Five South County teams survived Tuesday’s play-in round to advance to double-elimination bracket play in this year’s San Diego Section baseball playoffs.
Now the chase is on to win a CIF championship.
In games Tuesday:
•Sixth-seeded Otay Ranch (15-14) shut out 11th-seeded Patrick Henry, 4-0, in a Division II matchup.
•Ninth-seeded Hilltop (12-16) blasted eighth-seeded Oceanside, 7-1, in a Division III contest.
•Fifth-seeded Olympian (17-13) edged 12th-seeded Valley Center, 3-2, in a Division IV play-in game.
•Fifth-seeded Southwest (13-16) doubled up 12th-seeded Mountain Empire, 4-2, in a Division V matchup.
•Sixth-seeded High Tech High Chula Vista (10-11) defeated 11th-seeded Orange Glen, 8-4, in another won Division V play-in contest.
Matt Knueppel (6-4) picked up the win for Olympian on Tuesday while Kevin Murphy went two-for-three with two RBI and Daniel Dorado drove in one run.
Ricardo Dominguez (5-2) struck out six Red Hawks in five-and-a-third innings while Roberto Rodriguez, Also Canedo, Dominic Escobar and Diego Ruiz each scored runs to enable Southwest to advance.
Three Metro Conference teams earned byes to the double-elimination bracket: Eastlake received the No. 1 seed in the Open Division; Chula Vista received the No. 1 seed in Division IV while Montgomery received the No. 3 seed in Division II.
Both Chula Vista (22-7) and Montgomery (17-12) advanced to Friday’s winners bracket games with key first-round victories on Wednesday while Eastlake (27-4) will have to take a longer route through the challenger bracket to end its quest with a division title.
Chula Vista clubbed visiting Holtville, 9-2, behind two RBI each by Bryan Valenzuela, Antonio Garcia and Albert Munoz.
Rafael Iribe scored three runs for the Spartans while Amador Medina had two hits and scored twice in support of winning pitcher Javier Gomez, who struck out six Vikings while scattering three hits.
“Our team battled through a sluggish start in the first couple innings,” Spartan head coach Jim Westlund explained. “Our starting pitcher Javier Gomez gave up a couple early runs but carried us the rest of the way. It was three-up, three-down.”
Ricky Yoquigua came in to pitch the seventh inning to close out the playoff win for the Spartans.
Westlund noted the team’s 22 wins are the most in his 25 years at the school.
Chula Vista will host fourth-seeded Monte Vista (19-11) in Friday’s second-round game after the host Monarchs topped Olympian, 5-2, in a first-round encounter on Wednesday.
Holtville (13-14) now heads to a challenger bracket game Friday against Olympian.
Montgomery snapped a 2-2 deadlock with visiting Otay Ranch as Michael Quintana-Roo blooped a single into right field to score teammate Angel Morales with the winning run. The Eagles had tied the game on a hit batsman with the bases loaded.
Eastlake dropped a tight 2-1 decision to eighth-seeded Madison in Wednesday’s double-elimination opener. The win in nine innings by the Warhawks (19-10) snapped the Titans’ 13-game winning streak.
Madison ace Kevin Abel struck out 11 Titans in six-plus innings to help quiet opposing batters.
Eastlake, which scored its run on a sacrifice fly by Grant Holman, will attempt to avoid early elimination when it hosts fifth-seeded La Costa Canyon (24-6) on Friday.
Fourth-seeded Rancho Bernardo (29-3) will host Madison in a winners bracket game on Friday.
Bonita Vista (Division I) and Mar Vista (Division IV) both dropped play-in games on Tuesday. Tenth-seeded Bonita Vista (13-15) fell, 4-3, at seventh-seeded Granite Hills in a nine-inning nailbiter while sixth-seeded Mar Vista (17-12) dropped a 3-2 contest to 11th-seeded Mission Vista.
DiMaggio Cazares banged out two hits and scored twice for Bonita Vista, which led, 3-2, with two outs in the seventh inning.
Alex Verdugo went the first seven innings, scattering five hits and striking out four in taking a no-decision.
Extra bases
Three of the four Open Division quarterfinals went to the lower-seeded team, which should make the double-elimination format quite interesting.
Second-seeded Cathedral Catholic lost, 6-1, to seventh-seeded Helix, while sixth-seeded Torrey Pines topped third-seeded Christian by a 10-1 score.
In play-in games, two lower-seeded teams in each of Division I, Division II, Division III and Division IV won to advanc to the double-elimination bracket while one team did so in Division V.
in first-round games, there were two upset winners in Division II and one each in Division I and Division V.
Spartans advance to Tuesday’s CIF semifinals
The top-seeded Chula Vista Spartans are one win away from advancing to this year;s San Diego Section Division IV championship game after defeating visiting Monte Vista, 3-1, Friday in a second-round winners bracket playoff game.
