By Pete Borello

Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier

Prep Softball Report

On the surface, the St. Francis High softball team’s 14-14 record may not seem too impressive. However, it did impress those running last weekend’s Central Coast Section seeding meeting.

The CCS, recognizing the strength of the Lancers’ schedule, granted them the seventh seed in the 12-team Division II playoffs. Three teams seeded below St. Francis had better records, but none of them played as tough a schedule.

Eight of the Lancers’ games were against ranked teams and they finished third in the SCVAL De Anza Division, traditionally one of the strongest leagues in the CCS.

St. Francis will try to justify its seed today vs. No. 10 Terra Nova (12-6) in an opening-round game at Hawes Field in Redwood City. First pitch is 7 p.m.

With a win, the Lancers move on to Saturday’s quarterfinals to meet No. 2 Notre Dame-Belmont (23-5) at 2 p.m. at Hawes.

Despite losing 5-0 to Notre Dame early in the year, St. Francis coach Barry Ivers said his team isn’t intimidated by Notre Dame or anyone else in the field.

“We aren’t afraid to play anybody,” he said. “We’ve played eight ranked teams and did pretty well against them.”

St. Francis won three of these games and all but the Notre Dame defeat were close. The Lancers twice took No. 1 Mitty to extra-innings before losing.

Ivers also pointed out that his squad lost some games to teams it should have beaten, especially in league. This explains St. Francis’ 8-6 division mark.

The Lancers edged out Mountain View for the division’s final automatic CCS berth by beating the Spartans 4-2 on May 9.

St. Francis pounded out 11 hits, including three by pitcher Mei Sausa, who is batting a team-high .338. Kristine Crawford tripled and scored a run, while Alex Anunciacion and Steph Grejtak had two hits each.

Mountain View still made the playoffs, though, earning an at-large berth in Division II. The ninth-seeded Spartans (12-13) play No. 8 Monterey (14-9) at 3 p.m., today at Sherwood Field in Salinas. The winner takes on Mitty (29-3) at 5 p.m., Friday, at PAL Stadium in San Jose.

One other area team also made the playoffs, as Homestead (12-7-1) garnered the No. 12 seed in Division I. The Mustangs, who lost to Lynbrook last week in a game that decided the SCVAL El Camino Division champ, battles No. 5 Wilcox (16-11) in the opening round. Game time is 7 p.m., Thursday, at PAL.

The winner plays No. 4 Milpitas (17-10) at 3 p.m., Friday, at PAL.