Ohlone takes over as new #1 in CCCSIA State Baseball Top 25 Poll
PASADENA--With the most victories currently in California with 18, Ohlone College has unseated Santa Ana as the #1 team in the CCCSIA State Top 25 Baseball Poll #3.
The NorCal's Renegades have won 16 straight games and earned nine of 16 first-place votes submitted this week. No. 2 Saddleback had the next most first-place votes with four.
Five new teams reached this week's Top 25 as Sierra, once rated as high as #4 last poll fell right off the rankings with a 0-6 start to Big 8 Conference play. Fellow Big 8 foe Folsom Lake grabbed that #4 spot, rising 21 spots in the rankings.
Here are updates on top teams in California Community College baseball, according to sports information professionals.
1 OHLONE (18-2)--As the state's hottest team, the Renegades started the Coast Conference South Division schedule with three consecutive victories, two over Mission and one over Hartnell. In the most recent coaches association ratings, they had Ohlone as the #2 squad behind San Joaquin Delta while the RPI ratings shows Ohlone at #2 behind Skyline. Jeter Ybarra had an 18-game hitting streak snapped, then went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI in a win over Hartnell. RANK JUMP: 4 SPOTS.
2 SADDLEBACK (15-5) --The Orange Empire Conference is off to a roaring start as the Bobcats are one of four teams that are 2-1 to open the OEC race. In winning 2-of-3 v. Riverside, Saddleback scored four runs in the 9th to rally for a 5-2 win in the opener and after a 15-5 loss to the Tigers, it won the series clincher, 7-5. Cole Koniarsky was 6-for-12 in the Riverside series with a grand slam and 8 RBI. The Bobcats are #1 in South RPI and #2 behind Santa Ana in the coaches regional rankings. RANK: UNCHANGED.
3 SANTA ANA (16-3-1)--The Dons stumbled a bit with two straight losses to begin OEC play v. Cypress, 11-5 and 7-6, then hammered the Chargers, 25-5, in the finale. Kyle Ashworth went 4-for-4 and rocked one of three HRs hit by SAC in the contest. RANK FALL: 2 SPOTS
4 FOLSOM LAKE (15-2-1)--The Falcons made a huge leap up in the rankings behind a current undefeated 13-0-1 streak. Folsom Lake swept its Big 8 Conference-opening series over American River. Bryce Petrilla's sixth-inning, 2-run HR lifted them to a 2-1 win in the opener and the Falcons scored one in the ninth and three runs in the 10th for a 6-3, extra-innings triumph in game #2. RANK JUMP: 21 SPOTS
5 SKYLINE (15-3)--After sweeping Canada in a 2-game series that opened Coast North Division play, the Trojans had a 5-game win streak snapped by West Valley, 3-1. Skyline got quality starts from Conor Hourigan (6 IP, 3 hits, 1 run) and Rowan Barnes (6 IP, 5-hit shutout ball) in the wins over Canada. RANK JUMP: 3 SPOTS
6 GLENDALE (14-5)--The Vaqueros swept West LA in a 3-game set that opened Western State Conference South Division play as they outscored the Wildcats, 52-10. In a 23-2 win in the opener, Alex Mills hit a first-inning grand slam to begin the onslaught. RANK: UNCHANGED
7 SAN JOAQUIN DELTA (14-5)--The Mustangs are 5-1 in the Big 8, sweeping Sierra, then taking 2-of-3 v. Modesto. Nick Strong's second HR of the game in the 11th inning helped Delta win the series finale v. Modesto, 11-8 . RANK JUMP: 4 SPOTS
8 PALOMAR (13-6)--After building its RPI with a 7-4 record against OEC teams, the Comets split both of their first 2-game sets in PCAC play against Southwestern, then San Diego City. Trailing by a run in the ninth, Devlin Lindeman hit a walk-off 2-run HR for an 8-6 win over SDCC. Then, Lindeman went big fly two more times and drove in seven RBI in a 17-1 rout over Imperial Valley. RANK JUMP: 2 SPOTS
9 ORANGE COAST (12-7)--The Pirates won 2-of-3 in their opening OEC series v. Irvine Valley. After slugging a HR and a double in a loss to IVC in the opener, Cary Arbolida hit an eight-inning sacrifice fly to give OCC a 5-4 win over the Lasers in game 2. OCC won the finale, 14-4. RANK: UNCHANGED
10 FEATHER RIVER (16-5)--The Golden Eagles have won 11 straight, including a 7-0 start to lead the Golden Valley Conference race. FRC won 2-game series over Shasta and Redwoods, but both of the Shasta victories were 1-run affairs. In an 18-3 rout over Redwoods, Jerry Thomas was 4-for-5 with a HR and a double. UNRANKED LAST POLL
