Hamlet Nalbandyan
GLENDALE -- All season, the Crescenta Valley High softball team has
been pretty much ignored as far as the CIF Southern Section Division II
rankings were concerned.
So it came as no surprise Monday -- when the playoff brackets were
released -- that the Falcons received a less-than desirable draw.
CV (25-3) -- which finished 10-0 in the Pacific League for the fifth
consecutive season -- gets to host a first-round game, but the opponent
that it likely will face presents the toughest first-round matchup in the
division.
Dan Berry's squad will face the winner of Wednesday's wild-card game
between San Gabriel -- the second-place team from the Almont League --
and Westlake Village Westlake (16-7-2), the third-place team from the
tough Marmonte League.
Most likely, it will be Westlake, which finished runner-up in the San
Fernando Valley Victory Spring Classic behind La Canada and in front of
CV, that will face the Falcons in the 3:15 p.m. game Friday at Montrose
Park.
The Warriors were edged out in the Marmonte League by Simi Valley
Royal -- the No. 4 seed in Division II -- and Thousand Oaks.
If CV could get by that tough matchup, then it will face California
(19-5-1), the Del Rio League champion.
The Falcons also have Foothill, the No. 1 seed, Royal and Rio Mesa in
the same bracket.
In Division I, Hoover (13-13, 6-4 in the Pacific League for third
place) will be on the road against Oxnard Hueneme (13-13, 7-5 in the
Pacific View League for third place) in a wild-card game at 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday.
The winner has the unfavorable task of facing No. 1-seed Valencia in
the first round.
In Division IV, La Canada (17-4-1) has a possible quarterfinal matchup
with No. 2-seed Fullerton Rosary waiting in the wings.
The Royals finished right behind Mater Dei in the Serra League.
In the meantime, Bart Dickins' squad hosts a first-round game at 3:15
p.m. Friday against either L.A. Immaculate Heart (17-4-1) and Torrance
Bishop Montgomery (8-12). After that, La Canada will likely meet La
Puente (14-8), the Montview League champion.
Rounding out the local teams in the playoffs are Flintridge Prep and
Holy Family in Division V.
The Rebels (10-10) host a wild-card game at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday
against Sierra Madre Maranatha (12-10), the same team that beat them,
13-1, in the first game of the season.
The Gaels (8-6) -- who finished third in the Horizon League -- will
travel to Downey Calvary Chapel (16-9) for a first-round game at 3:15
p.m. Friday.
