MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school baseball rankings

Video: Preseason Top 10 - No. 3 JSerra
See a photo slideshow of the JSerra Lions

Ten teams from Southern California own spots in the Xcellent 50 thus far this season, showing that SoCal may well be the best part of the nation when it comes to high school baseball (Florida has a good claim, too).

The Boras Classic this week - weather permitting - will feature loads of matchups between some of these ranked teams. And that, combined with the eventual unveiling of the MaxPreps Computer Rankings, will cause some major shuffling.


1. San Clemente, 14-1
Classification: Southern 2

The Tritons won the National High School Invitational earlier this season and are ranked seventh in the most recent Xcellent 50. They suffered their only loss of the season last week against Mission Viejo and the Los Angeles Times bumped them to second. For now, we think they're No. 1. There are no games on the schedule for them this week.

2. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 9-1
Classification: Southern 1

The Lions have taken a break since their successful NHSI trip, one that featured a 3-1 record. They will play in the Boras Classic this week, which kicks off Tuesday with a game against Granite Hills (El Cajon). It's yet another top-notch tourney for the team ranked ninth in the Xcellent 50.

3. Dana Hills (Dana Point), 16-2
Classification: Southern 1

The Dolphins are 30th in the Xcellent 50 and that includes a win over Vista Murrieta. They also almost took down San Clemente but fell in extra innings.

4. Buchanan (Clovis), 17-3
Classification: Central 1

The Bears don't have a game scheduled again until the 14th. They've kept their schedule mostly local (a few Sacramento teams mixed in) and have had plenty of success, currently ranked 41st in the Xcellent 50. The only thing holding them down a bit is that one league loss to Clovis North has relegated them to second place as of now.

5. San Dimas, 14-0
Classification: Southern 3

The Saints are ranked third by the Los Angeles Times and have maintained their perfect record through 14 games. Seven of those wins are by shutout, too. San Dimas will face Southlands Christian in the Don Lugo tournament that begins Tuesday.

6. Alemany (Mission Hills), 11-2
Classification: Southern 1

The Warriors jumped into the Xcellent 50 in the 49th spot. They're in the Boras Classic as well, and they'll battle Palm Desert on Wednesday. They're 4-0 in the Mission League, standing atop the list there.

7. Edison (Huntington Beach), 14-2
Classification: Southern 1

The Chargers are ranked 31st in the Xcellent 50 and one of their losses was to San Clemente. They own a win over Huntington Beach but their most recent contest was a loss to Los Alamitos. Their schedule is empty until the 24th.

8. Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo), 11-5
Classification: Southern 1

The Wolverines have not lived up to their preseason Top 10 national ranking, and are ranked 24th in the Xcellent 50. That said, there's still lots of talent there. They will face Vista Murrieta Tuesday to start the Boras Classic - South.

9. La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 13-2
Classification: San Diego 1

The Mavericks, 43rd in the Xcellent 50, are the top squad in the San Diego area. They rebounded from a loss to Chaparral with a 4-2 win over Rancho Bernardo. A tournament game is scheduled for Wednesday against Escondido.

10. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 13-2
Classification: Southern 1

The Wolverines won all five of their games at the Perfect Game Spring Swing Tournament in Georgia most recently, so they're on a roll. Simi Valley is on the schedule for Saturday as part of Harvard-Westlake's tournament.

11. Huntington Beach, 7-6
Classification: Southern 1

The Oilers' record isn't a good barometer of their talent. Two losses each to Aliso Niguel and JSerra, plus one each to Edison and San Clemente equal up to the six setbacks. They are scheduled to start the Boras Classic against Birmingham (Lake Balboa). They're 25th in the Xcellent 50.

12. Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 10-3
Classification: San Diego 1

The Broncos have had trouble with La Costa Canyon this season, with two of their three losses coming to the Mavericks. Ramona and some TBA contests at the North County Tournament await.

13. St. Augustine (San Diego), 11-3
Classification: San Diego 1

Two losses in a row have hampered the Saints in the rankings. But they did come after an eight-game winning streak. La Jolla and Mira Mesa are on the schedule this coming week.

14. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 9-3
Classification: Southern 1

The Broncos are scheduled to begin the Boras Classic Tuesday against Aliso Niguel. They have won six of their last seven and are ranked second in the area by the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

15. Corona, 9-3
Classification: Southern 1

The Panthers are also in the Boras Classic, starting off with Mater Dei. They are ranked ahead of Vista Murrieta in the PE rankings but trail in the Los Angeles Times' list.

16. Chatsworth, 12-5
Classification: Los Angeles City 1

The Chancellors went 3-2 at the Durango Tournament in Las Vegas and now they are scheduled to do battle in the Boras Classic. Play begins Tuesday.

17. Centennial (Bakersfield), 14-4
Classification: Central 1

The Golden Hawks were in the Xcellent 50 last week but dropped out. Still, it's a solid squad in Bakersfield despite three consecutive losses at the Durango Tournament in Las Vegas, one of which came to Chatsworth. They lead the Southwest Yosemite League by two games.

18. Agoura, 12-2
Classification: Southern 1

The Chargers have won four in a row and lead the Marmonte League by two games. They beat JW North in the Anderson Bats National Classic and continue play there against Santa Margarita on Tuesday.

19. El Dorado (Placentia), 11-4
Classification: Southern 1

The Crestview League leaders face JW North Tuesday in the Anderson Bats National Classic.

20. Mission Viejo, 10-5
Classification: Southern 2

The Diablos saw their six-game winning streak snapped by El Modena in the Ryan Lemmon Invitational. But they were the first team this season to beat San Clemente. They have Millikan and a doubleheader with Beaumont on the schedule.

21. Bonita (La Verne), 11-4
Classification: Southern 2

Three of the Bearcats' losses have come at the hands of San Dimas. They had a seven-game win streak snapped by San Dimas last week, and this week will face Glendora and South Hills.

22. Valencia, 11-4
Classification: Southern 1

The Vikings own a doubleheader loss to Dana Hills but have otherwise been solid up in the Santa Clarita Valley. Their schedule says they have this week off.

23. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 11-4
Classification: Southern 1

The Knights own splits with both Harvard-Westlake and Chatsworth thus far. But life in the Mission League is brutal with Alemany and Harvard-Westlake up top. They have St. Paul and La Mirada this week.

24. Santiago (Corona), 12-2-1
Classification: Southern 1

The Sharks have Norco and Roosevelt on the schedule this week. They started the season 7-0.

25. Chaparral (Temecula), 8-6
Classification: Southern 1

It's a little bit of a stretch having the Pumas in the rankings. Their losses aren't good ones but they have loads of good wins. In their current five-game winning streak they have defeated three ranked teams (Rancho Bernardo, St. Augustine and La Costa Canyon) plus they won over Vista Murrieta earlier this year.