STORY: The area’s best high school softball teams figure to have a tough time competing in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs after being moved to much tougher divisions this past season.
Teams from the Hacienda and Palomares leagues learned its fate on Monday following the playoff pairings and the road is difficult for sure.
Charter Oak, which shared the Hacienda League title with Chino, will compete with the best-of-the-best in Division 1 for the first time in more than a decade.
The Chargers, which lost the tiebreaker with Chino to finish second in the Hacienda, will be on the road in Thursday’s first round at Placentia Valencia, which finished second in the Foothill league.
CIF-Southern Section Area Softball parings
Division 1
Thursday’s first round
Los Altos at No. 4 Murrieta Valley, 3:15 p.m.
Charter Oak at Placentia Valencia, 3:15 p.m.
Division 2
Thursday’s first round
Oxnard Pacifica at South Hills, 3:15 p.m.
Paso Robles at Glendora, 3:15 p.m.
Bonita at Yucaipa, 3:15 p.m.
Division 3
Thursday’s first round
Bishop Amat at San Jacinto, 3:15 p.m.
Division 4
Tuesday’s wild card
El Monte at Monrovia, 3:15 p.m.
Lancaster at Arroyo, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday’s first round
Woodcrest Christian-El Sedundo wc winner at South El Monte, 3:15 p.m.
Division 5
Tuesday’s wild card
Morro Bay at Azusa, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday’s first round
Victor Valley at Sierra Vista, 3:15 p.m.
Barstow at San Dimas, 3:15 p.m.
Vista Del Lago at Edgewood, 3:15 p.m.
La Puente at Santa Monica Catholic, 3:15 p.m.
Nogales at Silverado, 3:15 p.m.
Covina at Montebello, 3:15 p.m.
Duarte at Moreno Valley, 3:15 p.m.