Unofficial title game goes to team put together by Cincinnati Reds, who defeated a squad that had several Californians on the roster. Brewers Blue pitching is dominant in its final game, a 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers.

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

The workmanlike Cincinnati Reds took the unofficial Area Code team title with a 8-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Monday afternoon at Blair Field in Long Beach. The Reds, made of up players mainly from the Four Corners region plus Nevada, used seven different pitchers in a seven-inning game to dethrone a team primarily made up of players from the Southeast Region of the United States, plus seven additional players from right here in the Golden State.

Those A's players were brothers Brett and Bobby Geren (San Ramon Valley, Danville), catcher Andrew Knapp (Granite Bay), pitcher Jake Stassi (Yuba City), utility player Andrew Thurman (Orange Lutheran), outfielder Colton Keough (Tesoro, Las Flores) and pitcher Robbie Rowland (Cloverdale).

It's ironic that that the A's has seven players from California because it's the same number of players that were unavailable for Monday's title tilt, according to Area Code Baseball Director Andrew Drennen of ESPN RISE. It was readily apparent the Reds had more arms to work with as none of their pitchers faced more than four batters in any inning, whereas the A's first two hurlers threw to 27 batters, allowing seven runs, but only one earned.(Read full post)

Two-sport star has made the most of his opportunity as a member of the Oakland Athletics' team. He initially did not make the cut at a tryout for a different Area Code team.

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

With the sheer amount of scouts and college coaches in attendance, the six-day Area Code Games experience in Long Beach each summer is arguably the most important week in an elite high school baseball player's budding career.

One might think it would be a nerve-racking experience for the players on the eight assembled teams hitting the field each day at Blair Field, but for some it's the exact opposite. The anxiety-level at the Area Code Games happens to pale in comparison to the exhaustive try-out process to be selected for one of the teams in the first place.

That was definitely the case for Robby Rowland from the small Northern California town of Cloverdale, located along Highway 101 in the majestic Redwood Empire.

Rowland, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound right-handed pitcher, attended the Milwaukee Brewers' tryout at Delta College in Stockton, but did not get "the call" back to inform him he made the team. He then received another call, this one from Colorado Rockies Area Scout Gary Wilson that the Oakland Athletics team needed another arm. Rowland gladly jumped on board with a team primarily consisting of players representing the Southeast states.

(Read full post)

Brewers Gray bounces back from sloppy effort for strong win as Redwood Christian's Vanegas sets pitching tone. Read on for updates on other California players who have impressed the scouts so far this week in Long Beach.

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

Seven teams from Major League Baseball sponsor their own teams at the Area Code Games in Long Beach each August and it doesn't take long for the assembled coaching staffs to find out what works and what doesn't work at Blair Field.

Power pitchers that can't get the ball over the plate are quickly exposed. In turn, batters with big sticks that can hit the ball a country mile, but can't hit a curve ball five feet are not going to cut it, either.

Coined "Yellowstone Park," by longtime scouts, Blair is not a hitters friendly park to begin with and when you throw in the fast infield, control, contact hitting and good defense become a premium.

"The longer each team stays in Area Code, a better idea of what they need to succeed out here becomes evident," remarked on American League Area Scout. "Power guys that don't throw strikes have no chance. In days past, kids that heaved it up there (at a tryout) would automatically be brought out here by the coaches. There has been more emphasis put on playing the game."

(Read full post)

Barstow's Sanchez and Dana Hills' Tago help team to 2-1 win over squad put together by the New York Yankees. California's other team, the Brewers Gray, falls to the Oakland Athletics' team.

By Andrew Drennen

It was another great day of action at Blair Field in Long Beach on Friday but for the third day in a row at least one of the games ended in a tie, and did so with late inning heroics.

The two California teams both played and had mixed results with the Milwaukee Brewers Gray falling to the Oakland Athletics' team, 11-4, while the Milwaukee Brewers Blue used strong pitching to nip the New York Yankees' team, 2-1.

In the first game of the day between the Athletics' team, which has a few California players but is comprised mostly of players from the Southeast area of the country, the Brewers Gray got things going in the first, with four straight hits leading to a quick 2-0 lead against Athletics' pitcher Christian Pfaff (R-S Central, Rutherfordton, N.C.).

It looked like the Brewers would add more runs, but Cory Hahn (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) grounded into a double play and then Joel McKeithan (Roberson, Asheville, N.C.) made a highlight reel catch at short to end the inning.

(Read full post)

Behind two spectacular defensive plays by Fresno Edison's Kenny Travis, team of California players snaps bizarre streak of tie scores at the Area Code Games. The first three games in the event, in fact, were ties, with one of them involving the other California team.

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

Before the Milwaukee Brewers Gray team ended a strange streak of three tie games to open the 2009 Area Code Games at Blair Field in Long Beach, the Brewers Blue couldn't hold on for a win against a team sponsored by the Oakland Athletics.

Other than a few exceptions, a majority of the Athletics' team are players from the Southeast (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, etc.). One of those exceptions is senior Bobby Geren from San Ramon Valley of Danville. It's only natural that he would be on the A's Area Code team since he's the son of current Oakland Athletics manager Bob Geren.

And in the first game of the second day at Area Code, Bobby Geren came through with one of the big hits of the day for his team as the Athletics tied Milwaukee Brewers Blue, 8-8.

The Brewers Blue squad, made up of players primarily from Southern California, is traditionally a strong club each year at Area Code. In their first game, they wasted no time jumping on the Athletics, but in the end they went home kissing their sisters just like everyone did on day one.

The Brew Crew put four on the board in the bottom of the first inning off the A's Nathan Foriest (Harpeth, Kingston Springs, Tenn.), a right-hander. Shortstop Patrick Valaika (Hart, Newhall) got on board courtesy of an error at third base and he took third on a double by third sacker Travis Harrison (Tustin). With one out, Tyler Kuresa (Oakmont, Roseville) hit a two-run single up the middle and took second on the throw home.

(Read full post)

Catcher from Aliso Niguel posts top SPARQ testing score among all participants during opening day of annual Area Code Games.

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

After what he did on the first day of the Area Code Games at Blair Field in Long Beach, major league scouts are anticipating what they might see on Thursday from catching prospect Stefan Sabol from Aliso Niguel High of Aliso Viejo.

Sabol is playing for the Milwaukee Brewers Gray team during the week and started out strongly by posting the highest score among all participants in this year's event who took part in SPARQ testing. SPARQ stands for Speed Power Agility Reaction and Quickness and the score is based on 60-yard dash time, 30-yard dash time, vertical leap and power ball throw.

