The only change in this group is Mission Viejo going up to No. 8 as a replacement for previous No. 8 Rio Mesa of Oxnard. The big news of the week is just that No. 1 Norco was behind after an inning for the first time all season and responded strongly. NOTE: Our updated State…
Cal-Hi Sports Insider Blog
Quick-hitting, behind-the-scenes news and notes from the CalHiSports.com staff, including previews of upcoming content and events.
State’s Teams in Flo50 National Ranks
Cal-Hi Sports partners each week with FloSports channels in softball and boys volleyball to compile a national ranking of high school teams. These rankings are known as the Flo50 and are similar to the FAB 50 national rankings that were directed for many years by Cal-Hi Sports editor Mark Tennis when he was an executive editor with Student Sports and ESPN.
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Super 8 Baseball State Ranks Update
Going up from the lower half of last week’s State Top 20 into the top half of this week’s rankings are Bellarmine, Clovis, Glendora and Gregori. And oh by the way, there’s a new No. 1 with Huntington Beach.
NOTE: Our updated State Top 20 with lists of many other teams on the bubble will be posted each week but will require Gold Club membership to see for the rest of the season. Our breakdowns and analysis of what’s coming up and what’s already happened can’t be matched anywhere else because we’ve been following the statewide scene years and years longer than any other media source. For sign up info, CLICK HERE.
(Through games of Saturday, April 29; Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (2) Huntington Beach 22-3
Already No. 1 in the L.A. Times Top 25 for two weeks, they are our new No. 1 team in the state this week with previous No. 1 Buchanan of Clovis losing. Last week they swept a three-game series against Fountain Valley and it would be hard to top them for the top spot in our final state rankings should they capture the CIFSS Division I championship.
Casey Schmitt of Eastlake will play next at San Diego State. Photo: hometeamsonline.com.
2. (3) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) 22-2
Following Huntington Beach up a spot is the Broncos as they won both games last week against Poway and are now ahead of previous No. 1 Buchanan of Clovis. Key to their success this season has been pitching despite losing a key member of their rotation due to elbow problems.
3. (1) Buchanan (Clovis) 23-2
Splitting a pair of games against Clovis West of Fresno causes the Bears to fall from the top spot. It was their first loss this season to a team from California. They will have two big games this week against No. 7 Clovis.
4. (7) Eastlake (Chula Vista) 22-3
Moving into the top five at the No. 4 spot is the Titans, who won four games last week and are a perfect 5-0 in Metro Mesa League play. Since a loss to Newbury Park in extra innings, they have won eight straight.
5. (10) Clayton Valley (Concord) 18-0
Going up five spots to the No. 5 position, the Ugly Eagles are now the only unbeaten team that is projected to be in the CIF North Coast Section Division I playoffs. While they have not played a tough schedule compared to some of the other top teams they could end up facing both Foothill of Pleasanton and De La Salle of Concord in the playoffs.
6. (11) Bellarmine Prep (San Jose) 19-5
Winning three games last week, the Bells defeated St. Ignatius of San Francisco, Serra of San Mateo and Archbishop Riordan of San Francisco. They will have a big league game against St. Francis of Mountain View later this week and also face No. 1 Huntington Beach in the Boras Classic state final.
7. (12) Clovis 22-3-1
Getting ready for two big games this week against No. 3 Buchanan of Clovis this week, the Cougars won twice last week against Central of Fresno.
8. (13) Glendora 21-4
Now with a 10-game winning streak, the Tartans won both games last week against Bonita of La Verne. They are currently are in first place in the Palomares League by one game over previous state top five South Hills of West Covina.
Super 8 Softball Rankings Update
Norco, Los Alamitos and Gahr maintain the top three positions in the state, but losses last week by the No. 4 and No. 5 teams causes some changes. Buena gets a big boost while Amador Valley is back to No. 5
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The Kling of Swing at Palisades
Palisades also won its ninth straight section title. Photo: @CIFLACS/Twitter.com.
