PREP WEDNESDAY: SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW : Division I at a Glance

Defending Champion: Esperanza.

Top Teams: Fountain Valley (22-3-1), Lakewood (20-6), Nogales (19-6), El Dorado (18-7).

Dark Horse: Mater Dei (16-8-1). The Monarchs have pitching, pitching, pitching.

Top Players: Bryan Barber (Nogales), Brian Bowles (Peninsula), Matt Carrera (Diamond Bar), Craig Daedelow (Huntington Beach), Brad Farlow (Encino Crespi), Luke Fitzpatrick (Lakewood), Ryan Fullerton (El Toro), Brian Greene (Servite), Ryan Hankins (Simi Valley), Adam Harris (Mater Dei), Mike Hessman (Mater Dei), Danny Hoppie (Fountain Valley), Steve Immel (Lakewood), Don Jamieson (El Dorado), Corey Martin (Lakewood), George Martinez (Nogales), Erik Mattern (Mater Dei), Jeff Moore (El Dorado), Jason Murrietta (Esperanza), Johnny Olivares (Channel Islands), Paul Orabona (Fontana), Jim Parque (La Crescenta Crescenta Valley), Chris Ponchak (Fountain Valley), Dave Rojo (Katella), Jeff Schultz (Long Beach Wilson), Jaret Wright (Katella), Deric Yanagisawa (Fountain Valley), Pete Zamora (Capistrano Valley).

Best Draw: Fountain Valley. The teams standing between the Barons and the semifinals are living on reputation this season (Esperanza, Long Beach Millikan, Simi Valley).

Worst Draw: Lakewood. The Lancers won the always-tough Moore League and, as a reward, find themselves in the same bracket as Katella and Mater Dei.

Notes: Right off the bat, Fountain Valley players must know that the top-seeded team has not won this division since Lakewood in 1970. Simi Valley came close last season but lost to Esperanza in the final. . . Katella’s Wright (7-2, 2.99 ERA, 100 SO) remains the pitcher that scouts oooh and aaaah over, but the division has many other strong arms. Crescenta Valley’s Parque (8-2) has struck out 107. Mater Dei’s Harris has given up five earned runs and has a no-hitter and two one-hitters. Fitzpatrick (8-1, 1.00 ERA) and Immel (7-1, 1.40 ERA) give Lakewood two effective starters. Fountain Valley’s Ponchak (6-2, 1.88 ERA, six saves) has developed into an outstanding closer.