The Sobrato baseball team earned the No. 2 seed in the CCS
Division II tournament, while the Live Oak Acorns missed the
playoffs for the first time in 17 seasons
SAN JOSE — The Sobrato baseball team has thrived under the radar in 2009.
Now the Bulldogs will try to do the same on the other side.
Following a regular season in which they claimed seven victories over teams listed in the San Jose Mercury News’ top 15 but never broke into the rankings, the Bulldogs on Saturday were named the No. 2 seed in the CIF-Central Coast Section Division II Playoffs.
They will face No. 15 North Monterey County, the team that knocked them out of the first round a year ago, at 4 p.m. Thursday at Gavilan College.
The Bulldogs (17-13 overall, 12-9 league) are entering their second-ever postseason with a full head of steam. They have won five of their last six and are coming off a thrilling 5-4 victory over rival Live Oak. Sobrato clinched an automatic playoff berth by taking second place outright in the Blossom Valley Athletic League ‘A’ division.
North Monterey County (12-17, 8-6) won four of its final six to finish tied for third in the Monterey Bay Athletic League.
Live Oak, meanwhile, failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 17 seasons.
The reigning Division III champion Acorns (15-15, 8-13) missed the cut by the narrowest of margin, ending their season at 15-15 overall and 8-13 in league.
The Mount Hamilton produced five postseason invites: first-place Santa Teresa, Sobrato, Leigh, Westmont and Leland.
