Baseball: The big week is finally here, Northview at San Dimas today at 3:15 p.m., along with polls and analysis

Valle Vista League
Northview (20-6, 8-2) at San Dimas (20-6, 9-1), 4:30 p.m. – Vikings need to win to force decisive game for league title
Pomona at Covina, 3:15 p.m.
Nogales at Wilson, 3:15 p.m. – Nobles will make the playoffs as a Division 4 fourth-place wild card team.

Sierra League
Damien (13-10, 6-7) at Charter Oak (9-12, 4-9), 3:30 p.m. – Damien fighting to get in playoffs
Chino Hills (14-10, 6-7) at South Hills (19-5, 11-2), 3:30 p.m. – South Hills league champs
Claremont at Ayala, 3:30 p.m.

Mission Valley League
Arroyo (11-8, 10-3) at Rosemead (7-13, 6-7), 3:15 p.m. – Can clinch title outright today.
Mountain View (10-12, 8-5) at El Monte (10-11, 8-5), 3:15 p.m. – Winner finishes second in MVL
South El Monte (9-12, 6-7) at Gabrielino (1-19, 1-12), 3:15 p.m.

CIF-Southern Section Polls
Division 2
: 1. San Clemente, 2. Redlands East Valley, 3. Cypress, 4. Temecula Valley, 5. Los Osos, 6. South Hills, 7. Redlands, 8. Oxnard, 9. Aliso Niguel, 10. Righetti, 11. La Mirada, Others, La Mirada, Glendora.
Fred’s thoughts: Isn’t quite like Sierra League football teams competing in the Inland football playoffs, but Division 2 is much tougher than anything Bonita, Northview, Bishop Amat, San Dimas and other Valley top teams will face in the postseason. South Hills is arguably the areas top team, but it doesn’t have a great shot at a title.

Division 3: 1. Bonita, 2. Serra, 3. Gahr, 4. Palm Desert, 5. Quartz Hill, 6. Loara, 7. Paloma Valley, 8. Diamond Bar, 9. Carter, 10. Paramount, Others, Mira Costa, Bishop Amat.
Fred’s Thoughts: Bishop Amat losing 8-0 to Cathedral at home snapped its eight-game win streak but more importantly, showed the Lancers can’t be counted on to win a big game when it has too. The Lancers dropped from the top ten and if it enters as a third place team, will likely draw a league champion in the first round. Bonita and Serra are the two best teams in the Division. The Bearcats have the pitching to go deep, but they also have a lineup that could struggle against a top pitcher in the postseason.

Division 4: 1. Oaks Christian, 2. Kaiser, 3. Laguna Beach, 4. Northview, 5. Sonora, 6. San Dimas, 7. Baldwin Park, 8. Montclair, 9. Don Lugo, 10. Ramona, others, Nogales, Monrovia, La Serna.
Fred’s Thoughts: San Dimas must feel under-appreciated when it leads Northview by two games in the Valle Vista with virtually the same overall record, yet is listed behind the Vikings in the polls. I would argue that the Valle Vista is the toughest league in this division, all four teams, including Nogales, are capable of going on a deep playoff run because of solid pitching. But first thing’s first, and that’s settling the Valle Vista League title this week.

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