Chavinson grand slam leads Menlo

Jackson Flanagan wasn't masterful on Thursday, but he was good enough to keep Menlo School atop the PAL Ocean Division with a 8-3 victory over visiting Half Moon Bay.

Flanagan scattered nine hits and dealt with constant traffic on the base paths, but the junior, whose biggest strength isn't his physical strength as much as it is his ability to spot his pitches while pitching to contact, always seemed to get the big out when needed.

And it helped that his teammates banged out 16 hits – none bigger than KC Chavinson's inside-the-park grand-slam home run in the fourth inning that gave the Knights (14-8) a 7-1 lead and ended any hopes of a Half Moon Bay upset.

The home run came when Chavinson lined one to left-center field that Jason Couto got a good jump on in centerfield. He decided to make a diving attempt at the catch, but the ball bounced in front of him and squirted past him, rolling all the way to the fence.

By the time the Cougars got the ball in, Chavinson was rounding third and headed for home. The relay throw came in too late, and Menlo had its dagger.

Chavinson ended the game with three hits and five RBI'S, one of three Menlo players to notch a three-hit game. Jack Freehill and Zach Roeder had three hits each.

The victory improved Menlo's record in the Ocean Division to 9-1, one game ahead of idle Terra Nova. The Knight's close the season with series with Woodside and Aragon to close out the league season.

Half Moon Bay had nine hits, including two from sophomore shortstop Riley Jackson, who came close to hitting a home run over 385-foot sign in centerfield. The ball hit midway off the fence and he settled for a double.

Jackson scored minutes later on Ian Lemen's base hit up the middle that clanked off second base, drove in two runs and cut Menlo's lead to 7-3. Lemen finished with three hits.

W: Flanafgan. L: Johnson. 3 hits- Freehill (MS), Chavindon (MS). Roeder (MS), Lemen (HMB). 2 hits- Jackson (HMB), Salama (MS). 5 RBI- Chavinson (MS). 2 RBI- Lemen (HMB). HR- Chavinson (MS). 2B- Jackson (MS), Freehill (MS) 2, Barnett (MS).

El Camino 4, Woodside 3

The Colts picked up their second win of the PAL Ocean Division season, thanks to a Nicholas Jang two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Jang's homer rallied El Camino (6-15). The Colts jumped to a 2-0 lead, but Woodside tied it and took the lead in the top of the fifth inning.

Mikealo Osorio picked up the win by allowing three runs. He struck out five in six innings of work and threw 104 pitches.

Woodside was led offensively by Cruz Torres, who had three hits. Trent Amoroso had two doubles for the Wildcats (10-12).

Joseph Hohl struck out nine in six innings of work for the Wildcats.

W: Osorio. L: Hohl. S: Bromaghim. 3 hits- Torres (W). 2 hits- Amoroso (W), Jang (EC), Osorio (EC). 2 RBI- Torres (W), Jang (EC). HR- Jang (EC). 3B- Torres (W). 2B- Amoroso (W) 2, Comfort (W), Mokhtarini (W).

Mills 7, San Mateo 5

The Vikings completed the sweep of the Bearcats by scoring a run in the first and breaking it open with five runs in the second. In the second up 1-0 the Vikings took advantage of 4 walks, 2 Hit by pitch batters and 2 singles to go up 6-0.

Jeremiah Reyes had two hits for the Vikings.

Tino Janke went five innings, scattering nine hits to pick up the win.

The Bearcats, who had 11 hits, were led by Hudson Brandt's three hits. Tyce Copus and Jesus Olivas has two hits each.

W: Janke. L: Olivas. S: Angelini. 3 hits- Brandt (SM). 2 hits- Copus (SM), Olivas (SM), Reyes (M). 3 RBI- Copus (SM). Copus. 2B- Reyes (SM), Choi (M).