Sabol's total of 80.87 was based on his physical dimensions (6-0, 194 pounds) plus his testing marks that included 6.28 seconds in the 60-yard run and a 36.2-inch vertical. Sabol also turned on the ball nicely during his swings when the Brewers Gray squad took batting practice.

Others from Brewers Gray who impressed during batting practice were Joe Pederson of Palo Alto and Cory Hahn from Mater Dei of Santa Ana. Hahn, an outfielder who was the one who hit that grand slam off of Norco's Matt Hobgood in last year's CIF Southern Section playoffs, also had eighth best SPARQ testing score of the day.

The only other Californian to finish in the top 10 for SPARQ testing was Michael Lorenzen of Fullerton. He wound up ninth.

Despite the troubled economy and other competing events, the 2009 Area Code Games had a first-day buzz unlike anything seen in recent years. The 320 MLB scouts that pre-registered, not to mention the other 80 or so that walked up, and the 75 or so college coaches were on the scene bright and early ready to evaluate. Every major league team is represented at this year's Area Code Games.

This also is the 23rd year of the annual event and all eight teams took batting practice and did the SPARQ testing.

The bats as a whole picked up as the afternoon went on. The Oakland A's, a team consisting of players from the Southeast region with some California kids sprinkled in, had a few players make some noise, among them catcher Andrew Knapp of Granite Bay. Knapp was hitting well from both sides of the plate.

There also were two games played to complete the day's activities, but none of those two games involved either of the two California-based teams.

For more Area Code game updates, please visit AreaCodeBaseball.com, the ESPN RISE Baseball blog and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ACBaseballGames

Comments or corrections? Email mark@studentsports.com and be sure to leave a comment so others can check out what you have to say.

Going on vacation is never enough to escape California high school sports from invading one's thoughts. Plus, all-state basketball player Keala King switches to Mater Dei and top baseball coach from Riverside resigns.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor

You might think going on a 10-day summer trip to New England and New York City would allow for someone to completely forget about California high school sports. As usual, though, no matter where I go, the state's greatness is never too far removed.

In Boston, a sports-crazed town if there ever was one, you get right into the Ted Williams Tunnel almost as soon as you've gotten the rental car at Logan International. This led me to rattle off to my family all of the many other Boston pro sports legends who went to California high schools – Bill Russell, K.C. Jones, Paul Pierce, Dennis Johnson, Harry Hooper, Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Dom DiMaggio, Fred Lynn, Dustin Pedroia, Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi, the list goes on and on.

After the first night in Boston, I found out in the next morning's newspaper about the major league debut of Aaron Bates for the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Bates is a 2002 grad from Archbishop Mitty of San Jose, which I knew was probably going to be named our State School of the Year later that week.

Here were some other moments on vacation in which it was impossible to inhibit my California high school knowledge:

(Read full post)

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.

(Read full post)

What makes the CalHiSports.com all-state honors unmatched is that we point the spotlight on players from different-sized schools as well as the best players for the future. Cathedral Catholic and San Dimas lead the medium school selections while Washington of Easton and Escalon each get a pair for small schools. Sixty players also named either first team or second team all-state underclass.

Compiled by Mark Tennis, Executive Editor
Contributing: Paul Muyskens, Steve Brand

Congratulations to the following players for earning all-state baseball honors for medium schools. Players eligible were from schools that were considered Division III for our state rankings as well as a few other schools with similar-sized enrollments:

Catchers
Geno Escalante (Rodriguez, Fairfield) Sr.
Josh Leyland (San Dimas) Sr.
Wade Morten (East Union, Manteca) Sr.

Pitchers
Anthony Amara (Placer, Auburn) Sr.
Josh Dreier (San Juan, Fair Oaks) Sr.
Chris Herrera (Kingsburg) Sr.
Kyle Hayes (Santana, Santee) Jr.
Justin Jones (Oakdale) Sr.
Andrew Kjar (Miramonte, Orinda) Sr.
Eric Salcido (San Dimas) Sr.
Ryan Wilkins (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego) Sr.
Brady Zuniga (Bishop Amat, La Puente) Sr.

(Read full post)

Pitcher from Redwood Christian is turning heads with 90 mph fastball. Go inside for picks of others who are hoping to get themselves into August's Area Code Games in Long Beach.

By Paul Muyskens, Editorial Assistant

The best part of going to a tryout like the one held Wednesday at Delta College in Stockton for the Milwaukee Brewers Area Code Team is getting familiar with players most people have never heard about.

Among the over 100 players who participated on a hot day at Nick Cechetti Diamond, hoping they'll eventually get chosen to appear in this summer's Area Code Games in Long Beach, was senior-to-be A.J. Venegas from Redwood Christian of Castro Valley in the CIF North Coast Section.

Coming from a school with an estimated 250 students and playing in Division V, it may seem to be a hard task to get noticed but with fastball that reaches up into the 90s, but Venegas has become more than noticed by scouts. During his junior year, he went 9-2 with a 1.22 ERA and struck out 109 in 57 1/3 innings as the Eagles made the championship game where they lost to Head-Royce.  

On this day, Venegas recorded the fastest pitches with a fastball that reached up to 91 miles per hour while also throwing a slider that reached 81 miles per hour.
 
"This is like a dream come true,” said Venegas after his day was done. "Not many people come out and watch us play during the year and to get invited for stuff like this is an amazing feeling. I work really hard and it's great to know that it's starting to pay off. I love to travel and going all to all these different states this summer for baseball is an amazing thing.”

(Read full post)

It's down to a matter of days before the 2009 All-State Baseball Teams are released. Our list of nominees has been updated since the first time it was posted, but it's not too late to make sure we know about a certain someone in your midst.

The all-state teams honors program at CalHiSports.com and Cal-Hi Sports has been ongoing for 30 years and are selected currently for the sports of football, boys basketball, girls basketball, baseball and softball.

Nominations are always welcome, but don't wait until it's too late and the teams are released. They won't be changed at that point, unless it's a simple error.

Please send any nomination with each athlete's height, weight, position, year in school, significant statistics. Comparing a player not on the board yet to one who already is can be very important toward eventual selection. Limit each nomination to one page please. Send to:

mark@studentsports.com or FAX (209) 463-1219 or call (209) 608-1317.

