Follow @PBRCalifornia

Follow @ryozella

CCS FOCUS: Playoffs Updates

CIF-CCS Playoff Preview Podcast

CCS Focus (CA): Round 1 Update

CCS Focus (CA): Round 1 Update Pt 2

CCS Focus (CA): Quarter-Finals Update

CCS Focus (CA): Quarter-Finals Update Pt 2

CCS Focus (CA): Semifinals Update Pt 1

CCS Focus (CA): Semifinals Update Pt 2

Central Coast Section, CA - I was on hand to finish off a terrific Central Coast Section season on 5/24/19 and 5/25/19 with the Division 2 game Friday night followed by the remaining 3 Championship games on Saturday. The Four divisions gave us exciting finals with some upsets and late inning runs that turned the tides. Today we will look at the games from 5/24-25/19 and highlight players who stood out down the stretch helping their teams reach the Championship games.

2019 CCS Division Champions:

Open Division - (1) Valley Christian Warriors 2, (2) Archbishop Mitty Monarchs 0

Division 1 - (10) Mountain View Spartans 5, (4) Leland Chargers 4

Division 2 - (3) Christopher Cougars 5, (12) Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep Fightin’ Irish 3

Division 3 - (5) The King’s Academy Knights 3, (3) Monte Vista Christian Mustangs 2

Best Game: It’s tough to choose one game when all four were closely fought games going down to the last out, but for this we’re going with the Valley Christian/Archbishop Mitty matchup. Meeting for the fourth time this season after a nail biter in the West Catholic League playoffs and in front of an electric crowd atmosphere, the Warriors pitching was too much and got the timely hit needed to take home the trophy.

Best Story: 10-Seed Mountain View. After losing 4 of their final 5 regular season games, not many would have chosen the Spartans to run through the Division 1 playoffs. In the playoffs, they won on the road at (7) Santa Teresa in the opening round, outlasted league rival (2) Los Altos in a rainy Quarterfinal before blanking (6) Bellarmine in the Semifinals and coming from behind to beat (4) Leland late in the Championship game.

Best Pitching Performance: Valley Christian 2019 RHP Steven Zobac (4 IP, 6K, 1BB, 1HBP) and 2019 RHP William Kempner (3IP, 1H, 1BB, 1K) combining to shutout Mitty over 7 innings with the one hit coming to leadoff the 7th. The two D1 bound pitchers showed their best stuff in the most crucial game.

Best Defensive Performance: 2021 SS Trevor Haskins for Valley Christian against Mitty in the Open Final. Haskins was all over the left-side of the diamond taking away would be hits. The future Stanford commit shows why he's one of our top ranked 2021 players with a future plus glove on the left side of the diamond.

Best Offensive Performance: TIE - 2019 RHP Steven Zobac had a key double down the RF line to drive in two runs and give Valley Christian the lead they would never relinquish. 2019 SS Keshawn Ogans was on base three times going 2-3 with a long HR to left field and two runs scored for Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in a runner-up finish in Division 2. Both players also happen to be committed to Cal-Berkeley.

Player of the Games:

Open Division Championship: (1) Valley Christian 2, (2) Archbishop Mitty  0

• 2019 RHP/OF Steven Zobac has led the Warriors all season and the ace finished the season putting Valley Christian on top of the CCS for the third consecutive year. Zobac started on the hill going 4 innings and striking out 6 while also doubling in the 2 runs in the 3rd inning. On the mound he shows above-average arm strength with the ability to repeat his mechanics and find a consistent 3/4 arm slot. FB 87-89 T91 MPH as he painted both sides of the plate and used the pitch for all 6 of his strikeouts. CB 71-73 MPH flashed above-average with 12/6 shape showing sharp bite and tight spin with good feel for the pitch trusting it in every count. At the plate, he’s relaxed and balanced with a swing that is made to drive the ball showing easy loft and plus raw power. Zobac consistently has above-average AB’s looking to do damage, but also being patient in his approach. With the MLB Draft approaching, the CAL commit could see his name called on the second day. The win was the 29th of the season for Valley Christian and their 16th in a row showing why the Warriors finished #3 in the final Power 25 rankings for 2019.

