A closer look at the top 25 in this week's MaxPreps National Baseball Rankings.
By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
1. Klein (Spring, Texas), 22-2
The Latest: Defeated Oak Ridge 12-0 and 5-2 in the 5A bi-district playoffs on Friday.
Highlights: Tyler Boss and Sam Landis both hit home runs in the 12-0 win and Matt Purke got the victory. Kevin Serchia got the win in the 5-2 victory.
What’s Up Next: Scheduled to play Belton in second round of 5A playoffs Thursday.
2. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), 33-2
The Latest: Defeated Clark 12-1 and Durango 11-2 to close out the league season. Fell to Palo Verde 2-1 (not reflected in rankings) in first round of Nevada state playoffs.
Highlights: Brandon Garcia had a home run and five RBI in the win over Clark while Jeff Malm struck out 12 batters in five innings in the win over Durango. Bishop Gorman was the No. 2 seed from the Southwest League in the Sunset Region playoffs and lost to Palo Verde 2-1 in the first round.
What’s Up Next: Bishop Gorman plays Arbor View in an elimination game today.
3. Owasso (Okla.), 33-3
The Latest: Defeated Sapulpa 8-0, Claremore 13-7 and Sapulpa 9-0 in regional play.
Highlights: Brandon Bargas had a home run and Ryan Prickett raised his record to 5-0 with 10 strikeouts in the 10-0 win over Sapulpa. Against Claremore, the Rams had five home runs, including two by Ben Kozma. Brian Flynn and Tyler Sparks combined on a one-hitter in the 8-0 victory over Spulpa with Flynn striking out nine and giving up no hits in five frames.
What’s Up Next: Opens with Midwest City in the first round of the Class 6A baseball championships, bracket B, on Thursday.
4. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 23-8
The Latest: Defeated North Canyon 11-3, Corona del Sol 10-4 and Mountain View 10-8 in the first three rounds of the Arizona 5A Div. 1 state playoffs.
Highlights: Hamilton, the No. 4 seed, upended top see Mountain View thanks to a 3-for-5 effort by catcher Jake Saylor, who had a double and three RBI, including the gamewinner in the fifth.
What’s Up Next: Plays Desert Mountain for the championship of Pool A on Thursday for right to play in the championship game, which is Saturday at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
5. Plano West (Plano, Texas), 30-0
The Latest: Defeated South Garland 4-1 and 7-6 in the first round of the 5A bi-district playoffs.
Highlights: Kale Kiser had a home run and Drew Johnson was the winning pitcher in the 7-6 win for the Wolves. Jason Coats has a triple and Tyler Bruce had a double got help give Ben Flora the 4-1 victory in the opener.
What’s Up Next: Plays Longview on Thursday and Friday in the second round.
6. Niceville (Fla.), 23-7
The Latest: Defeated Rutherford 6-5 and Pace 3-2 in 5A state playoffs.
Highlights: The Eagles defeated Pace 3-2 thanks to a balk in the seventh inning. With the appropriately named Cody Balkcom at the plate, Pace pitcher CT Bradford stepped off the back of the mound with the wrong foot. The umpire called a balk, which brought home Robby Campbell from third base for the winning run. Pitcher Brett DeVall got the win despite giving up his first two runs in the postseason. DeVall had thrown 18 consecutive scoreless innings and had only given up three earned runs all year.
What’s Up Next: Plays Gainesville in regional finals May 9-10.
7. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 27-2
The Latest: Defeated Pope John Paul II 18-0 and Coral Springs Charter 4-1 in first two rounds of 3A playoffs.
Highlights: Nick Castellanos, Brandon Sedell and Eric Hosmer all hit home runs for the Patriots in the win over Pope John Paul II. Sedell knocked in a pair of runs against Coral Springs Charter.
What’s Up Next: Plays Chaminade in 3A regional finals on May 9-10.
8. Brownsburg (Ind.), 13-1
The Latest: Defeated Avon 16-4 and 12-4 in Hoosiers Crossroad League play. Also fell to Jefferson 6-5 on Tuesday in a game not included in the rankings.
Highlights: Jefferson scored in the bottom of the seventh inning to upend the Bulldogs and put Brownsburg and Jefferson into a tie for second place in the Hoosiers Crossroad League
What’s Up Next: Plays at Plainfield on Friday.
9. Brookwood (Snellville, Ga.), 21-1
The Latest: Defeated Central Gwinnett 10-2 and South Gwinnett 3-0 last week.
Highlights: Jordan Erismen was 2-for-2 with two home runs in the win over Central Gwinnett. Chase Hawkins upped his record to 10-0 with the win, giving up two runs on two hits with seven strikeouts. Ronnie Freeman led the offense against South Gwinnett, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
What’s Up Next: Plays Alpharetta in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday.
10. Park Vista (Boynton Beach, Fla.), 28-1
The Latest: Defeated Jupiter 10-0 and Wellington 2-0 in first two rounds of 6A playoffs.
Highlights: Eric Rice allowed just two hits over six innings while striking out five in Park Vista’s 2-0 win over Wellington. Chris Matulis pitched a one-hitter against Jupiter to improve his season record to 9-0.
What’s Up Next: Plays Flanagan in 6A regional playoffs on May 9-10.
11. Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 20-4
The Latest: Defeated Mater Dei 4-1 and lost to the Monarchs 4-3. Beat St. John Bosco this week 9-4.
