Division III at a Glance

Defending Champion: Laguna Hills.

Top Teams: Upland (22-0), Mission Hills Alemany (20-2), Irvine (17-9), Woodbridge (20-8).

Dark Horse: Torrance (17-6).

Top Players: Tammy Alcantar (Alemany), Liza Brown (Rancho Cucamonga), Candi Carton (Moreno Valley Canyon Springs), Jennifer Cessna (Riverside Ramona), Tabby Cleveland (Costa Mesa), Sophie Contreraz (Alemany), Ann-Marie Froysaa (Trabuco Hills), Amber Griego (West Covina South Hills), Diana Humphries (Upland), Teah Hunt (Rancho Cucamonga Alta Loma), Brandi Isgar (San Dimas), Alison Johnsen (Woodbridge), Esmeralda Macias (Alemany), Kerry Martin (Redondo Beach Redondo Union), Stacey Nuveman (Glendora St. Lucy’s), Meghann Pricer (Canyon Springs), Katie Scheuerman (Tustin), Kelly Smith (Upland), Alycia Stevens (Laguna Hills), Natalie Tomoguchi (Irvine).

Best Draw: Irvine. The Vaqueros won a coin toss to gain the top spot from the Sea View League and are the third-seeded team in the division, where they came out winners again with a draw that should help them advance to the semifinals.

Worst Draw: Upland. The Highlanders should play Ivy League champion Ramona (22-3) in the second round and then might face San Dimas (18-1-1) in the quarterfinals.

Notes: Upland will look familiar to Orange County softball fans. The Highlanders beat Kennedy, Foothill and Mater Dei en route to the championship of the Woodbridge tournament. . . The county has only six teams in the division. But Irvine, Woodbridge and Laguna Hills could advance to the quarterfinals because each received a favorable draw. San Dimas and Isgar (18-1, 250 strikeouts) could surprise top-seeded Upland.