Palisades of Pacific Palisades wins CIF L.A. City Section boys tennis title and puts head coach Bud Kling closer to becoming the state’s all-time leader for all sports combined in terms of winning section titles.
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Super 8 Baseball State Ranks Update
Huntington Beach and Rancho Bernardo are now putting some pressure on Buchanan of Clovis for the No. 1 ranking while one of this week’s newcomers to the State Top 20 — unbeaten Foothill of Pleasanton — jumps all the way up into the Super 8.
NOTE: Our updated State Top 20 with lists of many other teams on the bubble will be posted each week but will require Gold Club membership to see for the rest of the season. Our breakdowns and analysis of what’s coming up and what’s already happened can’t be matched anywhere else because we’ve been following the statewide scene years and years longer than any other media source. For sign up info, CLICK HERE.
(Through games of Saturday, April 22; Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Buchanan (Clovis) 22-1
The Bears swept a pair last week from Clovis East. Their next test probably will be in two weeks when they have to play state-ranked Clovis twice.
Danner Hagen of Huntington Beach also is an alum of the Area Code Games. Photo: StudentSports.com.
2. (5) Huntington Beach 19-3
Big-time prospect Hagen Danner led the Oilers to the SoCal title of the Boras Classic last week. They beat Mira Costa (defending Boras Classic state champs) 9-4 in the final and will play Bellarmine of San Jose on May 6 at UCLA in the Boras Classic state final.
3. (4) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) 20-2
In two of the dominant wins last week vs. Mission Vista of Oceanside, Alika Williams went 5-for-5 with four doubles in one game and in another went 4-for-7 with five runs scored, seven RBI, two homers and a double.
4. (7) Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood) 17-3-1
Returning from the IMG Academy Tournament two weeks ago, the Wolverines had last week off before they return to Mission League play this week.
5. (9) Moorpark 20-2
When we updated the ticker on this site on Monday, we were going off of St. John Bosco being 17-3 and not 18-4. That’s now been changed again and now it’s the Musketeers showing in the fifth spot. Bosco is actually ninth in this week’s rankings.
6. (11) Torrey Pines (San Diego) 18-4
The winning scores over Carlsbad last week were 2-1 in 13 innings, 2-1 in seven innings and 5-3 in nine innings. Wins are wins so the Falcons move up.
7. (12) Eastlake (Chula Vista) 18-3
Already this week the Titans have defeated Montgomery of San Diego 4-1 in a game played at Petco Park.
8. (NR) Foothill (Pleasanton) 16-0-1
A combination of factors — including an admission by us that we lost track of the Falcons for a few weeks after they had that tie — results in this team going from unranked all the way up to No. 8. They also are now the No. 1 ranked team in the San Francisco Bay Area.
8 Locals In 2017 Ballislife A-A Game
RELATED: Ticket Info | Game Record Book | Game Alumni | View Complete 2016 Game | View Complete 2015 Game | View Complete 2014 Game
The 7th annual Ballislife All-American Game presented by Eastbay will take place on May 6 at Long Beach City College (Long Beach, Calif.). Many of the nation’s top seniors are scheduled to participate in the event held at Long Beach City College’s Hall of Champions Gymnasium.
What’s up with Oakland Tech’s Lynch?
Several weeks ago, it was announced that the Oakland Raiders had heavy interest in acquiring retired running back Marshawn Lynch. The feeling is mutual because Lynch, an Oakland native who went to Oakland Tech High and once scored five TDs at the Oakland Coliseum in high school title game there, has always been interested in playing for his hometown.
If the University of California product does play for the Raiders, he’d instantly boost their odds of winning the AFC, and even the Super Bowl.
Looking at online sportsbooks like BetOnline.ag, we currently see that the Raiders’ futures are set at +850 for winning the AFC, and +1800 for winning the Super Bowl.
