Taking the season journey to its final stop at the CIF-NorCal Div. III Championships, the Menlo School baseball team fell in a tightly contested game 4-2 to host Roseville on Saturday.

The Knights close the season with an overall record of 22-11 after winning the CCS Div. III Championship a week ago.

Menlo left fielder William Larson makes an out against RosevilleMenlo got on the board quickly when senior shortstop Jack Freehill sent a line drive to center to score Zach Roeder, who singled at lead off. The Tigers answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning but Menlo sophomore William Larson snagged the ball over the fence line in left.

The Tigers added another solo shot in the second for a 3-1 lead.

In the third, senior catcher Chuck Wynn sent a hard-hit ball to left and plated Freehill, who walked, and the Knights closed the lead 3-2. Roseville added a solo homer in the fifth.

Sophomore right-hander Reid Plamondon threw 4 1/3 innings in relief, allowing one earned run on four hits, walking none and striking out seven.

This was the Knights’ second consecutive NorCals appearance; they won Div. VI last season and went to the finals in Div. V, and won three CCS titles in a row: Div. III this year Div. IV last season and Div. VI in 2024.

Reid Plamondon allowed one earned run and struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings“You can do very special things if you get everyone pulling the same direction and buying in,” Coach David Trujillo said. “It’s what we as a coaching staff preach every day and talk about in practice, they get rolling. Everyone does their part - from the dugout to the bench players to the starters, it’s never one. It’s the unit.”

The Knights bid farewell to four seniors: outfielder Renner Barnett, pitcher/outfielder Jackson Flanagan, shortstop Jack Freehill and catcher Chuck Wynn.

“Thats’ going to be tough,” Trujillo added. “The good thing is that laid the foundation, they showed these young guys how we do things right. They set the standard and hopefully, that carries on next year.