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Ranked No. 1 in preseason, St. John Bosco’s baseball team suffered some surprising losses during the National High School Invitational and Boras Classic, losing three straight at one point.

“The little bump in the road was our last opportunities to get guys in there for non-Trinity League games to see what they could do,” coach Andy Rojo said.

The computer rankings didn’t appreciate St. John Bosco’s experimentation. The Braves closed the regular season with 11 straight wins and a Trinity League title, but were punished when the Southern Section Division 1 playoff pairings came out Friday. Orange Lutheran, second place to the Braves, was given a No. 4 seed ahead of No. 6 St. John Bosco.

The disrespect will only add to the motivation for the defending Division 1 champions. St. John Bosco finished the regular season 22-5 and 14-1 in the Trinity League.

It’s another lesson in this new era of relying on computer algorithms for playoff pairings. The people running the computers won’t release their secrets about how teams are really ranked. It’s locked up like the recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Two things are certain for all computer rankings: Head-to-head matchups are really not important and league finish doesn’t matter. Those are two criteria that used to be among the most important in the days when humans put together pairings, so you can understand why old-timers are having a hard time adjusting.

“We feel good,” Rojo said.

And he should. For Southern Section Division 1 baseball, it really doesn’t matter where you are ranked. The 16 teams are so good that everyone is set to go through a gauntlet and may the best team rise to the top.

Orange Lutheran is seeded No. 4 in the Division 1 baseball playoffs.

(Nick Koza)

St. John Bosco opens the playoffs on Tuesday in pool C facing probably the best opening opponent in Crestview League champion Cypress. St. John Bosco has ace Julian Garcia ready to go, but Cypress has multiple pitchers ready to compete. Sierra Canyon is the highest seed in pool C and opens at home against Oaks Christian.

Big VIII League champion Norco received the No. 1 seed for the first 16-team pool play tournament in Division 1. There are four four-team pools with the chance to lose one game and not go home. The first- and second-place finishers in each pool will advance to the single elimination eight-team quarterfinals.

“I love the double elimination,” Rojo said. “If you have a bad day, you get to redeem yourself.”

The other eight divisions remain 32 teams and single elimination.

The Braves effectively managed pitches for Garcia all season in his return from arm surgery that forced him to miss all of 2025. He was even taken out with a no-hitter in the sixth inning against Mater Dei while sticking with 85 pitches to preserve him for the playoffs. He’s had a pitcher-of-the-year season with a 7-1 record, 0.72 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 48⅓ innings.

The big change for the 2026 playoffs for St. John Bosco from 2025 is that closer Jack Champlin will be the No. 2 starter. Sophomore Brayden Krakowski has shown he can be an effective closer. A major decision by Rojo was to shake up his batting order after the three-game losing streak. He switched Jaden Jackson and James Clark, with Jackson becoming the leadoff man and Clark batting second.

“They’re both thriving,” Rojo said.

And so is St. John Bosco, whether computer believes it or not.

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

SOUTHERN SECTION

DIVISION 1

SEMIFINALS

Mira Costa at Huntington Beach, 1 p.m.

Loyola at Redondo Union, 5 p.m.

DIVISION 2

St. Margaret’s at Orange Lutheran, 5 p.m.

Edison at Camarillo, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 3

Palos Verdes at St. John Bosco, 6 p.m.

Foothill vs. Windward at Lewis Jackson Memorial Center, 3:30 p.m.

DIVISION 4

Royal at Village Christian, 6 p.m.

Crossroads at Sunny Hills, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 5

El Dorado at Bishop Diego, 3 p.m.

St. Anthony at Bellflower, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 6

Temecula Valley at Culver City, 6 p.m.

Garden Grove at Pasadena Poly, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 7

Rialto vs. Foothill Tech at Ventura College, 5 p.m.

Tustin at Oakwood, 2 p.m.

DIVISION 8

CAMS at Temescal Canyon, 5 p.m.

Palmdale Aerospace Academy at West Valley, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 9

Tarbut V’Torah d. YULA, 3-1 (Friday)

Downey Calvary Chapel at Vasquez, 6 p.m.

Note: Finals in all divisions May 15-16 (sites and times TBA).

SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

(Game at 3:15 p.m. unless noted)

TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE

FIRST ROUND

DIVISION 1

Pool A

Maranatha at Norco

Ayala at Sherman Oak Notre Dame

Pool D

Etiwanda at Corona

Corona Santiago at Orange Lutheran

Pool C

Oaks Christian at Sierra Canyon

Cypress at St. John Bosco

Pool B

Huntington Beach at Temecula Valley

La Mirada at Harvard-Westlake

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE

FIRST ROUND

DIVISION 2

Elsinore at Villa Park

Santa Margarita at Rancho Christian

Ganesha at Linfield Christian

San Clemente at South Hills

Trabuco Hills at Newport Harbor

Valley View at Great Oak

Dana Hills at Aquinas

El Segundo at Gahr

Costa Mesa at Servite

Vista Murrieta at Santa Ana Foothill

El Modena at Royal

Yucaipa at Paraclete

Newbury Park at Chaminade

Yorba Linda at Loyola

Mission View at Alemany

Alta Loma at Westlake

DIVISION 4

San Marino, bye

Walnut at Saugus

Hesperia at Rio Mesa

Claremont at La Salle

St. Anthony at Glendora

Sonora at Katella

Riverside Poly at Upland

Valencia at Anaheim Canyon

Santa Monica at Marina

Northview at La Quinta

Oxnard Pacifica at Palm Desert

Grand Terrace at San Marcos

Highland at Laguna Beach

Chino at Woodbridge

Monrovia at Castaic

La Serna at Moorpark

DIVISION 6

Ontario at California

Brentwood at Windward

Bloomington at Foothill Tech

Ramona at Canyon Springs

Granite Hills at Troy

Trinity Classical Academy at Orange

Northwood at Shadow Hills

Estancia at El Rancho

Western at Cantwell-Sacred Heart

Don Lugo at Savanna

Tustin at Covina

Alhambra at Mary Star of the Sea

Hueneme at Santa Ana Calvary Chapel

Hillcrest at Muir

Lakewood at Leuzinger

Lancaster at Crossroads

DIVISION 8

Rancho Alamitos at Los Amigos

Colton at Edgewood

Pasadena Marshall at Santa Rosa Academy

Vasquez at Chadwick

Beacon Hill at Rio Hondo Prep

Wildomar Cornerstone Christian at Compton

Indio at Rosemead

Lancaster Desert Christian at Oxford Academy

Buckley at Duarte

Santa Clarita Christian at Academy of Academic Excellence

Nuview Bridge at Burbank Providence

Bishop Diego at Nordhoff

Magnolia at Indian Springs

Banning at Artesia

Salesian at Anaheim

Hesperia Christian at Schurr

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

SECOND ROUND

DIVISION 1

Pool A Round 1 Winner vs. Pool A Round 1 Winner

Pool A Round 1 Loser vs. Pool A Round 1 Loser

Pool D Round 1 Winner vs. Pool D Round 1 Winner

Pool D Round 1 Loser vs. Pool D Round 1 Loser

Pool C Round 1 Winner vs. Pool C Round 1 Winner

Pool C Round 1 Loser vs. Pool C Round 1 Loser

Pool D Round 1 Winner vs. Pool D Round 1 Winner

Pool D Round 1 Loser vs. Pool D Round 1 Loser

FIRST ROUND

DIVISION 3

Arlington at Mira Costa

Redondo Union at Ridgecrest Burroughs

Dos Pueblos at Burbank Burroughs

Edison at Damien

Orange County Pacifica Christian at Palos Verdes

Warren at West Ranch

San Dimas at Cajon

Crescenta Valley at St. Francis

Oakwood at Agoura

Garden Grove Pacifica at Chino Hills

Bishop Amat at Corona del Mar

Fullerton at San Juan Hills

Charter Oak at Beckman

South Torrance at Millikan

Summit at La Canada

Simi Valley at Arcadia

DIVISION 5

Paloma Valley at Citrus Valley

Moreno Valley at Irvine

Cathedral at Calvary Baptist

Sunny Hills at Long Beach Poly

Tahquitz at Quartz Hill

Kaiser at Oak Hills

Heritage Christian at Paramount

Loara at Santra Barbara

Montebello at Long Beach Wilson

Jurupa Hills at Santa Fe

Temescal Canyon at Arrowhead Christian

Capistrano Valley Christian at Riverside Prep

Culver City at Cerritos Valley Christian

Mayfair at St. Bonaventure

Bishop Montgomery at Cerritos

Rancho Verde at St. Bernard

DIVISION 7

Palmdale at New Roads

Carpinteria at Flintridge Prep

North Torrance at Baldwin Park

Beverly Hills at Grace

Pasadena Poly at Santa Paula

Milken at Fontana

Patriot at Viewpoint

Placentia Valencia at Victor Valley

Riverside Notre Dame at Hemet

South El Monte at Buena Park

University Prep at Golden Valley

Jurupa Valley at Campbell Hall

Arroyo at Miller

Carter at Adelanto

Nogales at Garden Grove

San Jacinto Valley at Norwalk

DIVISION 9

Redlands Adventist Academy at Dunn

Santa Monica Pacifica Christian at Lennox Academy

Downey Calvary Chapel at Crossroads Christian

Coastal Christian at St. Monica Academy

Mesa Grande at San Bernardino

San Luis Obispo Classical at Ojai Valley

Loma Linda Academy at Webb

Santa Maria Valley Christian at Yucca Valley

Lucerne Valley at Rolling Hills Prep

United Christian Academy at Ambassador Christian

Riverside Bethel Christian at Desert Hot Springs

Anza Hamilton at Westminster

Pomona at Temecula Prep

Cobalt at Environmental Charter

Garden Grove Santiago at Gorman Charter

Animo Leadership at St. Pius X-St, Matthias Academy

Note: Second Round in Divisions 2-9 May 19; Third Round in Division 1 May 19; Quarterfinals in all divisions May 22; Semifinals in all divisions May 26; Finals in all divisions May 29-30.

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL & SOFTBALL

Thursday’s Results

BASEBALL

CITY SECTION

Angelou 14, Manual Arts 0

Birmingham 1, Cleveland 0

CALS Early College 12, Esperanza College Prep 2

Chatsworth 13, Taft 3

Collins Family 21, Central City Value 1

Diego Rivera 21, West Adams 0

Franklin 8, Hacienda Heights Wilson 7

Fremont 12, Dorsey 1

Garfield 7, South Gate 6

Granada Hills 6, El Camino Real 5

Harbor Teacher 17, King/Drew 3

Lakeview Charter 18, Valley Oaks CES 4

Marshall 12, Eagle Rock 0

Roosevelt 3, Legacy 0

University 5, Fairfax 1

Port of Los Angeles 14, Locke 1

RFK Community 11, Mendez 1

San Fernando 1, Sun Valley Poly 0

San Pedro 10, Narbonne 8

Sherman Oaks CES 9, Fulton 8

Sun Valley Magnet 10, Bert Corona 0

Sylmar 11, North Hollywood 1

Triumph Charter 17, Community Charter 6

Valor Academy 19, Discovery 8

Venice 4, Palisades 3

Verdugo Hills 7, Granada Hills Kennedy 2

Banning 10, Gardena 0

SOFTBALL

CITY SECTION

Camino Nuevo 19, Alliance Ouchi 1

Carson 20, Rancho Dominguez 0

Dorsey 21, King/Drew

Hollywood 19, Roybal 4

Legacy 13, LA Roosevelt 0

Mendez 26, RFK Community 4

Northridge Academy 12, VAAS 1

Port of Los Angeles 21, Harbor Teacher 1

San Pedro 14, Narbonne 0

Triumph Charter 10, Community Charter 7

Vaughn 21, Grant 12

Wilmington Banning 22, Gardena 0

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS

Thursday’s Results

CITY SECTION

QUARTERFINALS

DIVISION I

#1 Taft d. #9 East Valley, 25-23, 23-25, 25-8, 25-18

#4 North Hollywood d. #5 VAAS, 3-2

#3 Cleveland d. #6 Vaughn, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23

#2 Sylmar d. #7 Larchmont Charter, 25-20, 25-18, 25-20

DIVISION II

#1 LA Hamilton d. #8 Huntington Park, 3-0

#4 Marquez d. #5 Bernstein, 3-0

#6 Narbonne d. #3 Diego Rivera, 3-0

#7 Panorama d. #2 LA University, 25-16, 24-26, 25-15, 25-20

SECOND ROUND

DIVISION III

#1 New West Charter d. #17 San Fernando, 25-14, 14-25, 26-24, 25-13

#9 Central City Value d. #8 Foshay, 25-16, 13-25, 17-25, 28-26, 16-14

#5 University Prep Value d. #12 Northridge Academy, 23-25, 29-27, 25-23, 25-22

#13 Birmingham d. #4 Sun Valley Magnet, 25-18, 25-21, 25-20

#3 South East d. #14 Fairfax, 25-15, 25-19, 25-16

#11 Monroe d. #6 Reseda, 25-22, 25-23, 18-25, 25-19

#7 Lincoln d. #10 Animo Bunche, 21-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 15-8

#2 Legacy d. #18 Granada Hills Kennedy, 25-21, 25-22, 25-15

DIVISION IV

#17 Canoga Park d. #1 Hollywood, 25-16, 25-17, 25-20

#8 Annenberg d. #9 LACES, 3-0

#12 Mendez d. #5 Animo South LA, 3-2

#4 Math & Science College d. #20 Chavez, 25-23, 25-18, 29-27

#3 Manual Arts d. #19 West Adams, 3-1

#6 King/Drew d. #11 Animo Robinson, 25-21, 21-25, 19-25, 25-15, 15-11

#7 Maywood CES d. #10 Arleta, 25-23, 24-26, 25-17, 25-16

#2 RFK Community d. #18 Community Charter, 22-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-22

