Tigers stay in the CCS hunt

Terra Nova took a big step toward a Central Coast Section playoff berth on Thursday with a 3-2 victory over visiting Sacred Heart Prep, the first-place team in the PAL-Ocean Division.

With the victory, the Tigers remained in third place with one week to go in the season, a game behind San Mateo. Terra Nova closes the season with a series against Half Moon Bay, while the Bearcats will face Aragon.

The Tigers, who fell to Sacred Heart Prep, 3-0, on Tuesday, rallied from a 2-1 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Aiden James led off with a single and Evan Wilson doubled to put runners on second and third.

Sophomore Dom Paulsen followed with a ground ball to the right side to plate pinch-runner Isaac Roman and tie the game at 2. Spencer Speidel then grounded a slow roller up the third-base line that allowed Wilson to score the go-ahead run.

Sacred Heart Prep threatened in the fifth when Colin Beim walked and moved to third on a single by JP Durrett. The Gators attempted to steal a run when Durrett broke for second and stopped. Terra Nova catcher Joey Donati threw to second and when he did, Beim broke for the plate, but shortstop Brody Finale's throw to the plate was perfect and Beim was thrown out easily.

James pitched six strong innings for the Tigers and allowed seven hits to pick up the win. He struck out three and walked four. Cooper Santamato pitched a scoreless seventh to pick up the save.

Blake Affrunti had three hits for the Gators.

W: James | L: Sweeney | S: Santamato | 3 hits- Affrunti (M). 2 hits- James (TN). 2B- Reed (SHP), James (TN), Wilson (TN).

San Mateo 13, Mills 1

Senior Christian Louie struck out 12 in five innings of work, while also collecting three hits and driving in two runs in a lopsided win over the Vikings.

The win allowed the Bearcats to remain in second place, a game ahead of Terra Nova heading into the final week of the PAL-Bay Division season.

Tyce Copus had two hits and drove in three runs, while Hudson Brandt and Julio Calderon had two hits each.

W: Louie | L: Janke | 3 hits- Louie (SM). 2 hits- Copus (SM), Brandt (SM), Calderon (SM). 3 RBI- Copus (SM). 2 RBI- Louie (SM), Brandt (SM), Lackey (SM). 2B- Louie (SM), Calderon (SM), Copus (SM).

Woodside 4, South San Francisco 3

Woodside jumped pieced together a 4-0 lead and then hung on as the Warriors staged a late-game comeback that came up a run short

Carter Ball pitched a complete-game victory for the Wildcats, who completed the sweep. Ball wasn't helped by his defense in the later innings. Woodside committed four errors, which led to three unearned runs.

Ball finished the game with two strikeouts and a walk. He allowed six hits in his 96-pitch effort.

Hunter Taylor and Colby Fernandez had two hits each for the Wildcats, while Yordonis Medina-Pineda, Emmilio Oseguera, Diego Carranza and Dylan Munsayac had two hits each for South City.

W: Ball | L: Oseguera | 2 hits- Taylor (W), Fernandez (W), Medina-Pineda (SSF), Munsayac (SSF), Oseguera (SSF), Carranza (SSF). 2 RBI- Munsayac (SSF). 2B- Munsayac (SSF), Torres (TN).

Half Moon Bay 6, Aragon 0

Sophomore Paxton Holden pitched his first career shutout and Riley Jackson stayed hot as Half Moon Bay continued its late-season surge with its sixth win in its last seven games.

Holden scattered six hits in going the distance. He struck out three.

Meanwhile, Jackson, who had a walk-off hit to beat Sequoia at Oracle Park last Friday night and a three-hit game the next day against Scotts Valley, had a homer, a double and two RBI.

Holden, Alex Ryan and Lane Giannini had two hits each for the Cougars, who remained in the hunt for a CCS tourney invitation heading into next week's season-ending series with coastside rival Terra Nova.

Alex Gosselin and Nick Mazzola had two hits each for the Dons, who lost their third straight game.

W: Holden | L: Gosselin | 2 hits- Mazzola (A), Gosselin (A), Jackson (HMB), Holden (HMB), Ryan (HMB), L.Giannini (HMB). 2 RBI- Jackson (HMB). HR- Jackson (HMB). 2B- Jackson (HMB).

SCVAL-De Anza Division

Los Gatos 18, Los Altos 0

Junior second baseman Chase Frolich continued to rake by pounding out four hits, including a double and a triple, and driving in six runs for the Wildcats, who clinched the De Anza Division crown with the victory.

Ethan Williams pitched into the fifth inning and allowed three hits, while striking out seven to pick up his 10th victory.

Trenton Welsh had two hits and drove in three runs, while Lane Newman and Brady Simon had two hits each.

The Wildcats will travel to Homestead on Saturday, while Los Altos will travel to Wilcox on Friday.

W: Williams | L: Soto | 4 hits- Frolich (LG). 2 hits- Simon (LG), Newman (LG), Welsh (LG). 6 RBI- Frolich (LG). 3 RBI- Welsh (LG). 2 RBI- Fitzpatrick (LG). 3B- Musser (LG), Frolich (LG), Welsh (LG). 2B- Etherington (LA), Morgan (LA), Simon (LG), Frolich (LG).