Cypress Is Top-Seeded in Playoffs

Cypress College, which has won the last two state softball titles, was the top-seeded team when the Southern California playoff pairings were announced.

The Chargers (51-7) host No. 16 Grossmont (20-11) Friday at one of four sites. Antelope Valley (32-15), which was seeded eighth, plays No. 9 Cuesta (37-11) also at Cypress. Times will be announced today.

Long Beach (45-7) was seeded second, Palomar (37-12) got the third spot and Moorpark (30-9) was fourth.

Fullerton (34-11) and Saddleback (32-13-1) also made the playoffs. Fullerton, seeded 11th, opens with No. 6 Canyons (30-12-1) in a game at Palomar. Saddleback, seeded 12th, opens with No. 5 Hancock at Moorpark.

The double-elimination tournaments conclude Saturday and the four winners from the South meet the top four teams from the North May 21-23 in Fresno.

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Cypress shortstop Melissa Beck and Saddleback pitcher/infielder Tara Kroener were selected as the Orange Empire Conference players of the year.

Beck hit .455 with seven home runs and 53 runs batted in and Kroener hit .429 with four home runs and 41 RBIs and was 26-11 with a 1.02 earned-run average.

Brad Picker of Cypress and Riverside’s Bev Wimer were the coaches of the year.

Here is the first team:

Pitchers--Michelle Ivy (Fullerton), Tara Kroener (Saddleback), Angie Melendrez (Riverside), Mandy Rockwell (Cypress). Inf--Melissa Beck (Cypress), Nicole Falls (Cypress), Stephanie Rodriguez (Fullerton). Catchers--Angela Ferreira (Riverside), Natasha Sisco (Fullerton). Outfielders--Carrie Grimson (Orange Coast), Koral King (Cypress), Roxie Packard (Golden West).