Conference races tighten, causes movement in CCCSIA State Top 25 Baseball Poll #5
PASADENA - With the season approaching the final weeks, many conference races are shaping up to be ones that may not be decided until the last regular season games as the CCCSIA State Top 25 Baseball Poll #5 reflects that closeness.
Eight of the 12 conferences' current first-place teams lead by as little as two games. Four of those are separated by one game and two--the South Coast and Pacific Coast Athletic Conferences--are tied going into today's play.
Ohlone is on a remarkable winning streak of 28 games and pulled in 12 of 15 first-place votes as it continues to be the King of the rankings at #1. The Renegades have the most victories in the state with 30 and lead the Coast South by four games over second-place Cabrillo.
At #2, Saddleback is the new South Region poll leader and holds a one game lead over #11 Riverside City in the Orange Empire race. Glendale comes in at #3 and is running away in front of the Western State South, six games ahead in the standings. The #4-rated San Joaquin Delta Mustangs have a one game lead over #9 Folsom Lake in the Big 8.
Five teams who were unranked in poll #4 made it on this week, led by #18 Long Beach City.
Here are updates on top teams in California Community College baseball, according to sports information professionals.
1 OHLONE (30-2)--The Renegades keep plugging along, losing is not an option. In a 2-game series sweep over Mission, Ohlone had its hands full in the finale. Mission scored 5 runs in the top of the ninth to tie it 5-5, but Mykanthony Valdez singled and an error brought in the walk-off run for the team's 28th consecutive victory, 6-5. First baseman Jaden Sheppard is 7-for-13 with 2 doubles, a home run and 5 RBI in the last three wins. Max Gonzales is 9-0 (2.39 ERA) this season and is tied for the state lead in pitching wins. RANK UNCHANGED.
2 SADDLEBACK (24-8)--The Bobcats have won 5 in a row, taking 2-of-3 v. #5 Santa Ana, then sweeping Irvine Valley in a 3-game series. Saddelback's pitching limited the Lasers to just 4 runs over the final 22 innings of the series with Dylan Singh firing 6.1 innings of 5-hit ball (one unearned run) in a 5-1 win, then Ryan Farmer hurling a 7-inning, 5-hitter (one earned run) in a 7-2 finale victory.
3 GLENDALE (26-5)--The Vaqueros ripped off 16 wins in a row, including five straight 3-0 series sweeps to up their WSC South-leading record at 15-0. In a sweep over Canyons, Glendale fell behind 13-12 after 7 innings, but rallied for 4 in the 8th and 5 more in the 9th for a 21-13 slugfest triumph. Glendale hit 4 home runs in the contest highlighted by Alex Mills tying solo dinger and a 3-run blast by C Isaiah Velazco (2-for-2, 5 RBI) in the 8th. In the last six games alone, RF Adrian Gonzalez is 16-for-28 (.571) with 4 doubles, a triple, a home run and 10 RBI. RANK JUMP: 2 SPOTS
4 SAN JOAQUIN DELTA (23-7)--The Mustangs won a huge series over Folsom Lake, taking 2-of-3 (March 29-April 1) that propelled them into a 1-game lead in the Big 8 race. If ever a relief pitcher had as much influence over a team's performance it's Nate Morris as the team is 11-0 in his last 11 appearances. Morris twirled 3 innings of no-hit relief for his 5th save in a 6-3 series finale win over Folsom Lake. In a 3-2, 10-inning non-conference victory over #10 Feather River, he picked up his 4th win in pitching the final 2 innings as Nicolas Regino hit a walk-off RBI double. RANK JUMP: 2 SPOTS
