1. Valley Christian (San Jose) 14-2
Ranked No. 1 by the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury-News, the Warriors move up to No. 1 for the first regular season state rankings. Crespi's win in the National Classic helped the rise as did a recent loss by Los Alamitos. Valley Christian has a key head-to-head win over Aptos, but of course still has a bunch of power teams to play in the West Catholic Athletic League, including state-ranked Serra of San Mateo, Archbishop Mitty of San Jose and NorCal-ranked St. Francis of Mountain View. Coach John Diatte's team, which was 33-4 last year and won the Central Coast Section Div. I title, captured its second straight Valley Christian Crown Classic last weekend with an 8-3 win the final over San Benito of Hollister. Shortstop Michael Reiling hit a two-run homer to erase an early 3-2 deficit and shortly thereafter left-fielder Nick Backlund launched a monster shot over the left-center field fence that according to the Mercury-News left a noticeable dent on a Ford Mustang parked near a house.