Tologs, Falcons take aim

GLENDALE — The softball teams from Crescenta Valley High and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy will both be active in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs today.

The Falcons, seeded third in the division, host Summit, while the Tologs travel to Westlake Village to play second-seeded Oaks Christian after passing a wild-card round test against Arroyo Grande on Tuesday. Both games begin at 3:15 p.m.

Crescenta Valley’s playoff opener pits a group of postseason neophytes against one of the most playoff-seasoned programs in the division.

The Falcons are fresh off a run to the semifinals in 2008 and have won the Pacific League title the last three years, while the SkyHawks’ program is only in its third year and making its playoff debut today.

“A game is a game and I don’t think we should take them lightly either way, even if we are more experienced,” senior Crescenta Valley center fielder Stephanie Ziemann said. “It’s gonna be good competition. I don’t think us having more experience has an advantage to anything, really.”

The SkyHawks may not have any past playoff experience to draw upon, but Coach Mitzi Aguilera said the most important thing is that the team is playing well at the present moment.

“The girls are clicking, they’re relaxing and having fun,” Aguilera said. “Everything’s just working together.”

Summit (18-7), located in Fontana and the second-place team from the Sunkist League, has a strong core of juniors anchoring its lineup in center fielder Alana Vergara, who is batting .518, infielders Stephanie Bolano (.432) and Olivia Fimbres (.419) and shortstop Gina Grijalva (.442). The SkyHawks scored 162 runs this season and have six players with double-digit RBI totals.

The Falcons (24-1) counter with a prolific offense of their own.

Third baseman Erin Ashby and second baseman Alyssa Sovereign are batting .539 and .463, respectively, at the top of the order and third hitter Baillie Kirker is hitting .529 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs. Despite some lineup changes from last year, the Falcons look very similar to the 2008 version that made the program’s deepest playoff run since 2000.