It's playoff time with first-round games in CIF Southern Section baseball beginning today and softball beginning on Thursday.
With the advent of seven divisions, it has placed all the power up top, although it would be difficult to choose the tougher of the two divisions in baseball. In its most recent rankings, the Los Angeles Times had 11 Division I teams and 12 Division II teams in its top 25.
That's a full house. Here is a look at selected Southern Section and City playoffs for baseball and softball:
Southern Section Baseball, Division I
Seeded teams: 1. Orange Lutheran (21-5), 2. Royal (Simi Valley) (22-6), 3. Lakewood (26-5), 4. Edison (Huntington Beach) (18-8)
Outlook: Three of Lutheran's losses were in the Trinity League, where teams are familiar with strengths and weaknesses. The Lancers' pitching from both sides, righty Andrew Thurman (7-1, 1.96) and lefty Bobby Wheatley(8-1, 2.77), provides one advantage, and their consistency against the toughest schedule among all playoff teams makes them the safest pick in a killer division. Shoud it develop, a potential semifinal against Edison junior left-hander Henry Owens (9-1, 1.66) could be epic. 
Michael Delcid, Redlands East Valley
File photo by David Hood
Southern Section Baseball, Division II
Seeded teams: 1. Glendora (22-2-1), 2. Crespi (Encino) (22-5), 3. Redlands East Valley (23-5), 4. Cypress (20-7)
Outlook: El Toro (Lake Forest) (20-6-1) has the division's second-strongest strength of schedule, and only six teams have won more games, making the Chargers a legitimate threat to come through the third-place quarter behind outfielder Chris Manning. Defending champion Crespi is a good bet, but faces a brutal first-round game against Yucaipa (22-6), which finished a disappointing third in the Citrus Belt League but led its league in scoring and runs allowed, and could be a surprise. One thing to like about Glendora: Its losses were 2-1 and 1-0, and only six times did it allow more than two runs, which is a tribute to an outstanding defense and the pitching of Adam Plutko (8-1, 1.45), Jacob Smigelski (7-0, 0.85) and Jacob Cage (5-1, 2.16).
Southern Section Baseball, Division III
Seeded teams: 1. Beckman (Irvine) (25-1), 2. Alhambra (22-4), 3. South Hills (West Covina) (19-5), 4. Hemet (19-7)
Outlook: It's not going to be an easy ride for Beckman, which could face upset-minded Charter Oak (Covina) (16-8) in the second round. The biggest game of the division could be in the quarterfinals, a potential South Hills-against-Bonita (La Verne) (19-4-1) meeting; it wouldn't be a surprise if the champion emerged from that game.
Southern Section Baseball, Division IV
Seeded teams: 1. Bishop Amat (La Puente) (25-3), 2. Palm Desert (21-5), 3. St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs) (20-9), 4. Northview (Covina) (16-6-1)
Outlook: It makes no sense to pick against anyone other Bishop Amat, which may be the best team in the state, and is playing in a division that shouldn't get interesting until the semifinals, if at all. The Lancers defeated Palm Desert in the season opener, 4-3, and St. Paul twice by seven runs before losing the season finale, 3-2, and boasts an outstanding sophomore in Rio Ruiz (.519, 31 runs, 28 RBI), who has an .861 slugging average, and a pitching staff led by Paul Paez (11-1, 0.71) and Brandon McNitt (8-0, 1.53) with a team ERA of 1.74.
City Baseball, Division I
Seeded teams: 1. Chatsworth (23-4), 2. Banning (Wilmington) (20-8), 3. El Camino Real (Woodland Hills) (15-11), 4. Arleta (23-4)
Outlook: Chatsworth has won the last three City Section titles, and until someone beats the Chancellors, why pick against a dynasty? First baseman Derek Neely (broken hand) is likely to return during the playoffs, which should provide a boost after a two-week absence. . . . Looking for a longshot, see how far No. 12 San Fernando can ride junior pitcher David Lira (6-1), who seems to be able to beat anybody on a given day.
