Division 5 top seed La Canada plays its first game in nine days when they face Ramona Convent in the first round. (Photo Anne Cypress)
Here is a preview of the games for Thursday. All start at 3:15pm.
DIVISION 2
WEST COVINA (Hacienda #3) at Wilson/LB (Moore #2) – Bulldogs do have some hot bats with Taylor Castro and Summer Knight getting on base. Dekota Monarrez has been starting as of late at the pitching position. West Covina will have to deal with Alleah Laxamana’s ability to get on base.
El Toro (South Coast At-Large) at MAYFAIR (Suburban #1) – Chargers advanced to the first round after defeating Vista Del Lago in a Wild Card game. Lauren Chamberlain adds some muscle to the El Toro lineup with 10 HRs. The Monsoons counter with Britney Boggs and JessicaTorrez.
Colton (San Andreas #2) at DIAMOND BAR (Hacienda #2) – After a 0-10 season in the Sierra League, the Brahmas bounced back to be co-champs of the Hacienda League. Stephany La Rosa leads the team in hitting and homers. The Yellow jackets will probably throw 11-game winner Lauren Salazar. Look for this game to be low scoring.
LOS ALTOS (Hacienda #4) at Cajon (San Andreas #1) – Lexi Garcia and Alyssa Villalpando have led the Conquerors in hitting. Villalpando also leads the team with four homers. The Cowboys can hurt any team with home runs as Sharon Estrada and Janel Von Oesen each have nine homers. Los Altos advanced with a 2-0 win over Rancho Verde.
CERRITOS (Suburban #2) at Oxnard (Pacific View #2) – Surprising season for the Dons sends them to Oxnard for the opening round game. Cerritos will face Alexis Edwards who has 15 wins this season.
LA MIRADA (Suburban #3) at Tesoro (South Coast #1) – Probably not the team the Matadores wanted to face in the first round as the Titans are two season removed from winning a CIF title. Rochelle Sablay leads La Mirada in most hitting categories. Cassandra Roulund is the player to watch for Tesoro.
Ontario/San Bernardino at BONITA 22-4 (Hacienda #1) – Bearcats should get by the first round as they face a Wild Card entrant. Courtney Gano is hitting .655 this season and has been a big reason Bonita enters the playoffs as the #2 seed in Division 2. As a team the Bearcats are batting .418.
DIVISION 3
ST. LUCY’S (Sierra #3) at BURROUGHS (Pacific #1) – The Regents survived a Wild Card scare against Fillmore in an error-filled game. Danielle O’Toole might be one of the best pitchers that the Indians face all season. Shannon Trujillo adds some pop to the lineup for Burroughs with 8-homers this season.
La Reina at LA SERNA (Del Rio #1) – Katie Spain will try and help lead the Lancers to a first round win over Wild Card winner La Reina. La Serna knocked off California to win its first Del Rio League title in sometime.
CALIFORNIA (Del Rio #2) at SOUTH HILLS (Sierra #2) – Condors bounced back from the loss to La Serna last week to defeat Nordhoff 6-5. The Huskies have some firepower with Brittany Rodriguez swinging the bat and Sydney La Follette pitching well this year.
CRESCENTA VALLEY (Pacific #2) at Oak Park (Tri-Valley #2) – The Falcons get an unfavorable first round opponent in the Eagles which has won four of five games heading into the playoffs. Erin Ashby will likely pitch and Hannah Cookson leads a talented cast of players that could do damage throughout the playoffs.
Paramount (San Gabriel Valley #3) at BISHOP AMAT (Del Rey #1) – Lancers should guard against looking ahead to a possible matchup against Crescenta Valley in the second round. Bishop Amat from the top of the lineup to the bottom is the best in the area at being able to get hits.
DIVISION 4
VALLEY CHRISTIAN (Olympic #3) at Apple Valley (Mojave River #1) – The Crusaders play two games in two days after having to face San Marcos yesterday. Ashley Oxley has been the most consistent batter for Valley Christian.
Sunny Hills (Freeway #2) at WHITTIER CHRISTIAN (Olympic #2) – Begin defense of back-to-back titles, the Heralds still have Mandie Perez who has been part of both championships. Katelyn Wagner in the lineup makes Whittier Christian double dangerous.
Palm Desert (Desert Valley #3) at SAN DIMAS (Valle Vista #1) – Saints know what it takes to get the finals of Division 4 after falling to Whittier Christian two seasons ago. This year, Sara Moore and Aleena Avalos head a veteran group against Palm Desert which scored 17 runs in a wild card game.
