Previously, only two teams from Alabama have rose to
the top of the national rankings.
Russell County (Seale, Ala.) was named the No. 1
team in the country in 2005 and MaxPreps named
Lanier (Montgomery, Ala.) the No. 1 team in 1954 in retroactive national
rankings published in 2021.
Central has won 18 straight games
since losing to
Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) on March 2. Corona falls to No. 3 with
the loss to Mater Dei but the Panthers have an opportunity to bounce back when they participate in the National High
School Invitational (NHSI) this week. Corona starts play Wednesday
against
Puyallup (Wash.).
The NHSI will host five MaxPreps Top 25 teams, including three from California in No. 3 Corona, No. 15
Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) and No. 16
Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.). No. 10
Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.) and No. 25
Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) also will participate.
Dropped out: No. 13
Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.), No. 23
Venice (Fla.)Newcomers: No. 24
Granada (Livermore, Calif.), No. 25 Wesleyan Christian Academy
Game of the Week:
Central def. Opelika, 3-2. The Red Devils might not
have moved up to No. 1 this week if not for an eighth-inning rally
against Opelika. Tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Central loaded
the bases for Cooper Kehoe, who bunted home the winning run.
Game to Watch:
Corona vs. Puyallup. The Panthers will try to rebound
from losing to Mater Dei with a first-round win against Puyallup (9-1).
Player of the Week: Jordan Martinez of Trinity Christian Academy had three home runs last week to lead the Conquerors to three wins.
Streaks: Eaton (Colo.) won three times last week to raise its season record to 9-0 and overall win streak to 50 games.
Kennedy (Mt. Angel, Ore.) saw its win streak reach 46 games in a row before losing to
Umpqua Valley Christian (Roseburg, Ore.) last week.
Boston Kellner of No. 23 Hamilton has a 4-1 record with 30 strikeouts in 32 innings while batting .508 with 10 home runs, 32 runs and 21 RBI. (Photo: David Venezia)
1. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
Record: 28-1 |
Last week: 2
Scores: Def. Opelika, 15-2, 4-0, 3-2, def. Troup County, 4-2
Hitter of the week: Chris Kelly went 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBI in the 4-0 victory.
Pitcher of the week: Cam Norton went five innings and gave up no runs on two hits with three strikeouts in the 4-0 win.
Next: Wednesday vs. Auburn
2. Catholic-B.R. (Baton Rouge, La.)
Record: 28-2 |
Last week: 3
Scores: Def. Teurlings Catholic (Lafayette), 11-1; def. St. Thomas More (Lafayette), 9-1; def. Woodlawn-B.R., 15-2, 10-0
Hitter of the week: Andrew Clapinski went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI against St. Thomas More.
Pitcher of the week: Wyatt Chenevert had nine strikeouts and gave up no runs on one hit in four innings in a 10-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Scotlandville
3. Corona (Calif.)
Record: 15-2 |
Last week: 1
Scores:
Def. La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 2-1; def. Aquinas (San Bernardino),
8-0; def. Etiwanda, 11-0; lost to Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 3-5
Hitter/Pitcher of the week: In wins over Aquinas and Etiwanda,
Seth Hernandez
went 3-for-6 with three home runs and 10 RBI. He also threw a
seven-inning shutout with two hits and 11 strikeouts against Aquinas.
Next: Wednesday vs. Puyallup (Wash.) at National High School Invitational
4. Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.)
Record: 26-2 |
Last week: 6
Scores: Def. St. Joseph Catholic (Madison, Miss.), 10-0, 14-2, 7-3
Pitcher/Hitter of the week:
Konnor Griffin got the win in a 10-0 victory, going five innings with
no runs on two hits with seven strikeouts. At the plate, Griffin went
6-for-10 with six runs, five RBI, two doubles and two home runs in the
three-game series.0
Next: Tuesday vs. Hartfield Academy (Flowood)
5. Flower Mound (Texas)
Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 7
Scores: Def. Lewisville, 11-1, 10-2; def. Argyle, 6-3
Hitter of the week: Adrian Rodriguez went 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI.
