Here’s a quick look at the final top 10 teams that will be highlighted in this week’s expanded Cal-Hi Sports State Top 40 final rankings for baseball and softball.
Note: For more complete breakdowns on each top 10 team and for the next 30 teams plus final divisional state rankings, all of that info is for our Gold Club members only. We do have a three-month subscription going right now, however, that is just $9.99 and in addition to all of our rankings that also will include state record updates plus additional, exclusive Gold Club content. For details, CLICK HERE.
(After games of Saturday, June 4)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
FINAL TOP 10 STATE
BASEBALL TEAMS
1. (1) Buchanan (Clovis) 30-1
Not much suspense on this one as the Bears won the CIF Central Section Division I title last Tuesday with a 4-0 shutout of previous No. 4 Clovis North.
2. (3) De La Salle (Concord) 25-3
The Spartans dominated in the CIF North Coast Section Division I playoffs and also notched wins over CCS champ St. Francis plus Sac-Joaquin champ Elk Grove.
3. (5) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) 29-2*
For the second straight year, the Sea Hawks won the CIFSS D3 title. Compared to the D1 teams, schedule strength is lacking but the overall resume is strong enough in our view to be No. 1 overall for SoCal.
4. (16) Murrieta Mesa (Murrieta) 27-7
After the Rams beat West Ranch in the CIFSS D1 semifinals, they had essentially moved up to fifth in the state. Now that they’ve won first-ever title, they end fourth.
5. (8) St. Francis (Mountain View) 24-8
The Lancers won their second straight CCS Open Division crown two weekends ago and move up with others losing.
6. (5) Harvard-Westlake (N. Hollywood) 25-9
Knocking off previous No. 2 JSerra and the losing in extra-innings to Murrieta Mesa in the CIFSS D1 semifinals and finals enables the Wolverines to finish this high in final rankings.
7. (2) JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 27-7
This is the highest the Lions can be in the final rankings – right behind the team they lost to in the CIFSS D1 semifinals.
8. (9) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills) 28-7
The two-time L.A. City Section champs have to be behind CIFSS D1 finalist Harvard-Westlake due to a head-to-head loss.
9. (14) Serra (San Mateo) 25-6-1
This team’s loss in the CCS Open Division playoffs was to No. 5 St. Francis squad it went 2-2 in games during the season.
10. (4) Clovis North (Fresno) 24-7-1
Got to give the Broncos some credit for being able to beat No. 1 Buchanan once in four tries.
FINAL TOP 10 STATE
SOFTBALL TEAMS
1. (5) Mission Viejo 27-4
With the previous top three teams all losing, the Diablos jump up to the top after winning CIFSS Division II title.
2. (7) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 27-7
An 8-2 win over previous No. 1 Orange Lutheran in the CIFSS D1 final capped magical ride for the Monarchs. A lesson for all about playing best when it matters the most.
3. (4) Grand Terrace 28-1
Previous No. 1 Orange Lutheran could have been here, but Grand Terrace deserved to rise at least one spot for the season it had.
4. (1) Lutheran (Orange) 30-4
The Lancers ended up going 2-2 in games this season with league rival Mater Dei. They also had a win over Mission Viejo.
5. (2) Los Alamitos 26-3
A loss to Orange Lutheran in the CIFSS D1 semifinals when those were the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the state ended the season for the Griffins.
6. (8) Etiwanda 29-3
The Eagles lost in the second-round of the CIFSS D1 playoffs, but the team they lost to (Mater Dei) ended up winning it all.
7. (12) Valley View (Moreno Valley) 25-2
This was the team Mission Viejo beat in the CIFSS D2 final and before that knocked off previous No. 3 La Habra in the semifinals.
8. (3) La Habra 29-2
Realistically, the Highlanders could have landed anywhere from fourth to eighth in the final rankings. These teams are that close.
9. (10) Sheldon (Sacramento) 30-2
The Huskies ended up as the No. 1 team in Northern California due to previous No. 9 Amador Valley losing in the NCS semifinals.
10. (6) Norco 26-6
Last year’s CIFSS D1 champs went out in the semis this year after loss to Mater Dei.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports