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    Four-way tie for first? One of the possibilities in OC softball races
    • May 6, 2025

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    A look at some of the top Orange County softball playoff races for the final week of the regular season:

    Crestview League: The league has played three rounds of games but there is a chance for a four-way tie for first place. The contenders are Pacifica (15-10, 7-4), El Modena (18-8, 7-5), Canyon (19-8, 6-5) and Cypress (18-9, 6-5).

    With one game left, the four teams are vying for the league’s three automatic playoff spots. All four teams are in the O.C. Top 10 this week.

    A four-way deadlock will occur Tuesday if Cypress defeats visiting Pacifica and Canyon beats visiting Esperanza (6-21, 2-9).

    If there is a four-way tie for first place, the teams’ head-to-head record within the four-team group will be used as part of the tiebreaker, Century Conference president Ray Elliott said. In that scenario, Canyon and Cypress would have 5-4 records while El Modena and Pacifica would have 4-5 records.

    With the teams separated into a pair of ties, the results of their three-game league series would supply the final separation in the tiebreaker, Elliott said.

    Canyon would earn the league’s No. 1 automatic playoff berth based on winning the league series 2-1 against Cypress, which would take the league’s second CIF bid. El Modena would claim the No. 3 automatic playoff entry over Pacifica because it won the teams’ series 2-1.

    In this scenario, Pacifica — the two-time defending Division 1 champion — would be seeking an at-large berth to the playoffs.

    Of all the potential scenarios involving the four teams, only El Modena has clinched at least a top-three finish.

    The Division 1 playoffs will feature a 32-team bracket, said Thom Simmons, assistant commissioner and section spokesperson.

    Trinity League: Mater Dei (15-11-1, 4-4) and Santa Margarita (18-8-1, 4-4) enter the final round Tuesday tied for second place. One of the league’s two automatic playoff spots has been claimed by league champion Orange Lutheran (22-4, 6-2).

    Mater Dei's Aly Carrillo, right, takes the throw from the catch as she tries to pick off Fullerton's Olivia Wilder at third in a nonleague softball game in Fountain Valley on Friday, March 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
    Mater Dei’s Aly Carrillo, right, takes the throw from the catch as she tries to pick off Fullerton’s Olivia Wilder at third in a nonleague softball game in Fountain Valley on Friday, March 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    Mater Dei plays Orange Lutheran at Fountain Valley Sports Park while Santa Margarita pays host to JSerra (14-13, 2-6).

    If Mater Dei and Santa Margarita tie for second, the Monarchs will earn the automatic berth based on winning the teams’ league series 2-1.

    Sunset League: The race to watch is for fourth place and the final automatic playoff spot in the seven-team league. Fountain Valley (14-11, 6-5) and Edison (11-13, 6-5) are tied entering their games Tuesday against first-place Los Alamitos (15-12, 9-2) and Huntington Beach (20-7, 9-2), respectively.

    Fountain Valley and Edison have split their two league games. If the Barons and Chargers finish tied for fourth, they would meet Wednesday at Huntington Beach in a one-game playoff, Edison athletic director Rich Boyce said.

    South Coast League: Mission Viejo edged Tesoro 3-2 on Monday to join Capistrano Valley as an automatic playoff qualifier. The Cougars (15-10, 5-2) and Diablos (13-13, 5-2) are tied for first with one game remaining.

    Aliso Niguel (14-12-1, 3-4) needs to beat host Capistrano Valley on Tuesday to force a tie with Tesoro (11-10, 4-4) for third place. If there is a tie, a one-game playoff for the spot would be played at El Toro on Wednesday, Wolverines athletic director Andrew Mashburn said.

    Freeway League: Sonora (16-8, 4-7) and Villa Park (13-14, 4-7) are tied for third place entering their league finales on Tuesday. The Raiders play host to second-place El Dorado (16-11, 6-5) while the Spartans play host to Sunny Hills (9-13, 2-9).

    If Sonora and Villa Park tie for third, the Raiders would earn the league’s third and final automatic playoff based on winning the league series 2-1, Elliott confirmed.

    NOTES

    The CIF-SS playoff pairings are scheduled to be released Monday at noon. …

    Huntington Beach’s Bree Carlson, Santa Margarita’s Payton Kennedy and Villa Park’s Julianna Romero are tied for the county lead in home runs with 11. …

    Marina co-coach Dan Hay earned his 305th career win Monday. He has previously coached at Huntington Beach and Canyon. …

    Orange Lutheran center fielder Kai Minor and Rosary shortstop Jenna Caldera have been nominated for Gatorade state player of the year, their coaches said.

     Orange County Register 

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