Be aware that not all sophomores or juniors we are considering for all-state underclass may be on this list. We also usually end up selecting players who aren't on this list for medium school or small school squads. These players will emerge when all of the various major newspaper-based honor squads are released.

The format for all-state baseball will be to continue with a 30-player overall all-state first team with 30 more on second team. Instead of utility, we may designate as many as eight players as multi-purpose. This accounts for the many who are both top hitters and top pitchers. Each first team player is written up and then becomes eligible for selection to the EA SPORTS All-American Team.

There also will be 30 players for medium schools (Div. III traditional state rankings division), 30 for small schools (Div. IV and Division V traditional state rankings divisions) and 30 more for all-state underclass (non-seniors).

(Read full post)

Capistrano Valley power pitcher and hitter led team to CIFSS Div. I title and nips Norco's Matt Hobgood for state player of the year honor. He's just the fourth Mr. Baseball from Orange County since 1980.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor

Some of the decisions on who should be the CalHiSports.com Mr. Baseball State Player of the Year over the decades have been legendary.

Look back at 1982, for example, when the top player in Northern California was an outfielder from Serra of San Mateo named Barry Bonds while the top player in Southern California was a pitcher from Cleveland of Reseda named Bret Saberhagen. Since Saberhagen had thrown a no-hitter at Dodger Stadium in the L.A. City Section final while Bonds' last game for Serra was a loss, Saberhagen earned the nod.

This year's choice for the state's most prestigious individual honor, since it has been handed out much longer than any other statewide award, could one day be similar to Bonds vs. Saberhagen and frankly we hope that is the case.

Instead of Bonds vs. Saberhagen or Aaron Hicks of Long Beach Wilson vs. Riverside Patriot's Kyle Skipworth (which was last year's debate), this year it came down to Tyler Matzek from Capistrano Valley of Mission Viejo vs. Matt Hobgood of Norco and the final, close in-house staff vote went to Matzek, who has now been named as the 2009 Mr. Baseball honoree.

Matzek is just the fourth player from Orange County since 1980 to be the State Player of the Year. The previous three have been Ian Stewart from La Quinta of Westminster in 2003, Tom Redington from Esperanza of Anaheim in 1987 and Lenny Dykstra of Garden Grove in 1981.

One of the reasons these selections are so difficult is that we have never awarded co-players, co-coaches or co-anything in any ranking, all-state pick or any other evaluation that has been made.(Read full post)

State junior player of the year Jake Rodriguez from Elk Grove and state sophomore of the year Christian Lopes of Valencia were even better than a year ago when they were chosen for their respective classes. Other top statewide individual picks named for freshmen, medium schools and small schools.

Note: Our all-state baseball teams are still to come. Congratulations to the following 2009 state baseball players of the year. Thanks to Steve Brand, Harold Abend and Paul Muyskens for providing the writeups on these players.

Juniors: Jake Rodriguez (Elk Grove)

After a sophomore season in which Rodriguez hit for .536 average and was the state sophomore of the year, he charged into last summer as a member of the U.S. Under-16 national team. In one game against Panama, Rodriguez slammed two home runs in one inning. You might have heard about a teammate of his on that team that did the same thing: Sports Illustrated coverboy Bryce Harper.

Being on that U.S. national team helped Rodriguez to decide that he couldn't afford to continue playing football for the Thundering Herd. He did just that as a sophomore and was one of the team's leading rushers.

This season, Rodriguez's batting average dipped just slightly to .522, but all of his other numbers were even better. The 5-10, 195-pounder cracked five homers with 10 doubles and four triples and drove in 47 runs. He also was impressive on the mound. In 41 innings, Rodriguez struck out 62 batters and had a 0.68 ERA with a 4-0 record.

Rodriguez may not be quite the phenom that his former U.S. Under-16 teammate has become, but among seniors in California next year he's clearly the one in the lead to be the 2010 Mr. Baseball State Player of the Year.

The last state junior player of the year from the Sacramento area was Channing Williams from Grant of Sacramento in 1982.(Read full post)

Serra of San Mateo legend gains top baseball honor after team wins CCS title in walk-off fashion. Also selected are Bob Anderson from Central Valley of Shasta Lake for medium schools and Brad Gunter Jr. from Valley Christian of Roseville for small schools.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor
Contributing: Paul Muyskens

A game-winning base hit to win a championship is one thing, but when it's the last game for a retiring coach – and not just any coach but one of the winningest in Northern California history – the focus is naturally going to be on that coach.

Players at Serra High of San Mateo all knew what was on the line when they batted in the bottom of the seventh inning of the CIF Central Coast Section Div. I championship last month in San Jose with the score tied at 4-4 against league rival Archbishop Mitty of San Jose.

With one out, Luca Ponti singled up the middle. He moved to second on a balk, then went to third on a passed ball. With the infield drawn in, teammate Justin Maffei also singled up the middle to score Ponti and give the Padres a 5-4 victory.

Such was the final sentence in the final chapter in the coaching career of Serra's Pete Jensen. He tried to give all the credit to his players after the game, but even the players had a sense of the moment.

"We've been working all season to give him this championship,” Ponti said. "I can't even say the words how this makes us all feel.”

Jensen himself added: "Boy, I've had so many memories at this school and to win both of our last two games the way we did and now to end it like this is right at the top. We've always had such great kids at Serra and they work so hard at it.”
The championship capped a 30-6 season for the Padres' in Jensen's 23rd and final season. It also was the fourth time he's been handed a CCS championship plaque and put his final career record at 564-181-5.

(Read full post)

Congratulations to mythical state champions Capistrano Valley, Yuba City, Cathedral Catholic, Washington of Easton and St. Bernard's of Eureka in baseball. In softball, final No. 1 honors go out to Norco, Archbishop Mitty of San Jose, Notre Dame of Belmont, Sutter and St. Bernard's of Eureka. All final rankings for both baseball and softball expanded to at least 15 in each division.

