Division IV: A wide-open rock fight awaits

There was a time this season when the Division IV bracket – in its current state – could have been viewed and you would have sworn it was upside down.

Sequoia got off to a hot start and was considered one of the hottest teams on the Peninsula for a short time. Even a lopsided loss at Saint Francis on that Friday night in March didn't dampen the enthusiasm. Hell, just about everyone lost to the Lancers.

But somewhere along the way, the Ravens lost their way. A lot of it had to do with that day against The King's Academy when Morgan Winfield's right elbow barked. Thankfully, it didn't bite, but without perhaps the best pitcher in PAL-Bay Division, Sequoia suffered.

The struggled through the Bay Division season and then put their faith in the CCS selection committee, which rewarded the Ravens on Monday with a bid to the tourney. Now it's time for the team that limped to the finish line to again find its mojo. Seeded No. 8, the Ravens open with a top-seeded Harbor team that is young and has had its own stumbles this year.

That's usually the case in the Division IV bracket, where there are no league champions – just a bunch of teams in search of redemption.

No one doubts Sequoia's offense. Winfield, the Saint Mary's College signee who was limited to playing the field much of this season, tied for the Peninsula lead with nine home runs this year, while the Fausto Twins, Mario and Nolan, can hit it deep, too.

Cole Hymer, Garrett Johnson and Connor Murray can also swing it, too. If they find some pitching consistency, this is a team that could realistically win three games in a bracket that features no great teams.

Two weeks ago, we liked The King's Academy. And then, as it was completing a sweep of Menlo School, Nate Plata fouled a ball off of his foot and fractured a bone. He will watch the rest of the tournament from the bench while wearing a cast.

Plata is a player who can move the needle. He leaves a huge hole in the Knights' lineup, but they still have enough firepower to compete with Los Altos – a team that, led by pitcher Anders Wood, surprised everyone after a slow start but has some offensive struggles – in Saturday's opener.

1. Harbor Pirates, Santa Cruz

Record: 17-10 (third place in Santa Cruz Coast League

Coach: Joseph Allegri

Offensive Players to Watch: Senior infielder Noah Solano can hit for average and power, is one of the leaders on offense. Freshman Evan Lampel has stepped up to contribute as has senior Joey Raffo.

Mound Ace: In his first year of pitching, Joey Raffo has gotten the attention of the college scouts. He has signed to play baseball at UC-Davis in the fall. If senior Kyle McMillan pitches like his Saint Francis namesake, the Pirates can be lethal.

What to Expect: The Pirates are young. Just four seniors, who they'll lean on, but look for the youngsters to play big roles in a big-time tournament.

Opening Act: Sequoia (15-12)

2. Los Altos Eagles, Los Altos

Record: 12-15 (fourth place in the SCVAL-De Anza Division)

Coach: Gabriel Stewart

Offensive Players to Watch: Sean Hamby (.349 batting average, 13 runs); Jonah Altschuler (.305 batting average, 20 runs, 10 RBI); Mitesh Jain (.301 batting average, 17 runs).

Mound Ace: Anders Wood (5-4, 2.48 earned-run average, 63 Ks in 65 innings); Sean Hamby (1-0, 0.78 earned-run average, 4 saves).

What to Expect: Anders Wood gives the Eagles a good chance to win every time he takes the mound. Remember, he beat Los Gatos this year. Scratching out enough runs to win a CCS game could be a challenge.

Opening Act: The King's Academy (14-13)

3. Santa Cruz Cardinals, Santa Cruz

Record: 15-11 (fourth place in Santa Cruz Coast League)

Coach: Jesse Trumbull

Offensive Players to Watch: The Cardinals played seven games against Peninsula teams this season so while their statistics are not available, there are some names that stand out. Senior Cameron Fusari hit for both average and power, while Merrick DaCosta, Peter Astromoff, Merrick Miller and Micah Muhamed had big performances in those games.

Mound Ace: Sophomore Adam Foeler tossed a one-hit shutout in a March shutout of Riordan. Merrick Miller is another pitcher who could be counted on.

What to Expect: Santa Cruz is a tough team to pinpoint. The Cards had a 12-0 win over Riordan and beat Burlingame, The King's Academy while playing Bellarmine to an 8-6 outcome, but in losses to Terra Nova, Half Moon Bay and Mitty they were outscored by a combined score of 32-6.

Opening Act: Pioneer (13-14).

