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These three teams have the pitching depth to make a run in the CIF-SS baseball playoffs

joe curley, ventura county star
·4 min read

It takes an arsenal to make a run in the CIF-Southern Section baseball playoffs.

With two games per week during sectional play and three games per week during regionals, a pitching staff is needed during high school baseball’s postseason.

Westlake, Camarillo and Santa Paula are just a few of the local teams who are in good position as the playoffs begin this week.

Westlake High coach Wally Barnett returns much of the group who won the CIF-State Division III Southern California regional a year ago.

In downshifting from the three games per week of the Marmonte League to the sectional playoffs, Barnett’s toughest decision will be how to manage his rotation.

“I’m lucky to have the staff we have,” Barnett said. “They’re deep.”

More: Camarillo, Oaks Christian, Agoura bring loaded bats into the CIF-SS softball playoffs

Dylan Volantis (7-2, 0.41 ERA), Andrew Habermann (7-2, 1.75) and Jesse Beer (5-0, 0.85) is the type of rotation that can carry the Marmonte League champion to its three-pronged goal of league, sectional and regional titles.

Jesse Beer, who is 5-0 with an 0.85 ERA, is part of a deep and talented pitching staff for Westlake.
Jesse Beer, who is 5-0 with an 0.85 ERA, is part of a deep and talented pitching staff for Westlake.

“That’s our plan,” Barnett said. “All the way."

Westlake (24-4) is the No. 1 seed in CIF-SS Division 2. The Warriors will host Mira Costa (14-13-1) in Thursday's first round.

While senior Boston Bateman (9-1, 0.73) has been literally unhittable for much of his senior season, Camarillo also has the pitching depth needed to make a run.

“We’re well equipped for sure to make a run in these playoffs,” Camarillo coach TJ Foreman said.

Nick Tostado (7-1, 0.99), Victor Tostado (1-0, 1.68), Jose Garcia (0-0, 0.72) and Braden Huber (2-1, 1.91) have pitched well.

“We’re playing really good baseball at the right time,” Foreman said. “The team chemistry has always been there. As long as we stick and execute our plan, make the plays were supposed to make and scrap for everything we get, we’ll be a pretty tough team to take down.”

Victor Tostado is 1-0 with a 1.68 ERA for Camarillo, which is the top seed for the Division 4 playoffs.
Victor Tostado is 1-0 with a 1.68 ERA for Camarillo, which is the top seed for the Division 4 playoffs.

The Scorpions are especially focused on the postseason, considering they missed the playoffs the past two seasons.

“I know these guys are hungry for more,” Foreman said.

Camarillo (20-3) is the No. 1 seed in Division 4. The Coastal Canyon League champion will host Dos Pueblos (15-12-1) in Thursday's first round.

In Bateman and Volantis, Camarillo and Westlake are led by aces who are expected to be selected early in this summer’s Major League Baseball Draft.

Bateman and Volantis were ranked No. 44 and 144 in MLB Pipeline’s new Draft 150 last week.

Santa Paula may not have an elite draft prospect, but the Citrus Coast League champion also has the pitching depth needed this time of year.

“Hopefully our pitching holds up like It did throughout the season,” Santa Paula coach Gabe Diaz said.

Behind Ruben Venegas (6-1, 1.14), Santiago Ramirez (5-2, 1.29) and Sammy Gomez (2-0, 3 saves, 1.50), Santa Paula has a 2.15 staff ERA through the regular season.

“They’ve done very well,” Diaz said. “They’ve kept their pitch count low ... and they’ve been throwing some complete games. They’ve done a great job of competing on the mound and giving us the innings that they’ve given us … keeping us in ballgames and giving our offense a chance to pull out some of the victories that we have.”

Offensively, the Cardinals are led by Fresno State commit Tyler Antwine, who is hitting .446 with 11 doubles, eight home runs and 31 runs scored.

“He’s been the glue to our offense the last few years,” Diaz said. “He’s definitely put himself in the category of all the big names in the county. He’s worked as hard as everybody and it’s showing.”

Santa Paula (15-9) will host Pacifica (15-11-1) in an all-county Division 5 first-round matchup on Friday.

Thirteen other local programs will play in the first round, with 10 on the road.

Two Marmonte teams will compete in Division 1. Calabasas (19-9) will visit Cypress (18-9-1) and Oaks Christian (14-13) will play La Mirada (21-6) at Glenn High in Friday's first round.

Three Coastal Canyon League teams hit the road Thursday for Division 2 games. Simi Valley (11-10-2) travels to Hart (21-5), Royal (16-12) visits Maranatha (21-6), and Moorpark (15-10-1) goes to Crescenta Valley (19-7).

Newbury Park (15-12) drew an at-large bid in Division 3. The Panthers travel to La Canada-Flintridge Prep (12-11). Grace Brethren (13-11) will host St. John Bosco (16-10) in another Division 3 opener.

Rio Mesa (16-9-1) will visit Highland (22-5) in Division 4.

St. Bonaventure (12-13-1) travels to Mayfair (16-11-1) in Division 6.

In Division 7, Hueneme (16-8-1) hosts St. Bernard (12-7); Foothill Tech (14-11-1) hosts Mary Star of the Sea (11-7) at DATA Middle School in Ventura; Channel Islands (7-12) visits Leuzinger (18-2); and Thacher (14-4) visits top-seeded Buena Park (21-6) in Division 7.

Joe Curley is a staff writer for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Three teams who have the pitching depth to make a run in CIF-SS playoffs