The San Diego Section’s new divisional playoff format for baseball — based on competition level instead of student enrollment — appears to have provided just what it was designed to do: create a level playing field.
In the play-in round, held on May 21, eight lower-seeded teams emerged victorious; in the opening round of double-elimination play on May 22, 10 lower-seeded teams won.
Those are significant numbers.
The San Diego Section’s new divisional playoff format for baseball — based on competition level instead of student enrollment — appears to have provided just what it was designed to do: create a level playing field.
In the play-in round, held on May 21, eight lower-seeded teams emerged victorious; in the opening round of double-elimination play on May 22, 10 lower-seeded teams won.
Those are significant numbers.
Few teams seemed immune to the spate of upsets, even teams near the top of their respective division brackets. Three top-seeded teams (in the six divisions) were toppled in their opening playoff games.
The Mt. Miguel Matadors took care of business in Division IV by scoring a 3-0 upset win over top-seeded Castle Park on the strength of a no-hitter by Daniel Ronk.
The win was the 12th in their last 18 games for the red-hot Matadors after opening the season with a 12-game losing streak.
The Spring Valley team opened the playoffs by shutting out ninth-seeded Escondido Charter, 2-0, on May 21 as Brad Moreno tossed a two-hitter while striking out 10 batters.
The Matadors finished 11-17 in the regular season, tying Santana for a runner-up finish in the Grossmont Valley League standings behind league champion El Capitan.
Ronk’s no-hit gem significantly increased Mt. Miguel’s post-season profile.
The no-hitter was the first for Ronk, either in high school or youth baseball. He said he started thinking about the possibility of throwing a no-hitter in the fifth inning.
“I just knew I had to keep throwing strikes and let my defense do the work,” he said.
Castle Park’s Eric King reached second base on an error in the bottom of the seventh inning with two down. But Ronk induced the next batter to ground out to third baseman Dominick Sawyer, thus ending the game and sealing Ronk’s name into prep baseball immortality.
Sawyer, Moreno and Cesar Preciado each scored single runs for the victorious Matadors. Moreno and Sean Marx led the winners with three hits apiece.
Castle Park coach Francisco Moya admitted receiving the No. 1 seed in the division was flattering and a boost but that is all it was.
“I think the No. 1 seed is a reflection of the regular season,” Moya said. “Once the first game of the playoffs starts, it doesn’t matter any more.”
Around the horn
Mt. Miguel was among 10 East County teams to qualify for this year’s section playoffs. The Christian Patriots, seeded ninth in Division III, joined the Matadors with an upset win in the play-in round by recording a 7-1 victory against eighth-seeded Chula Vista.
Sophomore Bryce Jurries fired a complete game three-hitter to lift the Patriots to their 20th win of the season against 10 losses.
Grossmont Hills League co-champion Granite Hills (22-8) received the No. 2 seed in the newly created Open Division; league rival Helix (15-14) joined the Eagles in the division as the No. 6 seed.
The Grossmont Foothillers, who finished regular season play 22-8 and shared the Grossmont Hills League title with Granite Hills, earned the No. 2 seed in Division I while league rival Valhalla (17-14) received the No. 6 seed and Grossmont Valley League champion El Capitan (11-16) received the No. 12 seed.
West Hills (14-14) received the No. 10 seed in Division II; Santana (15-13) joined the Wolf Pack in the division as the No. 12 seed.
Foothills Christian (15-9) received the No. 1 seed in Division V.
Championship games are Thursday, May 30, at Cal State San Marcos (Division V); Friday, May 31, at the University of San Diego (Division I and Division III) and Cal State San Marcos (Division IV); and Saturday, June 1, at USD (Open Division and Division II).
For playoff updates, visit the San Diego Section website at www.cifsds.org.
