
Mid-Valley Division
1. Whittier Christian (Olympic) 4-0, 2. Azusa (Montview) 3-0, 3. Arroyo (Mission Valley) 3-1, 4. San Dimas (Valle Vista) 2-2, 5. Monrovia (Rio Hondo) 1-2, 6. Village Christian (Olympic) 3-1, 7. Sierra Vista (Montview) 3-0, 8. San Marino (Rio Hondo) 2-1, 9. Covina (Valle Vista) 3-1, 10. South Pasadena (Rio Hondo) 3-0
Robledo’s thoughts: Assuming that Whittier Christian and Azusa go undefeated, and probably will, they will finish No. 1 and 2. When I look at the top five, I’m looking at teams that could run the table in league, meaning there might not be much change for several weeks. The problem here is that strength of schedule means squat, obviously going unbeaten, regardless of who you face, matters most.
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
1. West Covina (Hacienda) 3-1, 2. Burbank (Pacific) 2-1, 3. Bonita (Hacienda) 4-0, 4. Rowland (Hacienda) 3-1, 5. Norwalk (Suburban) 2-2, 6. La Serna (Del Rio) 3-1, 7. Muir (Pacific) 1-2 , 8. Diamond Bar (Hacienda) 4-0, 9. Diamond Ranch (Hacienda) 1-3, 10. Santa Fe (Del Rio) 1-2
Robledo’s thoughts: The pollsters are listening to us, the Bulldogs exactly where they belong. Bonita should be No. 2, but give it up to the Hacienda, five teams in the top ten, including 1-3 Diamond Ranch, the biggest surprise of all. Here’s what I don’t get, strength of schedule obviously matters here, but not in the Mid-Valley? What gives.
PAC-5 DIVISION
1. Mission Viejo (South Coast) 4-0, 2. Servite (Trinity) 4-0 , 3. Lakewood (Moore) 4-0, 4. Bishop Amat (Serra) 4-0, 5. Newport Harbor (Sunset) 3-0, 6. Alemany (Serra) 4-0 , 7. Edison (Sunset) 3-1, 8. Los Alamitos (Sunset) 3-1, 9. Santa Margarita (Trinity) 3-1, 10. Long Beach Poly (Moore) 2-2
Robledo’s thoughts: I don’t know if Bishop Amat is this good, or should be ranked this high, but I do know they’re getting better, and when you add Brock Booth and Wallace Gonzalez to the arsenal, I wouldn’t be surprised with Cathedral and Venice next, they don’t get to No. 2 or 3 after what should be a 6-0 start.
INLAND DIVISION
1. Vista Murrieta (Southwestern) 3-0, 2. Centennial/Corona (Big VIII) 3-0, 3. Norco (Big VIII) 3-0, 4. Redlands East Valley (Citrus Belt) 3-0, 5. Chino Hills (Sierra) 3-1, 6. Rancho Cucamonga (Baseline) 4-0, 7. Upland (Baseline) 3-1, 8. Redlands (Citrus Belt) 3-0-1, 9. Roosevelt (Big VIII) 3-0. 10. Ayala (Sierra) 4-0
Robledo’s thoughts: The Sierra League or Baseline hasn’t started, yet there is no Charter Oak, Glendora, South Hills or Damien. Again, strength of schedule no consideration, look at Ayala, who has beaten four nobody’s compared to Glendora, who has a 3-1 schedule and has played nothing but solid competition. I blame myself, because I had Ayala No. 5 with Glendora No. 6 in our poll, which in hindsight, I should have reserved. I’ll take one for the team on this.