One can point to the great pitching performance by Stephanie Sarris or the alert base running of Oriana Poueu as the defining elements in Rancho Cotate's emotional win against Montgomery on Thursday. And, no one would argue the point. However, I would suggest that the key moment came in the bottom of the seventh inning.

There have been many inquires the last couple of days as to the condition of Cardinal Newman baseball player Sean Sweeney. If you were at the Cardinal Newman-Montgomery baseball game Monday, you probably saw the horrific collision between Sweeney and Matt Dethlefsen at first base.

Posted by: Press Democrat Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht

In softball Thursday it will be Montgomery-Rancho Cotate III in the NBL Tournament championship game.

Montgomery has won both games, but they've been close. An Amanda Cuccaro grand slam won the first meeting, 4-2, and Taylor Stroud pitched the Vikings to a 1-0 win recently.

It's the only two losses for The Ranch, who also has one of the Empire's top pitchers, Stephanie Sarris.

Montgomery is now 24-0 and Rancho 21-2-1.

Can Montgomery win for a third time against Rancho?

And what are the chances of the two meeting again in the NCS Division II playoffs?

The seeding meeting will be Sunday.

Posted by: Press Democrat Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht

High school postseason sports start up heavy this week in the Empire. Just like college and pro sports, there's a little more excitement and go-for-broke tension in the air.
The North Bay League will hold its postseason tournaments in both baseball (beginning Wednesday) and softball (beginning Tuesday).
Monday's NBL game between Montgomery and Cardinal Newman will likely determine the regular season, or at least if there's a tie between the two, in which case the tournament will break the tie and give an automatic NCS berth to the higher finisher.
The NBL baseball tournament championship will be Friday at a neutral site, yet to be determined.
NBL regular season softball will wrap up this weekend and Montgomery, still unbeaten, will be the top seed and has already earned an NCS automatic playoff spot. Montgomery will play the No. 4 seed, either Ursuline or Maria Carrillo on Tuesday, while Rancho Cotate and Ukiah will also play. The winners meet Thursday at Santa Rosa High at 4 p.m.
Track and field also hold league championships next weekend: the NBL with trials on Wednesday at 4 p.m. and finals Friday at 3 p.m. at Santa Rosa High.
The SCL track and field trials are Thursday at 1 p.m. and the finals Saturday at 10 a.m. at Petaluma High.
Swimming held its NBL and SCL championships last weekend. This week it's the big enchilada with the North Coast Section championships.
Because there are no state championships in swimming and because of the quality of swimmers in California, this meet is a must watch. Our own Amanda Sims was a multiple NCS champion, finishing up last year.
Diving finals are 9 a.m. Thursday at the Concord Community Pool and swimming trials are Friday at 10:30 a.m. and finals Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Concord Community Pool.

With the North Bay League baseball tournament scheduled to begin next Wednesday, and with makeup games still on the schedule, pitching will be at a premium.

Posted by: Press Democrat Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht

They've got plenty of baseball to play before then, but the much anticipated Montgomery-Cardinal Newman baseball game, rained out twice thus far, has been rescheduled for Monday at 4 p.m. at Cardinal Newman.

Both Montgomery and Newman will have played three league games (if there are no more rainouts) before Monday. Montgomery started play Wednesday with a 10-0 North Bay League record and Cardinal Newman with a 9-1 mark.

All baseball teams are anxious to play makeups now, because the NBL league tournament is scheduled to start next Wednesday and the NCS at-large and seeding meeting for the playoffs is Sunday May 17.