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

Defending Champion: Lompoc.

Top Teams: Redondo Beach Redondo Union (21-4), Newhall Hart (19-5), Moreno Valley Valley View (19-4), Covina Northview (20-4).

Dark Horse: Canyon (20-5). The Comanches are hitting a ton.

Top Players: Scott Albin (Redondo Union), Jimmie Bowen (Riverside North), Matt Brady (Villa Park), Mike Brambilla (Brea-Olinda), George Castillo (Cerritos Gahr), Mike Cosgrove (Cerritos), Kris Didion (Riverside Poly), Chris Draft (Valencia), Keith Ginter (Fullerton), Ryan Golisano (Fullerton), Josh Gutierrez (Canyon), Josh Hochgesang (Sunny Hills), Tony Jackson (Valley View), Brian Logan (Troy), Motne MacGillisray (Valley View), Aaron Myers (Santa Maria Righetti), Rick Parmenter (Troy), Bob Platt (Northview), Jeff Pickler (Foothill), Domonek Prince (Redondo Union), Steve Rawson (Redondo Union), Vince Roman (Oxnard Rio Mesa), Ambro Salas (Cerritos), John Salter (LaVerne Damien), Luis Sanchez (Hart), Jeremy Seipel (Hart), Peter Sousa (Lompoc), John Stoddard (Brea-Olinda), Gunnar Strunz (Canyon), Casey Wilson (Canyon).

Best Draw: Hart. Nothing but weak second- and third-place teams and a couple of so-so league champions on the way to the semifinals.

Worst Draw: Northview. The fourth-seeded team opens with an underachieving Troy team, which is looking to salvage its season. And out there waiting is Canyon in the quarterfinals.

Notes: Redondo Union seems to have everything needed to win the title. The Sea Hawks have pitching in Albin (8-0, 2.15 ERA, 82 SO), power in Rawson (10 HR, 32 RBIs) and hitting in Prince (.442) and Morgan Ensberg (.441) . . . The Sea Hawks could be severely tested in the second round, as they may have to travel to play Lompoc. A nasty drive, plus waiting will be pitcher/infielder Peter Sousa (5-2, .389 BA, 4 HR, 23 RBIs) . . . Fullerton’s Ginter set the Orange County career home run record on March 30, then didn’t hit another home run until May 10, when he hit three against Buena Park. He has 26 career home runs and five this season.