Baseball and softball move into the spotlight this week, joining tennis, golf, swimming and track, as CIF-Southern Section playoff action in spring sports continues.

Baseball

Wild card action on May 18 saw Alemany gain the Division III playoffs with an 11-1 win over Wilson of Hacienda Heights, while Salesian was edged 4-3 by Brentwood in Division V.

First round action, which begins May 21, includes the following:

Division III: Torrance at Mission League champ Crespi; Alemany at Ocean; Mayfair at Chaminade.

Division IV: St. Bernard at Santa Maria (May 20); St. Monica at Mountain View; Serra at Temple City; La Canada at Tri-Valley champ St. Bonaventure; St. Joseph/Santa Maria at Camino Real League winner Cantwell Sacred Heart; Oak Park at Del Rey League winner St. Paul.

Division V: Pacific Hills at Santa Fe League winner La Salle; Kern Valley at Olympic League winner Paraclete; Bell-Jeff at San Jacinto.

Softball

Among the league champions entering the playoffs are Alverno (Horizon), La Reina (Tri-Valley), St. Monica (Camino Real), La Salle (Sunshine), St. Paul (Del Rey), Chaminade (Mission) and Rosary (Serra).

Wild card play May 19 featured the following: Beverly Hills at Bishop Montgomery, Buena at Alemany, and Corona del Mar at Mary Star (Division IV); Notre Dame Academy at Maranatha (Division V); and Lake Arrowhead Christian at Sacred Heart, and Providence at Shalhevet (Division VI).

First round action, which begins May 21, includes the following:

Division I: Lakewood at Mater Dei; Bishop Amat at Kennedy; Long Beach Wilson or Marina at Rosary.

Division IV: Silverado or Sultana at St. Paul; Azusa or San Marino at Chaminade; Corona del Mar-Mary Star winner at Tesoro; Beverly Hills-Bishop Montgomery winner at Oaks Christian; Buena-Alemany winner at La Puente.

Division V: Notre Dame Academy-Maranatha winner at St. Monica; Crossroads or Flintridge Prep at La Reina; Ramona Convent at Western Christian; Whitney or Mountain View at La Salle; Serra at St. Bonaventure; Cantwell Sacred Heart at L.A. Baptist.

Division VI: Villanova Prep at New Roads; San Gabriel Mission at Bloomington Christian; Connelly at Woodcrest Christian; Coastal Christian at Alverno; Lake Arrowhead Christian-Sacred Heart winner at Hesperia Christian; Providence-Shalhevet winner at Valley Christian.

Boys Volleyball

In second round action May 18, Loyola, Santa Margarita and Mater Dei all advanced to the quarterfinals with wins over Moorpark, Mira Costa and Simi Valley, respectively. Crespi was defeated by Westlake.

La Salle advanced to the semifinals of Division V with a victory over Brethren Christian, but Salesian was beaten by Pasadena Poly.

Boys Tennis

In Division I, first round play on May 18 saw Loyola defeat Capistrano Valley 15-3 and Mater Dei beat South Torrance 12-6. (The scores are based on the total number of sets won in nine matches --- six singles and three doubles.) Santa Margarita, Notre Dame and Servite were defeated by Los Alamitos, Woodbridge and Tesoro, respectively.

St. Bonaventure was ousted by Lancaster in Division III play, tying 9-9 in sets but losing 86-70 in totals games won.

Swimming

Last week's CIF-SS championships produced a number of successes for local Catholic schools. In boys team competition, the results included:

Division I: Damien, 3rd; Servite, 4th; Loyola, 11th; Mater Dei, 15th.

Division III: La Salle, 18th.

Division IV: St. Bonaventure, 5th.

In girls team competition, results included:

Division I: Alemany, 13th; Santa Margarita, 15th; Mater Dei and Rosary, tied for 20th.

Division III: Mayfield, 4th; St. Joseph/Santa Maria, 18th.

Division IV: La Reina, 2nd; Notre Dame Academy, 10th.

Individual results will be posted next week, along with track championship results.