Softball playoffs: Division II preview

Comments |

Recommend

Kennedy is the favorite, but Pacifica could also make a run in the postseason.

DIVISION II

Seeded teams: No. 1 Kennedy (ranked No. 5 in the state); No. 2 Etiwanda; No. 3 Lakewood; and No. 4 Mission Viejo.

Top county contender: Kennedy, the Empire League champion, closed out the regular season with 10 consecutive victories. The Fighting Irish have two quality pitchers in Allee Allen and Ashley Hewitt. Offensively they are led by the speedy Reid twins, Jamia and Elia, and the clutch hitting of Monica Aguilar. Kennedy reached the finals last season and has all the talent and experience to win the whole thing this season.

Darkhorse: Pacifica, the defending Division II champion, has had a rollercoaster of a ride this season, but the Mariners have to be one of the most dangerous teams in Division II. The Mariners have shown flashes in victories over Mission Viejo, Foothill, Hart of Newhall, Fullerton and Ayala of Chino Hills. Pitching has been spotty for Pacifica, but they have a high-powered offense led by UCLA-bound Andrea Harrison, Arizona State-bound Christina Zambrana and Arizona-bound Kristen Arriola.

Best wild-card matchup: El Dorado (11-13) at Mayfair (14-7) of Lakewood, Wednesday, 3:15 p.m. The Golden Hawks won five of their last seven games, including a 3-1 victory over Canyon, to close out the regular season strong and take third place in the Century League. The Monsoons took third place in the Suburban League.

Players to watch: Allee Allen (Kennedy, 15-2, 0.24 ERA, 183 K); Sarah Carrasco (Lakewood, .493, 20 RBIs, 19 R); MacKensey Carter (Mission Viejo, 11-3, 0.34 ERA, 125 K); Tatum Edwards (Vista Murrieta, 12-2, 0.74 ERA, 119 K); Taylor Edwards (Vista Murrieta, .563, 6 HR, 38 RBIs); Dana Garcia (La Mirada, .476, 6 HR, 27 RBIs); Jessica Hall (Ayala of Chino Hills, 19-10, 0.98 ERA, 214 K); Andrea Harrison (Pacifica, .411, 12 HR, 42 RBIs); Maggie Karros (Etiwanda, 19-3, 0.71 ERA, 153 K); Emily McEwen (El Modena); Calle Nikoletich (Long Beach Wilson, 12-4, 2.50 ERA, 123 K); Jamia Reid (Kennedy, .506, 23 R, 17 SB); Torie Schmidt (Valencia of Placentia, .388, 28 R); Nani St. Germain (Ayala of Chino Hills, .400, 9 HR, 29 RBIs); Michelle Tait (Mission Viejo, 11-3, 0.82 ERA, 139 K); Cheyanna Tarango (Canyon, 22-7, 1.32 ERA, 287 K); Tayler Van Acker (Canyon, .436, 3 HR, 17 RBIs); Kylie Wagner (El Modena); and Aubray Zell (Lakewood, 16-5, 1.52 ERA, 146 K).

Contact the writer: carias@ocregister.com