City Section Baseball Playoffs Today : 4-A DIVISION

Gardena (7-8) vs. Chatsworth (23-1)

At Chatsworth 3

Chatsworth, which coasted through an undefeated West Valley League season, is seeded first in the 16-team bracket. Gardena, which finished fourth in the Marine League, is seeded 16th. But disregard the above, Chatsworth Coach Bob Lofrano insisted. “I’m very much aware of Gardena,” he said. “Three years ago they should have beaten us. They did beat us.” Almost. In 1985, with both teams seeded identically to ‘88, Gardena led, 3-2, with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning and no runners on base. But the Chancellors scored two unearned runs to win. “Anything can happen in the City playoffs,” Lofrano said. “And I respect any team that we play in the playoffs.” Gardena Coach Mike Sakurai said that his team has struggled but has tuned up for Chatsworth. Senior right-hander Yong Kim (4-4, 2.80 earned-run average) will attempt to silence the Chancellors, who are batting .375. Six players are hitting better than .300 with Rex McMackin (.464) leading the pack. Gardena center fielder Aman Hicks has a strong arm, Sakurai said, and batted .511 in league play. First baseman Clem Melendez is batting .468 and is a two-time all-league selection. Shawn Bowen (5-0, 2.64) will start for Chatsworth.

Cleveland (7-12)

vs. Sylmar (12-10)

At Sylmar 3 p.m.

The Spartans stumbled into the playoffs, losing six of their last nine East Valley League games. “We haven’t been playing well,” Coach John Klitsner said. “It’s been an up-and-down, hot-and-cold kind of year.” Olonzo Woodfin, Sylmar’s All-City pitcher who missed most of the season because of a broken ankle, will “most likely” start against Cleveland, Klitsner said. Woodfin returned last week and pitched three innings of Sylmar’s 7-2 loss to Grant. Sylmar, which finished second in the league, has made the playoffs in 19 consecutive years. Cleveland, which finished third in the West Valley League, will counter with senior right-hander Kirk Surabian. The Cavaliers’ ace has 10 complete games in 11 appearances. Cleveland also will rely on aggressive baserunning. The Cavaliers, led by sophomore Pat Bryant’s 14 steals in 15 tries, have stolen 41 bases in 49 attempts. “If our momentum keeps up, we’ll be OK,” Cleveland Coach Ray Todd said. “As long as we can run. If they get two runs in the first inning, it kind of takes our running game away.”

Carson (14-8-1)

vs. San Fernando (11-6)

At San Fernando 3 p.m.

If San Fernando, the second-place team from the Mid-Valley League, is to make it to Dodger Stadium, the offense will have to produce. “I think we finally turned the corner,” Coach Steve Marden said. “We’re getting production throughout the lineup, finally.” San Fernando came alive in its past three games, beating Granada Hills, Monroe and Birmingham by a combined score of 16-8. That might not sound like much, but for the Tiger pitching staff--with its 1.90 ERA--it was plenty. Starters Frank Serna (3-1, 2.78), Rudy Vargas (3-1, 1.55) and Hector De La Cruz (4-0, 1.66) are as good as any rotation in the City. Which leads to a pleasant dilemma. “I don’t know who we’re going with,” Marden said. “We’ll see who looks the best in practice.” Most of Carson’s offense has been generated by outfielders Jason Foster (.453) and George Malauulu (.461, four home runs). The ambidextrous Malauulu played quarterback in the fall and guided the Colts to the City 4-A final. Carson’s pitching staff is anchored by right-handers Tim Vasquez (6-1, 3.81) and Robert Parga (6-5, 2.75).

El Camino Real (9-11)

vs. San Pedro (19-5)

At San Pedro 3 p.m.

Both teams survived major pitching problems en route to the playoffs. El Camino Real needed a 13-1 win over Taft in a league tiebreaker to clinch the West Valley League’s final berth. Arm injuries to Denny Vigo and Lance Gibson at the outset of the season slowed the Conquistadores. Gibson has returned to the mound, but Vigo (.441, 12 extra-base hits, 27 runs batted in) has played exclusively at third base. First baseman Bryce Welch (.315, 15 RBIs) is one of the most impressive sophomores in the City. Gibson (4-6, 5.79) or Patrick Treend (3-1, 5.40) is expected to start. “Everybody’s record is even now,” Coach Mike Maio said. “The record just tells you who you’re going to play.” For the Conquistadores, it means San Pedro, the Marine League co-champion, which bid farewell to four pitchers this season--three because of academic ineligibility and one because of injury. “Some of the kids who have been reserves have come in and done a fine job for us,” Coach Jerry Lovarov said. “It’s been hard to believe.” Junior right-handers Joey Camello (6-0) and Joey Miller (4-0) are Lovarov’s “one-two punch.” Camello, who will start, has allowed only two earned runs and none in league play. Rodney Garcia (.486, 7 home runs, 32 RBIs) is the team’s offensive standout.

North Hollywood (10-12)

vs. Kennedy (18-9)

At Kennedy 3 p.m.

Kennedy started Mid-Valley League play with a 3-3 record. That was two months ago, and the Golden Cougars have not lost to a league opponent since, cruising to their first league title since 1981 when they won the City 4-A title. “Believe me, we’d like to do that again,” designated-hitter V. P. Pajcin said. “It’s crossed our minds.” They’ve crossed the plate, too. Nine regulars are batting .300 or better and six exceed .360. “This is a game we should win,” Coach Dick Whitney said. Senior left-hander Colin Hines (9-2, 1.60), the staff ace, will start. After starting the season 3-7, North Hollywood won seven of its next 10 games to move within one game of second-place Sylmar in the East Valley League with one week remaining. But season-ending losses to the Spartans and first-place Poly dropped the Huskies to fourth. Sophomore Duane Braxton, a backup point guard on the basketball team, rebounded from a poor start and is now leading North Hollywood with a .439 batting average. Junior Benny Valdez (5-3, 3.00 ERA) will start for the Huskies. “We’re going to have to play our best baseball to compete with them,” Coach Brian York said. “They are one of the hottest teams in the City.”

