Santa Ana Rallies To Grab #1 Spot On Final 2026 Home Run 30 Rankings
May 27, 2026
It may have been appropriate that the #1 spot on the final CCCBCA Home Run 30 Rankings was taken by the power-hitting Santa Ana College Dons.
SAC fought through three elimination games, two in a row v. mighty Palomar on the final day to capture its fifth 3C2A state championship and first in three years.
State tourney MVP Nikko Paoletto put on a laser show with four home runs (11-for-19 in five games) and nine RBI, hitting roundtrippers in four of the games at Great Park Stadium. He hit what proved to be the game-winning HR in the fifth inning of the finale.
Santa Ana launched 10 homers at the tourney, 23 in the postseason in 12 contests with Paoletto going deep an amazing eight times after the rightfielder had just three in the regular season. The Dons led the state in home runs with 80, nine more than next-best West Valley (71 in three less games). To put that in perspective, 19 state teams didn't hit 10 HR in 2026 and 23 others didn't reach the 20 mark.
Next in the rankings were #2 Palomar, surprising Feather River moving up 12 positions to #3, and the other state tourney participant Ohlone at #4. West Valley raced up seven slots to #5, Santa Rosa JC moved up to #6, and regular season Home Run 30 #1 Fresno City slipping to #7. Rounding out the Top 10 were #8 Citrus, Cinderella playoff darling #9 Santa Barbara City, rising up 18 spots, and Modesto JC falling a bit to #10.
Playoff success is the ultimate barometer for these final rankings while also taking into account the regular season. That allowed both previously unranked #20 LA Pierce and #21 Hartnell to make it on as each played well into the Super Regionals. Folsom Lake made a postseason push up to #12 while Fullerton bolted up 11 slots to #19 thanks to reaching the Regional Finals.
El Camino at #15, San Joaquin Delta at #16, Riverside City at #17 and Glendale at #18 all were higher ranked regular season teams that dropped after early Round 1 eliminations. All of the state conference champions earned spots on the final rankings.
CCCBCA HOME RUN 30 RANKINGS #15
| RANK | TEAM, CONFERENCE | RECORD | NOTES | LAST RANK | UP/DOWN | FINAL REGION TOP 20 |
| 1. | SANTA ANA, Orange Empire | 44-7-1 | The OEC champion Dons came up with one of the great comebacks with two Memorial Day victories over Palomar to capture the 3C2A state title. No one had a better overall postseason than SAC record-wise, going 11-1. They swept their Regional Finals series over Fullerton after doing the same to Citrus also in 2 games in the Super Regionals. They advanced through Round 1 by beating Orange Coast and going 2-0 v. Cerro Coso. At state, they beat all three opponents and were 4-1--or great at the Great Park. Ken Tomitaka is OEC MVP. | #3 | Up 2 spots | S1 |
| 2. | PALOMAR, Pacific Coast Athletic | 43-8 | The PCAC champion Comets can only look back at what might have been. They were set up to win the state title after a 4-3 semifinals win over Santa Ana, but stumbled in two straight losses to the Dons as Palomar will have to look into the future for its first state title. They never lost two in a row all season until Monday. PCAC MVP Elijah Stephens homered twice in the finale defeat and led state in HR (18) and RBI (82).The Comets won 2 of 3 to get past Santa Barbara in the Regional Finals after sweeping a 2-game set v. Saddleback in the Super Regionals. They ran through the Mounts--beating Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. SAC twice to advance through Round 1. Overall, Palomar was 9-3 in the postseason. | #2 | Same | S2 |
| 3. | FEATHER RIVER, Golden Valley | 37-16 | The GVC champion Golden Eagles finish King of the North in 2026. They place 3rd at the state tourney and go 8-5 in the postseason. FRC won the Regional Finals in 3 games over West Valley, advanced in the Super Regionals in 3 games v. Hartnell, and got past Round 1 with a 2-1 mark v. American River and a win over Monterey Peninsula. Jake Dahl is GVC MVP. | #15 | Up 12 spots | N1 |
| 4. | OHLONE, Coast South | 40-10 | The Coast South champion Renegades place 4th at the state tourney, winning its Regional Finals series over Santa Rosa in 3 games after getting past Folsom Lake in 3 games in the Super Regionals. They were 3-0 in Round 1, beating Solano and taking two from Lassen. They were 7-4 in the postseason. All-Coast South SS Chuy Vasquez led Ohlone this season. | #4 | Same | N2 |
| 5. | WEST VALLEY, Coast South | 33-15-1 | The Vikings came within one win of the state tourney, finishing 6-3 in the postseason. They were beat in 3 games in the Regional Finals by Feather River. WVC swept Fresno in 2 games in the Super Regionals after winning its Round 1 series by going 2-0 v. Skyline and 1-1 v. Los Medanos. David Estrada is Coast South MVP. | #12 | Up 7 spots | N3 |
| 6. | SANTA ROSA JC, Big 8 | 34-15 | The Bear Cubs came within one win of the state tourney, finishing 6-3 in the postseason. They were beat in 3 games in the Regional Finals by Ohlone. SRJC beat Modesto in 3 games to win in the Super Regionals after winning its Round 1 series by going 2-0 v. Marin and beating Sequoias once. Myles Standish is Big 8 Pitcher of the Year. | #9 | Up 3 spots | N4 |
| 7. | FRESNO CITY, Central Valley | 40-5 | The CVC champion Rams were knocked off their state #1 perch shockingly swept by West Valley in 2 games in the Super Regionals. They finished 3-2 in the postseason, winning their Round 1 series by going 2-0 v. Sierra and beating Merced 2-0 and Sierra once. They were one of 4 teams to win 40 games this season. Nathan Leffel is CVC Pitcher of the Year | #1 | Down 6 spots | N5 |
| 8. | CITRUS, Western State South | 33-13 | The Owls were 3-3 in the postseason, swept in the Super Regionals in 2 games by Santa Ana after winning its Round 1 series by going 2-1 v. Cypress and beating Pasadena once. Cam Casado is WSC South MVP. | #11 | Up 3 spots | S3 |
| 9. | SANTA BARBARA CITY, Western State North | 29-18 | The #13 seed Vaqueros came within one win of making it to the State Tourney, but were defeated in 3 games by Palomar in the Regional Finals. They finished 6-3 in the postseason, winning the Super Regionals in a 2-game sweep over Allan Hancock after also winning a Round 1 series, going 2-1 v. San Diego Mesa and beating Riverside once. Will Matuszak is WSC North MVP. | #27 | Up 18 spots | S4 |
| 10. | MODESTO JC, Big 8 | 33-13 | The Co-Big 8 champ Pirates were 4-3 in the postseason, advancing to the Super Regionals before losing a 3-game series v. Santa Rosa. They won a Round 1 series, going 2-1 v. San Mateo and beating Reedley once. Troy Morrow is Big 8 MVP. | #6 | Down 4 spots | N6 |
| 11. | ALLAN HANCOCK, Western State North | 34-12 | The WSC North champion Bulldogs were 3-3 in the postseason, advancing to the Super Regionals before being swept by Santa Barbara in 2 games. They won a Round 1 series, going 2-1 v. Grossmont and beating Cuesta once. Josue Garcia is WSC North Big Stick winner. | #13 | Up 2 spots | S5 |
| 12. | FOLSOM LAKE, Big 8 | 31-15 | The Falcons were 4-2 in the postseason, advancing to the Super Regionals before losing a 3-game series v. Ohlone. They were 3-0, two wins v. Cosumnes River and one v. Chabot to win its Round 1 series. All-Big 8 Andrew Balentine is NorCal's best relief pitcher. | #18 | Up 6 spots | N7 |
| 13. | SADDLEBACK, Orange Empire | 27-19 | The Bobcats were 3-3 in the postseason, advancing to the Super Regionals before being swept in a 2-game series by Palomar. They won a Round 1 series, going 2-0 v. Cerritos and 1-1 v. Desert. Matt Henning is All-OEC 1B. | #16 | Up 3 spots | S6 |
| 14. | CYPRESS, Orange Empire | 28-16 | The Chargers went 2-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Citrus. Rocky Palacio is All-OEC pitcher. | #17 | Up 3 spots | S7 |
| 15. | EL CAMINO, South Coast | 33-9 | The Co-SCC champ Warriors went 0-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Fullerton. Slater Nunez is SCC MVP. | #5 | Down 10 spots | S8 |
| 16. | SAN JOAQUIN DELTA, Big 8 | 28-13 | The Co-Big 8 champ Mustangs went 0-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Hartnell. Tyler Antwine is All-Big 8 OF. | #7 | Down 9 spots | N8 |
| 17. | RIVERSIDE CITY, Orange Empire | 29-13 | The Tigers went 0-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Santa Barbara. Jorge Rodriguez is OEC Pitcher of the Year. | #8 | Down 9 spots | S9 |
| 18. | GLENDALE, Western State South | 30-12-1 | The WSC South champion Vaqueros were 1-2 in Round 1, eliminated by LA Pierce. Jimmy Cafferty is WSC South Pitcher of the Year. | #10 | Down 8 spots | S10 |
| 19. | FULLERTON, Orange Empire | 26-23 | The Hornets were 5-4 in the postseason, advancing to the Regional Finals before being swept in a 2-game series v. Santa Ana. They won a Round 1 series, going 2-1 v. Southwestern and beating El Camino. They won the Super Regionals in 3 games v. Pierce. Sage Nelson is All-OEC pitcher. | #30 | Up 11 spots | S11 |
| 20. | LA PIERCE, Western State North | 26-21 | The Brahmas were 4-3 in the postseason, advancing to the Super Regionals before knocked out by Fullerton in 3 games. They were 2-0 v. Glendale and 1-1 v. Golden West to win its Round 1 series. Brayden Briscoe is All-WSC North pitcher. | Not Ranked | S12 | |
