D2: Cap knocks off No. 1 Leigh

Capuchino senior Declan Mendel threw nothing but fastballs in the first inning. Against a Leigh squad that came into the game with a team batting average of .374, that was an iffy proposition.

Lesson learned. After spotting the top-seeded Longhorns a 3-0 lead, Mendel went to his off-speed stuff – most notably the slow curveball that has baffled opponents all spring – in stifling Leigh the rest of the way.

"That first inning was a little rough," Mendel said. "I got hit around a little bit. They were all over my fastball. They were hunting fastballs. Once we realized that, we were able to switch it up. We were able to incorporate my off-speed pitches a little more. We were able to keep them off balance."

Mendel allowed just one hit after the first inning and the eighth-seeded Mustangs chipped away to bring home a 5-3 road victory in a CCS-Division II quarterfinal. The upset puts Capuchino in the semifinals, where they'll meet Wilcox.

Down 3-0, the Mustangs had their chances early on. They loaded the bases in the second inning but came away empty when Leigh turned a triple play. That stung, but it wasn't fatal.

"We've been down three runs before," said coach Matt Wilson. "There was no need to panic."

Cap (18-10) scored two runs in the fourth when Lucas Zayac single and Anakin Manuel was safe on an error. Zayac got picked off second base, but Travis Ciardella and Will Hafer singled to load the bases.

Billy Ferreria beat the throw to first preventing a double play and driving in a run to cut the lead to 3-1 and Yulio Ceron plated Ciardella with a base hit to cut the lead to one, 3-2.

The Mustangs took the lead for good in the fifth when Andres Gomez singled – his 49th hit of the season – and moved to second on a Zayac base hit. He scored a Manuel single to tie the score. Ciarbella broke the deadlock with a two-run double.

W: Mendel. L: Glanville. 3 hits- Ciardella (C). 2 hits- Zayac (C), A.Gomez (C), Manuel (C), Hafer (C), Ceron (C), Kim (L). 2 RBI- Miller (L), Ciardella (C). 2B- Ciardella (C), Kim L), Miller (L).

Menlo-Atherton 6, Pioneer 1

The Bears used a familiar formula to post the Division II quarterfinal victory. They pitched, played defense and bunched their hits to make short work of a Pioneer team they beat earlier this year.

Wes Peterson went four innings, allowing just a hit. He struck out five on just 46 pitches of work. Anthony Kabrich threw the final three innings.

No. 2 Menlo-Atherton (21-7) scored three runs in the first. Merrick Lee singled and Ryder Kelly doubled. Jimmy Zaharias plated the game's first run with a base hit. After a Will Roberts walk and a strikeout, MJ Ellazar made it 2-0 with a hit. Zaharias would score the third run on a wild pitch.

The Bears will next take on Hollister.

W: Peterson. L: Holmes. 3 hits- Lee (MA), Kelly (MA). 2 hits- Zaharias (MA), Roberts (MA), flores (P). 2 RBI- Ellazar (MA). 2B- Kelly (MA) 2, Larson (P), Flores (P).

Hollister 3, Sacred Heart Cathedral 2

Trent Roach allowed just two hits in six innings of work while striking out 11 as Hollister ended Sacred Heart Cathedral's season.

Jacob Vines allowed three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six.

W: Roach. L: Vines. S: Mendoza. 2 hits- Roach. 2B- Villas (H), Queseda (H).

Wilcox 12, Mitty 3

Matt Tiendas had three hits and drove in four runs as the Chargers ended Mitty's season with a resounding victory.

Tiendas was one of four Wilcox players to collect at least two hits. Mitty was paced by Austin Mak and Luke Newman had two hits each for the Monarchs (13-16).

Wilcox (20-8) broke open the contest with five runs in the third and five more in the fourth.

W: Argel. L: Humbert. 3 hits- Tiendas (W). 2 hits- Prettol (W), Jetson (W), Argel (W), Mak (M), Newman (M). 4 RBI- Tiendas (W). 3 RBI- Prettol. 2 RBI- Argel, Mak (M). 2B- Tiendas (W), Jetson (W), Argel (W).