Hart, Westlake at the Top

Hart and Westlake highs traveled different paths this season, but they begin the Southern Section baseball playoffs seeded No. 1.

Hart (25-1) enters the Division II playoffs after winning the Westside and Villa Park tournaments, leading the Foothill League from start to finish, and only losing to Canyon.

Westlake (21-6-1) struggled early, losing to Thousand Oaks and tying unheralded Newbury Park. But the Warriors rallied to win the Marmonte League title and earn the top seeding in Division III.

Hart, which won the Division II title in 1999, hosts a first-round game Friday against the winner of today’s wild-card game between Ventura and Rio Mesa.

Westlake, led by college recruits Tyler Adamczyk (California) and Mike Nickeas (Georgia Tech), hosts the winner of the Serrano-Victor Valley wild-card game.

In Division I, Valencia (17-9) made the playoffs for only the second time since the program started in 1996 and plays at Upland (20-6) on Friday. Camarillo (23-6) won the Pacific View League for the third consecutive season and hosts Arroyo Grande (15-9).

In Division II, regional matchups include Royal (19-9) at Golden League champion Lancaster (21-4-1) and Quartz Hill (13-12) at Crescenta Valley (18-7), which won the division title in 1998.

Unfortunately for Chaminade, Division IV features Bishop Amat, ranked No. 4 in the nation in one poll, and other talented private schools. Chaminade (22-3) won 21 of its last 22 games and was Mission League champion but was unseeded and will play Bosco Tech in the first round Friday night at Birmingham.

“Our bracket is a nightmare, but we have as good a shot as anybody,” Chaminade Coach Scott Drootin.

In Division V, Alpha League champion L.A. Baptist (19-5) hosts Loma Linda Academy (12-6) in the first round.

In Division VI, league champions Viewpoint (14-5), Grace Brethren (15-7) and Highland Hall (16-2) host first-round games.

St. Francis finished fifth in the Mission League, but was selected ahead of fourth-place Notre Dame for an at-large bid in the Division IV playoffs.

The Golden Knights (12-10, 4-8 in league play) reached 11 overall victories required for playoff consideration while Notre Dame (10-15-1, 4-7-1) did not.

St. Francis, which lost to Notre Dame twice during the regular season, plays at No. 3-seeded Monrovia (18-3) in a first-round game Friday.

Last week was disappointing for Agoura.

Seeking its first Marmonte League championship since joining the league in 1991, the Chargers lost to Moorpark, 12-9, and last-place Newbury Park, 14-2.

Agoura entered the week tied for first place with Westlake, which won its second consecutive league title. Agoura (16-7), which had gone 2-10 in league play the previous two seasons, finished second.

Agoura must play a Division III wild-card game today at home against Atascadero. The winner plays at Santa Barbara in a first-round game Friday.