One year after an early playoff exit, the Camarillo High baseball team enters the 2007 postseason as a favorite.

Camarillo was one of three area teams awarded No. 1 seeds Monday as the CIF released its section pairings.

Oaks Christian and Cornerstone Christian are the top-seeded teams in Division III and VII softball, respectively.

The first week of the playoffs features two all-Ventura County Division I softball matchups. On Friday, Simi Valley travels to Oxnard and Royal will be at home against Rio Mesa.

Camarillo was knocked out of the 2006 Division II playoffs in the second round by Claremont, 5-3.

With that loss vivid in the minds of returning players, Camarillo finished the regular season with a 24-2 record, which included a 15-game winning streak. The Scorpions have a .387 team batting average and .617 slugging percentage.

Camarillo opens the Division II playoffs on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. at home against the winner of today's wild-card game between Pioneer Valley and Burbank.

In wild-card games today involving county baseball teams, Oxnard plays at Santa Ana, Ventura hosts Paso Robles and Fillmore visits Culver City. The Fillmore-Culver City winner plays at Division IV No. 2 seed Northview on Thursday.

Marmonte League champion Thousand Oaks, the No. 2 seed in Division I, opens at home Friday against Long Beach Poly. Newbury Park will be at home against Hart, Simi Valley travels to Centennial/Corona and Royal is on the road against No. 4 seed Riverside Poly.

Three one-run losses in the second half of the season likely cost St. Bonaventure a Division IV seeding. The Seraphs play at home Thursday against Century. St. Bonaventure was the 2006 Division V runner-up.

The Oaks Christian softball team, winner of 17 of its first 18 games, begins its postseason Friday at home against the winner of Wednesday's wild-card game between Lancaster and Burroughs. Tri-Valley League runner-up Oak Park hosts Rancho Alamitos in the first round.

In wild-card softball games Wednesday, La Reina hosts Bonita and Santa Clara will be on the road against Beverly Hills.

Second-seeded Camarillo leads a pack of eight county schools in the Division I softball playoffs.

Camarillo and No. 1 seed Valencia were awarded first-round byes. Camarillo will play the winner of the Trabuco Hills-Esperanza game on May 22 in a second-round home game.

The winner of the Oxnard-Simi Valley game will draw Valencia in the second round. The Royal-Pacifica survivor will meet Ivy League champion Ramona on the road in the second round.

Thousand Oaks, the Marmonte League champion, opens at home against Saugus. The Lancers could face Rio Mesa in the second round.

Omega League champion Cornerstone Christian has a Division VII first round bye.

In second-round boys' volleyball matches today at 7 p.m., Westlake will be at Mira Costa, Oxnard plays at El Dorado, Oaks Christian hosts Crossroads and Oak Park travels to Santiago/Corona.