Three local teams will represent the South Valley in the Central Coast Section baseball playoffs starting Wednesday. San Benito, the No. 3 seed in the Division I bracket, will attempt to reach the title game for the third consecutive year.
This year, though, will be slightly different for the Balers (21-6), who enter the postseason for the first time in eight years without a league title.
“Our goal remains the same as it was last year,” San Benito head coach Billy Aviles said. “We want to win the last game of the year. That’s our goal.”
The Balers enter the postseason after losing two of their last three games. The Balers hope Thursday’s 6-1 win over Christopher will help turn the tide on the late season.
“We needed that,” Aviles said. “We are disappointed that we didn’t keep the streak going but that’s baseball.”
The Balers postseason run begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday against No. 14 seed Menlo Atherton.
Gilroy (21-4-1) will also enter the postseason with sights set on a CCS title. As the No. 2 seed, the Mustangs will take a four-game winning streak in the playoffs. The Mustangs, who finished undefeated in league at 18-0, begin the playoffs at home against No. 15 Prospect on Thursday.
After finishing in second place in the Santa Teresa standings, the Live Oak baseball team returns to the postseason Wednesday.
The Acorns earned the No. 10 seed in the Division III playoffs and travel to No. 7 seed Sacred Heart Prep (18-9).
After starting the season slow, Live Oak won nine of its final 11 games to climb up the standings from fifth place. It’s the first time Live Oak has reached the postseason since 2010.
Softball
After winning seven consecutive CCS titles and going undefeated in league play, the San Benito softball team is once again favored entering the postseason.
The Balers (22-3) enter the 2013 postseason as the No. 1 seed, earning a first-round bye. San Benito will play the winner of No. 9 Woodside (22-4-1) and No. 8 North Salinas (15-11) on Saturday. The site and time have yet to be determined.
The Balers have won eight games in a row enter the playoffs. Their last lost came at the hands of No. 3 seed Carlmont.
At 15-12 the Gilroy softball team also returned to the postseason, earning the No. 8 seed in the Division II bracket. The Mustangs will host No. 9 seed Willow Glen (17-10) at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
If Gilroy wins, they advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals against No. 1 seed Mitty (25-0).