5 SANTA ANA (24-7-1)--The Dons are 2 games behind Saddleback, but hit the trifecta with an amazing all-shutout sweep over Fullerton as the SAC staff pitched three straight 3-hitters to win 12-0, 11-0, and 12-0. Chase Hennessey (7 IP, 2 hits), Brady Ashworth (8 IP, 3 hits), and Cedrick Perez (6 IP, 2 hits) were the victorious starters. SS Brock Denbo went 6-for-10 in the series with 6 runs, a HR and 4 RBIs. RANK FALL: 3 SPOTS
6 FRESNO CITY (24-6)--The Rams saw a 14-game winning streak snapped by Sequoias, 13-3, in a series finale after beating the Giants, 12-3 and 8-4 in the opening 2 games. FCC's lead in the Central Valley Conference is at 3.5 games. LF Korey Likens batted 7-for-13 in the series with 3 doubles and drove in 5 RBI in the opener. RANK JUMP: 4 SPOTS
7 PASADENA CITY (25-8)--The Lancers had a 10-game win streak stopped by #23 Los Angeles Valley, 17-5, on Monday. PCC swept both Compton and Rio Hondo in 3-game series to keep a share of first place in the South Coast at 14-4. CF Max Blessinger was honored with the CCCSIA State Athlete of the Month for March, story at link: State March AOTM Release SS Raider Tello is on yet another hitting tear, 11-for-19, a HR, 5 doubles and 9 RBI in the last 5 games. He leads the state in batting (.450), in hits (67), tied in doubles with 17, and is second in RBI with 46. RANK JUMP: 1 SPOT
8 MT. SAN ANTONIO (24-7)--The Mounties had an 11-game win streak end in a loss to LA Harbor, 11-6, after the Mounties won that series thanks to 15-7 and 9-7 wins. Mt. SAC stayed cleat for cleat with Pasadena at the top of the SCC standings by then sweeping East Los Angeles. SS Elijah Pelayo was 6-for-13 with 2 doubles and 5 RBI in the series that was opened by Michael Flores pitching a complete-game, 6-hitter for a 3-2 victory. A southpaw, Flores is tied for the state lead in wins at 9-1 and holds a 2.78 ERA. RANK JUMP: 1 SPOT
9 FOLSOM LAKE (23-6-1)--The Falcons are a game back of SJ Delta in the Big 8 after taking 2-of-3 v. Modesto. In the team's last 8 games, 3B Logan Sutter is 12-for-32, 3 home runs, 3 doubles, and 14 RBI. Skylar Wells is 8-1 with a 2.03 ERA overall and allowed 4 hits in 5 IP with 7 Ks in a 10-3 win over Modesto in the series finale. RANK FALL: 6 SPOTS
10 FEATHER RIVER (26-7)--The Golden Eagles have a 2-game lead in the Golden Valley standings at 17-1 and have won 10 of their last 11 games. FRC swept Shasta in a 3-game set. In the opener on April 8, Feather River needed an unearned run in the ninth to tie it and used Jerry Thomas walk-off RBI single for a 10-9 win in 10 innings. In a doubleheader the next day, Thomas hit 2-for-2 with a double, a home run and 4 RBI in a 12-0 win. Then in the second game, DH Ryan Blanchard capped a 7-for-12 series with 3 triples, 6 runs and 5 RBI by going 3-for-4 in a 20-7 rout over the Knights. RANK JUMP: 2 SPOTS
11 RIVERSIDE CITY (21-10)--The Tigers have won 9 of their last 11 games and trail Saddleback by just one game in the OEC race. Riverside won 2-of-3 v. Golden West. After the Rustlers blanked Riverside in the opener, 5-0, on a 3-hitter by Jason Blood, the Tigers stormed back as CF Julian Alvarez went 3-for-3 with a double and 4 RBI to beat GW, 10-1. In the finale, 3b Ignacio Alvarez broke a 3-3 tie with a 7th-inning, 2-run homer as Riverside hung on for a 5-4 victory. RANK FALL: 1 SPOT
