Rain Delays Start of Softball Playoffs

Two-time defending champion Woodland Hills El Camino Real is the top-seeded team in the 14-team 4-A softball playoffs.

First-round games were scheduled for Tuesday and second-round games were scheduled for today, but rainstorms in the Southland have schools scrambling to complete first-round games by Friday.

Section officials are hoping to play second-round games on Monday, semifinals on Wednesday at South Gate Park and championship games for the 3-A and 4-A divisions on May 27 at UCLA.

El Camino Real, winner of nine of the last 13 titles, is led by pitcher Stephanie Frasco, who is 14-2 with an 0.60 earned-run average. Christina Enea leads the Conquistadores’ offense with a .569 batting average, eight home runs and 29 runs batted in.

El Camino Real and second-seeded San Pedro have first-round byes.

Westchester is the top-seeded team in the 16-team 3-A playoffs. South Gate, which defeated Westchester in last year’s final, is the second-seeded team.

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Orders for uniforms and stationery for Gardena, University and Van Nuys Birmingham have either been made or will be made soon as the schools prepare for the change in their nicknames and mascots.

The schools were ordered by a federal court judge to change their nicknames by July 1 because they were deemed offensive to Native Americans and perpetuated stereotypes.

The Los Angeles Unified School District is paying the schools about $370,000 to remove the images from campus walls, uniforms, stadiums and athletic equipment. The new nicknames were chosen through voting by students, faculty and school community.

Birmingham, which will receive $174,000, according to Athletic Director Lou Ramirez, recently changed its name from Braves to Patriots, honoring the campus’ historic role as an Army hospital in the 1940s.

In April, Gardena announced it was changing its nickname from Mohicans to Panthers. The school will receive $125,000 for the changeover, Principal Michael Perez said.

University voted to change its nickname from Warriors to Wildcats in February. The district will pay $70,800 for the changes, Athletic Director Ray Blum said.