MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school baseball rankings

Oh wow did we see a lot of ranked teams lose. Such is life when it gets to the playoffs.

Three Southern Section teams were bounced and three move in. The Central Section wrapped up over last week so don't expect any changes with teams from that part of the state. But watch out for the San Diego Section. They just started the postseason and some new names could emerge.

Be sure to check back often for California baseball playoff brackets. Click here to view them, as more sections will be added.

Click here to visit the California computer rankings and click here to see the California stats leaderboard.

Wednesday matchups are not factored into this week's rankings, per usual.


1. (1) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 26-3
Classification: San Diego Section Open
Ranks: 5 State, 27 National, 4 Xcellent 50

The Broncos have now won 14 games in a row, as they closed out the regular season with an 8-1 win over Westview and then beating Canyon Crest Academy 6-0. They obviously earned the top seed in the Open Division and open the playoffs Wednesday against No. 8 seed Mira Mesa. A win would net a contest against La Costa Canyon or Carlsbad.

2. (2) Clovis, 33-5 *Season over
Classification: Central Section I
Ranks: 2 State, 7 National, 5 Xcellent 50

What an ending to the season. The Cougars got a walk-off hit to beat Buchanan 3-2 in the Central Section Division I title game, and they've officially made their case for the top spot in the rankings. If Rancho Bernardo loses in the playoffs, that brings up an interesting choice. As for now, Clovis stays second, though a victory over Buchanan is hard to ignore, whenever it happens.

3. (3) Norco, 26-2
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 3 State, 19 National, 15 Xcellent 50

The Cougars definitely brought their bats to the postseason, and they're still alive. They whacked Canyon (Anaheim) 15-5 before eliminating Poly (Riverside) 12-9. That's double digits in four of their past five and a 25-game winning streak. Up next in a Friday quarterfinal in Santa Margarita. A win there would net Orange Lutheran or Trabuco Hills Tuesday.

4. (4) Great Oak (Temecula), 23-6
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 1 State, 5 National, 34 Xcellent 50

So far the postseason has been pretty easy for the champions of the Southwestern League. They bashed Tustin 12-3 to start things off, then advanced again when they downed Paso Robles 9-4. Aliso Niguel will be a worthy opponent on Friday, and if the Wolf Pack wins there, then it's on to face either Chino Hills or La Mirada.

5. (7) Buchanan (Clovis), 25-8 *Season over
Classification: Central Section I
Ranks: 12 State, 65 National

The Bears move up after losing to Clovis in the Central Section Division I title game, 3-2. They hung tough in what is one of America's most brutal leagues, and then took it all the way down to the final inning in the section final against what may end up being the top team in these rankings.

6. (14) Temecula Valley (Temecula), 21-8
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 11 State, 62 National

The Golden Bears are showing that all those league losses were to really good teams. And their big jump comes with the quality of wins they had last week and the glut of losses from the higher-ranked teams. They're 3-0 in the D-II bracket thus far, after they eliminated returning champion Cypress by a 4-2 score then beat South Hills 4-1. If they win the Friday quarterfinal, they would get Valencia or Crescenta Valley.

7. (15) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 19-7
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 9 State, 54 National

How about some late-game heroics? This team has it. The Lions beat Brea Olinda 4-3 after they blew a 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh, then won 6-5 over Valencia after tying the game in the bottom of the seventh with a run then scoring three more in the bottom of the eighth to win. They face Edison Friday and a win there would net Foothill or Agoura.

8. (18) Chino Hills, 23-5
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 7 State, 31 National

The Huskies didn't get an easy draw in the first round, but managed to beat a tough San Clemente squad 1-0. They then edged Pacifica (Garden Grove) 5-4 in an 11-inning thriller that saw them save their lives three different times with defeat staring them down. Chino Hills faces La Mirada Friday and a win there would mean a date with Great Oak or Aliso Niguel.

9. (20) Agoura, 25-5
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 44 State, 261 National

Two playoff games, no runs allowed. That's what Agoura has going, as the Chargers shut down Crespi in a 2-0 win and did the same to Capistrano Valley in a 6-0 triumph. They'll face Foothill (Santa Ana) for a chance at the semifinals, and with a win would face either JSerra or Edison.

