Sherman Oaks Notre Dame secures baseball playoff qualification in prep sports roundup
Title: Baseball and Softball action from high schools in Southern California: Playoff spots and league titles at stake
Eric Sondheimer's Breakdown 🔥
Get ready for a nail-biting finish as the high school baseball and softball seasons near their playoff phases. Here's a rundown of exciting games and major developments that took place last week.
Baseball:
One pitcher's absence didn't hinder Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, as they clinched a playoff spot after a thrilling 1-0 victory over St. Francis in Mission League play. Juju Diaz-Jones, the new recruit, delivered a stellar complete game performance, striking out eight while surrendering only three hits. Despite holding the fourth spot, the Knights could finish as high as third if they win Tuesday's game and Loyola loses to Harvard-Westlake.
Crespi secured their position as a potential top-four seed in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs by triumphing over Chaminade 9-4. Jackson Eisenhauer showed his prowess, striking out 10 in six innings, while Josh Stonehouse and Troy Miller impressed with three hits apiece and combined for five RBIs.
The Times' Top 25 High School Baseball Rankings
After Week 11, here are the top 25 high school baseball teams in the Southland:
- Harvard-Westlake (11-3): James Tronstein shone, hitting two home runs and racking up five RBIs. Justin Kirchner also impressed, fanning eight.
- Sierra Canyon (6-3): Theo Stafford's four-hit performance, combined with Dezi Delgado's three RBIs, led Sierra Canyon to victory over Bishop Alemany.
- El Dorado (18-2): Xavi Cadena contributed three hits, including a home run, as El Dorado secured a playoff berth from the Crestview League. Diego Gonzalez also homered and drove in three RBIs.
- Cypress (13-3): John Short's three hits helped Cypress claim the Crestview League championship.
- Foothill (5-3): Gavin Lauridsen's impressive four-inning outing, combined with Sean Green's two hits and two RBIs, propelled Foothill to a win over Dana Hills.
- Simi Valley (10-1): Tied for first place with Royal (10-1), the Pioneers will face Royal in a decisive game on Wednesday. Jaxon Herron's two hits and two RBIs played a crucial role in their victory over Royal last week. Kyle Casey threw a complete game with seven strikeouts.
- Cleveland (11-7): Quinton Riepl's three-hit performance helped Cleveland outpace Chatsworth in the West Valley League.
- Sylmar (13-7): Alex Martinez struck out seven as Sylmar edged Kennedy.
- Santa Monica (12-4): The Vikings claimed the Ocean League title by defeating Leuzinger 3-0. Gavin Kirtley threw a one-hitter with a stunning 14 strikeouts.
Softball:
In softball action, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame clinched its third straight Mission League title under head coach Justin Siegel, defeating Harvard-Westlake 16-6. Adiah Fountain continued her impressive form with three hits and four RBIs.
The Vikings of Santa Monica claimed the Ocean League title, shutting out Leuzinger 3-0. Gavin Kirtley's dominant one-hitter performance, featuring 14 strikeouts, proved crucial in their win.
Enrichment Insights:
Although specific pitcher rankings for Southern California playoffs aren't extensively detailed in available reports, top-ranked Southern Section teams likely include programs such as Corona, CA, according to MaxPreps rankings and playoff structure. To gather pitcher-specific metrics, consider checking MaxPreps individual stat leaderboards or local media reports covering your specific league/division. No standout pitchers are explicitly named in available playoff-related documents through Week 11.
- In the playoff race for high school baseball in Southern California, Loyola could slip to fourth place if they lose to Harvard-Westlake, allowing Sherman Oaks Notre Dame to potentially finish as high as third.
- Jaxon Eisenhauer, a standout player from Crespi, demonstrated his pitching prowess by striking out 10 in six innings, contributing to their win over Chaminade.
- Sean Green's impressive performance with two hits and two RBIs helped Foothill secure a victory over Dana Hills.
- In the Ocean League, Santa Monica's Gavin Kirtley showed his dominance on the mound by throwing a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts, helping Santa Monica claim the title.
- Adiah Fountain, a player from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, continues to impress with her form, recording three hits and four RBIs in their crucial win over Harvard-Westlake, securing their third straight Mission League title.
