CIF Southern Section baseball: updated playoff computer rankings shake up top seeds

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• TOP 25 COMPUTER RANKINGS (April 21)
• NEXT 26–100
• NEXT 101–200
• REMAINING (201–457)

The CIF Southern Section’s latest computer standings — released April 21 — will play a central role in how baseball playoff fields are set this spring. These updated ratings give a clearer picture of seeding ahead of a postseason that begins May 14, and they include a significant format change at the top tier.

The CIF now relies on a competitive equity algorithm to assemble postseason divisions. Rather than using school size or fixed geography, the system evaluates teams on the current season using results, schedule strength and other in-season metrics such as scoring margins to assign rankings and separate brackets.

Early versions of the baseball ratings were limited by incomplete input. The third edition — published April 21 — incorporates more game results and corrections, making this release the best available snapshot of likely postseason groupings so far.

• Regular season cutoff: May 6
• Playoff start: May 14
• Division 1 format: 16 teams, new pool-play structure
• Other divisions: Can include up to 32 teams each

TOP 25 COMPUTER RANKINGS (April 21)

1. Harvard‑Westlake (17–4) — 9.208
2. Norco (18–3) — 9.091
3. Orange Lutheran (15–3) — 9.060
4. Ayala (18–2) — 8.955
5. Sierra Canyon (16–4) — 8.933
6. Corona (14–4) — 8.801
7. St. John Bosco (16–5) — 8.779
8. Temecula Valley (17–4) — 8.770
9. Huntington Beach (16–4–1) — 8.766
10. Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks (14–6) — 8.727
11. La Mirada (17–4) — 8.693
12. Cypress (17–5) — 8.689
13. Mater Dei (13–6) — 8.606
14. Oaks Christian (15–5) — 8.605
15. Etiwanda (12–7) — 8.490
16. Villa Park (14–7–1) — 8.482
17. Santiago/Corona (16–7) — 8.475
18. Royal (19–2) — 8.433
19. Servite (13–8) — 8.426
20. Westlake (15–6) — 8.414
21. South Hills (17–4) — 8.406
22. Paraclete (18–4) — 8.399
23. Thousand Oaks (15–6) — 8.398
24. Newport Harbor (17–6) — 8.387
25. Linfield Christian (17–4) — 8.366

The top of the list contains many familiar contenders; those teams will be in the strongest position to claim a Division 1 slot once the CIF finalizes brackets. Under the new pool-play plan at the top level, seeding could determine group placement and the pathway through the early rounds.

NEXT 26–100

Ranks 26–100 include a large swath of programs competing for mid- and lower-division berths. Highlights in that band include Foothill/Santa Ana, Maranatha, Aquinas and Rancho Christian — all ranked in the high 8.2–8.3 range. The full list below shows each team’s record and current index score:

26. Foothill/Santa Ana (15–7) — 8.355
27. Maranatha (17–5) — 8.334
28. Aquinas (15–6) — 8.319
29. Loyola (14–7–1) — 8.318
30. Santa Margarita (12–9) — 8.304
31. Ganesha (15–1–1) — 8.296
32. Gahr (11–9–1) — 8.285
33. Great Oak (11–9–1) — 8.251
34. Rancho Christian (17–3) — 8.251
35. Vista Murrieta (13–4–3) — 8.244
36. Dana Hills (15–7) — 8.236
37. Centennial/Corona (9–12) — 8.229
38. Aliso Niguel (15–5–2) — 8.228
39. Chaminade (12–8) — 8.225
40. Alemany (13–6) — 8.215
41. Palos Verdes (17–5) — 8.213
42. Newbury Park (13–8) — 8.171
43. Elsinore (15–3) — 8.160
44. El Segundo (14–5) — 8.141
45. St. Francis (12–8–1) — 8.140
46. Mira Costa (15–9) — 8.134
47. Valley View (18–2) — 8.132
48. Fountain Valley (11–10) — 8.123
49. Yorba Linda (15–7–1) — 8.117
50. El Dorado (9–14) — 8.106
51. Trabuco Hills (13–9) — 8.096
52. El Modena (17–5) — 8.093
53. Arcadia (13–9) — 8.068
54. San Juan Hills (15–11) — 8.067
55. Burroughs/Burbank (18–3) — 8.063
56. Costa Mesa (16–5) — 8.049
57. San Clemente (14–8) — 8.040
58. Chino Hills (12–7–1) — 8.036
59. Alta Loma (15–4–1) — 8.034
60. Beckman (13–7–1) — 8.027
61. Damien (8–9–1) — 8.016
62. Mission Viejo (12–8) — 8.010
63. Summit (15–7) — 8.006
64. Agoura (13–9) — 8.001
65. La Salle (16–4) — 7.999
66. West Ranch (13–11) — 7.990
67. San Marino (17–5) — 7.972
68. San Dimas (12–11) — 7.965
69. Torrance (12–10) — 7.958
70. Corona del Mar (11–11) — 7.953
71. Calabasas (12–9) — 7.941
72. Dos Pueblos (15–7) — 7.938
73. Los Altos (11–6–1) — 7.932
74. Warren (13–9) — 7.930
75. Cajon (16–8) — 7.929
76. Fullerton (14–7) — 7.928
77. Laguna Beach (14–8) — 7.925
78. Crescenta Valley (16–2) — 7.923
79. Pacifica/Garden Grove (12–8) — 7.920
80. Charter Oak (13–6–1) — 7.920
81. Yucaipa (11–10) — 7.919
82. La Cañada (12–7) — 7.908
83. Millikan (15–6) — 7.903
84. Poly/Riverside (13–5) — 7.898
85. Burroughs/Ridgecrest (16–4) — 7.893
86. El Toro (12–9–1) — 7.869
87. Oakwood (16–1) — 7.857
88. Highland (15–5–1) — 7.853
89. South Torrance (13–8) — 7.851
90. Bishop Amat (11–9) — 7.847
91. Bonita (10–12–1) — 7.846
92. Pacifica Christian/OC (13–5–1) — 7.845
93. Redondo Union (13–10) — 7.834
94. Los Osos (8–13) — 7.821
95. Arlington (13–8) — 7.816
96. La Quinta (14–7–1) — 7.811
97. Marina (11–11) — 7.811
98. Monrovia (14–4–1) — 7.804
99. Claremont (16–5) — 7.802
100. San Marcos (14–10) — 7.796

NEXT 101–200

Ranks 101–200 cover many programs likely to be placed in lower divisions or on the bubble. Coaches and athletic directors will be watching final regular-season results closely — late wins or lopsided losses can shift these indices.

101. King — 7.787; 102. Downey — 7.787; 103. Glendora — 7.785; (full list continues through 200.)

REMAINING (201–457)

The remainder of the CIF Southern Section’s index — positions 201 through 457 — lists every team evaluated by the model. These rankings determine the full bracket picture across all divisions once final data are locked after May 6.

Why this matters: for teams near division cutoffs, a single game can change playoff assignment and, for Division 1 hopefuls, whether they enter bracket play or the new pool-play groups. Administrators, coaches and fans should use this third edition as the clearest guide yet, while recognizing that the model updates again as more scores are entered.