SOFTBALL: Pilster, Cap Stun First-Place Hillsdale

The Score: Capuchino 2, Hillsdale 0.

The Star: Capuchino High senior Michele Pilster became the first pitcher to shut out Hillsdale this season and the first to hand the Knights a Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division defeat, and she did it on the defending champions’ turf. The right-hander threw no-hit ball until the seventh inning on Thursday, and finished with a two-hit shutout that preserved the Mustangs’ hopes of a league title. Pilster also led off the seventh with a solo home run – the first long ball allowed by Hillsdale ace Jordan Richwood this season.

The Turning Point: Cap set the tone for its most important win to date in the top of the first. Catcher Jamie Navarro led off by doubling to centerfield off the Memphis-bound Richwood, and then Ariana Wassmer drove her in with a two-out double to left. With Pilster on top of her game and the Mustangs’ defense enjoying a strong afternoon, that 1-0 advantage proved enough.

The Quote: “Today was going to be the toughest game we had all year. … We feel we’re good enough to win the (Central Coast Section), and that’s what our goal is. We hope to get a share of first place but if we don’t, we know we’re going to CCS. And that’s what this is all about.” – Cap coach Todd Grammatico, on how Thursday’s victory impacts his team’s goals.

What’s Next? The Mustangs (16-4, 7-2 PAL Bay) host Terra Nova on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

The Bottom Line: The PAL Bay title race isn’t over yet. Hillsdale (19-4, 9-1) entered the day with a two-game lead over Carlmont and Cap in the loss column, and a Knights’ win on Thursday would have all but sewn up their second straight championship. But Cap gave its title aspirations a huge lift with the win. Coupled with Carlmont’s 5-2 loss at Aragon, Cap now sits alone in second place, 1 ½ games back. The Mustangs, No. 2 in , need to win their remaining five league games and hope another team tops No. 1 Hillsdale. The best bets for the latter appear to be Hillsdale’s games against Aragon (May 5) and Carlmont (May 12). … Aside from the league championship implications, Cap proved it can defeat a powerhouse team and an elite pitcher. The Mustangs should be surging with confidence and look to maintain that edge with the CCS playoffs three weeks away.

Notes: Cap became the first team to register multiple extra-base hits off Richwood this season. The Mustangs had three. … Even in absorbing her first defeat since March 12, Richwood (18-3) was marvelous, matching her season-high with 17 strikeouts, against one walk. The senior recorded double-digit strikeouts for the 17^th straight game. … Pilster had a perfect game going until a one-out infield error in the fifth. … Dani Fonseca and Courtney Tyler had Hillsdale's only hits. ... Pilster struck out six and didn’t walk a batter. ... Cap atoned for its first PAL Bay defeat, against Hillsdale on March 28 in San Bruno. In that game, seven Knights registered a hit off Pilster, and four had at least one RBI. ... Meanwhile, Cap managed three singles -- two of the infield variety -- against Richwood that day.

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Capuchino 2, Hillsdale 0

C – 100 000 1 – 2 4 1

H – 000 000 0 – 0 2 0

WP: Pilster. LP: Richwood.

2B: Navarro, Wassmer (C).

Records: Capuchino 16-4, 7-2 PAL Bay. Hillsdale 19-4, 9-1.