Heading into the final games of the regular season, both the
Live Oak High baseball and softball teams are poised for postseason
play.
Heading into the final games of the regular season, both the Live Oak High baseball and softball teams are poised for postseason play.
By virtue of its second consecutive “mercy” rule win, a 12-0 spanking of visiting Salinas on Tuesday, the Acorn baseball team clinched a .500 league record and a Central Coast Section playoff berth.
Live Oak also beat TCAL champion Palma 10-4 on Thursday as Andrew Cummins led a 16-hit attack. Six Acorns had two hits or more in the victory.
Live Oak (9-5 in league, 13-11 overall) is tied for second place with Gilroy in the Tri-County Athletic League and hosts the Mustangs with the TCAL’s second automatic CCS playoff berth on the line.
Meanwhile, the Acorn softball squad is still battling to make the playoffs one year after winning just one league game.
Live Oak still has a shot despite losing a pair of tough one-run contests this week.
The Acorns dropped a 2-1 decision to visiting North Salinas in eight innings on Tuesday, then lost 1-0 on a run in the bottom of the seventh inning at Salinas on Thursday.
On Tuesday, Acorn junior pitcher Juliette Bowers tossed a no-hitter through seven innings but Live Oak couldn’t score in regulation.
After the Vikings rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the eighth, the Acorns answered with a run in the bottom of the inning and had the tying and winning runs on when the final out was made.
Live Oak fell to 6-7 in league and 13-12 overall, and must win one of its final two games — against visiting league champion Notre Dame on Tuesday or at Gilroy on Thursday — to qualify for the playoffs. Because the RTCAL is an A-rated league, a .500 record in league or overall play usually guarantees a playoff spot.
