SBLive's California Softball Top 25: Gahr jumps up to No. 11; Millikan debuts

Here are SBLive's weekly California high school softball rankings. Note that while the Southern Section playoffs are most of the way through, teams that have been eliminated are still eligible to remain in our statewide rankings, whether or not they will qualify for Regionals.

1. Saint Francis of Mountain View (25-2 – 2nd)

Since the Lancers embarked on their 12-game winning streak, every team ranked above them has lost. With the Central Coast Section playoffs about to start, Saint Francis is peaking at the right time.

2. Roosevelt of Eastvale (26-3 – 3rd)

When the at-the-time No. 3 Mustangs got blown out by Norco on April 13 on their home field, we were firmly of the stance that they were likely to return to the top quickly. 10 straight wins later, the Mustangs pulled out an outright Big VIII League title and are now in the Southern Section Division 1 title game.

3. Archbishop Mitty (24-3 – 5th)

Two of Mitty's three losses on the season came against Saint Francis, and the other one was to a potent Whitney (Rocklin) squad well over a month ago. While the Monarchs will be the underdog relative to Saint Francis in the CIFCCS playoffs, they certainly enter it playing as high a level of softball as they could've asked for.

4. Los Alamitos (24-7 – 22nd)

After a great but not incredible regular season, the Griffins made their move in the postseason, making it to Southern Section Division 1 finals. They had to knock off Grand Terrace, Beaumont, Camarillo, and unbeaten Oaks Christian to get there. And they very well might not be done ascending.

5. Oaks Christian (31-1 – 1st)

If you go through the regular season undefeated, there's no such thing as a "good time" to pick up your first loss. That said, the Lions could've picked a much worse time than in the semifinals against Los Al. It wasn't before they knocked out Valley View, Chino Hills, and Murrieta Mesa by a combined 33-3. So even without making the section finals, they retain their spot as one of the main favorites looking ahead to Regionals.

6. Livermore (23-3-1 – 6th)

The Cowboys beat rival Granada again for an EBAL title since last week's rankings, and most recently opened the playoffs with an 11-0 rout of Ukiah. It would be an understatement to call them the heavy title favorites in NCS D2.

7. Murrieta Mesa (25-8 – 4th)

Norco, Oaks Christian, and Murrieta Mesa all in one quadrant of the CIFSS D1 playoffs? Yikes. After beating Ayala and Norco, the Rams had the brutal draw of Oaks in the quarterfinals, and they were beaten soundly. But that doesn't drop their stock much in our book.

8. Granada of Livermore (23-3 – 7th)

Despite coming up short in their EBAL title bid, the Matadors still got the top seed in Division 1 in the North Coast Section playoffs, and are the clear frontrunners.

9. Vanden (19-0 – 9th)

The Vikings opened the playoffs with an 18-0 blowout of Rosemont. Don't be surprised to see another similar score or two from them before the postseason is over.

10. Camarillo (24-4 – 8th)

If Camarillo's section quarterfinals loss to Los Al is the end of its season, then it would be the top-ranked team in the state to have its season over, and what a season it was.

11. Gahr (23-9 – 21st)

Gahr sent home Westlake, La Serna, and Orange Lutheran before falling to Roosevelt in the CIFSS Division 1 semifinals.

12. Orange Lutheran (21-9 – 10th)

OLu was tied with Gahr in the seventh inning before falling to the red-hot Gladiators.

13. Villa Park (24-5 – 11th)

For Villa Park to face Orange Lutheran in the second round of the playoffs was a rough draw for both teams. Villa Park made the Lancers go to 10 innings for it.

14. Norco (20-9 – 12th)

Speaking of tough draws, Norco is out of action after getting Murrieta Mesa in the second round.

15. Clovis (22-6 – 14th)

While the Cougars came up just short of a league title bid, they do enter the Central Section playoffs as the hottest CIFCS team in our power rankings.

16. Clovis North (21-2 – 15th)

It got testy, but the Broncos pulled out an undisputed TRAC title. While they aren't the top Central Section team in this week's rankings, it's hard not to call them the top favorite.

17. Buchanan (20-7 – 16th)

Despite a deflating loss to Clovis North to end the regular season, Buchanan has to feel pretty good about its chances heading into the playoffs.

18. Central Catholic (24-3-1 – 17th)

Both of the highest-ranked Sac-Joaquin Section teams in our rankings are in Division 3. Central Catholic is seeded No. 2 in the division and has a potential semifinals matchup with No. 3 Oakdale impending in order to make the finals.

19. Sheldon (24-5 – 18th)

The Huskies are the the top seed and favorite in CIFSJS Division 1. It's a loaded, perilous field, but they got off to a good start beating Johnson 17-0.

20. Sutter (26-1 – 19th)

After getting a first round bye, Sutter beat Paradise 15-0 in its playoff opener. The Huskies are the heavy favorite in CIFNS D4, but are far from a shoo-in to go all the way.

21. St. Francis of Sacramento (24-3 – 20th)

St. Francis is another NorCal team in the rankings that got the No. 1 seed in its division and is our pick to win it all. And like the other aforementioned teams, St. Francis too will have to survive a stacked field to get there. Division 2 in the Sac-Joaquin Section includes Del Oro, Elk Grove, and St. Mary's (Stockton). 

22. Westlake (20-6 – 22nd)

Westlake getting Gahr in the first round of the playoffs turned out to be the unluckiest playoff draw of the year. Gahr has since proven itself as one of the best teams in SoCal, so one could make an argument that Westlake should be moved back up closer to 13th where it was before it fell to the Gladiators.

23. Oakdale (25-2-1 – 23rd)

Oakdale started the playoffs right with a 10-0 rout of Beyer. It might be one round away from a rematch with Central Catholic with the season on the line.

24. Heritage of Brentwood (20-3-1 – 25th)

The Patriots earned the No. 2 seed in CIFNCS Division 1, and are a threat to go all the way. They start things off with a battle against Monte Vista.

25. Millikan (22-10 – Unranked)

Millikan just made the leap from not even on the bubble to ranked in less than a week, and now finds itself in the CIFSS D2 finals against Mission Viejo. The Rams were a solid team all season, but have been on another level since April 5. They've won nine straight games, and their playoff wins, in order, have come against Crescenta Valley, La Habra, South Hills, and Corona Centennial. During the playoffs especially, that'll get you in the top 25 real fast.

ALSO IN CONSIDERATION:

St. Mary's (Stockton), Lincoln (Stockton), Elk Grove, Esperanza, Central (Fresno), Pacifica (Garden Grove), Chino Hills, Folsom, Del Oro, Beaumont, East Nicolaus, La Serna, Huntington Beach, Canyon (Anaheim), Corona Centennial, Mission Viejo