Highlights: Dillon Bryant and Chase Harrison each belted home runs with Harrison driving in four runs on the day in a 9-4 win over St. John Bosco.
What’s Up Next: Finished regular season with St. John Bosco on Wednesday.
12. Stratford (Goose Creek, S.C.), 10-0
The Latest: Defeated South Florence 11-1 on April 30, lost to Summerville on Friday, 5-4, beat Wando 2-1 on Monday. Last two games not reflected in rankings.
Highlights: Tyler Hill had the game-winning hit in extra innings Monday to keep the Knights alive in the Lower State playoffs.
What’s Up Next: Plays Summerville in Class 4A elimination game.
13. Rowlett (Texas), 29-1-1
The Latest: Defeated Plano East 7-6 and 18-14 after losing the bi-district opener 3-1.
Highlights: Blake Hamblin, Drew Mayhall and Reed Graham all had home runs for Rowlett in an 18-14 victory. Hamblin and Justin Snider both homered in the 7-6 win.
What’s Up Next: Plays Tyler Lee in the second round of 5A playoffs on Friday and Saturday.
14. Conway (S.C.), 18-0
The Latest: Defeated Wando 5-0 and Summerville 6-4 to advance to finals of Lower State 4A bracket.
Highlights: Colby Holmes struck out 17 and hit a home run to lead Conway past Summerville 6-4.
What’s Up Next: Will play winner of Stratford/Summerville game on Firday to determine Lower State 4A champion.
15. Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater, Fla.), 24-2
The Latest: Defeated Cardinal Mooney 6-2 and Bishop Verot 12-0 in first two rounds of 3A playoffs.
Highlights: Joe McLemore belted a two-run homer and Ryan Weber didn’t allow a Viking runner into scoring position in the 12-0 victory over Bishop Verot.
What’s Up Next: Plays John Carroll in 3A regional finals on May 9-10.
16. Alvin (Texas), 27-4
The Latest: Defeated Fort Bend Dulles 2 games to 1 in first round of 5A playoffs, winning 4-3 and 6-5 and losing 7-6.
Highlights: Andrew Gross had an RBI double to tie the game and Robert Hoffman drove in the winning run to advance Alvin to the second round in a 6-5 win over Dulles.
What’s Up Next: Plays Brazoswood in second round starting Thursday.
17. Sarasota (Fla.), 20-3
The Latest: Defeated Gaither 8-1 in first round of 6A playoffs, lost to Lakeland 6-5 in second round.
Highlights: Scooter Gennett capped a big fifth inning against Gaither with a two-run homer. Garrett Custons and Robin Rothenbach each had three hits in the win.
What’s Up Next: Season over.
18. Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville, Ky.) 20-1
The Latest: Defeated Battle Ground Academy 14-1 and 11-2, defeated DuPont Manual 9-1.
Highlights: Eric Bainer, Luke Bainer and Taylor Banks all had home runs in an 11-2 win over Battle Ground Academy.
What’s Up Next: Plays St. Xavier on May 12.
19. Poway (Calif.), 22-5
The Latest: Defeated La Costa Canyon in three games, 5-0, 5-4 and 10-3.
Highlights: Dillon Dooney and Jason Brunansky homered in a 5-4 win while Alex Dickerson hit one out in a 10-3 victory.
What’s Up Next: Plays Torrey Pines on Friday.
20. Parkview Baptist (Baton Rouge, La.), 33-4
The Latest: Defeated West Feliciana 16-1 and Catholic 14-4.
Highlights: Michael Cagley, Alex Byo and Alex Edward each hit a home run to lead Parkview past West Feliciana. Chase Richard homered in the Catholic win.
What’s Up Next: Plays Kaplan, Friday, in the semifinals of the 3A playoffs.
21. Bishop Kelley (Tulsa, Okla.), 21-8
The Latest: Defeated Cowetta 9-8 and Miami 13-3 in regional playoffs.
Highlights: Tyler Thalken is batting 6-for-7 in the Comets’ last two games heading into the 5A state playoffs.
What’s Up Next: Plays Duncan in first round of 5A state playoffs, bracket B, on Thursday.
22. Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins, Colo.), 18-3
The Latest: Defeated Kennedy 10-0 and Fairview 15-1 in district playoffs.
Highlights: Rocky Mountain enters the state playoffs with returning state MVP Andy Burns hitting .484 with six home runs.
What’s Up Next: Plays Chaparral on Friday.
23. Oakton (Vienna, Va.), 10-1
The Latest: Defeated Fairfax 13-0, lost to Chantilly 6-5 in game not reflected in rankings.
Highlights: Chantilly’s win over Oakton was the first since 2000. Keith Werman, Connor Madden and Kevin Wager combined for five hits in the loss.
What’s Up Next: Plays Fauquier on Saturday.
24. Fayetteville (Ark.), 26-3
The Latest: Defeated Van Buren 9-7 and 5-2, lost to Joplin, 12-8, in nonleague game not reflected in rankings.
Highlights: Scott McFall and Spencer Hansen each had wins in the doubleheader sweep of Van Buren. Weston Harbaugh added a home run.
What’s Up Next: Opens 7A playoffs with a bye, will play winner of Bryant/Van Buren contest on Saturday.
25. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 29-2
The Latest: Defeated Morristown Hamblen East 13-6, Maryville 4-0 and Bearden 2-1.
Highlights: Matt Ramsey struck out 14 batters in the 2-1 win over Bearden.
What’s Up Next: Played today in District 4-AAA championship game.
