MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school baseball rankings

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See an outfielder go above and beyond to record an out

The playoffs start this week for the Central Coast and Sac-Joaquin sections, with the North Coast getting into the fray next week. There are no CIF NorCal playoffs just yet, as the seasons would stretch well into June, past graduation, senior trips, the Major League Baseball Draft and more. For now, the section playoffs will decide the champions.

Click here to see California baseball playoff brackets


1. De La Salle (Concord) (last week 1) 19-3
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: Top-ranked by the San Francisco Chronicle, the Spartans have wins over Elk Grove early and are closing in on a league title. There are two games to go against Monte Vista (Danville) and California (San Ramon) with eyes on the top seed for the NCS Division I playoffs. Conner Roberts has pitched well, backed by shortstop Armani Smith, whose father Chris Smith was drafted in the second round out of Vallejo by the Angels in 1992.

2. Elk Grove (3) 19-8
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Update: Top-ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Thundering Herd, defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division I champions, bound back into the playoffs seeking the program's 10th title and 10th Division I-North title since 2002 under coach Jeff Carlson. The ace is Alex Zalasky, the power comes from Dylan Carlson and the versatility includes Ryan Robards and Josh Urps and Aaron Wong. Elk Grove opens against Granite Bay.

3. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (2) 21-5
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Update: The Trojans cruised to the Sierra Foothill League title behind aces Trenton Denholm (9-0) and John Cross (6-1), and a superb coach in Todd Melton, who just won his 200th game. Oak Ridge heads into the SJS D-I playoffs as a rock-solid favorite along with Elk Grove.

4. Serra (San Mateo) (6) 24-5-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Update: The Padres open against San Lorenzo Valley (Felton) in a Central Coast Section Open Division playoff opener, having just won the WCAL championship game with a 6-2 victory over Saint Francis. Nick Von Tobel has pitched well.

5. Saint Francis (Mountain View) (5) 22-8
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Update: The preseason NorCal No. 1 team is a looming favorite, among others, in the Central Coast Section Open playoffs. The Lancers lost to Serra 6-2 in the WCAL title game.

6. Jesuit (Carmichael) (8) 20-7
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Update: The Marauders have huge nonleague wins over De La Salle 9-1, Valley Christian (San Jose) 8-4, St. Mary's (Stockton) 5-4 and Bellarmine (7-4). Jesuit in league play lost to Elk Grove 4-1 and 3-0 and swept Davis 2-1 and 5-0. In a D-I playoff opener against Rocklin, Jesuit prevailed 2-1 as Tyler Adge earned the win in relief. Jesuit plays Vintage next.

7. Heritage (Brentwood) (7) 17-4
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Update: The Patriots can lock up the league race and a high seed in the North Coast Section playoffs with wins over Antioch and Liberty (Brentwood) this week. Kevin Milam and Walker Brinkman have played well.

8. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (9) 19-10
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Update: An early win was over preseason No. 1 Saint Francis 2-1, and then a nine-inning loss to new No. 1 De La Salle, and now it's time for the Central Coast Section Open playoffs. The opener is against Westmont (Campbell).

9. Davis (4) 21-7
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Update: The Blue Devils started the season 13-0, won the Boras Baseball Classic North title, split with Elk Grove and then beat Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) to get into the playoffs, where they beat Vacaville 2-1. Next is Oak Ridge. Ryan Kreidler and Ryan Holgate are the Davis stars.

10. Vintage (Napa) (12) 18-7-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Update: The Crushers won the MEL and have one of the top aces in the state in Jared Horn, who is 9-1 with an 0.41 ERA. He will start against Jesuit in a D-I playoff opener on Wednesday.

11. St. Mary's (Stockton) (16) 16-11
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City Athletic
Update: The Rams have early losses to Franklin 5-0, Jesuit 5-4, Serra 4-3, Elk Grove 7-1, Saint Francis 6-0 and Heritage 7-0, and then backed it up with a dominating run in league play to emerge as the favorite in the SJS D-I South field. The Rams seek their ninth D-I South banner since 2007.

