For the second time in a week, Redwood and Cardinal Newman met Saturday to determine who really is the best. Cardinal Newman, playing on its home field just hours before the school’s graduation ceremony, gave the school another reason to celebrate with a 10-3 victory over Redwood to win the CIF Northern California Division II pennant.
Theo Trono (4) of Redwood walks off the field as Cardinal Newman players celebrate after the final out the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood pitcher Chas Veley (5) throws against Cardinal Newman at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Tanner Bradley (9) of Cardinal Newman tries to leap over the tag of Redwood catcher Ethan Ferry (21) at home plate at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Bradley was called out on the play. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Miles Harrison (18) of Redwood scores past the Cardinal Newman catcher without throw to home plate at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood first baseman Chase Johnson (17) of Redwood and Tanner Bradley (9) of Cardinal Newman wait for the car call for the umpire on a pickoff attempt at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood catcher Ethan Ferry (21) holds the ball as he lays on the ground after a collision with Tanner Bradley (9) of Cardinal Newman at home plate at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Bradley was called out on the play. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Miles Harrison (18) of Redwood heads to first base after being walked by Cardinal Newman at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood first baseman Chase Johnson (17) of Redwood wait for the ball as Tanner Bradley (9) of Cardinal Newman dives back into first base on a pickoff attempt at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood players wait to shake hands with Cardinal Newman after their NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Eric Mittleman (15) of Redwood is greeted after scoring during their NorCal Division II championship game against Cardinal Newman at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Rex Solle (6) Redwood takes a lead off third base during their NorCal Division II championship game against Cardinal Newman at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood catcher Ethan Ferry (21) takes the throw to home plate as Jack Pezzolo (11) of Cardinal Newman scores in the third inning of the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Cardinal Newman first baseman Dante Overholser (4) is late with the tag as Jack Moseley (13) of Redwood dives back into the bag on a pickoff attempt at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Tanner Bradley (9) of Cardinal Newman is tagged out by Redwood catcher Ethan Ferry (21) at home plate at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood pitcher Jack Gurley (23) of Redwood throws against Cardinal Newman with a runner on third base at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Cardinal Newman players celebrate after defeating Redwood 10-3 at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Cardinal Newman starting pitcher Josh Jannicelli (15) is greeted by teammates as he comes out of the game during their NorCal Division II championship game against Redwood at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Cardinal Newman pitcher Josh Jannicelli throws against Redwood at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. No. 1 Cardinal Newman defeated No. 3 Redwood 10-3. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Cardinal Newman players celebrate after defeating Redwood 10-3 at the NorCal Division II championship game at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
SANTA ROSA >> The two last teams left standing entered Saturday’s grand finale looking to catch destiny and capture a place in history.
“The record speaks for itself,” longtime Redwood High head coach Mike Firenzi said. “I mean, 28 wins, that’s the most I’ve ever won as a coach. These guys are definitely right up there among the best.”
For the second time in a week, Redwood and Cardinal Newman met Saturday to determine who really is the best. Cardinal Newman, playing on its home field just hours before the school’s graduation ceremony, gave the school another reason to celebrate with a 10-3 victory over Redwood to win the CIF Northern California Division II pennant.
“Even to get to the North Coast finals, before you get to the NorCal finals, you’re playing tough teams every game, day in and day out. Just to get here is really difficult,” Firenzi said. “It takes a special team to get to this point.”
To listen to Firenzi, Redwood and Cardinal Newman, both 28-5, were destined to meet for the NorCal crown, a rematch of their North Coast Section championship showdown a week prior.
“These guys worked hard all year, they played their butts off for me,” Firenzi said. “There are only a handful of teams left, from the Oregon border to as far south as Bakersfield and Fresno. To be one of the last standing is a hell of an accomplishment.”
Third-seeded Redwood High, making its first appearance in the NorCal playoffs, carved out a pair of one-run wins against Carmel and St. Ignatius to earn a berth in the title game, with a chance to be crowned the first NorCal high school baseball champions from Marin County. This is only the third season there has been a NorCal baseball tournament.
Cardinal Newman, after coming up short of a championship berth in the NorCal D-I tournament each of the past two years, was chasing its own breakthrough moment.
That moment came Saturday on the Cardinals’ home field after closer Diego Boardman struck out the Giants’ Rex Solle to wrap up the victory over Redwood and ignite a wild celebration on the mound that eventually made its way in front of the scoreboard in right field. For the Giants, the second-place trophy and medals they held were an honor to everything they accomplished this season, but also a reminder the work left to do next season.
“It’s one game. Cardinal Newman came out and hit the hell out of the ball and we didn’t,” Firenzi said. “But what are you going to do? We’re here, and I’m really proud of this team.”
The Giants had five hits, including doubles from sophomore Theo Trono and senior Solle. Trono was 2 for 4 and sophomore Ethan Ferry reached base twice. Sophomore Jack Moseley and junior Miles Harrison each had a hit.
Cardinal Newman defeated Redwood, 1-0, in a pitchers duel over eight innings on May 25 in the NCS championship at Sonoma State University. The stakes were arguably much higher, and there was a sense of a grudge match, but Saturday’s showdown between the Giants and Cardinals wasn’t quite the thriller that kept fans on the edge of their seats in their meeting a week prior.
Seniors Tanner Bradley and Sam Valenti helped power Cardinal Newman during an eight-run third inning that saw Redwood commit a pair of disastrous errors. Bradley was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and Valenti was 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs.
“We were one bad inning from being in another nailbiter here,” Firenzi said.
That was the end for Redwood starter Chas Veley, who was charged with five earned runs as he gave up six hits, with a walk and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings.
“We ran out of pitching. This is the fourth high-intensity game we’ve had the past seven days and ran into a bad inning,” Firenzi said.
Valenti scored on Boardman’s double in the fourth inning to give the Cardinals a 10-0 lead, but the Giants were not ready to concede defeat.
“You always have to have the mindset that you’re going to be able to win, especially in a championship game, no matter what,” Solle said.
Cardinal Newman starter Josh Jannicelli, who held Redwood to one hit through seven innings in the NCS championship, was again impressive early on Saturday. He gave up one run on two hits with two strikeouts and a walk in 4.1 innings of work. Jannicelli ran into trouble in the fifth inning when he gave up a leadoff walk to Harrison. Two batters later, he fielded a comebacker from Ferry, glanced at Harrison running to third, then overthrew his first baseman trying to make the play at first. That allowed Harrison to score and sent Ferry to third.
With the shutout thwarted, Jannicelli handed the ball to Bradley, who gave up a run and two hits as he faced eight batters in middle relief. Solle doubled and then scored in the sixth inning on a grounder from Gavin Soper that got past second base.
“I want the guys who are coming back to remember what this (loss) feels like right this second so it doesn’t happen again,” Firenzi said.
Redwood is graduating four seniors — Veley, Solle, Paul and Soper — and will be well-stocked for another pennant run next season.
“I guess it’s up to those of us who are returning,” said sophomore Trono. “We’re going to keep trying to do our best and hopefully we’ll be back here again next season.”
