden Henington and Jett Derammelaere combined on a two-hitter with seven strikeouts, leading third seed Rancho Cotate-Rohert Park (19-13) to a 2-1 win at top seed Roseville (23-11). Cotate advanced from the North Coast Section bracket as the 15th seed. … In Division 4, Ben Salama and Fletcher Cahill drove in runs in the fourth inning and four pitchers made it stand up as fifth seed Menlo School-Atherton (24-8) edged host and third seed Santa Clara, 2-1. Drew Diffenderfer's RBI single gave Santa Clara (29-4) a 1-0 lead, but the fourth-inning rally was all Menlo needed. Santa Clara's Jaxton Chao and John Kepner pitched well for Santa Clara, allowing just five hits and striking out five. Softball title games roundup: In Division 2, the hot-hitting Liberty-Brentwood Lions were cooled off by Salinas senior pitcher Abi Jones, who fired a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts in the Cowboys' 4-1 home win. Liberty had scored 31 runs in two NorCal playoff games, but could muster only an RBI single by Kelsie Skaggs in the third inning. But that time Salinas (21-8) had a 2-0 lead and would never trail thanks in part to a home run, double and single from Gigi Rossi. … In Division 3, Hillsdale-San Mateo sophomore Lola Jones (three-hitter, seven strikeouts, no walks) outdueled Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa senior Callie Howard (two-hitter, eight strikeouts, two walks) in a 1-0 win in San Mateo. Taylor O'Mahoney's one-out RBI single scored Mia DeMartini who led off with a double to score the winning run in the seventh for the Knights (21-9-1), who won their second straight game with a walk-off. … In D4, Stevie Knight went 4-for-4 and pitched a one-hitter with eight strikeouts to lead top seed East Nicolaus (Sutter County) to a 4-0 win over San Leandro (23-9). CIF Northern California Baseball Championships Division 1: No. 1 De La Salle 5, No. 3 Serra 4 Division 2: No. 1 Yuba City 3, No. 2 St. Francis 2 Division 3: No. 3 Rancho Cotate 2, No. 1 Roseville 1 Division 4: No. 5 Menlo School 2, No. 3 Santa Clara 1 Division 5: No. 1 Etna 6, No. 2 Stevenson 5 CIF Northern California Softball Championships Division 1: No. 2 Del Oro 5, No. 1 Oak Ridge 3 Division 2: No. 2 Salinas 4, No. 4 Liberty-Brentwood 1 Division 3: No. 1 Hillsdale 1, No. 2 Cardinal Newman 0 Division 4: No. 1 East Nicolaus 4, No. 3 San Leandro 0 Division 5: No. 1 Biggs 4, No. 3 King City 2
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Troy tennis shows marked improvement against tough competition
Apr. 25—The Troy Lady Trojans tennis team faced stiff competition on the road last week, testing their mettle against some of the toughest Class B/C programs in Western Montana. Despite a challenging slate of matches against Valley Christian, Loyola Sacred Heart, Superior, Granite, and Alberton, the squad showed marked improvement across the board — a fact that head coach Ed Sedler says is just as important as wins in the early spring. On Tuesday, April 15, Troy traveled to Missoula for the Valley Christian Invite, taking on perennial tennis powerhouses Valley Christian and Loyola Sacred Heart. While the Lady Trojans did not emerge with a team win, Sedler was quick to point out how far the program has come in just a couple of seasons. Advertisement "Last year we only won one match at this invite, and the year before that we were blown out in every contest," Sedler said. "This year, most of the matches were competitive, and I'm particularly pleased that many of our girls fought back after losing the first set — winning more games in the second or outright taking the set." Against Valley Christian, Bella O'Day came close to pulling off a comeback at No. 4 singles, splitting sets with Olivia Hoffman 4-6, 6-4 before narrowly falling in a third-set tiebreak, 9-11. Troy also picked up a JV doubles win, with Salix Harris and Brookelyn Bowers taking down their No. 3 counterparts in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4. Facing Loyola Sacred Heart later that day, O'Day once again shined, defeating Samantha Curry 6-2, 6-2 in Troy's lone win in that matchup. Both top singles players — Shelby Cole and Miley Babcock — battled through long matches but eventually fell after exhausting three-set efforts in the heat. "Our top two singles players really fought hard in their first matches — about two-hour affairs — and with it being the first 70-degree day for us, they were just spent by the second matchup," Sedler said. Advertisement The competition continued Friday, April 18, when Troy traveled to Superior to face Granite and Alberton in the Superior Invite. In a packed day of play, Troy went 1-0 against Alberton, 0-2 against Granite, and split their matchups 3-3 against Superior — marking the program's strongest showing against the divisional rival in several seasons. "Our number two doubles team has particularly improved," Sedler noted. "The continued success of the JV doubles team is exciting as well." Troy's varsity wins against Superior came in both singles and doubles. Jolene Foutch fought off Camryn Church 6-2, 7-5 at No. 3 singles, while Bella O'Day won a forfeit at No. 4 singles. On the doubles side, the No. 2 pairing of Christina Hammer and Abby Kreutzer cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 victory, and Harris and Bowers added another thrilling win, coming from behind to defeat Superior's No. 3 team 4-6, 6-4, 10-6. Advertisement The JV record further improved, with Troy's ad-hox doubles team of Sophia Simanovicki and Bella O'Day winning their match 2-6, 6-1, 10-8 — continuing a trend of depth and versatility for the Trojans. "Bella is a singles player through and through, but Superior wanted to try out a new potential varsity doubles team in lieu of her singles' slot, so she changed gears and took the opportunity to practice her net play," Sedler said. "These girls just want to compete every chance they get."
