2008, baseball: final San Diego rankings and final state rankings

2008 Sportswriters / Sportscasters poll

June 3, final rankings

Rank, school, overal record, league record, division, last week

1. Poway, 31-6, 13-2 Palomar, Div. I, 1

Playoffs: Poway is the No. 1 seed in Div. I. 5-21, lost to Rancho Bernardo, 5-4; 5-24, def. Calexico, 8-0; 5-27, def. Rancho Bernardo, 4-3; 5-28, def. Eastlake, 5-2; 5-29, def. Eastlake, 11-3; 5-31 final, def. La Costa Canyon, 8-3.

Poway did it the hard way, but the Titans won the San Diego Section's Division I title. After losing their opening-round game in the double elimination tournament to rival Rancho Bernardo, Poway won four straight elimination games in the span of eight days. Beginning Saturday, Feb. 24, the Titans beat Calexico 8-0; defeated Rancho Bernardo three days later, 4-3; beat twice in next two days, 5-2 and 11-3; and two days later defeated La Costa Canyon in the Saturday evening championship game, 8-3. Four different pitchers -- Stanford-bound Brian Busick, Indiana-bound Drew Leininger, sophomore Keegan Yuhl and junior Bennett Parry -- picked up the first four wins before Leininger recorded a second victory in the championship game. Leininger finished 7-0, Yuhl 8-2 and Busick 6-3. Indiana-bound outfielder/first baseman Alex Dickerson led the Titans with a .458 average, eight home runs and 46 RBIs. Sophomore outfielder Brett Thomas batted .422 from the leadoff spot.

2. Grossmont, 30-6, 10-2 Grossmont North, Div. II, 2

Playoffs: Grossmont is the No. 1 seed in Div. II. 5-21, def. San Ysidro, 13-0; 5-24, lost to Steele Canyon, 2-1; 5-27, def. Mt. Carmel, 20-12; 5-28, def. Steele Canyon, 9-3; 5-29, def. Steele Canyon, 17-8; 5-31, final, def. Oceanside, 11-5.

Grossmont made it four straight Division II titles, sending long-time coach Rob Phillips into retirement with a final championship. Grossmont beat Oceanside in the final 11-5 for their fourth straight after a loss to Steele Canyon in the second-round of the double elimination tournament. The Foothillers pounded Mt. Carmel 20-12 before sweeping Steele Canyon 9-3 and 17-8 to advance to the championship game. Against Oceanside, senior outfielder Robert Reyes was 2-for-3 with a three RBIs, including a two-run home run that gave the Foothillers a 10-2 lead. Senior catcher Derek Baum had a two-run double in the first inning and senior infielder Cash McClellan had a three-run home run in the second inning. Levin Stevens struck out six in seven innings to pick up the win. Oceanside's Michael McGuire was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Junior Aaron Griffin, younger brother USD All-American closer A.J. Griffin, came on in relief to end a three-run rally by Oceanside in the seventh inning.

3. Cathedral Catholic, 26-8, 7-5 Western, Div. III, 8

Playoffs: Cathedral Catholic is unseeded in Div. III. 5-20, def. Mount Miguel, 3-0; 5-21, def. La Jolla, 11-4; 5-24, def. El Capitan, 7-1; 5-28, def. El Capitan, 18-15; 5-31 final, Cathedral vs. Montgomery, 1 p.m. at SDSU.

4. Montgomery, 24-7, 12-0 South Bay, Div. III, 4

Playoffs: Montgomery is the No. 2 seed in Div. III. 5-21, def. St. Augustine, 7-0; 5-24, def. Mission Bay, 1-0; 5-28, def. Santana, 4-1; 5-31 final, Cathedral vs. Montgomery, 1 p.m. at SDSU.

5. La Costa Canyon, 22-12, 6-9 Palomar, Div. I, unranked

Playoffs: La Costa Canyon is unseeded in Div. I. 5-20, def. Bonita Vista, 7-4; 5-21, def. Granite Hills, 3-1; 5-24, def. Vista, 5-3; 5-28, def. Vista, 9-8 (10 innings); 5-31 final, La Costa Canyon vs. Poway, 7 p.m. at SDSU.

6. Oceanside, 25-7, 12-3 Avocado, Div. II, 7

Playoffs: Oceanside is the No. 2 seed in Div. II. 5-21, def. Westview, 7-5; 5-24, def. Ramona, 7-0; 5-28, def. Ramona, 9-3; 5-31 final, Oceanside vs. Grossmont, 4 p.m. at SDSU.

7. Coronado, 26-8, 9-3 Western, Div. IV, unranked

Playoffs: Coronado is the No. 1 seed in Div. IV. 5-20, def. High Tech, 8-2; 5-22, def. Tri-City Christian, 11-0; 5-24, def. Horizon, 2-0; 5-28, def. LJCD, 7-6; 5-31 final, def. Christian, 5-1.

8. Ramona, 25-7, 10-2 Valley, Div. II, 3

Playoffs: Ramona is the No. 3 seed in Div. II. 5-21, def. Hilltop, 16-4; 5-24, lost to Oceanside, 7-0; 5-27, def. Westview, 12-6; 5-28, lost to Oceanside, 9-3; season complete.

9. Eastlake, 24-7, 8-2 Mesa, Div. I, 5

Playoffs: Eastlake is the No. 4 seed in Div. I. 5-21, def. Calexico, 4-0; 5-24, def. Rancho Bernardo, 4-2; 5-28, lost to Poway, 5-2.

