NCS Division 2 playoffs: Pinole Valley wins against Maria Carrillo 5-3

Pinole Valley scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning and then withstood a Maria Carrillo uprising to defeat the Pumas, 5-3, in opening-round action of the NCS Division 2 playoffs on Wednesday.

A fielding error in the seventh with two outs proved to be Carrillo’s undoing. Following the miscue, Pinole came up with four consecutive hits to take a 5-1 lead. The Pumas scored twice in the seventh and had the tying run at first base when the third out was made.

Zach Scott allowed the Spartans 10 hits and took the loss. Carrillo collected eight hits with Vincent Riggio and Gunner Flanders coming up with two apiece.

The Pumas (18-8) came into the game as the No. 5 seed while Pinole (16-11-1) was No. 12. “A good season came to an end sooner than we wanted,” coach Derek DeBenedetti said. “It was a tough way to end it.”

TAMALPAIS 13, PINER 8

At Mill Valley, the No. 13 Prospectors came back to tie the game after falling behind by four runs. However, the home team rallied to win the Division 3 matchup.

Tony Martignoli and Dylan Turrin both tripled as Piner made it 8-8 in the fourth.

The No. 4 Red Tailed Hawks then scored five runs in their final three at-bats.

The Prospectors got off to a rocky start as Tam scored five in the first off starter Martignoli.

“We battled and didn’t roll over,” coach Nick Green said. “It’s never a good feeling to lose, especially in the playoffs, but it feels a little like a moral victory for the way we came back to make it a game.”

ALAMEDA 4, UKIAH 0

At Alameda, No. 6 seed Alameda blanked No. 11 Ukiah in the Division 2 opening-round game.

The Hornets, champs of the West Alameda League, improved to 20-7 while Ukiah, fourth in the North Bay League, goes to the sidelines with a 14-12 record.

ST. VINCENT 9, BENTLEY 3

At Petaluma, pitcher Liam Galten won his seventh game without a loss.

Galten went 51/3 innings before being relieved by Sky Doble.

The Mustangs’ offense banged out 12 hits in the Division 5 game. Finishing with two apiece were: Galten, Doble, Nick Vollert, Michael Davis and George Sammon.

Dominic Pedersen knocked in a pair of runs and has 43 RBI through 25 games.

SONOMA ACADEMY 6, SOUTH FORK 1

At Miranda, the visiting Coyotes notched their first baseball playoff victory in school history.

Dylan De La Montanya, who had a no-hitter going until the fifth inning, pitched a complete game. Ethan Jones was the offensive star with three RBIs while Dan Brown scored three times.

Ryan O’Hara made the defensive play of the game. The center fielder went to the fence to haul in a fly ball.

Sonoma Academy (17-4) is the No. 10 seed in Division 5. South Fork (17-9) came in No. 7.