It’s Playoff Time!
Starting on Tuesday, North Coast Section playoff games are set to get underway—bringing star-studded matchups, stunning upsets, and one final team standing across six different divisions.
Before games begin, here are predictions for each division—including a winner and a team that could ultimately be a sleeping giant—heading into tournament play.
Division 1
Winner: De La Salle
De La Salle is the overwhelming favorite in the Division 1 bracket this season—and rightfully so. Since having their first five games of the season suspended, resulting in a 0-3 start, the Spartans have gone 18-1. They won the newly established East Bay Mountain Athletic League title and swept Southern California’s Bishop Amat, Centennial-Corona, and Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks at The National Classic earlier this season.
The Spartans’ pitching staff has been one of the best in the state—headlined by Graham Schlitch, who is putting up historic numbers this season. The Stanford commit recently broke the California state record for most consecutive scoreless innings, as the senior star hasn’t allowed a single run in 62 straight innings dating back to last year. On the season, he has a perfect 0.00 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched.
But it’s not just him, as Cooper Barnes and Roman Bartosh round out a rotation that has a combined ERA of 1.09 and has held opponents to a sub-.250 on-base percentage.
The bats are elite as well, with a mix of young risers and senior studs. Sophomore Jacob Gray and freshman Brandon Manivong are two of the top underclassmen you’ll find, while senior Sam Lakey and juniors Nash Beckman and Ben Hayden provide a punch as well.
Bracket Buster: Monte Vista
Monte Vista is one of the hottest teams in the region heading into section playoffs—riding a 10-game winning streak to secure the seventh seed in the Division 1 bracket.
The Mustangs have stacked up a strong résumé after playing fierce competition during the regular season—winning the EBAL Valley Division title and beating Clayton Valley, San Ramon Valley, and Foothill in non-league games. Even the losses showcase how strong this unit is—with one-run losses to Granada, Redwood, and College Park, along with an extra-innings loss against top-seeded De La Salle.
Ole Miss commit Gavin McMillan is one of the top pitchers in the region—headlining a group that’s been the backbone for this team all year long. Especially during league play, the Mustangs’ bats started to heat up—and it’s been a key reason for their winning streak up to this point. Zane Worth, Torin Dunphy, and Jake Elliot highlight an offense that’s providing consistency and power heading into their first playoff game.
Division 2
Winner: Northgate
Northgate has one high-powered offense, and it’s the type of lineup that can take this Bronco team far in the playoffs.
A unit with a team batting average of .340 and a .445 on-base percentage—an impressive mark throughout the regular season—the Broncos have averaged around nine runs per game. The heart of the order, featuring Andres Zaragoza Roberts, Luke Dress, Shane Malloy, and Robert Jurado, has been clutch with runners in scoring position, which is a huge reason for the team’s success considering how high the offense’s on-base percentage is.
If the pitching staff can compete at a high level—like it has in wins over Liberty, Miramonte, and Freedom this season—this is a dangerous team heading into the postseason. It’s one I like on this side of the bracket as the No. 2 seed.
Bracket Buster: Marin Catholic
No. 13 seed Marin Catholic has the talent of a Division 1 team, and it’s going to be a tough squad to knock out.
Another team hitting over .340 as a group this season, Marin Catholic’s lineup consists of players who provide plenty of power while also consistently battling their way on base. Junior Johnny Greco is a standout, along with brothers Wade and Walker Untermann—players who bring a lot of pop to the plate in a dangerous offense.
In these playoffs, junior Cooper Benjamin is a player who can elevate the team on the mound. A hard-throwing lefty, he has the stuff to become a next-level pitcher and one of the true go-to players on MC’s side of the bracket in big games. He and Walker Untermann have been Marin Catholic’s big-inning arms and form a strong duo heading into the postseason push.
Division 3
Winner: Pittsburg
A team that typically competes at the Division 1 level and has that type of talent, the Pirates found themselves on the wrong side of a lot of close games this season. But Pittsburg is gearing up for a playoff run—and confident it can make that happen.
It was a Bay Valley Athletic League schedule filled with gut-punching losses, as five of the Pirates’ seven league losses came by one run. Looking at the season overall, eight of Pittsburg’s 10 losses have come by two runs or fewer.
A competitive team, Pittsburg played a tough series against Liberty—picking up its lone league win against a ranked Lions squad. That momentum is something the Pirates hope carries forward—especially as the No. 3 seed in a lower Division 3 bracket. A bit younger than this program is used to, the team has come into its own more as the season has progressed.
JJ Robinson and Devin Simonton form one of the strongest one-two punches you’ll find on this side of the bracket, while freshman Jordan Ortiz and senior Santino Valle anchor a pitching staff that holds a 1.95 ERA this season.
