MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school baseball rankings

Video: Hagen Danner Baseball Highlights
See the Huntington Beach sophomore in action at the NHSI

The first edition of the MaxPreps Computer Rankings gave another way to compare teams from across the Los Angeles, Southern, San Diego and Central sections. Then again, it also made things just as confusing.

The Boras Classic gave Mater Dei a big lift, while it hurt San Clemente. Other squads seemed to have a wash in the tourney, posting quality wins and quality losses.

League play will be the norm nearly everywhere, and the next big rankings-altering tournament will be the playoffs. Click here to access the California Computer Rankings.


1. (2 last week) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 14-1
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 1 state, 1 national, 3 Xcellent 50

The Lions were unstoppable in the Boras Classic, taking home the title and grabbing the top spot in these rankings. They allowed a ridiculous one run in four games. Scores were 4-0 over Granite Hills, 10-1 over Great Oak, 5-0 over Alemany and 5-0 over Mater Dei. Then they won 3-0 over Mater Dei on Monday and will face them twice more this week.

2. (5) San Dimas, 18-0
Classification: Southern 3
Rankings: 6 state, 14 national, 38 Xcellent 50

The Saints stayed perfect by going 4-0 in the Don Lugo Tournament. They beat Southlands Christian 16-0, Maranatha 7-0, St. Laurence of Illinois 2-1 and Paul VI of Virginia 5-2. Two games with Northview are on the schedule this week in Valle Vista League play.

3. (10) Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 14-2
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 2 state, 6 national, 25 Xcellent 50

The Wolverines extended their win streak to six in a row with an 13-1 blasting of Simi Valley. They have moved all the way to fourth in the Los Angeles Times rankings and are now in the Xcellent 50. They have a pair of league games with Loyola this week.

4. (4) Buchanan (Clovis), 17-3
Classification: Central 1
Rankings: 10 state, 38 national, 34 Xcellent 50

The Bears didn't play last week. They face Clovis West twice this week in Tri-River Athletic Conference play.

5. (18) Agoura, 15-2
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 3 state, 7 national, 28 Xcellent 50

The Chargers finished off the Anderson Bats National Classic in dominant fashion, winning the title with wins over Santa Margarita (3-0), Monte Vista of Danville (4-0) and IMG Academy of Florida (8-3). They have two Marmonte League games with Newbury Park this week.

6. (6) Alemany (Mission Hills), 13-4
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 9 state, 18 national

The Warriors had themselves a big week in terms of top opponents and came out 2-2. They beat Palm Desert 5-4 in 10 innings and San Clemente 9-4 in eight frames, but then lost 5-0 to JSerra and 7-0 to Huntington Beach. They face St. Francis twice this week and then Serra once.

7. (1) San Clemente, 15-4
Classification: Southern 2
Rankings: 4 state, 8 national, 27 Xcellent 50

The Tritons went 1-3 in the Boras Classic, a disappointing follow-up to their NHSI title. They beat Chatsworth 3-1 in the opening round then saw luck turn the other way, dropping a 9-4 loss to Alemany in eight innings, losing 2-1 to Great Oak and then falling 5-4 to Woodrow Wilson in eight innings. They'll try to right the ship with two league games against Trabuco Hills this week.

8. (7) Edison (Huntington Beach), 14-2
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 5 state, 12 national, 29 Xcellent 50

The Chargers did not play last week. Two games against Huntington Beach are on the slate.

9. (3) Dana Hills (Dana Point), 17-3
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 8 state, 16 national

The Dolphins fell from the Xcellent 50 but are in the Cal-Hi Sports Top 20. Their six-spot drop has just asm uch to do with the other teams' wins as their 4-0 setback to Capistrano Valley. They beat El Toro 2-1 as well. Dana Hills faces Tesoro twice this week and then California (Whittier).

10. (9) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 15-3
Classification: San Diego 1
Rankings: 25 state, 111 national

The Mavericks just about gave up their stranglehold on the San Diego Section's top spot with a 4-1 loss to Vista, but regained it with a 3-0 win over that same squad on Monday. They also beat Escondido 6-2. LCC is behind Vista in the Cal-Hi Sports rankings but those likely don't reflect the revenge win, whereas they lead the UT San Diego rankings. They have two more with Vista this week.

11. (11) Huntington Beach, 10-7
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 16 state, 69 national

The Oilers had a wonderful showing in the Boras Classic, placing third. They took down Birmingham 4-2 and Aliso Niguel 7-5 before losing 8-4 to Mater Dei. They bounced back from that loss with a 7-0 triumph over Alemany. Two games with Edison and one with Newport Harbor dot the schedule this week.

12. (8) Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo), 13-7
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 26 state, 112 national

The Wolverines are still struggling to find consistency. On the plus side they won 4-3 over Vista Murrieta but then fell 7-5 to Huntington Beach and 2-0 to Woodrow Wilson. They bounced back with a 5-4 victory over Great Oak. Tough to tell where this team should fit. Aliso Niguel will face El Toro twice this week.

13. (12) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 11-3
Classification: San Diego 1
Rankings: 49 state, 218 national

The Broncos beat Ramona 2-1 in their only contest of the week. They have three contests with Torrey Pines coming up this week.

14. (14) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 11-5
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 21 state, 101 national

The Broncos went 2-2 in the Boras Classic, bouncing back from a tough start. They lost 4-3 to Aliso Niguel and 2-0 to Birmingham before winning 13-0 over Chaminade and 2-0 over Chatsworth.

15. (NR) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 9-6
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 17 state, 75 national

The Monarchs' performance in the Boras Classic gets them into the rankings. They made it to the title game, besting Corona 1-0, Woodrow Wilson 4-3 and Huntington Beach 8-4 before falling 5-0 to JSerra Catholic in the title game. Then they lost 3-0 to the Lions in Trinity League play. They have two more with JSerra this week and then next week it's time for Santa Margarita.

16. (16) Chatsworth, 14-7
Classification: Los Angeles City 1
Rankings: 28 state, 115 national

The Chancellors rebounded from a 3-1 loss to San Clemente at the Boras Classic with a 4-0 win over Palm Desert and 5-4 win over Granite Hills. They lost 2-0 to Vista Murrieta in the finale. Two games with El Camino Real and one against Santa Barbara await.

17. (15) Corona, 11-5
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 37 state, 168 national

The Panthers were oh-so-close to an even better showing at the Boras Classic but settled for a 2-2 mark. They lost 1-0 to Mater Dei and Chaminade, then rebounded to win 3-1 over Damien and 1-0 over Birmingham. Two big games with Santiago are scheduled this week.

18. (NR) Vista, 13-3
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 53 state, 246 national

The Panthers are a bit of a mystery, as Cal-Hi Sports has them ranked in the top 20 in the state but U-T San Diego has them fourth, behind Santa Fe Christian. They have split their last two contests, both against La Costa Canyon, and face the Mavericks two more times this week.

19. (22) Valencia, 11-4
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 47 state, 203 national

The Vikings did not play last week. They face West Ranch once this week.

20. (23) Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 12-5
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 20 state, 98 national

The Knights beat St. Paul 6-4 but fell 6-5 to La Mirada in the St. Paul tournament. They have two Mission League games with Crespi this week.

21. (NR) South Hills (West Covina), 11-5
Classification: Southern 2
Rankings: 30 state, 129 national

The Huskies are ranked by the LA Times and their win over Bonita was a big one. They also have a win over Mater Dei from earlier this season. They face Diamond Bar twice this week and Paramount as well.

22. (24) Santiago (Corona), 13-3-1
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 33 state, 137 national

The Sharks took down Norco 10-6 then stumbled in a 6-1 loss to Roosevelt. The big test comes this week with two Big VIII games against Corona.

23. (21) Bonita (La Verne), 12-5
Classification: Southern 2
Rankings: 39 state, 177 national

The Bearcats went 1-1 last week, spanking a quality Glendora team 14-3 but then getting whacked by South Hills, 12-5. Two games with Glendora await this week.

24. (NR) Chaparral (Temecula), 10-6
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 62 state, 286 national

We're looking pretty smart here including Chaparral last week. They extended their winning streak to seven in a row with a 6-2 triumph over Temecula Valley and then beating Murrieta Mesa 5-2. Two more with Temecula Valley await this week.

25. (NR) El Modena (Orange), 11-5
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 46 state, 200 national

The Vanguards enter the rankings having won six of their last seven contests. They have games with Laguna Beach, Brea Olinda and Yorba Linda this week.