Wake up California!

It would be pretty hard to argue against the Delta League in Sacramento being one of the top leagues. The Delta includes Jesuit, Elk Grove, Laguna Creek, Sheldon and Folsom. A couple pretty good teams and a couple GREAT teams.

Its going to be interesting to see who ends up not only taking first in league, but also the Sac Bee's top 15 poll. Right now, Jesuit and EG are #1 & #2. My expectation is Jesuit when its all over.

I'll speak up for Orange County ... tho I am sure some would disagree with me. I think the Sunset League has always been pretty strong (before the new releaguing takes place). It includes Esperanza (gee, wonder why I like it?), Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos, Edison, Marina, and Huntington Beach. It appears as tho the Huntington Beach team may be moved to another league but that is in the future.

The league is really structured more for its football competiton, but for the most part, the other sports fit well also. Only problem is that Esperanza is the only one that is not near the beach ... they are there because of their football ... and it makes travel a bear.

Other good leagues: Century and Empire. But I am probably showing a north county bias ...

In my opinion, the top leagues in So Cal are:

(Sunset)
Huntington Beach, Marina, Esperanza, Fountain Valley, Los Al, Edison

(Century)
Villa Park, Canyon, El Dorado, Brea, Tustin, El Modena

(Empire)
Orange Lutheran, Cypress, Loara, Katella, Valencia, Kennedy

(Serra)
Mater Dei, Santa Margarita, Servite, Bishop Amat, St John Bosco

Sure would be nice to have a CA. State High School Baseball Championship wouldn't it? I wonder if I should hold my breath.

Steve ...

Glad to see that I haven't lost complete touch with OC high school baseball. I still read the OCR to see the season projections etc., even tho I only know a couple of players on the Esperanza squad. Some people just never learn, do they?

infielddad ...

I agree with you. I too would like to see a state championship. Maybe we have to break off into a South California and a North California to make that happen ... I think we are just too big to get it done while school is still in session. How many different CIF sections do we have in the state? Is it 5? I think in So Cal we have San Diego, Southern Section, and City (LA that is). May just be too hard for the people in CIF to manage ... they have enough trouble with leaguing and re-leaguing every few year.

quote:

Originally posted by infielddad:
Sure would be nice to have a CA. State High School Baseball Championship wouldn't it? I wonder if I should hold my breath.

You would likely pass out before the bureaucrats even started their arguments. LOL

As a friend of Mike Curran, head coach at Esperanza, and a product of El Dorado. I favor the OC for Baseball, but the 909, er 951 er 909 oh well 909/951 teams are growing on me. For those friends in Northern California the term used in Orange County for the Red Neck part of Southern California is "The 909"

Hot Corner Dad;

Why not a California High School Championship. After 19 years of Area code Baseball, maybe this is a new challenge.

1. One team from each County.[several county are combined]
2. Use wood bats
3. We can arrange a suitable stadium
4. Sponsors are no problem

the consultant - Bob Williams
<rwilliams@goodwillseries.org>

I didn't say it was impossible, just improbable. I like the idea myself.

I'm all for a state championship...couldn't believe they didn't have one when I moved here back in 1980. But there are logistical problems in such a big state.

Main one is that some of the current section playoffs end after some of the schools are finished. Central Coast Section (Bay Area Peninsula/South Bay) ends around Memorial Day weekend and some of the schools let out at that time. My sense is that there are families who value their vacation more than a state playoff.

How many rounds are we willing to accept? Start with 16 teams (seems reasonable), takes 4 games...2 weeks.

There are 10 sections in California.

CALIFORNIA ATHLETIC SECTIONS

Central Coast Section
Central Section
Los Angeles City Section
North Coast Section
Northern Section
Oakland Section
Sac-Joaquin Section
San Diego Section
San Francisco Section
Southern Section

Bob,
Are you starting something along the lines of what you mentioned?

Marmonte league is pretty tough year in and year out. May not be quite as strong this year as the last couple years but I think they'll still make a pretty good run at the Div I SS championship after beating each other up during the regular season. I think a few of those teams Mr. Trombly mentioned may have fallen to the wayside each of the last couple years as Marmonte League teams won the Div II SS championship. Royal, and TO are off to strong starts. Agoura, Moorpark, Simi, Newbury Park and Westlake are off to so-so starts but they're each 3-2 with one of Agoura's losses coming against defending national champ Chatsworth and one of Moorpark's losses coming against Hart who ended Chatsworth's 54 game winning streak.

