Less than a week after finishing ahead of
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) at the National High School Invitational,
Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) fell behind the Braves in the Trinity League standings after dropping two of three head-to-head games last week.
Orange Lutheran lost the first two games of the three-game set (7-4, 4-1) but rebounded to win the third game (5-4). As a result, the Lancers stay ahead of St. John Bosco in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school baseball rankings.
The two wins for Bosco allowed it to move ahead of Venice (Fla.) and into the No. 3 spot in the rankings. Orange Lutheran is 1-2 in Trinity League play while St. John Bosco is 5-1.

St. John Bosco senior Jack Champlin celebrates a big hit last week against Orange Lutheran. Champlin and the Braves took two of three from their Trinity League rival to rise to No. 3 in this week's rankings. (PHOTO: Tim Peck)
Orange Lutheran and St. John Bosco could meet again this week as they both participate in the Boras South Classic. The Lancers and Braves face plenty of competition, however, as No. 7
Corona (Calif.) is on the same side of the bracket as Orange Lutheran and the tournament includes Southern California powers like
JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano),
Mater Dei (Santa Ana),
Norco,
Huntington Beach and
Aquinas (San Bernardino).
Tomball (Texas) stays at No. 1 with a pair of district wins last week over Klein Oak (Spring) and Tomball Memorial (Tomball). No. 4 Venice also won twice, including this week's Game of the Week against Bishop Verot (Fort Myers).
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) moves into the rankings at No. 22 after nine straight wins, including a first-place finish at the National Classic in Orange County. The Spartans, who had three self-imposed forfeit losses to start the season due to team and school rule violations by team players, have been nearly untouchable in nine wins, giving up just six runs with six shutouts. The Spartans defeated Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) in the National Classic and topped Centennial (Corona) for the championship.
Stony Brook (N.Y.) also jumps into the rankings at No. 23 with a 16-0 start. The Bears are playing a pair of Georgia teams, Etowah (Woodstock) and McEachern (Powder Springs), this weekend after beating Newnan on Monday. Stony Brook also has a pair of wins over Florida teams Montverde Academy (Montverde) and The First Academy (Orlando).
Game of the Week
Venice 1, Bishop Verot 0: The
Indians and Vikings went 11 innings before Venice scored a run in the top of the frame on a single by Macade Carey, a sacrifice bunt and a basehit by August Backman that drove in the winning run. The two teams combined for 34 strikeouts with Venice's Carter Cox striking out 16 in nine innings and Kohen Poplin fanning four in two innings. Joey Lawson started for Bishop Verot and had 10 strikeouts.
Game to Watch
No. 3 St. John Bosco vs. Norco, today at Boras South Classic: The Braves get a tough one in the first round as they meet a Norco team that is 12-1 with the only loss being a 3-2 defeat to Corona on Feb. 28. Norco has won eight straight since then.
Pitcher of the Week
Cox gets the honors despite getting a no decision against Bishop Verot. Cox threw nine no-hit innings and did not give up a walk while picking up the 16 strikeouts. The only baserunner Cox allowed was in the sixth when he hit a batter with two outs. The next batter flew out to end the inning.
Hitter of the Week
Cory Les of
St. Laurence (Burbank, Ill.) put on a power hitting display in an 18-5 win over Latin was he went 3-for-4 with three home runs and five RBI. He also added a double and a triple in a 15-6 win over Leo.
Streaks Forest Hills Eastern (Ada, Mich.) added one win to the longest win streak in the nation at 44 in a row, beating Ottawa Hills 15-0 last week. The Hawks have outscored their first three opponents 57-0.
Governor Livingston (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) ran its win streak to 38 in a row.
Pioneer Valley Regional (Northfield, Mass.) lost its season opener to have its 30-game win streak come to an end.