10. (23) Dana Hills (Dana Point), 26-7
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 20 State, 113 National

The Dolphins bounced back from their loss that ended the regular season with a pair of playoff wins. They're still alive after edging Righetti (Santa Maria) 4-3 then shutting down Buena (Ventura) 3-0. They get a tough matchup with Temecula Valley on Friday and then would face Valencia or Crescenta Valley if they win.

11. (NR) Orange Lutheran, 18-11
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 24 State, 135 National

It's all about getting hot at the right time. And the Lancers have proven that, as they knocked off two ranked teams each by a 7-2 score. They began the week winning 7-0 over Newport Harbor, then blitzed Hart and Woodrow Wilson in those 7-2 victories. Sure, the 11 losses don't look great. But this team has won nine in a row and 13 of 14. They play Trabuco Hills on Friday.

12. (NR) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 17-10-1
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 50 State, 308 National

This is another team heating up late. The Eagles eliminated then-No. 5 Fountain Valley in an 8-7 triumph after they shut down Mission Viejo in an 8-2 victory. Once again the number of losses is significant, but the win over the No. 5 team in the biggest game of the year speaks volumes. The Eagles face Norco on Friday.

13. (5) Fountain Valley, 19-9 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 15 State, 72 National

The Barons started out the playoffs with an easy 9-1 victory over Lakewood, and all seemed well. Then Santa Margarita came along and eliminated the Sunset League champions with an 8-7 win.

14. (6) Huntington Beach, 22-5 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 4 State, 24 National

Winning 10-1 over Santiago (Corona) to start the playoffs was great. Losing 1-0 to Foothill and Sebastian Lopez? Not as fun. The Oilers still have a great computer ranking, but their season has ended.

15. (10) Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 22-7-1
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 19 State, 110 National

The Wolverines beat JW North 5-0 to start the playoffs, but their season ended in a 3-1 loss to Edison (Huntington Beach). There will be no repeat title for Harvard-Westlake this year.

16. (11) Loyola (Los Angeles), 23-6-1
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 16 State, 97 National

The Cubs won 4-1 over Corona to begin the playoffs, but dropped a 5-4 decision to Trabuco Hills that featured all five runs in the fifth inning.

17. (8) Clovis North (Fresno), 22-9 *Season over
Classification: Central Section I
Ranks: 18 State, 109 National

Central Section Division I semifinalist.

18. (9) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 23-5
Classification: San Diego Section Open
Ranks: 8 State, 46 National

The Dons did go 3-1 over the span of two days. While it's not easy to play that many games in that short amount of time, we still have to knock them down for the loss. They had whacked Mira Mesa (a below .500 team) 20-4 but then came back and lost 4-3 to that same team. They posted 8-2 and 4-3 wins over St. Augustine, and are likely to climb back up. They faced Vista in the playoff opener Wednesday.

19. (13) Granite Hills (El Cajon), 22-7
Classification: San Diego Section Open
Ranks: 14 State, 70 National

The Eagles lost 2-0 to Valhalla in their only contest of the week. They faced Rancho Buena Vista in the playoff opener on Wednesday.

20. (16) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 20-8 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 6 State, 30 National

The Broncos beat Bellflower 8-1 to begin the postseason, but saw their season come to an end in a 4-3 loss to Valencia (Placentia).

21. (17) Woodrow Wilson (Long Beach), 26-6 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 27 State, 160 National

The Bruins had a great ascent as the regular season rolled along. But things did not end well. After losing their season finale in blowout fashion, they won 5-4 over Moorpark to start the playoffs. They then lost 7-2 to Orange Lutheran at home to end the campaign.

22. (12) Hart (Newhall), 21-5-1 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 53 State, 321 National

The Indians fell victim to Orange Lutheran in their playoff opener, losing 7-2.

23. (22) Chatsworth Charter, 25-4-1
Classification: Los Angeles City Section I
Ranks: 31 State, 190 National

The Chancellors did not play. They faced North Hollywood in their playoff opener Wednesday.

24. (NR) Foothill (Santa Ana), 20-10
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 43 State, 259 National

We welcome the Knights after they knocked off Huntington Beach in the second round of the playoffs, 1-0. They also won 6-1 over Chaminade. The Century League champions will face Agoura on Friday for a chance to likely cement a spot in the final rankings.

25. (19) Alemany (Mission Hills), 20-8-2 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 52 State, 320 National

The Warriors could have been passed up for a San Diego Section team but we are going to wait for the SDS playoffs to play out. They eliminated Saugus 5-4 but lost to Poly (Riverside) by a 7-3 count to end their season.