Trying to break more ground

Early in the week, two Sage Hill School pitchers yearned for the ball.

In Coach Andy Berglund’s eyes, one earned it today.

Left-hander Jack Heffron takes the mound in the Lightning’s first postseason baseball game since 2004. The freshman faces visiting Burbank Bellarmine-Jefferson in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs at 3:15 p.m.

“I’m going with the big guy,” Berglund said of Heffron, a 6-foot-2, 185-pounder. “He’s been dominant all year.”

Berglund said he asked Heffron the day before if he was ready, and without hesitating, he said of course.

Sage Hill (14-6) had two solid options with Heffron (3-3, 2.93 earned-run average) and senior right-hander Travis Duncan (3-3, 2.33 ERA). Whoever got the nod, the first-year Lightning coach felt confident in the matchup against Bellarmine-Jefferson (9-11).

A win today and Sage Hill can start Duncan in the next round.

“That’s kind of the plan on paper,” said Berglund, who after leading the Lightning to their first Academy League crown in school history is trying to guide the program to the second round for the first time. “But we’re not looking past this team. [It] reminds me of Brethren Christian, a dangerous team in our league.”

Bellarmine-Jefferson, the third-place team out of the Santa Fe League, is young, but it has a robust lineup. Three hitters are batting above .500 and another is hitting .470.

The Guards are led by junior second baseman Jaro Trujillo, a .574 hitter with 21 runs batted in and two home runs, and senior outfielder Daniel Diaz (.525, 22 RBIs).

The other two standouts for the Guards are freshmen, infielder Phillip Diaz (.585) and first baseman Patrick Haney (.471, 32 RBIs).

Berglund is well aware of the attack. He has a quality lineup of his own, good enough to earn Sage Hill its second playoff victory in school history.

Heffron leads the group with gaudy numbers, a .509 average, 24 RBIs, 11 doubles and two homers, followed by junior first baseman Christopher Griffin (.462, 15 RBIs) and sophomore shortstop Sean Vogel (.431, 17 RBIs).

“This week was one of the best we’ve hit the ball during batting practice all year long,” Berglund said. “Our goal is to win every game and the championship. Now we just have to go out there and get the first one.”

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.