MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school baseball rankings

The postseason is in full swing across all sections, and that has provided us with the tough task of putting teams in the rankings after their seasons end. Overall resumes have to be factored in, and so that is why only one new team enters this week (Marina).

Expect new teams to come in, though, as the playoffs advance. A team making a deep playoff run can shoot up the rankings quickly.

Check out the MaxPreps Computer Rankings for California and also be sure to visit the MaxPreps California baseball playoff brackets.

MaxPreps Southern California Baseball Rankings

1. (1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 24-3*
Freeman Ranking: 1 state, 2 national
Division: Southern Section 1

The Monarchs exited the playoffs as early as they possibly could. And it happened against a team that entered the Wild Card round with a 13-13 record. Yes, Huntington Beach ended Mater Dei's season with a 2-1 win in the playoff opener for Mater Dei behind Noah Davis. We certainly didn't see this coming. However, Mater Dei is still the best team in the rankings. The Monarchs have beat the No. 2 and No. 3 teams this season, and their three losses are all by one run each, and St. Mary's and Orange Lutheran (teams they lost to) have had fantastic seasons. Harvard-Westlake still has a shot at the top spot, though, as do a few others. A section champ is likely to unseat the Monarchs.

2. (2) Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 24-4
Freeman Ranking: 4 state, 11 national
Division: Southern Section 1

The Wolverines aren't the top dog in the rankings. Why? They took care of business in a playoff opener last week, eliminating Valencia by a 7-1 score. The Wolverines scored three runs in the bottom of the first to make it a leisurely cruise to the victory, one that featured just four hits allowed. Harvard-Westlake's losses to Crespi and Notre Dame hurt in the rankings, and they also lost to Mater Dei, 4-0 earlier this season. How deep do they have to go to leapfrog Mater Dei? We shall see. The season continues Tuesday against El Dorado (Placentia) and with a win that would create a matchup with either Santa Margarita or Fountain Valley.

3. (3) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 25-3-1
Freeman Ranking: 15 state, 78 national
Division: Southern Section 4

The Lions played a typical Lions game in that they allowed no runs to San Marino. But they only scored one, so certainly there were tense moments. But they advance, of course, and that means a Tuesday contest at Savanna (Anaheim). A win there would mean a Friday date with South (Torrance) or Northview.

4. (4) Serra (Gardena), 24-5
Freeman Ranking: 31 state, 149 national
Division: Southern Section 3

The Cavaliers burst out for eight runs in the second inning and ended up cruising to a 12-7 triumph over West Covina to open things in the D-3 bracket. Trent Hammond knocked in three runs as part of a 3-for-4 day. Serra has won 14 in a row and will travel to Palmdale Tuesday to face Knight. A win there would mean a Friday contest with Paloma Valley or Garden Grove.

5. (6) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 26-4
Freeman Ranking: 7 state, 22 national
Division: San Diego Section Open

The Broncos avenged a loss to Westview by taking an 8-1 triumph and then closed out their regular season with a 14-0 whacking of Poway. They're going to need all the momentum they can get, as they enter the inaugural SDS Open Division bracket as the top seed. It's a brutal bracket, and things kick off Friday with a first-round matchup against Rancho Buena Vista.

6. (8) Fountain Valley, 24-4
Freeman Ranking: 2 state, 4 national
Division: Southern Section 1

The Barons bonked Alemany, 8-0, to open the Division 1 playoffs. They had a little slip at the end of the season, but we all know that this team has what it takes to win it all. A road game at Santa Margarita on Tuesday should be a good test against a team that hung with Mater Dei this season. A win there nets a Friday game with either El Dorado or Harvard-Westlake - a chance to make a big leap.

7. (9) El Toro (Lake Forest), 22-6
Freeman Ranking: 5 state, 16 national
Division: Southern Section 1

The Chargers scored in the bottom of the sixth to tie their opener with Woodrow Wilson, then in the eighth they got the game-winning RBI to advance, a 2-1 triumph. Andy Krear and Sam Clark each had the RBI hits. El Toro's next opponent is Moorpark, which comes to town on Tuesday. A win there and it's a Friday tilt with either Los Alamitos or Chaminade.