Antonio Garcia picked up the win for the reigning South Bay League champion Spartans, who improved to 23-7 overall with their second playoff win in this year’s postseason tournament. Garcia recorded 82 pitches en route to the victory.
Chula Vista never trailed in Friday’s game, scoring single runs in the bottom of the second, fifth and sixth innings. The fourth-seeded Monarchs scored their run in the top of the six inning to trim the score to 2-1 before the hosts added an insurance run in the bottom of the frame. Edder Rincon drove in two runs for the Spartans.
Chula Vista awaits Saturday’s third-round match-up between Monte Vista and fifth-seeded Olympian in Tuesday’s semifinals.
Olympian remained in contention by eliminating eighth-seeded Holtville, 7-3, in a second-round challenger bracket game on Friday. Brandon Ridgels slammed a double and home run to lead the Eagles (18-13) at the plate while teammates Bryan Roberts and Daneil Dorado each picked up two RBI. Jacob Chacon earned the win.
Top-seeded Eastlake (28-4) eliminated fifth-seeded La Costa Canyon, 3-1, in a second-round challenger bracket game on Friday. Ben Ramirez drove in the Titans’ first run while L.J. Jones later added a solo home run. Grant Holman also drove in one run in support of winning pitcher Brian Leonhardt. Casey Schmitt picked up the save.
Eastlake will host fourth-seeded Rancho Bernardo in Saturday’s third-round elimination contest. The winner advances to meet eighth-seeded Madison in Tuesday’s fourth-round game.
Six South County teams remain alive in this year’s playoff tournament. Besides Chula Vista, Eastlake and Olympian, Otay Ranch (Division II), Montgomery (Division II) and High Tech High Chula Vista (5) also continue to remain in contetion in their respective divisions.
Otay Ranch (16-13), Montgomery and HTH Chula Vista are all 1-1 while facing elimination.
Montgomery (17-13) dropped a 5-4 decision at second-seeded Santana on Friday to meet Otay Ranch in a rematch in third-round play on Saturday.
The sixth-seeded Mustangs advanced to Saturday’s third-round game after edging visiting Steele Canyon, 3-2, on Friday. Noah Isley, Matt Brumbaugh and Osvaldo Tovalin each drove in runs for the victors while Octavio Corona went six innings with seven strikeouts to pick up the win.
San Diego Section
Baseball Playoffs
Open Division
Wednesday, May 24
Quarterfinal round
(8) Madison 2, (1) Eastlake 1
(4) Rancho Bernardo 4, (5) La Costa Canyon 2
(6) Torrey Pines 10, (3) Christian 1
(7) Helix 6, (2) Cathedral Catholic 1
Friday, May 26
Second round
(8) Madison 8, (4) Rancho Bernardo 4
(7) Helix 9, (6) Torrey Pines 6
(1) Eastlake 3, (5) La Costa Canyon 1
(2) Cathedral Catholic 4, (3) Christian 0
Saturday, May 27
Third round
(1) Eastlake 7, (4) Rancho Bernardo 6
(2) Cathedral Catholic 3, (6) Torrey Pines 2
Tuesday, May 30
Fourth round
(1) Eastlake 6, (8) Madison 2
(2) Cathedral Catholic 1, (7) Helix 0
Thursday, June 1
Double-elimination round
(8) Madison at (1) Eastlake, 3:30 p.m.
(7) Helix at (2) Cathedral Catholic, 3:30 p.m.
Division I
Tuesday, May 23
Play-in games
(9) Vista defeated (8) Carlsbad
(5) Poway defeated (12) Valhalla
(6) La Jolla Country Day defeated (11) La Jolla
(7) Granite Hills 4, (10) Bonita Vista 3 (9 innings)
Wednesday, May 24
First round games
(1) St. Augustine 4, (9) Vista 3
(4) Grossmont 6, (5) Poway 5
(3) Scripps Ranch 7, (6) La Jolla Country Day 0
(7) Granite Hills 5, (2) Francis Parker 2
Friday, May 26
Second round
(4) Grossmont 6, (1) St. Augustine 4
(7) Granite Hills 5, (3) Scripps Ranch 1
(5) Poway 9, (9) Vista 2
(2) Francis Parker 5, (6) La Jolla Country Day 4
Saturday, May 27
Third round
(1) St. Augustine 8, (5) Poway 5
(2) Francis Park 6, (3) Scripps Ranch 1
Tuesday, May 30
Fourth-round
(4) Grossmont 10, (1) St. Augustine 7
(2) Francis Parker 3, (7) Granite Hills 2
Thursday, June 1
Double-elimination
(7) Granite Hills at (2) Francis Parker, 3:30 p.m.
