Playoffs are here as spring starts turning to summer. Watch for highlights of many ranked baseball and softball teams each Sunday night on Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area. Tune to YourTV 20, San Francisco at 7 p.m. Replays are aired during the week on Comcast Sportsnet throughout Northern California.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

The CalHiSports.com kibosh caravan was very busy on the road again last week and the mojo claimed some and almost claimed others.

The first stop was in Pleasanton where we witnessed visiting Livermore win the East Bay Athletic League softball title with a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over rival Foothill.

The mojo was so strong that before the seats were barely warm Foothill's Jennifer Ong blasted a 220-foot shot off Livermore starter Jessica Varady on the third pitch of the bottom of the first.

I guess it was reverse voodoo because we sat on the Foothill side the first three innings and the Falcons led the whole way. When we switched to the Livermore side, the Cowgirls erupted for all four runs.

The next stop was Santa Rosa where Montgomery fell from the ranks of the unbeaten in a 1-0 loss to Rancho Cotate of Rohnert Park in the North Bay League softball playoff championship.

On Friday we were at historic Albert Field in San Rafael to see the Larkspur Redwood girls down Drake of San Anselmo in the Marin County Athletic League softball playoff semis.

Saturday was baseball at the Oakland Coliseum and the Oakland A's/Dave Stewart High School Baseball Showdown. Without re-hashing the feature that ran on Sunday, we will give you one tidbit. Previous state overall No. 4 Clovis West of Fresno felt the mojo.

After the games at the Coliseum, we hopped back across the Bay to Albert Field to witness the Drake baseball team upend Marin Catholic 7-0 to take the MCAL playoff crown.

After that week, the camels needed plenty of rest on Sunday.

As for the seedings in the North Coast Section and Central Coast Section playoffs, we like the new system now used by the NCS despite not being able to go to the meetings any longer. They have gotten it right. With respect to the CCS, their system is not very good and in D1 baseball it's almost laughable.

Baseball Top 20 Teams
(Records through May 16)

1. (2) Serra (San Mateo) 26-6
Just like we said last week, don't count out retiring Coach Pete Jensen's boys who after winning the WCAL playoff crown are back in the catbird seat once again. Last week in three playoff games the Padres scored a combined 36 runs in respective wins over Riordan (San Francisco), St. Francis (Mountain View) and Valley Christian of San Jose. In the title game, they avenged an 8-7 loss to Valley Christian two weeks ago with a 15-11 slugfest victory. We almost have to shake our heads in disbelief at the CCS Division I seedings that has the Padres fourth-seeded behind San Benito (Hollister), Santa Teresa (San Jose) and Wilcox of Santa Clara, and forces what likely will be another match-up with Valley Christian in the second round. The fact that both rankings media that compile a Bay Area list, such as the San Francisco Chronicle and CalHiSports not to mention the San Jose Mercury-News, all have Serra atop the heap, makes the disparity between the rankings and the CCS seedings look embarrassing, and the Chron and CalHiSports.com have nothing to be embarrassed about. That is, unless it's San Benito and Santa Teresa in the title game. If it's another all-WCAL final, the CCS seedings can be called one of the worst in California history and a disservice to the athletes involved.

2. (5) De La Salle (Concord) 16-8
Two weeks ago they weren't even in the top 10. Now first-year Coach Rick Steen's boys have cracked the state overall top 20, taking the final spot, and are poised to take this throne should they continue their red-hot streak and Serra falter. Although they started the season 7-8, including a win against Serra, the Spartans have now won nine straight with a victory over previous state No. 4 Clovis West at the Dave Stewart Showdown. The victory at the Oakland Coliseum was No. 506 for Steen, who before coming to Sparta spent more than three decades at San Ramon Valley in Danville. "I was in France when the job came open and my wife emailed me and asked if I wanted to go for it. I told her the question was do you want to continue to be a baseball wife and she said sure. It's only a few blocks from the house and Andy went there so I applied,” Steen told CalHiSports.com prior to the Clovis West game. Now Andy Steen, a 1997 De La Salle graduate, is on his dad's staff. The Spartans open the NCS Division I playoffs with a bye and as the top seed, awaiting the Foothill at Amador Valley winner for a May 23 date in Concord.   

