And then there were two.

Flintridge Prep and Pasadena Poly high school’s baseball teams are all that remain of the local teams in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs. Both will be hoping to keep their championship aspirations alive today in the Division 6 quarterfinals.

Flintridge Prep hosts Crean Lutheran at the Glendale Sports Complex at 3:15 p.m. while Pasadena Poly visits Calvary Chapel of Downey at Veteran Memorial Park at 6 p.m.

“All three teams in from our league are still in the playoffs,” Flintridge Prep coach Guillermo Gonzalez said referring to his team, Poly and Webb. “Our league this year has shown a lot. We’re hanging in there. We’re just trying to keep our league up there.”

The Rebels will have ace Brenden McKiernan on the mound today against a Crean Lutheran team that’s scored 17 runs in two playoffs game this season.

Flintridge Prep has also proven capable of putting crooked numbers on the scoreboard. The Rebels have scored 20 runs so far in the postseason, but something has to give today as Crean Lutheran has allowed only one run in the postseason.

“I know we’re seeing their ace on Friday and that’s all I know about them right now,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve been aggressive when we’re hitting and taking advantage of mistakes other teams make.”

Flintridge Prep, Poly and Webb finished in three-way tie for the Prep League championship this season. Poly has parlayed two home games into wins over Bloomington Christian and St. Margaret’s.

The Panthers will be tested on the road today by a Calvary Chapel team that finished third in the Delphic League this season but pulled off playoff upsets over Santa Fe League champ Salesian and No. 2 overall seed Malibu.

BASEBALL

Division 4

El Rancho 1, Alhambra 0 — Moors squander Jose Amezquita’s great outing by not cashing in scoring opportunities.

Sonora 8, La Canada 5

Division 6

Flintridge Prep 6, Kern Valley 3

SOFTBALL

Division 4

Buena 8, Temple City 4

Division 6

Bell-Jeff 8, Pas Poly 0
Kern Valley 9, SG Mission 1
St. Bonaventure 2, Alverno 1

PHOTOS OF FRIDAY’S HALL OF FAME GAME

East 42, West 18 — Close to 4,000 fans showed up and Charter Oak’s Aaren Vaughns electrified the crowd with long touchdowns, two on offense and one on defense. Chino Hills’ Matty Ice Simko threw for two scores and ran for another. The East’s defense laid lick after lick, but did catch some breaks in that the West had some drives in East territory stopped on downs. Of course, the East defense had a lot to do with it. Rio Hondo Prep’s Jake Holguin hauled in three touchdowns to lead the West. Don’t anybody give me crap when I rank Rio Hondo Prep high in the SGV(N) Top 25s. I didn’t have my eyes opened to the Kares until this year, but I can tell you they would have done just fine in the Mid-Valley Division or Southeast. Holguin was just one of several all-stars they could have had. The East now leads the series 22-10-2 and has won six straight. Gladstone coach Albert Sanchez goes out a winner and South El Monte’s Pablo Ocegueda provides the feel-good moment by playing despite losing four fingers in a fluke tug-a-war accident earlier this year.

PABLO!!!

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. (GET THERE EARLY)
Where: West Covina HS
What: 34th Hall of Fame All-Star Game
Series: East leads 21-10-2

Aram’s take: With head coach Joel Sanchez and QB Brandon Martinez at the helm, you can expect a lot of up-tempo from the West. That’s their only chance. If the West can catch the East defense as out of shape and not able to keep up, it will have a small shot at the upset. But don’t bet on it. Trouble is, the West didn’t get players from Monrovia or Muir, which would have come in handy. Meanwhile, the East is loaded with some of the best players around. Matt “Matty Ice” Simko of Chino Hills is the kind of strong-armed quarterback who could put on a show in a game like this, especially with Charter Oak’s Bryce Bobo out there at receiver. Gladstone’s Kevin Amezquita is the kind of versatile QB who can improvise in an all-star game and make big plays. The best player on the field might be Charter Oak’s Aaren Vaughns, who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Bonita’s Reggie Turner is also another big-time play maker. Looks like the East is just too fast and diverse for the West to stay with. I see this one getting ugly late.

