Southern Section Baseball Playoffs Today : 5-A DIVISION

Westlake (14-11) vs. Crespi (16-9)

At Valley College

3:15

Crespi won its final seven Del Rey League games to share the title with Notre Dame at 8-4, then won a coin flip to determine the No. 1 representative. Westlake won its final three, including a 4-2 victory over Marmonte League champion Simi Valley, to nail down the third position at 6-6. Crespi heated up behind the submarine-style pitching of right-hander Dan Carroll, who won 10 of his last 11 decisions. Offensively, seven Celts are batting better than .300. Mark Cavaretta (.419) and John Dempsey (.416) were especially effective down the stretch. Greg Barton (.405), Eric Berg (.421), Chad Nichols (.386), Ken Franco (.333) and Don Calabria (.306) also helped buoy Crespi after its 1-4 start in league play. Westlake Coach Dennis Judd, whose resignation becomes effective at season’s end, counters with Chuck Foster (.370), Craig Cooper (.365), Mike Suarez (.357), Derek Tamburro (.321) and Mike Lieberthal (.306). Right-hander John Chiaramonte has recovered from the chicken pox to post a 6-2 record and a 3.42 earned-run average. Mike Eby was equally effective at 6-2 and 2.97.

Culver City (15-12) vs. Notre Dame (17-9)

At Notre Dame

3:15

Notre Dame’s potent lineup for the first-round game includes Matt McElreath, the Knights’ switch-hitting center fielder recently named the MVP of the Del Rey League. McElreath, who is signed to play for Cal State Fullerton, batted .351 with 6 doubles, 4 home runs and 27 runs batted in. Chad Ratliff is batting a team-high .442, followed by Bobby Hughes (.348), Rob Kostenbader (.329) and Jeff Antoon (.316). Antoon had 23 RBIs and Kevin Milligan had 20. Notre Dame shared the league title with Crespi but lost the coin flip to determine the No. 1 representative. Notre Dame’s pitching ace is Mike Peterson (8-4). Kostenbader is 3-1 as a reliever and spot starter. Culver City finished second in the Ocean League, behind champion Santa Monica.

Hoover (11-11) vs. Simi Valley (21-5)

At Simi Valley

3:15

Simi Valley senior Scott Sharts enters today’s game one home run away from the Southern Section season record of 16 and one pitching victory short of the school career record of 20, set by brother Steve. Sharts had much to do with the Pioneers’ 10-2 charge through the Marmonte League, which culminated with their third consecutive league title. His 15 homers led Valley-area players, and he has 36 RBIs and a .513 batting average. On the mound, the right-hander is 9-0 with a 1.60 ERA. Simi Valley’s talent, however, does not end with Sharts. Darren Aurand (.400), Jeff Sommer (.386), Marcus Lockwood (.385) and Darin Furlong (.380) also are dangerous. Hoover will pitch either Howard Mazei (2-1) or Sean Regan (6-5). The Tornadoes have reached the playoffs in 11 of the past 13 seasons.

Thousand Oaks (17-7-1) vs. Ocean View (14-10-1)

At Ocean View

3:15

Led by Mark Skeels’ .456 mark, Thousand Oaks sends into the first round a potent lineup with nine players batting over .300. Every starter hit at least one home run, including leadoff batter Steve Sisco, who set a school record with eight. Dan Chergey batted .383 and is the team’s best starting pitcher. The senior right-hander is 5-2 with a 2.58 ERA. Left-hander John Bushart is 6-2 with a 2.98 ERA. Tom Brozowski (.354, eight doubles), Bob Farber (.371), Sisco (.368), Mike Yanuzzi (.324), Shoen (.354, 20 RBIs), Blake Evans (.315, 19 RBIs) and Dave DeSoto (.306) round out the lineup. Ocean View was 8-6-1 in the Sunset League for a second-place finish. Right-handed pitcher Dan Naulty (5-0) and starting shortstop Todd Dailey, who were suspended during spring break for breaking a team rule, were reinstated Thursday and are expected to play. Coach Bill Gibbons also relies on a right-handed pitching trio of Manny Lopez, Derek Ogle and Brent Woken.

