SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS / Baseball

Covina Charter Oak better not figure it caught a break by facing Tustin’s No. 2 starting pitcher, Mike Castillo, in today’s Southern Section Division III baseball semifinal game.

After all, Castillo (5-2) has proven to be just as dominating as Tiller ace Ivan Ramirez. Castillo struck out the first six batters he faced en route to a complete-game victory against Palm Desert in the second round.

“When he’s on,” Ramirez said of Castillo, “he’s unhittable.”

Charter Oak (22-7) will host the game, which starts at 3:15 p.m.

Tustin (19-7-2) hasn’t made it to the semifinal round since 1996, when the Tillers lost to Canyon. Tustin’s last title came in 1993.

In Division I, Los Alamitos (19-10) and Capistrano Valley (21-8) will play at 4 p.m. at Blair Field in Long Beach. The winner advances to Saturday’s championship game at Dodger Stadium to face the winner of today’s other semifinal, between wild-card entrant Long Beach Wilson (22-9) and second-seeded Temecula Valley (26-3).

Los Alamitos and Capistrano Vallley are on extended winning streaks; the Griffins have won nine consecutive games, while the Cougars have won 10 straight.

Capistrano Valley is making its first appearance in a semifinal since 1991, when the Cougars went on to win Coach Bob Zamora’s third title in 23 years. Los Alamitos is making its second appearance in a semifinal. In 1973 the Griffins made it to the championship game before losing to Santa Monica.

Zamora figures that one play could make all the difference in today’s game.

“It’ll be a break--a bad hop there, a missed play here,” he said. “Just one break.”