Seve Sanchez threw a complete-game, six-hitter to lead Piedmont High School’s baseball team to a 4-1 victory over McKinleyville at Humphries Field on May 22 in the North Coast Section Division 4 semifinals.
The Highlanders advanced to the championship game, where they will face old friends Justin-Siena at Laney College on May 25. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Sanchez was terrific, allowing just one run while striking out three against one walk. The Panthers had just two real threats in the game. In the second, Hunter Carper doubled to lead off the inning and Riles Egbert followed with a double to drive in the only McKinleyville run. But Sanchez righted the ship, getting Tenoch Tapia to pop out and then striking out Evan Fraser and Branson Dobrec to end the inning.
In the sixth, Sanchez allowed a leadoff single to Jackson Kelly. One out later, he walked Tyson Bragg. Sanchez then induced Carper to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Sanchez got all the runs he needed in a three-run bottom of the first. With one out, Peter Krumins doubled. Krumins advanced to third on a wild pitch but was then thrown out at home on a ground ball hit by Will Parker.
Dimitri Papahadjopoulos then singled. Shafer Dando followed with a single to drive in Parker. Brandon Dicke followed with a single that drove in Papahadjopoulos and sent Dando to third. Dando then scored on a wild pitch.
Piedmont got its other run in the sixth. Dicke drew a one-out walk. Jack Meyjes then grounded out pitcher to first. Dicke kept running and made it to third and a bad throw from first baseman Carper allowed Dicke to score.
Kelly went the distance for the Panthers, allowing seven hits and three earned runs with nine strikeouts and four walks. The hits were spread throughout the Highlanders lineup, with nobody getting more than one. Kelly also went 2-for-3.
The opponent in the finals is a familiar one for Piedmont (17-8). On March 9, the Highlanders beat Justin-Siena at home, 1-0. Krumins started that game and went six innings, allowing just one hit. Krumins is lined up to start the final.
However, thanks to Sanchez’s complete game, all other Piedmont pitchers should be available. Luke Giusto went the distance in the earlier game, allowing just one run on three hits.
Last year, the Braves ended the Highlanders season in a highly-entertaining 11-10 game in the NCS semifinals. The teams went back and forth, with Piedmont scoring three in the top of the seventh and having the bases loaded with a chance to go ahead.
The winner of the NCS title will receive a berth into the California Interscholastic Federation Northern California regional playoffs. The losing school can be considered for a bid. Brackets will be announced on May 26.