D3: Menlo completes three-peat

Reid Plamondon allowed three hits over six scoreless innings as Menlo School topped Wilcox, 2-0, on Thursday to win the CCS-Division III crown at Excite Ballpark in San Jose.

It is Menlo's third straight CCS championship, the only school in the section that can make such a claim.

In 2024, the Knights won the Division VI crown and last year they captured the Division V title and would go on to win a NorCal Division IV championship.

In all Menlo has now won nine straight CCS games and 12 straight postseason contests during this run.

What made this season even more impressive was that the Knights were promoted to the PAL's Bay Division and were expected to struggle against what is considered better competition. They finished third, three games behind Burlingame and were in contention for a league title until the final week.

With nine strikeouts, Plamondon outdueled Wilcox southpaw Eliah Laureles, who closed out a successful high school career by giving up just two hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked two.

Menlo scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning against Laureles – the only two runs of the game. Senior shortstop Jack Freehill led off by getting hit by a pitch and senior catch Chuck Wynn followed with a walk.

A double steal moved both runners into scoring position, and they crossed the plate on Matthew Majalya's single.

Plamondon cruised from there. He surrendered two hits to Wilcox third baseman Dylan Jackson but was never in serious trouble.

Liam Widner struck out two batters in the seventh to pick up the save.

The Knights will learn their NorCal playoff opponent on Sunday following a seeding meeting. The tournament is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

W: Plamondon | L: Laureles | S: Widner | 2 hits- Jackson (W). 2 RBI- Majalya (MS).