News Summary

The top-seeded Corona Panthers rallied from an early deficit to secure an 11-2 victory over No. 8 Los Osos in their playoff opener. After falling behind, the Panthers showcased their resilience, led by standout performances from their players. The win advances them to the quarterfinals, where they will face rival Norco. Other playoff highlights include impressive wins from Santa Margarita and Crespi, setting the stage for thrilling upcoming matchups in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Corona Panthers Overcome Early Rust to Secure 11-2 Victory Over Los Osos in Playoff Opener

The No. 1-seeded Corona Panthers triumphed over the No. 8 Los Osos in their first playoff game, securing an 11-2 win to advance to the quarterfinals. Despite demonstrating early signs of rust, the Panthers, who enjoyed a first-round bye, quickly regained their composure after falling behind early in the match.

Los Osos initially took an unexpected lead, scoring two runs in the first three innings, showcasing their determination. However, the Panthers rallied back, highlighting their resilience and skill. Top prospect Seth Hernandez led the charge with an outstanding performance, hitting two three-run home runs, significantly bolstering his team’s scoreline.

In addition to his batting prowess, Hernandez continued his dominance on the mound, improving his pitching record to 9-0 this season, maintaining an unblemished career record of 18-0. This victory not only marked a successful playoff opener for the Panthers but also set the stage for a much-anticipated quarterfinal matchup against Big VIII League rival Norco.

Other Playoff Highlights

In other notable playoff action, Santa Margarita made headlines as they defeated Huntington Beach 6-5 after overcoming a 5-1 deficit. Chase Marlow provided the decisive hit that helped Santa Margarita secure the victory. Carter Enoch also made a significant contribution by hitting a home run, while Brennan Bauer earned the win for Santa Margarita after delivering four strong innings of relief pitching.

Crespi and Other Results

The No. 2-seeded Crespi team scored a 5-2 victory over El Dorado, thanks to a complete game performance from Jackson Eisenhauer, who struck out seven batters. Crespi will now face Mira Costa in the quarterfinals.

Other significant results from the playoffs include:

• Torrance 3, Oaks Christian 2; Mateo Rickman hit a three-run homer.
• Norco 4, Laguna Beach 2; Dylan Seward drove in four runs with three hits.
• Castaic 4, Crescenta Valley 2; Jakob Kerr had two hits and Gio Foster contributed two RBIs.
• Fountain Valley 7, Trabuco Hills 0; Josh Grack pitched a shutout and earned two RBIs.

Current Rankings and Upcoming Matches

Following these playoffs, the final CIF Southern Section Top 25 rankings placed Corona at No. 1 with an impressive season record of 26-2. The CIF Southern Section baseball playoff brackets and pairings covered Divisions 1 through 9, totaling 248 automatic playoff berths.

Key matchups in the upcoming quarterfinals include:

• Corona vs. Norco
• Crespi vs. Santa Margarita
• Etiwanda vs. West Ranch in Division 2
• Thousand Oaks at Dos Pueblos in Division 4

Finals Schedule

The CIF Southern Section Finals for all divisions are scheduled to take place on May 30-31 at Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach.

As the playoffs continue, fans can look forward to thrilling matchups and standout performances from some of the top high school baseball teams in the CIF Southern Section.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Florida High School Baseball Playoffs Kick Off

Additional Resources

• USA Today HSS: Corona vs. St. John Bosco
• SI: CIF Southern Section Baseball Scores
• LA Times: High School Baseball Playoff Results
• SI: CIF Southern Section Baseball Brackets
• Encyclopedia Britannica: High School Baseball