DIVISION I
#8 James Logan (25-10) at #1 De La Salle (31-2) – Saturday, 7pm
Defending champion De La Salle is once again the favorite in Division I, and ride a 24-match win streak. The Spartans, in fact, lost only three sets through their undefeated EBAL season. Senior Peter Edwards averages 5.3 kills per set, while another senior, setter Michael Doherty (11.1 assists), is also instrumental for this veteran De La Salle team that features nine total seniors.
In the CCS Division II quarterfinals, #5 St. Ignatius (20-8-1) raced out to a 8-0 lead, and held on for a 8-6 win against #12 Westmont (15-13), as Jeremy Balan writes. Matt DeBenedetti and Dylan Foster combined for four hits, four runs and two RBIs.
SI coach Matt Stecher: “We left seven in scoring position, but the guys toward the bottom of the order came up big and got hits when we needed them – hits that made a difference, for sure.”
Shelley Suhling tossed a no-hitter at rival Miramonte (4-15, 0-12) in a 6-0 Campolindo (13-9, 7-5) win. Suhling also struck out 13 for a Cougars team that closed the regular season with three straight wins, and have won 15 straight against the Matadors, which dates back to 2006.
Elsewhere around the Bay:
DIVISION I
#8 Acalanes (14-7) at #1 San Ramon Valley (17-3) – Friday, 7pm
Since the start of the lacrosse playoffs in 2004, an EBAL team has won the NCS Division I title every season, and San Ramon Valley hopes to be that championship team this year. The Wolves, ranked 3rd in the state, have won eight in a row. San Ramon Valley is averaging 12.4 goals per game this season, and North Carolina-bound Mike Tagliaferri is ranked as the eighth best senior in the country, according to ESPN. Midfielder Patrick Worstell (Syracuse) is ranked 55th.
DIVISION I
#8 Berkeley (14-6) vs. #1 Carondelet (18-2) at Diablo Vista Middle School – Friday, 5:30pm
Defending NCS champion Carondelet is outscoring teams, 18.3-8.7, at a ridiculous rate this season. The Cougars, who have won eight straight since a loss to Cherry Creek (CO), are led by Erin Jeffery’s 97 goals.
Yesterday’s results of the CCS individual doubles and singles tournament provided an exciting finish to the season. The singles championship pit identical twin brothers against each other. And the top two doubles seeds were eliminated in the semifinals.
Mason and Ben Vierra, the nationally ranked identical twin brothers from Stevenson, have had more highs and lows in their careers than most 17-year-olds. Since they were boys they’ve played in the most competitive tournaments and both drew the attention of college scouts as freshman.