Auburn baseball roundup: Placer takes two from Nevada Union, Bear River splits with Wheatland

The prep baseball season is down to the final two weeks of league play, and the race for the postseason is heating up. Each series win is crucial as teams look to boost their playoff resumes and make a push for league championships. Here is how some of the Auburn-area teams fared last week: Placer The Hillmen picked up their second series win of Foothill Valley League play, taking two out of three games from Nevada Union to sit tied for second with Lincoln. The first game went down to the wire, as the Hillmen prevailed 6-5 in a walk-off victory. Placer's Myrreck Farrauto was the hero for the second consecutive game with a clutch fielder's choice in the bottom of the ninth to bring the winning run home. The Hillmen secured the series win Thursday in Grass Valley, scoring five runs in the fifth inning on the way to an 8-3 victory. Placer had a chance at the sweep and move into a tie for first place Friday night, but it was all Miners in the series finale at James Field in Auburn. Nevada Union jumped on Placer early and cruised to a 12-0 win to keep its playoff hopes alive. Placer (13-9, 6-3) has another pivotal series this week against West Park (11-9, 5-4) in a clash between teams holding the league's final two playoff spots. The Hillmen hold a four-game lead over fifth-place Nevada Union (7-14, 2-7) with six league games remaining. Bear River Bear River sophomore Kaden Nicholls was dominant on the mound in game one of the Bruins' Pioneer Valley League series against Wheatland. Just weeks after throwing a perfect game, the sophomore flamethrower tossed a no-hitter in a 1-0 victory over the Pirates in Lake of the Pines. Nicholls struck out eight and walked one, but when he left the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning, his offense still had work to do. A hit batter, walk and single loaded the bases with nobody out, setting the stage for Kaden Cavolt to lay down a perfect bunt to deliver the walk-off win. Bear River wasn't able to keep its momentum going into Thursday's matchup on the road, as the Pirates cruised to a lopsided 11-1 victory to split the series. The Bruins (15-4, 5-3) face a tough task this week against first-place Sutter (17-3-1, 8-0). Bear River was host to the Huskies on Tuesday before the series turns to Sutter on Thursday. The Bruins are third in the PVL and need two more league wins to secure a top-four spot in the league and clinch a playoff berth. Colfax A season marred by injuries and illness has Colfax fighting an uphill battle to get into the postseason. The Falcons are normally a regular in the mix for the Sac-Joaquin Section championship, but after being swept by Twelve Bridges last week they are in danger of missing the postseason for the first time since 2016. Colfax (8-13, 1-7) is looking to turn things around this week against Marysville (7-14, 1-7). The Falcons were to host the Indians on Tuesday before the series turns to Marysville on Thursday.