WCAL season opens with a bang

Riley Lim got the WCAL season off to a rousing start by tossing a complete game victory. He struck out eight on 94 pitches and scattered five hits and allowed just one run.

He was aided by timely hitting and a couple of big defensive plays from third baseman Brody Crudeli in the sixth inning. He dived to his left, knocked down a Lucas Fung line drive and gunned it to first for the first out of the inning.

Following a Jacob Vines home run, Johnny Nepomuceno hit a gapper to the fence in right-center fielder. Aaron Minton fielded and threw a one-hop strike to shortstop Nate Hui, who tagged out the runner at second.

The final out off the inning came when Crudeli charged to field a one-slow hopper up the third-base line and threw off balance to first.

"Winning the opener is huge," Crudeli said. "It means a lot, especially when we played a clean game."

W: Lim | L: Stallworth | 2 hits- Hui (S). HR- Hui (S), Minton (S), Walbridge (S), Vines (SHC). 3B- Hui (S), 2B- Peavey (S), Do (SHC), Nylander (SHC).

Valley Christian 4, Bellarmine 3

Nathan Choi scored on a bunt in the top of the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie and Valley Christian hung on in the bottom of the inning to post a WCAL victory over host Bellarmine.

Gabe Felix picked up the victory for the Warriors, who snapped a two-game losing streak by winning their league opener. The two teams will return to action on Friday, this time at Valley Christian.

Sophomore Jack Graham had a two-run homer for the Warriors, while Allen Alegria, another sophomore, had two hits.

Jasper Shih, who took the loss, had two hits for the Bells.

W: Felix | L: Shih | 2 hits- Shih (B), Alegria (VC). 2 RBI- Graham (VC). HR- Graham (VC). 2B- McNamara (B)

Saint Francis 14, Riordan 0

Brody Larocque opened the WCAL season with by throwing four innings striking out four and picking up his fourth win of the season as Saint Francis beat host Riordan, 14-0.

Riordan was held hitless in the contest.

The Lancers, who won their sixth straight game, were aided by home runs from Sia Tulua and Henry Dommer.

Sio Tulua had two hits and three RBI, while Sia Tulua also drove in two runs. Tanner Wall also had two hits.

W: Larocque | L: Tuman | 2 hits- Dommer (SF), Wall (SF), Sio Tulua (SF). 3 RBI- Sio Tulua (SF). 2 RBI- Dommer (SF), Sia Tulua (SF). HR- Sia Tulua (SF), Dommer (SF). 2B- Bonini (SF), McMillan (SF), Sio Tulua (SF).

St. Ignatius Prep 6, Mitty 5

Mitty was its usual gritty collective self, but still had no answer for Archer Horn, whose torrid start to the season continued in St. Ignatius Prep's WCAL-opening 6-5 victory.

Horn had three hits, including his third home run of the season and a double, drove in two runs and shut down the Monarchs in the seventh to pick up the save as the Wildcats won their fourth straight game.

Jack Callen added three hits, including a triple, while Leo Rhein pitched well enough to pick up the victory.

W: Rhein | L: G.Lopez | S: Horn | 3 hits- Callen (SI), Horn (SI), Park (M). 2 hits- Takahashi (M). 2 RBI- Horn (SI), Takahashi (M), Park (M). HR- Horn (SI). 3B- Callen (SI). 2B- Allen (M), Park (M), Horn (SI), Balmy (SI).

South San Francisco 6, Live Oak 4

Emilio Oseguera had three hits, including a homer and a triple, while Giovani Bernal collected three hits and drove in three runs for the Warriors, who won a non-league game on the road.

Vinnie Bernal added two hits for South San Francisco, who pounded out 12 hits in the contest.

The Warriors took the lead with a three-run seventh inning that was highlighted by a Oseguera triple, consecutive singles by the Bernal brothers and two more hits by Diego Carnazza and Dylan Munsayac.

W: Munsayac | L: Chaffin | 3 hits- Oseguera (SSF), G.Bernal (SSF). 2 hits- V.Bernal (SSF), Baquiran (LO), Biegarski (LO). 3 RBI- G.Bernal. HR- Oseguera (SSF). 3B- Oseguera (SSF). 2B- G.Bernal (SSF).

Half Moon Bay 4, Sacred Heart Prep 3

Kai Kung went the first six innings, allowing six hits and three runs, while striking out six, and Riley Jackson pitched a scoreless seventh as Half Moon Bay got the PAL-Ocean Division season off to a rousing start with an upset of visiting Sacred Heart Prep.

The Cougars chased Rallin Covey after five innings. The senior allowed four runs while striking out seven.

Jackson had two hits for Half Moon Bay, while Nico Pollioni had two hits and two RBI for the Gators. Blake Affrunti added two hits for Sacred Heart Prep, which will host the Cougars on Thursday in the finale of their two-game set.

W: Kung | L: Covey | S: Jackson | 2 hits- Jackson (HMB), Pollioni (SHP), Affrunti (SHP). 2 RBI- Pollioni (SHP). 3B- C. Gianinni (HMB), Pollioni (SHP).

Capuchino 17, Design Tech 7

The Mustangs were knocked down early – a six-run first inning by Design Tech – but got off the mat to record a knockout of the visitors from Redwood City.

Jordan Estrella had four hits to lead a 17-hit Capuchino attack. Billy Ferreira and Cruz Alfara had three hits each, while Dominic Fanara had two hits.

W: Wilson | L: Tom | 4 hits- Estrella (C). 3 hits- Ferreira (C), Alfaro (C). 2 hits- Fanara (C).