Inside look at top softball matchups

The CIF-SS softball playoffs are underway and there are already some major matchups.

Here is a look at today's top second-round games:

DIVISION I

El Modena at Esperanza:The Aztecs, who had to win a wild-card game to get into the main draw, pulled off the biggest upset of the first round when they knocked off Mater Dei, ranked No. 1 in the county.

These two teams met in a nonleague doubleheader early in the season. Esperanza won the first game, 3-1, and El Modena took the second game, 7-6, to get a split.

El Modena won the Division II title with Kylie Wagner leading the way in the circle. Wagner's little sister, Haylie Wagner, a sophomore, has developed into one of the top pitchers in the county this season and she gives the Vanguards an edge over Esperanza in the pitching department.

Esperanza has an explosive offense. Kristin Scharkey is one of the top leadoff hitters, and Kailyn Johnson and Kelsea Roth are threats to go deep whenever they are at the plate.

The Esperanza-El Modena winner plays the Moorpark-Hart of Newhall winner in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Pacifica at Canyon:The Mariners bring a 12-game winning streak into this matchup against the third-seeded Comanches. Canyon has been at its best in big games and big tournaments this season and this one certainly qualifies.

Canyon gets it done with pitching and defense. Sophomore ace Cheyanne Tarango, who has already committed to Tennessee, is one of the top pitchers in the county and junior Krystian DeWitt has grown into her role as Pacifica's ace.

Jamie Prussic (.432, 4 HR, 14 RBIs) has been a clutch hitter for Pacifica this season.

The Canyon-Pacifica winner plays the Los Alamitos-Santiago of Corona winner in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Foothill at Edison:This is an interesting matchup because it pits Foothill's high-powered offense against Edison ace Allyson Hecht.

Hallie Wilson (.522, 8 HR, 31 RBIs) and Taylor Cantillo (.446, 4 HR, 33 RBIs) are Foothill's top hitters, but the Knights are dangerous up and down their lineup.

Edison won its final six games to close out the regular season and win the Sunset League title, which ended up being toughest and most competitive in the county.

The Edison-Foothill winner plays the Riverside Poly-Valencia of Valencia winner in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Norco at El Toro:On paper, the top-seeded Cougars look like an overwhelming favorite with Stanford-bound ace Teagan Gerhart in the circle.

But the Chargers battled Norco in the prestigious Faster to First Classic earlier this season and the Cougars were fortunate to escape with a 1-0 victory. Don't count out El Toro.

The Norco-El Toro winner plays the Thousand Oaks-Pacifica of Oxnard winner in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Santiago of Corona at Los Alamitos:Kristen May is one of the top pitchers in Southern California and gives the Sharks the edge over the Griffins. But Los Alamitos has proven to be resilient. The Tennessee Tech-bound Spalding sisters, Brittney and Chanelle, lead the Griffins offense.

DIVISION III

Ayala of Chino Hills at Aliso Niguel:This should be a very good pitching duel between Ayala's Jessica Hall and Aliso Niguel's Mandy Gardner.