La Serna softball to play title game vs. Grand Terrace at 4:30 p.m. on Friday

La Serna hops to celebrate again on Tuesday. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb/Whittier Daily News)

La Serna hops to celebrate again on Tuesday.
(Photo by Leo Jarzomb/Whittier Daily News)


By Stephen Ramirez
steve.ramirez@langnews.com
@SteveRRamirez on Twitter

The CIF-Southern Section released the dates and times for this weekend’s division baseball and softball championship games on Wednesday,
Walnut, seeking its first baseball crown since 1982, will face Redondo at 1 p.m. on Saturday at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino. Temple City and Flintridge Prep, seeking their first baseball titles, will play at 7 and 3:30 p.m., respectively, on Saturday at UC Riverside. The Rams, who beat Rio Hondo League rival Monrovia on Tuesday, faces Hemet for the Division 5 championship, with the Rebels facing St. Anthony for the Division 6 title.
The La Serna softball team, which advanced to the championship round for the second consecutive season, faces Grand Terrace at 4:30 p.m. on Friday at Barber Park in Irvine.
Walnut (21-7) has made an incredible run to try to secure its second baseball crown. The Mustangs have won 19 consecutive games, including shocking previously undefeated San Dimas in Tuesday’s semifinals. The Saints had won their first 31 games and were ranked No. 1 nationally by USA Today. Walnut was last in the CIF finals in 1982, beating Mira Costa, 4-0. Redondo is 28-7. The Sea Hawks shared the Bay League title with Mira Costa.
Temple City is 18-9 and has made a surprising run after finishing third in the Rio Hondo League. The Rams last appeared in the title game in 2012, losing 4-0, to Palm Desert for the Division 4 championship. Hemet, which beat Woodcrest Christian in the semifinals, is 22-8 and has made the finals after finishing second in the Mountain Pass League.
Flintridge Prep is also a surprise entrant into the finals, rallying from five runs down to beat Salesian, 10-9, in the semifinals. The Rebels (16-12) are in the championship game for the first time since 1951 when it lost a Northern Group title game to Santa Clara. St. Anthony is 18-10 after beating Buckley, 10-5, in the semifinals.
La Serna is arguably the only area team of the four in the title round who expected to be here. It’s been the chief goal for the Lancers all season after losing to St. Paul in the title game last season. La Serna (25-6), the No. 2 seed, is seeking is fourth section title after winning crowns in 1996, 2001 and 2008. Grand Terrace, which beat Gahr, 4-3, in the semifinals, is the top seed and is 26-3.

SGVN CIF-SS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
SOFTBALL
FRIDAY
At Barber Park, Irvine
DIVISION 3

La Serna vs. Grand Terrace, 4:30 p.m.
BASEBALL
SATURDAY

At San Manuel Stadium, San Bernardino
DIVISION 3
Redondo vs. Walnut, 1 p.m.
At UC Riverside
DIVISION 6
St. Anthony vs. Flintridge Prep, 3:30 p.m.
DIVISION 5
Temple City vs. Hemet, 7 p.m.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Email