MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school baseball rankings

Expect these rankings to look a whole lot different next week. Now that the Central Section is just about done and the Southern and Los Angeles City sections are beginning the playoffs, we're going to be seeing new teams emerge and some super matchups along the way.

Be sure to check back often for California baseball playoff brackets. Click here to view them, as more sections will be added.

Click here to visit the California computer rankings and click here to see the California stats leaderboard.

Wednesday matchups are not factored into this week's rankings.


1. (1) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 26-3
Classification: San Diego Section Open
Ranks: 2 State, 13 National, 5 Xcellent 50

The Broncos made a huge climb in all the rankings after beating Poway 6-0 and 6-2, then adding a 5-0 win over Canyon Crest Academy. That equals 12 wins in a row now, and Rancho Bernardo will finish its regular season with a Wednesday game with Westview and a Thursday contest with Canyon Crest Academy.

2. (2) Clovis, 32-5
Classification: Central Section I
Ranks: 4 State, 15 National, 6 Xcellent 50

The Cougars are still rolling in the Central Section Division I playoffs and are in the title game. They edged Central (Fresno) 3-1 after a first-round bye and then continued to move one with a 4-0 triumph over Clovis West. Up next is Buchanan on Saturday for the crown.

3. (4) Norco, 24-2
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 5 State, 19 National, 24 Xcellent 50

And now the Cougars have won 22 in a row after they blasted Santiago (Corona), 15-0. They are awaiting the winner between Wednesday's contest between Jordan (Long Beach) and Canyon (Anaheim) for Friday's playoff game.

4. (5) Great Oak (Temecula), 21-6
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 1 State, 2 National, 37 Xcellent 50

The Wolf Pack won 10-0 over Murrieta Mesa and that secured the coveted Southwestern League title. The state's top-ranked team in the computer rankings will battle Tustin, which won its wild card game.

5. (6) Fountain Valley, 19-7
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 23 State, 129 National

The Barons recorded a 9-2 victory over Edison (Huntington Beach) and will await the winner between Lakewood and Newbury Park. They shared the league title with Huntington Beach.

6. (7) Huntington Beach, 21-4
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 9 State, 39 National

The Oilers are now the No. 1 team in the Los Angeles Times rankings. We feel that since they split the league title with Fountain Valley and lost the head-to-head, that the Barons get the edge. Huntington Beach won 8-6 over Los Alamitos to finish the season and will face Santiago (Corona) Friday in the playoffs.

7. (9) Buchanan (Clovis), 25-7
Classification: Central Section I
Ranks: 13 State, 75 National

The Bears will battle Clovis for the Central Section Division I title on Saturday, a fitting matchup for the final. They needed a big comeback to knock off Liberty (Bakersfield) in the quarterfinals, 12-11, then beat Clovis North 2-1 in the semis to advance.

8. (8) Clovis North (Fresno), 22-9 *Season over
Classification: Central Section I
Ranks: 12 State, 64 National

It's all over for the Broncos. They took down Bullard in their playoff opener, 6-4, but they couldn't fight past Buchanan in a tight 2-1 loss in the Central Section Division I bracket.

9. (10) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 23-4
Classification: San Diego Section Open
Ranks: 7 State, 33 National

The Dons have one game left, a Wednesday contest against Mira Mesa. They beat St. Augustine 8-2, Mira Mesa 20-4 and St. Augustine again 4-3.

10. (11) Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 21-6-1
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 14 State, 76 National

The Wolverines beat Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 4-2 to finish the regular season. Their playoff journey begins Friday against JW North.

11. (14) Loyola (Los Angeles), 22-5-1
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 21 State, 120 National

The Cubs didn't play last week. They will battle Corona in a Friday playoff game.

12. (15) Hart (Newhall), 21-4-1
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 27 State, 155 National

The Indians will face Orange Lutheran or Newport Harbor on Friday. They finished the season with a 9-8 win over Saugus to claim the Foothill League title.

13. (17) Granite Hills (El Cajon), 19-6
Classification: San Diego Section Open
Ranks: 8 State, 33 National

The Eagles won 10-1 over Grossmont, 3-2 over West Hills and 4-3 over Helix. They will face Valhalla in the regular-season finale on Thursday.

14. (19) Temecula Valley (Temecula), 19-8
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 10 State, 45 National

The Golden Bears won 2-0 over Murrieta Valley and then started the playoffs on a high note with a 7-3 triumph over Cajon. They will battle Cypress in a Thursday playoff contest.

15. (12) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 19-7
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 11 State, 57 National

The Lions ended their season on a down note with a 9-2 loss to Mater Dei. That's two losses in the last four contests. JSerra will face Brea Olinda in the playoffs on Friday.

16. (13) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 19-7
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 6 State, 20 National

The Broncos had a disappointing end to the regular season, dropping a 4-2 decision to Chaparral. They must regroup quickly, as they face Bellflower on Thursday.

17. (3) Woodrow Wilson (Long Beach), 25-5
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 30 State, 178 National

With a chance to secure the Moore League title all to themselves, the Bruins had a brutal showing and lost 12-0 to Millikan (Long Beach), and that means a shared title. Why such a huge drop? Because of some head-to-head and comparable opponents details. They face Moorpark in Friday playoff action.

18. (21) Chino Hills, 21-5
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 15 State, 78 National

The Huskies took the league title in a 16-9 victory over Damien. Their playoff opponent Thursday is San Clemente.

19. (22) Alemany (Mission Hills), 20-7-2
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 44 State, 240 National

The Warriors closed out their regular season with a 16-8 victory over Crespi, and faced Saugus Wednesday in the playoffs.

20. (23) Agoura, 23-5
Classification: Southern Section I
Ranks: 40 State, 211 National

The Chargers whacked Westlake by a 10-3 score to finish the regular season. They will face Crespi on Friday in playoff action.

21. (24) Glendora, 20-6
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 34 State, 189 National

The Tartans beat Alta Loma 13-8 to finish the regular season. Rio Mesa (Oxnard) will be their playoff opponent Thursday.

22. (16) Chatsworth Charter, 25-4-1
Classification: Los Angeles City Section I
Ranks: 26 State, 151 National

The Chancellors lost 9-3 to El Camino Real, and there is an unreported score - but that may be a game that is not supposed to be played. Chatsworth took a huge tumble in the LA Times rankings, and will face North Hollywood in the LA City Section Division I bracket, next Thursday.

23. (20) Dana Hills (Dana Point), 24-7
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 17 State, 93 National

The Dolphins split a doubleheader with Pacifica (Garden Grove), winning 4-0 and losing 9-5. That equals two losses in the last four games. Dana Hills will face Righetti (Santa Maria) in a Thursday playoff game.

24. (NR) South Hills (West Covina), 20-5-1
Classification: Southern Section II
Ranks: 62 State, 371 National

The Huskies seem to always be on the bubble. They're back after winning 4-2 over Ayala. They will battle Oxnard in a Thursday playoff contest.

25. (NR) Santa Monica, 23-6
Classification: Southern Section III
Ranks: 89 State, 560 National

It was either the Vikings or another San Diego team, but we're going with Santa Monica, partly due to a No. 16 spot in the LA Times rankings. They bring an 11-game winning streak into a playoff matchup Friday with either St. Paul or West Covina.

Dropped out: No. 18 Otay Ranch, No. 25 Frontier.