Tribune Baseball Rankings
1. Bishop Amat (17-2) — We still have a week to wait for the South Hills game at Mt. SAC, otherwise, they just keep pounding on teams in the Del Rey League. Other than St. Paul, they don’t get tested. Then again, how many tests do you need with the tournaments and nonleague games they have taken on. Kudos to Nieto for taking on the best of the best.
2. Glendora (15-1-1) — I’m convinced that the Tartans are the second best team in the Valley after watching a couple wins against Diamond Bar last week. There’s no weakness, great pitching, hitting and defense. I won’t be surprised at all if they sweep Damien this week too.
3. South Hills (11-3) — What I learned about the Huskies in the National Classic is that their pitching is deeper than I thought, and they’re a tough bunch of kids, battling back from an 0-2 start to win two straight. Mentally, that’s going to help them a lot the rest of the way.
4. Bonita (13-2-1) — When you think of coaches of the year, certainly Glendora’s Dan Henley and Bishop Amat’s Andy Nieto come to mind, but what about the job John Knott is doing? If anything, the Bearcats are the biggest surprise by far, and their coach is a big reason for it after an impressive sweep over Charter Oak last week.
5. Damien (12-4) — This team has a lot of toughness, beating Chino Hills twice to get back in the Sierra League title hunt. They have their chance to take over first with back-to-back games against Glendora, but will they be able to swing the bat against the Tartans like they did the Huskies? I don’t think so, but I wanna see if they can.
6. Northview (11-4-2) — Quietly and efficiently, the Vikings continue to win, and like Knott, coach Darren Murphy is doing a great job after graduating so many talented players. Catcher Arman Valenzuela is swinging the bat well, and they’re guaranteed a win every week when Pedroza is pitching.
7. Diamond Bar (10-7) — One of the best teams in the Valley with Mathews, a very ordinary team when he’s not pitching, that’s what I learned about the Brahmas last week. I’ll tell you what, if they sneak into the playoffs, I wouldn’t want to be the league champion who gets them in the first round.
8. Los Altos (13-5) – The Conqs have a slim chance of getting back in the Miramonte title hunt, but they will need a sweep over Bonita, which isn’y likely. Still, they have an impressive overall record and are dangerous.
9. Charter Oak (9-8) — That Northview tourney title seems so long ago after getting swept by Bonita to fall three games out of first place. The Chargers have been on a roller-coaster ride of streaks, so can’t wait to see what’s next.
10. Sierra Vista (11-4) — They’re coming on strong and senior pitcher Christian Huerta leads the way, batting over .500 with a 6-1 record on the hill. It will come down to Sierra Vista and La Puente at the end of the season, but can both stay undefeated in league until then?