The Encinal High School (EHS) softball team lost the West Alameda County Conference (WACC) Shoreline League title game, 8-5, to Piedmont High School Thursday, May 12.

The Highlanders (17-6) used a five-run fourth inning to pull ahead of the Jets, 8-2. However, the Jets (13-7) came roaring back, scoring three runs in the fifth to make it 8-5.

EHS senior Maddy Leung led the way, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Encinal freshman Chey Caina chipped in two RBIs in the contest.

Leung has been a force all season, batting .719 on the season with 7 HRs and 37 RBIs.

“[We’re] confident now that our team has found our rhythm,” said captain Stella Cashin.

The Jets entered the postseason as the nine seed in the 14-team North Coast Section (NCS) Div. III tournament. Encinal beat the eight seed Acalanes High of Lafayette, 18-14, in a wild contest on May 18 on the road. The Jets led 10-0 after a nine-run third inning. The Dons tied the game at 11-11 after scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Jets outscored the Dons, 7-3, in the seventh inning.

Jet sophomore Lola Whalen led the team with six RBIs on 3-for-3 hitting. Leung drove in five runs on 3-for-6 from the plate. The Jets will take on Eureka High in the second round on Saturday, May 21.

Alameda High
Alameda (10-8) finished third in the WACC-Foothill League and qualified for the NCS Div. II playoffs. The 11th-seeded Hornets lost to sixth seed Rancho Cotate of Rohnert Park (17-6), 5-4, on May 17 on the road. The Hornets led, 4-2, entering the sixth inning. The Cougars scored three runs in the inning to advance to the next round.

SJND
St. Joseph Notre Dame (7-5) finished second in the Bay Counties-East League and qualified for the NCS Div. IV playoffs. The Pilots lost to the three seed Fort Bragg High (20-4), 3-0, on May 17 on the road.