Riverside Poly (18-8) vs. Glendale (14-7)

At Glendale

3

Four Glendale players are batting better than .330, but it is pitcher Bob Moser (7-5) who will be counted on most to advance the Dynamiters. “We’ve gone as he’s gone,” Coach Chris Axelgard said. Glendale is led by first baseman Brian Kneiding (.400), third baseman Jeff Sofro (.380), shortstop Swain Wukelich (.330) and catcher Dave Monarch (.330). Riverside Poly’s middle infielders are the team’s strength. Shortstop Randy Graves is batting .405 with seven home runs and second baseman Ryan Cobb is batting .402 with 26 RBIs. Either Gary Adcock (7-2, 3.33 ERA) or Ben Blomdahl (4-2, 4.30 ERA) will start for Riverside Poly.

4-A DIVISION

Arroyo Grande (14-10) vs. Hart (25-0)

At Hart

3:15

Playing a team that is 25-0 is never enviable. It is even less enviable when that team is playing at home. And the task is further complicated when that team is pitching its ace. All of which are problems that face Arroyo Grande in this matchup with The Times’ No. 1-ranked Valley team. Hart will start Jason Edwards, a right-handed junior who boasts a 10-0 record and an 0.96 ERA. Perhaps most impressive is Edwards’ control--he has walked 16 batters in 73 innings. Senior outfielder Joe DeSchryver quietly led Hart in batting with a .435 average, and seven regulars hit .333 or better. Coach Bud Murray will look to first baseman Ray Gardocki (36 RBIs) and catcher Casey Burrill (26 RBIs) for the big hit. Arroyo Grande, the third-place finisher in the Northern League, had a chance to win the league outright but stumbled in its final two games.

Don Lugo (19-7) vs. Rio Mesa (18-6-1)

At Rio Mesa

3:15

Rio Mesa (11-2-1 in the Channel League) won seven of its final eight league games to win the league title behind freshman Dmitri Young and pitcher Bobby Ayala. Young batted a team-high .415 and had 27 RBIs. Fifteen of his 34 hits were for extra bases. Brian Beltramo (.311), Steve Soliz (.362) and Damon Dicus (.342) also contributed offensively. Ayala complemented the solid support with 11 wins in 12 decisions and a 2.97 ERA. Don Lugo tied for second in the Baseline League but lost a coin flip and is the third-place representative. Catcher Tim McDonnell leads the Conquistadores with a .489 batting average and right fielder Pat King is batting .420. Each has five home runs and 21 RBIs. Don Lugo’s most effective starter has been right-hander Sean Brashear (6-1, 3.18 ERA.

Burroughs (11-12) vs. Cerritos (19-6-1)

At Cerritos

3:15

Burroughs has lost four games in a row and had to rely on an Alhambra loss on the final day of the season to ensure third place in the Foothill League with a 7-8 record. But Coach Ed Knaggs, whose goal was to bring Burroughs into the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, says, “I’m not real happy about our play, but I’m not going to call the CIF office and tell them to send someone else.” Burroughs will depend on the bat of infielder E. J. Pape, a right-handed hitter with a .466 average. Keith Morris batted .365 in league play and led the team in RBIs with 17. Brian Forth (5-3) will start on the mound. Cerritos, the San Gabriel League champion, is ranked eighth in the division.

3-A DIVISION

Saugus (18-7) vs. Santa Clara (16-3)

At Santa Clara

3:15

Saugus finished second in the Golden League but closed the regular season with a 7-3 win over league-champion Antelope Valley. Santa Clara is the Frontier League champion. Junior right-hander Roger Salkeld (8-2, 1.36 ERA) is scheduled to start. Salkeld has 110 strikeouts in 66 innings and has been throwing an 86 m.p.h. fastball, according to Saugus assistant Bill Bolde. “They’re going to have to beat one of the best pitchers in CIF to win,” he said. Santa Clara has its own fireballer in 6-1 senior right-hander Mike Teron (6-0, 1.93). Teron, who is scheduled to start, also is batting .413 with 25 RBIs. “It was our pitching that got us through our league,” Santa Clara Coach John Lorenzana said. Ken Knight (.351, 25 RBIs) swings a big bat. Saugus leadoff hitter Darrell Davis is batting .395 and has 28 stolen bases, most in the Valley. Tom Dodson (.385, six home runs) and Jared Snyder (.354, five home runs) provide the punch. Saugus defeated Santa Clara, 2-1, in a nonleague game, but Salkeld and Teron did not pitch.

