Harbor Nine to Open Playoffs

Harbor will meet San Jose City College today at 1 p.m. in the first round of the state baseball playoffs at Sacramento City College.

The Seahawks (32-14) earned the spot in the four-team tournament by defeating Cypress, 2-1, in the Southern Regional final.

If Harbor defeats San Jose (38-13), the North’s No. 2 team, it will play the winner of today’s Cerritos-Sacramento game at 3 p.m. Saturday. If the Seahawks, No. 1 in the South, lose they’ll play the loser of that game at 11 a.m.

Either team will be difficult to beat. Sacramento (37-12) is the defending state champion and Cerritos (39-9), the 1987 state champ, is making its third straight appearance in the tournament.

Harbor’s pitching is a strong point. Pat Ahearne, Chris Garrett and Leonard Fletcher are the starters and the bullpen is solid with freshmen Tom Fulkerson and Robert Parga and sophomore John Ingram.

“I feel real good about this team,” said Coach Jim O’Brien, who led Harbor to the state title in 1978 and 1984. “It took us a little while to get going this season, but now I think we have a great chance of winning this.”