Compiled by Mark Tennis & Steve Brand
(Through all games played in 2009 season)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)

Baseball Division I
1.  (4)   Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo) 26-6
2.  (3)   Chatsworth 29-4
3.  (1)   Edison (Huntington Beach) 23-6
4.  (2)   Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 24-6
5.  (5)   Norco 25-5
6.  (6)   Serra (San Mateo) 30-6
7.  (8)   Jesuit (Carmichael) 27-5
8.  (7)   Poway 28-7
9.  (9)   Yucaipa 27-3
10. (12) Stockdale (Bakersfield) 26-5
11. (11) El Toro (Lake Forest) 23-6
12. (13) Clovis West (Fresno) 29-6
13. (14) Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 23-6
14. (15) JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 22-7
15. (nr) Freedom (Oakley) 23-4
16. (nr) Crespi (Encino) 21-11
17. (10) Redlands East Valley (Redlands) 23-7
18. (nr) Temecula Valley (Temecula) 22-6
19. (nr) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) 24-11
20. (nr) Buchanan (Clovis) 23-5-1
Comments: Although they had some unexpected setbacks during the regular season, when it came down to the Southern Section's cut-throat single-elimination playoffs, Tyler Matzek (Colorado Rockies, 11th pick) and his teammates were simply too tough, zipping past three teams into the top spot here. Chatsworth also proved itself to be the best in the L.A. City but unlike basketball, the City is not nearly as deep as the Southern Section. The South ruled in this division where No. 5 Serra (San Mateo) was as high on the ratings as the North would get. Clearly, this division is dominant as three-quarters of the state's Top 40 teams dwell here.

(Read full post)

Eight different teams held the No. 1 state ranking at some point in the season and all eight are included in this end-of-the-season expanded version of our overall state baseball rankings. This ranges from No. 1 Capo Valley down to No. 25 Elk Grove. Go inside as well to see if San Dimas cracked the list or how high Cathedral Catholic went up.

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

(After games of Saturday, June 6)
(After all games played during 2009 season)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)

1.  (4)  Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo) 26-6
Once the CIF Southern Section Div. I playoffs began, the Cougars hit their rythym with a No. 1 and No. 2 pitching combo of Tyler Matzek and Kevin Chambers that was second to none. Making them even more potent is that both Matzek and Chambers swung the sticks real effectively as well. Coach Bob Zamora's team, which encountered some difficulty in the South Coast League, began its playoff run with an 8-4 triumph over Long Beach Wilson. Those runs allowed, which came after Zamora took out Matzek with the Cougars ahead 8-0, ended up being the only runs that Capo would allow in entire postseason. In the second-round, the team blanked Lutheran of Orange, 4-0, and then came back-to-back-to-back shutouts of Huntington Beach Marina (11-0), Riverside Poly (1-0) and then finally Edison of Huntington Beach (1-0) in the championship game. The Cougars also featured an outstanding leadoff hitter in outfielder Steve McMichael and they had a very promising slick-fielding shortstop in sophomore Kyle Hunt.

2.  (3)  Chatsworth 29-4
The Chancellors won the L.A. City Section Div. I title when they thumped Cleveland of Reseda, 9-0, at Dodger Stadium. Towards the end of the year, there was the possibility that Chatsworth would be the state's No. 1 team, but when Capistrano Valley ended its impressive run through the Southern Section playoffs with four straight shutouts the best Chatsworth could do is second.  The Chancellors' closest playoff game was to rival El Camino Real and that was an 8-5 game. Other than that, they handled their business in the postseason. They finished in second-place in the West Valley League behind Cleveland, a team they had a 3-1 record against.  Chatsworth also traveled to Nevada and played in the Blazer SportCo Spring Bash. There they faced Las Vegas High, home of Sports Illustrated coverboy Bryce Harper, and won 8-3 and held the slugger to just one hit in three at-bats. Winning their sixth championship this decade, the Chancellors are definitely the state team of the decade.

3.  (1)  Edison (Huntington Beach) 23-6
For a No. 1 and No. 2 pitching combo, the Chargers were almost the equal of Capo Valley. In their case, it was senior Kurt Heyer and sophomore Henry Owens. It was Heyer who took the 1-0 loss to the Cougars in the final, but in that game he only allowed four hits. It's just that one of them was a homer. It was Owens who took the win in the semifinals when Edison edged Mater Dei of Santa Ana, 2-1. The game-winning hit in that one came in the bottom of the seventh inning by Kyle Jones. Earlier playoff wins were against Lakewood (11-1), West Ranch of Santa Clarita (13-1) and Dana Hills of Dana Point (3-2). Coach Steve Lambright's team was led offensively by Josh Leshinski, who hit .360 with 12 doubles and 28 RBI, and Donald Sneed, who hit .344 with seven homers and 21 RBI.

4.  (2)  Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 24-6
The Monarchs entered the CIFSS Div. I playoffs after finishing with a 10-5 record in Trinity League play. Their only loss outside of league came at the hands of Huntington Beach Edison in the Southern Section semifinals at Blair Field.  They played in the National Classic this year and topped No. 11 El Toro in the finals at Goodwin Field. Coach Burt Call's team got off to a hot start as well, winning all five of their games in the Newport Elks Tournament, including a 4-3 win over eventual Southern Section Div. I champ Capistrano Valley.  In that game against the Cougars, the Monarchs topped Kevin Chambers, the same pitcher who threw a gem of a game against Edison of Huntington Beach at Angel Stadium. Mater Dei's own ace, Aaron Northcraft, pitched a number of gems as well.

(Read full post)

No. 1 pick Strasburg is not the only top 10 pick from San Diego in this year's selections. California also is second to none in this draft with 12 picked out of the first 44, which is more than 25 percent.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor

It was another banner year for California prep baseball players and former California prep baseball players in Tuesday's Major League Baseball Draft, held in Secaucus, New Jersey.

It began immediately as Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State became the third No. 1 overall pick from San Diego in the last 10 years. By the time the first round was complete, eight of the 32 selections were Californians. Four more went by the 44th choice in the supplemental phase of the first round.

Stephen attended West Hills High of Santee before he went to SDSU. He had been projected to be the No. 1 pick for several months and was chosen by the Washington Nationals.

In 2004, Matt Bush from Mission Bay High School was the No. 1 overall pick by the hometown San Diego Padres. He has yet to play in the major leagues.

In 2000, Adrian Gonzalez from Eastlake High School of Chula Vista was the No. 1 overall pick. Adrian, of course, has played in the majors and currently leads the major leagues in home runs for the Padres. He was picked after high school by the Florida Marlins.

Another top 10 pick in this year's draft from San Diego is pitcher Mike Leake. The Arizona State player was tabbed at No. 8 by the Cincinnati Reds and is from Fallbrook High.

(Read full post)

The season is now complete, but we're just getting started in the process to select the 2009 All-State Baseball Teams. The first step is to list players on our board and then let our frequent guests contribute names of players they want us to consider as well. Go inside for list of more than 225 players.

