The Preps : SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS : 4-A : Longeway, Kennedy Play Rolling Hills

Kennedy High School, last year’s Southern Section 3-A softball champion, has moved up to the 4-A division this season. Although Hart is seeded No. 1 in 4-A, the Fighting Irish will be the Orange County team to beat when first-round playoff games begin at 3 p.m. today

Play in the 1-A and small schools divisions also starts today.

Kennedy (18-4), seeded No. 4, has five returning starters from last season, including all-Southern Section pitcher Cheryl Longeway, a sophomore left-hander.

Longeway (17-3) has an earned-run average of 0.49 with 157 strikeouts in 129 2/3 innings.

The Garden Grove League champions take on Rolling Hills (19-10) at Kennedy. The Fighting Irish are in the top half of the bracket with Hart (23-1).

Eleven other county teams are among the 32 playoff contenders.

In the top half of the bracket, Villa Park (15-12), the first-place team from the Century League, plays host to Rubidoux (15-9). Western (22-5), the second-place team from the Orange League, plays host to Los Amigos (11-15), the third-place team from the Garden Grove League. Valencia (12-12), third in the Orange League, travels to Sunny Hills (18-6), the first-place team from the Freeway League.

In the bottom half of the bracket, Canyon (19-11), which tied for first in the Century League, ended up as the third-place team on a coin toss. The Comanches travel to Moreno Valley (11-7).

Garden Grove (18-6), the second-place team from the Garden Grove League, plays host to Lakewood (12-9). Brea-Olinda (16-6), the first-place team from the Orange League, plays host to Eisenhower (17-8). Foothill (17-10), the second-place team from the Century League, travels to La Habra (15-7), the second-place team from the Freeway League. Buena Park (16-6), the third-place team from the Freeway League, travels to second-seeded Buena (23-2).