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Here are the Top 10 SJ County high school baseball teams at Week 6

shannon mia belt, the stockton record
·7 min read

For San Joaquin County high school baseball teams, league play is in full swing as teams begin their chase for a championship.

The most loaded 209 leagues so far this season are the Valley Oak League and the Tri-City Athletic League. Both leagues are home for teams ranked in the top 25 of the Sac-Joaquin Section with TCAL’s St. Mary’s holding the highest ranking at No. 3.

With league races forming, the Record has you covered on the Top 10 SJ County prep baseball teams at the Week 6 point of the 2023-24 season.

East Union second baseman Kirk Simoni throws to first base during a game between Weston Ranch and East Union High at Weston Ranch High School in Stockton, CA
East Union second baseman Kirk Simoni throws to first base during a game between Weston Ranch and East Union High at Weston Ranch High School in Stockton, CA

1. St. Mary’s (8-4) 20 points

Next game: at Lodi on April 3

The Rams have faced the tough non-league opponents to prepare them for the TCAL. They open up league play against Lodi, one of their biggest competitors standing in the way of going back to back as league champs. They took game one of the three-game series on April 1, beating the Flames 7-6.

Leading St. Mary’s in that victory was junior Alex Escalante who saved the day in the seventh inning. He hit a walk-off single RBI to give the Rams the one run upper hand. They will look for two more victories over Lodi to continue its perfect TCAL record.

St. Mary's Ben Gaff hits a single during a varsity baseball game against Berkeley at St. Mary's in Stockton, April 24, 2021.
St. Mary's Ben Gaff hits a single during a varsity baseball game against Berkeley at St. Mary's in Stockton, April 24, 2021.

2. Manteca (12-2-1) 18 points

Next game: at East Union on April 3

Manteca is four games into VOL play and currently hold the highest ranking in the league at No. 7 in the SJS. The Buffaloes hold a 3-1 record with two wins over Oakdale and a win over East Union. Leading them is San Diego State commit Rex Watson who can get on base consistently.

Watson is ranked 11th in California in runs reeling in 25 so far this season. He leads Manteca with the teams’ highest batting average of .481 and an on-base percentage of close to 58%. With Watson leading its offense Manteca will look to improve from last year’s fifth-place finish in the VOL.

3. East Union (11-3) 14 points

Next game: vs. Manteca on April 3

The Lancers have a solid start to league play earning them a 3-1 record and the No. 3 spot in the Record’s rankings. They won their first VOL three-game series at the end of March, beating Sierra. Now East Union will have a chance to pull off an upset on crosstown rival Manteca as they two upcoming games against the Buffaloes.

On April 1, the Lancers dropped the first game against Manteca 5-2. They will look to underclassmen Joe Alvarez and Kirk Simoni to get their offense started in the next two games. Alvarez leads his team with a .393 batting average and Simoni follows him with a .359 batting average.

Lodi's Austin Meehleis hits a double during a varsity baseball game against Mountain House at Tony Zupo Field in Lodi on Tuesday, May, 9, 2023. Lodi won 6-4.
Lodi's Austin Meehleis hits a double during a varsity baseball game against Mountain House at Tony Zupo Field in Lodi on Tuesday, May, 9, 2023. Lodi won 6-4.

4. Lodi (8-4) 15 points

Next game: vs. St. Mary’s on April 3

It was a wild seventh inning in Stockton for Lodi who found itself in a slugfest with St. Mary’s on April 1. The Flames couldn’t stop the Rams offense and would lose their TCAL opener by just one run. They will look to bounce back against the Rams with two more chances to pull off the upset.

A key for them to do so would be their defense led by pitcher-catcher duo in senior Brent Godina and junior Chase Whiting. Godina is leading the TCAL in total wins on the mound with four so far. Whiting is Lodi’s catcher who is ranked ninth in the SJS with a fielding percentage of 100%.

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5. Tracy (8-4) 13 points

Next game: at Lincoln on April 3

The sixth inning comeback didn’t pan out for Tracy during its TCAL home opener against Lincoln on April 1. After falling behind by four runs, the Bulldogs fought back scoring three runs of their own to make it a one-run game. They ended up losing the game 4-3 but will have two more chances to get a dub against the Trojans.

Senior Tony Romano will look to be the spark in those upcoming games. The 5-foot-9 senior leads the Bulldogs offense with a .382 batting average, 13 hits and 10 runs. They will need Romano and their other offensive weapons to come through for a better finish in the TCAL this year.

Lincoln's Caden Tran hits a single during a varsity baseball game against Tokay at Lincoln in Stockton on Wednesday, Apr.19, 2023.
Lincoln's Caden Tran hits a single during a varsity baseball game against Tokay at Lincoln in Stockton on Wednesday, Apr.19, 2023.

6. Lincoln (7-5-2) 10 points

Next game: vs. Tracy on April 3

With a clutch win over Tracy to open up TCAL play, things are starting to look up for the Trojans. Leading them past the Bulldogs was sophomore Dylan Patten. The 5-foot-8 shortstop ended the game going 2-for-3 during his at-bats with two RBIs and a hit.

Thanks to Patten, Lincoln is looking to push it’s way past Tracy in the Record’s ranking as it’s just a game behind. If the Trojans can get a series sweep over the Bulldogs they would be back on track to make a run for the TCAL championship.

West's Tyler Armstrong, left, waits for the throw as Millennium's Patrick Walsh slides safely at second during a varsity baseball game at West High In Tracy.
West's Tyler Armstrong, left, waits for the throw as Millennium's Patrick Walsh slides safely at second during a varsity baseball game at West High In Tracy.

7. Millennium (8-2) 7 points

Next game: at Big Valley Christian on April 4

The Falcons were able to bounce back after losing their first two games of the season at the end of March. They opened up Central California Athletic Alliance play against Turlock Christian and split the two-game series beating the Eagles 1-0 on March 28.

Millennium went 12 innings against the Eagles as both teams struggled to string hits together. Junior Landon Vatran came through clutch leading the Falcons' offense with his lone run, three hits and a double. They will look to carry that success over to their next league matchup against Big Valley Christian on April 4.

8. Ripon (9-4) 5 points

Next game: at Patterson on April 3

Ripon has picked up two wins against Riverbank since the Record’s last ranking, earning it the No. 8 spot this week. Those victories put the Indians at 4-0 in Trans Valley League play putting them on track for another league championship finish. Their difference maker this year is senior Dawson Downs.

The 6-foot-4 senior is currently ranked 18th in California and first in the SJS in home runs, going the distance five times. He has Ripon’s highest batting average of .514 and leads it in hits, runs and RBIs. Downs will be the key as the Indians continue league play.

More: Check out the Record's Top 10 SJ County baseball teams at Week 5

9. Sierra (8-6) 7 points

Next game: at Kimball on April 3

The Timberwolves have dropped two spots in the Record’s rankings after opening up VOL play with a three-game series loss vs. East Union. They continued league play taking on Kimball looking to turn things around. Troy Morrow helped Sierra do that leading it offensively to a 5-1 victory over the Jaguars.

The senior ended the game with a team-high three runs, three hits and RBI. Morrow is typically the Timberwolves go-to when they need a hit and that won’t change during VOL play. He’ll look to lead them to some more league wins.

Tokays' Brett Graddy hits a single during a varsity baseball game at Lincoln in Stockton on Wednesday, Apr.19, 2023.
Tokays' Brett Graddy hits a single during a varsity baseball game at Lincoln in Stockton on Wednesday, Apr.19, 2023.

10. Tokay (7-7) 1 point

Next game: at West on April 3

Tokay gets its first Top 10 ranking after a three-game winning streak puts it at 7-7 on the season. The Tigers have picked up notable wins over East Union, Manteca and Bear Creek throughout their non-league schedule. They will be looking to keep the winning going as they kick off TCAL play.

Senior Joey Galletti was a star on the mound for Tokay in its league opener against West on April 1. He held the Wolfpack scoreless and hitless all game picking up 10 Ks along the way. Galletti’s stellar pitching helped the Tigers win the game 10-0 putting them at 1-0 in TCAL play.

On the bubble teams: Mountain House, Franklin and Ripon Christian

Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Here are the Top 10 SJ County high school baseball teams at Week 6