Local baseball, softball teams begin playoffs this week

Tara Skinner is greeted by teammates after a home run in a recent game. The Patriots play at Cerritos on Thursday.

 
Five area baseball and softball teams from Menifee will open the CIF Southern Section playoffs this week.

The Heritage High softball team will put its 20-4 record on the line at Cerritos against a Dons team that is 14-2 this season. That game will take place Thursday at Cerritos. Heritage is led by seniors Adriana Abrantes (.414, 6 home runs) and Raina Olivas (.375, 8 doubles) and the pitching of Cassidy Shaw (10-2, 1.32 ERA) and Tara Skinner (7-2, 2.05).

The Paloma Valley baseball team will play at Northview Thursday in a Division 2 game. The Wildcats are 14-12 and are led by freshman RJ Holmes (.422 average), Cameron Breeze (.388) and Ayden Harrison (.361). The same day, Santa Rosa Academy will play at Arrowhead Christian in a Division 6 baseball game.

The only home game of the five local games this week has Santa Rosa Academy playing host to Palm Desert in a Division 4 softball game on Thursday. The Rangers are 10-7 overall.

In the only local game scheduled for Friday, Heritage’s baseball team will play at Palm Desert. The Patriots are 14-4-1 overall and are led by sophomore Johnny Alley, who’s hitting .450.

All games begin at 3:15 p.m.