The wait is finally over for baseball fans across Southern California. The CIF-Southern Section baseball playoffs are set to begin this week, and 16 local teams have earned their spot in the postseason bracket.
Action kicks off Tuesday, with the newly introduced double-elimination format adding an extra layer of drama to Division I. Among the local contenders, Marmonte League co-champion Oaks Christian (22-6) landed in Pool C and will face a tough road test against Sierra Canyon (23-5). Depending on the outcome, the Lions could square off against either St. John Bosco (22-5) or Cypress (21-7) in Friday's second round.
For the remaining eight divisions, first-round games are split across two days. Divisions 2, 4, 6, and 8 will take the field Thursday, May 14, while Divisions 3, 5, 7, and 9 follow on Friday, May 15.
Three local schools earned top seeds, setting high expectations. Westlake enters Division 2 as the No. 2 seed, Agoura is the third seed in Division 3, and Moorpark is the second seed in Division 4. These teams will look to ride their regular-season momentum deep into the playoffs.
In Division 2, Coastal Canyon League champion Royal (23-3-1) hosts Freeway League champion El Modena (22-6), while Newbury Park (17-11) travels to Chaminade (17-11). Marmonte League co-champion Westlake (18-8) welcomes Alta Loma (18-6-1) in what promises to be a compelling opening matchup.
However, not every deserving team made the cut. Thousand Oaks (17-10), ranked No. 38 in the final Southern Section ratings, was left out despite being the second-highest rated team not selected. Only Mater Dei, rated No. 29, suffered a similar snub.
Agoura (15-13) managed to secure one of just 24 at-large berths across all nine divisions, despite finishing fifth in the Marmonte League. The Chargers will host Liberty League champion Oakwood (21-1) in the Division 3 first round on Friday.
Simi Valley (17-10) also heads into Division 3 action, visiting second-seeded Arcadia (18-10), the Pacific League champion. Meanwhile, second-seeded Moorpark (19-9) will host La Serna (13-8) in Division 4, looking to protect home field and make a deep run.
With brackets set and first pitches approaching, local baseball fans have plenty to cheer for this postseason. Whether you're following top seeds or underdogs, the CIF-SS playoffs are shaping up to be an unforgettable ride.