Team Rankings
There's a shakeup – our first of the season – at the top of the Lucky 13.
Serra took care of business this week by winning on the road against a hard-hitting San Ramon Valley squad and then breaking open a close game with Burlingame by scoring eight runs in the fifth inning to record a 10-1 victory.
The Padres are the only remaining unbeaten team on the Peninsula and they are doing it by exceling in all phases of the game. A veteran lineup can pound the ball. They play defense. And while the pitching doesn't get as much fanfare as Valley Christian, the Padres don't give up many runs, either.
Valley Christian allowed just its second earned run of the season on Saturday, but the Warriors were shut out by Cardinal Newman, 1-0 – their first loss of the year.
With the WCAL season opening this week, no one questions Valley's pitching or their defense. But can their bats deliver in a pitching-rich conference season? Time will tell.
Of the first seven teams in the rankings, six are from the WCAL. Bellarmine was this week's biggest climber, jumping to the No. 7 spot after posting two victories this week.
Menlo-Atherton climbed to No. 6 despite losing a 5-4 decision to No. 5 Mitty on Saturday, while Capuchino tumbled to No. 8 after losing both of its games this week. The Mustangs will get the chance to rebound this week when it opens the PAL Bay Division season with two games against The King's Academy, which is ranked No. 9.
Sequoia and Terra Nova are newcomers to the rankings after posting big wins this week.
| Rank | Team | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Junipero Serra (8-0) | The only remaining unbeaten team on the Peninsula. |
| 2. | Valley Christian (6-1) | The pitching is other worldly. The bats need to come alive. |
| 3. | St. Ignatius Prep (2-2-2) | Record looks more like a PIN number. No worries in SF. The Wildcats will be fine. |
| 4. | Saint Francis (6-2) | Four walk-off wins this season. Valley comes to town Tuesday. |
| 5. | Mitty (5-2) | The Monarchs are steady. Big win this week over Menlo-Atherton. |
| 6. | Menlo-Atherton (5-3) | The Bears do everything well. They're emerging as the Bay Division's team to beat. |
| 7. | Bellarmine (5-2) | The week's biggest climber. The Bells will battle in WCAL chase. |
| 8. | Capuchino (5-3) | Two road losses, one in 10 innings at Saint Francis. They'll be fine. |
| 9. | The King’s Academy (4-2) | Still a work in progress. Knights face Capuchino for two this week. |
| 10. | Sacred Heart Cathedral (5-2) | Loss in Petaluma snapped a four-game winning streak. |
| 11. | Carlmont (4-3) | Scots are the most banged up team on the Peninsula, but are hanging tough at 11. |
| 12. | Sequoia (3-3) | Ravens made a statement with win over Saint Francis on Friday. |
| 13. | Terra Nova (3-2-1) | They're young -- three sophs in the lineup -- but talented. |
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