Softball Notebook: Breaking Down the Playoff Field

Six of Patch’s teams earned a berth in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs, which begin Tuesday with the divisional wildcard round action. Here is a look at the teams that have clinched a spot:

Division 3

Crescenta Valley

Overall: 21-3 (13-1), T-1^st Pacific League

Last season: Lost to Colton 6-3, first round Division 3 playoffs

First Round Matchup: at Oak Park, Thursday

Overview: The Falcons are a very emotional team led by long-time coach Dan Berry. Historically they have not fared very well during the playoffs, but this year has a much different feeling. Erin Ashby is their most deadly weapon on both sides, striking out 118 in 96 innings. At the plate, her .635 batting average along with 43 RBIs, 14 doubles and 10 home runs also leads the team. A number of players are also batting well above .400, a major improvement from a year ago. The team is also riding a 12-game winning streak and has won half of those games by 10 or more runs.

Prediction: The Falcons have a great shot at making the quarterfinals, where they might face a much-improved Knight team that dominated the Golden league. That could be their biggest test up through the finals. Their offense should be the cornerstone at the run to the title.

Arcadia

Overall: 9-11 (7-6), 4^th Pacific League

Last Season: Lost to Paramount 12-1, Wildcard Division 3 Playoffs

Wildcard Matchup: at Harvard-Westlake, Tuesday

Overview: A very strong Pacific League record helped them get this far into the season. Unfortunately, the Apaches finished 0-6 to the top three teams in league. Their talent is rather promising at the plate. Freshman Yeram Park leads the team with a .469 batting average and five doubles. In the circle, Monica Baerg, also a freshman, has done most of the work, and In most of her games she has performed rather well allowing fewer than 10 runs in each outing.

Prediction: While the Apaches are thrilled to be a part of the field of 45, their run might come to an end against the Wolverines. They haven’t beaten a quality opponent all season, and Harvard-Westlake might be too much for them. Still, making the playoffs with a young team might mean a promising future for Arcadia.

Division 5

La Cañada

Overall: 21-3 (12-0) 1^st Rio Hondo League

Last Season: Lost to South Hills 3-1, Division 5 semifinal

First Round Matchup: vs. Sierra Vista-Ramona Convent winner, Thursday

Overview: The Spartans last year had an unfortunate encounter with South Hills. Tied at one in the bottom of the sixth, the Huskies scored two and rallied to advance to the Division 5 title game. The Spartans finished this season with their best record under head coach KC Mathews and has earned the No. 1 seed in the bracket. So much can be said about Lauren O’Leary, who has been nearly untouchable all season, and is easily a prime candidate for Player of the Year in the division. The Spartans as a team are batting just above .300. Catherine Horner and Anna Edwards each are batting over .460, and are also first and second in RBIs.

Prediction: No team has been able to score against La Cañada over the last four games. That streak will most likely end, but their winning streak may not. This year, it will be a title or bust, and the road to Irvine could not be more paved out for them.

San Marino

Overall: 13-8 (8-4), 2^nd Rio Hondo League

Last Season: Lost to Whittier Christian 1-0, Division 5 Quarterfinal

Overview: With nearly everyone returning from last year, the Titans come into the playoffs with plenty experience. Michelle Floyd is now one year older and has faced some very tough competition within her league. Although she has lost three of her last five starts, she still comes in with a sub-1.00 ERA and leads the team at the plate with a .519 batting average. Alexis Watanabe also has had a great year offensively, leading the team with six doubles and 12 stolen bases.

Prediction: Although Floyd has had a phenomenal year, they can’t rely on only her in the playoffs. The Titans can get past Nipomo in the first round, but Mission Valley League champion Arroyo might be waiting for them next week, which could spell trouble.

Monrovia

Overall: 14-12-1 (5-7), 4^th Rio Hondo League

Last Season: Missed playoffs

Wildcard Matchup: at Gabrielino, Tuesday

Overview: Randy Medina did a phenomenal job forming out his schedule, deserving a lot of credit for the Wildcats’ at-large bid. Although they finished below .500 in league play, their 9-5-1 nonleague record, including a third place finish in the Northview Tournament, paid off in a big way. Their second half of the season didn’t go the way they had it planned, but the Wildcats have slowly managed to find their ways to stay in games. In the circle Emmy Orozco has faced some tough competition, especially in the Rio Hondo league, but her 1.48 ERA still makes her tough to hit.

Prediction: The Wildcats are prepared to play, but will it show in the playoffs? Gabrielino has a number of blowout losses, so Monrovia could escape to Thursday, where Santa Ana Calvary Chapel awaits. If they can get past the Eagles, watch out, because they have played with fire before.

Division 6

Flintridge Prep

Overall: 13-4 (10-2), T-1^st Prep League

Last Season: Lost to Paraclete, wildcard Division 5 playoffs

First Round Matchup: vs. Santa Paula-Alverno winner

Overview: Denise Van der goot and the Rebels are coming in riding the high of a Prep League title, and they could be one of the more dangerous teams in the playoffs. Besides winning league for the first time in 16 years, everyone is back at full health. Flintridge Prep catcher Charlotte Kay sat out up until last week with a finger injury and has been perfect at the plate. Abbey Deckop and Alina Okamota have also improved at the plate, averaging around two hits in their last seven games. Denise Van der goot though has been the story of the Rebels all season. Aside from her 1.11 ERA, she has also thrown 165 strikeouts, which is good for second in league.

Prediction: The Rebels should get past the first two rounds, but it is rather unfortunate to be on the top half of the bracket. Chances are they might face No. 1 Downey Calvary Chapel in the quarterfinals. The Rebels have also not won a playoff game under head coach Julie Jaime, but multiple ones this season are a definite possibility.

All game times are scheduled for 3:15 p.m.

Game recaps

The final week of softball around the San Gabriel Valley had a lot in store. Monrovia snuck into the playoff pool after defeating San Marino, and Flintridge Prep earned a share of the Prep League title beating out Westridge on Denise Van der goot´s no hitter. Crescenta Valley was also the third team around the valley that won a share of the Pacific League title, winning both their games over the last week.  Here are other scores from around the area:

La Cañada 11, South Pasadena 0; Temple City 9, South Pasadena 6; Monrovia 2, San Marino 0; Temple City 6, San Marino 1; Flintridge Prep 8, Chadwick 0; Flintridge Prep 10, Westridge 0; Harvard-Westlake 10, Flintridge Sacred Heart 0; Notre Dame 7, Flintridge Sacred Heart 4; Crescenta Valley 7, Burbank 5; Crescenta Valley 4, Arcadia 0; St. Paul 15, La Salle 4; Maranatha 17, La Salle 11.

Player of the Week: Denise Van der goot, Flintridge Prep

Van der goot no-hit the Westridge Tigers in 10-0 win and helped the Rebels clinch a share of the Prep league for the first time since 1995.