Ineligible Player Keeps Sylmar Out of Playoffs

Sylmar High’s softball team was denied a City Section playoff berth and a league title after it was forced to forfeit 12 victories, including six in Valley Mission League play, because of an ineligible player.

Gabriela Barragan, a junior third baseman, transferred from San Fernando last fall and was cleared to play by Sylmar’s administration, Coach Esther Guzman said.

Guzman said she was told shortly before Tuesday’s game against Monroe that Sylmar would have to forfeit all of its victories after the Interscholastic Athletics Committee ruled Barragan had not met change-of-residency guidelines required of transfers.

An appeal by Sylmar was denied Wednesday.

“Rules are rules, but I’m really disappointed,” said Guzman, a second-year coach who guided Sylmar to the City quarterfinals last season. “I was given the green light to play [Barragan] all season. . . . One player does not make our team, but unfortunately that’s how it ended.”

Sylmar, which has nine seniors, entered the week tied for first place with Kennedy. The Spartans won their last two games against Monroe and Reseda to finish 2-21, 2-8 in league play.

* El Camino Real, despite a 22-5 record and no losses to City opponents, was disappointed with a No. 3 seeding in the City Championship softball playoffs.

The Conquistadores, West Valley League champions and winners of 11 of the last 14 City titles, were seeded behind No. 1 San Pedro, the defending champion, and Carson, last year’s runner-up. San Pedro and Carson were co-champions of the Marine League.

“I’m a little surprised we didn’t get a first or second [seeding], but when you don’t share any common opponents with the other schools, it comes down to the coaches’ vote,” El Camino Real Coach Lori Chandler said. “But being No. 3 really doesn’t hurt us because we still have two home games and the semifinals are at a neutral site.”

The Conquistadores will host Washington (13-9), the fourth-place team from the Marine League, in a first-round game Tuesday.

Verdugo Hills (22-2-1), the Sunset Six League champion, was seeded No. 4 and hosts Eastern League champion South Gate (17-5-1) in the first round.

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* City Section softball and volleyball playoff pairings, D14