First week of the season produces six new teams in MaxPreps Top 25 high school baseball rankings

The 2025 high school baseball season got underway last week with competition beginning in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. The early action has already produced some movement in the MaxPreps Top 25 rankings.

Six teams from the aforementioned states who were included in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 lost during the opening week, including Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.), Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.), Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola, Fla.), Sumrall (Miss.) and Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.).

Replacing those six schools are four teams from Florida and two from Georgia.

Etowah (Woodstock, Ga.), ranked No. 27 in the preseason, jumps all the way to No. 7 after winning five games in the opening week. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.) also had a strong opening week with a trio of wins, including a 3-1 victory over Jesuit. The Warriors, No. 40 in the preseason, enter the MaxPreps Top 25 at No. 12.



Right behind Calvary Christian are Venice (Fla.) and Houston County (Warner Robins, Ga.) at Nos. 13 and 14, respectively. Venice defeated Out-of-Door Academy in its only game of the week while Houston County picked up four wins. Venice was No. 29 in the preseason while Houston County was No. 50.

The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.) and South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) are the remaining newcomers at Nos. 24 and 25. The First Academy was No. 42 in the preseason while South Walton was No. 49.

Teams that began the year in the MaxPreps Top 25 who picked up wins during the first week included IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.) and defending MaxPreps national champion Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.).

The Bears opened the defense of their national title with four wins last week, including a sweep of defending Division 1 Non-Select state champion West Monroe. Catholic has won 24 straight games dating back to last season.

Teams from California, Tennessee, Texas and the Carolinas begin play this week. MaxPreps Top 25 baseball rankings

1. Corona (Calif.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 1
First game: Saturday vs. Los Osos

2. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 2
First game: March 17 at Centerville



3. Huntington Beach (Calif.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 3
First game: March 5 vs. Harvard-Westlake

4. Tomball (Texas)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 4
First game: Thursday vs. Porter (at Deer Park Tournament)

5. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 2-0 | Last week: No. 5
Scores: Def. Lakewood Ranch, 5-1; Lakeland Christian, 10-0
Hitter of the week: Kelvyn Paulino went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI in 5-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Chase Bentley went five innings for the win over Lakewood Ranch, striking out five and allowing one run on three hits.
Next: Friday vs. George Jenkins

6. Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.)
Record: 4-0 | Last week: No. 6
Scores: Def. St. Paul's (Covington), 6-4, def. West Monroe, 15-1, 9-6, 8-1
Hitter of the week: Noah Lewis opened his season by going 6-for-11 in the first three games with five runs, four RBI and a double.
Pitcher of the week: Lucas Lawrence allowed one run on two hits in 4.2 innings pitched with four strikeouts in the 15-1 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Terrebonne (Houma)

7. Etowah (Woodstock, Ga.)
Record: 5-0 | Last week: No. 27
Scores: Def. Marist (Atlanta), 8-6; def. Woodstock, 6-2; def. Lowndes, 9-3; def. Lambert, 13-5; def. Starr's Mill, 13-5
Hitter of the week: Colin Anderson went 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBI in the win over Starr's Mill.
Pitcher of the week: Jack Turner got the win over Lambert, striking out seven and walking none in three innings of no-hit ball.
Next: Tuesday vs. Alpharetta

8. Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.)
Record: 3-0 | Last week: No. 23
Scores: Def. Lamar, 13-6; def. Tri-County Academy (Flora), 14-4; def. Prairie View Academy (Bastrop), 10-0
Hitter of the week: Cole Gideon went 4-for-4 with two doubles, three runs scored and four RBI against Tri-County Academy.
Pitcher of the week: Matthew McKinley got the win over Prairie View, striking out five in three innings while allowing no runs on one hit.
Next: Tuesday vs. Riverfield Academy (Rayville)



9. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 7
First game: Tuesday vs. Beachside (St. Johns)

10. Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 8
First game: March 22 vs. Bay City Western

11. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 10
First game: Saturday vs. Norco

12. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)
Record: 3-0 | Last week: No. 40
Scores: Def. Sports Leadership & Management, 10-0; def. Andote, 11-0; def. Jesuit, 3-1
Hitter of the week: Brett Garcy went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored against Jesuit.
Pitcher of the week: Caden Schlotterbeck went four innings and gave up no runs on one hit with nine strikeouts and no walks for the win over SLAM. He also struck out four in the win over Jesuit.
Next: Tuesday vs. Shorecrest Prep

13. Venice (Fla.)
Record: 1-0 | Last week: No. 29
Scores: Def. Out-of-Door Academy, 9-0
Hitter of the week: Graham Houston had a two-run home run in the 9-0 win.
Pitcher of the week: Jackson Lucas got the win, giving up no runs on three hits with four strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Braden River

14. Houston County (Warner Robins, Ga.)
Record: 4-0 | Last week: No. 50
Scores: Def. Perry, 8-2; def. North Oconee, 7-1; def. Alexander, 4-0; def. Mary Persons, 10-0
Hitter of the week: Noah Odom was 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBI and a double against Mary Persons.
Pitcher of the week: Max Wilhide went five innings and gave up no runs on no hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks against Alexander.
Next: Thursday vs. Hillgrove



15. Queen Creek (Ariz.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 12
First game: Feb. 27 vs. Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas)

16. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 13
Next game: Tuesday vs. Cypress

17. La Mirada (Calif.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 17
First game: Saturday vs. Etiwanda

18. Puyallup (Wash.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 18
First game: March 11 vs. Mt. Vernon

19. Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 19
First game: Feb. 27 vs. Hueytown

20. Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City, N.J.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 20
First game: March 31 vs. Washington Township



21. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 21
First game: Saturday vs. Farragut (Knoxville)

22. Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 24
First game: March 24 vs. Joliet Central

23. Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 25
First game: March 17 vs. LKY Saints

24. The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 2-0 | Last week: No. 42
Scores: Def. Lake Mary, 11-3; def. Northside Christian, 5-1
Hitter of the week: Blake Fields went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI in the win over Lake Mary.
Pitcher of the week: Ryon Smith struck out six in two and two-thirds innings to get the win over Lake Mary.
Next: Thursday vs. IMG Academy Gray

25. South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.)
Record: 2-0 | Last week: No. 49
Scores: Def. Northview, 17-0; def. Cottondale, 11-0
Hitter of the week: Charlie Willcox went 1-for-2 with a triple and an RBI against Cottondale.
Pitcher of the week: Denton Lord went two innings for the win against Cottondale, striking out all six batters he faced.
Next: Wednesday vs. Bozeman

DROPPED OUT: No. 9 Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.); No. 11 Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.); No. 14 Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.); No. 15 Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.); No. 16 Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola, Fla.); No. 22 Sumrall (Miss.)