Softball Pairings: Bonita earns Division 3 top seed while South El Monte grabs No. 4 spot in D-6; West Covina-San Dimas second-round possibility

By Fred J. Robledo
Bonita High School softball coach Ken Carlson wasn’t bothered at all when Ayala coach John Ameluxen last week discussed the Bearcats’ lofty No. 1 ranking in the final Division 3 poll, questioning the Bearcats’ strength of schedule and noting their non-existent history in the postseason. On Monday, the Miramonte League champion Bearcats were awarded the top-seed in the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoffs, with wild-card games Tuesday and the first-round on Thursday. (To continue, click thread)

CIF-Southern Section area softball pairings listed below, or you can go straight to the CIF-Southern Section website to view the pairings sheets.

CIF-Southern Section Softball Playoffs
Division 3
Wild Card Games
Tuesday, 3:15 P.M.

A–Lancaster at Kaiser
B–Pioneer Valley at Burbank
C–St. Lucy’s at Cajon
D–Fullerton at Aliso Niguel
E–Charter Oak at La Reina
F–Fillmore at Quartz Hill
G–Righetti at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame
H–Dana Hills at Los Altos
I–San Gorgonio at Chino Hills
J–Arcadia at Paramount

First Round, Thursday
Wild-card A at Bonita
Wild-card B at Sunny Hills
Wild-card C at Mission Viejo
Oak Park at Downey
Wild-card D at Alemany
Wild-card E at Highland
Paso Robles at Burbank Burroughs
Patriot at Ayala
Wild-card F at Glendora
La Habra at Tesoro
Crescenta Valley at Colton
Wild-card G at Warren
Wild-card H at Atascadero
Wild-card I at Summit
Chaminade at Knight
Wild-card J at Oaks Christian

Division 4
Wild Card Games
Tuesday, 3:15 P.M.

A–Morro Bay at St. Paul
B–Westminster at Culver City
C–El Segunod at Lompoc

First Round, Thursday
Wild-Card A at LQ La Quinta
Hawthorne at Buena
W. La Quinta at Ocean View
Hemet at South Torrance
Paloma Valley at Serrano
North Torrance at St. Joseph
Rancho Alamitos at Bishop Amat
Palm Springs at Aquinas
Wild-card B at Torrance
Dos Pueblos at Lompoc Cabrillo
Indio at Hesperia
Ontario Christian at Lakeside
Ventura at L St. Joseph
Segerstrom at Pomona Catholic
Apple Valley at Garden Grove
Wild-card C winner at Santa Monica

Division 5 wild-card games
Tuesday, 3:15 p.m.

A–Gladstone at Rowland
B–Rio Hondo Prep at Riverside Notre Dame
C–Magnolia at Temple City
D–Godinez at Village Christian
E–Tahquitz at Covina
F–Paraclete at Flintridge Prep
G–Victor Valley at Riverside Christian
H–Montebello at Sierra Vista

First Round, Thursday
Wild-card A at Whittier Christian
Western at Schurr
Costa Mesa at San Marino
Wild-card B at Calvary Murrieta
Wild-card C at West Covina
Pasadena Poly at San Dimas
Ridgecrest Burroughs at Beaumont
Wild-card D at Duarte
Keppel at Cerritos Valley Christian
Wild-card E at Mayfield
Woodcrest Christian at Barstow
Azusa at South Hills
Wild-card F at Heritage
Wild-card G at Savanna
Northview at Santa Ana Calvary Chapel
Wild-card H at La Canada

Division 6 Wild Card
Tuesday, 3:15 p.m.

A–Bishop Diego at Gabrielino
B–Los Angeles Lutheran at Mary Star
C–Lone Pine at Windward
D–Holy Family at Baptist Christian

Thursday, First Round
Wild-card A at Marymount
Viewpojnt at St. Monica
Lancaster Desert Christian at Alverno
Twentynine Palms at Maranatha
Marlborough at Oxford Academy
Big Bear at Bermuda Dunes Desert Christian
Silver Valley at Grace Brethren
Wild-card B at South El Monte
Wild-card C at Oak Hills
San Gabriel Mission at Ramona Convent
Mesa Grande Academy at Yucca Valley
Providence at Nordhoff
Carpinteria at Faith Baptist
Marshall at Boron
Whitney at Arroyo
Wild-card D at La Salle


Bonita, which touts super lefty pitcher Chloe Wurst, will face the winner of today’s wild-card between host Kaiser and Lancaster.
“It’s just a poll, and not trying to take anything away from us, but teams like Ayala and Glendora had a great season,” Carlson said. “There are so many great teams in this division that you just have to go out and play and not worry about where you’re seeded.
“It’s flattering to get the top seed, but now we have to go out and prove it. The playoffs are a marathon and we’re prepared for all the battles along the way.”
Glendora, which beat Ayala to tie for the Sierra League title, earned the league’s top playoff entry and will host the Quartz Hill-Fillmore wild-card winner on Thursday.
St. Lucy’s finished third in the Sierra, but could be a sleeper with several noteworthy victories on its resume.
The Regents will be on the road for a wild-card at Cajon, with the winner facing South Coast league champion Mission Viejo in the first round.
Bishop Amat came on strong toward the year and tied for the Del Rey league title with St. Joseph, but the Lancers head to the Division 4 playoffs as the second-place team.
Fortunately, the Lancers earned a home game in Thursday’s first-round against Rancho Alamitos, the second place team from the Garden Grove League.
Valle Vista League co-champion San Dimas and last year’s Division 5 finalist will open the Division 5 playoffs at home against Pasadena Poly, no easy first round matchup.
San Antonio League champ West Covina will face the wild-card winner between host Temple City and Magnolia.
If West Covina and San Dimas advance, the two league champs will square off in the second round.
“You don’t expect anything easy in the playoffs,” San Dimas coach Don Pollard said. “We’re trying to do our homework on Pasadena Poly, we know they’ve had some pretty good teams in the past.
“If we’re fortunate to get to the second round and play West Covina, we know that’s going to be an exciting area matchup. We saw them in our tournament and know they’re a very good team.”
San Antonio League runner-up South Hills will face Montview league runner-up Azusa in an intriguing first-round game while Northview hits the road against Orange Coast champion Santa Ana Calvary Chapel.
Duarte, the Montview League champ and fourth seed, will play the wild-card winner between Village Christian and Godinez.
In other wild-card games today, Rowland will host Gladstone with the winner getting top seed Whittier Christian.
Covina will host Tahquitz for the right to face Prep League champ Mayfield while Sierra Vista hosts Montebello, the winner getting No. 2 seed La Canada.
In the Division 6 playoffs, South El Monte earned the fourth seed with its huge victory over rival Arroyo in the Mission Valley league finale to claim the league title.
The Eagles will host their Division 6 first-round game on Thursday against today’s wild-card winner between Mary Star of the Sea and Los Angeles Lutheran.
Arroyo will host Whitney in a first-round game while Gabrielino hosts a wild-card against Bishop Diego, with the winner getting top-seed Marymount in the first round.

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