The fields are set for the North Coast Section baseball playoffs, which begin Tuesday. We take an overall look at the top two divisions, highlighting key match-ups and top players to watch.
DIVISION I
For the complete Division I brackets, please click here (PDF).
Key Matchups: Two first round games jump off the page, both rematches from the regular season. Eighth-seeded California swept first-round opponent Foothill during EBAL play, but the Grizzlies' 6-8 league record left the committee little choice but to pair them up with the Falcons once again.
Cal could be a dangerous opponent for anyone in the playoffs due to the depth of its pitching staff, with starting pitchers Mike Podany and Liam Steigerwald supported by sophomore closer Zach Chalmers.
Another first-round rematch features 7th-seeded Liberty and 10th-seeded Granada. The Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to beat the Matadors during a thrilling regular season matchup.
The quarterfinals have the potential to feature numerous rematches from the regular season. Despite being undefeated league champions, Heritage was handed the sixth seed in large part to an early-season defeat to Monte Vista. If both teams win their first-round games as expected, a quarterfinal rematch would feature two deep lineups.
The fourth and fifth seeds, Amador Valley and San Ramon Valley, split their regular-season games, and could potentially decide the season series on the field in the quarterfinals. Amador Valley must go on the road in the first round, however, to take on WACC-Shoreline champion San Leandro.
Players to Watch:
Amador Valley: P/UT Donald Camello, C Jake McIntosh
Berkeley: IF David Langer
California: P Mike Podany, C Jake Ackerman
Castro Valley: P Joe Dimitratos
Clayton Valley: P Scott Meylan
College Park: P/UT Joe DeMers, IF Willie MacIver
De La Salle: P Justin Hooper, C Andrew Schatz
Foothill: P Joey Lea
Freedom: P Jacob Knight
Granada: P Robert Chioino
Heritage: P/UT Kevin Milam, C Jake Cruce
James Logan: P/SS Rogelio Reyes
Liberty: P/UT RJ Prince, OF Dominic Smith
Monte Vista: P David Rajeski, UT Charles Zaloumis
San Leandro: P/IF Brad Beesley
San Ramon Valley: P Joey Matulovich, C Ray Soderman
Sleeper: Pitching depth is a huge key to sustaining a run through the section playoffs, and two teams outside the top four seeds have this asset – Heritage and California. The Patriots feature two strong starters in Saint Mary’s commit Kevin Milam and Austin Manning, to go with hard-throwing closer Matt Pulos. They have also picked up solid wins this season over California and Casa Grande.
California has a big win this season over College Park, and the Grizzlies’ aforementioned staff can keep them in any game. Ackerman has been a rock behind the plate, and senior Zac Guardino has been heating up as of late. A win over Foothill in the first round would immediately test Cal’s sleeper status, however, likely facing De La Salle in the quarterfinals.
Analysis: Division I has all the star power in the top two seeds, De La Salle and College Park. A rematch of these two teams, who squared off at Cal’s Evans Diamond on May 9, would have a packed house to see two squads loaded with future college and professional talent. Both teams, though, have been susceptible to other teams in the field, however, in what promises to be a wide-open tournament.
Despite being the top seed, De La Salle’s path to the final could actually be more difficult than College Park’s journey. Two potential semifinal opponents, Amador Valley and San Ramon Valley, both boast wins over the Spartans this season. The Falcons, meanwhile, avoided any of the three teams in the section that handed them a loss this season.
De La Salle, San Ramon Valley, and California all defeated College Park during the regular season, and all three are together in the top half of the bracket. Potential opponents along the Falcons’ path include Liberty, Monte Vista, and Heritage. College Park downed both Liberty and Monte Vista during the regular season, both by comfortable margins.
While none of the bottom eight seeds appear to have the depth to make a run through the bracket, the truth is that while De La Salle and College Park will be the favorites to meet in the final, any of the top six seeds can make noise and spoil those plans.
DIVISION II
For the complete Division II brackets, please click here (PDF).
Key Matchups: The seeding committee found a bit of irony in its Division II seeding, matching up fourth-seeded Casa Grande with Campolindo in the first round. Last season, as a 16 seed, the Gauchos ended a dream season for the Cougars in the first round. This time, the roles are reversed, with Casa Grande as the higher seed and with its own title aspirations.
The Kennedy Titans hope to avoid the fate of their football team, which also won the Mission Valley Athletic League title, but then bowed out of the playoffs in the first round. Kennedy takes a gaudy 22-2 record into the first round and a formidable EBAL foe, Livermore. The Cowboys lost three of their last four, but have victories over three of the top six seeds in the Division I bracket.
Ninth-seeded Arroyo has the requisite pitching depth to compete in a very deep bracket, with Ricky Peterson, Tim O’Dalaigh, and Levi Noddin, but travels in the first round to face Petaluma in a rematch of an early-season game won by the host Trojans.
Players to Watch:
Arroyo: P Ricky Peterson
Campolindo: OF Max Flower
Cardinal Newman: P Cal Clamar, OF Colin Imm
Casa Grande: IF Spencer Torkelson, P Eric Parnow
Concord: P Wesley Vickers
Dublin: P Mathew McDonald
Kennedy: P Andrew Amato
Livermore: OF Jake Foscalina
Maria Carrillo: P/IF Andrew Vaughn, P Jared Brazis
Marin Catholic: P Brandon Buckley, OF John MacLean
Northgate: OF Mosiah Liu
Petaluma: OF Austin Gabbert, P Hunter Williams
Pinole Valley: OF Kasey Wallace
Redwood: P Tyler Peck, P Zach Cohen
Ukiah: IF Karter Koch
Sleeper: Any of the top five seeds, all from the Redwood Empire, have the ability to claim the championship in this field, and fifth-seeded Maria Carrillo has both the depth on the mound and the big-game experience to make a serious run.
The Pumas are hardly considered a sleeper, but we’re placing them in this category based on being the lowest seed among all the teams considered true contenders for the title. Ultimately, these teams are very familiar with one another, and that should result in some high quality baseball being played for the title.
Analysis: Pitching depth is not an issue for any of the top teams in the Division II field. That should mean some low-scoring games throughout the tournament, as runs will be at a premium, and defense must remain solid in order to support that starting pitching. All five of the top seeds performed well in out-of-section tournaments earlier in the year, so even though this is the Division II bracket, the quality of play will rival that of any baseball championship throughout the nation.
If Maria Carrillo or Casa Grande gets hot, they are as dangerous as any team seeded above them, but all these teams are loaded with depth, quality defense, and top-notch coaching. Redwood and Marin Catholic have one-two starting pitching lineups to rival any team in Northern California, if not the entire state. Simply put, if you are a fan of quality starting pitching and fundamental baseball, the Division II bracket will be one worth watching.
