PASADENA - The final regular season CCCSIA State Top 25 Baseball Poll #7 solidified the reward for peformance that #1 Ohlone and #2 Saddleback have achieved most of the 2022 season--and rightfully so.
The Renegades (38-2) received 12 of 16 first-place votes to be the #1-ranked team in California and enter the NorCal Regional Playoffs on an incredible 36-game winning streak. Ohlone earned the #1 seed and finished a perfect 20-0 to win the Coast Conference South Division title.
The Bobcats (32-8) grabbed the other four first-place votes and have never left that #2 spot in the rankings as they were selected South Region #1 seed. Saddleback won the Orange Empire Conference title at 17-4 and have a 13-game win streak as it goes into the postseason.
The North ended up with a slight edge over the South with 13 teams making it on to the poll. However, South teams occupy six of the top nine slots. The Big 8 Conference placed five teams and both the Orange Empire and South Coast Conference are represented by four teams on the poll. The Golden Valley scored three teams in the Top 25.
Here are updates on top teams in California Community College baseball, according to sports information professionals.
1 OHLONE (38-2)--North #1 Seed, Coast South Champions. State batting leader and 3B Jeter Ybarra made absolutely sure his team would keep the Renegades' win streak going. On April 26, Cabrillo jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning, but Ohlone snatched the lead by the third at 8-7 en route to a 15-11 win. Ybarra batted 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and 6 RBI. In the conference finale, Ybarra hit 4-for-5 with a double and 5 RBI in a 9-1 victory over the Seahawks.
*Top Hitter: Ybarra state leader .468, 4 HR, state leader RBI 63. Top Pitcher: Max Gonzales, tied for state lead in wins, 11-0, 2.97 ERA. RANK UNCHANGED.
2 SADDLEBACK (32-8)--South #1 Seed, Orange Empire Champions. The Bobcats closed the conference season on a 13-game win streak including bombing Fullerton in a 3-game sweep, outscoring the Hornets, 46-4. SS Lance Gardiner batted 9-for-13 with 2 doubles, 2 HR, and 7 RBI in the series.
Top Hitter: OF Cole Koniarsky .365, 6 HR, 57 RBI. Top Pitcher: Connor Wilford 9-2, 3.09 ERA. RANK UNCHANGED.
3 GLENDALE (34-6)--South #2 Seed, Western State South Champions. The Vaqueros had a 22-game win streak and a bid for a perfect conference season thwarted when Antelope Valley rallied for 5 runs in the bottom of the 9th for an 11-10 win on April 26. In the conference finale, Glendale needed a Brandon Nguyen HR and scored 2 runs in the 9th for a wild 18-17 victory over feisty AVC as the team finished a conference-record 20-1 in WSC play.
Top Hitter: RF Adrian Gonzalez .418, 5 HR, 40 RBI. Top Pitcher: Kenji Pallares 7-1, 3.06 ERA. RANK UNCHANGED
4 FOLSOM LAKE (32-6-1)--North #2 Seed, Big 8 Champions. The Falcons took advantage of 2 COVID-19 forfeit wins over Sacramento, then clinched the Big 8 title with an 8-4 win over Sierra in the reg. season finale. After trailing 3-0, Logan Sutter slugged a home run and a RBI double to help Folsom Lake take a 5-3 lead by the 7th.
Top Hitter: 1B JT Waldon .399, 4 HR, 47 RBI. Top Pitcher: Skylar Wells, tied for state lead in wins, 11-1, 2.05 ERA. RANK JUMP: 2 SPOTS
5 RIVERSIDE CITY (29-11)--South #3 Seed, 2nd Place, Orange Empire. The Tigers swept Cypress in their final 3-game OEC series and placed second, two games back of Saddleback. Riverside has won 10 of its last 11, including scoring 8 runs in the 12th inning of a 19-11 win over the Chargers. In that win, Tigers' RF Matthew Bardowell slugged his 2nd HR of the game, a 3-run shot in the 9th to send it into extras at 9-9. Trailing 11-9, Cypress pinch hitter Nick Mascaro launched a 2-run HR to reach the 12th. Bardowell hit a RBI single during the Riverside rally to finally seal the win. Riverside had the biggest final leap in the rankings, moving up four slots.