DIVISION V

#1 WISH Academy d. #17 Garfield, 25-21, 25-14, 25-22

#9 Alliance Levine d. #8 Locke, 25-19, 20-25, 25-23, 25-19

#21 LAAE d. #5 Fulton, 25-20, 24-26, 25-13, 25-20

#13 Rancho Dominguez d. #4 Animo Watts, 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-16, 15-13

#14 Franklin D. #3 Jefferson, 25-16, 25-20, 25-23

#6 Gardena d. #11 Stern, 25-13, 25-17, 25-19

#10 Animo De La Hoya d. #7 Horace Mann UCLA, 25-27, 27-25, 25-20, 26-24

#15 Sotomayor d. #2 Bert Corona, 25-20, 25-20, 25-23

Note: Quarterfinals Divisions III-V May 11; Semifinals Open Division-Division I May 12; Semifinals Divisions II-V May 13; Finals All Divisions May 15-16.

NEW YORK — President Trump’s 10% global tariffs were declared unlawful by a federal trade court in a fresh blow to the administration’s economic agenda, several months after the U.S. Supreme Court vacated earlier levies he’d imposed.

A divided three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade in Manhattan on Thursday granted a request by a group of small businesses and two dozen mostly Democrat-led states to vacate the tariffs. Trump imposed the 10% duties in February under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which had never previously been invoked.

The court for now only immediately blocked the administration from enforcing the tariffs against the two companies that sued and Washington state, making clear that it was not issuing a so-called universal injunction. The panel found that the other states that sued lacked standing because they aren’t direct importers, instead arguing that they were harmed by having to pay higher prices for goods when businesses passed on tariff costs.

It wasn’t immediately clear what the ruling would mean for now for other importers that had been paying the contested levies.

The majority of the panel rejected the administration’s stance that “balance-of-payments deficits” — a key criterion for imposing the Section 122 tariffs — was “a malleable phrase.” They concluded that Trump’s proclamation imposing the levies failed to identify that such deficits existed within the meaning of the 1974 law, instead using “trade and current account deficits to stand in the place.”

The decision is the latest setback for the president’s effort to levy tariffs without input from Congress. Earlier duties — overturned by the Supreme Court on Feb. 20 — were issued under a different law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. In that case, the justices ruled Trump had exceeded his authority, kicking off a legal scramble by importers for almost $170 billion in refunds.

The U.S. Justice Department could challenge the trade court’s latest ruling by taking the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which ruled against the Trump administration during the last tariff fight.

Section 122 allows presidents to impose duties in situations where the U.S. faces what the law defines as “fundamental international payments problems.” Even before Trump issued the tariffs, economists and policy experts debated whether the president would be able to build a solid legal framework using the statute.

In a proclamation declaring the use of Section 122, Trump said that tariffs were justified because the U.S. runs a “large and serious” trade deficit. He also pointed to the negative net flows of income from investments Americans have overseas and other things that showed the U.S. balance-of-payments relationship with the rest of the world was deteriorating.

Under the law, presidents have the ability to impose tariffs on goods imported into the U.S. on a short-term basis to address concerns about how money is flowing in and out of the country. Those concerns include “large and serious United States balance-of-payments deficits” and an “imminent and significant depreciation of the dollar.”

Unlike other legal options Trump might pursue to impose tariffs, Section 122 can be invoked without waiting for a federal agency to conduct an investigation to determine whether the levies are justifiable. But they can still be challenged in court.

The small businesses and states that sued argued that Section 122 became outdated when the U.S. ditched the gold standard decades ago. They say Trump improperly conflated “balance-of-payments deficits” with U.S. trade deficits in order to justify using the law.

They also allege that Trump’s order announcing the Section 122 tariffs was “riddled with omissions and mischaracterizations” around the meaning of a balance-of-payments deficit. The trade deficit cited by Trump is just one part of calculating the country’s balance of payments position, the states say.

Under Section 122, the president can order import duties of as much as 15%. The executive action can last 150 days, at which point Congress would have to extend it. Trump has said he would aim to increase the rate to 15% from 10%.

The states argue that Trump’s new tariffs violate other requirements in Section 122, including that such duties not be discriminatory in their application. The states argue that Trump’s new tariffs improperly exempt some goods from Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

According to the complaint, the Trump administration conceded during the previous litigation over his IEEPA tariffs that trade deficits “are conceptually distinct from balance-of-payments deficits.”

The clash over Section 122 emerged just as the legal fight over refunds from Trump’s IEEPA tariffs began to heat up. A different judge in the Court of International Trade, U.S. Judge Richard Eaton, is overseeing the massive refund effort and ordered Customs and Border Protection to give him regular updates on a largely automated process the government will use to issue most refunds.

Larson and Tillman write for Bloomberg.