When the CIF-Los Angeles City Section playoff pairings for baseball and softball were announced Saturday, everyone truly knew the Port Of Los Angeles High softball team was going to get the top seed in the Division III playoffs, and the prediction of that happening, if there were any, was true.

Meanwhile, the Polar Bears' baseball team has flew under the radar with a stellar season of their own.

They too were awarded a top seed in the Division III playoffs.

Now the dream of two teams winning a City Section title at the end of May are dancing in the heads of everyone at the small charter school in Downtown San Pedro as the baseball and softball teams come into the Division III playoffs with the target on their back, especially in the case of the softball team, considering they're the two-time defending City Section Division III champions.

Behind coach Melissa Bugarin-Espinoza's deadly array of hitters, sophomore pitcher Nicolle Miranda and ions of experience on her talented roster, POLA (24-8 overall) boasted the toughest strength of schedule out of ANY team in the City Section, and even owns a victory over the top seed of Division I, Banning of Wilmington. Juniors Kelsea Short, Allison Bayer and Sarah Maldonado along with senior catcher Brianna Grayson are after a third City title.

Also keep a close eye on sophomore infielders Rosemary Garcia and Savana Ramirez.

First-year coach Brian Emerson has paced the Polar Bears' baseball team to their first Crosstown League championship and at one point during the season, a 13-game winning streak. Senior Anthony Carson, sophomore George Solorzano, senior Tyler Walters, junior Chris Marshall and seniors Joe Mancha and Brandon Giordano pace this stellar team that finished 15-4 through the regular season.

The baseball team opens the playoffs on Friday at Henderson Field against No.16 Camino Nuevo of Los Angeles at 3pm. A potential semifinal with league foe Animo Venice Charter, the fourth seed, looms large. Animo Venice Charter was the team who ended the Polar Bears' three-game winning streak. Should POLA win three straight, the championship game is slated for Tuesday, May 28 at USC.

The Division III baseball semifinals on Friday, May 24 is also at USC.

Meanwhile, the softball team begins its quest to three-peat on Tuesday against No.16 New Designs of Los Angeles, 3pm at the San Pedro Girls Softball Association Field by the Pistol Range.

Unlike the first two seasons, POLA does not have the benefit of a first round bye due to the tournament expanding to a traditional 16-team format, making this the toughest run for the Polar Bears, but the experience alone just might be enough to carry them all the way to the Division III final, which is slated for Saturday, May 25, 11am at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson.

The Polar Bears are certainly on the prowl, and the rest of the City Section is taking notice.

In Division I, the San Pedro High baseball team was awarded the No.7 seed and will host tenth-seeded Kennedy of Granada Hills on Wednesday, May 22 at 3pm, and the softball team was deemed the tenth seed and will travel to seventh-seeded Granada Hills on Tuesday at 3pm.

Both Pirate teams placed third in the Marine League.