D5: Menlo repeats title season

Menlo School wrapped up an impressive turnaround from a slow start to the season by winning the CCS-Division V championship on Thursday with a 5-4 victory over Monterey.

The Knights won 18 of their last 19 games after getting off to a 3-7 start. The Division V crown comes after they won the CCS-Division VI championship a year ago.

Thursday's victory at San Jose's Excite Park wasn't secured until Ben Salama slammed the door in the seventh with two strikeouts and a pop up. Monterey (11-18) had cut the lead to one run in the sixth against Jackson Flanagan and were threating for more.

Freshman Reid Plamondon went the first five innings for Menlo, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out two and was credited with the victory.

With the game tied, 1-1, Menlo (21-8) scored three runs in the bottom of the second to take command of the game.

Fletcher Cahill led off with a base hit. After Nikhil Pathak walked, Renner Barnett was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The next two batters – Jack Freehill and Chuck Wynn – were retired, but Liam Widner, who had three hits in the contest, singled to score Cahill and make it 2-1.

Pathak scored on a wild pitch and the final run of the inning was plate when KC Chavinson's infield grounder was booted, allowing Barnett to score and make it a 4-1 game.

W: Plamondon. L: Trego. S: Salama. 3 hits- Widner (MS). 2 hits- Wynn (MS), Cahill (MS), Newborn (M). 2 RBI- Miramontes (M). 3B- Salama (MS). 2B- Wynn (MS) 2, Cahill (MS).