CIF Southern California regionals begin for Orange County high school baseball squads

Crean Lutheran’s baseball team is seeded No. 2 in the Division IV regionals. (Photo courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs).

Canyon, Crean Lutheran, Santa Margarita and Orange Lutheran high school baseball squads open the CIF Southern California Regionals on Tuesday, May 30.

Games are being held at home sites with the highest seeded team the home team. Semifinals are Thursday and the finals are Saturday, ending the high school baseball playoff season. The highest seeded team gets to play at home.

The games are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. and admission will be charged. Tickets can only be purchased at the GoFan app.

Canyon, the CIF Division 4 champion, is top seeded in Division IV and will host No. 8 Sylmar. Crean Lutheran, the Division 4 runner-up, is seeded second and will host No. 7 Calexico.

CIF Division 1 runner-up runner-up Santa Margarita is seeded No. 1 in Division I and hosts No. 8 Carlsbad. Orange Lutheran, which lost in the CIF Division 1 semifinals, is seeded sixth in Division I and plays at No. 3 Eastlake.

Crean Lutheran has a chance for a rematch with Canyon if the Saints and Comanches, who met in the CIF finals, win their first two games this week.

Crean Lutheran Coach Jake Haney indicated his players are looking forward to the regional. Canyon defeated Crean Lutheran 3-0 in the CIF Division 4 championship game at Blair Field.

“We’re excited to still be playing,” Haney said. “There is still a lot of figuring out what the SoCal Regional is and it’s importance in the landscape of high school baseball. My feeling is it’s as important as you want it to be. Our guys love to compete and the chance to play in this eight-team tourney is an amazing opportunity for them.

“It honestly doesn’t matter who we play, the guys just don’t want this thing to end. It’s been a very long season, so we’ve limited our time on the field as far as practice goes. At this point energy and health are super important, so it’s a balancing act making sure we get enough reps to stay sharp. With a veteran group we’ve really trusted them to get their work in on the field and in the weightroom at a pace that works for them. Jack O’Malley on the mound today vs. Calexico.”

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