Broken Arrow's grip on the top spot in the MaxPreps Xcellent 50 National Baseball Rankings got a little more secure last week and the Tigers have Bergen Catholic to thank for it.
Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) entered the postseason undefeated at 25-0 and was coming off a championship in the Bergen County Tournament. After a bye, the Ironmen faced Bergen Catholic in the second round of the playoffs. Don Bosco Prep defeated Bergen Catholic 11-1 less than two weeks prior, but it was unable to pull out the win this time, falling 3-1 and ending its season.
Thus one of the biggest challengers to Broken Arrow's top spot in the rankings finishes its season at 25-1 and without a state championship. One challenger still looms, however, in South County (Lorton, Va.), which won the Virginia AAA Northern Region last week and begins play in the state tournament this week.
MAXPREPS XCELLENT 50 NATIONAL BASEBALL RANKINGS
1. (1) Broken Arrow (Okla.), 36-2
Oklahoma 6A state champions. Season over.
2. (2) Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), 30-2
California Central Section Division I champions. Season over.
3. (3) South County (Lorton, Va.), 26-0
The Stallions won the Virginia AAA Northern Region with a 9-5 win over Lake Braddock, which is ranked No. 3 in the Washington D.C. area by the Washington Post.
Luke Bondurant hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to propel South County to the win. The Stallions begin play in the state playoffs today against Nansemond River of the Eastern Region.
4. (4) Maize (Kan.), 25-0
Kansas 6A state champion. Season over.
5. (5) Owasso (Okla.), 37-2
Oklahoma 6A state runners-up. Season over.
6. (6) Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 28-3
Florida 4A state champion. Season over.
7. (8) Spanish Fork (Utah), 29-3
Utah 4A state champion. Season over.
8. (9) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 35-4
Nevada 4A state champions. Season over.
Evan Perez, JW North
Photo by Heston Quan
Florida 6A state champion. Season over.
10. (11) West Boca Raton (Fla.), 27-4
Florida 5A state champions. Season over.
11. (12) Brenham (Texas), 36-7-1
The Cubs advanced to the Texas 4A state tournament for the 16th time in the program's history after knocking off Magnolia 10-0 for the Region III championship. The Cubs had split the first two games with Magnolia, winning 10-2 before falling 3-2 on Friday.
Eric Stegent threw a one-hitter in the clincher while picking up the shutout.
12. (16) Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City, N.J.), 29-2
John Brue had a three-run homer and a three-run triple to lift Gloucester Catholic to an 11-0 win over Sacred Heart (Vineland) in the South Jersey Non-Public B semifinals.
13. (13) Jesuit (New Orleans), 29-5
Louisiana 5A state champions. Season over.
14. (14) Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), 27-5
Arizona 5A Division I state champions. Season over.
15. (15) Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 34-4
Arizona 4A Division I state champions. Season over.
16. (23) Washington (New York City), 38-2
The Trojans swept Lehman, 5-4 and 5-1, to advance to the PSAL championship game against Tottenville. George Washington could end up having suspended coach Steve Mandl in the dugout for the championship game, as he was in court Monday for his injunction against his season-long suspension for alleged recruiting violations.
17. (24) Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.), 29-4
The Lancers avenged an early season loss to Palm Desert and defeated the defending champions 7-0 for the California Southern Section Division IV championship.
Rio Ruiz had a two-run home run and
Jay Anderson belted a two-run triple.
Daniel Zamora pitched all but one out of the game for the win, allowing just four hits.
18. (26) Howell (St. Charles, Mo.), 32-3
The Vikings defeated Liberty 10-5 in the championship game to capture the Missouri Division 4 state title. Howell also came from behind to top Vianney 14-13 in eight innings in the semifinals.
19. (7) Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 25-1
The Ironmen lost to No. 8 seed Bergen Catholic in the NJSIAA Non-Public A tournament, ending their season. Don Bosco Prep had defeated Bergen Catholic 11-1 just 10 days earlier.
20. (22) Poly Prep Country Day (Brooklyn, N.Y.), 23-1
NYSAISAA champion. Season over.
21. (25) La Cueva (Albuquerque, N.M.), 25-4
New Mexico 5A state champions. Season over.
22. (29) Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.), 36-3
The Celtics topped Downers Grove South 12-3 to win the Class 4A Neuqua Valley Section title and defeated Edwardsville 13-3 in the 4A University of Illinois Supersectional on Monday.
Zak Kutsulis had a home run in the win over Edwardsville.
23. (38) Carroll (Corpus Christi, Texas), 34-6
The Tigers returned to the Texas 5A state tournament with a sweep of Alexander (Laredo) in the Region IV championship series. Carroll won the first game 2-1 in extra innings on Thursday and edged the Bulldogs 8-6 on Friday.
24. (NR) JW North (Riverside, Calif.), 27-7
The Huskies captured the Southern Section Division I championship with a 7-1 win over Esperanza.
Evan Perez threw a complete game for the win.
25. (NR) Brazoswood (Clute, Texas), 30-8
The Buccaneers swept Memorial (Houston) 12-5 and 8-6 to advance to the Texas 5A state tournament.
Brandon Bergen struck out nine and upped his season record to 15-0 with the 12-5 victory.
The Next 2526. (27) St. Louis University (Mo.), 24-1
Season over.
27. (28) Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 37-8
Tennessee AAA state champion. Season over.
28. (33) Portage Central (Mich.), 32-2
Portage Central won the district championship with an 8-5 win over Mattawan. The Mustangs also defeated Portage Northern 5-3 in the semifinals.
Mike Smodic came up big in both games, belting a two-run double against Portage Northern and he also had a double against Mattawan.
29. (17) Memorial (Houston), 32-10-1
Lost to Brazoswood 8-6 and 12-5 in the Texas Class 5A Region III finals and was eliminated from the postseason.
30. (18) Fort Bend Clements (Sugar Land, Texas), 35-4
Season over.
31. (20) Lakewood (Calif.), 29-5-1
After knocking off No. 1 seed Edison in the quarterfinals, Lakewood fell to JW North 10-4 in the semifinals and was eliminated. Sophomore standout
J.P. Crawford had a double and a triple in the loss.
32. (21) Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.), 25-4
Season over.
33. (35) Indianapolis Cathedral, 26-2
Defeated Brownsburg 10-0 in the regional opener. Played Westfield on Monday and won in five innings, 15-5. Plays Terre Haute South in the semifinals on Saturday.
34. (39) Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas), 38-5
The Wildcats swept rival Moody 3-0 and 5-0 to win the Class 4A Region IV championship and advance to the state tournament.
Wyatt Mathisen pitched a shutout in the final game Friday and also added his 13th home run of the season.
35. (19) Palm Desert (Calif.), 28-5
The Aztecs were unable to defend their California Southern Section Division IV title, falling to Bishop Amat (La Puente) 7-0 in the championship game Friday. Palm Desert had defeated Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) in the semifinals 2-1 to advance to the championship game. The Aztecs defeated Bishop Amat in the season opener.
36. (30) Lakeland (Fla.), 26-5
Season over.
37. (31) Pace (Fla.), 27-5
Season over.
38. (32) Sierra Vista (Las Vegas), 34-4
Season over.
39. (34) Bingham (South Jordan, Utah), 27-3
Utah 5A state champion. Season over.
40. (36) Spanish Fort (Ala.), 36-8
Alabama 5A state champions. Season over.
41. (37) Sumrall (Miss.), 30-5
Mississippi 3A state champions. Season over.
42 (43) Lyons (LaGrange, Ill.), 35-4
Zach Remijas picked up his 10th win of the season (10-0) to defeat Glenbard West 7-2 to win the St. Charles North Section final. Played Streamwood on Monday and won 6-1 behind the pitching of
Connor Cuff (10-0).
43. (40) Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.), 32-4
Season over.
44. (41) Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 27-7
Season over.
45. (44) Petal (Miss.), 24-12
Mississippi 6A state champions. Season over.
46. (45) Tupelo (Miss.), 31-6
Season over.
47. (46) Madison Central (Miss.), 31-3
Season over.
48. (47) Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), 27-7
Season over.
49. (48) Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.), 30-4
Florida 3A state champions. Season over.
50. (50) Sumter (S.C.), 24-6
Dropped Out: No. 42 Spalding (Griffin, Ga.); No. 49 Perrysburg (Ohio).
