OCVarsity takes a close look at the top teams in the CIF-SS Division 5 playoff bracket.
DIVISION 5
2015 champion: St. Bonaventure
Top four seeded teams: 1. St. Bonaventure (18-6); 2. Louisville (17-7); 3. Garden Grove (19-7-1); 4. Silverado (21-5)
O.C. teams: Calvary Chapel (7-14); La Quinta (17-8); Garden Grove (19-7-1); Godinez (18-6);
Analysis: Just like they were a year ago, St. Bonaventure finds itself back atop of the Division 5 bracket, while Garden Grove is primed for yet another lengthy run as the 3-seed. The Argonauts would love nothing more than another crack at the Seraphs in the final, especially after last year’s lackluster 8-0 showing in the championship game.
Garden Grove bolstered its preseason slate this spring specifically because of that very loss last June. Coach Jasen Sutter scheduled the likes of Savanna, Brea Olinda, La Habra and Mater Dei in hopes it would pay dividends for this upcoming three-week stretch.
Senior first baseman Alyssa Fernandez has been on a tear of late, notching multi-hit games in six of Garden Grove’s 10 league wins. Sophomore pitcher Olivia Candelas is 19-6 with a 1.91 ERA on the season, and will look to extend her 11-start win streak come Thursday.
A potential Garden Grove-Godinez second round meeting would be a good one, especially being as the Grizzlies are winners of their last 13 outings.