WEST ROSTER

0 M. Matiarena 6″4 290 T Salesian
1 Wardell Barry 5’7 160 DB Pasadena
2 Albert Llamas 5″8 160 ss St. Paul
3 Brandon Martinez5’7 165 QB EL Monte
4 Peter Aholoka 5’9 165 RB Arroyo
5 Johhny Garcia 5’9 165 WR FS EL Rancho
6 Ruben Jimenez 5’10 195 LB EL Monte
7 Joey Sanchez 5’10 185 QB SS EL Rancho
8 S. San Miguel 6’0 175 WR DB Rosemead
9 Jake Holguin 6’3 205 WR Rio Hondo Prep
10 Lorenzo Mena 5’10 185 LB Gabrielino
11 Nick Downs 6’2 220 LB St. Paul
12 Josh Mendoza 5’11 175 QB Garfield
13 Gabriel Larios 6’0 160 WR San Gabriel
15 Ramon Sierra 6’4 285 DE Garfield
17 Jared Gonzelez 5’8 175 RB Cantwell
18 Ricardo Fonseca 5’9 175 WR SS Schurr
20 Jorge Reyes 5″10 165 FB LB St. Paul
21 Ivan Lezama 5’9 175 LB Schurr
22 Jesse Pina 6’0 220 FB DE Hoover
24 Roger Lemus 5’8 200 RB Lincoln
25 Austin Ford 5’11 205 LB Arcadia
26 Alex Saavedra 5’11 235 OL DL St. Paul
26 Pablo Ocegueda 5’10 165 FS South El Monte
27 Steven Barron 5’7 160 DB Don Bosco Tech
28 Abel Barajas 5’11 185 WR EL Monte
29 Torus Stepney 5’5 155 DB Pasadena
32 Ezra Broadus 5’7 170 RB CB Alhambra
33 Marcus Lewis 6’0 195 RB SS Duarte
34 Eric Alvarez 6’1 215 LB San Gabriel
43 Chris Reed 6’1 205 FB LB Temple City
44 Chris Mendoza 5’10 195 LB Bell Gardens
50 J. Betancourt 5’9 185 C DE Temple City
51 James Rivera 5’10 230 C T Arroyo
53 Chris Cavalero 6’2 250 OL NT Alhambra
55 Adrian Barrios 6’1 225 OL DE Arcadia
65 Flemming White 6’5 315 G Pasadena
67 Bryan Rodriguez 6’2 295 OL Montebello
74 Erwin Melesio 6’3 300 OL DL Linclon
77 Chris Vargas 6’1 245 T Bell Gardens
78 Nelson Leon 5’11 225 OL Rosemead
79 Corey Reaves 6’1 265 OL DL Verdugo Hills
81 Adolfo Sanchez 5’9 165 WR EL Monte
85 Richard Natividad 6’1 205 DE South El Monte

EAST ROSTER

1 Noel Martinez La Puente REC 6’1 165
2 Andy Sherwood Damien REC 5’7 165
3 Muleck Henderso West Covina DB 5’10 190
5 Bryce Bobo Charter Oak REC 6’3 195
6 Aaron Parham South Hills REC 6’1 210
7 Matt Simko Chino Hills QB 6’3 220
9 Jacob Farias South Hills DB 5’10 180
10 Jesus Arteaga Azusa DB 5’9 162
11 Kevin Amezquita Gladstone QB 6’1 180
14 Alex Arellano Chino WR
15 Josh Savage Damien WR 6’2 200
16 Brandt Davis Bonita K 6’0 180
17 Eric Ortiz Charter Oak LB 6’1 239
18 Bahlil Thompson Garey ATH 6’1 175
20 Reggie Turner Bonita RB 5’9 195
21 Aaron Vaughns Charter Oak RB 5’8 170
22 Aaron Sanchez Gladstone LB 5’8 205
23 Elvis Toscano Santa Fe DB 5’7 160
28 Khari Garcia Charter Oak DB 5’11 185
29 Cade Lindsay Glendora RB 5’10 160
34 Aaron Salgado West Covina RB 5’8 205
40 Terrance Manderville Nogales REC 6’2 190
42 Roy Torres Northview LB 5’11 220
43 Justin Buga San Dimas LB 5’11 191
44 Aaron Franklin West Covina DB 5’11 193
45 Eric Noyola Los Altos TE 5’11 215
50 Justin Tumer Covina LB 5’9 230
51 Noah Garcia Diamond Ranch OL 6 263
52 Mike Mora Sierra Vista LB
54 Elia Semu Covina OL 5’11 220
55 Jacob Hughes Whittier Chr. DL 6’3 220
57 Jacob Gamboa California OL 5’10 245
58 Tommy Green Glendora OL 6’3 280
60 Matthew Lopez Bishop Amat DL 6’0 245
61 DJ Theard Bonita OL 6’5 295
66 German Ponce California DL 5’11 260
72 Adrian Solchaga Gladstone OL 5’9 230
74 Dustin Sanford Sonora OL 6’3 260
77 Greg Lawton Rowland DL 5’10 175
79 Christian Lopez Gladstone OL 6’3 255
84 Adam Romero West Covina DL 6’1 190
87 Hunter Grap Don Lugo TE 6’5 220
90 Isaiah Osorio La Serna DL 6’0 245
92 Cody Walsh Chino DL 6’4 240