The questions are whether Pittsburg can get the big hits in clutch situations and play strong defense behind its pitchers. That’s been the difference between wins and losses this season, but I think this team pieces it together and goes on a run.
Bracket Buster: San Marin
San Marin is always a dangerous team out of the Marin County Athletic League, and the Mustangs are a team to watch as the No. 7 seed in the NCS Division 3 bracket. San Marin is a tough out—and it shows with losses by two runs or fewer against Redwood, Petaluma, and Novato, along with wins over Casa Grande, Novato, and Marin Catholic.
It’s a dangerous lineup filled with power, featuring reigning MCAL Offensive Player of the Year Matthew Baldino, along with junior Dylan Procopio and sophomore Will Brady. Baldino and Procopio are two players capable of hitting home runs at any moment, with Procopio ranking among the section leaders with seven homers this season.
The Mustangs also have an experienced staff, with seniors Nate Mandelbrot and Jaden Brown anchoring the rotation as the team’s two big-inning pitchers.
Division 4
Winner: Justin-Siena
A veteran-led team with plenty of seniors, Justin-Siena is positioned well in the Division 4 bracket and appears to be in a strong spot to make a run at its second section title in three years.
Griffin Messenger is one of the best pitchers in the North Bay—and arguably one of the top arms in the entire bracket—giving the Braves a major advantage. The Davidson College commit has posted a 2.39 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched. The Braves also have Connor Zuehlsdorff as a solid No. 2 starter behind him, as the junior has thrown 41 innings this season with a 2.71 ERA and 50 strikeouts.
Justin-Siena also carries a .303 team batting average, with Messenger, Xiano Ortega, and Braden Butler all hitting well—especially with runners in scoring position.
Bracket Buster: Swett
Some of you may be asking: a No. 4 seed as a bracket buster? How can that be? Well, a small school with fewer than 500 students fielding this strong of a baseball team tells you everything you need to know.
From Crockett, the Warriors have been dominant on both sides of the ball—rolling to a 20-2 record and an 11-1 finish in the TCAL-Stone League. As a lineup, the team is hitting .344 with a .447 on-base percentage while scoring more than six runs per game. Senior James Gibson has been the catalyst with a .574 batting average, four home runs, and 17 RBIs, but it’s a well-rounded lineup that can give teams and pitchers headaches with its ability to consistently barrel the baseball.
The pitching has been just as impressive, with the Warriors holding a team ERA of 1.67. Michael Golden has been the ace, posting a 0.66 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched.
Don’t sleep on the “little engine” in this bracket, as it brings a big swing into the postseason.
Division 5
Winner: Montgomery
The top seed in the Division 5 playoffs, Montgomery has been a wagon in the North Bay League Redwood Division—and the Vikings are hungry for more with a potential NCS championship on the horizon.
Finishing the season 15-10-1, Montgomery built a strong résumé to earn the No. 1 seed. The Vikings finished 12-3 in league play—including two wins over No. 2-seeded Healdsburg—and also picked up victories against Santa Rosa, Maria Carrillo, and Analy. Montgomery also played a challenging non-league schedule in the North Bay, suffering losses to Division 2 top seed McKinleyville in extra innings, Rancho Cotate, and Vintage.
Bracket Buster: Brave Christian
No. 10-seeded Brave Christian sprinted through the regular season with a 22-0-1 record, and its young core has shown it’s ready to compete on the biggest stage.
It’s not often you see three freshmen leading the way, but Brave Christian’s Jadon Hart, Legend Dorham, and Ceasar Cornelio are all hitting above .550 this season—and yes, you read that correctly. As a team, Brave Christian owns a .442 batting average, with five different players recording at least two home runs and 20-plus RBIs.
Those same three freshmen are also the team’s leading pitchers, with Cornelio leading the way with 70 strikeouts in 41 innings and a 0.34 ERA.
A young, blossoming team, the question is whether that success will translate at the highest level. Only time will tell, but this is one of the most confident groups entering the NCS playoffs.
Division 6
Winner: Grace Christian
Great offense. Great pitching. Great success!
Grace Christian earned the No. 1 seed in the NCS Division 6 playoffs—and it’s going to be difficult to knock the Lions out of the top spot.
The Lions have a team batting average of .373, featuring a strong group of power-hitting juniors like Jerome Swehla and Ty Trabucco.
However, senior Leif Jackson has been dominant on both sides of the ball—leading the team with a .535 batting average while also recording 102 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched. He’s as electric as they come, and his consistency gives teams in this bracket fits with his ability to control the game on both sides.
