Baseball, Softball State Top 20s

Two of the state’s top players in baseball and softball and leading top three teams are (left) Jacob Gatewood of Clovis and Jazmyn Jackson of Archbishop Mitty. Jazmyn is wearing her prom dress after she had to make a quick change at the end of the Livermore Stampede. Photos: Harold Abend.

Check below for this week’s new list of the State Top 20 rankings for baseball and softball.

To read our breakdowns on each State Top 20 team, why some of these rankings moves were made, which teams are on the bubble and for the divisional state rankings for both baseball and softball that are coming soon, you need to be a member of our Gold Club. It’s a great deal at less than $2 per month. Join our team today by CLICKING HERE.

Coach and trainer Chris Asher works with state stat stars and players from state-ranked teams of all ages, helping them to improve their speed, quickness and agility. He is based in Hollywood, also has a role with the UCLA track program and serves athletes within many miles of his location. For more about him, CLICK HERE. For a video about his Gold Medal Excellence training program, CLICK HERE.

Winners of 12 straight games heading into this week, Loyola of Los Angeles has moved up to No. 1 in this week’s State Top 20 by Cal-Hi Sports. The Cubs swept a pair of Mission League games last week over St. Francis of La Canada but will have to face 2013 State Team of the Year Harvard-Westlake on April 14 and April 17.

Another St. Francis, the one in Mountain View, dropped from No. 1 to No. 6 this week after suffering a 2-1 loss in 11 innings last Friday to league rival Archbishop Mitty.

Temecula Valley gained No. 1 consideration for winning the Southern California Boras Classic title. The Northern California Boras Classic will be played this weekend at Elk Grove and will include St. Francis, Mitty plus two teams from Clovis – Buchanan and Clovis West. There were no West Catholic Athletic League teams in last year’s Boras Classic – which was won by Mater Dei of Santa Ana with a win over Pleasant Grove of Elk Grove.

(Compiled with assistance from Paul Muyskens; updated through games played Saturday, April 5; previous rating in parentheses)

1. (2) Loyola (Los Angeles) 12-1

20. (NR) South Hills (Covina) 12-1-1

Dropped Out: Previous No. 15 Elk Grove; No. 19 Gahr (Cerritos).

NEW SOFTBALL STATE
TOP 20 OVERALL RANKINGS

There were tons of changes toward the bottom of this week’s Cal-Hi Sports State Top 20 in softball, but at the top it was status quo – and then some – for No. 1 Mission Viejo, No. 2 Amador Valley of Pleasanton and No. 3 Archbishop Mitty of San Jose.

While Mission Viejo only added one win in South Coast League play, the Diablos have already won the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in Arizona and the Best of the West tourney so far this season.

Amador Valley, meanwhile, ventured to Southern California to beat an elite field and take top honors at the Michelle Carew Classic while Archbishop Mitty rolled over a contingent of top Northern California teams at the Livermore Stampede.

Toward the bottom, due to results mostly at the Carew Classic but also elsewhere in the state, seven teams previously ranked teams had to be dropped out. Granada of Livermore, which is ranked fourth in the Bay Area behind Amador, Mitty and Alhambra of Martinez (which went 4-1 at Carew), is the highest ranked newcomer at No. 14.

(Compiled with assistance from Paul Muyskens; updated through games played Saturday, April 5; previous rating in parentheses)

1. (1) Mission Viejo 14-0

20. (NR) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 13-4-1

Dropped Out: Previous No. 11 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego); No. 13 Marina (Huntington Beach); No. 14 Roseville; No. 15 Canyon (Anaheim); No. 17 North (Torrance); No. 19 James Logan (Union City); No. 20 Poway.

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