PIEDMONT, CA (MPG) – They say that all good things must end and such was the case last Thursday in the semifinal round of the 2024 CIF NorCal Division IV Championships, when the No. 4 RedHawk baseball team fell 0-5 to No. 1 Piedmont effectively bringing its season to a close.
According to Coach Eric Lay, it wasn’t that his squad played poorly, it was more that the Highlanders were just better that day.
“Piedmont simply outplayed us and we tip our cap to them,” said Lay. It wasn’t really anything we did wrong, they just played really good baseball.”
The Highlanders took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout, but two frames later capitalized on a RedHawk miscue for a second run, then added on with a three-run dinger, which ultimately completed the scoring in the game.
For its part, Colusa struggled against Piedmont pitcher John Olsen, who only yielded a single to Luke Kalfsbeek in the third and one to Peyton Humphrey in the fourth.
However to get to the semifinal round, the RedHawks first had to get past No. 5 Casa Roble (Orangevale), which they did last Tuesday, downing the Rams 8-1.
It was another shaky start for Colusa’s defense though as it allowed Casa Roble to put an unearned run on the board in the top of the first, but Kalfsbeek was able to minimize the damage to get the RedHawks into the dugout.
What resulted was an onslaught, as Colusa put up a six spot with the big hits in the frame coming off the bats of Seth Kalisuch and Adan Travis.
Kalisuch drove in Colusa’s first two runs with double, while a Travis single knocked in two more.
The RedHawks then added on in the second when a Humphrey groundout plated Bo Coronado, who led off the inning with a bunt single.
Sutter Moss capped the scoring in the fifth with an RBI single.
On a day where Colusa outhit the Highlanders 9 to 5, Kalisuch went 3 for 3 and Kalfsbeek was 2 for 4 with two RBI to lead the way.
Taking the hill for the final time in his high school career, Kalfsbeek had another impressive outing, fanning 11 and scattering four hits in five and two-thirds innings of work and in the process, tied the record for career wins in the Northern Section with 37.
Coronado took over to close out the game, allowing just one hit.
Overall, it was another remarkable season for the Northern Section Division IV champion RedHawks (28-4) as Lay explained, “I could not be more proud of the way our guys attacked this season. This group competed and put its best foot forward every time we practiced or played a game. It was an amazing run and I’m very appreciative to have been along for the ride.”