Peninsula Prep Baseball
Terra Nova starts each game day in Pacifica, but it's never the final destination.
Some have said that the team that has played every game on the road this season while its diamond undergoes a multimillion-dollar renovation – needed, but the foot-dragging is head-scratching – is a year too soon to the party.
The Tigers (18-6-1) contend they're right on time. The future is now. They're field will be done next year and their young core of talent – with three sophomores and five juniors in the starting lineup – will be a year older and with some CCS playoff experience under their belt.
And they'll go through the next week together.
"We are young," said Terra Nova coach Jared Milch. "We're just trying to keep everyone loose, having fun with the guys they've been playing with the whole season. We want to keep them vibing and playing together."
The Tigers officially will host Saturday's CCS opener against fifth-seeded Piedmont Hills (18-9), but the game will be played at Westmoor High in Daly City. At least they get to wear their home threads.
A win on Saturday sets them up for a rematch with PAL Ocean Division champion Menlo School, which swept a series from the Tigers last month.
"We're trying not to look too far ahead," Milch said, fully aware that his team sees the Knights on the horizon.
Menlo, coached by David Trujillo, got off to a slow start this season after winning the CCS Division VI crown last year. The Knights won 15 of its last 16 games and feature two of the Ocean Division's top performers this year in shortstop Jack Freehill and pitcher Jackson Flanagan.
"I think we were just a little young and a little fresh at the start, coming off of a really strong season last year," said Flanagan, who brings a 9-2 record into the postseason even there is no fastball packed for the trip. "We've got some young players, and everyone was slowly feeling learning the ropes. We're getting it going now."
Here are the Division V bracket breakdowns:
No. 8 Soledad at No. 1 Menlo School, 2 p.m.
Soledad Aztecs, Soledad
Record: 10-16 (5-13, sixed in PCAL Gabilan Division)
Coach: Damien Ryan
Key Offensive Players: Daniel Valenzuela (.403 batting average, 14 RBI, 18 runs), Anakin Taverez (.33 batting average, 14 RBI, 12 runs), Ethan Sanchez (.320 batting average, 18 runs, 9 SBs).
Mound Ace: Ethan Sanchez (2-3, 80 Ks in 62 innings, 2.92 earned-run average).
Menlo School Knights, Atherton
Record: 18-8 (13-1 PAL Ocean Division champion)
Coach: David Trujillo
Key Offensive Players: Chuck Wynn (.397 batting average, 12 RBI, 2 HRs), Jack Freehill (.309 batting average, 16 RBI, 22 runs, 2 HRs, 17 SBs), Zach Roeder (.347, 16 RBI, 15 runs).
Mound Ace: Jackson Flanagan (9-3, 21 Ks in 76.1 innings, 1.64 earned-run average).
No. 5 Piedmont Hills vs. No. 4 Terra Nova at Westmoor High, 1 p.m.
Record: 18-9 (15-3, Santa Teresa League champion)
Coach: Shorty Gutierez
Key Offensive Players: Travis Linane (.391 batting average, 16 RBI, 37 runs, 26 SBs), Alex Tran (.430 batting average, 20 RBI, 21 runs, 14 SB), Josh Gomez (.476 batting average, 24 RBI, 2 HRs, 28 runs).
Mound Ace: Travis Linane (9-2, 68 Ks in 49.1 innings, 2.84 earned-run average).
Terra Nova Tigers, Pacifica
Record: 18-6-1 (11-3, second in the PAL Ocean Division)
Coach: Jared Milch
Key Offensive Players: Luke Ornelas (.429 batting average, 17 RBI, 30 runs, 14 SBs), Brody Finale (.408 batting average, 21 RBI, 18 runs), Joey Donati (.373 batting average, 24 RBI, 2 HRs), Wes McDougal (.357, 17 runs, 18 SBs).
Mound Ace: Jesse Martinez (8-2, 25 Ks in 52.1 innings, 2.14 earned-run average).
No. 6 Santa Teresa at No. 3 Harbor, 1 p.m.
Santa Teresa Saints, San Jose
Record: 10-15 (4-10, sixth in the Mount Hamilton League)
Coach: Jason Washington
Key Offensive Players: Jacob Guevarra (.327 batting average, 12 RBI), David Hall (.297 batting average, 13 runs scored), David Medina (.315 batting average, 10 RBI).
Mound Ace: Kaden Kott (3-4, 30 Ks in 39.2 innings, 4.24 earned-run average).
Harbor Pirates, Santa Cruz
Record: 15-12 (6-9, fourth in the Santa Cruz Coast League)
Coach: Joseph Allegri
Key Players: Nate Byers, Robert Andrade, Cole McCombs. (No statistics available).
No. 7 Lincoln at No. 2 Monterey, 1 p.m.
Lincoln Lions, San Jose
Record: 22-5 (15-3, second in the Santa Teresa League)
Coach: Stuart Piraro
Key Offensive Players: Ryan Bernwanger (.474 batting average, 24 RBI, 26 runs, 13 SBs), Graeson Wagner (.407 batting average, 25 RBI, 28 runs), Andreas Garcia (.359 batting average, 15 RBI, 19 runs).
Mound Ace: Jayden Peters (7-1, 52 Ks in 61.1 innings, 2.74 earned-run average).
Monterey Dores, Monterey
Record: 9-17 (7-11, fifth in the PCAL Gabilan Division)
Coach: Michael Groves
Key Offensive Players: Connor Rose (.316 batting average, 18 RBI, 12 runs), Matteo Morotta-Gallegos (.234 batting average, 5 RBI, 10 runs).
Mound Ace: Tristan Trego (4-0, 43 Ks in 28 innings, 1.00 earned-run average).
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