Top Hitter: Bardowell .448, 5 HR, 51 RBI (state leader in doubles with 19). Top Pitcher: David Butler, 7-0, 2.34 ERA. RANK JUMP: 4 SPOTS
6 SAN JOAQUIN DELTA (30-9)--North #3 Seed, 2nd Place, Big 8. Winners of their last six games, the Mustangs swept Santa Rosa in a 3-game set to place second, a game back of Folsom Lake in the Big 8.
Top Hitter: C Cole Santander .375, 5 HR, 37 RBI. Top Pitcher: Connor Semone 6-1, 2.81 ERA. RANK FALL: 1 SPOT
7 MT. SAN ANTONIO (32-8)--South #6 seed, South Coast Co-Champions. As advertised, the South Coast Conference race did come down to the final day of the season and the Mounties took a share of the title by beating El Camino, 11-4. Mt. SAC earned the SCC's top seed by virtue of having the edge over co-champ Long Beach City by winning their series earlier this year (2-to-1).
Top Hitter: LF Brent Cota .430, 1 HR, 43 RBI. Top Pitcher: Michael Flores, tied for state lead in wins, 11-1, 2.99 ERA. RANK FALL: 3 SPOTS
8 SANTA ANA (29-10-1)--South #4 seed, 3rd Place, Orange Empire. The Dons 13-8 conference record didn't deter them from receiving a high seed or remain on the state top 10. In its final series v. Orange Coast (2019 state champs, but miss the postseason this year), the Dons lost the opener 17-8, but rebounded with close 6-4 and 5-3 wins to take the series. Top Hitter: DH Christian Thompson .391, 1 HR, 39 RBI. Top Pitcher: Cedrick Perez, 7-2, 4 saves, 4.26 ERA. RANK FALL: 1 SPOT
9 PALOMAR (31-9)--South #5 seed, Pacific Coast Athletic Champions. Closing the regular season on a 13-game win streak, the Comets breezed past San Diego Mesa in a 3-game sweep, outscoring the Olympians, 29-3. In a 6-0 reg. season finale win, Ethan Sally pitched 6 no-hit innings (only batter reached base on a strikeout and wild pitch) before being lifted to start the 7th inning. RF Jack Sanders feasted on SD Mesa pitching, batting 11-for-14 with 2 doubles, a triple, a HR and 5 RBI in the series.
Top Hitter: Devlin Lindeman .365, 14 HR, 56 RBI. Top Pitcher: Logan Parker, 10-1, 2.87 ERA. RANK JUMP: 1 SPOT
10 FEATHER RIVER (32-8)--North #4 Seed, Golden Valley Champions--The Golden Eagles won the conference title by 5 games but saw a 9-game win streak snapped by Lassen, 11-7, in the final game.
Top Hitter: 1B Jerry Thomas .424, 10 HR, 41 RBI (state leader in on-base PCT .565) Top Pitcher: Bridger Holmes, 7-0, 1.75 ERA. RANK FALL: 2 SPOTS
11 SKYLINE (28-8)--North #5 Seed, Coast North Champions. The Trojans won 10 of their last 11 games to win the conference title by 2 games. Skyline swept Chabot, 10-4 and 10-2, to clinch the league crown.
Top Hitter: LF Jesse Pierce .383, 9 HR, 43 RBI. Top Pitcher: Conor Hourigan, 9-2, 2.04 ERA. RANK JUMP: 2 SPOTS
12 FRESNO CITY (30-10)--North #6 Seed, Central Valley Champions. The Rams won their last four games and clinched the CVC title by 2 games. In an 11-9 extra-innings win over Reedley, CF Korey Likens won it in the 10th with his second triple of the game.