We have enhanced the selection process for all of our all-state teams in recent years – they are chosen in football, boys basketball, girls basketball, baseball and softball and we've been doing this for 30 years – by posting a list of names on our board and then letting readers/users respond with additions, corrections and updates.

Nominations are always welcome, but don't wait until it's too late and the teams are released. They won't be changed at that point, unless it's a simple error.

Please send any nomination with each athlete's height, weight, position, year in school, significant statistics. Comparing a player not on the board yet to one who already is cane be very important toward eventual selection. Limit each nomination to one page please. Send to:

mark@studentsports.com or FAX (209) 463-1219 or call (209) 608-1317.

Be aware that not all sophomores or juniors we are considering for all-state underclass may be on this list. We also usually end up selecting players who aren't on this list for medium school or small school squads. These players will emerge when all of the various major newspaper-based honor squads are released.

The format for all-state baseball will be to continue with a 30-player overall all-state first team with 30 more on second team. Instead of utility, we may designate as many as eight players as multi-purpose. This accounts for the many who are both top hitters and top pitchers. Each first team player is written up and then becomes eligible for selection to the EA SPORTS All-American Team.(Read full post)

Cougars get the nod in close baseball selection over Chatsworth while the Monarchs were only waiting for the announcement to be made for it to be official in softball. Pitching dominance was the key for both teams, but if not for one mighty swing of the bat neither team might have finished No. 1 in the state. Final overall & expanded state baseball and softball rankings to be released later this week, following our MLB Draft coverage.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor

CIF Southern Section Division I champion Capistrano Valley of Mission Viejo and CIF Central Coast Section Division II titlist Archbishop Mitty of San Jose were selected on Monday to be the 2009 State Teams of the Year in baseball and softball, respectively, by CalHiSports.com.

Capistrano Valley's choice was close as the Cougars moved up from No. 4 in the previous state rankings to grab the top honor from previous No. 3 Chatsworth, the L.A. City Section champ.

After Chatsworth had ended its season on May 30 with a 9-0 win over Cleveland of Reseda in the L.A. City final at Dodger Stadium, the Chancellors (29-4) had to wait it out to see what would happen in last week's Southern Section playoffs. In the semifinals, No. 1 Edison of Huntington Beach edged No. 2 Mater Dei of Santa Ana, 2-1, while No. 4 Capistrano Valley topped Poly of Riverside, 1-0. Then in last Saturday's final at Anaheim Stadium, the Cougars posted yet another shutout with a 1-0 win over Edison.

Despite having six losses overall to Chatsworth's four, it was that pitching that was the difference in Capistrano Valley's rise all the way to the top. In addition to blanking Riverside Poly and Edison in its last two games, head coach Bob Zamora's team also had shutouts in its previous two playoff games. The only runs that scored against the Cougars in the postseason came when Zamora took out ace Tyler Matzek with an 8-0 lead in the first playoff game against Long Beach Wilson.

(Read full post)

The Capistrano Valley of Mission Viejo senior homers in his last bat, then picks up the save as his team beats Edison of Huntington Beach, 1-0, in CIF Southern Section Division I final. Capo Valley will now wait to see if it will be No. 1 in the state or if Chatsworth will be selected.

	Andrew Drennen
	Josh Leyland helped guide San Dimas to its second Southern Section title.

This week's boys' award winner's story has some amazing twists, and bumps and gashes to boot. Through it all he was a winner to the final out of his high school career.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

The umpire called him out on a head first slide into second base but when Billy Wardell came up with a giant gash over his left eye in the second inning of the CIF North Coast Section Division I title game against De La Salle of Concord, his dream of winning the big one at the Oakland Coliseum was all but ended.

It appeared he was out of the game.

"There was no way I thought he could come back. It was pretty bad,” Freedom head coach Gary Alexander told CalHiSports.com.

"I was thinking, I sure hope Jordan's on today,” continued Alexander, making reference to his son, Jordan Alexander, the No. 2 starter on the team behind Wardell.

In fact, Freedom trainer Glen Briggs told Wardell he was out of the game after looking at the three-inch gash.

"Our trainer said 'you can't play,' but I told him do anything you have to do but I have to go back into the game,” said Wardell in an early morning interview this week as he prepared for graduation on Saturday.

With Billy holding gauze over the wound, Briggs summoned Wardell's mother, Debbie, and told her the situation.

(Read full post)

(For additions, corrections or to report a statistical standout we may have missed, email mark@studentsports.com. To inquire about a section or state record, please email Senior Editor Ronnie Flores at ronnie@studentsports.com or call (800) 660-1334 Ext. 4414; To order a copy of our new CalHiSports.com State Record Book & Almanac, please call (800) 660-1334 Ext. 4431. For games played between May 25-30; Writeups by Harold Abend, Steve Brand, Paul Muyskens, Mark Tennis, Andrew Drennen, Garland Cooper & Bob Barnett.)

NOTE: We've been compiling weekly stat stars in various sports for 30 years. The reason we have published them virtually every week of the school year since 1979 is to highlight many of the top performers around the state and to keep our exclusive state record book up to date. We've just printed our seventh edition and if you love the content on our site, you'll love the book, so order your copy today.

BASEBALL

CIFSS semis are in the books and it will be Edison of Huntington Beach going for No. 1 in baseball title game at Anaheim Stadium. The highest-ranked softball team still going after Tuesday is Norco, which is playing Corona Santiago in championship game this weekend. At least two No. 1 teams this week have already lost and both of those are in baseball. The softball races for No. 1 mythical state titles are all just about over.

Compiled by Steve Brand & Mark Tennis
Contributing: Paul Muyskens, Harold Abend

(Based on games played through Saturday, May 30)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
*Indicates season is complete.
*Asterisk after season record indicates forfeit wins, losses not included.

