L-R: Brennah Bronk, Monica DeZern, Brianna Sanchez By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor The CIF-Southern Section playoffs are heating up Tuesday. Four area schools (Poly, Mayfield, Ramona Convent, Alverno) are looking for a spot in the CIF-SS quarterfinals in their respective divisions. Mayfield and Ramona Convent both have home games, while Poly and Alverno will be […]
L-R: Brennah Bronk, Monica DeZern, Brianna Sanchez
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
The CIF-Southern Section playoffs are heating up Tuesday.
Four area schools (Poly, Mayfield, Ramona Convent, Alverno) are looking for a spot in the CIF-SS quarterfinals in their respective divisions.
Mayfield and Ramona Convent both have home games, while Poly and Alverno will be on the road.
CIF Division 6: Poly (16-7) at Sierra Canyon (22-5-2):
Objectively, Poly got arguably the least fair bracket among area softball programs.
The Panthers cruised to a Prep League championship and went 11-1, including a sweep over Chadwick.
The Dolphins, though, got a much favorable bracket, while Poly is stuck facing the Division 6’s top seed.
Poly defeated Estancia in a 10-0, mercy-rule victory in five innings on Thursday, and they’re making that second round trip to Chatsworth to take on Sierra Canyon.
But there is nothing Poly can do about it, so they’re taking the attitude of ‘if we want to win a championship, we’re going to have to beat them at some point any way.’
Sophomore Brennah Bronk has led the Panthers all year in the circle and tomorrow will be no different.
“I know SC relays heavily on their pitcher,” Poly coach Jen Bond said. “They have a very good third baseman and their best hitter on the team. She has 14 home runs. As a team, they have 35 home runs, which is a lot. But a lot of it I think has to do with left and center only 170. The players have a mind set of its a team we have to beat in order to achieve our goal and we are up for the challenge. The fact that it is the number 1 seed does not phase them whatsoever.”
CIF Division 7: Carnegie Schools of Riversde (19-0) at Mayfield (15-6):
After two blowout victories, Mayfield will get its first real test tomorrow.
Mayfield defeated Serra and Bethel Christian by a combined score of 39-4.
The Cubs are taking on a Wolverines’ team that is 19-0 this season and they have an average margin of victory of 18-2.
Carnegie has allowed just 32 runs all season, but their schedule is far from elite.
Mayfield’s ascendance has been made even more impressive knowing they’ve been without star player, Jaylin Domingo, and without a single player that had any playoff experience.
Julia Watson, Madeline Biscaichipy, Taylin Yankovich and Alyssa Romo will need to continue to lead the Cubs’ offensive charge.
Monica DeZern has six hits and nine RBI in there two playoff wins.
“As far as experience, we have grown as a team during the season and played some tough teams, lost some close games but took the opportunity to learn from the games to make the team mentally stronger,” Mayfield coach William Eklund said. “The key against an undefeated team is to make them uncomfortable and play a style that they’re not in custom to. Take them out of their comfort zone.”
CIF Division 5: Alverno (17-8) at West Torrance (20-7):
Alverno enters Tuesday’s showdown at West Torrance having won 13 of their last 15, including a 4-1 victory over La Quinta in Thursday’s playoff opener.
Brianna Sanchez has been nothing short of amazing.
Sanchez almost always goes the distance in the circle, and she’s also a lethal offensive weapon for the Jaguars.
In the playoff victory last week, she hit a 3-run home run and shut down La Quinta in a complete-game effort.
“West Torrance comes from a very competitive league and their play reflects that. They have a very good pitcher, solid defense, and strong batting presence 1-9. Newman in the circle and their collective hitting ability will be our greatest challenge. We will need to play at our best defensively, prevent the big inning, and have timely hitting to continue,” Alverno coach Lucinda Buchan said.
“Our biggest improvement from pre-season to now is defense. We have a young team and we struggled defensively early on. Brianna is very important to our team. She has done well for us in the circle at the plate. She has great poise. Pitchers carry a great burden and she has handled that very well. That discipline is also carried into her hitting. She does well under pressure and that is reflected in her numbers.”
CIF Division 7 Softball: Village Christian (16-10) at Ramona Convent (11-9):
Ramona Convent is coming off a 10-0 victory over Providence in their first round of the Division 7 playoffs.
The Tigers finished second to Alverno in the Horizon League.
They will host Village Christian Tuesday at 3:15.
The Crusaders finished in second place in the Olympic League and earned a 20-1 victory over Santa Clarita Christian last Wednesday.
Ariel Velasquez, Daryanna Ductoc and Sabrina Avila pace the Ramona Convent offense.
