SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFF PAIRINGS : Top-Ranked Marina No. 1 in Division I

Marina High, ranked No. 1 in Orange County, is the favorite to win its fourth Southern Section Division I softball championship.

The Vikings (21-2) are the only county team to be seeded No. 1. Cerritos Valley Christian, from the Olympic League, is No. 1 in Division V.

In all, five county teams are seeded.

Marina opens the first round on Friday at home against Orange (13-9), an at-large team from the Century League.

Also in Division I are Garden Grove League co-champion Pacifica (18-5-1 and fourth seeded), which opens against South Coast League at-large team Capistrano Valley (14-10); and No. 2 Los Alamitos, the Empire League champion, which drew La Quinta (16-9), the fourth-place team from the Garden Grove League.

Los Alamitos, which lost last year’s title game to Simi Valley (23-2), could meet the defending champion in the semifinals; the Pioneers are seeded No. 2.

The county’s other seeded teams are the co-champions of the Sea View League in Division III. Third-seeded Irvine (17-9) opens at home against Costa Mesa (11-10). Fourth-seeded Woodbridge plays host to Trabuco Hills (12-10).

Tustin, the third-place team from the Sea View League, plays host to Chino Wednesday in the county’s only wild-card game.

Laguna Hills (14-9-1), which defeated Irvine in last year’s title game, could meet the Vaqueros in the quarterfinals.

PAIRINGS, C9