McMahon joins the shutout parade

MOUNTAIN VIEW – Saint Francis’ 6-0 victory over Serra on Tuesday at Higgins Field could be viewed as a microcosm for both teams as they head into the regular-season finale on Friday.

For the Lancers, it was a case of it being business as usual. In recording their 17^th shutout win of the season, they made the plays on defense and struck quickly with four runs in the first inning that all but ended the drama before most of the crowd had settled into their seats.

And for Serra, it was another example of squandered opportunities. On a day when Saint Francis dug deep into its bullpen and issued far more walks than usual, the Padres showed their weakness, something that has ailed them all season: an inability to get runners home from third base with fewer than two outs.

The Padres had three prime scoring chances but came away empty each time.

Meanwhile, it was Ian McMahon’s turn to start a game for the Lancers and the senior who has spent the better part of this season on the mend from an arm injury – the same kid who threw a complete game in last year’s NorCal championship game – allowed two hits in four innings in his first starting assignment of the season.

"It's great to be part of this," McMahon said. "It's been a crazy year. I think the expectation for our staff were lower than we had thought they should be coming into the year. So, I think being able to prove people that we can pitch was big for us."

Whille McMahon was on the mend, he watched as Brody Larocque and Kyle McMillan have had stellar seasons.

"It's been great to see Kyle embrace his role, and Brody kind of step up into that spot too. It's just been a great year."

McMahon set down the first eight batters he faced before Alex Hicale grounded one up the middle that McMillan backhanded, pivoted and threw away at first for a hit and an error. But McMahon got out of the inning two pitches later by picking off Hicale from second base.

He gave up a two-out single to Brody Crudeli in the fourth before getting out of the jam unscathed and ending his day. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter.

It was in the later innings when the Padres had their chances. They loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, but a strike out, fly out and fielder's choice grounded allowed Saint Francis to escape the inning unscathed.

In the sixth, two more runners got on via walks, but Matthew Moody got out of it with a strikeout and a lazy fly ball to left. The Padres had a first-and-third situation with one out in the seventh, but two infield out ended the contest.

The Lancers batted around in the first inning, scoring four runs off freshman Michael Ohman. With one out, Jack Leeper tripled to left-center field. Tanner Wall then hit a nubber up the first-base line that scored Leeper and went for a single.

Gino Cappellazzo followed with a nubber of his own. Wall scored on a wild pitch and RBI singles by McMillan and Henry Dommer made it 4-0.

W: McMahon | L: Ohman | 2 hits- Wall (SF), King (SF). 3B- Leeper (SF). 2B- King (SF), Wall (SF)/

St. Ignatius Prep 13, Bellarmine 5

Archer Horn hit his WCAL-leading sixth home run and drove in four runs, while DJ Delaney had three hits for the Wildcats, who rebounded from a sweep at the hands of Valley Christian to win convincingly on Tuesday.

Most surprising about the two losses to the Warriors last week was that St. Ignatius Prep didn't score a run in either game. But they wasted little time getting on the scoreboard Tuesday. A six-run first inning set the tone.

Chase Gordan and RJ Church had two hits each, while Jack Callen drove in two runs for St. Ignatius Prep, which will host the Bells in Friday's regular-season finale at Fairmont Park.

Vincent Kim and Anaius Ula had two hits and two RBI each for the Bells, while Emmet Arnot had two hits.

W: Gordon | L: McNamara | 3 hits- Delaney (SI). 2 hits- Gordon (SI), Horn (SI), Church (SI), Ula (B), Kim (B), Arnott (B). 4 RBI- Horn (SI). 2 RBI- J.Callen (SI), Kim (B), Ula (B). HR- Horn (SI). 2B- Souza (B), Chew (B), Church (SI).

Mitty 9, Valley Christian 8

The Monarchs scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull off the come-from-behind upset of Valley.

Felix Chang had three hits, while Ethan Chase homered and drove in four runs for Mitty, which snapped a six-game losing streak in dramatic fashion. Tyler Manago had two hits and two RBI.

Colton Hadfield had four hits for the Warriors, while Logan Mull had two hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs. Alex Moutzouridis drove in two runs for Valley, which will host Mitty on Friday.

W: Mata | L: Graham | 4 hits- Hadfield (VC). 3 hits- Chang (M). 2 hits- Chase (M), Manago (M), Mull (VC). 4 RBI- Chase (M). 3 RBI- Mull (VC). 2 RBI- Moutzouridis (VC), Manago (M). HR- Chase (M), Mull (VC). 2B- Manago (M) 2, Hadfield (VC), Mull (VC), Graham (VC).

Sacred Heart Cathedral 7, Riordan 2

Cooper Rogers-Lewis allowed two hits over five scoreless innings, while striking out seven, to pick up the win.

