MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school baseball rankings

Video: Early Contenders - No. 3 Buchanan (CA)
See the preseason outlook for the Bears, the No. 1 team in the NorCal rankings.

This is a baseball state rich in tradition and talent, and it's more of the same this spring.

If there were CIF state playoffs for baseball, the academic year for sports seasons would have to be moved up, and it has been discussed across the state. And if there were a state playoff format in place now, it would occur well after graduations.

Given that, it seems likely that the Central Section would be placed into the Northern California brackets, as it happens for some divisions in football to help balance the sections out. The MaxPreps NorCal Top 25 Baseball Rankings has a top-heavy Central Section and Clovis and Fresno feel to it, including some of the best teams in the country. These rankings will not include teams any farther south of Fresno.

Buchanan finished 30-1 last season and ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps. The Bears return, among others, Cal-bound infielder Quentin Selma, Fresno State-bound catcher Zach Presno and pitcher Hunter Reinke.




1. Buchanan (Clovis), 14-0
Section: Central
League: Tri-River
Division: I
Coach: Tom Donald
2016 credentials: Finished 30-1 and ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps as Central Section Division I champions.

2. Clovis, 12-2-1
Section: Central
League: Tri-River
Division: I
Coach: James Patrick
2016 credentials: The Cougars went 23-9 and pushed rival Buchanan last season and will again, behind pitcher Dominic Liberta and outfielder Tyson Fraser.

3. De La Salle (Concord), 6-3
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Division: I
Coach: David Jeans
2016 credentials: The Spartans won the North Coast Section Division I title in finishing 25-3 and returned infielders Michael Curran, Trace Tammaro and Gabe Giosso. 4. Tracy, 6-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City Athletic
Division: I
Coach: Vic Alkire
2016 credentials: The Bulldogs won the Section Division I-South title and lost to Elk Grove in three games in the Section finals, finishing 26-9, though Michigan-bound ace Cody Bolton is back.

5. Vacaville, 10-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Division: I
Coach: Stu Clary
2016 credentials: The Bulldogs lost to Davis 2-1 in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs to finish 15-13 and return a wealth of players under fiery and fun coach Stu Clary, including pitchers Jordan Giggey and Cole Elvis

6. Davis, 6-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Division: I
Coach: Dan Ariola
2016 credentials: The Blue Devils returned to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs under veteran coach Ariola, an alum of the program and the winningest coach in program history, including going 21-8 last season.

7. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 7-0
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo-Foothill
Division: I
Coach: Casey Coakley
2016 credentials: The Ugly Eagles lost to Heritage 9-1 in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs in finishing 18-8 and returned pitchers James Biles and Matt Freeman.



8. Monte Vista (Danville), 8-2
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Division: I
Coach: Bill Piona
2016 credentials: The Mustangs lost to Castro Valley 4-2 in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs to finish 16-10, though they return pitchers Will Blackburn and Ryan Fleming.

9. Palma (Salinas), 13-0
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Division: IV/Open
Coach: Pete Ruiz
2016 credentials: The Chieftains lost to San Benito 7-0 in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs to finish 20-6, and they returned pitchers Jackson Meuter and Sam Stoutenborough.

10. Granite Bay, 5-1-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Division: I
Coach: Pat Esposito
2016 credentials: The Grizzlies lost to eventual champion Elk Grove in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, finishing 15-13, though ace Darren Nelson returns.

11. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 8-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Division: I/Open
Coach: Mike Rodriguez
2016 credentials: The Bells lost to San Benito 3-0 in the Central Section Open Division playoffs in finishing 21-11.

12. Serra (San Mateo), 8-4
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Division: I/Open
Coach: Craig Gianinno
2016 credentials: The Padres lost to league rival Saint Francis 4-0 in the Central Coast Section playoffs in going 25-6-1.

13. Saint Francis (Mountain View), 8-3
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Division: I/Open
Coach: Mike Smith
2016 credentials: The Lancers beat San Benito 1-0 to win the Central Coast Section Open Division championship in finishing 26-8 and returned pitcher Justin Folan.



14. Valley Christian (San Jose), 6-5-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Division: I/Open
Coach: John Diatte
2016 credentials: The Warriors lost to Carlmont (Belmont) 8-2 in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs in finishing 16-15.

15. Elk Grove, 4-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Division: I
Coach: Jeff Carlson
2016 credentials: The Thundering Herd won their 10th section title and seventh under coach Carlson since 2003 in going 26-10, while producing Sacramento Bee Player of the Year and 1st-round pick Dylan Carlson. Younger brother Tanner Carlson is back in the infield.

16. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 3-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Division: I
Coach: Todd Melton
2016 credentials: The Trojans reached the finals of the Section Division I-North field, falling to Elk Grove to finish 24-6, and they could sport their best team in school history this season behind ace Trenton Denholm and No. 2 arm John Cross.

17. Christian Brothers (Sacramento), 5-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Athletic
Division: III
Coach: Rich Hennig
2016 credentials: The Falcons lost to Manteca 9-6 in the finals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III tournament in finishing 24-6-1.

18. Palo Alto, 11-3
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Division: I/Open
Coach: Pete Fukuhara
2016 credentials: The Vikings lost to Valley Christian (San Jose) 2-0 in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs in finishing 23-6-1.

19. Los Gatos, 11-2-1
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Division: III/Open
Coach: Nate Anderson
2016 credentials: The Wildcats lost to San Benito 4-2 in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs to finish 20-13.



(TIE) 20. College Park (Pleasant Hill), 6-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo-Foothill
Division: I
Coach: Andy Tarpley
2016 credentials: The Falcons reached the North Coast Section D-I semifinals, falling to De La Salle. Christian Encarnacion-Strand led the team in hitting and is back from a 19-8 squad.

(TIE) 20. Amador Valley (Pleasanton), 8-2
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Division: I
Coach: Lou Cesario
2016 credentials: The Dons did not reach the postseason in finishing 10-14 but they returned a wealth of players to make a run.

And 5 more:
21. Foothill (Pleasanton), 8-0-1
22. San Benito (Hollister), 9-1
23. San Ramon Valley (Danville), 7-3
24. Pleasant Valley (Chico), 8-0
25. Berkeley, 8-1

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and through facebook: www.facebook.com/joe.davidson.71868