University Seeded Second in City 4-A Baseball Playoffs

The University High baseball team has the best record in the City and has been No. 1 in The Times’ Division 4-A poll most of the season.

So it is a bit surprising to Coach Frank Cruz that the Warriors (22-3) are not the top-seeded team entering the playoffs, which begin next Tuesday with the first round.

University, the Coastal Conference champion, is seeded second in the 16-team bracket and will play host to Carson in the first round.

The top-seeded team is Sun Valley Poly (18-4), champion of the East Valley League.

“When I first walked in to the (seeding) meeting, we were a No. 5 seed,” Cruz said. “I had to really start talking up and get other coaches to do the same. The coaches from the (San Fernando) Valley seem to talk louder than the rest.

“But you have to beat everyone sooner or later, so in the end where you’re at doesn’t make a big difference,” he said.

University--which lost to Santa Monica, Loyola and league-rival Westchester--has defeated several teams in the playoff field, including Chatsworth, Banning, Sylmar and Westchester.

The Warriors lost in the first round last year to San Fernando, which eventually won the tournament. San Fernando finished last in the North Valley League this season and failed to make the playoffs.

Granada Hills is seeded third and Sepulveda Monroe is fourth.

In the 3-A bracket, Southeastern Conference champion Garfield is the top-seeded team, followed by Washington, South Gate and Wilson.

Defending champion Harbor City Narbonne must beat Huntington Park in a wild-card game today to make the field.

The finals in both divisions will be Wednesday, June 3, at Dodger Stadium.