PREP PLAYOFF UPDATE: AREA TEAMS STILL IN PLAY.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

In a remarkably successful opening day in the Southern Section baseball and softball playoffs Friday, all six local high school teams won their first-round matchups.

In Div. II baseball, second-seeded Valencia, Saugus and Hart triumphed, and Div. VI Santa Clarita Christian also advanced. In Div. I softball, Valencia and Saugus both won. (In Saturday's softball action, Div. I Hart lost 1-0 at Camarillo.)

Now it gets much more difficult as teams square off in the second round in hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals.

In baseball, Saugus (20-6-1) finds itself in a particularly dramatic position after an 8-1 first-round victory at Don Lugo of Chino. Snubbed by the Southern Section by being forced to play on the road in the first round despite its respectable second-place finish in the tough Foothill League, Saugus faces top-seeded national power Villa Park (25-2) at 3:15 p.m. at College of the Canyons.

Plus, Saugus coach Casey Burrill has announced his pending resignation, so every game could be his last.

Once among California's most feared programs in the late 1980s, Saugus, coming off its most successful regular season in 12 years, has a chance to make a huge statement.

``Well, first of all we just made the playoffs for the first time in a long time last year, so basically what we want to do is keep putting Saugus back on the map,'' pitcher/outfielder Travis Babin said. ``We know this is our coach's last year, too.''

Saugus does have a minor advantage because Villa Park burned two of its top pitchers - including renowned ace Mark Trumbo, an All-American candidate - during Friday's 3-2 victory in 16 innings over Temescal Canyon.

Then again, it's a new calendar week, which means pitchers have a fresh allotment of 10 innings. So perhaps Trumbo will start after all.

Saugus probably will go with left-hander Jason Pfau. He's 5-2 with a 1.80 ERA. Ace Thomas Milone (8-1) went the distance in the victory over Don Lugo and also hit his seventh home run of the season to tie the school single-season record.

In other baseball action, wild-card entry Hart (16-11-1), which defeated host Murrieta Valley 8-4 Friday, also faces a difficult second-round opponent from Orange County. The Indians play host to third-seeded Canyon of Anaheim (19-8), an annual championship contender.

Hart has won four in a row by an average margin of 5.5 runs, so perhaps the team is peaking at the right time. Left-hander Steve Sanchez (3-3, 1.40 ERA) is Hart's probable starting pitcher. He has 50 strikeouts in 61 innings.

Valencia (20-7), led by pitcher/first baseman Jared Clark, pitcher/left fielder Matt Aidem and catcher Wes Pascolla, figures to have the best chance to remain alive. The Vikings, who have returned eight starters after reaching the section semifinals last spring, play at Norco (21-6), which upset Quartz Hill 2-0 in the first round.

In softball, Valencia and Saugus both must travel long distances in the second round Wednesday. Valencia (22-7) has a particularly tough assignment with a game at second-seeded Rosary of Fullerton (22-8).

Both are coming off 1-0 victories - Valencia eliminated Quartz Hill in 10 innings Friday, while Rosary knocked off Marina of Huntington Beach - and most should expect another low-scoring affair because pitching is the strength of both teams.

Valencia left-hander Christina Ross (14-6, 0.11 ERA) pitched a two-hitter with 15 strikeouts Friday. Ross has 12 shutouts this season.

Saugus (21-5), enjoying its most successful season in many years, plays at Highland of Palmdale (19-4), and a victory means a probable matchup against top-seeded Riverside Poly (22-5) in the quarterfinals.

Saugus, led by right-handed pitcher Kyla Sullivan (19-3, 0.48 ERA) has won six in a row and eight of its last nine.

Gerry Gittelson, [phone]

gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com

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