LOOKING AHEAD / UPCOMING PREP EVENTS IN ORANGE COUNTY

SOFTBALL

Several games should have an immediate impact on their league standings, beginning today when No. 9 Kennedy plays at rival Cypress in the Empire League. Bolsa Grande’s Mary Petrie defeated Pacifica last year and was named the Garden Grove League’s MVP, though Pacifica won the league title. Those teams meet again today at Pacifica, with Petrie trying to shut down the state’s top-ranked team. Fountain Valley, the Sunset League favorite in the preseason, today hosts the only Sunset League team that’s currently ranked in the county, No. 8 Los Alamitos.

The Sea View League, which has four teams in the top 10, offers up No. 7 Irvine at No. 6 Santa Margarita on Friday.

Tuesday, Sonora is at La Habra in the key Freeway League showdown.