Southern Section Softball, Division I
Seeded teams: 1. Valencia, 2. Mater Dei-Santa Ana, 3. Santiago-Corona, 4. Simi Valley
Outlook: Santiago, which finished the season No. 1 in the Southern Section rankings only to be seeded third, will be driven. So will Mater Dei – the team that beat Santiago – which is trying to win the title in memory for late pitcher Bri Matthews. Valencia may not be as emotionally charged, but with more than a half-dozen Division I college players, including clutch-hitting shortstop Madison Shipman, the Vikings remain the favorite until proven otherwise, though the division is brutal.
Southern Section Softball, Division II
Seeded teams: 1. Etiwanda-Rancho Cucamonga (23-3), 2. Redlands (21-6), 3. Canyon Springs-Moreno Valley (21-7), 4. Vista Murrieta (17-10).
Outlook: Defending champion Etiwanda went 4-1 in the Faster to First tournament, with its only loss to Valencia. The Eagles have three big sticks in the lineup, Melissa Taukeiaho (.514, 24 runs, 22 RBI), Delaney Spaulding (.417, 22 runs, 27 RBI) and Tera Vaughn (.414, 24 runs, 18 RBI) and capable pitcher Natalee Pulver (18-3). They could lose, but going into the playoffs they're clearly the class of the field.
Southern Section Softball, Division III
Seeded teams: 1. Bonita-La Verne (22-4-1), 2. Oaks Christian-Westlake Village (25-6), 3. Glendora (20-5), 4. Ayala-Chino Hills (24-5)
Outlook: With some notable victories, St. Lucy's-Glendora (17-12) could be a sleeper through the No. 1 quarter bracket. One thing that Ayala has done more than any other team in the division is play in major tournaments against better competition; the Bulldogs won the Faster to First tournament and went 4-1 in the Michelle Carew Classic. With the section title on the line, and players feeling their collar get a little tight, Ayala's big-game experience – and UCLA-bound pitcher Jessica Hall (23-3, 0.66) – should come through.
City Section Softball, Championship Division
Seeded teams: 1. Carson (26-3), 2. San Pedro (23-7), 3. Kennedy-Granada Hills, 4. Chatsworth
Outlook: Behind pitcher/slugger Kailee Cuico, you can't go wrong picking San Pedro to win its 17th City title. The Pirates have won nine of the last 10 championships, including five in a row. However, two losses in three games to Carson indicate the top-seeded Colts may be the team to bank on, especially if sophomore Darian Tautalafua (.385, 39 runs, 40 RBI, 16 HR) and cousin Brittany Moeai (.570, 31 runs, 38 RBI, 9 HR) have anything to say about it.
Curious case of Corona Santiago
Santiago hasn't lost a softball game in a month, and was the No. 1 team in the Southern Section rankings for the previous three weeks, but was the third-seeded team in the Division I playoffs. Valencia assumed the top position, followed by Mater Dei – which defeated Santiago – and then Santiago. Scott Raftery, assistant commissioner in charge of softball, wanted to know why also, and why the concerns didn't factor into the ranking until now. Raftery told the Riverside Press-Enterprise that the reasons given for dropping Santiago was its head-to-head loss to Mater Dei (which lost the following week to Santa Margarita) and the strength of schedule. The latter is a legitimate reason. Santiago coach John Perez contended that his team's record of postseason success should be factored.
“We're not a fly-by-night program or a team having a fluke season,” Perez said. “My teams are in the hunt every year. . . . My kids and my program got short-changed.”
He is 100-percent correct about his having a proven program, but before losing to Mater Dei in its own Santiago Spring Fling, Perez's Sharks beat three tournament teams that finished the season with no fewer than 11 losses; that's not the way to prove you're No. 1. Also hurting: Santiago didn't participate in either of the two marquee tournaments in the Southland, the Faster to First and Michelle Carew Classic. That's not favorable supporting evidence when you're trying to make a case that you're No. 1.