BASEBALL

Divsion 4

La Sierra 3, Monrovia 2 — Uh … what?

La Canada 4, California 2 — Spartans coach Alex Valadez changing pitchers like a wizard and getting it right every time. Daniel Del Valle with a big three-run dubby to make it 4-1 in the fourth. Sparty’s dream season continues … PHOTOS

SOFTBALL

Division 4

Dos Pueblos 2, Monrovia 1 — Prom on Friday for Wildcats.

South El Monte 2, San Marino 0

Division 2

Arcadia 6, Pioneer Valley 5

Division 4

San Marino 2, Fullerton 0 — What can you say about Titans ace Jeff Bain? The guy is the best pitcher in the area. That’s my take and I’m sticking to it. He was filthy on Tuesday, striking out seven and losing a no-hitter in the 5th. In fact, Bain hit more batters (2) than he allowed hits (1). And now, the Titans get top-seeded Oaks Christian on Friday.

Division 6

Santa Paula 10, Marshall 1

SOFTBALL

Division 3

Arcadia 10, San Gorgonio 0

La Salle 3, Crescenta Valley 0

Division 4

San Marino 3, Ventura 0

Division 5

Barstow 10, Marshall 3

Division 6

Westridge 15, Desert Chr. 0

By Keith Lair, Staff Writer

The Rio Hondo League softball race was rough.

So rough that it cost two-time reigning CIF-Southern Section champion La Canada a berth in this season’s playoffs. So rough that no league team earned a seeded spot in the Division 4 playoffs. So rough that Monrovia, which finished in a three-way for second, must face a No. 4 seed Thursday.

“We kind of had a taste of everything, including turmoil at the end,” Monrovia coach David Guzman said. “We’ve gone through it all already. That will make it definitely interesting.”

The Wildcats tied for second with La Canada and San Marino. La Canada, which won the last two CIF-SS Division 5 titles, finished with a sub-.500 record, thanks to its tough nonleague tournament schedule and was ineligible to apply for an at-large berth.

The draw was not entirely kind to the league with Monrovia (14-9) playing at No. 4 seed Dos Pueblos (21-3) in Thursday’s first round. San Marino (15-7-1) will play host to Ventura in a wild-card game today. League champion Temple City (13-13) will play host to Garden Grove on Thursday. La Canada, with back-to-back losses to San Marino last week, finished 13-14.

“We’re used to going in and have pitching battles,” Guzman said. “Hopefully we have the kind of weapons than can get runs across.

“We’re battle-tested. We’re used to and ready to face small ball with teams like Temple City and great pitching against San Marino’s (Michelle) Floyd, who was tough all year. We’re used to one-run games.”

In all, 14 west Valley teams are in the playoffs. Seven, including San Marino, must advance out of today’s wild-card round.

Arcadia will play host to San Gorgonio and La Salle will play host to Crescenta Valley in Division 3, Gabrielino is at Culver City in Division 4, Morro Bay is at Ramona Convent and Barstow at Marshall in Division 5 and Westridge is at Desert Christian in Lancaster in Division 6.

Olympic League champion Maranatha also drew a Division 4 home game. The Minutemen will face the Serrano/Jurupa Valley winner.

In Division 6, four west Valley entrants drew home games. Lone Pine is at Horizon League champion Alverno, St. Anthony plays at Prep League champion Rio Hondo Prep, California Lutheran at San Gabriel Mission and Twentynine Palms at Pasadena Poly.

The seven division tournament quarterfinals are May 23, with semifinals on May 28 and finals on May 31 or June 1 at Irvine’s Manning Stadium.

By Keith Lair,

Staff Writer

Alhambra came oh so close to winning its first CIF-Southern Section baseball championship last year.

