High school baseball rankings: IMG Academy remains No. 1 in MaxPreps Top 25 after pair of extra inning wins

Down to its final three outs, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) rallied for its biggest win of the season to remain unbeaten in a contest that could be a candidate for game of the year.

Trailing Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) 8-5 in the bottom of the seventh, IMG got a single, a walk and two straight singles with no outs to pull within a run at 8-7. After a strikeout, Evan Androvette singled in the tying run before Jesuit got out of the inning.

Stone Russell walked to open bottom of the ninth before a a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk sent pinch hitter Jackson LaLima to the plate where he singled home Russell for the winning run.

"Crazy game," IMG coach David Turgeon said via text to MaxPreps. "Both teams competed so hard and Jesuit is an extremely good team and well coached. Jackson LaLima was clutch for us. Comes off the bench and hits a walk-off single."

If the Jesuit game wasn't IMG's toughest game of the year, the 2-1 win over Dunedin (Fla.) the day before would qualify. The Ascenders needed an RBI double by Noah Franco in the top of the 11th to pull out that game.

With the two extra-inning wins, IMG Academy stays in the No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school baseball rankings. The Ascenders hold off surging Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.), which has won 40 games in a row over the past two seasons.

Meanwhile, 3,000 miles away in Southern California, the Trinity League is without a team in the MaxPreps Top 25 for the first time this year. Arguably the toughest league in the nation, the Trinity League fielded four teams in the Boras Classic South tournament last week and only one, Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), made it past the second round. No team in the league has less than five losses and leader Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) went 2-2 in the tournament to drop out of the rankings.

Tournament champion Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) now stands as the top team in the state and moves up to No. 7 after a win over National High School Invitational champion Huntington Beach (Calif.) in the Boras Classic South final. The Oilers, despite seven losses, stay at No. 8 thanks to strong performances at the NHSI and Boras Classic.

Notre Dame will take on No. 11 Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, Calif.), the Boras Classic North champion, on April 29 for the overall Boras Classic championship.

Game of the Week: St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) def. Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), 1-0. In the closest call during the Eaglets' 77-game win streak, Walsh Jesuit limited St. Mary's Prep to no runs through eight innings. However, Will Boisineau doubled home Hudson Brzustewicz in the top of the ninth to give the Eaglets the lead. Jasen Oliver then got the win in the bottom of the ninth after getting three straight outs after giving up a lead-off single.

Player of the Week: Easton Shelton of Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) extended his state-leading home run total to seven after hitting three home runs last week while driving in 10 runs.

Game to watch: IMG Academy vs. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.). The gauntlet of tough opponents doesn't end for the Ascenders as they take on No. 22 Montverde Academy. The Eagles lost to Foundation Academy last week, a team IMG defeated 21-0 early in the season.

Streaks: St. Mary's Prep broke the state record for consecutive wins with four victories last week. The Eaglets (11-0) have won 77 games in a row, surpassing the state record of 75 set by Homer from 2004 to 2005. Next up is Martensdale-St. Mary's (Martensdale, Iowa), which won 88 games in a row from 2010 to 2012.

Team of the Week: Selected based on stats submitted to MaxPreps.

P — Bradford McCurdy, McClintock (Tempe, Ariz.): Threw a five-inning no-hitter with 14 strikeouts against South Mountain.
C — Easton Eckroth, Moffat County (Craig, Colo.): Went 10-for-10 last week with eight RBI, four doubles and a home run.
1B — Kevin Gonzaga, Interlake (Bellevue, Wash.): Was 7-for-7 with four runs scored, two doubles and a triple.
2B — Gavin Frazier, New Castle (Ind.): Went 5-for-5 with four RBI, three doubles and a triple.
3B — Cooper Moss, Arnold (Panama City Beach, Fla.): Had a pair of home runs and went 6-for-6 with five RBI.
SS — Nate Morales-Leyva, Dysart (El Mirage, Ariz.): Went 5-for-5 with seven runs scored, six RBI, a triple and two home runs.
OF — Jake Zeal, Lena-Winslow (Lena, Ill.): Went 6-for-6 with eight runs, nine RBI, a double and a home run.
OF — Hudson Harker, Thunder Ridge (Idaho Falls, Idaho): Was 10-for-10 last week with seven RBI, four doubles and two triples.
OF — Cam Stringfellow, Dolores Huerta Prep (Pueblo, Colo.): Went 6-for-6 with seven runs, five RBI and four doubles.
MaxPreps Top 25 baseball rankings

1. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 20-0 | Last week: 1
Scores: Def. Dunedin, 2-1 (11); def. Jesuit (Tampa), 9-8 (9)
Hitter of the week: Pinch hitter Jackson LaLima had a walk-off ninth-inning RBI single to beat Jesuit.
Pitcher of the week: Noah Franco threw five no-hit innings with nine strikeouts to get the win over Dunedin.
Next: Tuesday vs. Montverde Academy

2. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Record: 18-0 | Last week: 2
Scores: Def. Naples, 2-0
Hitter of the week: Devin Fitz-Gerald went 1-for-2 with an RBI in the win.
Pitcher of the week: Christian Rodriguez tossed a seven-inning no-hitter with 13 strikeouts against Naples.
Next: Tuesday vs. Park Vista

3. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 33-1 | Last week: 3
Scores: Def. Sulphur, 8-3; def. Acadiana, 6-3, 9-0
Hitter of the week: J.C. Alexander went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBI in the 9-0 win.
Pitcher of the week: J.C. Vanek struck out seven in the 6-3 win.
Next: Playoffs TBD

4. St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 4
Scores: Def. Walsh Jesuit, 1-0 (9); def. Olentangy Orange (Lewis Center, Ohio), 8-5; def. Grove City (Ohio), 11-3; def. Milford, 5-2
Hitter of the week: Blake Grimmer went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI against Olentangy Orange.
Pitcher of the week: Jasen Oliver went 4.2 innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks in the win over Walsh Jesuit.
Next: Wednesday vs. Brother Rice (DH)

5. Sinton (Texas)
Record: 25-1 | Last week: 5
Scores: Def. Jones (Beeville), 12-1; def. Calhoun (Port Lavaca), 11-1; def. Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio), 10-0
Hitter of the week: Nick Flores was 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBI against Jones.
Pitcher of the week: Braeden Brown threw a five-inning shutout with seven strikeouts and no walks against Cornerstone Christian.
Next: Tuesday vs. Ingleside

6. Catholic-B.R. (Baton Rouge, La.)
Record: 31-2 | Last week: 7
Scores: Def. Scotlandville (Baton Rouge), 10-0; def. Zachary, 5-0, 5-1
Hitter of the week: Clayton Pourciau had a pair of hits against Scotlandville and Zachary.
Pitcher of the week: Andrew Clapinski threw four no-hit innings against Scotlandville with seven strikeouts
Next: Today vs. Zachary

7. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)
Record: 20-2 | Last week: 10
Scores: Def. San Dimas, 7-1; def. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 3-0; def. Orange Lutheran (Orange), 1-0; def. Huntington Beach, 8-5
Hitter of the week: Dean West went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI against JSerra.
Pitcher of the week: Oliver Boone threw seven shutout innings with two hits and eight strikeouts in the win over JSerra.
Next: Tuesday vs. Loyola

8. Huntington Beach (Calif.)
Record: 17-7 | Last week: 8
Scores: Def. La Mirada, 6-0; def. Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 6-2; def. Aquinas (San Bernardino), 4-1; lost to Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 8-5
Hitter of the week: Raffaele Velazquez had a home run against Mater Dei and a double against Notre Dame.
Pitcher of the week: Carson Lane pitched six shutout innings against La Mirada, striking out seven.
Next: Wednesday vs. Fountain Valley

9. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Record: 19-2 | Last week: 9
Scores: Def. Arbor View (Las Vegas), 7-2; def. Rancho (Las Vegas), 11-1; def. Desert Oasis (Las Vegas), 11-1
Hitter of the week: Easton Shelton went 5-for-9 with 10 RBI and three home runs during the three wins.
Pitcher of the week: McKay Rowand gave up 0 earned runs on four hits with seven strikeouts against Desert Oasis.
Next: Tuesday vs. Liberty (Henderson)

10. Westlake (Austin, Texas)
Record: 26-2 | Last week: 12
Scores: Def. Austin, 10-0, 6-1
Hitter of the week: Ben Longoria went 2-for-2 with four RBI in the 10-0 win.
Pitcher of the week: Chance Covert threw four shutout innings with five strikeouts in the 10-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Bowie (Austin)

11. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Record: 17-0 | Last week: 14
Scores: Def. Ukiah, 9-5, 3-1; def. Marin Catholic, 5-4
Hitter of the week: Diego Boardman went 3-for-3 with four RBI in the Marin Catholic win.
Pitcher of the week: Landen Rota gave up one earned run on six hits with 11 strikeouts in the 3-1 win over Ukiah.
Next: Wednesday vs. Maria Carrillo

12. Cypress Woods (Cypress, Texas)
Record: 23-3 | Last week: 18
Scores: Def. Bridgeland, 2-1, 10-7
Hitter of the week: Ethan Farris had a home run with three RBI in the 10-7 win.
Pitcher of the week: Mason Green struck out 13 and allowed one unearned run on one hit in a 2-1 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Cypress Springs

13. Godwin (Richmond, Va.)
Record: 10-0 | Last week: 22
Scores: Def. Maggie Walker (Richmond), 13-0; def. Deep Run (Glen Allen), 1-0
Hitter of the week: Luke Smyers went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two doubles, a home run and four RBI in the 13-0 win.
Pitcher of the week: Garrett Mason struck out nine in five shutout innings against Deep Run.
Next: Wednesday vs. Atlee (Mechanicsville)

14. Sulphur (La.)
Record: 27-4 | Last week: 23
Scores: Lost to Barbe, 8-3; def. Sam Houston, 4-1, 8-2
Hitter of the week: Luke Benoit went 3-for-4 with a double in the 4-1 win and he also pitched all seven innings with seven strikeouts.
Pitcher of the week: Jake Brown went seven innings and struck out 10 in the 8-2 win.
Next: Today vs. Glenmora

15. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.)
Record: 17-3 | Last week: 15
Scores: Lost to IMG Academy, 9-8 (9); def. Tampa Catholic, 2-1
Hitter of the week: Wes Mendes hit a home run in the win over Tampa Catholic.
Pitcher of the week: Aden Knowles went 4.2 innings without allowing a run while striking out five against Tampa Catholic.
Next: Tuesday vs. Sarasota

16. La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.)
Record: 14-2 | Last week: 17
Scores: Lost to Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 11-4; def. Rancho Bernardo, 3-2, 13-7
Hitter of the week: Gabe Camacho went 3-for-7 with two RBI, a double and a home run in the first two games against Rancho Bernardo.
Pitcher of the week: Stunner Gonzales struck out six and gave up one earned run in five innings of a 3-2 win.
Next: Today vs. Poway

17. West Monroe (La.)
Record: 28-3 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Ruston, 5-4, 8-1
Hitter of the week: John Pearson went 4-for-7 with two doubles, a triple and a home run in the two games against Ruston.
Pitcher of the week: Drew Ferguson went five innings and did not give up an earned run in the 8-1 win.
Next: Today vs. Buckeye

18. Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 26-4 | Last week: 13
Scores: Def. New Iberia, 9-0, 5-0; lost to Sulphur, 4-1, 8-2
Hitter of the week: Carson Devillier had a double and four RBI in a 9-0 win.
Pitcher of the week: Ty LaTour threw 6.1 no-hit innings with five strikeouts against New Iberia in a 9-0 win.
Next: Today v. Sacred Heart (Ville-Platte) (Doubleheader)

19. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 18-4 | Last week: 25
Scores: Def. Perry (Gilbert), 15-8, 8-0; def. Chandler, 13-4
Hitter of the week: Roch Cholowsky went 4-four-4 with three runs, an RBI, three doubles and a home run against Chandler.
Pitcher of the week: Josh Tiedemann went seven innings and gave up no runs on five hits with a strikeout against Perry.
Next: Tuesday vs. Chandler

20. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 17-1 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Brother Rice (Chicago), 9-5; def. Cooper, 7-4; def. Covington Catholic, 11-1
Pitcher/Hitter of the week: Jakob Schweitzer went five innings for the win over Covington Catholic, giving up one run on two hits with seven strikeouts. Against Cooper, Schweitzer was 1-for-3 with a triple and three RBI.
Next: Today vs. Providence (Clarksville, Ind.)

21. Cartersville (Ga.)
Record: 23-2 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Cass (White), 4-1, 10-0, 3-1
Hitter of the week: Harrison Childers went 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBI in the 4-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Ryan Johnson struck out 11 and gave up no earned runs in the 3-1 win.
Next: Today vs. