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.