3. (3) Clayton Valley (Concord) 21-3
The big boss, CalHiSports.com Executive Editor Mark Tennis, jumped De La Salle up and past the Eagles and we agree, and so did the NCS seeding committee, which awarded the Eagles only the second seed in Division II based on a head-to-head loss to Alameda, who was awarded the top seed. Coach Bob Ralston's boys could still find the top spot in these rankings if they win out and Serra and De La Salle both go down in their respective D1 playoffs. Last week, Clayton Valley finished up Diablo Valley League action at 11-1 after an 8-7 win against Northgate of Walnut Creek.

4. (1) Valley Christian (San Jose) 22-7
The Warriors could be ahead of Clayton Valley after losing the rubber match with Serra and scoring 11 runs in the outing. Plus, they have a win over De La Salle early in the season. For this week, though, we don't want to actually drop Clayton Valley, either. So it's VC dropping down to fourth. If head coach John Diatte's boys do win the CCS Division I title, though, they might then have the edge over Clayton Valley.


5. (4) St. Francis (Mountain View) 23-7
The Lancers met their maker when they played the Padres in the WCAL semis but scored eight runs in their effort, and that's good enough for this group to keep them in the top five. They didn't get much respect from the CCS, which has them seeded sixth in D1.

6. (8) Monte Vista (Danville) 17-7
As the second-seed in NCS Division I, the Mustangs are itching to get another crack at Sparta. Didn't we write about that during football season as well?

7. (9) San Benito (Hollister) 25-4-1
They get some respect here just not quite as much as the CCS seeding system.

8. (11) Freedom (Oakley) 20-4
The Falcon girls' softball team isn't the only team on the move on the diamond. The boys out in the Delta are the No. 3 seed in the NCS D1 bracket and rightfully so.

9. (12) Alameda 20-4
Three weeks ago they were on the bubble but look where the NCS Division II top seed is now? The Hornets are the top 10 and rising.

10. (14) Wilcox (Santa Clara) 25-7
The CCS D1 third-seeded Chargers get the spot back they had two weeks ago with two wins over previous No. 6 Los Gatos last week.          

11. (6) Los Gatos 24-5
12. (7) Bellarmine (San Jose) 21-10
13. (17) Newark Memorial (Newark) 22-6
14. (10) Irvington (Fremont) 19-6
15. (15) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 20-4
16. (13) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 21-11
17. (19) Palma (Salinas) 22-5
18. (20) Miramonte (Orinda) 20-3-1
19. (18) Casa Grande (Petaluma) 18-6
20. (nr) Drake (San Anselmo) 20-5

Baseball Teams On the Bubble
Amador Valley (Pleasanton) 15-9, Aragon (San Mateo) 25-5, California (San Ramon) 14-9, Campolindo (Moraga) 20-4, Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 21-5, Castro Valley 18-6, Concord 14-9, Deer Valley (Antioch) 18-6, Foothill (Pleasanton) 13-11, Head-Royce (Oakland) 21-2, Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 19-5, Montgomery (Santa Rosa) 20-6, Oak Grove (San Jose) 23-3, Salinas 22-7-1, San Ramon Valley (Danville) 13-11, Santa Teresa (San Jose) 22-5, Scotts Valley 23-4, Skyline (Oakland) 16-3.

Softball Top 20 Teams

1. (1) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 27-0
Since its already been released on Wednesday morning we can tell all you Bay Area softball fans to go to the ESPN RISE FAB 50 softball rankings and you will see that not only is Mitty No. 1 in the Bay Area and California, but the entire nation. The mythical national title is now only three games away for the CCS Division II top seed. Coach Sarah Thomas' team cant claim the all-time winningest record in California softball history since Sutter has already finished 34-0, but 32-0 and No. 1 in the nation will be fine for the Monarchs and superstar Keilani Ricketts, who right now appears to be a lock for Ms. Softball in California.