12 PALOMAR (22-9)--The Comets recovered from a 3-game losing streak to win 4 straight and pull into a tie with #22 Grossmont for the PCAC lead, both with 12-4 records. Palomar played three close games in sweeping San Diego City. After winning the opener, 3-2, on an eighth inning sac fly by 2b Bryson Hashimoto, LF Quincy Scott went 3-for-5 with a triple in a 9-7, game 2 victory. In the finale, SDCC rallied from down 9-4 to take a 10-9 lead on an 8th-inning solo home run by Vito Fowler. Palomar responded with a GW RBI single in the bottom of the frame by CF Ethan Ellis to edge the Knights, 11-10. Earlier in the contest, state home runs (12) and RBI leader (48) C Devlin Lindeman slugged a grand slam. RANK FALL: 5 SPOTS
13 EL CAMINO (25-8)--The Warriors are keeping pace with leaders PCC and Mt. SAC by winning 9 in a row. The Warriors swept both East Los Angeles and Compton in their two most recent 3-game series. 2b Daniel Murillo had a banner 6-for-7 day in a 20-2 series-opening win over Compton on April 5. SS Julio Camerana went 9-for-14 and drove in 5 RBI in the Compton sweep. RANK JUMP: 3 SPOTS
14 SKYLINE (23-7)--The Trojans moved to just one game behind #19 West Valley in the Coast North standings, sweeping a 2-game set v. Canada. 1b Michael Sarhatt batted 3-for-6 with 2 doubles, a homer and 6 RBI in a 12-4 win in the Canada finale. Sarhatt had opened the series by going 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and 3 RBI in helping Skyline to an 8-3 victory. RANK FALL: 1 SPOT
15 BUTTE (23-10)--The Roadrunners have won 7 in a row and are 2 games behind Feather River in the GVC standings. 1b Austin York feasted on Redwoods pitching in two lopsided victories, 24-12 and 19-4. York went 8-for-14 with 2 doubles, a home run and 6 RBI over the two games. RANK JUMP: 5 SPOTS
16. SANTA ROSA JC (20-9)--The Bear Cubs bolted out of a slump to win 7 straight and climb three places into 3rd place in the Big 8. SRJC swept Sacramento City in a 3-game set as C Jack Gallagher put on a power show. Over the last two games, Gallagher went 4-for-10 slugging 3 home runs and 9 RBI. RANK JUMP: 8 SPOTS
17 MERCED (20-11)--The Blue Devils are settled in 2nd place in the CVC and responded to being swept by 1st place Fresno by performing a 3-game sweep over Porterville. Max Ramirez was 6-for-12 with a double, HR and 5 RBI in the series while pitching a 5-inning, 4-hitter in a 20-3 final win. C Gerald Nix batted 6-for-9 with 5 RBI in two of the victories. RANK JUMP: 2 SPOTS
18 LONG BEACH CITY (20-11)--There is no fierce race than what is occuring in the hotly-contested South Coast. The Vikings are tied with El Camino for third place just a game behind the two SCC leaders in Pasadena and Mt. San Antonio. LBCC has kept pace by winning 7 in a row and 11 of its last 12 games. Long Beach swept Cerritos and LA Harbor in 3-game sets. SS Alex Seguine hit 3-for-6 with 2 doubles, a HR and 5 RBI in the 17-5 series finale win over the Seahawks. LF-DH Bryan Sanders also exhausted Harbor pitching by going 8-for-11 with 2 doubles, a HR, and 4 RBI in the 3 contests. UNRANKED LAST POLL
19 WEST VALLEY (17-9)--After starting April in a shocking loss to 6-26 De Anza, 10-9 in 12 innings, then an 8-3 loss to conference foe San Mateo, the Vikings continued to remain in 1st place in the Coast North with a 2-game sweep over last-place CC San Francisco. In an 11-5 finale win, DH Cole Murchinson collected his third straight 3-hit game. RANK FALL: 1 SPOT
20 MODESTO JC (20-11)--The Pirates are in a 4-6 funk that has dropped them to 5th place in the Big 8. Tyler Shafer pitched 8.1 innings of 5-hit ball to beat Folsom Lake, 2-1, on April 7. Modesto's offense has been limited to just 13 runs in the past 5 games as it lost 4 of those contests. RANK FALL: 5 SPOTS
