Baseball:

With three weeks to go in the regular season, every two or three-game series is crucial.

Surprisingly, this week offers up less drama than one might expect.

But there are three matchups that look both interesting and vital in determining a league champion.

Arcadia (6-0 in league) meets up twice with Burbank (8-0) this week in a Pacific League showdown.

The two-game series between San Dimas (4-0 in league) and Charter Oak (4-0) will go a long ways in determining the Valle Vista League champion.

And Los Osos can get right back into the Baseline League title hunt if they take care of business in their three-game series with Damien.

Elsewhere, though, it appears there are a number of mismatches and nonleague/tournament games on the docket.

Baseline League:

Chino Hills and Damien head into the final three weeks of the season with nine league games to go and a one-game lead over second-place Los Osos.

Chino Hills won their first two against RCHS, including a three-run, walk-off home run to earn an 8-5 victory in game two.

The Cougars rebounded on Friday and snapped the Huskies’ 10-game win streak with a 12-3 victory.

Upland won the first of their three-game series with Damien and then the Spartans crushed the Highlanders in game two and three by a combined margin of 29-10.

Los Osos will travel to Damien tomorrow (Monday) for the first of three this week with the Spartans.

Rancho Cucamonga has the chance to get back into the thick of things if they can sweep Upland.

And after Etiwanda snapped it’s nine-game losing streak on Friday against Los Osos, will they be able to put some pressure on Chino Hills this week?

Baseline League Schedule:
Monday: RCHS at Upland, Chino Hills at Etiwanda, Los Osos at Damien
Wednesday: Upland at RCHS, Etiwanda at Chino Hills, Damien at Los Osos
Friday: RCHS at Upland, Chino Hills at Etiwanda, Los Osos at Damien

Baseline League Standings:
Chino Hills (13-4 overall, 5-1 in league)
Damien (11-5, 5-1)
Los Osos (10-5, 4-2)
Rancho Cucamonga (13-7, 2-4)
Upland (9-9, 1-5)
Etiwanda (7-10, 1-5)

Del Rey League:

With La Salle being the only program we cover in this league, we’ll obviously focus on them.

The Lancers just got done winning their three-game series with Cathedral, two games to one.

La Salle has a three-game series this week with Serra (2-4 in league), who is tied for third with Cathedral.

Mike Solar’s program still hasn’t been able to practice or play a single home game at Arcadia County Park, but they still find themselves in second place.

La Salle is also getting contributions throughout its lineup and bullpen, so the final three weeks should be exciting.

La Salle Schedule:
Monday: La Salle at Serra
Thursday: La Salle at Serra
Saturday: Serra at La Salle

Del Rey League:
Bishop Amat (12-6 overall, 6-0 in league)
La Salle (5-6, 2-1)
Cathedral (9-7, 2-4)
Serra (6-14, 2-4)
Cantwell Sacred Heart (1-11, 1-5)
St. Paul (1-11, 0-3)

Hacienda League:

It seems South Hills (13-6 overall, 3-1 in league) and Los Altos (13-4, 3-1) are destined to duke it out for the league championship when they meet up for a two-game series starting next Tuesday.

The Huskies swept Diamond Bar in a pair of games last week, and in the process, launched two-time CIF-SS championship coach Darren Murphy into the 400-win club.

Walnut can not be taken lightly, especially considering the Mustangs handed both Los Altos and South Hills their only league loss thus far.

The Walnut-Diamond Bar two-game set this week will play large as the playoff picture starts to clear up.

As far as the top dogs, expect South Hills and Los Altos to sweep Rowland and Wilson, respectively, this week.

Hacienda League Schedule:
Monday: Downey at Los Altos
Tuesday: South Hills at Rowland, Wilson at Los Altos, Walnut at Diamond Bar
Thursday: Rowland at South Hills, Los Altos at Wilson, Diamond Bar at Walnut

Hacienda League:
Los Altos (13-4 overall, 3-1 in league)
South Hills (13-6, 3-1)
Diamond Bar (10-4, 2-2)
Walnut (9-9, 2-2)
Wilson (2-3, 2-2)
Rowland (1-6, 0-4)

Mission Valley League:

Marshall Fundamental is the only team we cover in the MVL and the Eagles looks to stay unbeaten this week as they take on last-place Rosemead and fifth-place South El Monte.

The Eagles are 8-0 and have outscored their opponents, 72-18, in MVL games.

Travis Delgado, Gabe Mabee and Alex Chew have been reliable all season on the mound.

And it seems the Marshall Fundamental bats are starting to heat up.

Marshall Fundamental Schedule:
Wednesday: Marshall Fundamental at Rosemead
Friday: Marshall Fundamental at South El Monte

Mission Valley League:
Marshall Fundamental (11-1 overall, 8-0 in league)
Arroyo (5-1, 5-1)
Gabrielino (4-3, 4-3)
El Monte (4-4, 4-4)
South El Monte (2-5, 2-5)
Mountain View (2-5, 2-5)
Rosemead (0-7, 0-7)

Olympic League:

When it’s all said and done, Maranatha will claim another Olympic League championship.

Valley Christian handed the Minutemen their first league loss (6-2) on Tuesday.

But MHS bounced back and earned a 5-1 road victory two day later at Valley Christian.