BASEBALL

Division I
1.  (5)  Edison (Huntington Beach) 22-5
2.  (7)  Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 24-5
3.  (6)  *Chatsworth 29-4
4.  (8)  Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo) 24-6
5.  (2)  *Norco 25-5
6.  (11) *Serra (San Mateo) 30-6
7.  (12) Poway 26-6
8.  (13) *Jesuit (Carmichael) 27-5
9.  (1)  *Yucaipa 27-3
10. (nr) Redlands East Valley (Redlands) 23-6
11. (3)  *El Toro (Lake Forest) 23-6
12. (nr) *Stockdale (Bakersfield) 26-5
13. (9)  *Clovis West (Fresno) 29-6
14. (4)  *Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 23-6
15. (10) *JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 22-7
Bubble: *Buchanan (Clovis) 23-5-1, *Cleveland (Reseda) 25-8, Clovis 24-7, Crespi (Encino) 19-11, *De La Salle (Concord) 18-9, *Elk Grove 22-7, *Freedom (Oakley)* 23-4, Huntington Beach 18-12, *Marina (Huntington Beach) 22-7, *Monte Vista (Danville) 17-8, *Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates) 25-5, Poly (Riverside) 20-10, Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) 23-10, Rancho Buena Vista (Vista) 23-9, *St. Mary's (Stockton) 25-8, *Temecula Valley (Temecula) 22-6, *Tesoro (Las Flores) 20-8, *Valley Christian (San Jose) 25-9, Vista 24-11.
Comments: When the top four teams lose, there is bound to be some serious movement. Edison of Huntington Beach benefited by moving right up to No. 1, but the Chargers will need to win out in the Southern Section's DI playoffs to hold the spot as Mater Dei of Santa Ana slid right in behind them.
In Tuesday's CIFSS semis at Blair Field, Edison and Mater Dei faced each other and the Chargers won the thriller, 2-1, when Kyle Jones smacked a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh with two outs. Sophomore Henry Owens again pitched well for Edison, which will start ace Kurt Heyer in Saturday's final at Anaheim Stadium.
Capistrano Valley won in the other Tuesday semifinal at Blair Field with a 1-0 triumph over Riverside Poly. The Cougars threw their ace, Tyler Matzek, who pitched a two-hitter and also drove in the game's only run with an RBI single in the first inning. Matzek will only be available for a handful of innings in the title game against Edison.
In the CIFSS Div. II semifinals on Tuesday, Redlands East Valley was eliminated after a 7-5 loss to Crespi of Encino. The Celts, who have been a staple in the CIFSS semis and finals in recent years, will play Huntington Beach in Saturday's championship. Both teams have been hot lately, but have been inconsistent throughout the season, which is why neither team is ranked above.
Like REV, state-ranked Poway also lost on Tuesday as the Titans ran out of magic in a 2-0 defeat to Rancho Bernardo in the San Diego Section Div. I playoffs. They must now play Rancho Bernardo again in a do-or-die playoff game on Thursday.

Division II
1.  (1) *Yuba City 27-3
2.  (2) *Clayton Valley (Concord) 24-3
3.  (3)  Beckman (Irvine) 25-4
4.  (7) *Los Gatos 27-5
5.  (4) *Alameda 22-5
6.  (nr) South Hills (Covina) 22-8
7.  (5) *Bonita (La Verne) 21-6
8.  (6) *Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 22-6
9.  (9) *Rocklin 23-8
10. (nr) Grossmont (La Mesa) 23-9
Bubble:  *Charter Oak (Covina) 17-10, *Edison (Fresno) 22-11, El Capitan (Lakeside) 18-13, *El Diamante (Visalia) 22-9, *Gahr (Cerritos) 19-9, *Granite Bay 22-11, *Irvington (Fremont) 19-7, *Paramount 19-10, *Pleasant Valley (Chico) 27-5, *Scotts Valley 23-5, Steele Canyon (Spring Valley) 23-7, *Wilcox (Santa Clara) 26-8.
Comments: Clayton Valley nailed down the No. 2 spot with its 3-0 victory over Alameda in the North Coast Section championships and now it's up to Beckman to win out to hold the No. 3 spot. The Patriots  beat Lancaster, 15-3, in their CIFSS Div. III semifinal game on Tuesday behind Edgar Zamora, who pitched five innings for the win and drove in six runs at the plate.
Beckman's opponent in its title game is tradition-rich South Hills, which counts Jason Giambi among its many baseball graduates. The Huskies won their semifinal game, 9-3, over Corona del Mar of Newport Beach.
Also on Tuesday, in the San Diego Section, Grossmont advanced to the title game with an 8-7 win over Bonita Vista of Chula Vista. The Foothillers will meet El Capitan of Lakeside in the final.

(Read full post)

The craziest two weeks of the season for the rankings begin as usual with lots of playoff upsets. That's single-elimination playoff baseball. Chatsworth's win in the L.A. City finals on Saturday, however, does lock out a number of teams from perhaps being No. 1 in the state for the season. Edison and Mater Dei, who play each other on Tuesday, start out this week in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions.

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

(After games of Saturday, May 30)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)

1. (5) Edison (Huntington Beach) 22-5
With the No. 1 through No. 4 teams from last week all losing in the CIF Southern Section playoffs, it's natural to move up the No. 5 Chargers into the No. 1 slot to start this week. Of course, they have to play No. 2 Mater Dei in the Division I semifinals on Tuesday at Blair Field and if they win would then have to earn the championship on Saturday at Anaheim Stadium. Edison won its quarterfinal game last Friday, 3-2, over Dana Hills of Dana Point. Arizona State-bound Kurt Heyer tossed three-hitter with Eric Snyder topping the offense with a pair of doubles. In its other game last week, the Chargers clubbed West Ranch of Valencia, 13-1. Sophomore Henry Owens pitched a five-hitter in that one while Chris Czernachowski led the offense with a home run and a double. The Heyer-Owens pitching combo has been outstanding all season and one more strong outing from each could result in a State Team of the Year honor.

2. (7) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 24-5
After the Monarchs took down Matt Hobgood and the previous No. 2 Norco Cougars with their 7-4 win last Friday in the CIFSS Div. I quarterfinals, we almost moved them back up to No. 1 for the third time this season. While we did hop them in front of Chatsworth, we left Edison higher since the two teams are going to face off against each other on Tuesday anyway. Coach Burt Call's team also won its earlier playoff game last week by the same 7-4 score against Tesoro of Las Flores. Aaron Northcraft pitched the game against Norco and is as good a No. 1 as you'll find. Mater Dei's offense, which was shut down in its five league losses, has been potent when it has counted the most, especially Cory Hahn, who homered against Tesoro before he hit the two off Hobgood. If Mater Dei wins the CIFSS Division I title to go along with the Anderson Bat National Classic crown it won in April, that's going to be enough as well for the team to be the 2009 State Team of the Year.

