Roosevelt gets the No. 3 seed, starts with Upland
The Roosevelt softball team captured its first Big VIII League title this season, and that earned the Mustangs the No. 3 seed in the Division 1 bracket as the CIF Southern Section released its playoff pairings Saturday.
Roosevelt (23-3) was the Division 1 runner-up last season, falling to Esperanza, 3-2, in the championship game. The Mustangs’ quest for a first section championship begins when they host Upland (16-12) on Thursday afternoon in a first-round game. Upland won the Division 2 championship last season and tied for second place in the Baseline League this year.
Oaks Christian, Villa Park and Camarillo received the other seeds in the Division 1 bracket this season.
Norco, a perennial Division 1 contender and the Big VIII League runner-up this season, will be on the road for a first-round game for the first time since the 2013 playoffs. The Cougars (19-8) play at California (198) on Thursday.
Murrieta Mesa, the Southwestern League co-champion and No. 1 team in the IE Varsity rankings, opens the Division 1 playoffs at home Thursday against Ayala (136). The Rams (23-7) would face Norco or California in the second round should they advance.
Two Inland teams earned the No. 1 seed in their respective playoff divisions.
Centennial qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 24 seasons by placing third in the Big VIII League. The Huskies (22-6) are the No. 1 seed in Division 2 but will have to open on the road at Diamond Ranch (12-9).
Palomares League champion Bonita grabbed the No. 1 seed in the Division 3 bracket because Anaheim Canyon, which has been the top-ranked team in the division most of the season and won the prestigious Michelle Carew Classic, did not earn an automatic playoff berth. There also were no at-large spots available in the division this year. Bonita (22-5-1) opens at home Thursday afternoon against El Rancho (11-15) or Long Beach Wilson (15-13).
River Valley League champion Ramona is the No. 3 seed in the Division 4 bracket. The Rams (224) open at home Thursday against San Juan Hills (1411).
Cajon finished third in the Citrus Belt League this season, and that was enough to earn the Cowboys the No. 4 seed in the Division 5 bracket. Cajon (19-5) will travel to University Prep (18-5) for a first-round game Thursday afternoon.
CIF-SS SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
(Games at 3:15p.m. Times and sites subject to change)
Division 1
Tuesday’s wild-card game Cypress at Valley View
Thursday’s first-round games
Saugus at Chino Hills California at Norco
Ayala at Murrieta Mesa Sultana at Beaumont
Los Alamitos at Grand Terrace
Upland at Roosevelt
Great Oak at Garden Grove Pacifica
Orange Lutheran at Riverside Poly
Vista Murrieta at Villa Park
Division 2
Thursday’s first-round games
Centennial at Diamond Ranch San Dimas at La Habra Charter Oak at Etiwanda Summit at Yucaipa
JSerra at Don Lugo
Division 3
Thursday’s first-round games
El Rancho or Long Beach Wilson at Bonita
Heritage at Cerritos
Culver City vs. Western Christian at Greenbelt Park Arlington at Temescal Canyon
San Juan Hills at Ramona Aquinas at Carter
Hemet at La Quinta
Chino at West Torrance
Division 4
Thursday’s first-round games
Colton at Oak Hills
Jurupa Hills at Schurr
Village Christian at Orange Vista
Palm Desert at Santa Rosa Academy
Division 5
Tuesday’s wild-card games
Ontario Christian at Barstow Banning at Canyon Springs Thursday’s first-round games Banning or Canyon Springs at San Jacinto
Cajon at University Prep Northwood at Garey
Victor Valley at Montclair
Division 6
Tuesday’s wild-card games
West Valley at Arrowhead Christian
Miller at Magnolia
Thursday’s first-round games Pioneer at Elsinore
Miller or Magnolia at Eisenhower
Costa Mesa at San Jacinto Valley Academy
Hillcrest at San Bernardino Mayfield at Redlands Adventist
Lakeside at Katella
Division 7
Thursday’s first-round games
Rosemead at Cornerstone Christian
Cal Lutheran at Lennox Academy
Linfield Christian at Noli Indian
Pacific at Rim of the World Estancia at La Verne Lutheran
Animo Leadership at Tahquitz Big Bear at Bethel Christian Nuview Bridge at Hamilton