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CIF-SS Division 1 champion Pacifica is among the Orange County softball teams that have opted out of the upcoming CIF SoCal Regional, Mariners coach Tony Arduino said Monday after a meeting with players.
“We decided not to do it,” he said. “It was a team decision.”
Pacifica (27-2), which claimed its second consecutive Division 1 crown on Friday, joins automatic qualifiers Orange Lutheran and JSerra as O.C. teams to decline bids to play in the regional.
The Lancers finished as the Division 1 runner-up and the Lions lost in the Division 1 semifinals.
Canyon and Huntington Beach, both of whom fell in the Division 1 quarterfinals, received invitations to play in the regional but also declined, their coaches confirmed Monday.
Mater Dei, an automatic qualifier as a Division 2 semifinalist, and Division 7 runner-up Oxford Academy have stated they will play in the regional.
The tournament is scheduled for May 28, May 30 and June 1. Pairings are expected to be released on Sunday.
Arduino said there were several factors behind his team’s decision, including lack of a true state tournament.
The SoCal champion, for example, doesn’t advance to play the NorCal champion.
“I honestly would think our players would be more receptive of (that),” Arduino said.
There is a plan to propose creating state tournaments in softball and baseball in the 2026-27 school year, stated Rebecca Brutlag, spokesperson for the CIF State office. The proposal would be introduced the 2025-26 school year, she added.
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