California, La Mirada, Temple City and others ready for CIF-SS softball playoffs after pairings release – Pasadena Star News

California High’s Hailey Chavolla (17) jumps to score among the cheers of teammates after hitting a two-run home run against Santa Fe in their Del Rio League softball game at California High School in Whittier on Friday March 8, 2024. California defeated Santa Fe 3-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)

The California high school softball team has had an unbelievable season and passed every test thrown its way to become the top-ranked team in the San Gabriel Valley.

On Saturday, California, who went undefeated in the difficult Del Rio League, found out where its journey is headed next following the release of the CIF Southern Section playoff pairings.

California (25-4), who hopes to make its first championships appearance ever, earned the No. 3 seed in Division 2 and was awarded a bye to the second round. The Condors will await the first-round winner between Rosary Academy (18-8) and North Torrance (16-9-1).

Softball wild cards games are on Tuesday and first round games on Thursday. All games are scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m., unless teams agree to change.

Temple City (18-1-1), who won the Rio Hondo League title and a CIF-SS title two years ago and still has Ohio State-bound senior pitcher Kassandra Gewecke, will be at home in the Division 2 first round against Temescal Canyon (15-8).

Also in Division 2, Palomares League champion Bonita (22-6) will host Cypress (19-9) and Olympic League champion Whittier Christian (20-7) is home against Mission Viejo (19-6-1). St. Paul (14-12-1) will be at Beaumont (17-5) and La Serna (11-12) will be at Ramona (18-8).

Gateway League champion La Mirada (19-4-2) was one of only nine teams in Division 1 to start in the first round, all the others need to play wild cards to advance.

La Mirada, who was ranked sixth in the final D1 poll, will await the winner between JSerra (15-13) and Esperanza (15-11). D1 first round games begin on Tuesday, May 7.

South Hills (16-7), who finished second in the Hacienda League, is the only other area team in Division 1 and will host a wild card game on Thursday against Vista Murrieta (15-11). The winner will take on No. 2 seed and defending champion Garden Grove Pacifica (21-2) in the first round.

In Division 3, Hacienda League champion Los Altos (15-8-1) will host Bishop Amat (15-13) in the most intriguing all-area game. Valle Vista League champion Charter Oak (16-2-1) will host will host Lakewood (15-10) and Northview (16-6) will be home against Arlington (12-8).

In other notable games, Muir’s softball team finished 17-11, which was its first winning record in more than two decades, and was awarded an at-large berth to Division 7, where it will be making its first playoff appearance since 1982. The Mustangs are the No. 2 seed and will be on the road at Coastal Christian (14-5).

Ganesha (17-0), who won the Division 7 title last season, were awarded the top seed in Division 6, and have outscored their opponents 278-7. The Giants will host the wild-card winner between San Gorgonio (11-15) and Nordoff (5-13) in the first round.

Almont League champion Schurr (25-2) earned the No. 4 seed in Division 4 and will host Irvine (13-11) in the first round.

CIF-SS softball playoff schedule

DIVISION 1

Thursday’s wild card

Vista Murrieta (15-11) at South Hills (16-7)

Thursday’s first round

JSerra (15-13) vs. Esperanza (15-11) WC winner at La Mirada (19-4-2)

DIVISION 2

First round, Tuesday, May 7

St. Paul (14-12-1) at Beaumont (17-5)

Temescal Canyon (15-8) at Temple City (18-1-1)

California (25-3), bye

Cypress (19-9) at Bonita (22-6)

Mission Viejo (19-6-1) at Whittier Christian (20-7)

La Serna (11-12) at Ramona

DIVISION 3

Tuesday’s wild card

Long Beach Poly (14-7) at Sonora (12-10)

Thursday’s first round

Arlington (12-8) at Northview (16-6)

La Canada (14-9) at Cerritos (15-3)

Yorba Linda (10-11) at Santa Fe (17-9)

Bishop Amat (15-13) at Los Altos (15-8-1)

ML King (15-9) vs. Dos Pueblos (13-10) WC winner at Arcadia (11-8)

Lakewood (15-10) at Charter Oak (16-2-1)

DIVISION 4

Thursday’s first round

Covina (11-10-1) at Norwalk (19-6)

Monrovia (10-7) at Oak Hills (16-6)

Irvine (13-11) at Schurr (25-2)

San Marcos (14-7) at Flintridge Sacred Heart (14-10)

Diamond Bar (12-9) at Don Lugo (19-2)

San Dimas (13-13) at Orange Vista (11-7)

DIVISION 5

Tuesday’s wild card

Village Christian (9-8-2) at Azusa (13-9-1)

Thursday’s first round

West Ranch (13-11) at Duarte (15-4-1)

Keppel (18-6-1) at Anaheim (14-8)

Arroyo (15-3) at Grace (16-3-1)

Silverado (9-10) at South El Monte (19-5)

DIVISION 6

Tuesday’s wild card

Flintridge Prep (12-7) at Hamilton (8-8)

Mountain View (9-16) at Rancho Verde (12-9)

Southlands Christian (16-7) at Rio Hondo Prep (14-8)

Cantwell Sacred Heart (8-6) at El MOnte (12-9)

La Quinta (10-11) at Pioneer (12-6-1)

Thursday’s first round

Nordoff (5-13) vs. San Gorgonio (11-15) WC winner at Ganesha (17-0)

Mayfield (17-6) at Costa Mesa (14-4)

Edgewood (14-4) at Canyon Springs (23-3)

Capistrano Valley Christian (17-9) at Sierra Vista (16-9)

DIVISION 7

Thursday’s first round

Pasadena Poly (12-9) at Hawthorne (11-6)

Muir (17-11) at Coastal Christian (14-5)