A Narrow Loss at Schott Stadium
The Central Coast Section Division III semifinals unfolded at Santa Clara University’s Stephen Schott Stadium, where the No. 5 seeded Aptos High baseball team met the top seed Menlo in a nine-inning thriller that swung back and forth until the final out.
Aptos mounted a potent attack, compiling thirteen hits and drawing three walks, yet they stranded eleven runners across the game. Freshman James Riley contributed a double, two RBIs and a run, while junior Cole McGillicuddy added two hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Damien Espinoza, Finn Cormier, Alec Mendoza and Jacob Kissinger each added multiple hits and RBIs, but the Chargers could not convert the momentum into a decisive lead.
Menlo’s offense was anchored by Liam Widner and Renner Barnett, each delivering two hits, an RBI and a run. Sophomore Zach Roeder added a triple and three runs, while senior Jack Freehill contributed two hits and a run. Widner also earned the win in relief, while Espinoza took the loss for Aptos.
Coach Jason Biancardi praised his team’s effort despite the defeat, noting the experience gained will shape future outings. The Chargers’ earlier 7-0 shutout of No. 2 Hollister in the semifinals underscored their defensive capability, but the narrow margin against Menlo highlighted the fine line between victory and defeat at this level.
Looking ahead, Menlo will meet No. 3 Wilcox for the championship at Excite Ballpark on Thursday, a matchup that promises another high‑stakes contest. For Aptos, the season ends with a promising foundation of talent and a roster that includes rising stars such as James Riley and Zach Roeder.