"You would likely pass out before the bureaucrats even started their arguments. LOL"

HotCorner, when I first read that I thought you said I "would likely pass 'on' before..." I was blinded by the lightheadeness caused by my hyperventilating. Now that I think of it though passing out and passing on will both likely occur before this happens. BTW, TX does have state championships at all levels. Now if they can do it.....

They could start the HS season earlier...or do what they do in my former homestate Ohio...play 3-5 games/week. Many teams here only play 2.

To California baseball people:

Your interest in the high school playoffs is most respected. In 1987, we created the Area Code games in Lodi to benefit the players from all regions of the State.

With the California high school season ending mid May, except for several regional playoffs and the summer travel teams and the Connie Mack and Legion teams beginning on Memorial Day. The the Amateur draft and the College World Series taking the time of the pro scout and college coach.

The "window of opportunity" is very narrow.

The qualified teams from each district can be
selected from a three person committee, composed of the HSbaseballweb people and a pro scout [10 groups].

The window is August 10-15. The senior players are not to their college and the junior football players have not commence their "two a day drills".

After 10 August, there are only a few tournaments and "showcases". Individual high school teams can be re-organized by their coaches for a 4-5 day State Tournament with "wood" bats. The stadium is no problem.

From all the 10 teams selected only one or two players will sign professionally prior to the 10th of August.

Your opinions, please.

BOB WILLIAMS

Bob,

I wish it would happen, but I don't think it will. I think too many parents in California would value their last week or two of family vacation over a state playoff. I say this because of all my years coaching youth baseball and watching HS summer baseball, this preference has come through time and time again.

I'm not judging it, but I believe its just the way it is.

I hope someone like you can find a way though.

Tom

Justbaseball or 123kMom - you all have a double header today against UOP or just one game? Good luck!

It was one game. COLD! And rainy! But they got it done.

Saw that - no gametracker available for our series, so I watched yours . Congrats!

Going back to the strong leagues topic, I notice that Simi Valley (last place in Marmonte league for the moment) won the St. Paul tournament, Agoura was 5-0 in the Anaheim Lions tournament, Royal is playing Fountain Valley for the championship at the San Luis Obispo tournament and Moorpark is playing for fifth at the National Classic.

Looks like Future Back Mom was right on about the Sunset League with Esperanza doing well in the National Classic and Fountain Valley going up against Royal in San Luis Obispo.

Another great tournament, the West Coast Classic, is winding up at Santa Clara University as I write.

San Jose Archbishop Mitty is playing Oakland Bishop O'Dowd for the championship. Mitty has Fullterton-bound Jason Codiroli and Georgia Tech-bound Jason Haniger. O'Dowd has Cal-bound Tyson Ross. Many other good players on both teams.

For 3rd place, Monterey (Texas-bound Joey Parigi and Cal-bound Michael Bugary) played James Logan earlier.

Some other notable teams in this tournament were: St. Francis of Mountain View, St. Francis of La Canada, Vacaville, Westlake, Foothill and others.

quote:

Looks like Future Back Mom was right on about the Sunset League with Esperanza doing well

Esperanza is playing against Mater Dei (of Santa Ana) in the National Classic championship game tonight at Cal State Fullerton. EHS was ranked 1st in the county at the start of season and quickly dropped way down after losing their first 2 games. Since that 2nd loss, they have won 11 straight. I only know a couple of players on the team this year, but they are looking very good. Coach Curran was at our son's wedding and when asked how the team looked this year, he commented that they looked really good. They have some quality pitching and hitting this season and it should be fun to watch.

Follow-up ... Esperanza won the championship game last night, beating Mater Dei 2-1 in extra innings. Based on the boxscores and the news story today, it must have been a heck of a game.

Congrats to our friends at Esperanza High School in Anaheim, CA for what looks to be a great season coming up.

Royal ended up beating Fountain Valley to win the San Luis tournament. That's two tournament wins plus Agoura going 5-0 in their tournament for the Marmonte league. They probably don't have the best team in the state, though Royal might have some grounds for making a claim, but they may have more good teams in the Marmonte league than any other league (partly because there are 8 teams in the league).

How's Robert Stock doing these days? Best 12-year old player I've ever seen a few years ago.

Pitching and hitting well as a sophmore for Agoura.