2-A DIVISION

Cabrillo (9-9) vs. Chaminade (17-6-1)

At Chaminade

3

Greg Baumgartner will start every game of the playoffs for Chaminade. “The plan is for Greg to give us some strong early innings and then close out with Kenny Meyer,” Coach Steve Costley said. Baumgartner (4-1, 1.86 ERA) is also batting .324 with 20 RBIs. Meyer, the starting shortstop, is batting .343 with 12 RBIs and has a 2-1 record and an 0.68 ERA. Ten Eagles are batting better than .300, led by Tony Collatos (.426) and Dom Costa (.388). Mike LeCo (25 RBIs), Doug Marconet (18), Tim Lavin (17) and J. D. Choy (16) give Chaminade good depth in the run-production department. Shortstop Maen Nichangthong leads Cabrillo, the third-place team from the Los Padres League, with a .460 average. Steve Yegen (4-2, 2.10 ERA) is expected to start.

Ontario Christian (10-10) vs. La Canada (11-9-1)

At La Canada

3

With the playoffs comes a new outlook, or so La Canada pitcher Dan Whisenat hopes. “We’re ready to change our attitude,” Whisenat said. If the Spartans do, Whisenat (4-2) will be the beneficiary because the left-hander is scheduled to start. Catcher Bill Koury (.435) has been La Canada’s most consistent hitter, but Coach Gary Lievre also is counting on the hitting of designated-hitter Randy Dorr (.338) and Whisenat (.327). La Canada finished second in the Rio-Hondo League at 8-7.

1-A DIVISION Bel-Air Prep (19-6-1)

vs. Montclair Prep (11-9-1)

At Encino Colt Field

3:15

Montclair Prep won its sixth consecutive Alpha League title, but Coach Walt Steele expects a tough game from the third-place team in the Delphic League. “They’re probably the best third-place team in the state,” Steele said. Sean Lewis, the probable Bel-Air starter, has a 7-2 record with a 2.97 ERA and is batting .431 with 7 home runs and 35 RBIs. Ronnie Jensen is 8-2 with a 1.42 ERA and is batting .434 with 7 home runs and 39 RBIs. Montclair Prep is led by Tom James (.500), Keyaan Cook (.487) and Pat Huston (.457). Kevin Grant (6-4, 3.03 ERA) or Chris Anderson (3-1, 4.32 ERA) will start for Montclair Prep.

Faith Baptist (14-9) vs. Tehachapi (16-5)

At Tehachapi

3

The Contenders have kept games close because of Richard Leon and Shaik Nabi. Leon is 7-1 with a 3.22 ERA and has struck out 44 in 45 innings. Nabi is 5-5 and has 90 strikeouts in 79 innings. Leon also leads the team in batting average (.516), home runs (7) and RBIs (30). Nabi is batting .394 and has 18 stolen bases. Tehachapi is the No. 2-ranked team in the division.

SMALL SCHOOLS DIVISION

Chadwick vs. Oakwood (14-3)

At Oakwood

3:15

Oakwood bounced out of a 4-3 preseason to sweep through the Liberty League undefeated (10-0). Oakwood has received strong pitching from right-handed ace Marc Williams and will look to him throughout the playoffs. Williams is 7-1 with a 1.02 ERA. Oakwood’s big sticks are Matt Cramer (.515), Adam Mehr (.428) and Cassidy Pope (.421). Chadwick, representing the Prep League, defeated Simi Lutheran 13-1 in a wild-card game.

Queen of Angels (10-9) vs. Templeton (18-1)

At Templeton

3:15

Queen of Angels is coming off an 8-2 win over Coutin in a wild-card game. The Angels, the Liberty League’s third-seeded team, are led by Oscar Miramontes (.472), Peter Marin (422, 19 RBIs) and Ignacio Izaguirre (.395). Templeton is the top-seeded team in the division.