21. CYPRESS (17-14)--The Chargers won 2-of-3 v. fading Orange Coast and remain in the hunt in the OEC race just 2 games back of 1st place Saddleback. C Mario Tostado was 6-for-8 with 4 doubles in the opening 2 games, then LF Peter Werth went 3-for-5, slugging a HR and 3 ribbies in an 8-2 finale win over OCC. RANK JUMP: 4 SPOTS
22. GROSSMONT (19-10)--A team that has flown under the radar this year, the Griffins are tied with Palomar for 1st place in the PCAC. Grossmont has won 7 of its last 8, including an exciting 3-game sweep over San Diego Mesa. Trailing 8-6 in the bottom of the 8th, Grossmont scored 4 runs, including a HR by RF Noah Lane, to win the opener, 10-8. In game 2, Mesa scored 3 runs in the 9th, but the Griffins hung on for a 6-5 win. In the finale, Grossmont rallied for 4 runs in the 8th as 1b Zavien Watson bombed a 3-run HR for an 8-7 victory. UNRANKED LAST POLL
23. LOS ANGELES VALLEY (21-11)--Another new member of the top 25, the Monarchs put a stop to Pasadena's 10-game win streak, 17-5. The second-place team in the Western State South, LAVC has won 6 consecutive, including a 3-game sweep over Antelope Valley. Jackson Lapiner, a DH-P, is red-hot going 7-for-10 with 8 runs, a double, 2 HRs and 8 RBI in the last three games and SS Maddox Latta is 7-for-13, 8 runs, a double, triple, 2 HR and and 6 RBI in those past 3 wins. UNRANKED LAST POLL
24 FULLERTON (19-15)--At one time right in the thick of the Orange Empire race, the Hornets have hit rough times, losing 5 straight in an offensive nosedive. Fullerton mustered just 24 hits and 4 runs in the drought and haven't scored a run in their last 31 innings played. On April 2, Jon Sarmiento and Joe Linehan combined for a 2-hitter v. Riverside, only to lose the game, 2-1 with both Tigers runs unearned. RANK FALL: 10 SPOTS
T25 SOUTHWESTERN (19-12)--The Jaguars join the poll for the first time as the third place team, 2 games behind Palomar/Grossmont in the PCAC standings. SWC made noise by taking 2-of-3 from Palomar, and has a 4-game winning streak, including a 3-game sweep over Imperial Valley. Highlighting the win streak is SS Xavier Gonzalez, who is 9-for-18, 3 doubles, a HR, and 6 RBI during the stretch. UNRANKED LAST POLL
T25 CUESTA (17-12)--The Cougars are the Western State North leader at 13-3, 2 games ahead of Santa Barbara City. Cuesta had a 9-game win streak snapped by SBCC, 7-5, in 11 innings on April 5. Cuesta's pitching was superb during the win streak with two shutouts and four games where the staff allowed just 1 run. Ben Broughton is 5-1 this season on the hill, including a no-hitter v. Moorpark and a CG 1-hitter v. Sequoias. 3b Zach Tallerman, who had a 3-for-5, 2-homer, 5 RBI game in a 13-1 win over Oxnard, is 11-for-his-last-22 with 6 extra-base hits and 11 RBI over the last 5 games. UNRANKED LAST POLL
OTHERS: College of San Mateo (17-13-1, 21st LR), Lassen (21-11), Sacramento City (16-14, 22nd LR), Orange Coast (15-17, 17 LR), Golden West (18-14), Los Medanos (19-12, Bay Valley Conference leader), College of the Desert (20-12), College of the Sequoias (19-13), Sierra (18-12), Reedley (18-13), Santa Barbara City (18-11), Ventura (17-14), East Los Angeles (15-17, 23rd LR), San Bernardino Valley (15-16, Inland Empire Athletic Conf. leader).
Baseball Poll Coordinator/Release by Robert Lewis, CCCSIA Executive Board