Interesting day in the Marmonte League w/ 13-2 (2-2) Royal (3rd ranked in CIF SS) taking on 9-4 (3-1) Moorpark and 1st place, Westlake 9-4 (4-0) taking on Agoura, 10-4 (2-2). In both cases the teams with the poorer league records are probably the better teams but anything can and does happen in the Marmonte league.

If you want to see the best baseball in California, the valley area in So. Cal. is amazing. Crespi, Chatsworth to name a few.

Chatsworth is very strong as usual although playing in a relatively weak conference. Crespi is struggling a bit this year.

So far the Sunset league followed by the Marmonte league seem to be the two best. Between them they won 5 or 6 tournaments over the spring break.

BAck to the subject of tough leagues. Why is the Moore League ignored. Millikan, Lakewood, Wilson and Poly are all competitive teams. While it is unfortunate that none have won a Division Title lately, a Moore League team has been in the DI final game in 7 out of the last 10 years. I could be wrong but Millikan has 5 CIF DI titles, anyone, maybe Capo, have more? Sure there are weak teams in the league, but no one wants to play a Moore League Team come Playoffs

kjktj,
The 6 team Sunset league is 32 games over .500. The first 6 teams in the Marmonte league are 34 games over .500 and the league overall is 22 games over .500. The Moore league is 1 game over .500. That's why.

The one game that I know of between a Marmonte league team and a Moore league team was between Calabasas, firmly entrenched as the weakest team in the league by a long ways and Lakewood, a middling team in the Moore league. Calabasas routed Lakewood.

CADad, i think you underestimate the West Valley League. Chatsworth is strong, so is El Camino. Cleveland and Granada have also won big games. Birmingham and Taft have struggled a little.

The Marmonte League is also very strong, not too many easy games in conference.

Did you happen to see the Agoura vs Chatsworth game?

The Quality of baseball in the area is very good. lots of great games to watch each week.

cc1533,
You're probably right. Chatsworth and El Camino are both quite strong and either one is probably as good or better than any team in the Marmonte league. I don't think the other teams quite match up, but Cleveland and Granada are both decent.

No I didn't catch that one. The only one I saw was Moorpark vs Hart.

Just noticed that the latest CIF-SS coaches poll has Marmonte League teams ranked 1 and 4 in Div I.

OK... I've been busy for quite some time...and not had time to check this forum often... but weather is coming in... and I have a free hour today... So here's my two cents (or less) worth....

The Palomar league in San Deigo is one of the best and toughest around. The teams are usually well matched and typically there very seldom is an UNDEFEATED team from this league.

It has been restructured this year, but it has based in North San Diego County primarily Div 1 schools. The current TOP 2 ranked teams in SD are from this league, with another member also in the top 10 rankings....

Rancho Bernardo has been a fixture... And this season has been rated as high as #3 in the country by BB America..... It has been ranked #1 in CA for most of the season...

Then there is La Costa Canyon, who has won the SD section Div 1 the last two years and was Ranked #1 team in CA two season ago...

Poway HS is always at top school and they are playing quite well right now (leading the league)

Torrey pines has always had tough teams and last year beat the #1 SEED in the CIF tournament.

Mt Carmel typically has been tough, and has produced the likes of Eric Chavez..

Westview is the final member and is a new HS, but with a great coach... and will be an up and comer....

Last year teams like Rancho Buena Vista, and Vista, were members (but principals changed the leagues this year to minimize travel)

Here's how the CIF SS playoffs have gone so far:
Century 3-0,
Serra 3-0,
Ivy 2-1,
Marmonte 2-1,
Mtn View 1-1,
Pacific 1-2,
Sunset 1-2,
Foothill 1-2, (Note: Marmonte vs. Foothill all 3 games)
South Coast 1-2
Moore 1-2
Sierra 0-2
Affiliation unknown 0-1

Interestingly, league #1's were only 6-5 in the opening round. Since it was usually ace-on-ace in the first round that shouldn't be a surprise.

That solo win for the Sunset League in the play-offs would be none other than ... dadadada ... Esperanza !!!

Hello CA Dad, Big game today, Moore League's lone survivor of the first round vs. Royal of Simi Valley. I know we played each other a few years ago. Interesting to see how Millikan's pitching holds up, offensively they are suspect. Millikan features 3 kids with ERA's in the 1.5 range

quote:

Originally posted by FutureBack.Mom:
That solo win for the Sunset League in the play-offs would be none other than ... dadadada ... Esperanza !!!

And they meet NORCO today for the second round.

Good luck. That game is going to be good.