The Irish have now won three straight games and will look for the series sweep on Friday at Riordan. They'll send Jacob Vines to the mound for his last WCAL start.

Lucas Fung, Max Matthews, Vines and Dom Debrunner had two hits each for Sacred Heart, while Matthews and Tommy Do drove in two runs apiece.

W: Rogers-Lewis | L: Cohn | 2 hits- Fung (RSHC), Vines (SHC), Matthews (SHC), Debrunner (SHC). 2 RBI- Do (SHC), Matthews (SHC).

PAL-Ocean Division

Half Moon Bay 7, Terra Nova 3

The Cougars stayed in contention for a CCS berth, while just about knocking Terra Nova from the conversation. The two team will play Thursday in Half Moon Bay.

Half Moon Bay won its seventh straight game and eighth in ninth games.

Sophomore Paxton Holden had two hits and drove in two runs for the Cougars, while Jacob Couto had two hits and the Giannini twins – Lane and Cole – each doubled.

Ian Ehrhardt drove in two runs with a double, while Lane Giannini had two RBI.

That was more than enough offense for senior Kai Kung, who allowed three runs and seven hits over six innings to pick up the win. He struck out seven before Riley Jackson closed out the Tigers in the seventh.

Brody Finale had two hits for the Tigers.

W: Kung | L: Santamato | 2 hits- Holden (HMB), Couto (HMB), Finale (TN). 2 RBI- Ehrhardt (HMB), Holden (HMB), C.Giannini (HMB), Roman (TN). 2B- C.Giannini (HMB), L.Giannini (HMB), Holden (HMB), Ehrhardt (HMB).

South San Francisco 5, Mills 4

The Warriors scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-1 lead and then hung on as Mills rallied in the sixth for three runs of its own.

Emelio Oseguera led South City with three hits, while Josh Nabung had two hits and Adam Keith drove in two.

Nick Lafon had two hits for the Vikings, while Tyler Yuan had two RBI.

W: Nabung | L: Wong | S: V.Bernal | 3 hits- Oseguera (SSF). 2 hits- Nabung (SSF), Lafon (M). 2 RBI- Keith (SSF), Yuan (M). 2B- Keith (SSF), Lafon (M).

Sacred Heart Prep 6, Woodside 1, 9 innings

The Gators scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning to stay on top of the Ocean Division standings. They have a one-game lead with one game to play against the visiting Wildcats on Thursday.

Nico Pollioni had two doubles and drove in two runs for Sacred Heart Prep. Dane Bochnowsi added two hits.

Rallin Covey went the first seven innings and allowed a run on three hits. Pollioni struck out two and walked two over the final two innings to get credit for the victory.

John Tinson had two hits for Woodside.

W: Pollioni | L: Comfort | 2 hits- Pollioni (SHP), Bocknowski (SHP), Tinson (W). 2 RBI- Pollioni (SHP). 2B- Pollioni (SHP) 2, Durrett (SHP), Sweeney (SHP), Tinson (W).

San Mateo 6, Aragon 2

Jesus Olivas threw a complete-game victory with 10 strikeouts and added a home run at the plate for the Bearcats, who maintained their one-game lead for second place in the Ocean Division with one game to play.

The Bearcats can punch their ticket to the CCS tourney with a victory at Aragon on Thursday. They currently have a one-game lead, but Half Moon Bay has been coming on strong over the last two weeks.

Olivas scattered six hits and allowed just one earned run. He was given all the run support he'd need when the Bearcats scored four runs in the first inning.

Christian Louie, Hudson Brandt, Olivas, Michael Lackey and Apollo Lee had two hits each for San Mateo.

Keith Mayte had two hits for the Dons.

W: Olivas | L: Ruiz | 2 hits- Mayte (A), Louie (SM), Olivas (SM), Brandt (SM), Lackey (SM), Lee (SM). 2 RBI- Lackey (SM). HR- Olivas (SM). 2B- Gosselin (A). Tam (A).

SCVAL- De Anza Division

Palo Alto 15, Mountain View 4

Jackson Sims had three hits, including his third home run in as many games, and drove in three runs as Palo Alto continued its hot-hitting attack.

The Vikings had 12 hits, including home runs from senior catcher Carter Bader and third baseman Greg Lee.

Paxton Liu and Albert Pellizzari had two hits each for Paly, while Bader and Lee drove in four runs each.

Palo Alto, which has won four straight and 10 of its last 11 games, closes the regular season on Wednesday against De Anza Division champion Los Gatos.

W: Robinson | L: Rieben | 3 hits- Sims (PA). 2 hits- Liu (PA), Lee (PA), Pelizzari (PA), Huang (MV). 4 RBI- Bader (PA), Lee (PA). 3 RBI- Sims (PA). HR- Bader (PA), Sims (PA), Lee (PA).