Long and Winding Road

The new movie “Road Trip” would be an appropriate film to show during Hart High’s 4 1/2-hour bus ride to Calexico High for a second-round game today in the Southern Section Division II baseball playoffs.

Located on the U.S.-Mexico border, Calexico is 265 miles from Newhall, 120 miles east of San Diego and 50 miles west of Yuma, Ariz. Hart is scheduled to leave at 7:30 a.m. on a charter bus, stop in San Diego for lunch, play at 3:15 p.m., then head home.

“I’m concerned about being able to get off the bus and play after 4 1/2 hours,” Coach Jim Ozella said.

The bus ride could be a sneak preview of life in the minor leagues for some players.

“We’re going to get a cultural education,” Ozella said.

Right-hander Jamie Shields (4-1) is scheduled to start for Hart (22-5).

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Runner-up to Hart for the region’s “King of the Road” honor is Village Christian.

The Crusaders will travel 252 miles for a Division V game today at Bishop Union. When they arrive, they’ll find themselves competing with “Mule Days,” an annual fair in Bishop where people from around the nation enter their mules in shows and competitions.

Not to be forgotten in the travel department: Westlake will go 191 miles for a Division III game at Paso Robles.

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Thanks to the cancellation of a rock concert, Dodger Stadium has become available to serve as site for the Southern Section championship games June 3 in Divisions I, II, III and IV.

Games times will be 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4:30 and 7:30.

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Chaminade (19-6) and Nordhoff (18-4) renew their rivalry today in a Division IV game at Chaminade. The teams met in the second round last season, when Nordhoff opened a 7-0 lead before the Eagles rallied for an 8-7 victory in eight innings.

Chaminade upset No. 2-seeded Lompoc, 2-1, Friday behind sophomore pitcher Bobby Paschal (8-0).

The Eagles plan to start junior right-hander Jason Urquidez (2-2), who began the season considered among the best pitchers in the Mission League. But Urquidez struggled with an injury and was dropped from the rotation before regaining his form.

Nordhoff is led by shortstop John Hill, a four-year starter batting .567, and pitchers Scott Drew (9-3) and Travis Flowers (8-1).

The Rangers (18-4), the Frontier League champions, defeated La Canada, 15-5, in the first round.

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Notre Dame (16-9) is trying to do the improbable--win a Division IV title on hitting alone. The Knights outlasted Mayfair, 12-10, last week and host St. Paul today.

The Knights’ pitching has been inconsistent, but their hitting and defense make them a dangerous team.

St. Paul ranks with Westlake as one of Notre Dame’s toughest opponents this season.

St. Paul won the Del Rey League championship and defeated Bishop Amat, which plays at Camarillo in a Division I game today.

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SOUTHERN SECTION BSEBALL PLAYOFFS

SECOND ROUND

Division I

Bishop Amat at Camarillo

Division II

Palmdale at La Mirada

Thousand Oaks at Irvine Woodbridge

Hart at Calexico

Division III

Westlake at Paso Robles

Charter Oak at Burroughs

Division IV

St. Paul at Notre Dame

Nordhoff at Chaminade

Division V

Pasadena Poly at St. Bonaventure

Paraclete vs. Montclair Prep at Mission Hills Senior Little League Complex

Lancaster Desert Chr. at Carpinteria

Campbell Hall at Downey Calvary Chapel

Village Christian at Bishop Union

Divison VI

Victor Valley Christian at Grace Brethren

Thacher at Dunn

Viewpoint at Faith Baptist

La Verne Lutheran at First Lutheran