The CIF-Southern Section baseball playoffs begin next week and a dozen High Desert teams have secured a berth as the season officially came to an end on May 6.
The CIF-SS playoff pairings are set to be released Saturday at 1 p.m.
The first round of the Division 1 playoffs begins on May 12, while Division 2, 4, 6, and 8 games will be played on May 14, and the Division 3, 5, 7, and 9 games are set for May 15.
With the 12 teams set to compete in the playoffs, one local team remains a possible at-large candidate.
Sultana got off to a blazing start to the season, winning eight of the first nine games. But struggled in league play, ending in fifth place in the Mojave River League standings.
With a 13-11 overall record, the Sultans await the pairings to see if they will be the High Desert’s lone at-large team.
Here’s a rundown of all the teams that have guaranteed playoff berths:
Mojave River League
The MRL has several teams capable of making deep runs this season, led by league champion Burroughs.
The Burros closed the regular season on a nine-game winning streak to finish 12-3 in league play and secure the league title. The Burros have been powered by one of the area’s most complete rosters, headlined by senior standouts Steve Lormand and Kanon Schiller. Lormand hit .482 with four home runs and 43 RBIs while also earning four wins on the mound, while Schiller added six home runs and 70 strikeouts.
Hesperia finished second in league play at 11-4. Josh Flores leads the Scorpions offensively with a .453 batting average, while Carlos Ramirez and Tyler Oerman have anchored the pitching staff and provided offensive support.
Oak Hills earned a third-place finish at 9-6 and may possess the High Desert’s most explosive bat in Jacob Webster. The senior is batting .529 with 10 home runs, 38 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases, putting together one of the top individual seasons in the High Desert.
Desert Sky League
Granite Hills captured the league title after finishing 9-3 in league play and 15-9 overall. The Cougars combined aggressive baserunning with dominant pitching, outscoring opponents 157-78 on the season. Kaleb Kutz led the offense with a .402 average and 17 stolen bases, while pitchers Caden Wharton and Vincent Jarvis combined for 156 strikeouts and 10 victories.
Victor Valley finished second in the standings at 8-4 and leaned heavily on one of the area’s best pitching duos in Tyler Aguilar and Victor Martinez. Aguilar posted a 2.19 ERA with 64 strikeouts, while Martinez added 69 strikeouts and a 2.81 ERA.
Adelanto secured third place in league play at 7-5. The Saints will look toward players such as Adrian Chivichon and Aksel Inzunza as they prepare for the playoffs.
Cross Valley League
Riverside Prep claimed the league title after finishing 7-1 in league play and 16-11 overall. The Silver Knights feature a veteran-heavy lineup led by Andrew Logsdon and Jacob Villegas. Logsdon has blasted six home runs, while Villegas has contributed both offensively and on the mound.
University Prep enters the postseason at 18-5 overall despite ending the season on a three-game losing streak. The Jaguars scored 234 runs while allowing just 91 all season. Sophomore Connor Byrom has been dominant on the mound for the Jaguars with a 1.58 ERA and 79 strikeouts.
Hesperia Christian earned a playoff spot after finishing third in league play at 4-4. The Patriots are led by a talented young core, including freshmen Luke Coogan, Austin Koester, and Christopher Dekeyrel.
Agape League
Academy for Academic Excellence enters the playoffs after completing an unbeaten run through league play. The Knights are 20-4 overall and carry a 14-game winning streak into the postseason after outscoring opponents 246-58 this season. Nathan Rudd has starred as a two-way force with a .426 batting average, 82 strikeouts, and a 1.41 ERA, while Connor Clancy and Bryson Lilly have both hit above .540.
Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy finished second in league play with a 10-4-1 record and enters the playoffs riding a five-game winning streak. Andrew Honnold leads the Cougars batting .557 with five home runs and 38 RBIs.
Lucerne Valley earned a third-place finish and features freshman Jovani Ceja-Gonzalez, who is batting .667 with 34 RBIs, while Jonathan Gonzalez has excelled both at the plate and on the mound with a .604 batting average and 101 strikeouts.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: These 12 High Desert baseball teams are heading to the CIF-SS playoffs
Reporting by Jose Quintero, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
