1. Bishop Amat ( 9-2) – You know what I find most surprising? This great offensive team on paper is batting just .280 overall, while the supposed weakness, its pitching staff, has a team ERA of 1.59. Talk about flipping the script, coach Andy Nieto deserves a lot of credit for this.
2. Glendora (8-3-1) — I thought coach Dan Henley did a masterful job last year, but he’s been more impressive this year. Not many teams could reload like they have after losing so much.
3. Bonita (10-3) — I wouldn’t put too much stock in their 10-0 loss to Glendora on a Monday morning in a tournament game. But I did expect more out of them, simply because Glendora was on the other side.
4. South Hills (7-3) — Juniors C.J. Saylor and Ty France can pitch, catch and hit with the best of them. It reminds me of watching two kids dominate their Little League team, only they’re doing it in high school.
5. Chino Hills (9-3) — They were cruising until Charter Oak beat them 2-0. This must be some senior class, Chino Hills has been near the top of just about every boys sport, baseball no different.
6. Covina (10-4) — Have seen them a couple times and love how they compete. They’re playing themselves into a swagger that’s growing with each win. No way they don’t win the Valle Vista League.
7. Diamond Bar (8-6) – I still say the best is yet to come, they’re 4-1 in league but more impressively have scored 70 runs in their last five games after losing 2-1 to Bonita.
8. Damien (6-7) — How do you rank a team with a sub. 500 record? Answer: When they’re 4-1 and tied for first in the ridiculously tough Sierra League.
9. Charter Oak (6-6) — The most troubling stat is they have allowed more runs (59) than they have scored (56). They need ace Travis Santiago on the hill, but he hasn’t pitched all season, the Chargers keeping his pitching status on the down and low.
10. San Dimas (8-4-1) — If there is a team that’s got a shot at beating Covina to the VVL title, it’s the Saints. Coach Mike Regan doing a fine job again.