8. (12) Redlands East Valley, 23-4-1
Freeman Ranking: 77 state, 537 national
Division: Southern Section 2

The Wildcats are top dogs in Division 2 and started things off as expected by eliminating Arcadia, 3-1. Arcadia threatened in the seventh, scoring its only run, but REV pulled it out behind a balanced attack that saw seven different players record hits. Sophomore David Barela pitched into the seventh inning to get the win. Vista Murrieta comes to town on Tuesday, and if REV can win that, South Hills or San Clemente would be Friday's opponent.

9. (5) Orange Lutheran, 19-8*
Freeman Ranking: 10 state, 48 national
Division: Southern Section 1

The Lancers are out after Chaminade elmininated them by a 4-2 score in the opening round. They were a hard team to rank all season long, as they clearly were talented but also had eight losses. The Trinity League will do that to you, though.

10. (13) Quartz Hill, 22-6
Freeman Ranking: 102 state, 708 national
Division: Southern Section 3

The Rebels got a big boost in the Freeman Rankings in wild 7-3 win over Temescal Canyon that required extra innings. After they yielded a game-tying home run in the seventh, the Rebels won the game on a walk-off grand slam from Ty Boyles. Boyles also pitched seven innings with eight strikeouts. More fun may come Tuesday when Quartz Hill travels to Mira Costa to take on the Bay League champs. A win there would earn a shot at either Bishop Amat or Palm Desert on Friday.

11. (14) Loyola (Los Angeles), 20-10
Freeman Ranking: 43 state, 236 national
Division: Southern Section 1

The Cubs bounced back from their ugly finish to eliminate Canyon (Canyon Country) by an 8-5 score. Each time the Cowboys scored, Loyola found a way to get right back on the board, with the key inning being a four-run spot in the fourth to answer three runs scored by the visitors. Tuesday will be a significant test, as the Cubs head to Lakewood for a playoff battle. A win there means a chance on Friday against either Riverside Poly or Huntington Beach.

12. (16) Agoura, 21-9
Freeman Ranking: 44 state, 244 national
Division: Southern Section 1

The Chargers put a 12-5 beat-down on Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), scoring in all six innings that the offense appeared in. It was 5-0 after three innings and 8-1 after four. Tyler Cohen was huge, smacking two home runs in three at-bats. On Tuesday, they will host Trabuco Hills, and if they can win there, the next opponent on Friday would be either Thousand Oaks or Marina.

13. (17) Temecula Valley (Temecula), 20-5
Freeman Ranking: 26 state, 131 national
Division: Southern Section 2

The Golden Bears rocked Norwalk in the opening round, securing a 10-0 win. David Maldonado doubled and hit a homer, while Brandon Koch tossed a complete game from the mound. Next up should be a tougher test, as Pac 7 champion Arroyo Grande comes to town Tuesday, and if the Golden Bears win there, they will face either Aliso Niguel or Valencia (Placentia).

14. (18) Lakewood, 23-8
Freeman Ranking: 29 state, 146 national
Division: Southern Section 1

It's 12 straight victories for the Lancers after they blanked El Modena, 5-0, to open the playoffs. JP Crawford rapped a double and a triple with two RBIs and two runs scored in the win. That makes four shutouts in a row for the pitching staff. A home game against Loyola is on tap for Tuesday, and if they win they would face either Riverside Poly or Huntington Beach.

15. (10) Canyon (Anaheim), 22-6*
Freeman Ranking: 17 state, 90 national
Division: Southern Section 1

The Comanches are out. And emphatically, as Thousand Oaks dropped a 9-4 loss on them. It was 6-0 in the fourth and 9-1 in the fifth, so hats off to the Lancers for a game well-played. Canyon's overall resume is very good, with wins over Fountain Valley and Loyola, plus some epic battles with El Dorado. They lost to Lakewood earlier this year and that's how they end up 15th.

