Hopefully everyone has recovered from day one of the NCS softball tournament. There were some good games, some not so good, and the requisite upset of a top seed. Why is it in softball that a top seed always seems to go down every year? I’m sure Pinole Valley coach Tiffiny Valdehueza would kick me out if she saw me at the PV/Cal game today (I’m apparently the Spartans’ bad luck charm…) but hey, that could be an interesting one. Let’s get into the games!

NCS 2A Tournament

No. 9 Las Lomas at No. 1 Albany: Las Lomas made the most of its league game on Tuesday, defeating Acalanes rather handily. I just don’t see that happening today. I know we get caught up in the Cannon sisters sometimes (because come on, they are tremendous players) but don’t sleep on some quality hitters like Maddie Cousens, Hannah Kramer and Amaya Fernandez. Top to bottom, the Cougars can hit. Prediction: Albany

No. 5 Heritage vs. No. 4 Moreau Catholic at Standley Field: This has the look of a tight contest. Moreau’s been a little up and down this year, as has Heritage. The only difference is Heritage has had to play in the BVAL, a tough 3A league. I think the Patriots are battle tested and ready to keep winning. Prediction: Heritage.

No. 7 Campolindo vs. No. 2 Bishop O’Dowd at Standley Field: Campo got a good, solid win over Kennedy yesterday but now are faced with a BOD team that probably has a chip on its shoulder after being seeded No. 2. The Cougars do have the equalizer though, team power, and if Sophie McCarthy jacks one, they might be in this game. I don’t know if that’s going to happen though. Prediction: Bishop O’Dowd

No. 6 Alhamba at No. 3 Concord: Another day, another DFAL game. I really like Concord’s sophomore pitcher, Lauren Hasson. I think she has the potential to be really good. On the other side, Alhambra coach Dave Carter has been mixing and matching his pitching all year. We’ll see if he can do it one more time. This game also features two of the most dynamic players in the East Bay, Concord’s Lea Cavestany and Alhambra’s Marisa Furtado. Prediction: Concord.

NCS 3A Tournament

No. 8 Berkeley at No. 1 Freedom: So, one ACCAL team knocked off a top seed yesterday. Can the Jackets do it today? Maybe lost in the shuffle of yesterday’s games was the fact that Berkeley’s Sarah Neuhaus threw a no-hitter against Granada. A no-hitter in the playoffs? That’s getting it done. Freedom pitcher Hannah Williams struck out 14 yesterday in a win over Washington. I smell a pitcher’s duel and I predict Freedom’s hottest hitters, Kortnee Wiley and Malena Padilla, will have something to do with the outcome of the game. Prediction: Freedom.

No. 4 Deer Valley at No. 5 James Logan: The now-tattooed Emily Allard leads the Wolverines into a park where they’ve already won once this year. That story about Allard yesterday is the stuff legends are made of. Now, I’m told Logan’s win was of the lucky variety yesterday (late error on Alameda) and I think the Colts will have to score more than two runs to beat Deer Valley. Prediction: Deer Valley.

No. 15 Pinole Valley at No. 7 California: And now we come to the giant-killers. I was as shocked as anyone when I heard that PV beat Castro Valley but now the Spartans head to San Ramon to take on the EBAL’s No. 3 team. I’m going to keep picking against Pinole, if only so they can keep their underdog mentality. Just too much offensive firepower for Cal. Prediction: California.

No. 11 Clayton Valley at No. 3 Foothill: Hands down, Clayton Valley is the hottest team in the East Bay. Dallas Cooney shut Livermore down last night and the Chambers sisters continued to bash their way through teams. Can Foothill’s Keri Ball slow them down? We’ll see. This could be one heckuva game. Prediction: Foothill.

So, there you go. No real upsets today. How boring am I. I’ll be at Freedom today to see if Berkeley can keep its magic going. I’ll try to do the same thing I did last night, posting scores and a little reaction so you all know what’s going on.