Softball playoffs: Division III preview

DIVISION III

Seeded teams: No. 1 Crescenta Valley; No. 2 Burbank; No. 3 Los Altos; and No. 4 Beckman.

Top county contender: Last season, Beckman rode the strong pitching of Jasmin Harrell and Trista Thomas to the Division III championship. Harrell and Thomas have been just as strong, but this season the Patriots have had more offense. Beckman closed out the regular season with a five-game winning streak, including a 3-1 triumph over Laguna Hills to earn a share of the Pacific Coast League title.

Darkhorse: Cal State Fullerton-bound Katey Laban is one of the top pitchers in the county and gives Fullerton, the Freeway League champion, a shot against any team in Division III.

Best first-round matchup: Irvine (10-14) at Rancho Alamitos, Friday, 3:15 p.m. These two teams met in the Timberwolf Classic on March 22 and Irvine came away with a 6-0 victory. Rancho Alamitos closed out the regular season with eight consecutive victories and will be looking for some revenge in this battle of the Vaqueros.

Players to watch: Gabby Aragon (Rancho Alamitos); Heather Bacon (Crescenta Valley, 0.74 ERA, 88 K); Caitlin Bradac (Garden Grove, 15-8, 0.69 ERA, 181 K, .462, 5 HR, 22 RBIs); Kali Cancelosi (Crescenta Valley, 0.28 ERA, 74 K); Adriana Cardoza (La Quinta, 11-5, 2.31 ERA, 110 K, .402, 30 R); Jasmin Harrell (Beckman, 12-2, 0.73 ERA, 113 K); Baillie Kirker (Crescenta Valley, .643, 17 HR, 62 RBIs); Katey Laban (Fullerton, 18-4, 0.13 ERA, 191 K); Kylee Lahners (Laguna Hills, .432, 5 HR, 24 RBIs); Lauren Lastrapes (Laguna Hills, .396, 8 HR, 20 RBIs); Alex Mitchell (Cajon, .489, 42 RBIs, 34 R); Diana-Lynn Patterson (Los Altos, 20-4, 0.67 ERA, 196 K); Trista Thomas (Beckman, 8-4, 1.27 ERA, 93 K).

Contact the writer: carias@ocregister.com