Peninsula Prep Baseball
Capuchino was given a tough draw, no question. Top-seeded Leigh brings one of the Central Coast Section's most dynamic offenses – the Longhorns have a team batting average of .374 – into Saturday's Division II opener against the visiting Mustangs.
But eighth-seeded Cap isn't backing down.
Why should it? The Mustangs will start Declan Mendel, a pitcher who has put together a statistical season not seen in San Bruno in years. Maybe decades.
It makes for an intriguing opening-round battle in a bracket filled with interesting matchups, all of them involving Peninsula teams.
Mendel pieced together an 8-0 season by notching three straight shutouts – he missed a fourth by one out on an infield error that scored two runs – and posting an earned-run average of 0.70. He 69 2/3 innings, he struck out 75 hitters.
"He's a bulldog," said Capuchino coach Matt Wilson. "We haven't seen a season like this in a while. ... Every time Declan Mendel is on the mound, we feel like we have a good chance to win."
And yet, we're at that point of the season where the next loss marks the end of the season, one that no one is ready to see end just yet.
"This is a team that genuinely likes each other," Wilson said. "Our guys are excited. Leigh has to win three more games just like we've got to win three more games, and it starts on Saturday."
It's a bracket with plenty of familiarity. PAL Bay Division champion Menlo-Atherton is the No. 2 seed and opens at home on Saturday with Pioneer, while fourth-seeded Mitty hosts Wilcox and No. 6 Sacred Heart Cathedral travels to Hollister.
Here's a breakdown of the CCS-Division II bracket:
No. 8 Capuchino at No. 1 Leigh, noon
Capuchino Mustangs, San Bruno
Record: 17-10 (9-5, second in PAL Bay Division)
Coach: Matt Wilson
Team stats: .349 batting average, .962 fielding percentage, 3.20 earned-run average.
Key Offensive Players: Lucas Zayac (.463 batting average), 23 runs, 44 hits), Anakin Manuel (.400 batting average, 30 RBI, 32 hits), Andres Gomez (.533 batting average, 29 runs, 48 hits), Travis Ciardella (.360 batting average, 22 RBI, 31 hits).
On the Mound: Declan Mendel (8-0, 0.70 earned-run average), Bobby Gomez (4-5), John Ferreira (3-1, 1.77 earned-run average).
Leigh Longhorns, San Jose
Record: 21-6 (11-3, Mount Hamilton League champion)
Coach: Drew Marino
Team stats: .374 batting average, .946 fielding percentage, 2.35 earned-run average.
Key Offensive Players: Michael Mogannam (.377 batting average, 36 runs, 29 hits), Dylan Christian (.384 batting average, 25 runs, 33 hits), Noah Miller (.415, 28 RBI, 34 hits), Lance Takamura (.446 batting average, 26 RBI, 33 hits), Brandon Kim (.427 batting average, 26 runs, 35 hits).
On the Mound: Marcus Glanville (8-0, 1.06 earned-run average), Cooper Low (6-1, 2.60 earned-run average).
No. 5 Wilcox at No. 4 Mitty, 3 p.m.
Wilcox Chargers, Santa Clara
Record: 19-8 (10-4, third in the SCVAL-DeAnza Division)
Coach: Matt Huth
Team stats: Not available. Chargers have won 14 of their last 15 games.
Key Offensive Players: Jake Prettol, Matt Tiendos, Justin Forster. (Stats not available).
On the Mound: Eliah Laureles
Mitty Monarchs, San Jose
Record: 13-15 (4-10, sixth in the WCAL)
Coach: Brian Yocke
Team Stats: .245 batting average, .957 fielding percentage, 4.73 earned-run average.
Key Offensive Players: Grayson Munoz (.417 batting average, 28 RBI, 5 HRs, 30 hits), Derek Allen (.243 batting average, 18 hits), Ethan Chase (.254 batting average, 18 hits), Felix Chang (.243 batting average, 18 hits).
On the Mound: Justin Humbert (4-1, 3.29 earned-run average, Joseph Engin (4-6, 4.42 earned-run average), Carson Seeger (1-2, 3.57 earned-run average).
No. 6 Sacred Heart Cathedral at No. 3 Hollister, 4 p.m
Sacred Heart Cathedral Irish, San Francisco
Record: 12-16 (3-11, seventh in WCAL)
Coach: Gregg Franceschi
Team stats: .249 batting average, .934 fielding percentage, 3.99 earned-run average.
Key Offensive Players: Tedford Lewis (.366, 26 hits), Santino Baisman (.288, 23 hits), Rohan Kahns (.265, 22 hits).
On the Mound: Jacob Vines (5-3, 2.01 earned-run average), Quinn Middleton (4-2, 3.35 earned-run average).
Hollister Haybalers, Hollister
Record: 18-8 (second in the SCCL-Gabilan Division)
Coach: Angelo Loomis
No team or individual statistics available
Key Offensive Players: Gavin Rodriquez, catcher; Braydon Barone, shortstop; Jake Esparza, third base; Evan Mendoza, second base.
On the Mound: Trent Roach (35 innings, 0.00 earned-run average), Daniel Martinez.
No. 7 Pioneer at No. 2 Menlo-Atherton, 1 p.m.
Pioneer Mustangs, San Jose
Record: 14-16 (10-4, second in the Mount Hamilton League)
Coach: Kyle Murdock
Team Stats: .286 batting average
Key Offensive Players: Ben Kennaday (.341, 28 hits, 10 doubles), Jayden Flores (.359, 23 hits), Easton Deguara (.426, 20 hits), Colton Bermillo (.328, 20 hits).
On the Mound: Andrew Aldespino, Evan Holmes, Jaxon Gentry.
Menlo-Atherton Bears, Atherton
Record: 20-7 (12-2, PAL Bay Division champion)
Coach: Jordan Paroubeck
Team Stats: .284 batting average, .970 fielding percentage, 2.56 earned-run average.
Key Offensive Players: Merrick Lee (.360 batting average, 23 runs, 31 hits), Ryder Kelly (.345 batting average, 28 runs, 29 hits), Will Roberts (.333 batting average, 3 defensive errors in 106 chances), Jimmy Zaharias (.321, 22 RBI, 10 doubles).
On the Mound: Jack Molise (6-3, 2.04 earned-run average), Wes Peterson (6-3, 1.15 earned-run average).
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