NCS Division 1 Baseball Seeding Projections
Monte Vista finished as an East Bay Athletic League co-champion and will likely be given the two seed. Photo by Chris Jackson
By Chris Jackson Saturday May 23, 2015
1. College Park (22-4, 12-0 DVAL): Three of its four losses came to EBAL teams, but it owns the most talented roster and also maintains the best record at 22-4. It was also a runner-up at the National High School Invitational. During the season, it outscored opponents 215-41.
2. Monte Vista (16-8, 10-4 EBAL): EBAL Co-champion with De La Salle and owns the tiebreaker for NCS due to the second-half result, a 3-2 victory. Big wins include Heritage (14-5) and Southern California power Orange Lutheran (3-1), with a sweep over rival San Ramon Valley (3-1 and 5-1).
3. De La Salle (16-8, 10-4 EBAL): Finished the season tied atop the EBAL standings and went 16-8 overall. Defeated Joe DeMers and College Park 3-0 and also swept Livermore. Other notable victories include Cal (8-2), San Ramon Valley (3-2) and St. Francis (5-4).
4. Heritage (20-4, 10-0 BVAL): Went 20-4 overall and also undefeated in the Bay Valley Athletic League. Owns a quality loss to Monte Vista, except it was by nine runs. Lost to Foothill, 1-0, and that could effect its status due to Foothill's last place league spot.
5. Amador Valley (15-9, 7-7 EBAL): One could make the case for San Ramon Valley and Cal to be ahead of it, but with how wide open EBAL is in many ways, the committee will likely look at the league standings to determine every teams seed. The Dons finished tied for third and record big wins over De La Salle, Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley in the second half of the season. However, it was swept by Cal and Livermore.
6. San Ramon Valley (15-9, 6-8 EBAL): The Wolves didn't quote live up the lofty expectations placed upon them after a runner-up NCS finish in 2014. However, being in the loaded East Bay Athletic League has a huge say in that. They were swept by Monte Vista and suffered a loss to Granada, but did earn some victories over Amador Valley, Cal, De La Salle and Livermore. Cal signee Joey Matulovich also tossed a one-hitter in a 4-0 shutout of College Park, the top team in the nation at the time.
7. California (13-11, 6-8 EBAL): A streaky and inconsistent bunch much of the year, the Grizzlies are much deserving of the seven seed. They suffered a tough loss to Granada and went on many hot and cold streaks, but the same could be said for any EBAL squad. They did earn a title at the Elite 8 Tournament, defeating College Park in the championship. Notable wins include Livermore and San Ramon Valley, with a sweep of Amador Valley.
8. Granada (12-12, 5-9 EBAL): After finishing up the first half of EBAL at 2-5, its playoff hopes hinged on success in the latter part of the season. Due in large part to superb head coach Corrigan Willis, the Matadors reunited as a team and won three of their last five contests to clinch a spot in the playoffs for the sixth straight season. Notable wins include Berkeley, Foothill, James Logan, Livermore and San Ramon Valley, alongside a sweep of Cal. The defeat over Foothill occurred in the second half of the season and might determine the potential eight or nine seeding between the two.
9. Foothill (13-11, 5-9 EBAL): Following a 7-0 start to the season, it won six of its remaining 17 games en route to a 13-11 finish. Nonleague victories include Bishop O'Dowd, Castro Valley, Heritage and James Logan. Notable league wins include Amador Valley, De La Salle, Livermore and San Ramon Valley. It lost an extra inning affair to De La Salle in the second contest. Potentially having seven of the top nine seeds coming out of the EBAL might be concerning to the committee.
10. Liberty (15-9, 6-4 BVAL): Four losses in the BVAL might strip it of a home game in the first round. Two of the four losses came to first place Heritage, with the other two coming to Freedom and Pittsburg. It does own an 11 inning win over Granada and also defeated Cal, Clayton Valley Charter, Foothill and Livermore. The 11 inning win over Granada spanned two days as Granada had to travel back up to Brentwood the following Monday to complete the contest.
11. Clayton Valley Charter (16-10, 8-4 DVAL): The Ugly Eagles went 2-4 against BVAL and EBAL teams, also being swept by league foe Concord. It did defeat Concord on the DVAL playoffs and earned championship berth against College Park, a 3-0 loss.
12. Berkeley (14-9-2, 11-5 WACC): Sweeping Bishop O'Dowd is a huge seeding booster, especially since it finished with the better league record.
13. Bishop O'Dowd (16-10, 11-5 WACC): An early season loss to Foothill could cost it a home game in the playoffs despite O'Dowd owning the better overall record. The Dragons earned a spot in the WACC championship, where it fell to Alameda in nine innings, 3-2. It split the season series with Castro Valley.
14. Castro Valley (16-8, 10-6 WACC): A 23-8 loss to Liberty in March costs it a bit of morale as it was unable to muster any big victories. It did beat Bishop O'Dowd once, but fell to Foothill and San Leandro once, also being swept by Arroyo.
15. James Logan (15-9, 11-3 MVAL): Losses to Bishop O'Dowd, Foothill, Freedom and Granada help it earn a 14 seed. However, a pair of big wins over Kennedy-Fremont and Washington-Fremont are helpful.
