After one of the craziest two days of upsets we’ve ever encountered in our more than 35 years of doing California prep baseball rankings, Eastlake of Chula Vista goes to No. 1, but staying there based on history of teams having to win multiple elimination games in a section playoff may not be likely. Winner of Tuesday game between St. John Bosco and Etiwanda may be more likely final No. 1 finisher.
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(Through games of Saturday, May 27; Results from Monday, May 22 not included; Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (3) Eastlake (Chula Vista) 29-4
Yes, we know that the Titans have to beat Madison twice this week to get to their section final, but they also beat La Costa Canyon and Rancho Bernardo and if they do win the section title they’d be No. 1 in the state.
Etiwanda players graduated on Tuesday of last week, then went out and won on Wednesday and Friday in CIFSS D2 playoffs. Photo: Twitter.com.
2. (5) St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 27-7
If Braves collect win over Etiwanda, then win CIF Southern Section D2 title and Eastlake doesn’t win in San Diego, last December’s football team won’t be the only No. 1 final state ranking for the school for 2016-17.
3. (10) Etiwanda 25-3
In the last week of season, you have play out the scenarios if teams win out and if that’s what the Eagles do, they’d be 27-3. First step for that, though, is playing St. John Bosco on Tuesday.
4. (9) El Toro (Lake Forest) 25-7-1
It could happen for the Chargers to finish No. 1 in the state, but the funny thing about that is it could require help from rivals at Capistrano Valley.
5. (1) Huntington Beach 28-5*
We’re leaving the Oilers at No. 5 in the state, falling from No. 1, after their 4-1 loss to El Dorado of Placentia in last Friday’s CIFSS D1 quarterfinals.
6. (2) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) 29-5*
The Broncos had a 6-0 lead over Eastlake after three innings of last Saturday’s San Diego Section Open Division elimination game but still lost 7-6 and now their season is over.
7. (4) Buchanan (Clovis) 28-4*
We’re still ranking the Bears ahead of the Clovis team they lost to in the CIF Central Section D1 title game (which went from on the bubble to No. 10) since they are still 4-1 in games vs. the Cougars this season.
8. (NR) El Dorado (Placentia) 21-8-1
We didn’t put the Golden Hawks higher yet than previous No. 1 Huntington Beach after last Friday’s 4-1 win due to overall season results, but if they win the CIFSS D1 title they’d be higher for sure.
