Division I: Lancers making history

Honestly, Erik Wagle says he didn't spend a lot of time this week worrying about Saint Francis' first-round CCS-Division I opponent.

"We are excited to play in the playoffs and are just going to focus on our team and the things we need to do to be successful," said Wagle, whose Lancers put together one of the best regular seasons in school history.

The top-ranked Lancers went 24-3 and ran away with the West Catholic Athletic League championship. They recorded 17 wins without giving up a run and enter the postseason with a team earned-run average of 0.82. Saint Francis might also be the first team to shut out every WCAL opponent in a season.

On top of that, they've allowed just seven unearned runs while committing a CCS-low 15 fielding errors. And offensively, they bring a .323 team batting average into Saturday's 3 p.m. opener against visiting No. 8 Serra and have stolen a school-record 134 bases.

"We had one of the great regular seasons in Saint Francis history and it's all due to the players and their commitment to the standard we hold everyone to in our program," Wagle said.

The CCS opener again coincides with graduation day at Saint Francis. Unlike last year when they had to board a bus and head to Pacifica for an opening-round game with St. Ignatius Prep, they get a home game this year. In addition, Wagle said they learned a lot with how to juggle commencement day and a do-or-die game.

"There is a lot more communication with the seniors about their schedules this week," he said. "We're helping them manage all of that, especially their hydration and approach to the weekend with all of the events going on."

1. Saint Francis Lancers, Mountain View

Record: 24-3 (WCAL champion)

Coach: Erik Wagle

Offensive Players to Watch: Aaron Bonini (.388 batting average, 13 runs, 13 RBI, 11 stolen bases); Jack Leeper (.377 batting average, 26 runs, 2 home runs, 18 RBI, 31 stolen bases); Landon King (.375 batting average, 26 runs, 17 RBI, 18 stolen bases); Tanner Wall (.347 batting average, 26 runs, 17 RBI, 12 RBI, 12 stolen bases); Kyle McMillan (.354 batting average, 9 runs, 9 RBI); Henry Dommer (.299 batting average, 17 runs, 2 home runs, 21 RBI, 16 stolen bases); Gino Cappellazzo (.328 batting average, 19 runs, 4 home runs, 18 RBI, 8 stolen bases).

Mound Ace: Brody Larocque (11-1, 0.71 earned-run average, 59 Ks in 59 innings); Kyle McMillan (10-0, 0.43 earned-run average, 71 Ks in 65 innings).

Noteworthy team stats: Batting average: .323; Runs: 194; Home runs: 13; On-base percentage: .437; Stolen bases: 134; Earned-run average: 0.82; Batting average allowed: .174. Strikeouts: 180. Fielding errors: 15

What to Expect: The Lancers have penned a magical season to date. They hit for average and with enough power to make you notice, but the 134 stolen bases jump off the page. So does the 0.82 team ERA – 17 shutout victories are a shining achievement – as well as the fact that they committed just 15 fielding errors, which have led to a miniscule seven unearned runs. They can be beaten, but it will take a near-perfect performance to do it.

Opening Act: Serra (17-9)

2. Valley Christian Warriors, San Jose

Record: 17-9 (second place in WCAL)

Coach: John Diatte

Offensive Players to Watch: Colton Hadfield (.305 batting average, 20 runs, 3 home runs, 15 RBI); Nathan Choi (.235 batting average, 19 runs, 4 home runs, 20 RBI); Logan Mull (.333 batting average, 2 home runs); Christian Nevarez (.323 batting average, 16 runs).

Mound Ace: Gabe Felix (6-3, 0.96 earned-run average, 72 Ks in 58.1 innings); Alex Kim (7-1, 2.53 earned-run average, 53 Ks in 47 innings).

Noteworthy team stats: Batting average: .260; Runs: 133; Home runs: 13; Stolen bases: 46; On-base percentage: .422; Earned-run average: 2.52; Strikeouts: 191; Batting average allowed: .197; Fielding errors: 31.

What to Expect: The Warriors feature mostly underclassmen, meaning their future is bright. Still, they managed to finish second in the WCAL and get a favorable first-round draw. Gabe Felix put together a season with a sub-one ERA, but it went mostly unnoticed.

Opening Act: Willow Glen (17-9)

3. Los Gatos Wildcats, Los Gatos

Record: 24-3 (SCVAL-De Anza Division champion)

Coach: Mike Minkel

Offensive Players to Watch: Beau Musser (.346 batting average, 36 runs, 18 RBI, 17 stolen bases); Jackson Fitzpatrick (.388 batting average, 22 runs, 26 RBI); Brady Simon (.462 batting average, 42 runs, 5 home runs, 25 RBI); Blake Mordaunt (.406 batting average, 15 runs, 22 RBI); Trent Welsh (.388 batting average, 19 runs, 14 RBI); Chase Frolich (.442 batting average, 29 runs, 44 RBI).

Mound Ace: Ethan Williams (11-0, 0.61 earned-run average, 90 Ks in 57 innings); Gavin Seiler (5-0, 1.33 earned-run average).

Noteworthy team stats: Batting average: .350; Runs: 266; Home runs: 8; On-base percentage: .474; Earned-run average: 1.88; Strikeouts: 208; Batting average allowed: .223. Fielding errors: 28.

What to Expect: These Wildcats are poised to make another deep postseason run. They score a lot of runs and might have the best pitcher on the Peninsula in senior Ethan Williams. They rolled through a weak De Anza Division this year, but that's not an indictment on the season the Wildcats have had.

Opening Act: Bellarmine (20-7)

4. St. Ignatius Prep Wildcats, San Francisco

Record: 17-8 (third place in WCAL)

Coach: Brian Pollzzie

Offensive Players to Watch: Archer Horn (.418 batting average, 29 runs, 6 home runs, 17 RBI, 16 stolen bases); Jack Callen (.345 batting average, 13 runs, 20 RBI); RJ Church (.327 batting average, 10 runs); Chase Gordon (.343 batting average, 10 runs, 2 home runs, 11 RBI); Ryan Rosenthal (.338 batting average, 9 runs, 12 RBI); DJ Delaney (.383 batting average, 15 runs, 2 home runs, 17 RBI).

Mound Ace: Leo Rhein (6-2, 1.68 earned-run average, 38 Ks in 50 innings); Chase Gordon (2-2, 2.84 earned-run average, 21 Ks in 32 innings).

Noteworthy team stats: Batting average: .298; Runs: 139; Home runs: 14; Stolen bases: 62; On-base percentage: .403; Earned-run average: 2.66; Strikeouts: 130. Batting average allowed: .231; Fielding errors: 39.

What to Expect: The Wildcats are a tough team to figure out. One week, they get shut out twice by Valley and the next week they are pouring it on against Bellarmine. When they're clicking, they can beat anyone. Just remember the 10-6 victory over Saint Francis on April 14 when they pounded out 14 hits. That wasn't a fluke.

Opening Act: Soquel (21-4)

5. Soquel Knights, Soquel

Record: 21-4 (Santa Cruz Coast League champion)

Coach: TJ Moran

Offensive Players to Watch: Hudson Summerhill (.512 batting average, 36 run, 2 home runs, 35 RBI); Jake Escalante (.407 batting average, 31 runs, 4 home runs, 35 RBI); Cash Moran (.400 batting average, 34 runs, 26 RBI, 21 stolen bases); Trey Sousa (.453, 27 runs, 11 RBI); Connor Corlet (.365 batting average, 13 runs, 21 RBI); Brady Downs (.429 batting average, 18 runs, 27 RBI); Luke Santee (.444 batting average, 20 runs, 9 RBI).

Mound Ace: Jake Escalante (9-0, 1.43 earned-run average, 86 Ks in 49 innings); Luke Shoemaker (6-1, 1.19 earned-run average, 67 Ks in 41.1 innings).

Noteworthy team stats: Batting average: .375; Runs: 242; Home runs: 9; Stolen bases: 89; On-base percentage: .462; Earned-run average: 2.13; Strikeouts: 238; Batting average allowed: .173; Fielding errors: 22.

What to Expect: In a loaded bracket, the Knights might be the one team that can claim to have drawn an unfair seed. This is a team that won a league championship, has a .375 team batting average, a 2.13 team ERA and two of the best players – Hudson Summerhill and Jake Escalante – in the CCS and is playing a road game. Their first-round matchup is a rematch. St. Ignatius Prep walked off with a win the first time they played.

Opening Act: St. Ignatius Prep (17-8)

6. Bellarmine Prep Bells, San Jose

Record: 20-7 (fourth place in WCAL)

Coach: Nate Sutton

Offensive Players to Watch: Drew McClelland (.323 batting average, 21 runs, 3 home runs, 17 RBI); Isaiah Beyah (.356 batting average, 19 runs, 2 home runs, 15 RBI); Vincent Kim (.432 batting average, 28 runs, 7 home runs, 22 RBI); Nathan Chew (.373 batting average, 22 run, 15 RBI, 12 doubles); Ollie McNamara (.338 batting average, 8 runs, 10 RBI); Arleigh Souza (.349 batting average, 17 runs, 11 RBI, 18 stolen bases); Emmet Arnott (.284 batting average, 18 runs, 4 home runs, 21 RBI).

Mound Ace: Emmet Arnott (5-3, 2.73 earned-run average, 48 Ks in 48.2 innings) Ollie McNamara (4-2, 4.12 earned-run average, 40 Ks in 37.1 innings).

Noteworthy team stats: Batting average: .328; Runs: 183; Home runs: 21; Stolen bases: 70; On-base percentage: .418; Earned-run average: 3.02; Batting average allowed: .230; Fielding errors: 45

What to Expect: The Bells are one of the big stories of the 2026 season. After winning the last WCAL tournament in 2025, they set a goal of winning the league outright in 2026. Four straight losses to Saint Francis and St. Ignatius Prep in the final two weeks derailed those plans, but this is a team that definitely belongs in the top tier. Bellarmine will give Los Gatos a game.

Opening Act: Los Gatos (24-3)

7. Willow Glen Rams, San Jose

Record: 23-2-1 (Mount Hamilton League champion)

Coach: Brian Vieira

Offensive Players to Watch: Jack Rudd (.494 batting average, 31 runs, 28 RBI); Gavin Holmes (.353 batting average, 17 runs, 16 RBI); Miles Austin (.418 batting average, 20 runs, 27 RBI, 11 stolen bases); Ben Mudgett (.384 batting average, 36 runs, 18 RBI, 17 stolen bases); Tyler Veroneau (.373 batting average, 36 runs, 25 RBI, 15 stolen bases).

Mound Ace: Finn Dionne (10-0, 0.87 earned-run average, 42 Ks in 64.1 innings); Connor Hoover (6-0, 1.79 earned-run average, 29 Ks in 39 innings).

Noteworthy team stats: Batting average: .353; Runs: 219; Home runs: 1; On-base percentage: .453; Stolen bases: 78; Earned-run average: 1.71; Strikeouts: 131; Batting average allowed: .202; Fielding errors: 39.

What to Expect: The Rams play a small-ball brand of offense that makes up for a lack of power – just one home runs all season – with solid contact and a team batting average of .353. They struck out an average of just four times per game. Good things happen when you put the ball in play.

Opening Act: Valley Christian (17-9)

8. Serra Padres, San Mateo

Record: 17-9 (fifth place in WCAL)

Coach: Mat Keplinger

Offensive Players to Watch: Nate Hui (.354 batting average, 19 runs, 12 RBI, 14 stolen bases); Ayden Beal (.305 batting average, 5 runs, 11 RBI); Brody Crudeli (.286 batting average, 16 runs, 9 RBI); William Walbridge (.281 batting average, 9 runs, 5 home runs, 12 RBI); Aaron Minton (.208 batting average, 16 runs, 3 home runs, 10 RBI), Jack Wessell (.339 batting average, 11 runs, 3 home runs, 17 RBI).

Mound Ace: Riley Lim (7-2, 3.16 earned-run average, 51 Ks in 55.1 innings); Michael Ohman (4-2, 2.26 earned-run average, 49 Ks in 40.1 innings).

Noteworthy team stats: Batting average: .264; Runs: 123; Home runs: 17, On-base percentage: .378; Stolen bases: 41; Earned-run average: 3.17; Strikeouts: 182; Batting average allowed: .232; Fielding errors: 27

What to Expect: Mat Keplinger knew there would be growing pains involved with replacing the nucleus of last year's CCS championship team. It's not fair to compare that team to the latest version, but if the Padres are going to extend their season beyond Saturday, it is going to have bring back some of last year's magic and play nearly flawless against a Saint Francis squad with few weaknesses.

Opening Act: Saint Francis (24-3)