League champ Beckman gets a road game; Cypress, Irvine, and Loara home; CdM faces Villa Park

Beckman’s baseball team is off to the CIF Division 1 playoffs to face Capo Valley Thursday. (Photo courtesy Rosalene Ledendecker, For OC Sports Zone)

With a 22-4 overall record and a Pacific Coast League championship under their belt, Beckman baseball coaches and players were undoubtedly expecting a home game in the opening round of the CIF Division 1 playoffs.

Typically, league champions are at home for the first round.

But Beckman got a road game and the Patriots will face defending CIF Division 1 champion Capistrano Valley, the South Coast League champion, Thursday at 3:15 p.m.

Coach Adam Sorgi’s Cougars are 18-9-2 overall and had a 7-3-2 record in the five-team South Coast League.

Undoubtedly, the strength of schedule was an issue. Beckman and Irvine (17-9) were the only two teams in the Pacific Coast League with winning overall records. Beckman was 14-1 in the league.

Beckman Coach Kevin Lavalle didn’t seem too upset at the draw, or at least he wasn’t saying so. He led the Patriots to the CIF Division 2 championship game last year. Beckman lost to Yucaipa 8-1 in the title game.

He and his players knew it would be a tougher road in Division 1.

“Nobody looks at the draw sheet in any division and starts inking anybody’s name to the finals,” Lavalle said Monday. “It’s just a tournament, and you play whomever is next.”

Lavalle was also asked about being away from Patriot Park in the opener.

“As far as playing on the road, I don’t care.” he said.

The winner of Thursday’s game doesn’t have an easy road as it will go up against the winner of the game between Servite and No. 2 seeded Cypress in the second round next Tuesday.

Cypress (26-3) won the Empire League title while Servite (19-14) finished 7-9 in the Trinity League.

“Looking at the Division 1 bracket, I guess there’s lots that people could question; but at this point there’s no sense in that,” said Cypress Coach John Weber. “So with that said, we’re really excited to play Servite, a team that we know and respect.”

Also this week, Tarbut ‘V Torah, which won the Express League, hosts Calvary Baptist in a CIF Division 7 opening round game which will be played Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Ryan Lemmon Stadium.

“We are excited about the opportunity to compete in the playoffs,” said TVT Coach Brent Dohling. “Regardless of the opponent, our focus is on our team and how well we can execute.”

Irvine High players, coached by Gabriel Cota, are also excited about their game Friday against Rancho Alamitos in the CIF Division 4 playoffs. The Vaqueros were second behind Beckman in the Pacific Coast League.

“We will do some research and gain as much information as we can on Rancho Alamitos,” Cota said. “We know that everyone in the playoffs is there because they earned the spot. We will have to play our best to have an chance in any game. We are just excited at the opportunity to play more games.”

Rancho Alamitos (15-8) finished second in the Garden Grove League behind Loara.

Also on Friday, Corona del Mar, which finished second in the Sunset Wave League, travels to Villa Park to take on the North Hills League champions. CdM is 18-8-1 and Villa Park is 14-14.

“We are excited to be playing in the playoffs,” said CdM Coach Kevin McCaffrey. “We played well the final two weeks of the season to allow us to get into the playoffs.

“Villa Park has an excellent baseball tradition and we are expecting a great game.  They are a league champion from a very good league. They are a hot team right now winning five of their last six games. It should be a fun day on Friday with two really good teams getting after it.”

Loara (16-8) will be home in the CIF Division 4 playoffs to face El Rancho (16-9-1). Loara won the Garden Grove League championship.

“From what I know, they’re a really good team and I would say a tough draw, but this is the playoffs,” said Loara Coach Shaun Hill. “There are no easy draws. Whoever makes the least amount of mistakes will get out of there with a win.”

TO SEE THE CIF PLAYOFF BRACKETS FOR ALL DIVISIONS, CLICK HERE

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com