Granada Hills (15-4)

vs. Canoga Park (11-7)

At Lanark Park 3 p.m.

Canoga Park, the defending 4-A City champion, defeated Granada Hills, 3-0, in the second round of last year’s playoffs on the strength of a six-hitter by right-hander Mike Kerber. “He pitched a great game against us,” Granada Hills Coach Darryl Stroh said. Kerber, last season’s City Player of the Year, again will face the Highlanders, who finished tied for second in the Mid-Valley League but enter the playoffs as the league’s third playoff representative. Although Kerber (3-3, 2.53) has not enjoyed the season he had last year, he is batting .520 with 18 RBIs. Right-handers Adam Schulhofer (3-0, 2.85) and Mike Roberts (5-3, 2.45) have rested arms should Kerber need relief--and should the Hunters advance in the playoffs. Stroh would not disclose the Highlanders’ starting pitcher, but it should be either Jeff Adams (9-3, 2.39) or Eric Harris (6-1, 2.26). Chris Murphy, who is batting .400, is swinging the team’s hottest bat, Stroh said. Steve Kovacic also is batting .400 and Darryl Stephenson is batting .346. “We’ve struggled all year,” Stroh said. “But I’m real pleased with what I’ve seen the past week or so. Everybody is swinging the bat better than they have all year.”

Grant (12-10)

vs. Banning (16-8)

At Banning 3 p.m.

There were some who wondered whether Grant Coach Tom Lucero would save ace Javier Delahoya for a possible second-round matchup against Poly. “If I save him, I may not ever get a chance to use him,” Lucero said. “I have to go with my best.” With seven wins and a save, Delahoya has pitched in nearly three of every four Lancer victories. And when he is not pitching, Delahoya is helping the 1986 City 4-A champions with the bat (.415 average, 6 homers and 27 RBIs). Banning, which lost to Kennedy for the 1985 4-A title, also can hit. The Pilots have a .393 team batting average and seven starters are batting better than .300. Shortstop Jesse Espinoza (.489, 28 runs scored) starts the offense and often either Rick Bernal (.436, 12 doubles, 38 RBIs) or John Otte (.461, 36 RBIs) knocks him home. “We’re going to give them a run for their money,” Pilot Coach Syl Saavedra said.

Monroe (9-16)

vs. Poly (19-3)

At Poly 3 p.m.

Poly started the season on a roll, winning eight in a row. After a mid-season slump in which the Parrots’ top two pitchers were sidelined because of injuries, the Parrots have won 11 of their past 12 games. Coach Jerry Cord still is concerned about All-City pitchers Greg Nealon and Nick Lymberopoulos. Nealon missed a month because of mononucleosis and Lymberopoulos has pitched the past two weeks with strep throat. “I don’t know how strong either is or whether they can go seven innings or not,” Cord said. If either tires, Monroe may capitalize. The Vikings have scored 24 runs in their past three games, including a 13-4 rout at Birmingham on Friday to earn a playoff berth. “If we can score some runs against them and play defense, we might be able to pull it off,” Monroe Coach Kevin Campbell said. Junior left-hander Sean Henson (2-3) will start for Monroe. Henson has been the staff ace since he became eligible at the semester 10-week mark. Henson pitched a complete game in the Birmingham game, allowing eight hits. Monroe’s offense is led by Tim Costic (.413, 4 HRs, 29 RBIs) and red-hot shortstop Brian Eldridge, who has hit safely in seven consecutive games (18 for his last 25).

3-A DIVISION

Venice (11-11-1)

vs. Marshall (17-9-1)

At Marshall 3 p.m.

Marshall, the Northern League’s second-place entry, has drawn no ordinary third-place team in Venice, which placed behind University and Palisades in the Western League. Venice has played in four consecutive 3-A finals, winning three in a row until last season’s loss to Bell. Marshall will pitch right-hander Jose Garcia, an All-City selection last year who is 9-5 with a 2.20 ERA. Leading the offense are outfielder Ramon Hernandez (.490) and first baseman Darren Hubert (.407). Marshall has won seven of its past nine games since the return of shortstop Cesar Aleman, second baseman John Fernandez and pitcher Eric Duncan, who missed the first half of the season because of academic ineligibility. Venice has won four of five games and has benefited from the return of today’s starting pitcher, Steve Campos (3-0), who sat out most of the season for disciplinary reasons. The offense is led by third baseman Roland Villasenor (.450, 19 RBIs) and designated-hitter Fred Smith (4 home runs, 17 RBIs).

Eagle Rock (11-10-1)

vs. Washington (12-6)

At Washington 3 p.m.

The running game has been the difference for Eagle Rock, which squeaked into the playoffs as the Northern League’s fourth-place representative. Shortstop Manny Washington has batted .413 from the leadoff spot and leads the team with 20 stolen bases. Catcher Sam Medel has thrown out as many as six runners in a game. Eagle Rock’s leading hitter is designated-hitter Chuck Engel (.419). Coach Mike Houlemard moved today’s starting pitcher, Francisco Del Real (2-1), into the rotation late in the season. Washington, the Southern League champion, is trying to win a first-round game for the first time in three years. Coach Kermit Taylor will start Willie Allen (6-1).