CCS Focus (CA): Semifinals Update Pt 2

Central Coast Section, CA - Thursday saw both the Division 1 and Division 3 Semifinals completed and in this piece I’m going to provide game coverage and player notes from the Division 1 Semifinal games at San Jose Municipal Stadium while also providing game scores from the Division 3 Semis that occurred at Washington Park in Santa Clara. The Division 1 and 3 Finals will be at San Jose Municipal Stadium on Saturday.

Be sure to click on players names for more notes, video and previous coverage.

Game Notes:

Game 1: (1) Leigh vs (4) Leland

When two teams have already played two games down to the wire in League, you know the 3rd one was going to go down in a similar fashion. Leigh started the scoring in the 3rd when 2019 SS Griffin Quadro dropped down a great drag bunt stealing 2nd and advancing to 3rd on an error at 1st. A Sac Fly from 2019 OF Robbie Hamchuk brought home the run and put Leigh on the board 1-0. The game stayed 1-0 as both 2019 RHP Mitchell Dowd for Leigh and 2019 RHP Michael Garcia for Leland both pitched really solid games keeping hitters fooled and creating lots of weak contact. In the 6th, Leland loaded the bases with singles by 2019 SS Trevor Johannes and 2020 OF Carson Yates followed by a perfect bunt by Garcia that Leigh couldn’t get the out on 3rd. 2020 C Joey Taddie singled through the middle to drive home 2 runs with 2020 1B Matt Ames hitting a 3B inside the RF line to drive in 2 more and make it 4-1. Garcia would close out the final two innings and send the Chargers to the Finals.

Game 2: (6) Bellarmine vs (10) Mountain View

Mountain View showed off their overall team speed starting the game with back-to-back walks and a double steal with runners on 1st and 3rd to score the first run, before a passed ball made it 2-0 without a single hit. Those runs would be the only offense the Spartans would have and allowed 2020 RHP James Hoyt to pitch with confidence and attack the Bellarmine lineup. Hoyt went complete game striking out 10, walking 2 and giving up 2 hits and 2 BBs. Bellarmine had a chance in the 2nd when 2020 2B Joey Cerrito singled through the middle advancing on a groundout before stealing 3rd, but the Bells couldn’t get the run across. That would be the only runner to get past 1st the rest of the game as Mountain View would get the 2-0 victory.

Division 3 Scores:

(3) Monte Vista Christian - 7, (2) Menlo School - 5 (11 Innings)

(5) The Kings Academy - 2, (1) Pacific Grove - 0

Players of Note:

+2020 C Joey Taddie (Leland) - Concordia University Commit. 2-3 with three hard hit balls in the game and 2 RBIs. Compact stroke allowing his strength in the frame to drive balls through the middle of the field. Shortened up the swing when needing to put the ball in play to help team get runs on the board. XL Frame has current strength and some athletic ability allowing him to make quick picks behind the plate.

+2020 RF Carson Yates (Leland) - Uncommitted. 1-4 with single to RF and just missing another one on ground ball to SS where he used his plus speed to get down the line (4.12-4.20). 6-3, 205 frame is ultra athletic with the ability to cover ground in RF and use that speed to put pressure on defenses. Showed off arm throwing out two runners at 1st base on hard hit-balls to RF.

+2019 RHP Michael Garcia (Leland) - Uncommitted. CG showing four pitches allowing the 1 run on 2 hits and 4 BBs. FB 78-82 MPH with pitch that was rarely straight having cut, run and sink staying off barrels and using it to all parts of the zone. CHG 74-75 MPH with short bottom on both sides of the plate. SLD 72-73 MPH showing short cutterish actions and flashes of slurvy bite. CB 62-67 MPH with big loose actions that got better as the game continued.

+2019 RHP Mitchell Dowd (Leigh) - Sac State Commit. Went CG with 1 bad inning being his only bad spot. 7IP, 4R, 9H, BB, 2K. Showed control of three pitches with ability to change locations of those pitches. FB 83-86 MPH showing natural cut glove-side and ability to jam hitters on the inner half of the plate holding velocity for full complete game. CHG 78-80 MPH with late bottom at the plate off the FB plane. CB 70-75 with blend between 12/5-to-12/6 shape showing average depth and flashes of snap through the zone. The pitch became more slurvy as the game continued but had good feel in and out of the zone. Large frame with wider shoulders shows some projection with full arm circle that works well with mechanics.

+2019 CF Robbie Hamchuk (Leigh) - CSUN Commit. 1-3 with team’s lone RBI. Compact stroke has the ability to repeat barrel path and adjust later in counts for offspeed pitches with ability to drive the ball deep into the OF. 1B to RF on off-speed breaking ball lining it into the OF. Lined right at the CF for Sac Fly and RBI. In CF shows ability to go get the ball to both sides with quick stride and angles. Aggressive getting to the ball and takes charge on in-between plays.

+2020 RHP James Hoyt (Mountain View) - Uncommitted. CG-SO, 10K, 2H, 2BB. Long and lean frame that is very skinny showed full up/down actions with his hands and full back turn creating deception from an athletic delivery. FB 78-83 MPH showing run and attacking the inner half of the plate. Cuts the ball when going to glove side and going off the plate when ahead in the count. Moved the pitch to all quadrants getting a lot of swings and misses. Showed a short tight SLD (65-69 MPH) that had some tilt off the plate glove-side. Showed feel for the pitch early in the count before going to pitch for swing and miss later.

+2020 SS Tristan Silveira (Mountain View) - Uncommitted. Smaller frame that is strong with squared shoulders and high waist showing length in legs. True athlete with 1st step explosiveness on the bases and while playing defense. 0-1 with 2 BB’s and 2 SB’s. Last walk battled off really good pitches working full count and drawing the walk. Showed aggressive streak on bases starting double steal in 1st before stealing 2nd again in 3rd AB; thrown out at the plate trying to score from 2nd on a short single in RF sliding in just late. That quick step was seen on defense when a flair was hit to LF and he took off getting to it to prevent a hit. Strong arm showed off during pre-game with ability to make all the throws at SS and use his quick feet and excellent glove work. A 2020 SS that should be getting some more looks from the CCS.