The Sonoma Valley Eagles entered the first round of the Northern California tournament with a 16‑13 record, hoping to extend a season that had already delivered more wins than many had predicted.
Half Moon Bay, the top seed, answered with a quiet but decisive shutout, plating solo runs in the first, third and fourth innings to secure a 3‑0 victory.
The Pitching Duel
Jack Johnson took the mound for Sonoma Valley, delivering four innings that featured two earned runs before handing the ball to Luciano Hernandez, who closed the game with two scoreless frames.
Half Moon Bay’s pitching duo of Kai Kung and Riley Jackson combined for ten strikeouts without issuing a single walk, a performance that left the Eagles’ bats silent.
At the plate, Cayden Waldrop led the Eagles with two hits, while River Gilardi, Beau Jurasek each added a single hit, but the offense could not find a rallying extra base.
The loss capped a season that saw the team finish 16‑13 overall, a milestone that will be remembered as a resurgence for the program.