San Francisco Chronicle
23-04-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Top Bay Area track and field athletes expected to contend at the CIF State meet
The CIF State Track and Field Championships are just more than a month away — May 30-31 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis. Here are 10 Bay Area athletes to keep close tabs on as they move through league and section qualifying meets (all marks and rankings are according to Kira Gant Hatcher (St. Mary's-Berkeley): The junior jumper should be a contender in both the long jump (19-5½) and the triple jump (39-6 ¾). She currently ranks fifth in the state in both events. As a sophomore she finished 10th at the state meet in the long jump (18-1). Jaden Jefferson (De La Salle-Concord): The junior sprinter placed fourth last season at state in the 100 and this season has the sixth fastest (all conditions) mark (10.41 seconds). Jefferson, a running back and cornerback, has already committed to North Carolina to play football. Cameron P. Jones (Bishop O'Dowd-Oakland) and Anthony Dean (De La Salle): Both have legitimate shots at winning the triple jump, a highly technical event that often goes to slight underdogs. Jones has the state's fifth-best mark (48-7) and Dean is just behind him (48-3½). The state leader is Camren Smith (49-11¼) of Quartz Hill (Los Angeles County). Ellie McCuskey-Hay (St. Ignatius): The junior sprinter and jumper was the state-runnerup in the 100 as a freshman and has a legitimate shot to bring home three state medals. She has the fifth-best 100 mark (11.54), No. 7 in the 200 (23.90) and fourth-best long jump (19-7). It's a demanding triple, but McDuskey-Hay did just that at Saturday's Central Coast Section Top 8 Meet, winning the 100 (11.55), 200 (23.96) and long jump (18-9½), before pulling the Wildcats from well behind to place second in the 4x100 relay to Los Gatos. Both teams finished in 48.39. Khaliq Muhammad (Pittsburg): The senior pole vaulter is tied for the top mark in California this season at 17-1. He finished second last season at 16-4 after recording a then-best of 16-9 at the 2024 Sacramento Meet of Champions. Chronicle baseball, softball rankings BASEBALL Rk. School W-L Pre. 1. Granada 15-3 2 2. De La Salle 12-3 3 3. Serra 17-4 1 4. Valley Christian 15-4-1 4 5. St. Francis 15-4 5 6. Casa Grande 15-3 8 7. Petaluma 14-2 12 8. Clayton Valley 14-3 9 9. Pittsburg 15-2 10 10. Foothill 14-4 11 11. St. Ignatius 10-7-2 6 12. Los Gatos 13-3 13 13. Dublin 16-3 NR 14. Heritage 13-4 14 15. Cardinal Newman 9-8 7 SOFTBALL Rk. School W-L Pre. 1. St. Francis 18-2 1 2. Mitty 10-5-1 2 3. Casa Grande 13-5-1 6 4. Petaluma 12-5 5 5. Valley Christian 15-4 4 6. Livermore 12-6 3 7. Notre Dame-Belmont 13-3-1 7 8. Capuchino 10-4 NR 9. Liberty 10-4 9 10. Mills 12-3-1 NR 11. California 11-5 10 12. Castro Valley 12-3 11 13. Logan 12-2-1 13 14. Bishop O'Dowd 14-5 14 15. San Marin 12-5 NR Landon Pretre (Menlo School-Atherton): The senior was part of a record-breaking 3,000 at the Arcadia Invitational, finishing 12th in 8:18.52. Converted to a 3,200 that would have been 8:49.30, the top mark in the state this season. He was seventh last year at state in the 3,200. Hannah Rutherford (Mountain View): The versatile senior speedstar has the state's No. 9 200 time (24.00) and seventh-best 400 (54.34). Last season, the Stanford commit was second at state in the 400 (53.70) and seventh in the 200 (24.06). Aydon Stefanopoulos (Los Gatos): The senior has the state's No. 3 1,600 mark (4:06.62) and No. 6 3,200 (8:57.33). Hanne Thomsen (Montgomery-Santa Rosa): Another Stanford commit, Thomsen is one of the state's most versatile and accomplished runners, with the state's No. 2 time this season in the 3,200 (9:58.17) — just behind La Jolla junior Chiara Dailey (9:58.02) — and No. 6 in the 800 (2:09.04). She won the state's eight-lap event as a freshman and was the state runner-up last year in 9:59.81, after finishing fourth at state in the 1,600 as a sophomore (4:43.63). Chad Works-Wright (El Cerrito): Only a sophomore, the sprinter has run 10.44 in the 100 and 21.34 in the 200. He also ran the second leg of the Gauchos' fourth-ranked 4x100 relay team that has gone a smoldering 40.87. Works-Wright, Michael Boyer, Jayln Smallwood and Gavin Thompson also have the state's No. 3 4x200 relay (1:24.88). Others to watch: Dougherty Valley senior Arrin Sagiraju has the state's seventh-best 1,600 mark (4:08.70). … Fremont-Sunnyvalle senior Juan Gonzalez was also part of that crazy fast 3,000 at Arcadia, which converted to a 8:51.83 3,200, the second fastest in the state. … St. Ignatius senior hurdler Prince Babalola Buchango won the Stanford Invitational 110 hurdles in 14.10 and showed exceptional