Confusion Reigns in WSC Playoff Picture : College baseball: Under new rules, a three-way tie for first place would result in cancellation of the conference’s tournament.

Forget those yearly NFL playoff scenarios, the Western State Conference baseball race has become so convoluted that the conference playoffs might be canceled. Even if they are played, there is no telling at this point what the format will be.

The confusion has arisen because three teams--Canyons, Moorpark and Cuesta--are tied for first at 14-5 heading into their final conference games today. Valley (10-9) is in sole possession of fourth, a game ahead of three teams, including Ventura, at 9-10.

The WSC is allotted two berths in the 16-team Southern California regional of the state tournament and also could be granted a wild-card berth. The regular-season champion automatically gains one berth, and a five-team Shaughnessy tournament determines the conference’s second representative. The Shaughnessy involves the conference’s top five teams and is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

However, under guidelines instituted this year, the tournament might be canceled depending on the final regular-season standings. If three teams share the league title, the tournament will be scratched and the playoff berths will be determined by head-to-head competition.

If the title is shared by two teams, they earn the playoff berths, and the third- through sixth-place teams will meet in an abbreviated Shaughnessy tournament to determine the conference’s candidate for a possible at-large berth. If a team wins the title outright, the Shaughnessy will revert to its original format.

“It’s a little confusing,” Cuesta Coach Larry Lee admitted.

Last year, after Canyons and Ventura shared the league title, Ventura was granted a berth in the Shaughnessy final based on head-to-head competition. Canyons lost in the first round of the Shaughnessy and did not qualify for the state tournament.

After that, “We made a stipulation if there is a co-champion or tri-champion they are rewarded,” Canyons Coach Len Mohney said.

If there are tri-champions after today’s games, Moorpark, which swept Cuesta and split with Canyons, and Canyons, which split with Cuesta, would earn the automatic bids.

Cuesta (21-13-2 overall), with a 1-3 record against the other top teams, still would stand an excellent chance of earning an invitation.

Valley (16-19-2) and Ventura (20-14) still have outside shots at a playoff berth but need strong showings in the Shaughnessy.

The scenario has resulted because Canyons (23-12) lost a game-and-a-half lead over Moorpark and a two-game lead over Cuesta this week. After beating Cuesta last Saturday, Canyons had two opportunities to clinch at least a tie for first but lost to Pierce on Tuesday and Bakersfield on Thursday.

Mohney will turn to starter Roland De La Maza (6-1) for a 1 p.m. game today at Valley.

“Our whole season could depend on tomorrow,” said Mohney, whose team is looking for its 10th consecutive conference championship.

Cuesta has a 1 p.m. home game against Santa Monica (20-22, 7-12). Moorpark (22-12) is coming off a bye on Thursday and will start ace Jeff Berman (7-1) in a 1 p.m. game at Oxnard (14-20, 6-13).

“After the Valley game (last Saturday), I thought we were playing for second place,” Moorpark Coach Ken Wagner said. “We weren’t going to pitch Berman tomorrow (Saturday) because we thought we were going to play Tuesday, (but) if we win tomorrow, we don’t have to play Tuesday and don’t have to worry about it.”

After a statement as confusing as that, it’s no wonder that of the Shaughnessy system Wagner has concluded that “there’s got to be another way of doing it.”

WSC RACE AT A GLANCE

TEAM WSC REC. OVERALL GB Moorpark 14-5 22-12 - Canyons 14-5 23-12 - Cuesta 14-5 21-13-2 - Valley 10-9 16-19-2 4 Ventura 9-10 20-14 5 Bakersfield 9-10 16-14 5 S. Barbara 9-10 15-18 5