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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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.
Super 8 Softball Rankings Update
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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Super 8 Softball Rankings Update
Another loss by Orange Lutheran to Mater Dei (the second of the season) causes the Lancers to fall from third in this week’s rankings and for both unbeaten Gahr of Cerritos and Rio Mesa of Oxnard to inch forward to No. 3 and No. 4. Will those two go all the way to CIFSS Division II championship?
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Boys BB: Best Publics from S.F.
Despite history-making season for Mission, San Francisco public schools have actually been even better in the past with some that were considered the best team overall in the state.
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Super 8 Softball Rankings Update
The top three teams remain the same after No. 1 Norco tops No. 2 Los Alamitos and No. 3 Orange Lutheran to win another major tournament. Sheldon of Sacramento also jumps to No. 6, unbeaten Stockdale climbs to No. 7 and Mission Viejo now has to drop behind La Habra and out of 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 8; Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Norco 19-0
MVP Kinzie Hansen, the big-time sophomore catcher, and most valuable pitcher Taylor Dockins (now has 94 career wins) led the Cougars past No. 2 Los Alamitos and No. 3 Orange Lutheran in the semifinals and finals of last weekend’s Michelle Carew Classic. Will they be unbeaten going into CIFSS playoffs?
Norco’s Taylor Dockins once again was a rock inside the circle for nation’s No. 1 team at Michelle Carew Classic. Photo: Patrick Takkinen/SoCalSidelines.com.
2. (2) Los Alamitos 16-3
No change for the Griffins with their only loss at the Michelle Carew Classic coming to No. 1 Norco. They had chances to score runs in 1-0 loss to Cougars, but just couldn’t get the big hit. Los Al’s only other two losses this year were later avenged.
3. (3) Lutheran (Orange) 16-3
Stanford-bound Maddy Dwyer pitched the shutout when the Lancers beat Amador Valley of Pleasanton 1-0 in the semifinals of the Michelle Carew Classic. They lost in the final 4-0 to Norco.
4. (4) Gahr (Cerritos) 16-0
Alyssa Kumiyama hammered three home runs to lead the Gladiators past Los Altos (Hacienda Heights) 6-4. None of the team’s other games last week were close.
5. (6) Rio Mesa (Oxnard) 17-0-1
Like Gahr, even though they are also unbeaten, it’s going to be tough for the Spartans to move up any further than they’ve gotten in these rankings. Both teams are lucky that the rest of SoCal’s top teams have tended to be beating each other.
6. (9) Sheldon (Sacramento) 15-1
Although the Huskies got a forfeit win in the semis and didn’t have to face an ace in the final, their accomplishment of winning the Livermore Stampede title helps them move up three spots in this week’s rankings.
7. (11) Stockdale (Bakersfield) 17-0
Freshman Sydney Hornbuckle pitched a one-hitter as the Mustangs blanked Centennial of Bakersfield 6-0 in their only outing of last week.
8. (8) San Marcos 12-4
The CIF San Diego Section’s No. 1 team and defending champion has lost once to Norco and twice to Los Al and has shown in its other games that it’s an elite squad.
