HS BASE: Southern Section playoffs division breakdowns

SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

DIVISION I

TOP FOUR SEEDS:

1. Orange Lutheran

2. Royal

3. Lakewood

4. Edison.

OTHER LOCALS: Camarillo, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Valencia, West Ranch

PLAYER TO WATCH: Jeff Yamaguchi, Lakewood - Yamaguchi has been a terror as a pitcher and a hitter. He's 9-1 with a 2.04 ERA, and he's batting .471 with 42 runs and 42 RBIs.

SLEEPER: Valencia - The Vikings, led by Trey Williams (nine HRs), have never reached a final, but if their pitching holds up they can hit with anyone.

Div. II

TOP FOUR SEEDS:

1. Glendora

2. Crespi

3. Redlands East Valley

4. Cypress

OTHER LOCALS: Alemany, Chaminade, Harvard-Westlake

PLAYER TO WATCH: Ryon Healy, Crespi - Healy, the returning Div. II Player of the Year, was 11-0 as a pitcher last year but has not pitched since an early-season arm injury. He is batting .369 with three HRs and 18 RBIs.

SLEEPER: Alemany - The Indians, loaded with young talent that continues to improve as the season progresses, has been a different team over the second half of the season.


Div. III

TOP FOUR SEEDS:

1. Beckman

2. Alhambra

3. South Hills

4. Hemet

OTHER LOCALS: Highland, Lancaster, Palmdale, Quartz Hill



PLAYER TO WATCH: Brenton Allen, Gahr - Allen hit his fifth HR in the season finale Thursday. He's batting .446 with 29 RBIs and 12 SBs.

SLEEPER: Quartz Hill - The Rebels are one of the hottest teams in Southland with nine consecutive victories by an average margin of 14.2 runs.

Div. IV

TOP FOUR SEEDS:

1. Bishop Amat

2. Palm Desert

3. St. Paul

4. Northview.

LOCALS: La Canada, Oaks Christian

PLAYER TO WATCH: Rio Ruiz, Bishop Amat - Ruiz, a sophomore, is batting .519 with four HRs, 31 runs and 28 RBIs.

SLEEPER: Oaks Christian - Oaks Christian, led by Trevor Gretzky (.341, 33 RBIs), Drew Hacker (.459, 25 RBIs) and Evan Ocello (.421, 36 runs), has won six of seven, including a sweep of St. Bonaventure in the final week to win the Tri-Valley League championship.

Div. V

TOP FOUR SEEDS:

1. Woodcrest Christian

2. Tahquitz

3. Maranatha

4. Montclair Prep

OTHER LOCALS: Campbell Hall, Paraclete

PLAYER TO WATCH: Max Fried, Montclair Prep - Fried, a sophomore, is batting .451 with four HRs and 38 RBIs, and he is 8-3 with a 1.90 ERA.

SLEEPER: St. Monica - St. Monica, 15-10 overall but 9-3 on the road, finished by sweeping Junipero Serra and Cathedral.

Div. VI

TOP FOUR SEEDS:

1. Desert Christian

2. Grace Brethren

3. Oxford Academy,

4. Vasquez

OTHER LOCALS: Bell-Jeff, Buckley, Flintridge Prep, Viewpoint

PLAYER TO WATCH: Nick Schmidt, Grace Brethren - Schmidt has a Southern Section-record 55 career doubles.

SLEEPER -- Buckley -- After losing its first six games of the season, Buckley, led Jake Brodsky (.524, 28 runs), has closed strong and feels like it has nothing to lose.

Div. VII

TOP FOUR SEEDS:

1. Cornerstone Christian (Camarillo)

2. North County Christian

3. Milken

4. Pacifica Christian

OTHER LOCALS: Delphi Academy, Hillcrest Christian, New Community Jewish, Valley Torah

PLAYER TO WATCH: Aaron Roth, Cornerstone Christian - Roth is batting .479 with six HRs and 31 RBIs, and he is 9-0 with a 1.11 ERA.

SLEEPER: New Roads - The Jaguars, led by Nick Rhys (.383, three HRs, 31 RBIs), have finished with three wins in the last four games, scoring nine runs or more in every victory.

-- Gerry Gittelson