Several league baseball races, which didn't decide league champions and playoff teams until Tuesday's and Wednesday's final rounds, produced a number of surprises.
Here are the highlights:
• Bella Vista, which appeared headed for the Capital Valley Conference championship last week, had to settle for third place after losing three of its last four, including 3-2 to Del Campo in its final regular-season game on Wednesday. Bella Vista, Del Campo and Casa Roble all finished 9-6 and league tri-champions. But Casa Roble gets the No. 1 playoff seed, Del Campo the No. 2 seed and Bella Vista the No. 3 and a Monday outbracket game against visiting Sacramento. Del Campo won its last four games, including twice against neighboring rival Bella Vista, to make the postseason.
• Woodcreek, Granite Bay and Nevada Union all were tied for third place entering the final day of Sierra Foothill League play on Wednesday. Nevada Union lost to Rocklin while Woodcreek (8-7) beat Del Oro and Granite Bay (8-7) downed Roseville. Granite Bay's win dropped 9-6 Roseville from a first-place tie with 10-5 Rocklin into second place. But Woodcreek got the No. 3 playoff spot over Granite Bay after beating the Grizzlies two out of three. It was a tough way for Granite Bay to go out. Once the league leaders, the Grizzlies lost five of their last six games.
• Antelope (9-6), which was atop the Capital Athletic League and cruising with a 9-0 record at one point, wound up fourth and out of the playoffs after losing 8-0 to Whitney on Wednesday, the Titans' sixth straight league loss. Rio Americano repeats as league champions at 12-4. Whitney and Cordova take the other two playoff berths with 10-5 records.
• Co-champions Bear River (10-5) and Lincoln (10-5) wrestled the Pioneer Valley League title away from Colfax. Lincoln beat the Falcons 5-4 on Tuesday, then Bear River downed Colfax 4-0 on Wednesday. Colfax (9-6) still lands the No. 3 playoff berth.
• El Dorado, which had won the last two Pioneer Valley League titles and played in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship game in 2009 and 2010, failed to make the playoffs in the Sierra Valley League after a big early lead. Coach Rusty McDonald removed four senior starters for a rules violation during a spring break tournament and the 11-7 Cougars went on to lose six of their last eight, including 6-2 to Union Mine in the season finale on Tuesday. Vista del Lago won the league banner with a 12-5 record. Galt (12-6) and River City (12-6) landed the league's other two playoff spots.
-Bill Paterson
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