10. Vista, 22-12, 10-5 Avocado, Div. I, unranked

Playoffs: 5-12, def. Oceanside, 13-2; Vista is the No. 4 seed in Div. I; 5-21, def. Patrick Henry, 3-2; 5-24, lost to La Costa Canyon, 5-3; 5-27, def. Granite Hills, 6-5; 5-28, lost to La Costa Canyon, 9-8 (10 innings); season complete.

Others

Bonita Vista, 20-9, 8-2, Mesa, Div. I

5-20, lost to La Costa Canyon, 7-4; season complete

Rancho Bernardo, 19-14, 8-7 Palomar, Div. I

5-20, def. Mira Mesa, 7-6; 5-21, def. Poway, 5-4; 5-24, lost to Eastlake, 4-2; 5-27, lost to Poway, 4-3; season complete

Steele Canyon, 20-10, 12-3 Grossmont South, Div. II;

Playoffs: Steele Canyon is the No. 4 seed in Div. II. 5-21, def. Mt. Carmel, 8-3; 5-24, def. Grossmont, 2-1; 5-28, lost to Grossmont, 17-8; season complete.

Granite Hills, 22-10, 10-5 Grossmont South, Div. I; Playoffs: Granite Hills is the No. 2 seed in Div. I. 5-21, lost to La costa Canyon, 3-1; 5-24, def. Patrick Henry, 3-1; 5-27, lost to Vista, 6-5 (9 innings); season complete.

Mission Bay, 21-12, 9-3 Western, Div. III, unranked; playoffs: Mission Bay is the No. 3 seed in Div. III. 5-21, def. Santana, 8-2; 5-24, lost to Montgomery, 1-0; 5-27, lost to Santana, 5-4; season complete.

El Capitan, 23-10-1, 8-3-1 Grossmont North, Div. III; Playoffs: El Capitan is the No. 1 seed in Div. III. 5-21, def. Brawley, 9-8; 5-24, lost to Cathedral Catholic, 7-1; 5-27, def. La Jolla, 13-12 (10 innings); 5-28, lost to Cathedral, 18-15; season complete.

Mission Hills, 20-11, 10-2 Valley, Div. II; Playoffs. Mission Hills is unseeded in Div. II. 5-20, def. Santana, 8-2; 5-21, lost to Mt. Carmel, 7-2; 5-24, lost Montgomery 1-0. Season complete.

Santana, 21-13-1, 4-7 Grossmont North, Div. III: Santana is unseeded in Div. III. 5-20, def. University City, 11-2; 5-21, lost to Mission Bay, 8-2; 5-24, def. St. Augustine, 7-5; 5-28, lost to Montgomery, 4-1; season complete.

Torrey Pines, 19-12, 8-5 Palomar, Div. I: Playoffs: Torrey Pines is unseeded in Div. I. 5-20, lost to Calexico, 1-0; season complete.

Valhalla, 21-10, 11-4 Grossmont South, Div. II: Playoffs, def. Helix, 4-2; 5-15, def. Granite Hills, 7-4. Valhalla is unseeded in Div. II. 5-20, lost to Hilltop, 5-2; season complete.

La Jolla, 20-11-1, 7-4 Western, Div. III: Playoffs: La Jolla is the No. 4 seed in Div. III. 5-21, lost to Cathedral, 11-4; 5-26, def. Brawley, 4-0; 5-27, lost to El Capitan, 13-12 (10 innings); 5-28; season complete.

Christian, 22-11, 5-7 Eastern, Div. IV; 5-21, def. Santa Fe Christian, 11-3; 5-24, def. Mater Dei, 8-7 (8 innings); 5-28, def. Mater Dei, 10-3; 5-31 final, lost to Coronado, 5-1.

San Dieguito, 19-9, 9-0 Coastal North, Div. III: Playoffs: San Dieguito is unseeded in Div. III. 5-20, lost to St. Augustine, 6-3; season complete.

SD Jewish Academy, 15-7, 11-1 Citrus West, Div. IV: Playoffs: SD Jewish is unseeded in Div. IV. 5-20, lost to Horizon, 6-2; season complete.

Tri-City Christian, 22-8, 6-4, Coastal North, Div. IV (Div. V for state rankings): Playoffs: 5-20, def. Mountain Empire, 10-4; 5-22, lost to Coronado, 11-0. Season complete.

2008 CalHiSports.com

State rankings

All divisions, June 5

Rankings, school, last week

2. Poway 4

15. Grossmont unranked

32. Cathedral Catholic

45. Oceanside

48. Montgomery

By Divisions, June 7

Division I

1. Poway 3

Division II

4. Grossmont 6

13. Oceanside 8

15. Montgomery

Division III

4. Cathedral Catholic 6

15. El Capitan 9

Division IV

4. Coronado 4

Others: Horizon, Christian

Division V

8. San Dieguito 8

12. Tri-City Christian

Southern California

2. Poway 3

11. Grossmont 15

20. Cathedral Catholic

27. Oceanside

29. Montgomery

32. Eastlake

34. La Costa Canyon

National Rankings, June 23

By Student Sports

16. Poway 17

West

3. Poway 3

For more state rankings, visit calhisports.com.

Tom Shanahan can be contacted at 619-699-2334 or toms@sdhoc.com.