Chatsworth Is Seeded No. 1 in Playoffs Again

For the fourth consecutive year, Chatsworth High’s baseball team has been seeded No. 1 in the City Championship playoffs.

The Chancellors (27-2) will host University (21-11) in a first-round game Friday.

Defending champion Kennedy (21-10) gained the No. 2 seeding and will host Roosevelt (21-8-1) in one of the tougher opening matchups. Roosevelt, a semifinalist last year, is led by All-City pitcher Junior Iboa.

South Gate (23-7) and Banning (20-11) were seeded Nos. 3 and 4.

El Camino Real, the fourth-place finisher in the West Valley League and a four-time City champion, failed to gain a spot in the 16-team City Championship tournament, losing out to University in a close vote by a panel of coaches and administrators.

Two first-round matchups between Valley teams are No. 10 Sylmar (19-7) at No. 7 Granada Hills (19-9) and No. 11 Birmingham (20-10) at No. 6 Poly (20-6-1).

Kennedy would appear to have the toughest road to the June 5 City final at Dodger Stadium. If the Golden Cougars get past Roosevelt, they’d have to play the winner of the Granada Hills-Sylmar game in the quarterfinals.

San Fernando (23-7), seeded No. 5, drew No. 12 Wilson (16-10). If the Tigers win, they would play the winner of the game between Banning (20-11) and Locke (21-5) before a potential semifinal meeting against Chatsworth.

Kennedy Coach Manny Alvarado, whose team was seeded No. 9 last year yet still won the title, said he was disappointed how the panel was seeding teams near the end of the bracket.

“I think not everyone is trying to get true 16 seeds, and El Camino Real should have been in there,” he said.

Valley teams have won 27 of the last 28 City Championships.

In the City Invitational, El Camino Real (13-13) was seeded No. 1 and North Hollywood (14-13) No. 2.

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Baseball Playoffs

City Championship

First round, 3 p.m. Friday

* No. 16 University at No. 1 Chatsworth

* No. 9 Narbonne at No. 8 Venice

* No. 12 Wilson at No. 5 San Fernando

* No. 13 Locke at No. 4 Banning

* No. 14 Carson at No. 3 South Gate

* No. 11 Birmingham at No. 6 Poly

* No. 10 Sylmar at No. 7 Granada Hills

* No. 15 Roosevelt at No. 2 Kennedy

City Invitational

First round, 3 p.m. Friday

* No. 16 Fremont at No. 1 El Camino Real

* No. 9 Crenshaw at No. 8 Westchester

* No. 12 Palisades at No. 5 Bell

* No. 13 Garfield at No. 4 Cleveland

* No. 14 Van Nuys at No. 3 Marshall

* No. 11 Eagle Rock at No. 6 Grant

* No. 10 Verdugo Hills at No. 7 San Pedro

* No. 15 Franklin at No. 2 North Hollywood

Southern Section

Second-round games, 3:15 p.m. today

Division I

* Camarillo at Fountain Valley

Division II

* Irvine at Hart

* Trabuco Hills at Hueneme

* California at Lancaster

* Crescenta Valley at Don Lugo.

Division III

* Westlake at Palm Desert

* Sonora at Calabasas

* Agoura at Santa Margarita

Division IV

* Bishop Amat at La Canada

* Chaminade at Ocean View

* Fillmore at Lompoc

Division V

* Lancaster Desert Christian at Mary Star of the Sea

* L.A. Baptist vs. Montclair Prep at Mission Hills Senior Little League Field

* Western Christian vs. St. Bonaventure at Somis Park

* Boys’ Republic at Paraclete

Division VI

* La Verne Lutheran at L.A. Lutheran

* Upland Christian vs. Granada Hills Hillcrest Christian at Sylmar Independent Baseball League Complex

* Grace Brethren at Riverside Bethel Christian

* Highland Hall at Rio Hondo Prep