Two more undefeated teams fall, shake up this week's MaxPreps top 25 high school baseball rankings

By Kevin Askeland May 6, 2025, 11:30am

Puyallup, Gloucester Catholic only remaining unbeaten teams in rankings.

IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) inched closer to a national championship as two more undefeated teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school baseball rankings suffered their first losses of the season.

Both Harlem (Ga.) and Conway (Ark.) lost for the first time in 2025, but both teams stayed in the rankings. Harlem's loss ended a 44-game win streak but it still advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class AAA state playoffs. Conway, meanwhile, lost to Cabot in a regular season game. Since Conway had a previous win over Cabot, the Wampus Cats stayed in the rankings but dropped to No. 25.

The losses were important for IMG Academy because its currently ranked No. 1. However, since the Ascenders do not play in the postseason, an undefeated team could still possibly knock the Florida sports academy out of the top spot with a strong playoff run.

The only two remaining undefeated teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 are Puyallup (Wash.), which stayed at No. 3 this week with a 21-0 record, and Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City, N.J.) with a 13-0 mark.



Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.) dropped out of the MaxPreps Top 25 after losing a playoffs series to Bob Jones (Madison). Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.) also dropped out after losing a league game to St. Ignatius College Preparatory (San Francisco).

Pace (Fla.), which plays Buchholz (Gainesville) in Florida's Class 6A state playoffs, moved in to the rankings at No. 20 while St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), which has won 11 straight games in the ultra-competitive Trinity League, moved into the rankings at No. 23.

Game of the week: Buchholz won a pair of games in their final at-bat over Tate (Cantonment) to advance in the Florida state playoffs. On Wednesday, the Bobcats scored in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Hudson Sapp to break a 2-2 tie. Buchholz blanked Tate in the top of the seventh to hold on for the win. On Thursday, Sapp scored the winning run on a single by J.J. Gardner in the bottom of the seventh.

Game to watch: Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.) vs. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.). The Vikings suffered their second loss of the season in the first game of the regional finals of the Class 3A playoffs in Florida. Bishop Verot did not drop from the playoffs since it still has a chance to advance with wins over Calvary Christian today and Wednesday. However, the Warriors have a chance to jump back into the rankings with a series win over Bishop Verot.

Pitcher of the week: Aaron Watson of Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.) threw his second no-hitter of the season, this time a perfect game in a six-inning, 10-0 win over Bozeman with 10 strikeouts.

Hitter of the week: Nick Diaz, Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.) homered in both playoff wins for the Eagles. He went 5-for-7 with five runs and five RBI in the two wins.



Streaks: Harlem reached 44 wins in a row before dropping a 2-1 decision to Whitewater (Fayetteville) and ending the streak. The active win streak leader is now believed to be Bishop Hendricken (Warwick, R.I.), which won 22 games to end the 2024 season and has won 14 games to begin the 2025 season for 36 in a row. The Hawks had tied Cumberland earlier in the season, but finished the suspended game last week, winning 6-4 in 11 innings.
Winners of 11 in a row in Southern California's rugged Trinity League, Aaron Garcia and St. John Bosco jumped into this week's MaxPreps Top 25. (PHOTO: Heston Quan)
Winners of 11 in a row in Southern California's rugged Trinity League, Aaron Garcia and St. John Bosco jumped into this week's MaxPreps Top 25. (PHOTO: Heston Quan)
MaxPreps Top 25 baseball rankings

1. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record:
24-1 | Last week: No. 1
Season complete.

2. Venice (Fla.)
Record:
28-3 | Last week: No. 2
Scores: Def. Newsome, 2-0, 10-0
Pitcher of the week: Carter Cox threw a one-hitter in a 2-0 win, striking out 10 and walking two.
Hitter of the week: August Backman had two doubles in a 10-0 win and a home run in the 2-0 win over Newsome.
Next: Wednesday vs. Alonso

3. Puyallup (Wash.)
Record:
21-0 | Last week: No. 3
Scores: Def. Graham-Kapowsin, 8-1
Pitcher of the week: Jett Reed pitched two innings in the 8-1 win, striking out six and giving up no hits and no runs.
Hitter of the week: Brayden Landry went 3-for-4 with two doubles in the win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Curtis

4. Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City, N.J.)
Record:
13-0 | Last week: No. 5
Scores: Def. Cherry Hill West, 3-0; def. Clearview, 10-0; def. Williamstown, 8-0
Pitcher of the week: Jude Morgan struck out 11 and gave up a walk in a six-inning no-hitter against Clearview.
Hitter of the week: Braeden Lipoff went 2-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored against Clearview.
Next: Tuesday vs. Williamstown

5. Corona (Calif.)
Record:
26-2 | Last week: No. 6
Scores: Def. Roosevelt, 5-0, 20-0
Pitcher of the week: Seth Hernandez gave up two hits and no runs in five innings of a 20-0 win, striking out 12 and walking none.
Hitter of the week: Ethin Bingaman went 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in the 20-0 win. He also had a triple in the 5-0 win.
Next: Playoffs, TBD

6. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Record:
27-2 | Last week: No. 7
Scores: Def. Taravella, 12-2, 10-0
Pitcher of the week: Daniel Tartaglia gave up no runs on five hits with five strikeouts in 10-0 win.
Hitter of the week: Nick Diaz went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in 12-2 win. He also had a double and a home run in the 10-0 win.
Next: Wednesday vs. West Broward



7. St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
Record:
26-1 | Last week: No. 8
Scores: Def. Paul VI, 4-2; def. Bishop Ireton, 11-0
Pitcher of the week: Clayton Armah threw six innings against Paul VI and gave up two runs on four hits with five strikeouts.
Hitter of the week: Ren Devereaux went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple and four RBI in 11-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Gonzaga

8. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Record:
28-4 | Last week: No. 9
Scores: Def. Episcopal, 9-4; def. Bozeman, 10-0
Pitcher of the week: Aaron Watson threw a six-inning perfect game against Bozeman with 10 strikeouts.
Hitter of the week: Parker Loew went 2-for-2 with a triple, two runs and two RBI in the 9-4 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Bozeman

9. Etowah (Woodstock, Ga.)
Record:
32-2 | Last week: No. 10
Scores: Def. Carrollton, 10-3, 11-1
Pitcher of the week: Jackson Rose fanned 12 and gave up one run on one hit in five innings of an 11-1 win.
Hitter of the week: Caden Borcherding hit home runs in both wins over Carrollton.
Next: Wednesday vs. Parkview (Lilburn)

10. Harlem (Ga.)
Record:
33-1 | Last week: No. 4
Scores: Def. Whitewater, 6-0, lost to Whitewater, 2-1, def. Whitewater, 5-2
Pitcher of the week: Domenic Titus gave up no runs on three hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings of a 6-0 win.
Hitter of the week: Steven Harshbarger went 3-for-3 with a double and a home run in the 6-0 win.
Next: Wednesday vs. Pickens

11. Buchholz (Gainesville, Fla.)
Record:
30-1 | Last week: No. 13
Scores: Def. Tate, 3-2, 3-2
Pitcher of the week: Cohen Lafler struck out five in three innings and gave up no runs and no hits against Tate.
Hitter of the week: Blake Brewer went 2-for-3 with a double against Tate.
Next: Wednesday vs. Pace

12. Owasso (Okla.)
Record:
34-2 | Last week: No. 14
Scores: Def. Enid, 5-2, def. Booker T. Washington, 8-7; def. Life Prep, 4-3
Pitcher of the week: Kooper Ranallo struck out six in seven innings of a 5-2 win.
Hitter of the week: Chris Zafaeres had a double and a triple and went 3-for-4 in 8-7 win.
Next: Wednesday vs. North Classen



13. South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.)
Record:
28-3 | Last week: No. 16
Scores: Def. West Nassau, 8-0; def. Suwannee, 3-0
Pitcher of the week: Coleman Borthwick struck out six in two and a third innings with no runs on one hit in 8-0 win; He struck out nine in the win over Suwannee.
Hitter of the week: Jackson Perkins homered in the 8-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Suwannee

14. Spruce Creek (Port Orange, Fla.)
Record:
29-2 | Last week: No. 18
Scores: Def. Creekside, 8-1, 6-3
Pitcher of the week: Garrett Grant struck out 12 in six innings in a 6-3 win.
Hitter of the week: Lamar Edwards went 3-for-3 with a double and a triple in 6-3 win.
Next: Wednesday vs. Hagerty

15. Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Record:
30-2 | Last week: No. 12
Scores: Def. McKeel Academy, 7-4; lost to Calvary Christian (Clearwater), 4-0
Pitcher of the week: Boston Selig struck out four batters in just over two innings in the win over McKeel Academy.
Hitter of the week: Braylon Sheffield had a double and a triple in the 7-4 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Calvary Christian

16. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record:
36-4 | Last week: No. 19
Scores: Def. Dutchtown, 2-0, 4-0
Pitcher of the week: Jairus Miller tossed a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts in a 4-0 win.
Hitter of the week: John David Alexander went 2-for-4 with a home run in 4-0 win.
Next: Thursday vs. Sam Houston

17. Memorial (Houston, Texas)
Record:
27-3-1 | Last week: No. 20
Scores: Def. Heights, 1-0, 8-4
Pitcher of the week: Matthew Manis struck out nine and gave up no runs on one hit in six innings of 1-0 win.
Hitter of the week: Blake Dardis had a pair of doubles in 8-4 win.
Next: Thursday vs. George Ranch

18. Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas)
Record:
28-2 | Last week: No. 21
Scores: Def. Valley View, 12-0, 22-3
Pitcher of the week: Collier Carroll threw a five-inning perfect game with 12 strikeouts in 12-0 win.
Hitter of the week: Aidan Flores went 2-for-2 with a double and five RBI in 22-3 win.
Next: Thursday vs. El Campo



19. Lutheran South Academy (Houston, Texas)
Record:
33-3-1 | Last week: No. 22
Scores: Def. St. Joseph, 16-0
Pitcher of the week: Wyatt Powell went four innings and gave up no runs on two hits with eight strikeouts.
Hitter of the week: Omar Serna went 3-for-3 with a double and a home run with five RBI.
Next: Tuesday vs. Kelly Catholic

20. Pace (Fla.)
Record:
24-4 | Last week: No. 28
Scores: Def. Tocoi Creek, 15-0, 11-0
Pitcher of the week: Tucker Ricks threw a four-inning no-hitter in a 15-0 win, striking out three.
Hitter of the week: Glenn Brooks had a home run and four RBI in 15-0 win.
Next: Wednesday vs. Buchholz

21. Aquinas (San Bernardino, Calif.)
Record:
24-2 | Last week: No. 24
Scores: Def. Linfield Christian, 12-2; def. Ontario Christian, 9-5; def. Linfield Christian, 4-2
Pitcher of the week: Hayden Vanderhoof went five innings and gave up two runs with five strikeouts in 12-2 win.
Hitter of the week: Mason Greenhouse went 2-for-2 with a double, a home run and four RBI in 12-2 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Woodcrest Christian

22. The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.)
Record:
27-4 | Last week: No. 25
Scores: Def. John Carroll Catholic, 5-2; def. Lakeland Christian, 10-0
Pitcher of the week: Tyler Arafet went three and two-thirds innings and gave up no runs on no hits with four strikeouts in 5-2 win.
Hitter of the week: Austin Pierzynski went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and two RBI in 10-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Lakeland Christian.

23. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Record:
22-4 | Last week: No. 38
Scores: Def. JSerra Catholic, 6,1, 11-3, 2-0
Pitcher of the week: Noah Everly went five innings and gave up no runs on tow hits with five strikeouts in 2-0 win.
Hitter of the week: Micah Taguiam went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI in 11-3 win.
Next: Wednesday vs. Torrance

24. Crespi (Encino, Calif.)
Record:
21-2 | Last week: No. 15
Scores: Lost to Harvard-Westlake, 2-1; def. Harvard-Westlake, 12-1, 7-6; def. Chaminade (West Hills), 9-4
Pitcher of the week: Tyler Walton went six innings and gave up just one run in a 12-1 victory.
Hitter of the week: Landon Hodge went 3-for-5 with a home run in 12-1 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Chaminade.



25. Conway (Ark.)
Record:
23-1 | Last week: No. 17
Scores: Def. Little Rock Southwest, 36-0; lost to Cabot, 6-5; def. North Little Rock, 16-6
Pitcher of the week: Carter Crow struck out six in three innings and gave up no runs on one hit in 36-0 win.
Hitter of the week: Shaun Cover went 2-for-2 with a grand slam home run in 36-0 win.
Next: Thursday vs. Jonesboro

Dropped out: No. 11 Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.), No. 23 Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.)