Sports Briefs: Pacifics in race for top seed ahead of Pecos League playoffs
The San Rafael Pacifics earned a much-needed win as they battle the Bakersfield Train Robbers for the Pecos League Pacific Division regular season championship and the top seed in the playoffs. The Pacifics, who walloped the Martinez Sturgeon 19-4 at Albert Park on Friday evening, close out the schedule at Martinez on Sunday afternoon.
San Rafael scored seven runs in each of the first two innings during Friday’s win. The Pacifics got 18 hits, including two home runs from Nick Smith, as well as blasts from Blake Diggle and Braxton King. Smith was 4-for-5, while King, Aki Buckson and Jakob Bouhuys each had three hits.
San Rafael righthander Xavier Stewart allowed seven hits and three earned runs over six innings to get the win. Jason Hartwick and Alex Valasek entered in relief.
San Rafael (31-21) remains a half-game behind first-place Bakersfield in the division standings heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale. The Pacifics will host a best-of-three first-round playoff series, beginning Monday evening at Albert Park, with the second game on Tuesday.
Track and field
San Rafael’s Ellie McCuskey-Hay of the Marin Waves Track & Field Club qualified for Sunday’s USATF Junior Olympic semifinals in the girls (17-18) 100 meter event in College Station, Texas. She ran her heat in 11.92 seconds to finish in the top two. McCuskey-Hay competed in the long jump and javelin on Saturday.
Motor sports
SONOMA — Six-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Matt Smith set a new track E.T. record on Saturday at Sonoma Raceway, defeating teammate Jianna Evaristo in the final round of the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout as part of this weekend’s 36th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals.
Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Smith all qualified No. 1 at the 12th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Eliminations for the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway.