County's baseball teams go 5 for 5 in CCS quarterfinals

SANTA CRUZ - Joey Raffo doubled and scored the winning run on Aiden Boles' bunt single in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the No. 1 seed Harbor High baseball team earned a 3-2, walk-off win over the No. 8 Sequoia of Redwood City in the Central Coast Section Division IV quarterfinals on Saturday.

Raffo scored from second base after the throw to first base was wild.

Vivian Mould had a hit and run scored for the Pirates (18-10), the third-place finisher in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League. Evan Lampel drove in a run.

Sophomore Jackson Tetley had two hits and two RBI for the Ravens (15-13), the sixth-place finisher in the Peninsula Athletic League's Bay Division.

Raffo, committed to play for UC Davis, earned the complete-game win. He gave up four hits three walks, and struck out six batters.

Senior Garrett Johnson took the loss. He gave up one unearned run over the final 3 2/3 innings.

Harbor faces No. 5 Piedmont Hills (13-12-2) of San Jose in the semifinals at West Valley College in Saratoga on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

The Pirates, the fifth-place finisher in the Blossom Valley Athletic League's Mount Hamilton Division, slipped past No. 4 Monterey 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

Aptos 3, Sacred Heart Prep 1

ATHERTON - Pitchers Cole McGillicuddy and Jacob Kissinger threw a combined four-hitter, and the No. 5 Mariners slipped past the No. 4 Gators in the CCS D-III quarterfinals on Saturday.

McGillicuddy, a junior who is committed to Cal, gave up four hits, four walks, one run, and struck out seven batters for the Mariners (14-8 overall), who missed the postseason last year, secured their first playoff win since 2023.

Kissinger threw a hitless and scoreless seventh inning to pick up the save.

McGillicuddy, Damien Espinoza, and Dom Castillo each had a hit and scored a run for the Mariners, the SCCAL runner-up. Kissinger had two RBI, and Alec Mendoza also drove in a run.

Senior Chase Affrunti had a hit and RBI for the Gators (20-8), the PAL's Ocean Division champion. Junior Thomas Barton had a hit and scored a run.

Senior Rallin Covey gave up five hits and three runs, two earned, over 6 1/3 innings and took the loss. He walked four batters and struck out eight.

Aptos faces No. 1 Menlo (18-10) in Atherton in the semifinals at Santa Clara University on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

The Knights, the third-place finisher in the PAL Bay Division, beat No. 8 Christopher 8-3 in the quarterfinals.

Santa Cruz 7, Pioneer 3

SANTA CRUZ - Cameron Fusari had three hits, one RBI, and scored a run for the No. 3 Cardinals in their win over the No. 6 Mustangs in the CCS D-IV quarterfinals on Saturday.

Pioneer (13-15), the sixth-place finisher in the BVAL's Mount Hamilton Division, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but the Cardinals took the lead for good with their six-run outburst in the second.

Seven Cardinals scored runs. Sophomore first baseman Kruize Godsy, making just his third start, tripled, drove in two runs, and scored a run for the Cardinals (16-11), who tied for third place in the SCCAL.

Cardinals coach Bubba Trumbull said Godsy's hit "recharged the Cardinals."

Santa Cruz freshman Merrick Dacosta had two hits, one walk, and one RBI. Junior AJ Dacosta had a hit, walk, one RBI, and scored a run. Sophomore Micah Mohamed drew two walks and scored a run. Freshman Merrick Smith had one RBI and scored a run, and sophomore Adam Fowler had a hit, walk, and scored a run. Senior Matteo Caltabiano also scored.

Senior Colton Bermillo doubled and finished with two of the Mustangs' five hits. He also scored a run. Sophomore Elijah Fong also had two hits.

Fowler overcame his rocky start on the mound and went the distance to earn the win. Junior Brandon Teixiera was tagged for five runs over 1 1/3 innings and took the loss.

Santa Cruz faces No. 2 Los Altos in the semifinals at Santa Clara University on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.

The Eagles, the fourth-place finisher in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League's De Anza Division, ousted No. 7 The King's Academy 8-2 in the quarterfinals.

St. Francis 9, Live Oak 7

MORGAN HILL - The No. 5 Sharks broke up a 5-all game with their three-run sixth inning and held on to defeat the No. 4 Acorns in the CCS D-V quarterfinals on Saturday.

Junior Noah Baquiran had three hits and three RBI for the Acorns (14-13-1), the runner-up in the Blossom Valley Athletic League's Santa Teresa Division.

Senior Spencer Westfield had three hits and scored twice.

Sophomore Jack Rice gave up two unearned runs in two-thirds an inning and took the loss.

St. Francis (9-18-1) plays at No. 1 San Mateo (20-8) in the semifinals at Santa Clara University on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

The Bearcats, the runner-up in the PAL's Ocean Division, beat No. 8 Salinas 7-4 in the quarterfinals.

THE SCORES, SCHEDULE

Saturday's quarterfinals

Division I: No. 5 Soquel 6, No. 4 Saint Ignatius 0

D-III: No. 5 Aptos 3, at No. 4 Sacred Heart Prep 1

D-IV: At No. 1 Harbor 3, No. 8 Sequoia 2

D-IV: At No. 3 Santa Cruz 7, No. 6 Pioneer 3

D-V: No. 5 St. Francis 9, at No. 4 Live Oak 7

Tuesday's semifinals

D-III: No. 5 Aptos vs. No. 1 Menlo, At Santa Clara University, 6:30 p.m.

D-IV: No. 3 Santa Cruz vs. No. 2 Los Altos, At Santa Clara University, 3:30 p.m.

D-IV: No. 5 Piedmont Hills vs. No. 1 Harbor, At West Valley College, 4 p.m.

Wednesday's semifinals

D-I: No. 5 Soquel vs. No. 1 Saint Francis, At Excite Ballpark, San Jose, 7 p.m.

D-V: No. 5 St. Francis vs. No. 1 San Mateo, At Santa Clara University, 3:30 p.m.

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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 2:37 AM.