speed with bests of 10.70 and 21.37 in the sprints. … Serra senior Luke Lewis, a two-time CCS champion and Stanford commit, has the state's No. 2 shot put (60-9). … Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa sophomore Ashlin Mallon is the latest long-distance phenom from the Redwood Empire. She has the state's No. 5 1,500 (4:34.70) and the seventh-best mile (4:53.83). ... Soleil Warner, of tiny Bay School, has the state's No. 7 girls 300 hurdles time (42.29). … Mitty senior discus thrower Maya Ifo Desai is No. 4 at 154-4. … All-Metro girls basketball standout Dulcinea Vail, of Acalanes-Lafayette, could win the always wide-open high jump title. She currently has the state's seventh-best mark of 5-7¼.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Vote for azcentral's Student of the Week for April 7-11
Student of the Week offers schools the chance to celebrate teens who have placed in an art, dance or music competition, excelled in a science fair, won an essay contest, received a scholarship, were recognized for their volunteer service or have shined in some other way. All high schools in Arizona are invited to nominate students to be included in an online poll where readers vote to choose the Student of the Week. Student of the Week voting is open from 6 a.m. Monday through noon Wednesday. The winner is announced online on Friday morning. Meet this week's nominees! Ethan Gomez is currently first in the nation for the javelin, he's broken his own school record, and he's won the Chandler Rotary Tournament. Recently, Ethan also served on Valley Christian's Engage Costa Rica trip, where he was an incredibly hard worker while serving the children there through sports camps and service projects. Nomination submitted by Savannah Freeman, executive project manager, Valley Christian Schools. Mario Torres Hernandez is an outstanding student at Apache Junction High School who, in addition, attends the East Valley Institute of Technology in the medical assisting program. Mario has a quiet strength. He leads by example and consistently demonstrates excellence in academics, leadership and character, making him an outstanding role model for peers and an asset to our school community. Academically, Mario has excelled across all subjects, consistently earning top grades and maintaining a remarkable GPA. His commitment to learning is evident in his curiosity, persistence and ability to master challenging concepts with ease. Nomination submitted by Jennifer Powell, academic counselor, Apache Junction High School. Jazmyn Zarate is an exceptional candidate for Student of the Week due to her outstanding leadership, dedication and multifaceted accomplishments. As a two-time class senate president and current student body president, she has shown remarkable initiative by leading her peers, planning major events like homecoming and prom, and raising over $30,000 with a starting budget of $200. Jazmyn balances her demanding roles with a commitment to service, contributing 200-plus volunteer hours and participating in Rotary International's Interact Club and National Honor Society. Academically driven, she excels in Advanced Placement and honors courses while attending college classes through ACE (Achieving a College Education) and TRIO programs, setting her sights on graduating with an associate degree. Alongside her school contributions, Jazmyn works part-time to support her family and senior year expenses, displaying resilience and responsibility. With plans to pursue communication and education at the University of Arizona to become a program director, Jazmyn exemplifies ambition, compassion, and excellence, making her a deserving honoree. Nomination submitted by Reema Sharma, college algebra teacher, Central High School. For more information on Student of the Week, email studentoftheweek@ This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vote for azcentral's Student of the Week for April 7-11
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Columbiana coach celebrates buzzer-beater win
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Columbiana topped Valley Christian in thrilling fashion 55-52 on Friday night in Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference action. The game was televised live as the WKBN High School Basketball Game of the Week. Clippers senior Seth Struharik banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer to secure the win. Following the victory, Columbiana head coach Todd Johnson spoke with Chad Krispinsky. Watch the video above to see his complete postgame interview. With the win, Columbiana moves into a tie for first place atop the EOAC standings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
