Prep Playoffs at a Glance : SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION III SOFTBALL FINAL

* Today’s schedule: Irvine vs. Laguna Hills, Lakewood Mayfair Park, 5 p.m.

* Last year’s final: Woodbridge defeated Saugus, 2-1 (8 innings).

* Outlook: Irvine is ranked seventh in the state; Laguna Hills is ranked 10th among similar-sized schools. . . . A year ago, both schools were first-round losers: University defeated Laguna Hills, 1-0, and La Habra defeated Irvine, 2-1. . . . Irvine scored a 4-1 victory over Laguna Hills when they played this year, in the semifinals of the Laguna Hills Tournament, and this game should also feature at least five runs. . . . Neither team makes mistakes, but both teams’ strength is their offense. . . . Irvine’s Monika Hollstein has been on fire in the playoffs. She has five hits and has driven in five of Irvine’s 10 runs. . . . Even hotter is Laguna Hills’ Misty Thompson, who has nine runs batted in in four playoff games. She is batting .692 (9 of 13). . . . Laguna Hills pitcher Windy Scofield has a 0.45 ERA in 125 1/3 innings. She has struck out 60. . . . Irvine’s Rebecca Smith has a 0.15 ERA in 139 1/3 innings. She has struck out 128. She has allowed only five hits in the playoffs. . . . Marcy Crouch, who pitched a perfect game against Irvine, predicted Laguna Hills would beat the Vaqueros: “They’re better coached.” Marcy’s dad, Cary, coaches Laguna Hills. . . . Laguna Hills’ team batting average is .329. . . . Irvine Coach Lisa Baker says her team isn’t caught up in statistics: “From a team aspect, you just need to do what needs to be done. If you have to sacrifice bunt and never have a batting average, that’s what needs to be done. We don’t look at stats a lot. They know what they’re doing well.” . . . Laguna Hills shared the 2-A title with Woodbridge in 1987, lost to Woodbridge in the 1988 final, and had not won another playoff game until this year. . . . The Hawks were first-round losers in 1989, ’91 and ’92. . . . Irvine lost in the first round in 1990, won the title in ’91 and lost in the first round in ’92.