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.

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A 35-1 week pushes Yucaipa to No. 1 for the second time this season. Norco moves up to No. 2 and also earns top seed for CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. Buchanan of Clovis is up to No. 4 while Huntington Beach Edison charges up to No. 6.

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

(After games of Saturday, May 16)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)

1. (2) Yucaipa 25-2
After a week in which four of last week's top five teams took losses (some of which admittedly were in meaningless games), it is the T-Birds going up to snag he No. 1 ranking. It is the second time this year that Yucaipa has been No. 1 in the state and comes after a week in which they crushed Fontana, 12-1, and Eisenhower of Rialto, 23-0, to wrap up the Citrus Belt League title. Taijuan Walker got the offense rolling against the Steelers by going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. In the matchup vs. the Eagles, All-American candidate Matt Davidson cranked out a pair of homers while pitcher Pedro Cota tossed zeroes and improved to 10-0 for the season. Yucaipa took the No. 2 seed in the CIF Southern Section Div. II playoffs and will play either Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta or Righetti of Santa Maria in its first playoff game. While the team's strong finish wasn't enough to wrest the No. 1 seed from El Toro (last week's No. 1 team in the state), the L.A. Times did move up Yucaipa to No. 1 in its rankings as well.

2. (6) Norco 23-4
Two weeks ago the Cougars weren't even in the Top 10. But this week it's another significant move for Gary Parcell's nine after they dusted off M.L. King 8-0 and Centennial (Corona) 8-2 to enter the Southern Section playoffs on a 13-game roll. One week after David Jones hurled a no-hitter, Wes Hatton did the same to MLK, striking out five and walking just one. Add in Matt Hobgood and there are few pitching staffs in the state – maybe none – as good as Norco's, which has a gaudy 1.70 team ERA. Hatton got all the support he needed when Hobgood powered out a home run. Jones came back to beat Centennial and while he wasn't perfect, the Cougars collected another nine runs with Joseph Lavalle and Jake Clark sending the ball over the fence and out of the park. If the Cougars were trying to show they're peaking at the right time, outscoring their final two opponents in the regular season 17-2 sent a very clear message. Norco's strong showing of late, plus the fact the team was a semifinalist last year, no doubt contributed to the team earning the No. 1 seed for the CIF Southern Section Div. I playoffs. The Cougars open against the winner of the Moorpark-Brea Olinda game at home on Friday.

3. (1) El Toro (Lake Forest) 21-5
The Chargers split their final two games of the year against Foothill of Santa Ana. With the split, the Chargers ended up with a 13-2 league record, which was good enough for the Sea View League crown. Because of its loss, El Toro dropped two spots in this week's rankings but still was handed the No. 1 seed for the CIF Southern Section Div. II playoffs. As the defending champion of those playoffs, getting the No. 1 seed is certainly justified. It's also justified to move up Yucaipa in the state rankings as well. The Chargers will play host to the winner of the Rancho Cucomonga vs. Valley View wild card game on Thursday.

4. (8) Buchanan (Clovis) 23-4-1
This is the same spot in the rankings last week that was occupied by Clovis West. This week, the Bears move up and take it after a pair of wins against Central of Fresno while Clovis West went 1-2. Buchanan also has a 2-1 record against the Golden Eagles and on Sunday was selected to be the No. 1 seed for the CIF Central Section playoffs. In the team's regular season finale, a 14-4 victory over Central of Fresno was paced by the long ball with six different Bears who connected for round-trippers. According to the Fresno Bee, ripping home runs were Bryce Berger, Brett Bishop, Brent Etiz, Matt Millar and Chris Rodgers. Buchanan will be seeded No. 1 for the CIF Central Section Div. I playoffs and because of that has a first-round bye.

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