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

Defending Champion: Tustin.

Top Teams: La Puente Bishop Amat (25-0), La Quinta (23-3), Palm Desert (21- 3-1), Tustin (21-5).

Dark Horse: Corona. The Panthers have some punch. If the pitching comes around, look out.

Top Players: Richard Aguirre (Bellflower St. John Bosco), Derek Baker (Tustin), Brian Butcher (Lakewood Mayfair), Jose Cabrerra (Estancia), Chris Clark (Kennedy), Mike Darr (Corona), Joe Garcia (La Quinta), David Glick (Palmdale), Jeff Hallock (La Mirada), Dan Harkey (Lakewood Mayfair), Brian Helsper (Tustin), Ed Hurtado (Corona), Ryan Kelley (Trabuco Hills), Jon Lauderdale (Tustin), C.J. Livernois (La Quinta), Jim Livernois (La Quinta), Charlie Marino (Kennedy), Gabe Miranda (Bishop Amat), Derek Nicholson (West Torrance), Freddy Ochoa (Mira Loma Jurupa Valley), Allen Paisano (Ridgecrest Burroughs), Pat Perez (La Mirada), Canaan Price (Palm Desert), Mike Rodriguez (Ontario Chaffey), Ryan Schmidt (Alta Loma), Chris Tapia (Lancaster Antelope Valley), Eric Valenzuela (Bishop Amat), Ryan Winmill (Tustin), Jim Yates (West Torrance), Tony Zuniga (Saddleback).

Best Draw: Corona. Not much standing in the way of the Panthers and a shot at third-seeded Palm Desert in the quarterfinals.

Worst Draw: Palm Desert. The Aztecs get a gimme in the first round, then will probably beat a solid La Mirada team and Corona to get to the semifinals.

Notes: Bishop Amat, behind the pitching of Miranda (7-0, 0.17 ERA) and Valenzuela (10-0, 0.73 ERA), has been the class of this division since the season began. The Lancers opened with three consecutive shutouts and have closed even stronger, giving up only four runs in the last nine games. Seven of those were shutouts . . . La Quinta has also been streaking lately, but will need a big playoff from Livernois . . . Corona has the division’s most dangerous duo in Darr (.513, 8 HR, 39 RBIs) and Hurtado (.419, 6 HR, 34 RBIs) . . . Take away the three Del Rey loses to Bishop Amat and St. John Bosco is 18-3. The Braves also extended the Lancers in the season finale, losing, 9-3, in extra innings.