SOUTHERN SECTION: IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE TITLES TEAMS WORRY MORE ABOUT GAINING CIF-SS PLAYOFF BERTH.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

The realignment of Southern Section baseball divisions will put several local teams in a higher level for this year's playoffs.

The move doesn't seem to be drawing much concern from coaches who have learned that the competition they face locally during league play can prepare them well for the best the postseason has to offer. In the past two years, three local teams have won their respective Southern Section division championships without winning a league title.

So as the season begins Friday, it shouldn't be surprising that teams in talent-rich leagues are focused on simply getting into the playoffs.

The Marmonte League will be one of the toughest places to earn a postseason berth. This is a league in which not even a league title is always good enough for a trip to the postseason (in 2002 four teams tied for first, but the eight-team league gets only three playoff berths), and where second- and third-place teams have gone on to win the past two Div. II titles.

``We aren't really thinking about a league title,'' Agoura coach Scott Deck said. ``As tough as this league is, we want to get into the playoffs. That's our goal. We know if we do get in, we've got the pitching.''

Pitching may also be the edge the Chargers need to win their first outright Marmonte title. Agoura has one of the region's most envied staffs. Former major-league pitcher Mike Magnante mentors a group that includes UCLA-bound right-hander Jason Novak and sophomore closer Robert Stock, the youngest member of last summer's USA Youth National Team. Junior right-hander Jason Stoffel and senior left-hander Greg Gelber are other key pieces of the starting rotation.

The strength of Royal of Simi Valley's pitching staff could end the Highlanders' playoff drought of three years. Seniors D.J. Smith and Clayton Edwards are part of a lineup in its third varsity season together. Shortstop Phil Boscarino, third baseman/outfielder Eric Blackwell and 6-foot-5 outfielder/pitcher Kevin Harrington give Royal standouts throughout the field, earning the team a No. 9 preseason ranking in Div. I.

Moorpark has nine returners back to defend the Marmonte title it shared last season with Thousand Oaks. Senior catcher Cody Dee is at full strength after various injuries last season, and is ready to work with a talented staff that includes Pepperdine-bound Brett Hunter and returning senior right-handers Drew Dowl and John Bostwick.

``We're definitely going to be in contention,'' Moorpark coach Scott Fullerton said. ``Agoura is going to pitch very well. Royal returns almost their whole team, so they're very experienced. Simi Valley, they won CIF last year and they have one of the top players around in Bryan Anderson.

Other tight local races should include those in the Foothill and Mission leagues.

Hart of Newhall advanced further than any Foothill team in last year's playoffs, reaching the Div. II semifinals despite being the league's third- place team. With returning pitchers Tyler Fick and Tyler Lyon supported by a solid defense and offense, the Indians look to contend with Saugus for the Foothill title before beginning a Div. I postseason run.

Valencia graduated the heart of its lineup that produced three consecutive Foothill titles, but junior transfer Brian Howe and other up and coming players were enough to put the Vikings at No. 5 in the Div. I preseason rankings.

Chaminade of West Hills, making the jump from Div. III to Div. II, is ranked No. 6 in its division.

League rival Alemany of Mission Hills joins the Eagles in the rankings at No. 10, but no one in the league can be overlooked. Crespi of Encino has played in back-to-back Southern Section finals, winning the Div. III in 2003 as a wild-card entrant.

``This is one of those league where there's no easy games,'' Chaminade coach Mark Gubicza said.