Compiled By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
BASEBALL
1. Clearwater Central Catholic (17-1) – The Marauders jump to the top spot after two weeks as the No. 3 team. Ranked as the top squad in Class 3A in the state of Florida, CCC has won its last four games by a combined 42-5, including a 17-0 dismantling of St. Petersburg Northeast in the opening game of the Steve Georgiadis Tournament.
2. Tampa Plant (17-1) – The Panthers have won three in a row since their one-run loss to No. 4 Jesuit. Another test comes this week against No. 5 Alonso. Jared Womack and Preston Tucker continue to lead the Panthers – Womack is batting .535 while Tucker has a Hillsborough County-best six home runs and 31 RBI.
3. Seminole (17-0) – Ranked as the No. 1 team in Florida's Class 5A, the Warhawks continue to ride the arms of Patrick Eckelberger (5-0), Nash Reling (6-0), Craig Smith (3-0) and Tim Lamoureux (4-0). Seminole hosts the Georgiadis Tournament before turning its attention to the Class 5A, District 11 tournament.
4. Tampa Jesuit (18-2) – The Tigers have won 11-straight games, including a 2-1 last month to knock Plant from the ranks of the unbeaten. Jesuit won its inaugural Spring Break Wood Bat Tournament and junior shortstop Nick Lockwood has been key. Lockwood is batting .345 with five doubles, 19 runs and 14 RBI.
5. Tampa Alonso (14-1) – The beat goes on for the Ravens and for ace hurler Alex Panteliodis. Alonso has won 11 straight games and Panteliodis has extended his winning streak to 19 straight games. And in their 9-0 win against New Port Richey Mitchell, senior second baseman Sherman Johnson was 2-for-3 with a home run and 4 RBI.
Honorable Mention – Land O’ Lakes (14-1), Dade City Pasco (15-2), Dunedin (14-2), Lithia Newsome (12-4), Clearwater (12-2).
SOFTBALL
1. Tampa Chamberlain (16-1) – The Chiefs retain the top spot despite suffering their first loss of the season March 28. Chamberlain lost 2-1 in eight innings to No. 4 Plant. That leaves Chamberlain and Plant tied atop the Class 5A, District 10 standings at 13-1. Chamberlain is at the Kissimmee Spring Break tournament this week.
2. Clearwater Countryside (16-3) – The Cougars continue to impress with wins in five of their last six games. Desiree Baker leads the squad with 18 RBI but pitching and defense have been key – the Cougars have allowed just 27 runs in 19 games. Countryside travels to south Florida this week for the Jupiter Spring Tournament.
3. Land O’ Lakes (13-0) – Tandem of pitchers Kasey Murray and Michelle Bradley has kept the Gators on a roll. Murray is 8-0 with 67 strikeouts while Bradley is 5-0 with 42 K’s. Bradley’s also been dangerous at the plate with a .487 average, seven homers and 23 RBI. The Gatots are cruising towards the Class 5A, District 7 tournament top seed but have one remaining regular meeting with second-place rival New Port Richey River Ridge.
4. Tampa Plant (17-3) – Pitcher Kayla Suskauer allowed four hits and struck out eight in the Panthers’ huge win against no. 1 Chamberlain. The Panthers followed that with a third-place finish at the Spring Fling tournament. Erika Arcuri (.586 batting average) and Hannah Ojeda (.581) continue to pace Plant, which also will play at the Kissimmee Tournament this week.
5. Dade City Pasco (18-2) – The Pirates have won eight straight games, outscoring opponents 52-8 along the way. Pasco is perfect (15-0) in Class 4A, District 8 play and has four players batting .400 or better. Colena Lazar is one of them with a .440 average and six home runs. She’s also 8-1 as a pitcher with 107 strikeouts.
Honorable Mention – Plant City Durant (17-5), Tampa Gaither (15-5), Lithia Newsome (15-5), Pinellas Park (14-5), Riverview (12-7).