Softball: Playoff predictions

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Division I playoff preview

Predicted champion: Norco

Dark horse: If Riverside Poly (21-8) in March upset Norco, 1-0, and Corona Santiago, 2-0, it is capable of upsetting Valencia in the second round.

Top teams: 1) Norco (27-2), 2) Valencia (24-6), 3) Anaheim Canyon (23-7) and 4) Hart (24-4).

How it shakes out: Norco and Valencia will most likely emerge victorious considering Hart and Anaheim Canyon have more difficult paths, and, if everything progresses as predicted, will meet Mater Dei and Corona Santiago in quarterfinals. Hart and Anaheim Canyon are equipped with excellent pitchers in Destiny Rodino and Cheyanne Tarango and Mater Dei and Corona Santiago have ace pitchers Brianne Matthews and Kamerin May. Hart has the most difficult first-round game of any top team, having to face Trabuco Hills (19-8-1) and its great pitcher, Kayla Massey. Even though Valencia has won two consecutive CIF titles, with two unexplained losses last month and a very young team, they will most likely falter against Norco and its Stanford-bound pitcher, Teagan Gerhart, in a final game.