It's playoff time in the Sac-Joaquin Section and nothing comes easy with every win greatly appreciated.
Here's a run-down on some of the Wednesday action:
* Woodcreek 4, Rocklin 3 - The Timberwolves beat their Sierra Foothill rivals twice at American River College to advance to the Division II title game against a familiar foe in SFL member Granite Bay on Monday at Sacramento City College.
Stephen Nogosek came on in relief to earn the save, ending it with a strikeout after earning a complete-game 5-0 win in Game 2 of this best-of-three series. He at one point retired 12 consecutive Rocklin batters.
In Game 2, Nogosek, one of the top arms in the section, tossed a two-hitter with four strikeouts and just one walk.
In the deciding Game 3, George Corp had two RBIs and to put the Timberwolves of Roseville into their first D-II final since 2004, when they won it over Christian Brothers.
The D-II finals have been an virtual SFL party in recent years, with Roseville beating Rocklin last season and Rocklin beating Granite Bay for top honors in 2009 and 2010.
Woodcreek got to the title round this season under coach Eric Valencia despite a brutally competitive SFL and injuries, including to No. 1 pitcher Tyler Milani, out with a collar bone break.
Granite Bay reached the finals by beating McClatchy two games to one.
* El Camino 5, Yuba City 1 - The Eagles eliminated the four-time D-III champion Honkers and will now play for the first section baseball title in school history on Monday at Sac City.
El Camino has fielded some dominant teams in the past but came up short, from the Butch Edge teams of 1974 coached by Max Miller and the Matt Myers and Derrek Lee squads of the early 1990s under coach Frank Calcagno.
Now El Camino is under the leadership of first-year coach David Brown, seeking a bit of history.
El Camino will play Rodriguez of Fairfield in the finals.
* Rodriguez 5, Placer 3 - The Mustangs of Fairfield eliminated the Hillmen in D-III play at Sacramento State and will play for the title on Monday at Sac City.
In Game 2 between these teams, Cal-bound ace Ryan Mason tossed a complete-game two-hitter with 12 strikeouts and Eddie Vanderdoes had an RBI single for a 2-1 victory.
Mason struck out nine in an earlier playoff victory.
- By Joe Davidson
jdavidson@sacbee.com
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