Mount Carmel and Mira Mesa Make First Appearances in Baseball Poll

A year ago, Mount Carmel entered the San Diego Section playoffs as the top-seeded team in the 3-A division. The Sundevils, however, were defeated in the championship game by Santana.

After a slow start this season, it appears that Mount Carmel is planning a return trip to the playoffs. Last week, the Sundevils won two games to improve their Palomar League record to 6-1 and hold on to first place. The victories were also enough to put Mount Carmel in the No. 7 spot in this week’s Times Top 10--the Sundevils’ first appearance in the rankings this season.

Mira Mesa also won a pair of games last week and became the second new team to be ranked this week. The ninth-ranked Marauders may have their hands full on Wednesday, however, when they take on Patrick Henry, which won twice last week to hold on to its No. 1 ranking.

Here’s this week’s Times Top 10:

Pos. Team (League) Record 1. Patrick Henry (City Eastern) 15-1 2. Granite Hills (Grossmont) 16-3 3. Mission Bay (City Western) 17-3 4. Valhalla (Grossmont) 15-2 5. San Pasqual (Avocado) 15-2 6. Santana (Grossmont) 14-5 7. Mount Carmel (Avocado) 13-6 8. Mar Vista (Metro-Mesa) 14-5 9. Mira Mesa (City Eastern) 12-4 10. Hilltop (Metro-South Bay) 14-5

Best of the rest: Christian (10-6), Helix (12-7), Clairemont (13-6).