Lynch was MVP among running backs when he went to the Nike Football TC at Stanford in the spring of his junior year. Photo: Student Sports.
Of course, these futures odds might improve if we get a definitive answer on whether or not Lynch is playing. But we don’t have one.
So what’s the holdup?
Lynch, Oakland Too Far Apart on Contract
Thanks to a recent San Francisco Chronicle tweet, we now know that a contract issue is what’s blocking the two sides from coming together.
Lynch is currently scheduled to make $9 million in base salary from the Seattle Seahawks if he comes out of retirement this season. But the Seahawks are fine with letting Lynch play on another team because they likely won’t be able to afford him anyway.
The good news for Oakland is that Beast Mode doesn’t expect them to pay him $9 million in the 2017-18 season. But he does think he’s worth at least $4.5 million, even coming directly out of retirement.
Here’s where the sticking point comes because the Raiders’ max offer is $3 million.
Oakland Needs an Answer before the NFL Draft
Lynch doesn’t have much time to decide whether or not he wants to play for the Raiders. Team general manager Reggie McKenzie says he needs an answer before the 2017 NFL Draft, which starts on April 27. McKenzie added that if he can’t get Lynch to commit by then, the team will seriously consider trading up to get a running back.
Compensating Seattle for Lynch
As mentioned before, the Seahawks aren’t dead-set on their former star playing with them this year. But they still own his rights, meaning the Raiders would have to compensate them to sign the 5-time Pro Bowler.
Seattle probably won’t ask for much in return because, again, they don’t have leverage based on the $9 million salary they don’t want to pay. But this adds yet another wrinkle in finishing a deal before the draft.
Expect Lynch to Play for the Raiders this Season
Despite the obstacles we just covered, odds are that Lynch and the Raiders will agree to a contract. As reported by the Chronicle, a $1.5 million difference isn’t enough to kill interest on either side. Furthermore, Oakland could pay Lynch a base salary worth $3m or less, and include incentives that allow him to work up to $4.5m or more.
The main reason why Oakland isn’t budging on the base salary is due to Lynch’s age since he’s 31 – a point when few running backs remain productive. In fact, only 10 running backs aged 31+ have rushed for 1,000 yards in a season.
But it is possible to perform well at this age, since Frank Gore (age 33) did it twice in 2014 and 2016. He also nearly did it again in 2015, rushing for 967 yards in his first season with the Indianapolis Colts. And given that Lynch had a full season to heal after retiring in 2015, he won’t have the usual season-to-season wear and tear.
Impact on Raiders Futures Betting
Oakland ended a 13-year playoff drought last season, going 12-4 and earning an AFC Wild Card berth. But one thing that was sorely lacking was a presence at running back. A committee of Latavius Murray (788 rushing yards), Jalen Richard (491 yards), and DeAndre Washington (467 yards) handled the workload.
But a healthy Lynch could immediately improve this aspect of the team. He rushed for 1,200 yards or more every season from 2011 to 2014. Injuries limited him to 417 rushing yards in 2015, but he’s had a full year off to recover.
While it’s unclear if Lynch will provide the same production for the Raiders this season, he definitely has a chance to help. That said, their +850 odds of winning the AFC are a slight bargain, given that they could soon be adding Lynch.
Super 8 Softball Rankings Update
Sheldon of Sacramento gets to do the flip-flop with Rio Mesa after its avenging win over Elk Grove in conjunction with Elk Grove then later winning the top division at the NorCal Classic. Amador Valley also rejoins the Super 8 in place of Stockdale and Clovis.
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Mater Dei Boys BB Wins at 1,529
Thanks to contributor Bob Atwell and Mater Dei statistician Steve Colton, who helps with record-keeping for the Mater Dei of Santa Ana boys basketball program, the Monarchs’ all-time varsity record since their first season in 1953 has been confirmed at 1,529 wins and 375 losses. Here’s some perspective on where that total ranks in the state record book.
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