Hot hitters, aces, milestone coaches: What to watch as CIF baseball playoffs start
Monday’s wet weather will give way to a heating trend, and just in time for hot hitters and pitchers and similarly on-fire teams as the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section baseball playoffs begin Wednesday at home sites.
Teams spread across seven divisions, from the largest-enrollment Division I schools to the smallest programs in Divisions VI and VII, will compete for section banners. Section champions in Divisions I, II and III and the runner-up in each of those divisions will advance to the single-elimination CIF Northern California tournament. Only the section winners in the other divisions advance to the NorCals.
Wednesday and Friday’s opening rounds are single-elimination — win or go home — with the semifinals a best-of-three series that start next week. Section finals are a one-game, winner take-all format.
Big name coaches and milestones
Two coaches big on team play, player development and lasting memories have quietly reached or are closing in on significant milestones.
Mike de Necochea in a regular-season finale earned his 400th victory for the McClatchy Lions of the Sacramento City Unified School District, seeded second in the Division I bracket and ranked second by The Bee. McClatchy opens against No. 15-seeded Inderkum on Wednesday.
In Placer County, Division I fourth seeded Granite Bay is led by the program’s founding coach Pat Esposito, at the Grizzlies’ helm since 1996. He is sitting on 499 victories as Granite Bay hosts No. 13 Mountain House.
The winningest active baseball coach in the section is Jesuit’s Joe Potulny, the Marauders’ varsity leader since 1996. Unfailingly kind, polite and a shaker of more hands than a politician on the eve of an election, Potulny has no idea how many victories he has, but he did admit it has to be more than 500. Winners of the muscle-bound Sierra Foothill League, Jesuit is seeded fourth in Division II and opens against Pitman of Turlock.
St. Mary’s favored in D-I
St. Mary’s of Stockton has won six section crowns, the last in 2024, and the Rams are fierce and formidable as the top-ranked team in the 200-member section.
The staff ace is Dax Hardcastle, a Major League Baseball prospect who is 6-1 on the mound and has given a commitment to play on scholarship at Mississippi State. Another Rams pitcher of note is Nico Bavaro, headed to UCLA. He is 6-2.
Winners of nine consecutive games, McClatchy won the Metro League behind a balanced hitting attack and a super ace in Ari Silva. The Loyola Marymount University-bound lefty is 8-0, and he leads the Lions in batting with a .456 average.
Defending section champion Franklin of Elk Grove is seeded third and is paced by a proven coach in Bryan Kilby, who recently won his 300th game, and reigning Bee Player of the Year Dylan Minnattee, the LSU-bound star infielder who has scores of school records and is tough enough to take a pitch to the mouth and keep on going (after spitting out blood, of course).
Granite Bay won section baseball titles in 2022, 2023 and 2024 under Esposito and a stellar coaching staff. The Grizzlies have a young roster but a battle-tested group from the rigors of a challenging nonleague schedule and the SFL. Sophomore outfielder Isaac Schroeder leads Granite Bay in batting (.458), hits (44), RBIs (30) and runs scored (38).
The SFL also has sixth-seeded Folsom and No. 7 Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills and Santa Clara-bound catcher Ryan Hubbard in the bracket. No. 10 Pleasant Grove of the Delta League looms as a threat, having recently topped Franklin in league play.
Elk Grove the top seed in D-II
Ranked No. 1 by The Bee, Elk Grove has 11 section championships, eight of them under since-retired guru coach Jeff Carlson, and the Thundering Herd have remained competitive in recent seasons under coach Joe Bellotti. The Thundering Herd is the only local team to top St. Mary’s, doing so in an early nonleague game, and they won the Delta League and secured the top seed in Division II.
The Thundering Herd is paced by fourth-year starting infielder Chase Groves, headed to Cal, and fellow seniors Tristen Bartlett, Brayden Ford and Hudson Hall and sophomore Jayden Hernandez, who leads the team in batting (.454) and in RBIs (26). The opener is against No. 16 Cordova, a regional superpower in the 1970s and ‘80s and still a tough out now with fourth-year varsity star Levi Norberg, who leads the Lancers in hits (32) and ERA (1.33).
Jesuit and Big Red have another strong team, one that seeks the program’s first section crown since 2008. The leaders include Oregon Ducks-bound Sammy Kane, who leads the team in ERA at 1.38 and is second with 16 RBI behind Parker Lipp, who has 23 RBIs. His .407 batting average is second on the club to Jonah Glover’s .417. Lipp has five home runs and eight triples.