The Moors reached the Division 3 title game for the first time in 85 years, losing to Bonita, 5-1. The Almont League champions drop a division and head into the playoffs, and with the exception of Rio Hondo League teams, a somewhat unknown factor.

“Being in different divisions, we’re facing teams we’ve never faced,” Alhambra coach Steve Gewecke said. “The matchups we’re playing, I had to look up where both schools are located.

Alhambra will face a wild-card entrant, Bishop Diego or Godinez, in Friday’s first-round game at Moor Field.

“We’re not familiar with them and it’s obvious we get a chance to see an opponent and they cannot see us. It’s huge.”

Gewecke can only hope that the Moors, 19-6, make a magical run like last year.

“A lot of things have to happen to make that kind of run,” Gewecke said. “The longer time goes, the more we can understand that. There are so many wild-card games than instead of 32 teams having a chance, now it’s 48 teams that can make a run.

“If we’re playing our best baseball… If we can put our No. 2 and No. 3 pitchers on our shoulders, we have a chance.”

Alhambra’ s issue this season has been hitting.

“We get the ball in the air too much,” he said. “We can’t put a finger on it. If we get better at-bats and with our pitching being very good and because our defense is also very good, we can do it. Some of our pitchers give up less than a run a game so all we have to do is scratch one or two runs out.”

Twelve west San Gabriel Valley teams earned berths into the playoffs. Four teams will play wild-card games today.

Arcadia has a home game against Pioneer Valley and Pasadena plays at Santa Barbara in Division 2. Fullerton plays at San Marino in Division 4 and Marshall is at Santa Paula in Division 6.

First-round games in divisions 5 and 7 are on Thursday with the five other divisions playing on Friday. The quarterfinals are scheduled for May 24, semifinals May 28 and finals, if any area teams advance, on June 1 at UC Riverside. The CIF-SS’s top three divisions will play at Dodger Stadium on May 31.

Prep League champion Flintridge Prep earned the lone seed from the west valley. The 15-8 Rebels will play the wild-card winner between Marshall and Santa Paula at the Glendale Sports Complex in Division 6. 

Rio Hondo League champion La Canada also drew a Division 4 wild-card team and will face today’s winner between Barstow and host California. La Sierra will play at Monrovia on Thursday. 

The lone area matchup will be Duarte at Olympic League champion Maranatha in Division 5. The game has been tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday at Robinson Field.

In another Division 6 game, Bloomington Christian plays at Pasadena Poly. In Division 7, Southwestern Academy is at Avalon and St. Monica will play host to Marywood.

Division 2 

Tuesday’s Wild-Card Round

Pioneer Valley at Arcadia

Pasadena at Santa Barbara

Division 4

Tuesday’s Wild-Card Round

Fullerton at San Marino

Friday’s First Round

Barstow/California winner at La Canada

La Serna at Monrovia (Thursday)

Bishop Diego/Godinez winner at Alhambra

Division 5 

Thursday’s First Round

Duarte at Maranatha

Division 6

Tuesday’s Wild-Card Round

Marshall at Santa Paula

Friday’s First Round

Marshall/Santa Paula winner at Flintridge Prep

Bloomington Chr. at Pasadena Poly, 4 p.m.

ARCADIA — Ted Boeke hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventh and the Crescenta Valley High School baseball team edged host Arcadia 5-4 on Friday night.

With the win, Crescenta Valley (20-7, 12-2) earned a share of the Pacific League championship with Burbank and will go into next week’s playoffs as the league’s No. 1 team. Arcadia (20-7, 10-4) finished tied with Burroughs for third, and will get the league’s automatic after winning the tiebreaker.

Crescenta Valley trailed 4-2 entering the seventh inning, but got two men on for Boeke with one out. Arcadia opted to lift starter Austin Georgen and bring in reliever Joey Harmon to face Boeke.

Boeke was waiting for a fastball and when he got it, he didn’t miss, sending a shot over the left-field fence to give his team the lead.

“I knew the fastball was his go-to pitch,” Boeke said. “So when I was looking fastball, I got one and hit it.

“It’s a dream come true. It’s something I was wanting to do since freshman year and it’s a dream come true. When you think you’re going to hit a home run, bad things happens. So I was just going up there thinking hit the ball hard.”

Crescenta Valley starter Brian Gadsby was left in to pitch the seventh and quickly got two outs before Troy Resch singled to give the Apaches hope. But Gadsby got Georgen to ground to end the game and Arcadia’s three-year reign as league champion was over.