Daily News baseball Top 10 (plus five more to watch), March 17
DAILY NEWS BASEBALL TOP 10
(Records through Sunday, March 16)
1. Crespi (7-0 overall, 2-0 Mission League)
The Celts are out to an unbeaten start and have shut out three teams in seven games. They blanked Notre Dame in their Mission League opener March 10 then beat the Knights again Friday.
Next: at St. Francis, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
2. Harvard-Westlake (5-4 overall, 2-0 Mission League)
The Wolverines went on a four-game losing streak before collecting two dominant wins over Bishop Alemany by scores of 8-2 and 11-2. Justin Kirchner recorded 12 strikeouts and gave up three hits in five innings in the second win. Miguel Villegas was 2 for 4 with a home run and five RBIs.
Next: vs. Sierra Canyon, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
3. Sierra Canyon (5-3 overall, 1-1 Mission League)
Sierra Canyon split its first Mission League series against Loyola but picked up a big 10-2 win in the first game. Dezi Delgado went 4 for 5 with a double, four RBIs and a stolen base while Mikhal Johnson was 1 for 3 with a home run, four RBIs and a stolen base.
Next: at Harvard-Westlake, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
4. Oaks Christian (5-3 overall, 0-0 Marmonte League)
There’s a buzz around this program. First-year Oaks Christian head coach Rick Hirtensteiner coached the Lions to a 5-3 win over Harvard-Westlake and Quentin Young, an LSU commit, is hitting .346 with a slugging percentage of 1.038 and six home runs.
Next: at Aquinas, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
5. West Ranch (5-4 overall, 0-0 Foothill League)
The hot start that the Wildcats were on has slowed slightly due to three straight losses. West Ranch can redeem itself, with help from hitters like Mikey Murr, Landon Hu, Hunter Manning and Nolan Stoll, now that Foothill League play is underway.
Next: vs. Castaic, Tuesday, 2:30 p.m.
6. Calabasas (6-2 overall, 0-0 Marmonte League)
The Coyotes are on a three-game win streak that includes a 4-3 victory over Chaminade. AJ Seidel has hit five doubles in eight games. The Coyotes open Marmonte League play March 25 at Oaks Christian.
Next: at Saugus, Saturday, 11 a.m.
7. Chaminade (5-3 overall, 1-1 Mission League)
Chaminade should have a competitive Mission League series this week against Notre Dame after splitting a two-game series with St. Francis last week. The Eagles lost to the Golden Knights 7-5 before beating them 10-4. Isaiah Hearn is hitting a team-best .423 and Eli Stephens leads in RBIs with seven.
Next: at Notre Dame, Tuesday, 3:15 p.m.
8. Notre Dame (2-7 overall, 0-2 Mission League)
The Knights have dropped three games in a row with a series against Chaminade on deck this week. Junior Jacob Madrid leads a young team with eight RBIs on .292 hitting.
Next: vs. Chaminade, Tuesday, 3:15 p.m.
9. Birmingham (6-2 overall, 2-0 West Valley League)
Birmingham picked up a 9-0 shutout of El Camino Real on Wednesday in its second league game of the season. Allen Olmos struck out 11 and gave up three hits in seven innings and seven Patriots recorded a hit. Jordan Lindsay had two hits, two RBIs, one run and a double.
Next: vs. Taft, Wednesday, 3 p.m.
10. Newbury Park (5-1 overall, 0-0 Marmonte League)
The Panthers have roughly a week to prepare for their Marmonte League opener against Westlake on March 25. Luke Medhurst has led the way with eight hits and seven RBIs in six games while hitting .471. The senior also pitches and has logged 14 strikeouts through 16 innings.
Next: at Westlake, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
Next five to watch: Granada Hills Charter, Heritage Christian, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Westlake