Second-seeded West Park of Roseville is a fast-rising program out of Placer County. The Panthers are paced by shortstop star Ayden Deome, who will play at the University of Arizona next season.
No. 8-seeded Vacaville is led by a proven coach in Stu Clary, who has two section championships, and has an ace in Sacramento State-bound Ethan Williams. He is 8-2 with an 0.76 ERA. The team’s top hitter is Rome Griego (.466, 33 RBIs).
No. 3 Rodriguez of Fairfield is paced by Drew Beasley’s .568 batting average and a pitching staff that includes Nick Schikore (1.01 ERA), Bennett Giaramitta (1.08 ERA) and Austin Krebs (1.11 ERA). Rodriguez beat Vacaville by a game to win the Monticello Empire League.
Del Oro, overcoming a slow start and a rash of injuries, is a darkhorse seed at No. 6 and is led by LSU-bound slugger Masen Belding, The Bee’s Medium School Player of the Year in 2025. Belding is flanked by fellow longball hitters Nico Busalacchi and Jackson Stewart. The Golden Eagles of Loomis last spring won the program’s first section banner since 1991.
Other dark horses in the bracket include No. 12 Rocklin, which has overcome an 0-8-1 start and features ace Andrew Hancock and top hitter Ryan Lujan, No. 5 Woodcreek of Roseville, No. 7 Bella Vista of Fair Oaks and No. 10 Laguna Creek of Elk Grove.
Rio Americano tops D-III field
Rio Americano reached section D-II title games in 2022 and 2023 and now loom as the top seed in D-III behind junior star Trey Howell-Chase, who has a .461 batting average, a team-best 41 hits and 30 runs scored and 18 RBIs. Pitchers Joey Dormann (0.64 ERA), Pierce Tully (1.85) and Conor Flynn (1.89) make for a strong staff.
Second-seeded Vista del Lago of Folsom is led by leading hitter Nat Ha (.385 average, 35 hits, 25 RBIs, 27 runs scored), and pitchers Jack Ellis, Carson Kocina and David Wright.
No. 4 Yuba City, one of the most storied programs in the section, is coming off of a CIF Northern California Regional title under 2025 Bee Coach of the Year in Maury Castaneda. Max Guth and Brody Miller lead the Honkers in hitting at .442 and .435, respectively. Miller has 37 hits and 30 runs and has an 0.00 ERA.
Roseville aims to repeat in D-IV
Roseville thundered to a section crown last season and looks just as determined now as the top seed in Division IV.
If it comes down to pitching, which it usually does in this sport, then the Tigers are in good shape behind Vanderbilt-bound Ethan Gustus and UC Davis-bound Tyler Ritter, who is 7-0 with an 0.67 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. Gustus is 3-1 with a 1.28 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 27 innings.
No. 2 Central Catholic of Modesto is led by leading hitter Chase Perino. No. 3 Placer of Auburn has won 16 of 17 games behind its UC Davis-bound hurler Gavin Otis, who is 4-2. Fellow pitchers include Garrett Brink (6-0, 1.15 ERA), Robby Silski (2-0, 1.37 ERA) and David Gendron (3-1, 3.59 ERA). The leading Hillman hitter is Jack Addison (16 extra-base hits, 35 runs).
No. 5 Bradshaw Christian of Sacramento has section and NorCal championship pedigree in recent years. The small-school Pride are led by Sam Amezcua (.451 average), Evan Fuji-Sisler (25 RBIs) and a pitching staff that has a 2.05 ERA.
Lincoln Zebras seek D-V repeat
The Lincoln Zebras of Placer County powered their way to the D-V championship last season, and here they come again behind Dylan Knell (.506 batting average, 40 hits, 38 runs) and pitchers Billy Bass, Eli Duff and Jaxon Storm. Freshman Daxton Sampang is hitting .408.
Second-seeded Woodland is led by sophomore hitters Cohen Dwyer (.506 average) and Riley Salvemini (.378), who has a team-best 0.46 ERA and 6-2 record. Dwyer is 4-1 on the mound and David Tanner is 6-1. No. 3 Sutter is paced by leading hitters Aiden Zwissig (.468), Cole Callison (.432) and Jace Cummins (.417). Zwissig and Cummins are each 5-1 on the mound and Devin Murphy is 7-1.
