RCS Varsity Baseball Advances to NCS Semifinals

Submitted by Alyssa Kiefer in RCS Athletics, RCS Highlights on May 29, 2018

This is the first year the RCS Varsity Baseball team has competed in Division 4 of the North Coast Section playoffs.  Due to their consistent success, including three NCS championships since 2010, the Eagles were moved up from Division 5 to Division 4.  Entering the new bracket, the Eagles have continued their competitive edge, knocking off both the No. 11 seed Kelseyville and the No. 3 seed Fort Bragg.

Wednesday, the Eagles take on No. 10 seed Saint Mary’s (Albany) at San Leandro Ballpark at 7:00 pm.  Saint Mary’s has also had an impressive tournament appearance, knocking off the No. 7 seed Del Norte and the No. 2 seed McKinleyville.  This will be the first match-up between RCS and Saint Mary’s. The winner will advance to the championship game against the No. 1 seed Middletown (Lake County) on Saturday.

The Eagles are advancing after a hard fought quarterfinal round at Fort Bragg high school.  The team traveled four hours and lodged overnight in Fort Bragg before the game (a couple players became carsick from the long journey on winding Hwy 20).  Despite the distance, a solid crowd also traveled to watch the match-up.

The fans were not disappointed as starting pitcher, Alex Williams, threw 6½ innings of perfect baseball before giving up a hit in the bottom of the 7th.  In addition, Williams hit a grand slam as part of a two-out rally in the 4th inning.

@Mendocinosportsplus covered the game on Facebook.  The broadcaster reported, “Stanford-bound pitching ace, senior Alex Williams of defending division 4 champion Redwood Christian, struck out 13 Timberwolves and blasted a grand slam in the 4th inning to lead his team to a 7-2 Quarterfinal victory Saturday at Patton Field in Fort Bragg.  Williams’ fastball was clocked at 92 mph.

“It was a great day for playing baseball.  The projected 20-mph NNW wind gusts didn’t make an appearance, and it was sunny with deep blue skies …

“Fort Bragg’s ace Garrett James started the game for the Wolves, throwing for four innings, striking out 5 and walking an uncharacteristic 5 batters (he only gave up 9 walks coming into the game).  Andrew Johnston made a relief appearance, as did Clay Pyorre to close out the game. The Eagles out-hit Fort Bragg 8-to-4 with most of the Wolves’ hits coming in a 7th inning rally.”

You can find the video of RCS @ Fort Bragg at https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1859805287433613&id=222039891210169

For live updates during the Semi Finals RCS vs St. Mary’s, follow us on Twitter @RC_Schools.