NORTHVIEW (Valle Vista #2) at Buena (Channel #2) – The Vikings are a good hitting team lead by Sarina and Erin Jaramillo. Ana Mejia has been solid in the circle all year.
Fullerton (Freeway #3) at VILLAGE CHRISTIAN (Olympic #1) – The best chance in recent memory for the Crusaders to make a deep run in the playoffs. Emily Seidel will keep the game close and could help herself out with the bat. Watch for Madeline Velasquez to have a good game for Village Christian.
COVINA (Valle Vista #3) at Segerstrom (Golden West #1) – Home cooking was nice to the Colts who advanced out of the Wild Card round with a 10-2 win over Coachella Valley. Taylor and Tia Provenzano have combined for 44 hits in the season.
DIVISION 5
Ramona Convent (Sunshine #3) at LA CANADA (Rio Hondo #1) – The Spartans boast the best pitcher in the area in Lauren O’Leary. On any given day from one-to-nine in the order can hurt any opposing pitcher.
Cantwell Sacred Heart (Camino Real #2) at KEPPEL (Almont #2) – The Aztecs can be dangerous in the playoffs but must cut down on the errors. Shawnee Medina will be the key in the circle and batting as she is the “heart and soul” of the team.
TEMPLE CITY (Rio Hondo #3) at Barstow (Desert Sky #1) – The Rams prize for getting third in the Rio Hondo is a two-hour plus bus drive to Barstow. Jessica Loiacano and Sami Jakeway make Temple City very dangerous to upset the Aztecs in the first round.
SOUTH EL MONTE (Mission Valley #2) at West Valley (Mountain Pass #2) – Big question for the Eagles is if they have improved since its pre-season schedule which saw them go 2-6. Jasmine Vargas leads the team in hitting and homers.
ALHAMBRA (Almont #3) at DUARTE (Montview #1) – Moors advanced to the first round with a 7-6 win over Lompoc. Denise Gonzales is very dangerous for Alhambra with a .486 batting average and six homers. Mary Rose Magnolia leads the Falcons in hitting and Kaysie Gatlin has been stellar pitching.
MONTEBELLO (Almont At-Large) at Savanna (Orange #1) – April Marquez is the most underrated third baseman in the area for the Oilers. If Montebello can show its hitting prowess it could be a long day for Savanna.
AZUSA (Montview #2) at Mary Star (Camino Real #1) – Aztecs get a good draw in the first round with a game against Mary Star. Olivia Rosales finished the season with 29 hits for Azusa.
Immaculate Heart/Costa Mesa at ARROYO (Mission Valley #1) – The Lady Knights rebounded in the Mission Valley League with some stellar pitching from Jacklyn Wagner. Along with Paige Medina and Wagner the Arroyo offense has perked up in the second half of the season.
Nipomo (Los Padres #2) at SAN MARINO (Rio Hondo #2) – The Titans were touted as threats to the dethrone La Canada in the Rio Hondo but couldn’t turn the corner. Michelle Floyd will need to bring her best stuff and Alexis Watanabe will need to get on base to help San Marino win.
Cabrillo-Lompoc (Los Padres #3) at SCHURR (Almont #1) – After an early loss in Almont league play, the Spartans have been red-hot. Unheralded Emily Sanchez leads the team with an astounding 50 hits.
MONROVIA (Rio Hondo At-Large) at Calvary Chapel-Santa Ana (Orange Coast #1) – Got through the wild card round with timely hitting from the top of the lineup. Elyse McCarthy is dangerous at the leadoff spot and Kelli Williams swings a good bat from the second spot.
DIVISION 6
Santa Paula (Frontier #3) at FLINTRDIGE PREP (Prep #1) – Great season for the Rebels who last year went 10-11 and now are Prep League champs. This year with Denise Van Der Goot pitching have shown they can be nearly unbeatable. Van Der Goot is a double digit winner as a pitcher.
RIO HONDO PREP (Prep #3) at Capistrano Valley Christian (San Joaquin #1) – The Kares had a shot to win the Prep League but couldn’t get by the top two in the league. Give props to Coach Joe Parker who has playoff experience with the girl’s basketball team and now with this team.
MAYFIELD (Prep #2) at Riverside Christian (Warrior #1) – The Cubs limit is wherever Katie Clancy takes them. Clancy can control a game with her pitching and could help Mayfield make a long postseason run.
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