Baseball: City Section showdowns this week

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It’s one week away from the City Section seeding meeting, and how perfect is the scheduling that the two toughest leagues _ the West Valley and the Marine _ will decide their league championships on Tuesday and Thursday with showdown games.

On Tuesday, Banning (19-7, 8-0) and standout junior left-hander Jonathan Hernandez (7-3, 1.73 ERA) is expected to oppose host San Pedro (19-4, 7-1) and standout senior John Mata (8-1, 1.72 ERA).

On the same day at Woodland Hills El Camino Real, the Conquistadores (14-10, 8-0) will play Chatsworth (20-3, 7-0). Chatsworth hasn’t decided on a starting pitcher. It could be Aaron Brown or Angel Rodriguez. El Camino Real is likely to go with its ace, Cal State Fullerton commit Jose Cardona.

The teams play again on Thursday. The league champs figure to earn the No. 1 and 2 seeds. The losers figure to fight it out with Granada Hills Kennedy for the other top two seeds.

There’s also the battle to secure Division I playoff berths. Woodland Hills Taft, Lake Balboa Birmingham and Granada Hills are all in the running from the West Valley League.

In the Coliseum League, Crenshaw and Fremont are both 8-1 and meet Monday at Crenshaw in a likely title decider.

-- Eric Sondheimer