Highlights from the Game:

Division 1 Championship: (10) Mountain View 5, (4) Leland 4

• 2020 SS Tristan Silveira was a guy who I didn’t get a look at until the playoffs, but those final two performances showed off his talent and raised his status in my book as an uncommitted 2020. The medium frame has a high waist with strength throughout and squared up shoulders. He’s an above average runner using his speed and quick feet on the basepaths taking bases as he sees fit. In the Championship he stole 2nd and 3rd without a throw and finished the day 1-3 with an RBI and walk. Silveira also showed his defensive ability having an above-average arm and the timing and rhythm to stick at the 6-spot in the future. There were multiple balls hit into the 6-hole that he made look easy including throwing out a 4.0-4.1 runner twice letting the arm loose. At the plate, Silveira has a compact swing with level bat made to spray the ball to the left side of the field with quick hands. Mix in his above-average speed and you can see why Silveira finished with 18 XBH’s and 21 Stolen Bases. His abilities helped Mountain View stay in the game when they went down early before coming from behind to win a thrilling title game that saw their final run score with an errant pickoff throw down the 1st base line.

Highlights from the Game:

Division 2 Championship: (3) Christopher 5, (12) Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep 3

• 2019 MIF/RHP Andrew Kachel started at 2B for the Cougars after my previous viewing this season when he was at SS and pitched. At the plate Kachel went 2-3 with 2 runs and 2 stolen bases hitting high atop the order for the Cougars and putting together tough AB’s to help his team. He was the energy the team needed when he beat the pitcher to the bag on a bang-bang play to the right side showing athleticism out of the box and the ability to turn up the speed when needing (4.34 H-1st). Beating out the throw allowed the first run to score for Christopher and allowed their offense to put 4 on the board with 2 outs in the 3rd inning. He showed solid baserunning instincts multiple times during the game; taking 2nd on a 1st move with the LHP, stealing home on a delay during a 1st/3rd situation and going from 1st-3rd with clean angles on a ball to RF where he didn’t slow down. His defense was superb at 2B with above-average range to the glove side and the ability to make every throw. It would make sense that the last pop-up of the game was hit to him as his team dogpiled after winning their 1st CCS Division crown. The senior will be playing next season at Fresno State.

Highlights from the Game:

Division 3 Championship: (5) The King’s Academy 3, (3) Monte Vista Christian 2

• 2020 OF Tyler Keenan was on the losing end in this one, but showed off solid tools that kept Monte Vista Christian in this game till the very end. At the plate the uncommitted OF went 1-3 reaching a second time on a fielder’s choice where he beat out a double play turn after getting full extension on a ball at the third-baseman. He’s an average runner who uses his stride length well and has the ability to flash above-average when really pushing to get down the line (4.25-4.51 H-1st) and showed solid reads on the ball in the dirt advancing twice that way. His power came into play when he led off the 6th with a double deep into the LCF gap before being stranded there. In CF he uses his large frame to track the ball well and the makeup speed to close on balls hit in the gap with a slightly above average arm that plays well in all three spots. In a game where the Mustangs couldn’t muster much offense having their two runs come around on an error, Keenan continued to show his strengths.

Highlight from the Game:

 

To all players, coaches, parents and fans, THANK YOU for a fabulous CCS Season! I'm looking forward to continuing my #CCSFocus coverage fnext season, but until then I'll see you at a PBR Event this Summer and Fall! ~ Ryan

UPCOMING EVENTS:

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Inland Empire Futures Games Trials	CA	06/01	Norco High School
SoCal ProCase	CA	06/08	Hart Park
Northern California ProCase	CA	06/09	Delta College - Nick Cecchetti Field
Bay Area Open Showcase	CA	06/26	Laney College
Inland Empire Top Prospect ID	CA	07/23	Santiago High School
Norcal Top Prospect ID	CA	07/24	St. Mary's College
Junior Future Games / Future Games	NATIONAL	07/30	LakePoint
Rising Stars Showcase	CA	09/21	Santiago High School

RELATED TOPICS: