MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school baseball rankings

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See some supreme opposite-field power from the Orange Lutheran hitter

Playoff baseball has arrived in the Southern Section and now San Diego is the only section in the Southern California Top 25 Baseball Rankings still playing regular-season contests.

Playoff wins are obviously the most important ones this season, so teams up top better keep watch, because teams lower in the rankings that get on a hot streak can move up fast.

Two teams (Tesoro and Aliso Niguel) exited and that gave up spots for Mission Viejo and Burroughs (Burbank) to slide in.

Click here to see the MaxPreps California Computer Rankings and click here to see California playoff brackets. Records are current as of Monday morning.


1. (1 last week) San Dimas, 28-0
Classification: Southern 3
Rankings: 7 state, 21 national, 6 Xcellent 50

The Saints finished their perfect regular season with a 3-2 victory over Wilson of Hacienda Heights. That earned them a bye for the first round of the playoffs, and they will battle La Quinta or Palmdale on Thursday.

2. (2) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 25-4-1
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 1 state, 1 national, 13 Xcellent 50

The Lions finished their regular season with a sweep of Santa Margarita, the defending Division I section champ. They won 4-2 and 8-7 to finish the three-game sweep of the Eagles. They have a bye and will face Temecula Valley or Valencia (Placentia) on Thursday.

3. (3) Buchanan (Clovis), 27-4
Classification: Central 1
Rankings: 10 state, 36 national, 24 Xcellent 50

The Bears had no trouble with Clovis North in a 9-1 rout to begin their playoff journey. They face Tulare Western Wednesday in the semifinals, and a win there nets a title game appearance Saturday against either Clovis or Centennial (Bakersfield).

4. (6) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 22-4
Classification: San Diego 1
Rankings: 11 state, 37 national

The Mavericks faced crosstown rival Carlsbad once and won 11-2 to move their winning streak to seven. They've dominated the Avocado League West and will wrap with three games in three days: El Camino (Oceanside) twice and Carlsbad once.

5. (9) Huntington Beach, 19-8
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 9 state, 24 national

The Oilers did not play (or no results were added). They have a bye and then face Roosevelt or Riverside Poly on Thursday.

6. (4) Agoura, 22-4
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 2 state, 7 national

The Chargers dropped a 3-2 decision to Newbury Park but bounced back to finish their schedule with a win over Calabasas (3-0). They have a bye and will face either Edison (Huntington Beach) or Long Beach Poly on Thursday.

7. (5) San Clemente, 22-7
Classification: Southern 2
Rankings: 5 state, 14 national

The Tritons split with San Juan Hills, winning 1-0 and losing 4-0. They're also going to have a bye and will battle either Pasadena or Bellflower on Thursday.

8. (7) Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 22-5
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 8 state, 22 national

The Wolverines split with Chaminade to finish their season, winning 4-1 and losing 6-5. They have a Wednesday battle with Mater Dei and if they win they would face Vista Murrieta.

9. (8) Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 22-6
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 12 state, 50 national

The Knights blew out Village Christian 10-2 but then lost 12-0 to finish the regular season. They have a bye and then will face either Saugus or Newbury Park on Thursday.

10. (13) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 21-6
Classification: San Diego 1
Rankings: 28 state, 131 national

The Broncos have now won eight in a row after besting Poway 3-2 and 11-6 to wrap up a league title. They are scheduled to face Canyon Crest Academy and Poway this week to close out the regular season.

11. (10) Alemany (Mission Hills), 17-11
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 33 state, 157 national

The Warriors won 7-4 and lost 2-1 to Loyola in a huge series, and will go to Hart to begin the playoffs on Thursday.

12. (11) Dana Hills (Dana Point), 24-7
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 6 state, 19 national

The Dolphins won 1-0 over El Toro but lost 8-2 in the final game of the regular season. That puts them in a great matchup against Norco on Thursday to begin the playoffs.

13. (12) Norco, 21-5
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 17 state, 62 national

The Cougars lost 3-2 to Centennial (Corona) but bounced back to win the finale 8-2. They host Dana Hills on Thursday in playoff action.

14. (14) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), 23-7
Classification: Los Angeles 1
Rankings: 25 state, 117 national

The Conquistadors' opponent is set for Tuesday: Verdugo Hills. A win there nets a Friday quarterfinal against either Birmingham or Marshall.

15. (16) Orange Lutheran, 22-8
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 4 state, 13 national

The Lancers have won seven of eight and will go into the playoffs on a hot streak. They beat St. John Bosco 5-0 and 4-1. JW North is their Thursday opponent.

16. (17) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 18-8
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 13 state, 54 national

The Broncos took down Temecula Valley twice (2-1 in 10 innings and 8-1) to get some momentum going into the postseason. The Southwestern League champions will face either Mater Dei or Harvard-Westlake on Thursday.

17. (15) El Dorado (Placentia), 19-8
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 50 state, 239 national

The Golden Hawks beat Esperanza 3-2 to finish things off and they are set to face Tustin on Thursday to begin the playoffs.

18. (18) Glendora, 22-7
Classification: Southern 2
Rankings: 29 state, 146 national

The Tartans ended their regular season slate with a split against South Hills, winning 5-0 and losing 5-4. They're going to await the winner between Damien and Burbank.

19. (19) Fountain Valley, 19-9
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 36 state, 173 national

The Barons didn't play though they were scheduled to face Newport Harbor. Regardless, they face El Modena in a Thursday playoff battle.

20. (20) South Hills (West Covina), 19-8-1
Classification: Southern 2
Rankings: 30 state, 148 national

The Huskies split with Glendora, winning 5-4 and losing 5-0. They will host Rio Mesa (Oxnard) Thursday in the playoffs.

21. (21) Centennial (Bakersfield), 24-5
Classification: Central I
Rankings: 41 state, 198 national

The Golden Hawks moved their winning streak to nine with a 6-1 playoff win over Bullard (Fresno), and now they have a semifinal game on Wednesday against Clovis. They could face Buchanan Saturday with a section title on the line.

22. (23) Chatsworth, 22-10
Classification: Los Angeles City 1
Rankings: 23 state, 99 national

The Chancellors did not play. They open the playoffs Tuesday as the No. 2 seed and will face Palisades. A win would net either Banning or Poly.

23. (25) Cypress, 21-9
Classification: Southern 1
Rankings: 24 state, 102 national

The Centurions whacked Western (Anaheim) 11-7 and 12-1 to forge a five-game winning streak and will open the playoffs Thursday against Millikan (Long Beach).

24. (NR) Mission Viejo, 21-10
Classification: Southern 2
Rankings: 32 state, 153 national

And the Diablos are back yet again. They will face Yucaipa Thursday in playoff action.

25. (NR) Burroughs (Burbank), 23-4
Classification: Southern 2
Rankings: 49 state, 237 national

The Indians make their first appearance in the rankings and they are towing a 13-game winning streak into playoff action. They've won 19 of 20 as well. They face Paramount on Friday in playoff action.

Dropped out: Aliso Niguel, Tesoro