2. (2) Freedom (Oakley) 17-3
For what seems like the umpteenth week in a row the Falcons stay put here, at No. 4 in the overall state and No. 8 in the FAB 50. Now comes the NCS Division I playoffs where Coach Jeff Jonas's girls are the top seed and gunning for another title. The girl who pitched them to the title last year is still dominating the circle and in order to beat Freedom you have to hit Fresno State-bound Hannah Williams. Either Liberty or Castro Valley will get that chance on May 23.  

3. (3) Livermore 20-2
They can't crack the top two here but Coach Bill Keller's girls got a one-spot bump in the overall state rankings to No. 7 and also in the FAB 50 but you'll have to go there to see where. The Cowgirls have now won 10 straight since a loss to Sheldon (Sacramento) in the Livermore Stampede. Last week, with CalHiSports.com in the stands, they brought the school its first East Bay Athletic League title since 1999 on the road in Pleasanton with a come-from-behind 4-3 victory against the four-time defending league champions and perennially tough Foothill Falcons. Now it's on to the NCS D1 playoffs where as expected they are seeded second and on a collision course with Freedom. They'll probably have to get by No. 3 seed Foothill again to get to the championship game.

4. (4) Notre Dame (Salinas) 25-5-1
Caitlyn Pura had a huge game at the plate with two homers, a triple and six RBI and Kylie Linnane also homered and had two RBI in an 11-3 victory over crosstown Alisal that wrapped up the Tri-County League title. Now it's on to the CCS Division III playoffs where the Spirits are the top seed.

5. (5) San Benito (Hollister) 25-4
Despite winning the section title three straight years, including twice beating Carlmont of Belmont in the semis and once in the finals, the girls from Hollister get no respect from the CCS seeding system, falling in as the third seed in Division I behind Carlmont, and now this year they're behind 20-5 Wilcox of Santa Clara as well. Last week San Francisco State-bound Marissa Ibarra etched her name into the CalHiSports.com fourth spot for all-time pitching victories with 105, a place she owns even if the Haybaler girls win three more games and a four-peat with her in the circle.

6. (7) Foothill (Pleasanton) 17-7
Despite the 4-3 loss to Livermore in a game they led twice, we are giving the NCS D1 third-seeded Falcons a one-spot bump.

7. (9) Notre Dame (Belmont) 23-8
The CCS D3 No. 2 seed will be looking to meet their namesakes from Salinas in the title game if everything goes as seeded.

8. (10) Presentation (San Jose) 24-5-1
The San Jose Pres girls are above ND-Belmont in the Chronicle but we will leave them one-spot behind them here still with both moving up due to worse losses by teams above them.

9. (6) Montgomery (Santa Rosa) 23-1*
The Viking girls fall from grace but not too far after their 1-0 loss to rival Rancho Cotate in the NBL playoff title game. This is not the first time CalHiSports.com's Mr. Kibosh's presence has ended a long Montgomery girls' team's winning streak. We did it to their soccer team's 64-game unbeaten streak a few years ago.

10. (8) James Logan (Union City) 22-3-1
The Colts snagged the NCS D1 fifth seed.

11. (13) Antioch 18-6
12. (19) Rancho Cotate 21-2-1*
13. (12) Pinole Valley (Pinole) 21-3
14. (11) Carlmont (Belmont) 22-5-1
15. (14) Deer Valley (Antioch) 13-10
16. (17) Concord 18-5
17. (18) Castro Valley 18-6
18. (20) Redwood (Larkspur) 21-4*
19. (15) Albany 20-3
20. (16) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 21-3

Softball Teams On the Bubble
Acalanes (Lafayette) 14-5, Castilleja (Palo Alto) 17-1, Clayton Valley (Concord) 14-8, Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) 19-4, Liberty (Brentwood) 15-9, North Salinas (Salinas) 16-6, Piedmont Hills (San Jose) 20-8, San Marin (Novato) 16-4, San Ramon Valley (Danville) 15-9, St. Patrick St. Vincent (Vallejo) 22-2, Stevenson (Pebble Beach) 18-5, Ukiah 17-7*, Watsonville 20-6, Westmont (Campbell) 21-6-1, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 20-5.

*Not including wins by forfeit

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