The Elk Grove Thundering Herd secured a 1‑0 victory over the Jesuit Marauders in a CIF Sac‑Joaquin Section Division II baseball semifinal on Tuesday, completing a two‑game sweep and moving one step closer to a coveted section title.
First‑inning heroics
The decisive run came in the top of the first inning, when Chase Groves crossed the plate on a passed ball, giving the Herd an early lead that they would protect the rest of the game.
On the mound, Anthony Bascherini delivered a solid six‑inning outing, surrendering four hits while striking out four batters, and Tristen Bartlett capped the effort with a save, fanning one in the final frame.
Jesuit’s offense was limited to a three‑hit effort from senior pitcher Sammy Kane, who, despite walking two and striking out three, could not find a way past the Herd’s defense.
Section final outlook
The win lifts Elk Grove to the section final, where they will meet the champion of a bracket that includes Central Catholic of Modesto and Del Campo, a matchup scheduled for May 21 at Sacramento City College.
Elk Grove enters the final as the top‑ranked, first‑seeded team in the playoffs, aiming to capture their 12th section championship, a milestone that would underscore the program’s sustained excellence.
Among the standout performers, senior pitcher Parker Lipp and utility player Julian Arguello have been key contributors throughout the season, while Landon Johnson, Jayden Hernandez, Hudson Hall, Jonah Glover and Tayt Jackson have each added depth to the roster. Sammy Kane, an Oregon Ducks‑bound senior, tossed a three‑hitter for Jesuit, walking two and striking out three.