SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : 1-A Preview : Trying to Complete Dream Season : Whittier Christian Looks for First Title Against St. Bernard

What started as a wild idea two weeks ago could become reality for Whittier Christian High School’s baseball team today. The Heralds will play second-seeded St. Bernard at 10 a.m. at Dodger Stadium in the Southern Section 1-A baseball final.

Whittier Christian (20-5) entered the playoffs as a wild-card team from the Olympic League. But after they won four consecutive games, the Heralds have reached the final for the first time in the school’s history.

The improbable playoff run almost ended in the wild-card game against Cantwell two weeks ago, though.

Whittier Christian trailed, 4-1, until Daryl Lancaster hit a three-run home run in the sixth and John Duffield walked with the bases loaded in the seventh to force home the winning run for a 5-4 victory.

Whittier Christian beat La Salle, 10-3, in the first round and came back from a 4-0 deficit to beat Temple City, 7-4, in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals Tuesday, Whittier Christian beat defending champion and fourth-seeded Gladstone, 17-5.

Whittier Christian had 22 hits, including a pair of home runs by Mike Goodcase, his eighth and ninth of the season, and second and third of the playoffs. Lancaster (13-1) relieved in the third and shut out Gladstone over the final five innings for the victory, his third in the playoffs.

Lancaster (13-1), a senior right-hander, is expected to start today.

St. Bernard, which won the Camino Real League this season, took a much quieter path in the semifinals, beating No. 3 seed Baldwin Park, 1-0.

Against Baldwin Park, Tim Williams hit his 15th home run of the season, the 25th of his career, to tie the Southern Section record with Mike Arthur of Templeton (1985-87).

Williams, who will attend Loyola Marymount in the fall, is hitting .514.

Williams (9-1), a senior left-hander, was also the winning pitcher against Baldwin Park and is expected to pitch today.