16. (11) Granite Hills (El Cajon), 22-8
Freeman Ranking: 9 state, 38 national
Division: San Diego Section Open

The Eagles lost to Valhalla for the second time this season, this time a 5-4 setback in the season finale. They also beat Helix 12-2. Granite Hills is the No. 2 seed for the Open Division playoffs and opens Wednesday against No. 7 Torrey Pines.


17. (7) Bonita (La Verne), 25-4-1*
Freeman Ranking: 47 state, 266 national
Division: Southern Section 3

The Bearcats saw their season come to an end after Cathedral won 3-1 in the opening round. Henry Martinez broke their hearts in the top of the seventh by hitting a pinch-hit, two-run double on an 0-2 count. Bonita had tied the game at 1 apiece in the bottom of the sixth when Austin McGilvra plated Joe Willard.

18. (19) Cypress, 22-8
Freeman Ranking: 25 state, 129 national
Division: Southern Section 2

The Centurions recorded a 6-1 victory over Irvine, outhitting their opponents 15-2. They will stay at home Tuesday to face the Channel League champion Dos Pueblos Chargers, and if they can pull out a W there, they will get either Yucaipa or Oxnard.

19. (20) Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo), 20-11
Freeman Ranking: 27 state, 137 national
Division: Southern Section 2

The Wolverines got rid of Claremont, taking a 7-1 triumph to extend their winning streak to seven games. Sophomore Kyle Molnar smashed a pair of home runs and the team swiped five bases. Aliso Niguel goes to Valencia (Placentia) Tuesday and if it wins, would face either Arroyo Grande or Temecula Valley.

20. (21) Gahr (Cerritos), 21-5
Freeman Ranking: 59 state, 372 national
Division: Southern Section 3

The Gladiators blanked Highland 6-0, as Daniel Gomez knocked in three runs and Andrew Encinas tossed six shutout innings. They will travel to La Quinta Tuesday and if they can win there, it'll either be Diamond Bar or St. Paul.

21. (22) Buchanan (Clovis), 25-5-1
Freeman Ranking: 16 state, 88 national
Division: Central Section I

The Bears got a first-round bye and then eliminated Liberty (Bakersfield) by a 6-2 score in the second round. They led 4-0 early and then after Liberty got a pair in the fifth, they responded with two more runs. Buchanan will face Stockdale (Bakersfield) on Wednesday in the semifinals and with a win would advance to Friday's section final against either Clovis North or Clovis.

22. (23) Clovis North (Fresno), 25-6
Freeman Ranking: 22 state, 119 national
Division: Central Section I

The Broncos have won nine of 10, and advanced in the Central Section playoffs after a 4-0 win over Frontier (Bakersfield). Are we on a collision course to see a Clovis North vs. Buchanan section final? Perhaps, but the Broncos will first have to beat Clovis in Wednesday's semifinal.

23. (25) San Clemente, 23-9
Freeman Ranking: 20 state, 105 national
Division: Southern Section 2

The Tritons easily eliminated Mayfair in their playoff opener, 7-0, outhitting their opponents 12-3. Shane Elias-Calles knocked in three runs and Jake Thomas knocked in a pair as well. They'll get a visit from South Hills on Tuesday and if they win that matchup, they will face Vista Murrieta or Redlands East Valley.

24. (NR) Marina (Huntington Beach), 19-8
Freeman Ranking: 6 state, 17 national
Division: Southern Section 1

The Vikings have had a high computer ranking number all season long, but we were skeptical. Now it's Marina time. After taking a pair from Fountain Valley to finish the regular season, Marina kept the momentum by eliminating Norco in the opening round, 2-1. Next up is a road trip to Thousand Oaks and a win there would net either Aguora or Trabuco Hills on Friday.

25. (15) Carlsbad, 23-6
Freeman Ranking: 24 state, 125 national
Division: San Diego Section I

The Lancers are barely hanging on in the rankings. They've lost two in a row now, after El Camino posted a 14-10 win over them in the regular season finale. Kyle Mendenhall and Alex Emerick each knocked in three runs. But they are the top seed in Division I for good reason and they will face the Mira Mesa vs. Ramona winner on Wednesday.