SBLive’s California Baseball Top 25: JSerra No. 1 in first statewide rankings of 2023 season

JSerra's JJ Hollis was SBLive's California Pitcher of the Year after finishing his junior season 9-0 with a 1.01 ERA.

The 2023 high school baseball season in California is underway. JSerra, who captured their first CIF Southern Section title in 2022, begins the 2023 season with the No. 1 slot in our first statewide rankings of the season. The Lions will begin their season this weekend in Arizona. They have talent all around the diamond led by pitcher JJ Hollis and position players Andrew Lamb, Trent Caraway and Dominic Smaldino.

Here’s a look at the top baseball teams in California to begin the regular season. SBLive’s statewide California high school baseball rankings are compiled by SBLive reporter Bodie DeSilva and are released weekly throughout the season.

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SBLIVE CALIFORNIA TOP 25 BASEBALL RANKINGS

February 21, 2023

1. JSerra (0-0)

The Lions, ranked No. 2 nationally in the SBLive Power 25, will make their 2023 debut later this week in Arizona.

Next game: 2/24 vs. Red Mountain (Ariz.) at Bell Bank Park

2. Santa Margarita (1-0)

Stanford-signee Luke Lavin crushed a three-run home run to help the Eagles take down Edison 5-2 in their season opener.

Next game: 2/22 vs. Foothill

3. Villa Park (3-0)

The Spartans have outscored their opponents by 26 runs during their three wins so far. Texas A&M-signee Gavin Grahovac is hitting .500 with three doubles and a home run.

Next game: 2/23 vs. Fullerton

4. Orange Lutheran (3-0)

The Lancers have a team ERA of 1.00 during their first three games. They play Gahr in the PBR Tournament championship game on Tuesday night.

Next game: 2/21 vs. Gahr

5. Aquinas (2-1)

Aquinas has played a strong schedule so far, losing to Orange Lutheran while beating Huntington Beach in eight innings.

Next game: 2/21 vs. Norco

6. Harvard-Westlake (2-1)

The Wolverines began the season by getting shutout by Foothill but have bounced back with wins over Servite and Cypress. They'll begin Mission League play against St. Francis next week.

Next game:

7. Corona (2-1)

Corona began the season shutting out El Dorado and Huntington Beach before falling to Orange Lutheran on Thursday. Their upcoming schedule includes games against Eitwanda, Foothill and Bishop Gorman (Nev.).

Next game: 2/21 vs. Etiwanda

8. Huntington Beach (1-2)

After a season opening win against Ayala, the Oilder have dropped back-to-back games against Corona and Aquinas.

Next game: 2/21 vs. Foothill

9. De La Salle (0-0)

De La Salle will begin the season on Saturday with a trip to Folsom. Their loaded non-league schedule includes three games against top 25 teams over their first five games. 

Next game: 2/24 at Folsom

10. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) (2-0)

The Knights have relied on their pitching early on, striking out 27 in their first 14 innings. A three-game Mission League series against Alemany is set for next week.

Next game: 2/21 vs. Mira Costa

11. Gahr (3-0)

Gahr has been the early surprise team in Southern California, rolling to three straight wins while allowing just two total runs. They'll take on Orange Lutheran in the PBR Tournament championship game on Tuesday night.

Next game: 2/21 vs. Orange Lutheran

12. Buchanan (2-0)

Buchanan opened the season with two straight one-run wins against Liberty and Bakersfield Christian. They'll head west for road games against St. Ignatius (San Francisco) and Valley Christian (San Jose) later this week.

Next game: 2/23 at St. Ignatius

13. La Costa Canyon (0-0)

The reigning San Diego Section Open Division champions return several key contributors led by Pacific-signee Gabe Camacho, who hit ten home runs last season.

Next game: 2/28 at Granite Hills

14. Etiwanda (2-1)

The Eagles opened the year with wins over Servite and Foothill before getting shutout by Gahr on Thursday.

Next game: 2/21 vs. Corona

15. Norco (2-1)

Norco has played an excellent schedule over the first two weeks of the season, beating Cypress and Foothill while losing to Gahr 1-0. Senior Ryan Jenkins has struck out 13 batters over his first two outings of the year.

Next game: 2/21 vs. Aquinas

16. Cypress (1-2)

Cypress, like many others in the PBR Tournament, faced a loaded schedule to open the year. They beat Yucaipa but lost to Norco and Harvard-Westlake.

Next game: 2/23 vs. Hoover (Ala.) in Arizona

17. Foothill (Pleasanton) (0-0)

The Falcons will kickoff the season later this week with non-league games against Heritage and College Park.

Next game: 2/22 vs. Heritage (Brentwood)

18. Whitney (Rocklin) (0-0)

The Wildcats have two of the best arms in California in their rotation with Santa Clara commit Jace Gillmore and San Diego State commit Gavin McLendon.

Next game: 3/1 vs. Lincoln

19. La Mirada (3-0)

Columbia-signee Eric Jeon has started quick for the Matadores, hitting .556 with a double, a home run, and four shutout innings on the mound.

Next game: 2/22 vs. Los Alamitos

20. Valley Christian (San Jose) (0-0)

The Warriors will open the season with two tough home games against Buchanan and Bullard on back-to-back days at the end of this week.

Next game: 2/24 vs. Buchanan

21. Granite Hills (0-0)

Granite Hills returns a strong mix of hitting and pitching from last season's San Diego Section Open Division runner-up team led by Arizona State two-way commit Brenden Lewis.

Next game: 2/28 vs. La Costa Canyon

22. Clayton Valley (0-0)

Catcher Ryder Helfrick, an Arkansas-signee who hit .417 with 12 doubles last season, is the top returner for the Ugly Eagles. They'll get underway with a home game against Monte Vista on Friday.

Next game: 2/24 vs. Monte Vista

23. Frankin (Elk Grove) (0-0)

With two-way standout and Cal commit Jordan Lopez leading the way, Franklin will open the season next week when they welcome in Rocklin.

Next game: 2/28 vs. Rocklin

24. Foothill (Santa Ana) (1-2)

Foothill opened the season with a huge 2-0 shutout over Harvard-Westlake. They've lost two straight to Etiwanda and Norco heading into Tuesday's showdown with Huntington Beach.

Next game: 2/21 vs. Huntington Beach

25. Bullard (2-0)

The Knights, who will battle Buchanan to be the Central Section's best team, have started 2-0 with wins against Tulare Western and Clovis. They'll face strong competition with games against St. Ignatius and Valley Christian this weekend.

Next game: 2/24 at St. Ignatius