16. San Leandro (17-9, 10-6 WACC): A 5-0 victory against Berkeley highlights the regular season, but finished with a lower league record will be it's determining factor for seeding, much similar to what will likely happen with the EBAL teams.
2. Monte Vista (16-8, 10-4 EBAL): EBAL Co-champion with De La Salle and owns the tiebreaker for NCS due to the second-half result, a 3-2 victory. Big wins include Heritage (14-5) and Southern California power Orange Lutheran (3-1), with a sweep over rival San Ramon Valley (3-1 and 5-1).
3. De La Salle (16-8, 10-4 EBAL): Finished the season tied atop the EBAL standings and went 16-8 overall. Defeated Joe DeMers and College Park 3-0 and also swept Livermore. Other notable victories include Cal (8-2), San Ramon Valley (3-2) and St. Francis (5-4).
4. Heritage (20-4, 10-0 BVAL): Went 20-4 overall and also undefeated in the Bay Valley Athletic League. Owns a quality loss to Monte Vista, except it was by nine runs. Lost to Foothill, 1-0, and that could effect its status due to Foothill's last place league spot.
5. Amador Valley (15-9, 7-7 EBAL): One could make the case for San Ramon Valley and Cal to be ahead of it, but with how wide open EBAL is in many ways, the committee will likely look at the league standings to determine every teams seed. The Dons finished tied for third and record big wins over De La Salle, Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley in the second half of the season. However, it was swept by Cal and Livermore.
6. San Ramon Valley (15-9, 6-8 EBAL): The Wolves didn't quote live up the lofty expectations placed upon them after a runner-up NCS finish in 2014. However, being in the loaded East Bay Athletic League has a huge say in that. They were swept by Monte Vista and suffered a loss to Granada, but did earn some victories over Amador Valley, Cal, De La Salle and Livermore. Cal signee Joey Matulovich also tossed a one-hitter in a 4-0 shutout of College Park, the top team in the nation at the time.
7. California (13-11, 6-8 EBAL): A streaky and inconsistent bunch much of the year, the Grizzlies are much deserving of the seven seed. They suffered a tough loss to Granada and went on many hot and cold streaks, but the same could be said for any EBAL squad. They did earn a title at the Elite 8 Tournament, defeating College Park in the championship. Notable wins include Livermore and San Ramon Valley, with a sweep of Amador Valley.
8. Granada (12-12, 5-9 EBAL): After finishing up the first half of EBAL at 2-5, its playoff hopes hinged on success in the latter part of the season. Due in large part to superb head coach Corrigan Willis, the Matadors reunited as a team and won three of their last five contests to clinch a spot in the playoffs for the sixth straight season. Notable wins include Berkeley, Foothill, James Logan, Livermore and San Ramon Valley, alongside a sweep of Cal. The defeat over Foothill occurred in the second half of the season and might determine the potential eight or nine seeding between the two.
9. Foothill (13-11, 5-9 EBAL): Following a 7-0 start to the season, it won six of its remaining 17 games en route to a 13-11 finish. Nonleague victories include Bishop O'Dowd, Castro Valley, Heritage and James Logan. Notable league wins include Amador Valley, De La Salle, Livermore and San Ramon Valley. It lost an extra inning affair to De La Salle in the second contest. Potentially having seven of the top nine seeds coming out of the EBAL might be concerning to the committee.
10. Liberty (15-9, 6-4 BVAL): Four losses in the BVAL might strip it of a home game in the first round. Two of the four losses came to first place Heritage, with the other two coming to Freedom and Pittsburg. It does own an 11 inning win over Granada and also defeated Cal, Clayton Valley Charter, Foothill and Livermore. The 11 inning win over Granada spanned two days as Granada had to travel back up to Brentwood the following Monday to complete the contest.
11. Clayton Valley Charter (16-10, 8-4 DVAL): The Ugly Eagles went 2-4 against BVAL and EBAL teams, also being swept by league foe Concord. It did defeat Concord on the DVAL playoffs and earned championship berth against College Park, a 3-0 loss.
12. Berkeley (14-9-2, 11-5 WACC): Sweeping Bishop O'Dowd is a huge seeding booster, especially since it finished with the better league record.
13. Bishop O'Dowd (16-10, 11-5 WACC): An early season loss to Foothill could cost it a home game in the playoffs despite O'Dowd owning the better overall record. The Dragons earned a spot in the WACC championship, where it fell to Alameda in nine innings, 3-2. It split the season series with Castro Valley.
14. Castro Valley (16-8, 10-6 WACC): A 23-8 loss to Liberty in March costs it a bit of morale as it was unable to muster any big victories. It did beat Bishop O'Dowd once, but fell to Foothill and San Leandro once, also being swept by Arroyo.
15. James Logan (15-9, 11-3 MVAL): Losses to Bishop O'Dowd, Foothill, Freedom and Granada help it earn a 14 seed. However, a pair of big wins over Kennedy-Fremont and Washington-Fremont are helpful.
16. San Leandro (17-9, 10-6 WACC): A 5-0 victory against Berkeley highlights the regular season, but finished with a lower league record will be it's determining factor for seeding, much similar to what will likely happen with the EBAL teams.