There is no drama this week in terms of the Olympic League, as the Minutemen will play three nonleague games.

Maranatha Schedule:
Monday: Southwestern Academy at Maranatha
Wednesday: Montebello at Maranatha
Saturday: Simi Valley at Maranatha

Olympic League:
Maranatha (12-2 overall, 6-1 in league)
Valley Christian (11-5, 3-2)
Heritage Christian (3-8, 2-4)
Whittier Christian (5-11, 1-6)

Pacific League:

Arcadia will get its first real test on Tuesday when they travel to Burbank in a two-game series with Burbank.

Casey Spencer will go for win No. 7 on the mound for Arcadia, who are 5-0 in league games since being forced to take two weeks off due to COVID-19 protocol.

And over that stretch, their combined margin of victory is 64-4.

After losing the first six games to start their season, Muir got their first two wins this past week.

The Mustangs defeated Hoover by scores of 11-0 and 6-4.

Pacific League Schedule:
Tuesday: Arcadia at Burbank, Muir at Burroughs, PHS at Hoover, CV at Glendale
Friday:  Burbank at Arcadia, Burroughs at Muir, Hoover at PHS, Glendale at CV

Pacific League:
Burbank (10-1 overall, 8-0 in league)
Arcadia (12-3, 6-0)
CV (13-6, 7-1)
Burroughs (6-8, 4-3)
Glendale (5-7, 2-5)
Muir (2-6, 2-6)
Pasadena (3-13, 1-7)
Hoover (4-10, 0-8)

Palomares League:

With three two-game series to go, there is a lot that is already known, but there is still some drama to be played out.

Will Glendora or Bonita be able to hand Ayala one loss before the playoffs start?

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 in Division 1, are 9-0 in league, and they finish their season against Glendora, Colony and then Bonita in a trio of two-game series.

Bonita enhanced its chances of earning the No. 2 seed out of the Palomares, thanks to a pair of wins last week over Glendora and three over the Tartans in 2021.

As mentioned in an earlier story, a No. 2 seed gives a program a realistic chance at a first-round home game in the playoffs, as opposed to a third-place finish, which usually means a road trip to a league champion.

The Bearcats will pad their stats this week in a series with last-place Colony, and currently hold a two-game lead over GHS, Claremont and Alta Loma for second place.

Palomares League Schedule:
Wednesday: Ayala at Glendora, Bonita at Colony, Claremont at Alta Loma
Friday: Glendora at Ayala, Colony at Bonita, Alta Loma at Claremont

Palomares League Standings:
Ayala (15-1 overall, 9-0 in league)
Bonita (9-4, 6-3)
Glendora (10-10, 4-5)
Claremont (10-11, 4-5)
Alta Loma (4-10, 4-5)
Colony (1-15, 0-9)

Prep League:

Flintridge Prep has a chance to run away with the Prep League championship this week.

The Wolves hold a 1.5 game lead over Poly and they’ll meet up twice with the Panthers.

Flintridge Prep also has a Wednesday showdown with third-place Rio Hondo Prep.

Prep League Schedule:
Tuesday: Flintridge Prep at Poly, Rio Hondo Prep at The Webb School
Wednesday: Rio Hondo Prep at Flintridge Prep
Friday: Poly at Flintridge Prep

Prep League:
Flintridge Prep (8-1 overall, 7-1 in league)
Poly (8-3, 5-2)
Rio Hondo Prep (6-5, 4-3)
Providence (3-11, 2-6)
Chadwick (2-7, 1-7)

Rio Hondo League:

Monrovia finds itself with a two-game lead over second-place La Canada, and a three-game advantage over third-place South Pasadena.

The Wildcats and Tigers meet up twice this week, while La Canada has a pair of games with last-place San Marino.

Rio Hondo League Schedule:
Tuesday: South Pasadena at Monrovia, La Canada at San Marino
Friday: Monrovia at South Pasadena, San Marino at La Canada

Rio Hondo League:
Monrovia (14-2 overall, 6-0 in league)
La Canada (9-3, 4-2)
South Pasadena (8-6, 5-3)
Temple City (3-7, 3-5)
San Marino (1-11, 0-8)

Valle Vista League:

This week’s two-game series between Charter Oak and the defending VVL champs from San Dimas looks very interesting.

The Saints and Chargers are the lone VVL programs without a loss and Charter Oak heads over to San Dimas on a six-game win streak.

And over that stretch, COHS has outscored their opponents, 63-2.

San Dimas’ Matt DesMarets and Matt Romero will go head to head with Charter Oak’s Zack Bauer and Chris Ceballos.

Northview also has the opportunity to distance themselves from the lower three programs in the VVL standings if they’re able to sweep West Covina.

Valle Vista League Schedule:
Wednesday: Charter Oak at San Dimas, Northview at West Covina, Diamond Ranch at Covina
Thursday: San Dimas at Charter Oak
Friday: West Covina at Northview, Diamond Ranch at Covina

Valle Vista League:
San Dimas (10-4 overall, 4-0 in league)
Charter Oak (10-4,4-0)
Northview (12-7, 2-2)
West Covina (7-10, 2-2)
Covina (3-4, 0-4)
Diamond Ranch (0-7, 0-4)