JC BASEBALL: Bear Cubs ready to open NorCal playoffs

Back in the playoffs, the Santa Rosa Junior College baseball team takes another shot at a state title.

Santa Rosa is seeded eighth in the 16-team Northern California half of the California Community College Athletic Association tournament.

Ranked eighth in Northern California, the Bear Cubs (22-13) face familiar foe Diablo Valley College in the opening round. The teams play a series Saturday and Sunday at Santa Rosa's field with the first to win two games advancing.

The teams tied for second in the Big 8 Conference, one of the state's toughest leagues with five teams making the playoffs. Santa Rosa won two of three from Diablo Valley in conference play.

What the Bear Cubs do well is pitch and battle in close games. More than half of Santa Rosa's games have been decided by three runs or fewer.

Leading a deep Bear Cubs staff that boasts a 2.33 earned-run average are pitchers Jason Alexander (Cardinal Newman), Matt Nadolski (Casa Grande) and Bryan Webster (Vintage of Napa). Nadolski is fourth in the Big 8 Conference in ERA. Alexander's 64 strikeouts are fifth most in the league.

At the plate, Santa Rosa must make the most of scoring opportunities. The Bear Cubs were only seventh in the conference in runs scored.

The offense is led by hits leaders Nick Rodda (Piner) and Siosi Poti (Rancho Cotate). Rodda also tops Santa Rosa in RBI for the season.

A year ago, Santa Rosa lost in the opening round. Win this weekend and the Bear Cubs likely would face Feather River, the top seed in Northern California.