MaxPreps Northern California Top 20 baseball rankings

Video: Center fielder has bunnies
Ben Ritter of Cardinal Ritter (Ind.) gets up to rob a hit.

The top two teams in these rankings and for the state in other rankings faced off with first place on the line in the ever-brutal West Catholic Athletic League.

No. 1 Valley Christian beat No. 2 Bellarmine 5-2 on the strength of a five-run, third inning to halt the Bells' nine-game winning streak behind the versatility of Eddie Park (two hits, RBI, run scored, save).

Valley Christian is top ranked nationally by the MaxPreps computer rankings. Ace Patrick Wicklander struck out 18 in a no-hit gem over Riordan earlier in the week.

This week, the Delta League in the Sac-Joaquin Section pits two games between No. 7 Elk Grove and No. 8 Franklin.

1. (last ranking 1) Valley Christian (San Jose), 18-1-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: John Diatte
Next: vs. No. 9 Serra, No. 6 Mitty.

2. (2) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 16-3
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Rodriguez
Next: vs. St. Ignatius, No. 5 Saint Francis, No. 9 Serra.

3. (11) De La Salle (Concord), 11-3
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: David Jeans
Next: vs. Dougherty Valley, Livermore, No. 18 Granada.

4. (3) Foothill (Pleasanton), 12-2
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: Angelo Scavone
Next: vs. Dougherty Valley, Amador Valley

5. (6) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 14-5
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Matt Maguire
Next: vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral, No. 2 Bellarmine, Riordan.

6. (5) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 15-3
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Brian Yocke
Next: vs. Riordan, Sacred Heart Cathedral.

7. (5) Elk Grove, 8-3-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Jeff Carlson
Update: vs. Grant, No. 7 Franklin.

8. (7) Franklin (Elk Grove), 13-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Bryan Kilby
Next: vs. Pleasant Grove, No. 6 Elk Grove.

9. (10) Serra (San Mateo), 12-5
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Chris Houle
Next: vs. No. 1 Valley Christian, Riordan, No. 2 Bellarmine.

10. (13) Berkeley, 13-1
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda
Coach: Curtis Sandeford
Next: vs. Hayward, Bishop O'Dowd.

11. (15) St. Mary's (Stockton), 10-4-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City Athletic
Coach: Randy Ortega
Next: vs. Tokay, Oak Ridge.

12. (12) Rocklin, 12-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Steven Moller
Next: vs. Vista del Lago, Oak Ridge.

13. (8) Acalanes (Lafayette), 9-3
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Justin Santich-Hughes
Next: vs. Clayton Valley Charter, College Park.

14. (16) Vacaville, 10-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Stu Clary
Next: vs. Napa, Benicia.

15. (18) Tracy, 9-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City Athletic
Coach: Vic Alkire
Next: vs. Tokay.

16. (19) Davis, 7-5
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Dan Ariola
Next: vs. Sheldon, Del Oro, Cardinal Newman.

17. (20) Alameda, 12-0-1
Section: North Coast
League: Foothill
Coach: Ken Arnerich
Next: vs. Castro Valley, Windsor.

18. (NR) Granada (Livermore), 12-4
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Corrigan Willis
Next: California, No. 3 De La Salle.

19. (NR) Los Gatos, 13-5
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Nate Anderson
Next: vs. Mountain View, No. 20 Santa Cruz.

20. (NR) Santa Cruz, 12-3
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Dustin Torchio
Next: Watsonville, Harbor, No. 19 Los Gatos.

The Next 5
21. Casa Grande (Petaluma) — 9-4
22. San Benito (Hollister) — 13-4
23. Winters — 19-1
24. Northgate (Walnut Creek) — 11-1
25. Willow Glen (San Jose) — 14-3

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and at sacbee.com