3. (6) Chatsworth 29-4
Heading into the L.A. City Section Div. I finals, the Chancellors met up with a Cleveland of Reseda team they saw three previous times. They went 2-1 against the Cavaliers, winning their meeting in early May, 4-3. This time at Dodger Stadium last Saturday, it wasn't close. Carlos Escobar Jr., led the way for the Chancellors, who busted the 9-0 game wide open in the fourth. Escobar led off the fourth with a ground rule double and in his second at bat in the inning he blasted a three-run homer. It is the third straight section title for Chatsworth and the eighth in the last 11 years. Cleveland did win the league title this year, though, so that's what costs Chatsworth in a comparison to Edison and Mater Dei if either of those two win the CIFSS Div. I title. Mater Dei didn't win its league title, either, but winning the National Classic and beating Norco and then potentially Edison and Capistrano Valley would be too much. If you are a Chatsworth fan, clearly the team to root for this week in the CIFSS Div. I playoffs is Riverside Poly. There would be no doubt about the Chancellors finishing No. 1 in the final state rankings if that were to happen.

4. (8) Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo) 24-6
The Cougars will take on Riverside Poly in the CIFSS Div. I semifinal on Tuesday at Blair Field, in Long Beach. That's because they dispatched Orange Lutheran and Marina of Huntington Beach last week. Probable top 10 MLB draft pick Tyler Matzek was lights out against the Lancers in their 4-0 second round win and the bats came alive for the Cougars, who topped Marina 11-0. Rumor has it that recently the Capo Valley lefty, in the playoffs, has hit 99 mph on the gun. Even if the Cougars win out this week, they may not jump Chatsworth in the final rankings. Having a sixth loss, compared to five for Edison and Mater Dei, is the difference there.

(Read full post)

Who will be No. 1 in baseball now? It could be back to Mater Dei after Monarchs take out Norco in CIFSS playoffs combined with Yucaipa losing to Huntington Beach. Check this post as well for details on why top pole vaulters are going to miss the CIF state track meet, learn about some amazing athletes honored on Thursday night at EA SPORTS in Redwood City and updates on Californians going for spots on the USA Basketball Under-16 Junior National Team.

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

Well, we have to admit that for spectacle purposes it sure would have been fun for the CIF Southern Section Division I baseball title game to have turned out to be a matchup between Norco and Capistrano Valley of Mission Viejo. This would have meant a probable pitching duel between two of the very best in nation in Norco's Matt Hobgood and Capo Valley's Tyler Matzek.

While Matzek's team got through its quarterfinal game on Friday with ease, Norco did not. The Cougars lost to Mater Dei of Santa Ana, 7-4, and Hobgood was victimized by two home runs by Mater Dei's Cory Hahn, including a grand slam. Even though Norco entered the game as the top-seeded team in the division and was No. 2 overall in the state, you can't call it an upset since this is the same Mater Dei team that won the championship in April of the Anderson Bat National Classic.

You can call it an upset, though, what happened to No. 1 Yucaipa. The T-Birds also lost on Friday, but in their case it was nightmarish afternoon in a 10-2 loss to Huntington Beach. The Oilers came into the game at just 18-13. Yucaipa's season ended at 27-3.

If Mater Dei (24-5), which now plays Edison of Huntington Beach (23-5) in the semifinals on Tuesday, were to combine a CIFSS Division I title with the National Classic crown it would be very difficult indeed for the Monarchs not to also be No. 1 in the state. They have been in that slot twice previously this season, but a little technicality such as not winning the Trinity League title (JSerra did instead) had dropped them down entering the playoffs.

(Read full post)

(For additions, corrections or to report a statistical standout we may have missed, email mark@studentsports.com. To inquire about a section or state record, please email Senior Editor Ronnie Flores at ronnie@studentsports.com or call (800) 660-1334 Ext. 4414; To order a copy of our new CalHiSports.com State Record Book & Almanac, please call (800) 660-1334 Ext. 4431. For games played between May 18-23; Writeups by Harold Abend, Steve Brand, Paul Muyskens, Mark Tennis, Andrew Drennen, Garland Cooper & Bob Barnett.)

NOTE: We've been compiling weekly stat stars in various sports for 30 years. The reason we have published them virtually every week of the school year since 1979 is to highlight many of the top performers around the state and to keep our exclusive state record book up to date. We've just printed our seventh edition and if you love the content on our site, you'll love the book, so order your copy today.

BASEBALL

Results from early this week included in this post, including what Matt Hobgood of Norco did in his game, how the Mitty girls fared and which No. 1-ranked baseball team was defeated.

Compiled by Steve Brand & Mark Tennis
Contributing: Paul Muyskens, Harold Abend

(Based on games played through Monday, May 25)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
*Indicates season is complete.
*Asterisk after season record indicates forfeit wins, losses not included.

BASEBALL

Division I
1.  (1)  Yucaipa 26-2
2.  (2)  Norco 24-4
3.  (3)  El Toro (Lake Forest) 22-5
4.  (6)  Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 23-5
5.  (5)  Edison (Huntington Beach) 20-5
6.  (7)  Chatsworth 27-4
7.  (8)  Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 22-5
8.  (9) Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo) 22-6
9.  (10) Clovis West (Fresno) 28-5
10. (11) JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 22-6
11. (14) Serra (San Mateo) 28-6
12. (12) Poway 24-6
13. (15) Jesuit (Carmichael) 25-5
14. (nr) Temecula Valley (Temecula) 22-5
15. (nr) St. Mary's (Stockton) 25-8
Bubble: *Buchanan (Clovis) 23-5-1, Cleveland (Reseda) 25-7, Clovis 24-7, De La Salle (Concord) 17-8, *Elk Grove 22-7, Marina (Huntington Beach) 21-6, *Monte Vista (Danville) 17-8, Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) 21-9, Redlands East Valley (Redlands) 21-6, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 24-5, Tesoro (Las Flores) 20-7, Torrey Pines (San Diego) 21-8, *Valley Christian (San Jose) 25-9.
Comments: Buchanan (Clovis) and Elk Grove took dives so Temecula Valley and surprising St. Mary's (Stockton) have jumped in. The result was lots of movement as teams jumped to fill the gap Buchanan vacated at No. 4 but very few new teams.
Two major upsets that have already taken place this week have seen two CIF Southern Section champions from a year ago eliminated from this year's Division II playoffs. El Toro is out after a 6-2 loss on Tuesday to Redlands East Valley. Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks also is gone after a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Chino Hills.
In the CIFSS Division I playoffs, Norco beat Temecula Valley, 3-1, on Tuesday as Matt Hobgood hit a walkoff two-run homer in the eighth inning. Hobgood now has 21 homers for the season to lead the state, but he also reached a reported 97 mph on his fastball in his one inning of relief and he's up to as high as No. 13 in mock first round picks for the upcoming MLB draft. Hobgood is expected to start on Friday when Norco plays Mater Dei in the semifinals.

