El Toro and Norco each land a pair on the overall all-state first team. Capistrano Valley, Chatsworth, Stockdale, Cathedral Catholic, Edison of Huntington Beach, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks and Jesuit of Carmichael all get one on the first and one on the second.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor
Contributing: Ronnie Flores, Paul Muyskens, Steve Brand

Congratulations to all of the following 30 players, who have been written up as first team all-state for the CalHiSports.com all-state baseball honors. We have been compiling all-state teams in baseball for more than 25 years and our Mr. Baseball Player of the Year lists extend back more than 100 years.

Catchers

Josh Leyland (San Dimas) Sr.
He helped the Saints win their first section title since 1985 as his single tied the CIF Southern Section Div. IV championship game that they would go on and win, 4-2, over Torrance. Leyland has been named the Inland Valley player of the year and was drafted by the Oakland Athletics after leading the Saints with 11 homers and 38 runs batted in with a .506 batting average. On the year, he tied for the most homers in the state by a catcher with fellow first-team all-state pick Max Stassi, who was also drafed by the Athletics. Leyland has a scholarship offer from Washington State should he choose not to sign with the Athletics.

Max Stassi (Yuba City) Sr.
Despite an injury that caused him to be less than 100 percent, Max still was good enough this year to be the Sacramento Bee Player of the Year for the second year in a row and was recently named to the EA SPORTS All American team. During his senior year, he hit .538 with 38 runs batted in and 11 homers as the Honkers won their third straight section title. In his four years with the Honkers, a team coached by his dad, Jim, he hit .514 with 40 home runs and drove in 162 runs. Stassi has a full ride scholarship to UCLA awaiting him if he decides not to sign with the Oakland Athletics, who picked him in the fourth round of the recent Major League Baseball draft.

Andrew Susac (Jesuit, Carmichael) Sr.
There were an abundance of top catchers around the country and Susac was one of the best. Last summer at the Area Code Games in Long Beach, he performed more than admirably for the Milwaukee Brewers Gray team, standing out with his strong throwing arm. This spring, he continued to shine and led Jesuit to its second consecutive CIF Sac-Joaquin Div. I title by batting .442 with nine doubles and eight homers. He also scored 35 times and drove in 34 runs while earning league MVP honors and all-metro honors from the Sacramento Bee.

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To drop or not to drop? That is the question this week as Chatsworth and Mater Dei both lose games. Going in as newcomers, meanwhile, are Elk Grove, Capistrano Valley and Valley Christian of San Jose.

Compiled by Mark Tennis, Executive Editor
Writeups by Andrew Drennen, Steve Brand, Paul Muyskens and Mark Tennis

(After games of Saturday, May 9)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)

1.  (3)  El Toro (Lake Forest) 20-4
The count is now up to seven for the number of teams that have been sitting in the No. 1 position for the state baseball rankings. El Toro moves up to get its shot at the catbird's seat after previous No. 1 Chatsworth and No. 2 Mater Dei both took losses last week. We certainly could have followed the lead of the L.A. Times and done nothing at the top of the order. In the big picture, both Chatsworth and Mater Dei still loom as favorites to win L.A. City and Southern Section titles. It is just more natural to move up El Toro after another 2-0 week, and in that move we aren't alone, either, as the Orange County Register now has the Chargers No. 1 and Mater Dei No. 2 in its rankings this week. El Toro continues to play well after the announced loss of standout pitcher Chad Thompson for the rest of the season due to Tommy John surgery. Last week's wins were by 8-1 and 7-4 over Huntington Beach. In the first game, Aaron Wirsch pitched a four-hitter and smashed two of the Chargers' five home runs. In the second game, Nolan Arenado went deep and pitched three scoreless innings. It could still get sticky for us and for the Chargers if themselves and Mater Dei were both CIFSS champs in different divisions because MD does have a head-to-head win. The way this season is going, though, that's a scenario that is a long, long way from becoming real.

2.  (4)  Yucaipa 23-2
Now the T-Birds are just one spot from returning to the top of the roost as they, too, took full advantage of Chatsworth and Mater Dei (Santa Ana) stumbling. Interestingly, though, Jeff Stout's club, despite hammering Miller (Fontana) 15-1 and beating Redlands, 6-3, still has not clinched the Citrus Belt League title as it takes a one-game lead into the final week of the regular season. That could mean real trouble for this week's foes, Fontana and Eisenhower (Rialto), who do not need any more grief. The last time they played Yucaipa, Fontana lost 20-1 and Eisenhower became a centerfold for having a mercy rule in baseball, losing 35-1. Third baseman/closer Matt Davidson, who has signed with USC but at 6-4, 225 is projected as a high draft choice this spring, is batting .543 with 37 RBI.

3.  (1)  Chatsworth 24-3
It was a mixed week for the Chancellors as they went 2-1.  It started with an 8-3 loss to rival El Camino Real.  The Chancellors topped the Conquistadors twice early in the season. But the third time was the charm for El Camino Real.  The week ended with wins over Birmingham of Lake Balboa and Cleveland of Reseda, which beat Chatsworth a couple weeks ago.  The Chancellors have two more games, before the L.A. City Section playoffs start, and both are West Valley League games, which could loom large.  As it stands now, Chatsworth is tied, record wise, with Cleveland, but holds the tie-breaker.  If the Chancellors win out, add another league title to the storied program.  

4.  (5)  Clovis West (Fresno) 26-3
It's a big week coming up for the Golden Eagles. They have two games against league rival Clovis, which has been state-ranked itself for much of this season. After that comes a trip to the Oakland Coliseum for the second attempt to appear in the Oakland A's/Dave Stewart Classic. The first attempt two weekends ago was rained out. Clovis West is scheduled to play host school De La Salle of Concord, which is heating up late this season after a slow start. In last week's games, the Golden Eagles beat Clovis East and then swept a pair from Madera. The week ended with a 7-4 win over the Coyotes as pitcher J.D. Salles earned the 20th win of his varsity career. He was backed up offensively by Eric Karch, who went 3-for-3 with a double and a homer.

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