Pitcher of the week: Cooper Harris struck out 12 in six innings and gave up one run on three hits in a 10-2 win.
Next: Tuesday vs Coppell
6. North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.)
Record: 14-2 |
Last week: 12
Scores: Def. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 4-0; def. NSU University (Fort Lauderdale), 8-3
Hitter of the week: Andrew Cutler went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI against NSU.
Pitcher of the week: Mateo Gray went seven innings against Calvary Christian, giving up no runs on three hits with nine strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Palm Beach Central
7. Harlem (Ga.)
Record: 25-0 |
Last week: 15
Scores: Def. Statesboro, 12-0; def. Salem, 16-0; def. Lakeside, 13-0
Hitter of the week: Tyler Simmons had a pair of home runs and eight RBI against Lakeside.
Pitcher of the week: Caiden Coile went four innings against Statesboro and gave up no runs on no hits with four strikeouts.
Next: Monday vs. Salem (Conyers)
8. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 7-0 |
Last week: 16
Scores: Def. DePaul College Prep, 17-1; def. Harlan County, 13-0; def. Granby, 17-2
Hitter of the week: Hanleigh Lopez had a double, a triple and five RBI against Granby.
Pitcher of the week: Tyler Heflin went four innings for the win against Granby, giving up two runs on two hits with seven strikeouts.
Next: Wednesday vs. St. Xavier (Cincinnati)
9. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)
Record: 15-1 |
Last week: 17
Scores: Def. East Lake, 10-5; def. Tampa Prep, 10-3; def. Lakewood, 13-3
Hitter of the week: Andrew Tess went 5-for-5 in games against Tampa Prep and Lakewood, with five RBI, a double and two home runs.
Pitcher of the week: William Eaton got the win over Lakewood, giving up no runs on no hits with six strikeouts in three innings.
Next: Tuesday vs. Bishop McLaughlin Catholic
10. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Record: 16-1 |
Last week: 18
Scores: Def. Flagler Palm Coast, 8-0; def. Viera, 2-0; def. Calvary Day, 11-1
Hitter of the week:
Jordan Martinez went 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBI against
Calvary Day. He also had a double and a home run against Flagler Palm
Coast.
Pitcher of the week: Ethan Wheeler went seven innings against Viera, giving up no runs on four hits with 12 strikeouts.
Next: Wed. vs. Apex Friendship (Apex, N.C.) at National High School Invitational
11. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)
Record: 18-1 |
Last week: 19
Scores: Def. South Miami, 14-1; def. Mater Lakes Academy, 12-2; def. Terra Environmental, 10-0
Hitter of the week:
Sebastian Berrios went 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBI against
Mater Lakes. He also went 2-for-2 with a home run and five RBI against
South Miami.
Pitcher of the week: Jaydn Nunez struck out four in two innings with no runs on no hits in the win over Terra.
Next: Tuesday vs. South Broward (Hollywood)
12. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
Record: 18-4 |
Last week: 10
Scores: Def. IMG Academy, 6-3; lost to Dunedin, 3-2
Hitter of the week: Adrian Jimenez doubled and drove in two runs against IMG.
Pitcher of the week: Thorpe Musci got the win over the Ascenders, tossing five innings with six strikeouts.
Next: Monday vs. Archer (Lawrenceville)
13. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 16-2 |
Last week: 4
Scores: Lost to Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.), 6-3; def. Warren East (Bowling Green, Ky.), 14-0; def. Miami Christian (Fla.), 4-0
Hitter of the week: Josh Hansen wen 3-for-3 with a double and four RBI against Warren East.
Pitcher of the week: Kyler Meccage, a freshman, went five innings against Warren East, giving up no runs on two hits with six strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Jesuit (Tampa)
14. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
Record: 13-5-1 |
Last week: 8
Scores: Def. Damien, 12-4, lost to Gahr, 4-3; def. Bishop Amat, 7-0; def. Granada Hills Charter, 12-2
Hitter of the week: Brody Schumaker had a home run and four RBI against Granada Hills.
