Three teams eliminated from NorCal playoffs

San Rafael High School lost a pitcher's duel to host Dixon in the NorCal Division III quarterfinals on Tuesday, with Cassidy Kaplan recording the game's only hit.

Kaplan singled in the top of the fifth to put the Bulldogs up 1-0, but San Rafael quickly got out of the jam with a double play. San Rafael's Larissa Baltazar and Sophia Everett both reached base on walks in the top of the sixth, but Dixon pitcher Felesha Lupenski induced a grounder to end the inning.

Lupenski pitched seven innings, striking out 12 while allowing one hit and three walks.

San Rafael ace Tomala Drummer pitched six innings, striking out 10 while allowing three hits and one walk. Dixon's run was unearned when the Rams scored on an error in the bottom of the fourth.

The Bulldogs (25-5) remain the only Marin team competing in the NorCal softball playoffs when they begin in 2022. San Rafael lost in the quarterfinals in 2022 and lost again Tuesday.

Sanmarin Falls

Anthony Scheppler hit a two-run homer in the top of the third inning to put the San Marin baseball team within two runs, but the Mustangs couldn't get any closer, hosting St. Ignatius for a 6-3 victory in the NorCal D-II quarterfinals on Tuesday in Pacifica.

St. Ignatius was leading 4-0 after two innings when San Marin's Sean McGrath drew a walk with one out and then Scheppler homered to make it 4-2. St. Ignatius tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the inning.

San Marin (22-9) scored one more run in the fourth inning, when Daniel Rolovich walked, Joey Cipollina singled and then Cole Chamberlain singled to send Rolovich home with another single.

Cipollina and Scheppler each had two hits for San Marin.

Branson retreats

Branson (12-16) was limited to two hits in Tuesday's NorCal DV quarterfinal game, but had a chance to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning in an eventual 1-2 loss to Bradshaw Christian in Sacramento.

Thomas Lardner singled with two outs in the top of the seventh to keep Brunson's hopes alive and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bradshaw Christian relief pitcher Ethan Rickert recorded his fourth strikeout to end the game.

Brunson's other hit came in the fourth inning when Mo Jacoby doubled as leadoff hitter. Jacoby stole third base and scored on Jackson Keyser's sacrifice fly to put Brunson within 2-1.

Branson pitcher Grayson Roberts pitched 5.1 innings, allowing seven hits, two earned runs and striking out three. The Bulls also qualified for the NorCal Playoffs in 2022, the only Marin program to make two appearances in the tournament's three-year history.