4. Monterey Toreadors, Monterey

Record: 14-13 (fourth place in PCAL-Gabilan Division)

Coach: Michael Groves

Offensive Players to Watch: Anthony Esquivel (.300 batting average, 19 runs, 13 RBI); Connor Rose (.299 batting average, 8 runs, 14 RBI); Matteo Marrota-Gallegos (.294 batting average, 20 hits).

Mound Ace: Johnny Money (10-3, 1.15 earned-run average, 71 Ks in 73 innings).

What to Expect: This is a team that has scored just 108 runs in 27 games. That's about four runs per game, but that puts a lot of pressure on the pitching to be perfect. Fortunately for the Toros, Johnny Money has been, well, money.

Opening Act: Piedmont Hills (12-12-2)

5. Piedmont Hills Pirates, San Jose

Record: 8-15-2 (tied for fourth in Mount Hamilton League)

Coach: Shorty Gutierrez

Offensive Players to Watch: Toby Torres (.493 batting average, 21 runs, 6 home runs, 18 RBI); Travis Linane (.288 batting average, 21 runs, 14 RBI); Dario Negrete (.302 batting average, 11 runs, 12 RBI).

Mound Ace: Travis Linane (4-2, 5.80 earned-run average, 66 Ks in 44.2 innings).

What to Expect: Toby Torres is a legitimate high school ballplayer. He hits for average and power and has to be accounted for. But there's a drop off with the rest of the lineup. In addition, the pitching had a team ERA above four runs.

Opening Act: Monterey (14-13),

6. Pioneer Mustangs, San Jose

Record: 13-14 (sixth place in Mount Hamilton League)

Coach: Kyle Murdock

Offensive Players to Watch: Griffin Bacon (.440 batting average, 26 runs, 2 home runs, 20 RBI); Colton Bermillo (.391 batting average, 10 runs, 11 RBI); Brandon Teixiera (.316 batting average, 17 runs, 15 RBI); Preston Bright (.312 batting average, 24 runs, 15 RBI, 10 extra-base hits.

Mound Ace: Jaxon Gentry (4-3, 3.61 earned-run average, 33 Ks in 43.2 innings); Brandon Teixiera (4-1, 2.41 earned-run average, 40 Ks in 40.2 innings).

What to Expect: Another team that lacked consistency. It closed the season with two nail-biting losses to Willow Glen, the league champion and a Division I participant, but surrendered 22 runs in a loss to Menlo-Atherton. Which team shows up?

Opening Act: Santa Cruz (15-11)

7. The King's Academy Knights, Sunnyvale

Record: 14-13 (fifth place in PAL-Bay Division)

Coach: Greg Mugg

Offensive Players to Watch: Taiyo Petersen (.378 batting average, 16 runs, 17 RBI); Dominic Myung (.376 batting average, 19 runs, 22 RBI, 10 doubles); Justin Cho (.377 batting average, 19 runs, 13 RBI); Brandon Kinoshita (.313 batting average, 21 runs, 12 stolen bases).

Mound Ace: Taiyo Petersen (2-2, 4.05 earned-run average, 41 Ks in 38 innings); Brandon Kinoshita (3-2, 2.62 earned-run average, 28 Ks in 18.2 innings); Dominick Myung (2-2, 2.36 earned-run average, 40 Ks in 35.2 innings).

What to Expect: Replacing Nate Plata's bat (.432 batting average, 18 RBI and 16 extra-base hits) is one thing. Replacing his presence behind the plate is next to impossible, but that what the Knights have been tasked with doing. The lineup is still good enough to compete. It'll come down to the arms.

Opening Act: Los Altos (12-15)

8. Sequoia Ravens, Redwood City

Record: 15-12 (sixth place in PAL-Bay Division)

Coach: Mike Doyle

Offensive Players to Watch: Morgan Winfield (.364 batting average, 15 runs, 9 home runs, 30 RBI); Cole Hymer (.391 batting average, 34 runs, 2 home runs, 11 RBI); Mario Fausto (.351 batting average, 18 runs, 5 home runs, 19 RBI); Nolan Fausto (.303 batting average, 13 runs, 5 home runs, 23 RBI).

Mound Ace: Nolan Fausto (3.78 earned-run average, 43 Ks in 33.1 innings); Mario Fausto (4.69 earned-run average, 32 Ks in 28.1 innings); Garrett Johnson (3.22 earned-run average, 25 Ks in 37 innings).

What to Expect: The Ravens can mash. They led the Peninsula with 26 home runs and averaged more than 5.6 runs per game. It comes down to pitching. It always does, but in the case of Sequoia, it explains everything that has gone wrong this season.