Big Sacred Heart showing tops Giants

Sacred Heart Cathedral might be one of the early-season surprises after beating a highly regarded Redwood team that played St. Ignatius Prep to a 5-5 tie a day earlier.

The 6-1 victory over the Giants came courtesy of a kid who – at least on paper and until the online correction is made – would never be confused for one.

Junior Jacob Vines was accidentally listed on the team roster at 5-foot-1, 105 pounds. He's actually 6-1 and 180 pounds. And on Saturday he was plenty big enough to take down a lineup of Redwood Giants.

Vines allowed just a run and five hits, while striking out five in 4 2/3 innings of work. That was more than enough for him to qualify for the victory.

"He kept hitters off balance with a good mix of fastballs and curveballs," said Sacred Heart Cathedral coach Gregg Franceschi. "He was around the plate all day."

Derek Bray and Max Matthews finished up the victory that pushed Sacred Heart Cathedral to 2-1 after one week.

It's a change in the way the Irish are finding ways to win ballgames. Last year, they benefitted from having Tate Medicoff – the state's home run leader with 12 – in their lineup. This year, they're doing it with their pitching.

"We put extra emphasis on good pitching this year," Franceschi said. "I'm happy to see where we are at this point."

Rohan Kahns had two hits for Sacred Heart, which will travel to Tamalpais on Thursday.

W: Vines. L: Wells. 2 hits- Kahns (SHC).

Valley Christian 8, Buchanan 0

This should come as no big surprise to anyone, but the Warriors pitching is pretty good. Valley Christian improved to 2-0 with its second straight shutout victory.

Kole Laubach scattered five hits over five innings, while Rohan Kasanagottu and Quentin Medrano closed out the shutout with an inning each.

Offensively, Hunter Fujimoto and Jordan Ortiz had two hits each, while the trio of Quinten Marsh, Brock Ketelsen and Caleb Najar added doubles.

Valley Chrisian (2-0) will look to defend its Mike Hazlett Tournament championship next week when it travels to San Jose for the weeklong tourney hosted by Wilcox High.

W: Laubach. L: Heintz. 2 hits- Fujimoto (VC), Ortiz (VC). 2B- Ortiz (VC), Marsh (VC), Ketelsen (VC), Najar (VC).

San Ramon Valley 11, Mitty 3

Mitty managed just one hit – a single by Tyler Manago – while committing five errors in the lopsided loss that dropped the Monarchs to 1-1.

W: Monte. L: Sunderland. 2 hits- Williams (SRV). Adleman (SRV). 3 RBI- Haughton (SRV). 2 RBI- Nelson (SRV), Williams (SRV). 2B- Williams (SRV) 2.

Lincoln 6, Aragon 3

The Dons, playing without Josh Jacobs, who is being slowed by a leg injury, fell to Lincoln.

The loss came despite a four-hit performance from Charlie Henderson that included two doubles. Kyle Crawford added two hits for the Dons (1-1), who will next host unbeaten Burlingame on Tuesday.

W: Wong. L: Kammer. 4 hits- Henderson (A). 2 hits- Kyle Crawford (A). Henderson (A). 2B- Henderson (A) 2.

Riordan 10, El Camino 6

The Crusaders remained unbeaten with a slugfest victory over winless El Camino.

Coach Craig Sargent likes his team's chances to win a shootout, and in this one, they proved their coach right. Santino Williams and Chase Oliver has two hits each while also driving in two runs apiece, while combining for five RBI – three by Oliver.

In recent years, victories have been hard to come by for the Crusaders, but they already have two wins in three outings in addition to a tie against a very respectable Terra Nova squad.

Caleb Oliveras had two hits and two RBI for El Camino (0-3).

W: Williams. L: Q.Bromaghim. 2 hits- Oliveras (EC), Williams (R), Oliver (R). 3 RBI- Oliver (R), Williams (R). 2 RBI- Oliveras (EC). **2B- **Williams, Ordonez (R), Oliveras EC).

San Mateo 14, Washington 0

Neel Sardesai, Jesus Olivas and Christian Louie had two hits each and combined for seven RBI as the Bearcats won their second game – both by 14-0 scores – against San Francisco schools.

W: Copus. L: Troy. 2 hits- Sardesai (SM), Olivas (SM), Louie (SM). 3 RBI- Sardesai (SM) 2 RBI- Olivas (SM), Louie (SM). 2B- Olivas (SM).

Soquel 9, Woodside 3

The Wildcats fell to 0-2 despite a two-hit game from senior Trent Amaroso.

The Knights improved to 4-0 after one week.

W: Hull. L: Hohl. 2 hits- Amaroso (W), Escalante (S), Vigalioto (S), Moran (S). 3 RBI- Summerhill (S).2B- Amaroso (W).

Lowell 9, South San Francisco 1

Reggie Fong had three hits and three RBI, while Julien Cool collected two hits, three RBI and a pitching victory for Lowell, which upended the defending Peninsula Athletic League Lake Division champion in dominant fashion.

W: Cook. L: G.Bernal. 3 hits- Fong (L). 2 hits- Cook (L). 3 RBI- Cook (L), Fong (L).