MaxPreps Top 25 baseball rankings
1. Tomball (Texas)Record: 25-0-1 |
Last week: 1
Scores: Def. Klein Oak 1-0, def. Tomball Memorial 2-0
Next: Tuesday vs. Tomball Memorial
2. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)Record: 8-3 |
Last week: 2
Scores: Lost to St. John Bosco 7-4, 4-1, def. St. John Bosco 5-4
Next: Tuesday vs. Fountain Valley at Boras Classic
Record: 11-3 |
Last week: 11
Scores: Def. Orange Lutheran 7-4, 4-1, lost to Orange Lutheran 5-4
Next: Tuesday vs. Norco at Boras Classic
4. Venice (Fla.)Record: 21-1 |
Last week: 3
Scores: Def. Barron Collier 6-2, def. Bishop Verot 1-0
Next: Tuesday vs. Barron Collier
5. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 28-1 |
Last week: 4
Scores: Def. Sam Houston 8-1, def. Sulphur 2-1, 4-2
Next: Tuesday vs. Southside
6. Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas)Record: 22-2 |
Last week: 5Scores: Def. King 22-0, def. Zapata 19-2
Next: Tuesday vs. Robstown
7. Corona (Calif.)Record: 11-1 |
Last week: 6
Scores: Def. Miami Christian 11-5
Next: Tuesday vs. JSerra Catholic at Boras Classic
8. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
Record: 13-4 |
Last week: 7
Scores: Def. Loyola 8-0, 7-1
Next: Tuesday vs. St. Joseph
9. Casteel (Queen Creek, Ariz.)
Record: 14-3 |
Last week: 8
Scores: Def. Basha 7-2, 8-1, def. Desert Vista 9-1
Next: Tuesday vs. Chandler
10. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Record: 12-3 |
Last week: 9
Scores: Did not play
Next: April 7 vs. Silverdale Academy
11. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)Record: 10-2 |
Last week: 10
Scores: Def. Oldham County 11-5, def. Great Crossing 10-0, def. Ryle 12-2, def. Silver Creek 10-2
Next: Wednesday vs. Chicago Mt. Carmel
12. Pleasant Grove (Texarkana, Texas)Record: 23-2 |
Last week: 12
Scores: Def. Paris 11-0, def. Dequeen 2-1, def. Paris 13-2
Next: Saturday vs. Bullard
13. Canterbury (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Record: 19-3 |
Last week: 13
Scores: Def. Palmetto Ridge 10-4, def. Port Charlotte 11-0
Next: Tuesday vs. American Heritage
14. The Bennett School (Houston, Texas)
Record: 24-4 |
Last week: 14
Scores: Def. Kingsmen Academy 7-6, 10-4, def. Cornerstone Christian 8-4, 8-0, 11-0
Next: Thursday vs. Cornerstone Christian
15. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)Record: 18-3 |
Last week: 15
Scores: Def. George Jenkins 9-1, def. Ridgewood 11-3
Next: Tuesday vs. The First Academy
Record: 9-1 |
Last week: 16
Scores: Def. Homewood-Flossmoor 4-1, def. Latin 18-5, def. Leo 15-6
Next: Tuesday vs. Carmel
17. Merritt Island (Fla.)
Record: 20-3 |
Last week: 18
Scores: Def. Wheaton Academy 7-4, def. Ragsdale 21-1
Next: Tuesday vs. Eau Gallie
18. North Paulding (Dallas, Ga.)
Record: 21-3 |
Last week: 19
Scores: Def. North Cobb, 15-0, 4-0, 10-0.
Next: Friday vs. Hillgrove
19. South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.)Record: 20-4 |
Last week: 22
Scores: Def. Niceville 3-0, def. Bozeman 9-0, def. Maclay 2-1, def. Holmes County 13-0
Next: Wednesday vs. Bay
20. Cleveland (Rio Rancho, N.M.)
Record: 18-0 |
Last week: 23
Scores: Def. Cibola 4-1, def. Farmington 4-3
Next: Tuesday vs. Piedra Vista
21. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Record: 9-3 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Mountain Ridge 7-0, def. Notre Dame 1-0, def. Centennial 6-3
Next: April 15 vs. Monte Vista
22. Stony Brook (N.Y.)
Record: 16-0 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Sachem East 11-2, Def. Newnan 6-2
Next: Friday vs. Etowah
23. Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 19-2 |
Last week: 24
Scores: Def. Weeki Wachee 8-3
Next: Tuesday vs. Orangewood Christian
24. Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.)Record: 24-4 |
Last week: 17
Scores: Def. St. Martin's Episcopal 9-0, lost to University Lab 5-4, def. Woodlawn 16-0
Next: Tuesday vs. Woodlawn
25. Keller (Texas)
Record: 24-2-2 |
Last week: 20
Scores: Def. Byron Nelson 9-1, 8-6, lost to Trinity 2-1
Next: Tuesday vs. Trinity
Dropped out: No. 21
Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), No. 25
Siegel (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)