City Looks to Change Playoff Dates

In a bid to prevent teams from using only one pitcher through much of the playoffs, the City Section is proposing to start its baseball playoffs on June 1, playing the quarterfinals on June 3, with the semifinals on June 8 and the finals on June 10 at Dodger Stadium.

The regular season is scheduled to end May 19, which would leave teams without games for nearly two weeks before the playoffs begin. City Section administrator Jeff Halpern said the proposal leaves the week of May 24 available for makeup games.

But teams are still supposed to play makeup games on the first available open date, and if it doesn’t rain much this month, teams will be inactive for 13 days before the playoffs.

“Thirteen days between games is way too long,” said Coach Steve Thompson of Granada Hills.

Halpern said coaches expressed concern that starting the playoffs before June 1 might allow a team to use one starting pitcher for three of the four playoff games, giving that team an unfair advantage. He said the proposed playoff dates will be finalized this week.

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At the start of the season, Coach Brian Gibson might have understated things when he called Albert Quintana the most improved player at Village Christian.

Quintana might be the best player on the team.

At the very least, the junior shortstop had an impressive run at the Stockdale-Bakersfield Garces tournament last week, going 10 for 16 with seven runs batted in and five stolen bases in four games.

Quintana pitched the Crusaders (6-5-1) to a 6-5 victory over Tehachapi, striking out seven, walking two and allowing nine hits.

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It’s been a long climb for Campbell Hall.

In 1997, the Vikings made their first playoff appearance and last year they won the Delphic League for the first time.

“Up until then, they pretty much took a drubbing,” said first-year Coach Doug Latta, who has the Vikings headed for another excellent season.

The Vikings (11-1) have played nine of their 12 games against teams that made the playoffs last year and, thanks mainly to solid pitching, are well on their way to improving on their 15-10 record.

Michael Frost is 5-1 and Brett Comden is 4-0.

“It’s an evolution,” Latta said. “We’re just trying to build on last year’s success.”

Strong hitting helps.

Aaron Kerr, a three-sport athlete, is batting .540 and Frost, who played for the Northridge Little League team that won the U.S. championship in 1994, is batting .394.

The Vikings’ attempt to match their 8-2 league record in 1998 is a challenge, especially with Crossroads and Brentwood in the mix.

But Latta likes what he sees.

“The program’s definitely moving up,” he said. “I’d like to take credit, but I just let them play.”

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Highland lost three of four games in the Bishop Gorman tournament at Las Vegas, but the Bulldogs were ahead or tied in the sixth inning in the three losses.

“It put a blemish on our overall record, but our main quest is to win the Golden League,” said Coach Mike Van Cheri. “Nothing has been detracted from that.”

Highland (9-5, 3-1) trails Lancaster (10-3, 5-0) in the league. The teams play at Lancaster on April 21.

Staff writers Mike Bresnahan and Eric Sondheimer contributed to this notebook.