The California high school softball team has had an extremely successful season and passed every test thrown its way to become the top-ranked team in the San Gabriel Valley.
On Saturday, California, which went undefeated in the difficult Del Rio League, found out where its journey is headed next with the release of the CIF Southern Section playoff pairings.
California (25-4), which hopes to make its first championship game appearance, earned the No. 3 seed in Division 2 and was awarded a bye in the first round. The Condors will play Rosary Academy (18-8) or North Torrance (16-9-1) at home on May 7.
Divisions 2-8 will play wild-card games Tuesday. Division 1 wild-card games are Thursday.
In Divisions 2-8, first-round games are Thursday. Division 1 plays first-round games May 7.
All games are scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m., unless teams agree to a change.
Temple City (18-1-1), which won the Rio Hondo League title and is led by Ohio State-bound senior pitcher Kassandra Gewecke, will be at home in the Division 2 first round against Temescal Canyon (15-8).
Also in Division 2: Palomares League champion Bonita (22-6) will host Cypress (19-9); Olympic League champion Whittier Christian (20-7) is home against Mission Viejo (19-6-1); St. Paul (14-12-1) will be at Beaumont (17-5); and La Serna (11-12) will be at Ramona (18-8).
Gateway League champion La Mirada (19-4-2) was one of only nine teams in Division 1 to start in the first round, all of the others will be in wild-card games to begin the playoffs.
La Mirada, which was ranked sixth in the final Division 1 poll, will be at home to face JSerra (15-13) or Esperanza (15-11) on May 7.
South Hills (16-7), which finished second in the Hacienda League, is the only other area team in Division 1. The Huskies will host a wild-card game Thursday against Vista Murrieta (15-11). The winner of that game will take on No. 2 seed and defending champion Garden Grove Pacifica (21-2) in the first round.
In Division 3, Hacienda League champion Los Altos (15-8-1) will host Bishop Amat (15-13) in perhaps the most intriguing all-area game in the opening round.
Valle Vista League champion Charter Oak (16-2-1) will host will host Lakewood (15-10) in the first round and Northview (16-6) will be home against Arlington (12-8).
Muir finished the regular season 17-11, its first winning record in more than two decades. The team was awarded an at-large berth in Division 7, its first trip to the playoffs since 1982. The Mustangs are the No. 2 seed and will be on the road in the first round against Coastal Christian (14-5).
Ganesha (17-0), which won the Division 7 title last season, was awarded the top seed in Division 6. It has outscored its opponents 278-7. The Giants will host their first-round game against San Gorgonio (11-15) or Nordoff (5-13).
Almont League champion Schurr (25-2) earned the No. 4 seed in Division 4 and will host Irvine (13-11) in the first round.
CIF-SS SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
DIVISION 1
Thursday, wild-card round
Vista Murrieta (15-11) at South Hills (16-7)
May 7, first round
Winner of JSerra (15-13) vs. Esperanza (15-11) wild-card game at La Mirada (19-4-2)
DIVISION 2
Thursday, first round
St. Paul (14-12-1) at Beaumont (17-5)
Temescal Canyon (15-8) at Temple City (18-1-1)
California (25-3), bye
Cypress (19-9) at Bonita (22-6)
Mission Viejo (19-6-1) at Whittier Christian (20-7)
La Serna (11-12) at Ramona
DIVISION 3
Tuesday, wild-card round
Long Beach Poly (14-7) at Sonora (12-10)
Thursday, first round
Arlington (12-8) at Northview (16-6)
La Canada (14-9) at Cerritos (15-3)
Yorba Linda (10-11) at Santa Fe (17-9)
Bishop Amat (15-13) at Los Altos (15-8-1)
Winner of ML King (15-9) vs. Dos Pueblos (13-10) wild-card game at Arcadia (11-8)
Lakewood (15-10) at Charter Oak (16-2-1)
DIVISION 4
Thursday, first round
Covina (11-10-1) at Norwalk (19-6)
Monrovia (10-7) at Oak Hills (16-6)
Irvine (13-11) at Schurr (25-2)
San Marcos (14-7) at Flintridge Sacred Heart (14-10)
Diamond Bar (12-9) at Don Lugo (19-2)
San Dimas (13-13) at Orange Vista (11-7)
DIVISION 5
Tuesday, wild-card round
Village Christian (9-8-2) at Azusa (13-9-1)
Thursday, first round
West Ranch (13-11) at Duarte (15-4-1)
Keppel (18-6-1) at Anaheim (14-8)
Arroyo (15-3) at Grace (16-3-1)
Silverado (9-10) at South El Monte (19-5)
DIVISION 6
Tuesday, wild-card round
Flintridge Prep (12-7) at Hamilton (8-8)
Mountain View (9-16) at Rancho Verde (12-9)
Southlands Christian (16-7) at Rio Hondo Prep (14-8)
Cantwell Sacred Heart (8-6) at El MOnte (12-9)
La Quinta (10-11) at Pioneer (12-6-1)
Thursday, first round
Winner of Nordoff (5-13) vs. San Gorgonio (11-15) wild-card game at Ganesha (17-0)
Mayfield (17-6) at Costa Mesa (14-4)
Edgewood (14-4) at Canyon Springs (23-3)
Capistrano Valley Christian (17-9) at Sierra Vista (16-9)
DIVISION 7
Thursday, first round
Pasadena Poly (12-9) at Hawthorne (11-6)
Muir (17-11) at Coastal Christian (14-5)