Division II
Tuesday, May 23
Play-in games
(9) Mission Hills defeated (8) Santa Fe Christian
(5) Point Loma defeated (12) El Camino
(6) Otay Ranch 4, (11) Patrick Henry 0
(10) Steele Canyon defeated (7) Westview
Wednesday, May 24
First round
(1) San Marcos 6, (9) Mission Hills 4
(4) Ramona 15, (5) Point Loma 9
(3) Montgomery 3, (6) Otay Ranch 2
(2) Santana 13, (10) Steele Canyon 0
Friday, May 26
Second round
(1) San Marcos 6, (4) Ramona 4
(2) Santana 5, (3) Montgomery 4
(5) Point Loma 5, (9) Mission Hills 4
(6) Otay Ranch 3, (10) Steele Canyon 2
Saturday, May 27
Third round
(4) Ramona 2, (5) Point Loma 0
(3) Montgomery 2, (6) Otay Ranch 1
Tuesday, May 30
Fourth round
(1) San Marcos (4) Ramona 7
(2) Santana 2, (3) Montgomery 1
Saturday, June 3
Championship game: (1) San Marcos (29-4) vs. (2) Santana (22-9), 3:30 p.m. at USD
Division III
Tuesday, May 23
Play-in games
(9) Hilltop 7, (8) Oceanside 1
(12) Clairemont defeated Bishop’s
(6) Sage Creek defeated Southwest El Centro
(7) Del Norte defeated Calexico
Wednesday, May 24
First round
(1) Serra 7, (9) Hilltop 1
(12) Clairemont 2, (4) Canyon Crest Academy 0
(6) Sage Creek 5, (3) Escondido 0
(2) Brawley 3, (7) Del Norte 2
Friday, May 26
Second round
(1) Serra 4, (12) Clairemont 1
(2) Brawley 5, (6) Sage Creek 3
(4) Canyon Crest Academy 6, (9) Hilltop 4
(3) Escondido 3, (7) Del Norte 0
Saturday, May 27
Third round
(4) Canyon Crest Academ 10, (12) Clairemont 3
(6) Sage Creek 2, (3) Escondido 1
Tuesday, May 30
Fourth-round
(4) Canyon Crest 5, (1) Serra 2
(2) Brawley 1, (6) Sage Creek 0
Thursday, June 1
Double-elimination
(4) Canyon Crest at (1) Serra, 3:30 p.m.
Division IV
Tuesday, May 23
Play-in games
(8) Holtville defeated (9) Calipatria
(5) Olympian 3, (12) Valley Center 2
(11) Mission Vista 3, (6) Mar Vista 2
(10) Horizon Christian defeated (7) Foothills Christian
Wednesday, May 24
First round
(1) Chula Vista 9, (8) Holtville 2
(4) Monte Vista 5, (5) Olympian 2
(3) Imperial 5, (11) Mission Vista 0
(2) Classical Academy 11, (10) Horizon Christian 1
Friday, May 26
Second round
(1) Chula Vista 3, (4) Monte Vista 1
(2) Classical Academy 1, (3) Imperial 0
(5) Olympian 7, (8) Holtville 3
(11) Mission Vista 6, (10) Horizon Christian 1
Saturday, May 27
Third round
(4) Monte Vista 5, (5) Olympian 0
(11) Mission Vista 2, (3) Imperial 0
Tuesday, May 30
Fourth round
(1) Chula Vista 8, (4) Monte Vista 4
(2) Classical Academy 8, (11) Mission Vista 1
Saturday, June 3
Championship game: (1) Chula Vista (24-7) vs. (2) Classical Academy (23-8), 3:30 p.m. at UC San Diego
Division V
Tuesday, May 23
Play-in games
(8) Lincoln defeated (9) Liberty Charter
(5) Southwest 4, (12) Mountain Empire 2
(6) High Tech High Chula Vista 8, (11) Orange Glen 4
(7) Julian defeated (10) El Cajon Valley
Wednesday, May 24
First round
(1) Maranatha Christian 2, (8) Lincoln 0
(4) Tri-City Christian 6, (5) Southwest 4
(6) High Tech High Chula Vista 6, (3) Borrego Springs 0
(2) Escondido Charter 6, (7) Julian 0
Friday, May 26
Second round
(1) Maranatha Christian 1, (4) Tri-City Christian 0
(2) Escondido Charter 6, (6) High Tech High Chula Vista 5
(8) Lincoln 4, (5) Southwest 2
(7) Julian 7, (3) Borrego Springs 4
Saturday, May 27
Third round
(6) High Tech High Chula Vis 11, (7) Julian 3
(4) Tri-City Christian 5, (8) Lincoln 4
Tuesday, May 30
Fourth round
(1) Maranatha Christian 6, (4) Tri-City Christian 0
(6) High Tech High Chula Vista 6, (2) Escondido Charter 4 (9 innings)
Thursday, June 1
Double-elimination
(6) High Tech High Chula Vista at (2) Escondido Charter, 3:30 p.m.
