El Dorado Atop Division II

El Dorado, which won its first league title since 1976, and two-time defending Southern Section champion Pacifica are the county’s top-seeded teams in the Southern Section softball playoffs.

Foothill (Division I) and Orange Lutheran (Division V) are seeded second, and Woodbridge (Division II) is seeded fourth.

Wild-card games begin Wednesday.

Division I

Defending champion: Mater Dei, a 4-1 winner over Chino Hills Ayala.

Top teams: Quartz Hill (24-1), Foothill (27-3), Rancho Cucamonga (23-2), Diamond Bar (25-2).

Dark horse: El Toro (20-7), with victories over Foothill, Fountain Valley and Pacifica, is capable of beating anyone in the division.

Noteworthy: Foothill Coach Joe Gonzalez, who had a kidney removed this month, returns to the dugout on Friday. “He’ll sit on the bench,” assistant Joe Brunansky said. “He’ll direct the show. It’s pretty tough for him to sit there and not.”

Division II

Defending champion: Quartz Hill, a 5-2 winner over Cerritos.

Top teams: El Dorado (21-3), Cerritos (21-7), Corona (22-5), Woodbridge (20-9).

Dark horse: Marina (19-9) finished second in the Sunset League and is capable of beating any team in the division.

Noteworthy: El Dorado is seeded No. 1, but Woodbridge and Marina are ranked higher in the county’s top 10 poll.

Division III

Defending champion: Pacifica, a 1-0 winner over Glendora St. Lucy’s.

Top teams: Pacifica (19-8), Covina Charter Oak (21-5), La Puente Bishop Amat (20-7), Newbury Park (21-7).

Dark horse: Garden Grove (18-10-1) won its last 12 games, including last week’s victory against Pacifica. Pitcher Nuvia Marti, academically ineligible most of the season, has won the last six games and makes the Argonauts a threat.

Noteworthy: Pacifica maintained its No. 1 seeding despite the loss to Garden Grove. “Actually, I’m surprised [to be No. 1],” Pacifica Coach Rob Weil said. “I thought we would drop. I guess it’s our reputation. You win two consecutive titles, they give you the nod.”

Division IV

Defending champion: Corona Santiago, a 2-0 winner over Rosary.

Top teams: West Hills Chaminade (20-6-1), Santa Fe Springs St. Paul (25-3), West Covina South Hills (23-3), Rosary (20-8).

Dark horse: Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (19-7) twice played Chaminade tough in Mission League play, losing only 2-0 in one of the games.

Noteworthy: Rosary won its first five games, then lost eight of 11. Seven of those losses came in the opponents’ final at-bat, and five were to teams that have been ranked in Orange County’s top 10 poll. The Royals finished the season winning 12 in a row.

Division V

Defending champion: Calvary Chapel, a 1-0 winner over Orange Lutheran.

Top teams: Santa Maria St. Joseph (17-9), Orange Lutheran (23-5), Pomona Catholic (14-9), Thousand Oaks La Reina.

Dark horse: Calvary Chapel (12-7) has gone 11-3 since a 1-4 start, including a victory over second-seeded Orange Lutheran. The Eagles have won the last two section titles.

Noteworthy: Olympic League champion Orange Lutheran won its first title since 1981, when it won four in a row.

Division VI

Defending champion: Camarillo Cornerstone Christian, a 1-0 winner over Lone Pine.

Top teams: Boron (21-0), Temecula Linfield (20-6), Camarillo Cornerstone Christian (18-6), Victor Valley Christian (19-9).

Dark horse: Liberty Christian (20-2) was ranked second in the section, and probably would have been seeded No. 2, until last week’s loss to Express League champion Norwalk Pioneer Baptist (14-1).

Noteworthy: Boron is the section’s only unbeaten team.