5-A Quarterfinals

Simi Valley (23-5) vs. Esperanza (19-8) at Esperanza High School, 3:15 p.m.

The teams met in the 4-A semifinals two years ago on the same field. Esperanza beat Simi Valley, 6-5, and went on to win the championship. Simi Valley was ranked No. 1 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball before the loss. Right-hander Scott Sharts (10-0) will start for Simi Valley today. Sharts holds the Southern Section record of 32 career home runs and is one shy of the section’s single-season mark of 16 set by Arnold Garcia of Channel Islands in 1981. Roger Weems (9-4) has won all three of Esperanza’s postseason games, and Doug Saunders has earned a save in each of the games. Saunders leads the Aztecs with a .481 batting average and 7 home runs.

Ocean View (16-10-1) vs. Diamond Bar (21-7) at Diamond Bar High School, 3:15 p.m.

Pitcher Dan Naulty was reinstated to the Ocean View team last week by Principal John Myers after serving a 45-day suspension for breaking team rules and has won two straight playoff games. Ocean View is coming off a 3-1 victory over second-seeded Mater Dei. Naulty (7-0) has thrown 200 pitches in postseason play but said he expects to be ready for Diamond Bar. Left-hander Paul Spere (7-1) is expected to start for the Brahmas; ace Tony Darden pitched a complete game on Tuesday. Darden, also a first baseman, is the team’s second-leading hitter with a .500 average and 25 runs batted in. Center fielder Jim Edmonds leads Diamond Bar with a .528 average, 5 homers and 38 RBIs.

4-A Quarterfinals Covina (22-5) vs. Fullerton (20-7) at Fullerton College, 3:15 p.m.

Covina has allowed only four runs and Fullerton has scored an average of 6.5 runs in two playoff games. Right-hander Paul Branconier (8-2) is scheduled to start for Covina. The Colts’ leading hitters are Pete DeSimoni (.338, 6 homers, 20 RBIs) and Steve Barron (.386, 3 homers, 16 RBIs). Martin Luczaj, Fullerton coach, decided to play at the college rather than his cozy ballpark where the center-field fence is 285 feet from home plate. Fullerton is coming off a stunning 12-7 upset of top-seeded Hart. Catcher Steve DePhillips and first baseman Collin Milligan each had three hits in that game. Right-hander Greg Wilber is expected to start for Fullerton.

Ventura (20-6-1) vs. Canyon (19-8) at Canyon High School

Ventura finished third in the Channel League, but the Cougars have scored 23 runs in two playoff games. Outfielder Steve Dailey was a first-team All-Southern selection as a junior and leads the team with a .558 batting average, 8 homers and 34 RBIs. Dean McMillin (6-4) is scheduled to start. Canyon’s John Cummings (9-3) has pitched two complete games in the playoffs and leads the county with 115 strikeouts. Cummings has signed a national letter of intent to attend USC.

3-A Quarterfinals Santa Clara (18-3) vs. El Toro (16-13) at El Toro High School, 3:15 p.m.

Santa Clara hit six home runs in a wild 16-14 win over Bellflower in the second round. Second baseman Kenny Knight hit 2 homers and drove in 7 runs. Right-hander Mike Teron (6-0) is scheduled to start. Brian McNamara, El Toro second baseman, has had multiple-hit games in all three of the Chargers’ playoff games. McNamara batted .500 in league play after recovering from a broken finger. Left-hander Jeff Stark (5-3) is scheduled to start for El Toro.

Dana Hills (16-12) vs. Saddleback (21-6) at Saddleback High School, 3:15 p.m.

Dana Hills has advanced to the quarterfinals for only the second time in the school’s history. Right fielder Lance Marks had three hits in a 7-4 win over Laguna Hills on Tuesday. Ricky Whipple (4-4) is expected to start for the Dolphins. Fourth-seeded Saddleback has averaged 10 runs in the playoffs. Outfielder George Saldana leads the Roadrunners with a .443 batting average. This is the first time Saddleback has reached the quarterfinals and this is the most games the Roadrunners have won in a season. Paul O’Hearn will be the starting pitcher for Saddleback.