Top Hitter: LF Dylan Lewis .338, 11 HR, 44 RBI. Top Pitcher: Noah Galvan 9-1, leads state 1.08 ERA. RANK UNCHANGED
13 EL CAMINO (28-9)--South #10 Seed, 3rd Place, South Coast. The Warriors lost 2 of 3 to Mt. SAC in their final conference series and settled for 3rd place. Five of the team's nine losses came at the bats/gloves of the two SCC champions in Mt. SAC and Long Beach (swept in the opening SCC series).
Top Hitter: LF Ben Griffin .357, 5 HR, 37 RBI. Top Pitcher: Thomas Bainton, 9-2, 2.01 ERA (leads state in inning pitched 89.2). RANK FALL: 2 SPOTS
14 LONG BEACH CITY (25-12)--South #9 Seed, South Coast Co-Champions. The Vikings won their last 13 games in SCC play (4 sweeps) to tie Mt. SAC for the conference championship. In the last game, LBCC trailed Compton 4-2, but scored 6 runs in the 8th inning for a 10-4 win and a share of the title.
Top Hitter: CF Moises Guzman .353 10 HR, 45 RBI. Top Pitcher: Matthew Pinal, 4-2, 9 saves, 3.84 ERA. RANK JUMP: 2 SPOTS
15 PASADENA CITY (27-13)--South #12 Seed, 4th Place, South Coast. The Lancers lost 2-of-3 to 7th place Cerritos in the final week and won just one of their last 6 games. Ironically, PCC won both of their series and finished 4-2 v. the two SCC co-champions Mt. SAC and Long Beach.
Top Hitter: SS Raider Tello .413, 7 HR, 51 RBI (state leader in hits with 74). Top Pitcher: Benny Olguin, 7-2, 1.91 ERA. RANK FALL: 1 SPOT
16. SANTA ROSA JC (25-14)--North #7 Seed, Tie 3rd Place, Big 8. The Bear Cubs getting swept in 3 games by Delta dropped them into a 3-way tie for 3rd in the Big 8 with Modesto and Cosumnes River, all with 13-11 conf. records.
Top Hitter: C Jack Gallaher .350, 12 HR, 43 RBI. Top Pitcher: Tyler Stasiowski, 6-4, 3.62 ERA. RANK FALL: 1 SPOT
17 MERCED (27-13)--North #9 Seed, 2nd Place, Central Valley. The Blue Devils went 10-2 over the their last 12 games and finished the reg. season with a bang, blowing out Porterville, 30-3. 2B Joichiro Oyama walked in his first at-bat and was pinch hit for in the bottom of the 5th inning. In between? He hit for the cycle--RBI single later in the 1st, tripled in the 3rd, hit a 2-run homer and later doubled in the 4th.
Top Hitter: Oyama .418, 8 HR, 44 RBI (state leader in runs 59). Top Pitcher: Kody Cardoza 8-3, 3.54 ERA. RANK UNCHANGED
18. CYPRESS (21-19)--South #11 Seed, 4th Place, Orange Empre. The Chargers limped to the finish in conference play, being swept by Riverside. Despite the most defeats of anyone on the poll, the team's 11-10 conference record didn't factor adversely in gaining a SoCal seed.
Top Hitter: Noah Karliner .310, 9 HR, 30 RBI. Top Pitcher: Logan Groff 5-0, 2 saves, 4.11 ERA. RANK UNCHANGED
19. LASSEN (27-13)--North #11 Seed, 3rd Place, Golden Valley. Despite a 3rd place finish in the GVC, the Cougars showed their worth in the final series, splitting 2 games v. champion Feather River. After losing 7-6 in 10 innings in the opener, Lassen rallied from down 7-2 for an 11-7 reg. season-ending victory.
