BASEBALL: Menlo Blasts SHP; Rivals Tied atop WBAL

The Menlo School baseball team pulled into a tie with Sacred Heart Prep atop the West Bay Athletic League by hammering the visiting Gators 12-5 on Wednesday afternoon.

Both teams are already set to make the Central Coast Section playoffs. If both teams win their regular-season finales on Friday, the rivals will share the WBAL title for the second straight year.

“Anytime you can win an outright title, it’s a very big thing,” said SHP coach Gregg Franchesci, whose program has not done so since 2008. “A share of that is OK.”

Menlo (21-5, 8-1 WBAL) hosts The King’s Academy (7-15-2, 3-5) on Friday, and SHP (15-11, 8-1) will play Pinewood (11-8, 3-6).

With SHP leading 4-2 in the fourth inning on Wednesday, Menlo exploded for nine runs on eight hits to give the Knights an 11-4 lead. Menlo junior Freddy Avis had a huge two-run double and freshman Mikey Diekroeger had two of his four hits in the fourth.

“Sometimes games like this happen,” said Franchesci, whose team beat Menlo in the teams’ first league meeting. “We’re not going to take anything for granted.”

Avis followed up his double with his third home run of the season in the fifth. The junior has a team-high 32 RBIs.

Avis picked up his eighth win of the season and has a 2.49 ERA.

For SHP, Friday is crucial to rebuild momentum before the CCS playoffs begin.

“We preach that the next day is the most important game of the year,” Franchesci said.

The Gators will need continued contributions from Matt Martella, who leads the team with 23 RBIs.

Menlo, the defending CCS Division III champion, will be in the section playoffs for the 23rd time in 24 years.