Unseeded Trio Moves Forward

Most of the seeded teams have walked into the dugout for the final time.

But three unseeded teams from the region--Crescenta Valley, Westlake and St. Bonaventure highs--are alive and well in the Southern Section baseball semifinals, to be played Tuesday.

Crescenta Valley (23-3-1), which last advanced this far in 1993, must decide which pitcher will start against unseeded Yucaipa in a Division I semifinal at Blair Field in Long Beach.

Either Josh Herman (9-1, 2.1 earned-run average) or Jordan Olson (9-1, 0.99 ERA) will get the nod.

“It’s a hard championship to win,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Phil Torres, referring to the fact that only six of the 20 seeded teams are still playing in Divisions I through V. “Your No. 2 pitcher has got to be good.”

Westlake (18-10), which last advanced to the semifinals in 1990, has already played at a college site--a nonleague game at UC Santa Barbara against Dos Pueblos--and now likely will play in a minor-league stadium.

Westlake faces unseeded Serrano in Division III, probably at Maverick Stadium in Adelanto, the home of the High Desert minor-league team.

“Hopefully, we’ll also get to play in a major-league stadium,” said Westlake Coach Chuck Berrington, alluding to the site of Saturday’s championship at Dodger Stadium.

St. Bonaventure (12-12) won a coin flip against unseeded Temecula Linfield, but hasn’t settled on a site for the Division V semifinal.

The Seraphs, who haven’t been to the semifinals since 1970, have won two playoff games in extra innings. “I’ve had more talented teams, but never any that were more enthusiastic,” Coach Dennis Johnson said.

Right fielder Matt Leeth is out for the season because of a separated left shoulder he sustained while sliding into second base in the Seraphs’ quarterfinal victory.