Top Hitter: 3B Randy Stultz .357, 2 HR, 42 RBI. Top Pitcher: Connor Irvine 6-2, 1.98 ERA (97 Ks). RANK UNCHANGED
20 CUESTA (25-15)--South #7 Seed, Western State North Champions. The Cougars won their last 2 games over Oxnard, 13-3, and 11-4 over Santa Barbara City to clinch the WSC North title by 2 games over the Vaqueros.
Top Hitter: 3B Zach Tallerman .329, 8 HR, 56 RBI. Top Pitcher: Ben Broughton, 8-1, 2.62 ERA. RANK JUMP: 1 SPOT
21 BUTTE (26-14)--North #10 Seed, 2nd Place, Golden Valley. The Roadrunners took care of business with back-to-back, 6-2 wins over Siskiyous to finish a game ahead of Lassen for 2nd place in the GVC standings.
Top Hitter: C-OF Peter Andrews .324, 3 HR, 18 RBI. Top Pitcher: Logan Meyers 8-3, 3.90 ERA. RANK JUMP: 1 SPOT
22 SIERRA (24-15)--North #14 Seed, 6th Place, Big 8. The Wolverines won 6 of their last 7 and even a 6th place finish in the powerful Big 8 didn't stop them from getting into the postseason.
Top Hitter: CF Jason Harris .307, 1 HR, 29 RBI. Top Pitcher: Jaccob Torres, 7-2, 2.82 ERA. UNRANKED LAST POLL
23 MODESTO JC (24-13)--North #12 Seed, Tie 3rd Place, Big 8. Behind a 3-game sweep over American River, the Pirates joined a 3-way tie for 3rd place in the Big 8.
Top Hitter: SS Alex Gouveia .372, 36 RBI. Top Pitcher: Tyler Shafer, 7-3, 2.22 ERA. RANK UNCHANGED
24. LOS ANGELES VALLEY (26-14)--South #18 Seed, Tie 2nd Place, Western State South. The Monarchs swept West LA in the final 3-game series and in doing so snuck into the SoCal Regionals in a Play-In Round game. In the reg. season finale, LAVC survived a WLAC rally as the Wildcats scored 6 runs in the 9th but Josh Balos was brought in to relieve and struck out his only batter for the final out and a 7-6 win.
Top Hitter: OF Jackson Lapiner .317, 10 HR, 42 RBI. Top Pitcher: Danny Veloz 6-2, 2.64 ERA. RANK UNCHANGED
25 LOS MEDANOS (26-14)--North #8 Seed, Bay Valley Champions. The Mustangs finally caught the attention of voters as they won the BVC title thanks to 3b Josh Hardamon's 2-run homer in the 6th inning of a 4-2 conference-finale win over Laney. LMC edged College of Marin, who finished in 2nd place one game back.
Top Hitter: 2B Ryan Pierce .404, 10 HR, 47 RBI. Top Pitcher: Andrew Neil 8-1, 1.88 ERA. UNRANKED LAST POLL
OTHERS: College of the Desert (26-14, Inland Empire Athletic Conference Champions), Southwestern (24-16), West Valley (24-16, 20th LR), Golden West (22-18), Santa Barbara City (23-17), Cosumnes River (21-16), Fullerton (20-20), Grossmont (22-16), Orange Coast (17-23), College of Marin (24-16), College of the Sequoias (24-16), Chabot (24-14, 25th LR).
Other State Stat Leaders: College of the Canyons OF Tafton Hensley leads state in HR (15) and slugging Pct. (.806), Mt. San Jacinto 2b Phoenix Sommay state leader in triples with 12, Cosumnes River P TJ Czyz leads state in strikeouts at 111.
*--NOTE--The editor understands there are multiple good hitters and good pitchers on all teams on this poll, but selected players whose overall statistics might have stood out more than others.
Baseball Poll Coordinator/Release by Robert Lewis, CCCSIA Executive Board