Raftery could have ignored the ranking, but conceded that the argument for ranking Valencia No. 1 was also legitimate. It is. Valencia last lost on March 26, Santiago on April 17. Also, using Perez's own “past success argument” over the previous three seasons, Valencia won two titles, including playoff victories over Santiago in 2007 and 2008.
My take: Valencia is a great team that played a better schedule, and it will be more interesting to see the Vikings play the other best team in the division – should it get to the championship – than to see Santiago play the other best team. Basically, the advisory committee wants Santiago to earn its way in, and in doing so, the Sharks have an opportunity to redeem their only loss, which might not exist had it been on the other side of the bracket.
Malone receives Ken Hubbs Award
Derrick Malone, a football and track standout at Colton, was named winner of the 46th Ken Hubbs Memorial Award for the best male athlete in the greater San Bernardino area. Hubbs, a four-sport star and student body president at Colton, was the 1962 National League Rookie of the Year for the Chicago Cubs, but died in a plane crash in 1964. “Ken Hubbs is an icon in our community and to even be considered for this award is an honor,” said Malone, the fourth winner from Colton. “He was a kind-hearted and generous man.”
Malone (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) has signed with Oregon to play football. He played both sides of the ball, and rushed for 1,501 yards and 19 touchdowns and was the offensive MVP of the San Andreas League. He was unbeaten in his sprint events until a hamstring injury ended his season. Not only has Malone maintained a 3.3 grade-point average, but he also coached youth football and received the Colton Police Department's “Award of Character” and was involved in other activities, including feeding the needy. He was among representatives from 21 schools at an awards dinner on Monday.
Baseball notes
The Riverside County all-star baseball game will take place June 10, 7 p.m., at Riverside Community College. It will be an East-West format with I-215 the dividing line. Included will be players named to the first or second teams of their all-league reports.
Recruiting news
Victor Blackwell, an outstanding receiver at Mater Dei, has committed to USC. Previously, Mater Dei quarterback Max Wittek had committed to USC. Wonder who Wittek's favorite target is going to be?
Comings and goings
Ted Berry has been named the new boys basketball coach at Redlands, a promotion from the junior varsity team. He replaces the retired Brad Scott (172-73).
Triple play saves the day
Rosary-Fullerton advanced into the first round of the Division III playoffs – against Santiago – by scoring a 6-5 victory over Los Alamitos. The key for the Royals? A triple play. Los Alamitos scored twice in the fourth inning to pull to 3-2 and had the bases loaded with no outs; Erika Crissman lined out to Rosary shortstop Chelsea Gonzalez, who made a shoestring catch. Los Alamitos coach Rob Weil thought she trapped it and had the runners moving. The home plate umpire signaled out immediately. Gonzales threw to Alex Fieldhouse to double the runner off third base, and she threw to second baseman Danielle Welsh to end inning.
Another example of Rosary's divine play: The Royals led, 6-3, going into the bottom of the seventh inning, got the first two outs, and then hit two batters and gave up an RBI single to freshman Alexandria Finie to make it 6-4 with runners at first and third; the game ended with Los Alamitos attempting a successful double-steal, but the trailing runner – who represented the tying run – was thrown out trying to advance to third base.
Softball notes
Tony Dobra, coach at San Pedro, won his 650th game as the Pirates scored a 15-0 victory in the quarterfinals of the City Section Championship Division playoffs.
Football notes
Tanner Gibas, a long-snapper at Charter Oak-Covina, won the National Kicking and Snapping Spring Event as he recorded a time of 0.68 of a second from first movement until the ball reached the punter. According to an event organizer, a professional snapper does it in 0.75.
Jay Anderson, a junior running back at Bishop Amat-La Puente, reportedly will not play next season in order to concentrate on baseball. He rushed for 1,122 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, and he is batting .341 on the baseball team.
Martin Henderson began covering Southland preps in 1993 for the Los Angeles Times. He contributes to the Orange County Register, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and San Bernardino Sun, and offers up motorsports opinions at Racescribe.com. You can reach him at southlandpreps@yahoo.com.
