SBLive’s LA City Section Baseball Top 10: Cleveland moves to No. 3 in latest rankings

Here are SBLive’s third Top 10 LA City Section high school baseball rankings of the season. The rankings are compiled by SBLive California reporter Connor Morrissette and are released weekly.

SBLIVE’S LA CITY SECTION TOP 10 BASEBALL RANKINGS

March 7, 2021

1. Birmingham (5-1)

Last week: 1

The Patriots beat Hart 6-5 thanks to a walk-off single from junior Vince Cervantes two weeks ago. Birmingham plays Thousand Oaks at home on Tuesday. 

2. Granada Hills (6-1)

Last week: 2

The Highlanders have won five straight. In Granada Hills' 4-0 win over Kennedy last week, senior pitcher Zach Perez threw a complete game shutout striking out nine.

3. Cleveland (5-3)

Last week: 5

Cleveland has won four games in a row. Their best win in that span came against No. 5 Roosevelt, 10-0. Braden Lowe struck out seven in five innings for the Cavs in the win. 

4. El Camino Real (3-4)

Last week: 8

ECR plays No. 5 Roosevelt on Friday in a game that will have major City playoff seeding implications. 

5. Roosevelt (5-2)

Last week: 3

The Roughriders lost 10-0 to No. 3 Cleveland last week, but bounced back to take down Narbonne 5-1. Senior pitcher Christopher Blanco threw three shutout innings of relief to close out the game and record the save against the Gauchos. 

6. Sylmar (2-1-1)

Last week: 9

Sylmar picked up a marquee 5-4 win over No. 7 Chatsworth on Saturday. Senior pitcher Frank Garcia allowed four runs but struck out eight in the Spartans' win. Senior Favian Pinion recorded the save. 

7. Chatsworth (5-4)

Last week: 4

Before falling to No. 6 Sylmar on Saturday, Chatsworth beat No. 8 Palisades and Poly in their last two games. 

8. Palisades (2-1-1)

Last week: 7

Palisades tied No. 6 Sylmar 4-4 on Feb. 25 and then lost an eight inning heartbreaker to No. 7 Chatsworth 2-1 on Feb. 26. Last week, the Dolphins' bats exploded for 11 runs in an 11-2 win over North Hollywood. 

9. San Pedro (1-4)

Last week: 6

The Pirates won 14-10 over Valley Christian two weeks ago, but the reigning Open Division champs have lost their other four games to Torrance twice, Palos Verdes and Redondo Union. 

10. Hamilton (6-2)

Last week: NR

Hamilton is 5-0 against LA City Section teams this season. The Yankees' best win came against Taft 8-7 on March 2nd.