May 28, 2023

Carmel catcher Ethan Jackson (14) hugs pitcher Zander Lunt (5) after the final out against Branham in the seventh inning of their Central Coast Section Division III championship game at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Carmel defeated Branham 4-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) PUBLISHED: | UPDATED: May 27, 2023 at 7:10 p.m. SAN JOSE — The stakes were higher than usual when Branham and Carmel arrived at Excite Ballpark on Saturday for the Central Coast Section Division III championship baseball game. Both teams lost in section title games last season. Carmel’s JJ Sanchez remembered the feeling of falling short against St. Francis-Watsonville in the Division IV final when he stepped into the batter’s box in the sixth inning. “Bases loaded, I’ve got to do my job,” Sanchez said. “It was like revenge from last year.” The junior delivered with a two-run single to center to break a scoreless tie, and Carmel went on to defeat top-seeded Branham 4-2 to win the Division III crown. In the third meeting between the schools in a CCS final — but the first in 34 years — Carmel prevailed in the rubber match. Carmel’s Jacob Rodriguez (2) holds the first place trophy after defeating Branham during their Central Coast Section Division III championship game at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Carmel defeated Branham 4-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Sanchez did more than hit for Carmel. The left-hander pitched five scoreless innings before Branham broke through in the bottom of the sixth as the Bruins tried to dig out of a 4-0 deficit. Evan Williams, who had a special senior for Branham, cut the deficit in half with a two-run single and Eli Bustamante followed one out later with a single to right. But a strikeout kept Carmel two runs in front heading to the seventh. Carmel’s BLANK (X) Branham’s Matt Garcia (6) scores on a hit by teammate Evan Williams (22) as Carmel catcher Ethan Jackson (14) is late on the tag in the sixth inning of their Central Coast Section Division III championship game at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Carmel defeated Branham 4-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Branham’s Matt Garcia (6) reacts after scoring on a hit by teammate Evan Williams (22) as Carmel catcher Ethan Jackson (14) is late on the tag in the sixth inning of their Central Coast Section Division III championship game at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Carmel defeated Branham 4-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Branham’s Nolan Rodriguez, who pitched five scoreless innings himself before encountering choppy waters in the sixth, opened the home half of the final inning with a single to right. But a double play all but ended Branham’s hopes of celebrating what would have been the program’s fourth CCS championship. Instead, Carmel won its ninth CCS title in its 15th trip to a final. The Padres hadn’t won a championship in 16 years, losing title games in 2015, 2016 and 2022. Carmel (18-12) clinched a spot in next week’s NorCal regionals. For Branham, it was a tough ending to a 22-win season. The loss Saturday was the Bruins’ eighth. “We had a really, really close team,” said Williams, who finished the title game 2 for 3. “We made a lot of memories. Not all the memories had to be all the walk-offs we had this year. Could have just been a regular day at practice. Every day we’d go out to practice, we’d leave it all on the field. “Things didn’t work out in the end. But that’s OK.” The late rally, Williams said, was indicative of this year’s team. “No matter the score, we’re always taught you fight no matter what,” Williams added. “We play like it’s 0-0. We weren’t ready for our season to end there. But we left it all out on the field. That’s all you can ask for.” Branham’s Matt Garcia (6) stares down at the second place trophy after being defeated by Carmel during their Central Coast Section Division III championship game at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Carmel defeated Branham 4-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Branham coach Tony Pianto was proud of his team’s effort but noted the disappointment after coming so close to a championship. Last season, Branham fell to Archbishop Mitty in the Division II title game. Related Articles “We have to try to keep their chins up and try to regroup,” Pianto said. Carmel’s Bo Iandoli (9) jumps into a dog pile as they celebrate defeating Branham in the seventh inning of their Central Coast Section Division III championship game at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Carmel defeated Branham 4-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Carmel’s BLANK (X) Branham’s BLANK (X) in the ? inning of their Central Coast Section Division III championship game at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Carmel defeated Branham 4-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Carmel’s JJ Sanchez (11) is forced out at second base as Branham’s Keaton Cooper (18) attempts a double play in the fourth inning of their Central Coast Section Division III championship game at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 27, 2023. The runner would be safe at first. Carmel defeated Branham 4-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Carmel’s JJ Sanchez (11) connects for a two-run single against Branham in the sixth inning of their Central Coast Section Division III championship game at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Carmel defeated Branham 4-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Branham’s Jason Armer (1) connects for a single against Carmel in the first inning of their Central Coast Section Division III championship game at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Carmel defeated Branham 4-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)