Prep playoffs: Trio of Marin teams net top-two seeds

13.05.2024 03:17

Marinij.com

A total of 13 teams from Marin were selected to the North Coast Section baseball and softball playoffs, which begin on Tuesday, with San Rafael softball plus Redwood and San Marin baseball earning seeds that could see them make deep postseason runs. San Rafael, which saw its 14-game win streak snapped at the hands of […]

San Rafael shortstop Sophia Everett races to home plate to score on a wild pitch during their MCAL softball semifinal game in San Rafael, Calif. on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. No. 4 San Marin defeated No. 1 San Rafael 3-2. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Matthew Knauer (14) of Redwood gestures to his dugout from second base after hitting a double as San Marin first baseman Tyler Keehn runs over to over the base at the MCAL baseball final at Albert Park in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, May 10, 2024. No. 1 Redwood defeated No. 2 San Marin 6-5 for the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
San Marin starting pitcher Sean McGrath (12) throws against Redwood at the MCAL baseball final at Albert Park in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, May 10, 2024. No. 1 Redwood defeated No. 2 San Marin 6-5 for the title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

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San Rafael, which saw its 14-game win streak snapped at the hands of San Marin in the MCAL semifinals, enters the Division III playoffs as the county’s lone No. 1 seed.

The Redwood and San Marin baseball teams are both seeded second and could be expected to reach section finals but county rivals will likely stand in their way.

Baseball

Redwood (23-3), fresh off an MCAL championship victory on Friday night, opens at the No. 2 seed in the D-II playoffs and hosts No. 15 Tam (12-12) in the lone all-Marin matchup of the first round. The Giants are set to host the Red-tailed Hawks at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

No. 10 Marin Catholic (12-12) is also in the D-II bracket and would need to spring an upset against No. 7 Petaluma at 5 p.m. Wednesday to set up a quarterfinal against the Redwood-Tam winner.

San Marin’s path to glory as the No. 2 seed in D-III begins with a home game at 5 p.m. Tuesday against No. 15 Analy. The Mustangs (18-8) could then face cross-town rival Novato for the fourth time in three weeks in the quarterfinals. The No. 7 Hornets (14-11) host No. 10 Miramonte at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

San Marin and Novato would face off in a Friday quarterfinal at San Marin if both are victorious on Tuesday.

Archie Williams (11-11) is also in the D-III bracket and, despite being the No. 11 seed, is set to host No. 6 Encinal at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Branson (8-15) is seeded fifth in the D-V playoffs and hosts No. 12 Athenian at 5 p.m. Tuesday at College of Marin.

Tomales (9-11) made it in as the No. 6 seed in D-VI and opens on the road against Point Arena at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Softball

San Rafael winning the D-III title two seasons ago was a breakthrough moment for a young squad that has become one of the county’s strongest teams. Pitcher Thomara Drummer and shortstop Sophia Everett were freshmen on that team and catcher Angel Amesa was a sophomore.

Those three players still make up the core of the Bulldogs (20-3) and will take their first steps toward trying to reclaim their title at 5 p.m. Wednesday against No. 16 De Anza.

Freshly-minted MCAL champion San Marin and Archie Williams both join the Bulldogs in D-III. The Mustangs (13-10) are seeded sixth and open at home against No. 11 Albany at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The Peregrine Falcons (15-7) are seeded seventh following a breakthrough campaign that saw them make the MCAL playoffs for the first time since 2017. Archie Williams hosts No. 10 Analy at Red Hill Park at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Redwood and Marin Catholic are both in the D-II bracket. Redwood (17-8) is seeded seventh and opens at home against No. 10 Alhambra at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Marin Catholic (9-7-1) is the No. 13 seed and hits the road to face No. 4 Bishop O’Dowd at 7 p.m. Wednesday.