| 21. | HARTNELL, Coast South | 26-20 | The Panthers were 4-2 in the postseason, advancing to the Super Regionals before knocked out by Feather River in 3 games. They were 3-0, two wins v. Sacramento and one v. Delta to win its Round 1 series. Spencer Merritt is All-Coast South 1B, set Hartnell's hits record with 73. | Not Ranked | N9 | |
| 22. | MT. SAN ANTONIO, South Coast | 24-19 | The Co-SCC champ Mounties were 1-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Palomar. Hudson Castillo is SCC Pitcher of the Year. | #19 | Down 3 spots | S13 |
| 23. | COLLEGE OF THE DESERT, Inland Empire Athletic | 32-8 | The IEAC champion Roadrunners were 1-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Saddleback. Brandon Leon is IEAC MVP. | #14 | Down 9 spots | S14 |
| 24. | GROSSMONT, Pacific Coast Athletic | 27-17 | The Griffins went 2-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Allan Hancock. Justin Heffler is All-PCAC OF. | #25 | Up 1 spot | S15 |
| 25. | CERRITOS, South Coast | 27-16 | The Falcons went 1-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Saddleback. Tyler Peshke is All-SCC SS. | #20 | Down 5 spots | S16 |
| 26. | SKYLINE, Coast North | 31-12 | The Trojans went 1-2 in Round 1, eliminated by West Valley. Steven Dalton is Coast North Pitcher of the Year. | #23 | Down 3 spots | N10 |
| 27. | GOLDEN WEST, Orange Empire | 22-21 | The Rustlers went 1-2 in Round 1, eliminated by LA Pierce. Nick Salmon is All-OEC DH. GWC can boast it was 3-0 v. the state champ Santa Ana this season. | #21 | Down 6 spots | S17 |
| 28. | SACRAMENTO CITY, Big 8 | 23-20 | The Panthers went 1-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Hartnell. Ned Frutchey is All-Big 8 Pitcher. | #28 | Same | N11 |
| 29. | CHABOT, Coast North | 22-19-1 | The Coast North champion Gladiators went 0-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Folsom Lake. Riley Winchell is Coast North Big Stick winner. | #22 | Down 7 spots | N12 |
| 30. | COLLEGE OF MARIN, Bay Valley | 27-15 | The BVC champion Mariners were 1-2 in Round 1, eliminated by SRJC. Gilbert Roth is BVC MVP. | #26 | Down 4 spots | N13 |
| OTHERS | ||||||
| LASSEN, Golden Valley | 28-15 | The Cougars went 1-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Ohlone. Kylan Kono is All-GVC SS. | State #24 | N14 | ||
| COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO, Coast North | 27-16 | The Bulldogs went 2-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Modesto. Carter Bleeker is All-Coast North 3B. | N15 | |||
| ANTELOPE VALLEY, Western State South | 25-14 | The Marauders did not make it into the postseason, but they were one of 16 teams to reach 25 wins in the South. Drew Watkins is All-WSC South 2B. | S18 | |||
| PASADENA CITY, South Coast | 23-19 | The Lancers went 0-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Citrus. Sergio Robles is All-SCC reliever. | State #29 | S19 | ||
| LOS MEDANOS, Bay Valley | 27-15 | The Mustangs went 1-2 in Round 1, eliminated by West Valley. Carlos Garcia is All-BVC OF. | N16 | |||
| CERRO COSO, Inland Empire Athletic | 24-18 | The Coyotes went 1-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Santa Ana. Cayden Trujillo is All-IEAC OF. | S20 | |||
| MONTEREY PENINSULA, Coast South | 24-18 | The Lobos went 0-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Feather River. Fabio Bundi is 2-time, Coast South Pitcher of the Year. | N17 | |||
| SIERRA, Big 8 | 20-19 | The Wolverines went 0-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Fresno. Matias Michel is All-Big 8 pitcher. | N18 | |||
| SOUTHWESTERN, Pacific Coast Athletic | 22-21 | The Jaguars went 2-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Fullerton. Josh Hughes is All-PCAC OF. | ||||
| MT. SAN JACINTO, Inland Empire Athletic | 22-20 | The Eagles went 0-2 in Round 1, eliminated by Palomar. Steven Felipe is All-IEAC 3B. | ||||
| BAKERSFIELD, Western State South | 20-20 | The Renegades did not make it to the postseason, stuck in the 3-way tie with Canyons and AVC that blocked any chance of the playoffs. Landon McDonald is All-WSC South Big Stick and was state batting champion at .492. | ||||
| TAFT, Central Valley | 20-20 | The Cougars did not make it to the postseason, but was one of only two teams in the CVC to finish .500 overall or better. Landon Angelo is All-CVC Utility. | N19 | |||
| MENDOCINO, Bay Valley | 19-18 | The Eagles did not make the postseason and were one of 20 NorCal teams to have a .500 or better record. Dominic Joseph is All-BVC 2-Way winner. | N20 | |||
| SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY, Inland Empire Athletic | 20-20 | The Wolverines did not make the postseason and were one of 24 SoCal teams to have a .500 or better record. Adrian Diaz is All-IEAC Big Stick winner. |
Release/Rankings by Robert Lewis, CCCBCA Publicist