Pitcher of the week: Brennan Bauer threw a five-inning shutout against Bishop Amat with five hits and four strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)
15. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
Record: 15-3-1 |
Last week: 11
Scores: Lost to Villa Park, 3-2; def. Orange Lutheran, 2-1
Hitter of the week: Ethan Price went 2-for-3 against the Lancers.
Pitcher of the week: Duncan Marsten got the win against Orange Lutheran, going five innings with no runs on three hits with five strikeouts.
Next: Wednesday vs. Key West (Fla.) at National High School Invitational
16. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 14-4 |
Last week: 9
Scores: Lost to Harvard-Westlake, 2-1
Hitter of the week: Gabe Fraser went 2-for-3 and scored the only run in the loss.
Pitcher of the week: Ross Clark threw 2.1 scoreless innings with one hit and one strikeout against Harvard-Westlake.
Next: Wednesday vs. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.) at National High School Invitational
17. North Cobb Christian (Kennesaw, Ga.)
Record: 19-2 |
Last week: 20
Scores: Def. Bethlehem Christian Academy (Ga.), 8-4
Hitter of the week: Spears Martin had a double and a home run with two RBI.
Pitcher of the week: Asher Sabom went five innings for the win, giving up one run on four hits with six strikeouts.
Next: Monday vs. South Atlanta
18. Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
Record: 21-1-1 |
Last week: 5
Scores: Def. Bishop Lynch, 4-0; lost to Bishop Lynch, 5-4
Next: Tuesday vs. John Paul II (Plano)
19. Tomball (Texas)
Record: 21-3 |
Last week: 22
Scores: Def. Tomball Memorial, 2-1, 8-0
Hitter of the week: Blaine Lucas went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run and two RBI in the 8-0 win.
Pitcher of the week: Karson Reeder went 6.2 innings and gave up no runs on two hits with nine strikeouts in the 8-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Klein Forest
20. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Record: 13-4 |
Last week: 14
Scores: American Heritage (Delray Beach), 4-1; def. Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale), 11-1; lost to Killian, 1-0
Hitter of the week: Nick Diaz went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI against Archbishop McCarthy.
Pitcher of the week: Jayden Dubanewicz struck out 11 in 5.2 innings pitched for the win against American Heritage..
Next: Monday vs. Cooper City
21. Prosper (Texas)
Record: 22-4 |
Last week: 24
Scores: Def. Boyd (McKinney, Texas), 6-4, 3-1
Hitter of the week: Heath Anderson went 1-for-2 with three RBI in the 6-4 win.
Pitcher of the week: Micah Melott went seven innings for the 3-1 win, giving up one run on five hits with four strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Braswell (Little Elm)
22. Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola, Fla.)
Record: 17-1 |
Last week: 25
Scores: Def. Mountain View, 5-2; def. South Warren, 20-3; def. Lincoln, 12-5
Hitter of the week:
Chris Rembert went 3-for-3 with four runs, a double, two home runs and
five RBI against South Warren. He also had a home run against Lincoln.
Pitcher of the week: Parker Granse struck out seven in five innings against Mountain View.
Next: Tuesday vs. Escambia (Pensacola)
23. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 15-3 |
Last week: 21
Scores: Lost to Basha, 3-1; def. Red Mountain, 7-4; def. Basha, 10-4
Hitter of the week: Drew Rogers went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run in the win over Basha.
Pitcher of the week: A.J. Diaz went three innings and gave up no runs on one hit with two strikeouts in the win over Basha.
Next: Monday vs. Perry (Gilbert)
24. Granada (Livermore, Calif.)
Record: 16-0 |
Last week: NR
Scores:
Def. Reno (Nev.), 4-3; def. Legend (Parker, Colo.), 10-1; def. St. Rita
(Chicago), 12-0; def. San Ramon Valley (Danville), 9-4
Hitter of the week: Tyler Kardy went 2-for-3 with a triple and four RBI against Legend.
Pitcher of the week: Jake Sekany struck out nine in 4.1 innings of a non-decision against Reno.
Next: Wednesday vs. Amador Valley (Pleasanton)
25. Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.)
Record: 9-1 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Did not play
Next: Wednesday vs. Casteel (Ariz.) at National High School Invitational
