Notre Dame-Belmont wins first CCS title in nearly two decades, shutting out Branham
For the first time in 17 years, Notre Dame-Belmont is a Central Coast Section softball champion.
The Tigers beat Branham 5-0 for the CCS Division IV title on Saturday at San Jose City College, ending a prolonged drought for a program that had won three CCS titles before this year.
Notre Dame’s fourth title came thanks to a strong pitching performance from Caroline Zerella, who spun a complete game with four hits allowed, three strikeouts and no walks.
The big inning for the Tigers (16-11-1) was the fifth, as four runs scored on Skylar Loo's RBI single, Juliette Ramirez's sacrifice fly and Emma Hogan's RBI base hit. Eliana Crispin drove in NDB's final run with a double in the sixth.
Branham finished the season with a record of 13-13.
Notre Dame's last section title in 2009 came in the Division III bracket. At the time, there were three CCS divisions.
Now there are six – Open and five numbered divisions. Notre Dame also won the second CCS championship contested in 1977 when there was only one division.
The Tigers' other titles came in 2007 and 2009, both in Division III. Notre Dame was also the Division II runner-up in 2001 and 2006.
By virtue of winning the Division IV championship, Notre Dame has qualified for the CIF NorCal regional tournament for the first time. The regional competition first featured NorCal teams in 2022.
Division I
No. 7 Alisal 4, No. 4 Hillsdale 2: Hillsdale couldn't keep up offensively with Alisal as the Knights fell short in the D-I final one year after winning the D-II title.
It is Alisal's first CCS softball championship at any level as well as their first appearance in a title game. They previously knocked off No. 2 Piedmont Hills 8-1 in the quarterfinals.
Hillsdale (19-10) managed to beat top seed San Mateo in the semifinals, avenging two regular-season defeats, but its season ended Saturday at San Jose City.
The Knights led 2-1 after scoring in the bottom of the third inning, as Lola Jones' homer to left drove in Mia DeMartini, who had doubled with two outs.
But Alisal (20-5)retook the lead in the fourth on Chloe Rubalcava's two-run homer, then added an insurance run in the fifth with Brooklyn Smith's RBI single.
CCS BASEBALL
Division VI
No. 4 Pacific Grove 4, No. 7 El Camino 2: El Camino's underdog run to the title game came to an end as Pacific Grove rallied for three runs in the sixth inning and the Colts were unable to match at Excite Ballpark.
El Camino (23-6) scored first in the sixth to break a 1-1 tie when Gabe Meriales' sac fly drove in Carlos Alcala, but the Breakers (17-12-1) countered with three in the bottom of the frame thanks to Charlie Edmonds' RBI double, Kai Clarkson's sac bunt and Taj Davis' RBI single.
Nicholas Jang walked to put the tying run on base with one out in the seventh, but El Camino's next two hitters were retired to end the season.
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This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 3:37 PM.