Sports Briefs: MCAL standouts Thill, Anderson qualify for NCGA Junior Championship

Tam High’s Hayden Thill punched his ticket for the 95th annual Northern California Golf Association Junior Championship with a nearly perfect round in Friday’s qualifier at Sacramento’s Haggin Oaks. Marin Catholic’s Theo Anderson also joined the list of top 16 qualifiers.

Thill birdied five holes on his way to a 5-under 67 to tie for second place with Turlock’s Christian Maggard and Lafayette’s Leo McDonough. Palo Alto’s Justun Kim won the qualifier with a 7-under 65. Anderson secured the final qualifying spot with a round of 1-over 73 that included four birdies.

Thill, who was in the first group on the course, gave himself an early boost with an eagle on the par 5, 5-3-yard first hole, and was 3-under heading to the turn. Thill birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine, but bogeyed the par 3 No. 12.

The NCGA Junior Championship is scheduled for July 8-9 at Ruby Hill Golf Course in Pleasanton.

Baseball

The San Rafael Pacifics got a measure of revenge with two much-needed home wins over the Bakersfield Train Robbers. After the Pacifics lost two games in Bakersfield, the four-game set, the series shifted to Albert Park. The Pacifics won Friday’s contest 9-2, then capped the series with a 4-1 win on Saturday over their Pecos League Pacific Division rivals.

Pacifics starter Eric Parnow picked up the win Saturday, while San Rafael had a shutout going until the Train Robbers (15-9) scored in the ninth inning with two outs. Mark Hernandez scored from second base on a long single to center field from Beau Dorman in the first inning to open the action. The Pacifics (18-8) padded their lead in the fifth inning.

Jake Dent earned Friday’s win in his second start of the season as he held the Train Robbers to one run on four hits through 7 2/3 innings. Pacifics shortstop Braxton King was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Hernandez was 2-for-4. The Pacifics did all their damage in the first two innings, taking advantage of Bakersfield’s pitching woes. San Rafael held Bakersfield off the scoreboard until the eighth inning.

The Pacifics open a four-game road series on Monday in Vallejo.