HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : He’d Rather Be Lucky--But Being Good Helps : Preview: After 32 seasons, El Segundo Coach Stevenson has seen the best of teams get derailed in playoffs. But few would dispute the Eagles’ credentials this year.

Seven starters batting above .370. A pitcher who has lost only once in 22 varsity decisions. A 12-game winning streak. And a coach who boasts the most victories (710) in California prep history.

On paper, the El Segundo High baseball team appears to be an unbeatable force as it prepares to open the Southern Section 3-A Division playoffs. The top-seeded Eagles (26-2) play Canyon of Canyon Country (10-13) at 3 p.m. Friday in a first-round game at Recreation Park in El Segundo.

But despite having a team that possesses all the ingredients for success, Coach John Stevenson knows it takes more than ability to win a section title. It takes a good amount of luck.

“The playoffs are always an exciting thing,” said Stevenson, who has won six section titles in 32 previous seasons, the last in 1989. “One bad game, one bad inning, one lucky hit the wrong way, an umpire’s call. There are so many things that can happen.”

So far this season, El Segundo has been able to avoid any disasters. The Eagles outscored their opponents, 293-97, in 27 games, with one victory by forfeit. Their two losses were each by one run: 3-2 to Millikan in the semifinals of the El Segundo tournament on March 14 and 7-6 to Hueneme of Oxnard in the final of the San Luis Obispo tournament on April 18.

“We’re playing well,” Stevenson said. “Offensively I think we can play with anybody.”

Few could dispute that. The Eagles have seven players batting .373 or better, led by four seniors with averages above .400: first baseman Tracy McAndrews (.489), outfielder Chris Feeny (.437), catcher Jeff Poor (.432) and third baseman Lawrence Norris (.426). Feeny, recently named most valuable player of the San Fernando League, leads the team with 44 runs scored, 10 doubles, eight home runs and 46 runs batted in.

One could argue that El Segundo’s statistics are inflated because it plays in a weak league and within the cozy confines of Stevenson Field at Recreation Park. But the league season consists of only 10 games, and the small dimensions of the ballpark are exploitable by the visiting team as well.

Somehow, though, El Segundo’s pitchers have managed to post respectable earned-run averages. Right-hander Matt Gangawere leads the way with an 11-0 record and 1.43 earned-run average. His two-year varsity record stands at 21-1. Others who are expected to see duty in the playoffs include right-handers Hauss Hancock (4-1, 2.35) and Feeny (5-0, 2.44).

Canyon, the third-place finisher in the Golden League, could be in trouble against El Segundo’s formidable lineup. The Cowboys have a team ERA of 4.62. Their strength is batting, with a team average of .314. Senior first baseman Bill Sivley leads Canyon with a .421 average, three home runs and 22 RBIs.

Following is rundown of other Southern Section playoff openers involving South Bay teams. Games are Friday at 3 p.m. unless noted:

5-A Division

Leuzinger (10-12) at Diamond Bar (24-1)--The Olympians, third-place finishers in the Bay League, have perhaps the toughest first-round assignment of any South Bay team. Top-seeded Diamond Bar, the Sierra League champion, is ranked No. 1 in the nation by several publications. Interestingly, though, the top-seeded team has not won a Southern Section major division title since 1970 when Lakewood went all the way.

Katella (16-9) at Peninsula (18-7)--Peninsula, a team devoid of any stars, must contend with a Katella squad that boasts one of Orange County’s finest players. First baseman-pitcher Kyle Evans is batting .427 with nine home runs, five triples and 32 RBIs. As a pitcher, the right-hander is 5-3 with a 3.00 ERA. A balanced Peninsula lineup features catcher Scott Poe (.372), designated hitter Jason Brown (seven home runs, 22 RBIs) and center fielder Darwin Baltazar, who has 30 stolen bases in the leadoff role.

4-A Division

South Torrance (12-9) at Rio Mesa (17-5-2)--South, third-place finisher in the Pioneer League, earned a spot in the playoffs with a 4-1 wild-card victory over Mira Costa on Wednesday. The Spartans’ reward? They get to travel to Oxnard to meet Channel League champion Rio Mesa, the division’s top-seeded team.

Lynwood (12-6) at Redondo (18-7)--The light-hitting Sea Hawks expect to go as far as the right arms of pitchers Ted Silva and Frank Bignami take them. Silva, expected to start Friday, is 9-2 and leads the South Bay with an 0.34 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 61 innings. Bignami is 5-3 with a 2.11 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 59 innings. Lynwood was runner-up to second-seeded Gahr in the competitive San Gabriel Valley League.

Sunny Hills (14-12) at Torrance (16-9)--Don’t expect Jason Kendall of Torrance to see many good pitches. The senior catcher brings a .557 batting average (44 for 79) into the playoffs, with 14 doubles, eight triples, three home runs, 39 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. Right-hander Ralph Martinez (8-0, 1.34 ERA) will have to be sharp for the Tartars. Sunny Hills, although lacking in pitching, has two outstanding hitters in second baseman Mark Veronda and catcher Erren O’Leary.

West Torrance (20-7) at Beverly Hills (16-7)--West rolls into the playoffs after winning all three of its games last week, including 14-0 and 14-1 victories over South to secure a tie with Torrance for the Pioneer League title. Shortstop-pitcher Steve Sarkisian (.433, 22 RBIs, 19 stolen bases; 8-0, 1.58 ERA), third baseman Dave Marsden (.393, 22 RBIs, 20 stolen bases) and left-handed pitcher Josh Bendik (8-2, 1.62 ERA) are the standouts for Coach Harry Jenkins. Beverly Hills finished second to Redondo in the Ocean League.

2-A Division

Temple City (12-10) or Gladstone (17-6) vs. Mary Star (16-5) at Fromhold Field, Tuesday--The Stars, co-champions of the Santa Fe League, meet the winner of a wild-card game to be played Friday. Third baseman Chuck Ursini leads Mary Star with a .421 batting average and 23 RBIs. Rich Loquellano (4-2), Joe Castillo (5-2) and Vince Dileva (5-1) make up a balanced pitching staff.

Small Schools Division

Chadwick (10-5) at L.A. Lutheran (15-2)--The Dolphins’ hopes of reaching the division final for the second consecutive season will depend heavily on the pitching of 6-foot-5 senior right-hander Mac McKinnie (6-1, 0.67 ERA).