No. 4 Woodland Christian won the D-VI section championship last season under Bee Small School Player of the Year Jayden Badhesha, who is batting .553 with 11 home runs, 47 hits and 56 RBI. His brother Armaan Badhesha has 11 doubles, 38 RBI and a team-best .568 batting average.
Complete brackets, ticket information and more can be found at the section baseball website, cifsjs.org/baseball.
The Bee’s Top 20
1. Elk Grove (22-6)
2. McClatchy (24-4)
3. Jesuit (17-11)
4. Roseville (22-4)
5. West Park (23-5)
6. Franklin (18-8-1)
7. Vacaville (19-9)
8. Granite Bay (16-12)
9. Rio Americano (22-6)
10. Del Oro (15-10-1)
11. Folsom (18-10)
12. Rocklin (13-14-1)
13. Woodcreek (17-10)
14. Oak Ridge (12-15)
15. Placer (22-5)
16. Vista del Lago (18-9)
17. Bella Vista (15-12)
18. Bradshaw Christian (22-4)
19. Lincoln (21-3-1)
20. Woodland (22-4)
CIF Sac-Joaquin Section baseball playoffs
First-round games are Wednesday, May 6, unless noted
Division I
No. 16 Tokay at No. 1 St. Mary’s
No. 9 Lincoln-Stockton at No. 8 Central Valley
No. 12 Edison at No. 5 Turlock
No. 13 Mountain House at No. 4 Granite Bay
No. 14 River City at No. 3 Franklin
No. 11 Enochs at No. 6 Folsom
No. 10 Pleasant Grove at No. 7 Oak Ridge
No. 15 Inderkum at No. 2 McClatchy
Division II
No. 16 Cordova at No. 1 Elk Grove
No. 9 Lodi at No. 8 Vacaville
No. 12 Rocklin at No. 5 Woodcreek
No. 13 Pitman at No. 4 Jesuit
No. 14 Whitney at No. 3 Rodriguez
No. 11 Atwater at No. 6 Del Oro
No. 10 Laguna Creek at No. 7 Bella Vista
No. 12 Stagg at No. 2 West Park
Division III
No. 16 Armijo at No. 1 Rio Americano
No. 9 Bear Creek at No. 8 Patterson
No. 12 Buhach Colony at No. 5 Christian Brother
No. 13 Fairfield at No. 4 Yuba City
No. 14 Antelope at No. 3 Manteca
No. 11 Pacheco at No. 6 Ponderosa
No. 10 Sierra at No. 7 El Capitan
No. 15 River Valley at No. 2 Vista del Lago
Division IV
Beyer/Burbank winner at No. 1 Roseville
No. 9 Vanden at No. 8 Oakmont
No. 12 Nevada Union at No. 5 Bradshaw Christian
No. 13 Center at No. 4 East Union
No. 14 Rosemont at No. 3 Placer
No. 11 Del Campo at No. 6 Oakdale
No. 10 Pioneer at No. 7 Twelve Bridges
No. 15 Los Banos at No. Central Catholic
Division V
No. 16 Dixon at No. 1 Lincoln
No. 9 Casa Roble at No. 8 Escalon
No. 12 El Dorado at No. 5 Wheatland
No. 13 Marysville at No. 4 Woodland Christian
No. 14 Union Mine at No. 3 Sutter
No. 11 Hughson at No. 6 Liberty Ranch
No. 10 Destiny Christian at No. 7 Ripon
No. 15 Mesa Verde at No. 2 Woodland
Division VI
No. 1 Ripon Christian, bye
No. 9 River Islands at No. 8 Mariposa County
No. 12 Ben Holt at No. 5 Colfax
No. 13 Argonaut at No. 4 Linden
No. 14 Buckingham Charter at No. 3 Bear River
No. 11 Hilmar at No. 6 Summerville
No. 10 Le Grand at No. 7 Bret Harte
No. 15 Calaveras at No. 2 Amador
Division VII
No. 1 Vacaville Christian, bye
No. 9 Millennium at No. 8 Foresthill
No. 12 Golden Sierra at No. 5 Valley Christian
No. 13 Modesto Christian at No. 4 Leroy Greene
No. 14 Stone Ridge at No. 3 Delta
No. 11 Elliott Christian at No. 6 Big Valley Christian
No. 10 Delta Charter at No. 7 Denair
No. 15 Esparto at No. 2 Turlock Christian
This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 12:10 PM.