Today is the final day of league games in Orange County baseball. Friday is an “open date” left available for any games needed to break ties that would determine which teams go to the CIF-Southern Section playoffs. We will know this evening if any Friday games are necessary. Because most leagues have 2-out-of-3 series among league teams, such games usually are not needed.
So, for the Trinity League … Orange Lutheran coach Eric Borba explained the scenarios. Knowing he was speaking with Steve Fryer, Borba spoke slowly.
The standings: JSerra 12-2 (clinched league title and the league’s No. 1 playoff representation in Division 1), Mater Dei 8-6, Orange Lutheran 8-6, Santa Margarita 8-6 (MD, OL, SM listed alphabetically, so don’t get all excited). St. John Bosco and Servite are eliminated from playoff contention.
Today’s schedule: Orange Lutheran at Santa Margarita, 3:15 p.m.; St. John Bosco at Mater Dei, 6 p.m.; Servite at JSerra, 6 p.m.
Scenarios: If Orange Lutheran wins, Orange Lutheran is the league’s No. 2 team and Mater Dei is No. 3 no matter what happens elsewhere; if Santa Margarita wins, then 2-3-4 depends on what Mater Dei does; if Santa Margarita and Mater Dei win, Mater Dei is No. 2 and Santa Margarita is No. 3; if Santa Margarita wins and Mater Dei loses, then Santa Margarita is No. 2 and Orange Lutheran is No. 3.
Santa Margarita has win to get in, is the simplest way to look at this.
It does not appear that a Friday game would be needed to sort it out.
Also, there will be no at-large teams going to the Division 1 playoffs. It’s a 32-team bracket, and there will be more than 32 automatic qualifiers. Wild-card games will be played in Division 1 and most of the other six CIF-SS divisions to reduce the number of qualifiers to 32 for the first round.