11 PASADENA CITY (14-6)--The Lancers are 6-3 in the South Coast Conference (second place) and have lost the first game only to win the last two games in each of their three conference series v. Mt. San Antonio, LA Harbor and Long Beach. Max Blessinger had an impressive 12-RBI week, highlighting a 6-run, ninth-inning rally with a 3-run HR in an 8-5 win over LBCC. He was 3-for-5 with 5 RBI in a 14-5 finale win and in the opener he hit a 2-out, 2-run single in the 9th to tie the game. Long Beach won in 10 innings, 11-9. RANK JUMP: 1 SPOT
12 FRESNO CITY (13-5)--The Rams are 12-2 in their last 14 games, including a 3-game sweep over West Hills Coalinga to put them in first place in the Central Valley Conference at 5-1. Backup centerfielder Jonathan Ramirez, who entered the game in the sixth inning, hit 2 home runs that knocked in 5 RBI in a 20-5 win in the middle contest. RANK JUMP: 4 SPOTS
13 REEDLEY (14-5)--The Tigers are 5-3 to open CVC play, going 1-1 v. Porterville and were leading 17-12 in a game suspended due to darkness on Mar. 10. Koby Kropf is 17-for-37 (.459) in eight conference games with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 HR and 12 RBI. RANK JUMP: 4 SPOTS
T14 FULLERTON (14-8)--The Hornets won 2-of-3 v. Golden West to begin OEC action. In a 3-run, ninth inning rally, Miguel Ortiz hit a walk-off RBI single to win the opener, 5-4. RANK JUMP: 8 SPOTS
T14 DIABLO VALLEY (13-6)--Winners of five in a row, the Vikings swept Santa Rosa in a 3-game series. Keoni Coloma slugged a home run, a double and 4 RBI as DVC rallied from down 6-0 to win the finale, 11-10. UNRANKED LAST POLL
16. SANTA ROSA JC (10-4)--The Bear Cubs answered being swept by Diablo Valley to open Big 8 play by performing a sweep of their own over Sierra. Noah Rabin was 7-for-12 with 2 doubles, a HR and 4 RBI in the series. RANK FALL: 9 SPOTS
17 RIVERSIDE CITY (12-7)--The Tigers lost 2-of-3 v. #1 Saddleback, winning the middle game, 15-5, behind a 5-for-6 batting effort by Matthew Bardowell (2 doubles, 3 RBI). RANK FALL: 14 SPOTS
18 MT. SAN ANTONIO (13-6)--After taking 2-of-3 v. Long Beach, the Mounties are on a 3-game win streak overall with non-conference wins over Cerro Coso and Barstow. Leadoff batter Will Bermudez is 7-for-11 in the streak with 10 runs scored, a HR, a triple and 2 doubles. RANK FALL: 5 SPOTS
19 EL CAMINO (14-7)--The Warriors won five straight, including a 3-game, non-conference sweep over Santa Barbara City, then won 2-of-3 over SCC foe Rio Hondo. Ben Griffin was 6-for-12 in the series with 3 doubles and a HR. RANK JUMP: 5 SPOTS
20 MODESTO JC (14-5)--After winning 2-of-3 v. Cosumnes River, the Pirates lost 2-of-3 v. #7 SJ Delta. Carlos Vasquez went 3-for-6 with a triple and 5 RBI in a 16-10 series finale win over CRC. RANK FALL: 2 SPOTS
21 RIO HONDO (14-7)--The Roadrunners were reeling from a 3-game SCC losing streak before Daniel Ortega rocketed a key 3-run HR in taking the finale of a 3-game series v. El Camino, 16-9. RANK FALL: 1 SPOT
22 GOLDEN WEST (13-7)--The Rustlers lost 2-of-3 v. Fullerton to open OEC play, but grabbed the finale, 10-8, led by Noah Estrem's 3-run HR. RANK FALL: 7 SPOTS
23 BUTTE (15-8)--The Roadrunners are 7-1 in GVC play and currently on a 5-game win streak. They swept Redwoods, then took a 2-game set over Lassen. In the finale 4-0 win over Lassen, Logan Meyers hurled a complete-game, 3-hit shutout with no walks and 8 strikeouts. UNRANKED LAST POLL
24 EAST LOS ANGELES (11-9)--The Huskies are the surprise so far of the SCC, leading the 9-team conference at 7-2 while on a 6-game win streak. ELAC swept both Cerritos and LA Harbor in 3-game sets. In the middle game, the Huskies were down to their final out and no runners on but rallied for 3 runs to win 11-10. Michael Easter batted 7-for-13 in the series with a HR. UNRANKED LAST POLL
25 SACRAMENTO CITY (12-8)--The Panthers are 4-2 in the Big 8 race, taking 2-of-3 series against both American River and Cosumnes River. Adam Paganelli went 2-for-4 with a HR, a double and 3 RBI in an 8-7 finale win over CRC. UNRANKED LAST POLL
OTHERS: West Valley (12-8), Santa Barbara City (12-7, 21st LR), Cypress (10-9), Long Beach City (10-10, 19th LR), College of San Mateo (11-7), LA Mission (13-6), Lassen (12-7, 23rd LR), Sierra (12-9, 4th LR), Chabot (10-7), Irvine Valley (12-8, 14th LR), Grossmont (11-7), Southwestern (11-8), Cuesta (11-11).
Baseball Poll Coordinator/Release by Robert Lewis, CCCSIA Executive Board