3-A Championship Game Is a Battle of Brotherly Love : Preps: Narbonne’s Cervantes, Franklin’s Aguilars have been key players in successful seasons.

Bloodlines will be as important as base lines at Dodger Stadium today when Narbonne and Franklin high schools play in the L.A. City Section 3-A Division championship game at 4 p.m.

The Cervantes brothers--Paco and Armando--led Narbonne (21-7) to the Southern League title, the school’s first championship since 1978.

Franklin (19-9), the City champion two years ago, is led by the Aguilar brothers, Andy and Tony.

Armando Cervantes (8-4), a hard-throwing right-hander who transferred from Bishop Montgomery to play his senior season with his older brother Paco (also a senior), will likely start as pitcher for Narbonne.

Armando has struck out 93 batters in 78 1/3 innings and has a 1.70 earned-run average. He is also the Gauchos’ top batter with a .506 average and 23 runs batted in.

On Tuesday, Armando helped Narbonne defeat Hamilton, 9-8, in 11 innings at El Camino College. Narbonne trailed, 8-3, in the ninth inning, but was able to rally and advance to the final.

“That was the best high school baseball game I’ve ever seen or been involved in,” said Narbonne Coach Nick Van Lue, who has been an assistant to El Segundo’s John Stevenson (two years), San Pedro’s Jerry Lovarov (three years) and Harbor College’s Jim O’Brien (10 years) before coming to Narbonne in 1989.

Paco Cervantes (.390), the third baseman, relieved and earned the decision in Tuesday’s game and has two of his team’s three victories in the playoffs. Paco was a first-team All-City selection last season at shortstop.

The Cervantes brothers were named co-most valuable players of the Southern League.

If Armando falters, Van Lue can call on right-hander Craig Valenzuela (7-2) or left-hander Jason Donaldson (3-1).

“You’ve got to have the pitching,” Van Lue said. “You could have a team with a 22-5 record go up against a team that’s 15-15, but the team with the best pitching is going to win.”

The Gauchos have five formidable batters at the top of their lineup in leadoff man Mike Ramirez (26 stolen bases), Paco Cervantes, left fielder Henry Flores (.360), Armando Cervantes and center fielder Ralph Avila (.377).

Franklin is led by senior first baseman Andy Aguilar (.424, 35 RBI), and his younger brother Tony (.340), a junior who has played all nine positions.

Franklin also has a solid leadoff batter in third baseman Jorge Miran (.380) and senior left-hander Jerry Whitaker (9-3, 2.41 ERA, 54 strikeouts), ace of the staff.