Six league champions lead area teams into postseason
The CIF Southern Section baseball playoff brackets were released Monday and revealed which Press-Telegram area teams will host first-round games on Thursday and Friday.
League champions La Mirada in Division 1, Millikan and Warren in Division 2, Cerritos in Division 3, St. Anthony in Division 4 and Calvary Chapel in Division 7 will all be at home.
Other top teams in the area include Lakewood in Division 2, Long Beach Poly in Division 4, Wilson in Division 4 and Bellflower in Division 6.
Division 1
La Mirada (21-6-1) will host Thousand Oaks (14-12) in the first round on Friday at 3:15 p.m. The Matadores won the Suburban League title and will look to junior pitcher Eric Jeon, who has a 0.64 ERA in 43 2/3 innings this season.
Los Alamitos (18-8-2) is at Harvard Westlake (20-7-1) in the first round on Friday at 3:15 p.m. The Griffins finished second in the Surf League.
Division 2
Gahr (12-16) is at Torrance (21-5-1) in the first round at Kendall Field at Torrance Park on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. The Gladiators finished second in the San Gabriel Valley League behind Warren.
Lakewood (17-11) is at Moorpark (18-9-1) in the first round Thursday at 3:15 p.m. The Lancers finished third in the Moore League but senior pitcher Anthony Eyanson has the talent to throw complete game shutouts against any lineup.
Warren (20-6-1) will host Beckman (20-8) in the first round Thursday at 3:15 p.m. Bears senior captains Aidan Gonzalez, Rocco Caballero and junior captain Julian Angulo will be looking for postseason redemption after losing in the second round of the 2021 CIFSS Division 3 playoffs. Warren won the San Gabriel Valley League title this season.
Millikan (20-8), the 2021 CIF-SS Division 3 champion, will host Mission Viejo (12-16) in the first round on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. Millikan will rely on solid hitting from senior shortstop Sam DeCarlo and junior center fielder Cameran Hegamin and timely pitching from senior Myles Patton and junior Austin Paul. The Rams won the Moore League title.
Division 3
Cerritos (22-5) will host Riverside Poly (11-13) in the first round on Friday at 3:15 p.m. The Dons won the 605 League title.
Poly (14-14) is at Capistrano Valley Christian (197) in the first round Friday at 3:15 p.m. The Jackrabbits are coming off a 1-0 loss to Millikan, where Poly showed it can play with anyone they will see in the playoffs. Poly finished fourth in the Moore League but it's a team to watch in the Division 3 playoffs.
Downey (12-16) is at La Serna (15-12) in the first round Friday at 3:15 p.m. The Vikings finished third in the San Gabriel Valley League.
Division 4
Wilson (19-9) is at St. Anthony (15-13) in the first round Thursday at 3:15 p.m. This all-Long Beach matchup will put the Del Rey League co-champions against the second-place Moore League team. The key will likely be Wilson senior pitcher Charlie Royle, who said he is feeling better after recovering from a recent back injury. The winner of this game will be a team to watch in the Division 4 playoffs.
Division 6
Bellflower (13-13-2) will host Jurupa Valley (11-9) in the first round Thursday at 3:15 p.m. The Buccaneers finished second in the Suburban League. A 6-6 tie against D2 playoff contender Warren in 10 innings on April 22 should give Bellflower the confidence it needs to make a postseason run in the Division 6 playoffs.
Norwalk (14-12) at Whittier Christian (17-10) in the first round Thursday at 3:15 p.m. The Lancers finished third in the Suburban League behind La Mirada and Bellflower.
Division 7
Calvary Chapel of Downey (13-15-1) will host the winner of the St. Monica Catholic at Santiago of Garden Grove wild-card round game in the first round Friday at 3:15 p.m.