12. Redwood (Larkspur) (12) 19-5
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Update: The Giants won a competitive league race, holding off rival Marin Catholic, and now await the seedings for the North Coast Section playoffs. Zack Kopstein and Zach Cohen have played well.

13. Marin Catholic (Kentfield) (13) 20-4
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Update: The Wildcats have won 11 of 12 games, often in the 2-0 or 3-1 variety, and expect a high seed for the North Coast Section playoffs. Anthony Pomilia is hitting .351 with 19 RBIs and Calvin Wright is 5-0 with an 0.81 ERA.

14. Maria Carrillo (Santa Rosa) (14) 16-8
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Update: The Pumas have a split with higher-ranked Vintage and a 7-5 loss to highly ranked Davis, and won the North Bay League just ahead of rival Casa Grande. They now await the league tournament and then the North Coast Section playoffs. The top pitchers are Andrew Vaughn and Ryan Sellner.

15. Casa Grande (Petaluma) (10) 18-5
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Update: The Gauchos have early wins over Larkspur 6-2 and Bellarmine 3-2 and another nice nonleague win over Vintage 9-2. They loom as the favorite in this week's league tournament, opening against Ukiah. Spencer Torkelson and Chris Joaquim lead the offense.

16. Acalanes (Lafayette) (17) 20-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Update: The Dons have won 13 of 14 games and close out league play against Alhambra (Martinez) and Miramonte (Orinda). Expect a high seeding in the NCS playoffs.

17. Palo Alto (21) 23-5-1
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Update: The Vikings have an early 6-1 loss to Serra and a recent setback to preseason No. 1 Saint Francis 10-3, but still wound up with the No. 1 seed in the Central Coast Section Open playoffs. They open against Valley Christian (San Jose).

18. Woodcreek (Roseville) (25) 21-7
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Update: The Timberwolves have three losses to highly ranked Oak Ridge and fully expect to be a force in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I playoffs. The leading arms include Matthew Ornelas, Cody Lindsey and Dennis Boatman. Woodcreek takes on ace Matt Manning and Sheldon (Sacramento) on Thursday.

19. Monte Vista (Danville) (19) 15-7
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: The Mustangs are locked in a close battle for second place in league play with Granada, California and San Ramon Valley with De La Salle unbeaten. All of these teams are factors in the looming North Coast Section D-I field.

20. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (24) 15-5
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Update: The Ugly Eagles are in a fun league race, down to the wire, with Northgate and College Park. James Biles has pitched well.

21. Northgate (Walnut Creek) (NR) 14-7
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Update: The Broncos entered the week in first place, by a hair, in a competitive league race that includes Clayton Valley Charter, College Park and Concord. Northgate split with CVC and College Park and finishes league play with two games against Concord.

22. College Park (Pleasant Hill) (18) 15-7
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Update: The Falcons are defending North Coast Section Division I champions and are in a tight league race with Northgate and Clayton Valley Charter as league play concludes this week. The top pitchers are Sam Behrens and Kellen Kozlowski.

23. Granada (Livermore) (21) 12-10
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: The Matadors are fighting for second place in league play and a good seed in the looming North Coast Section playoff field that will include league champion De La Salle.

24. Los Gatos (22) 20-12
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Update: The Wildcats won the league title and open the Central Coast Section Open field against San Benito (Hollister). The leading arms are Jake Holton and Brooks Olesek.

25. Vista del Lago (Folsom) (25) 22-3-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Athletic
Update: The Eagles rolled to a league title and bound into the Sac-Joaquin Section D-III playoffs as the top seed, opening Thursday. Michael Nelsen has 30 RBIs, Cole Stone 26, Landon Mitchell 25 and Josh Winkler 24. Patrick Gaffney is 8-1 and Landon Mitchell is 5-1.

The Sacramento Bee on a slugging, rising-fast Major League Baseball draft prospect - click here

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Joe Davidson has covered high school sports in Northern California since 1984, including since 1988 for The Sacramento Bee. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and on Facebook: facebook.com/joe.davidson