The Bee reveals its first prep baseball and softball rankings, plus coach gets milestone
In the first of The Fresno Bee’s baseball standings, Clovis North leads the way.
The Broncos are off to a 7-1-0 start, capped by a 2-1 victory over Frontier in eight innings last week.
Clovis North faces No. 12 Centennial and Hanford West this week.
Clovis East is No. 2. The Timberwolves enter the week with a 7-1-0 record after picking up wins over Garza and Salinas. Their only loss was to unranked and defending Central Section Division I champion Liberty-Bakersfield, which is 4-4.
The rankings will fluctuate throughout the season, so expect changes.
Clovis East will be tested as the season moves on, including the upcoming 55th Fresno Easter Classic, which takes place April 14-16 at various venues.
Teams featured in the annual event include No. 3 Buchanan, Clovis North, No. 5 Bullard, No. 16 Washington Union and No. 18 Kerman.
Recent tournament champions
Exeter defeated Tulare Union 4-3 in the championship game of the Caruthers Classic and Centennial defeated Kerman in the championship game of the Central Classic.
Coach wins No. 100
Liberty-Madera Ranchos Derick Kuhn has every reason to celebrate.
The Hawks took care of business defeating Fresno Christian 6-1.
That gave Kuhn his 100th career win.
Clovis West leads softball rankings
The Bee’s top-ranked Clovis West is off to a hot start with just one loss.
Clovis West is 10-1-1 and coming off a doubleheader sweep over Pleasant Valley.
Clovis West will look to continue the momentum against Kingsburg this week
No. 2 Buchanan is 10-2. The Bears have victories over Edison, Madera, Centennial and Madera.
Buchanan’s losses came to No. 8 Frontier and No. 6 Sanger.
No. 17 Garza, fresh coming off a 7-2 win over Immanuel in the championship game of the Caruthers Classic, is 10-0.
Coach close to milestone
Riverdale coach Bryan Close is nearing win No. 400.
Close started the season with a record 389-223-2 and now has 394 career wins, according to section historian Bob Barnett.
The Cowgirls are 5-2 record.
Baseball rankings
1. Clovis North 7-1-0
2. Clovis East 7-1-0
3. Buchanan 4-2
4. Clovis West 4-2
5. Bullard 6-2-0
6. St. Joseph 9-2-0
7. Stockdale 6-2-0
8. Garces 6-1-0
9. Independence 7-0-0
10. Highland 7-1-0
11. Madera 8-0-0
12. Centennial 6-2-0
13. Mission Prep 6-3-0
14. Cabrillo 5-2-0
15. Clovis 4-3-0
16. Washington Union 9-1-0
17. Righetti 5-3-0
18. Kerman 5-2-1
19. Fowler 5-1-0
20. Santa Maria 8-0-0
21. Kingsburg 5-3-0
22. Lemoore 6-1-0
23. Immanuel 7-1-0
24. Exeter 8-1-0
25. Reedley 6-2
Softball rankings
1. Clovis West 10-1-1
2. Buchanan 10-2-0
3. Clovis North 5-2-0
4. Central 4-1-1
5. Liberty-Bakersfield 4-2-0
6. Sanger 8-1-0
7. Garces 7-1-0
8. Frontier 7-4-0
9. Bullard 5-5-0
10. Hanford West 7-1-0
11. Lompoc 7-1-0
12. Highland 8-2-2
13. Righetti 7-3-0
14. Stockdale 6-1-0
15. Woodlake 7-0-0
16. North 9-2-0
17. Garza 10-0-0
18. Immanuel 7-1-2
19. Tulare Western 6-2-1
20. Golden West 7-3-0
21. St. Joseph 6-4-0
22. Redwood 5-3-1
23. Dinuba 7-4
24. Liberty-Madera Ranchos 6-3
25. Kerman 5-2
This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM.
