The Preps : Southern Section Softball Playoffs : County Teams Lack Requisite Pitching Punch

Orange County teams are not projected to be heavy hitters in this season’s Southern Section softball playoffs, which begin today with wild-card games in the 5-A division.

Part of the reason is county teams don’t have the dominant pitching of the past.

Of the 32 county teams participating in five of six divisions (Orange County does not have 2-A leagues), only two are seeded.

Irvine, the highest-seeded county team, did not even qualify for postseason play last year. The Vaqueros (18-7), the No. 1 team from the South Coast League, are seeded third in the 3-A behind top-seeded La Mirada (25-1) and undefeated Covina (21-0-1).

Irvine plays at home Thursday against Mayfair (15-9). Nine other county schools made the 32-team 3-A bracket, including South Coast League teams San Clemente (11-12), El Toro (12-8) and Mission Viejo (14-8).

In the 5-A, top-seeded St. Joseph of Lakewood (21-1) from the Angelus League has the section’s best pitcher in Lisa Fernandez--the heir apparent to Michele Granger.

Mater Dei (15-6-1), the third-place team from the Angelus League, and Marina (18-9), Fountain Valley (18-6-1), Los Alamitos (14-10) and El Dorado (16-7) made the 16-team bracket.

Fountain Valley might have the best shot at the finals, but it’s a long one. Fountain Valley has a strong pitcher in Rae Rice, and though her statistics have not been great because she was injured, she has mended and is on the upswing.

In the 4-A, Kennedy (18-4) is seeded fourth and one of 12 county teams in the 32-team draw. Kennedy, the Garden Grove league champion, is led by pitcher Cheryl Longeway.