Harvard-Westlake has to drop all the way out after playoff loss, which creates room for La Costa Canyon and Stockdale of Bakersfield to go up into this week’s Super 8. Too bad LCC has to play No. 2 Rancho Bernardo right away in San Diego Open Division.
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, May 20; Results from Monday, May 22 not included; Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Huntington Beach 27-4
It was an impressive first playoff game for the Oilers when they beat Redondo 11-1 to start their quest for the CIF Southern Section D1 title. Hagen Danner pitched five innings to go to 11-0 and also had two hits and three RBI.
La Costa Canyon has done very well this season even though the Mavericks no longer have No. 1 MLB Draft pick Mickey Moniak. Photo: CSNPhilly.com.
2. (2) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) 28-3
After blanking Poway 6-0 to end regular season, the Broncos only got a No. 4 seed in the CIF San Diego Open Division (don’t get us started on their goofy power rankings) and have very tough first playoff game Wednesday vs. state-ranked La Costa Canyon.
3. (3) Eastlake (Chula Vista) 27-3
This is is the top seeded team in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division. Whether it was the Titans or Rancho Bernardo, no problem with that. They could face an ace in Madison’s Kevin Abel in first game on Wednesday who is similar to the ace from Dana Hills (Hans Crouse) who basically knocked out previous state No. 5 Harvard-westlake last week.
4. (4) Buchanan (Clovis) 27-3
Brady Hormel got the go-ahead RBI and then added an RBI single to lead the Bears past Centennial of Bakersfield 6-2 in the CIF Central Section Division I quarterfinals.
5. (7) St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 25-7-1
For this week’s rankings, we decided to match to CIFSS D2 seedings and flipped Bosco into the No. 5 position instead of moving up Moorpark. The Braves won their first playoff game 3-2 vs. M.L. King of Riverside.
6. (6) Moorpark 25-3
There were six one-run games in the opening round of the CIFSS Division II playoffs and the Musketeers also were involved in one of them as they defeated Oaks Christian of Westlake Village 3-2.
7. (9) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 24-5
Big 6-5 win over Torrey Pines (which was No. 10 in last week’s state rankings) gives Mavericks some momentum in CIF San Diego Open Division. And they’ll need it since their first game has to be against state No. 2 Rancho Bernardo.
8. (11) Stockdale (Bakersfield) 26-3
This is the No. 2 seed behind Buchanan in the CIF Central Section Division I playoffs and advanced to this week’s semifinals vs. Clovis after pounding Bullard of Fresno 10-1.
