HS BASE: It all comes down to this in Mission League

Chaminade of West Hills and visiting Alemany of Mission Hills meet in a key Mission League baseball finale at 3:45 p.m. today, and there is a lot on the line.

Chaminade (23-5, 8-3) is tied with Crespi of Encino (21-5, 8-3) for first place, and a Chaminade victory over Alemany (18-8, 7-4) would give the Eagles at least a share of the league title for the first time since 2002.

Chaminade has saved its ace, hard-throwing Brando Tessar, for today's game. He is scheduled to oppose Alemany sophomore Cody Thompson (2-2, 2.91).

If Alemany wins and Crespi loses to Loyola of Los Angeles today, there would be a three-way tie for first, with Alemany being the top playoff entrant based on a tiebreaking formula that first looks at head-to-head competition.

One thing Alemany needs to work on is its fielding. The Warriors have committed 40 errors, though coach Randy Thompson says things are getting better.

"The first half of the season, we were making a ton of errors that were putting our pitchers in some tough spots, but over the past eight games or so we've really cut them down," Thompson said. "We're doing a better job."

-- Gerry Gittelson