Division II
1.  (1) *Yuba City 27-3
2.  (3) Clayton Valley (Concord) 22-3
3.  (2) Beckman (Irvine) 23-4
4.  (4) Alameda 21-4
5.  (6) Bonita (La Verne) 20-5
6.  (7) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 24-1
7.  (9) Los Gatos 25-5
8. (nr) *Rocklin 23-8
9.  (nr) *Pleasant Valley (Chico) 27-5
10.  (nr) El Diamante (Visalia) 22-8
Bubble: Charter Oak (Covina) 16-9, Edison (Fresno) 20-11, *Gahr (Cerritos) 19-9, *Granite Bay 22-11, Grossmont (La Mesa) 21-9, *Irvington (Fremont) 19-7, Paramount 19-9, *Scotts Valley 23-5, Steele Canyon (Spring Valley) 21-7, *Wilcox (Santa Clara) 26-8.
Comments: Got to love a nickname like the Honkers and they're tooting all over the place after winning the San-Joaquin Section Division III title and making it impossible for a new No. 1 next week. We went ahead and included all of the Sac-Joaquin Section finals played on Monday in this week's divisional rankings, but any games played afterward will be reflected next week. Beckman and Bonita both won on Tuesday in the CIF Southern Section playoffs and will be in quarterfinal games on Friday.
In the North Coast Section playoffs already this week, Clayton Valley and Alameda both won and will play each other on Saturday for the Division II championship. Alameda beat the Eagles, 4-1, earlier this season. Clayton Valley topped Casa Grande of Petaluma, 7-4, while Alameda defeated Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa, 10-6.

(Read full post)

And down the stretch they come in CCS and NCS baseball, softball playoffs. Highlights can be seen of many games on Sunday at 7 p.m. on Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area. Tune to YourTV, Channel 20, San Francisco. Replays during the week throughout Northern California on Comcast Sportsnet.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

Yes, the Preakness is history, and the Belmont will be run on June 6, but the horses aren't the only ones coming down the stretch, as the CIF Central Coast Section and CIF North Coast Section baseball and softball playoffs are nearing the finish line and will hit the wire this Saturday, a week before the equines race again in New York.

Also in action last week was the CalHiSports.com caravan, hopping back and forth across the Bay to catch playoff action, making stops in Santa Rosa, San Francisco and Danville.

We also caught two track meets on Saturday in Santa Rosa.

As expected, the seedings in the NCS have been pretty true to form with a handful of teams not seeded 1-4 breaking through to the semifinals in both baseball and softball

The same cannot be said for the CCS, especially in Division I baseball, where despite the seedings, four West Catholic Athletic League schools are into the semifinals.  

Baseball Top 20 Teams
(Records through May 23)

1. (1) Serra (San Mateo) 28-6
Citing a rule that said a win over McQueen of Reno on April 15 was unreported to the section and thus becomes a forfeit, the CCS docked the Padres in the Division I seeding and forced the whole pecking order out of alignment. After opening the playoffs with a mercy-shortened 11-0 victory over Homestead of Cupertino, the ruling also forced a fourth game against WCAL rival Valley Christian; and produced a third victory, 2-1, over the Warriors. USF-bound Danny Chavez, whose 90-year-old grandmother sat next to us at a game in San Mateo this season, got the win after allowing three hits and fanning nine against the two-time defending champions. With the two wins, Serra moves up to No. 11 in the state this week. Can the Padres cap it all off by getting retiring coach Pete Jensen a title? The semis are Wednesday with a fourth meeting against Bellarmine.

2. (2) De La Salle (Concord) 17-8
The Spartans also get a bump up to No. 18 in the state. They only had one game in the NCS Division I playoffs last week and took a 9-7 slugfest from EBAL rival Amador Valley. State Athlete of the Week Noah Perio continued to smack the ball around with three hits, including his sixth home run this season. Next up is another league foe California of San Ramon, with Sparta on a 10-game winning streak and facing a team it defeated 9-0 and 9-8 this season. Coach Rick Steen's charges appear to be peeking at the right time. Can they sustain the momentum?

3. (3) Clayton Valley (Concord) 22-3
A third team from the Bay Area cracked the state top 20 this week and it's Coach Bob Ralston's Eagles, who had to go eight innings but got it done against last year's 4A finalist Arroyo of San Lorenzo. The reward is they get the final spot in the state rankings. Sophomore Chaz Meadows pitched eight strong innings and had an infield single in the eighth to ignite a game-winning rally as the Eagles won 4-3. Next up is Casa Grande of Petaluma in the semis.

4. (4) Valley Christian (San Jose) 22-7
The season's over for the two-time defending CCS D1 champions but after a 2-1 loss to the No. 11 team in the state, there's no way we're dropping these boys down yet until we see if one of the three remaining WCAL teams can beat Serra to win the section title.

5. (5) St. Francis (Mountain View) 26-8
Although they too were charged with a forfeit and docked in the seedings for an unreported win over McQueen, the Lancers would seem to have benefited from the skewed draw in the CCS D1 bracket since they were able to avoid meeting a WCAL foe in the first two rounds, which were 4-2 and 9-0 victories over Gilroy and third-seeded Wilcox, respectively. Now they get to avoid Serra in the semis but must face a Mitty team they split with this season.

(Read full post)

Honkers blank Benicia, 8-0, to win third straight Sac-Joaquin Section Div. III title and also will end No. 1 in the state in their division. Catcher Max Stassi, projected to be a first-round pick in upcoming MLB Draft, goes 1-for-2 in last game. Next time he hits in front of anyone will be on June 8 at historic Fenway Park.

By Paul Muyskens, Special to CalHiSports.com

On a Memorial Day afternoon at Sacramento City College, the Yuba City High baseball team made the most of its chances to create some memories as the Honkers defeated Benicia, 8-0, to capture their third straight Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship.

With the title game win, the Honkers became the third team ever, and first in Division III, to win three straight Sac-Joaquin Section championships after defeating Benicia, 3-2, last year and Bella Vista of Fair Oaks by a 9-4 final score two years ago. Yuba City also entered the game as the No. 1 team in the CalHiSports.com Div. II state rankings. A victory in its final game therefore makes that No. 1 finish a simple wait for the final state rankings to be released in two weeks.

	Paul Muyskens
	Yuba City

(Read full post)