Marmonte League Rankings

Not bad CADad. Take away one inning and you are 4 for 4.

Oxnard is starting to pull away in the Pacific View League, Camarillo showed they have to be reckoned with and knocked off Hueneme with Valdez pitching. Hueneme will be in it, but not sure if they are deep enough to overcome Oxnard.

Channel League got turned upside down last week. Two underdog 1-4 teams swept their series. San Marcos beat Buena twice and DP beat Santa Barbara twice. Ventura has critical series with SB this week that may well determine the Channel League….maybe since there are 5 teams and the League match ups are back loaded and all teams are evenly matched.

Actually 3-0-1.

Wednesday guesses:
Royal v WL - Royal
Calabasas v Simi - Calabasas
MP v NP - tossup, heads it is MP, tails NP - heads
TO v Agoura - Agoura

Royal d WL
Moorpark d NP
TO d Agoura
Calabasas d Simi

Looks like Moorpark has done the same thing that probably kept them from making the playoffs a couple years ago. Moving one of their weekday starters to the bullpen. They got away with it on Tuesday as the replacement starter gave up all 7 runs over 4 innings. The ex-starter struggled with control (probably why he was moved to the pen) but gave up 0 runs over the next couple innings. They have a tendency to try to force pitchers into their mold, i.e. pitching backwards. The kids who are comfortable with that flourish and the ones who don't fit that mold, typically the harder throwers, tend to struggle. To be fair, I have to say that the kid who did start is a talented pitcher, and a good kid, who had pitched well against strong competition lately.

Guesses for Friday:
Royal v Calabasas - Royal
Westlake v TO - Westlake
NP v Agoura - NP
Moorpark v Simi - Moorpark

Royal d Calabasas
Westlake d TO
NP d Agoura
Moorpark d Simi

In the "boy did we blow it" department.

Oxnard took Pacifica lightly and got beat then Camarillo beat them this week and now they have been knocked out of the Pacific View league lead and now have to take on Jesus Valdez to just tie.

Ventura was swept by Santa Barbara last week pretty much dashing any Channel League hopes and virtually assuring a Channel League title for SB.

In the what just happened department NP vs Westlake game took 66 minutes...

I am sure there were more than a few Dads who left the office early to pick up the second half only to show up to high fives.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.co...ity+Times+Insider%29

Royal has at least guaranteed a tie for the Maramonte title, I am not sure if 4 or 5 get playoff spots but at least Royal, MP, NP and Westlake (I think) will make it, Santa Barbara has wrapped up the Channel League, San Marcos is in, and there may be a three way tie for third depending on games tomorrow. Camarillo has at least a tie for the Pacific View league, Oxnard second, and Hueneme third. As a side note Oaks Christian knocked off St. Bonnie (first time in 5 years) for the Tri-Valley title. Just shows you how competitive the baseball is out here for it to go down to the last week in all of the northern section leagues…actually the same in the Valley as several are undecided.

There was a great article in the local paper title “what just happened” about how difficult it is to make it through the baseball playoffs, even for high seeds. Link below.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/201...to-cover/?vcspreps=1

My guess is that Royal and Moorpark will be seeded directly into the playoffs and that NP, TO and WL will have to play "play-in" games. I don't remember if teams have to be .500 overall or better than .500 overall to qualify for the playoffs as a wild card team. (Looking back to last year's posts on this it looks like a .500 overall record is the requirement so WL should be in.)

Royal v TO is a somewhat meaningful game for both. Royal probably wants 1st alone and TO would like better seeding in playoffs? WL v Simi may be meaningful for WL relative to seeding in the playoffs. I don't know how Simi will approach this as it has been awhile since they've been in this situation. Moorpark v Agoura is probably meaningful for Moorpark (trying for share of 1st) and probably senior day for Agoura. NP v Calabasas is probably senior day for Calabasas.

We'll have to get together some playoff predictions once the brackets have been posted.

When the brackets are posted we can open up a new thread.

Royal beat TO and used Buckel in back to back games. Moorpark and NP won. Simi upset Westlake. I think WL still makes the wild card game.

2011
Half way through and everyone's had troubles but Westlake. Still looks like to me anyone can steal this years title. well maybe not Royal or Moorpark. JMHO Aldo

Unless there's an injury I'm unaware of why you would say Moorpark is out of it? Strange things happen in the Marmonte League.

I have not been following the league and just checked the rankings and I agree with CADad, a lot happens in the last two weeks of league play. Certainly WL and NP seem to be the best of the group, but anyone 3-3 and up ahould have a chance, which according to Maxpreps are Moorpark and Agoura.

My uncertainty relative to Moorpark going into the season was their pitching depth but it looks like they've got at least two solid starters now. The hitting may be down a bit due to injury but I think they are in good shape for the second half. Westlake has had some bad second half finishes in the past so the league could be up for grabs still. In any case, the most important thing is making the playoffs.

Let's see with 1 game left in the regular season Moorpark is 1 game out of first. Royal is out of the title hunt but should make the playoffs (play in round) and is playing well right now.

Westlake has done poorly over the last few games, no surprise, but is tied for 1st still and has the best draw for their final game. NP is tied for first but has a tough game vs. Simi who is tied with Moorpark 1 game out of first.

As stated earlier, anything can happen in the Marmonte league.

1. Westlake
2. Simi
3. NP
4. Moorpark
5. Royal

Westlake and Simi will probably go directly into the 1st round of the playoffs. Moorpark and Royal will almost certainly have to play in a play-in game. NP could get in directly or may have to play a play-in game. My guess is a play-in game.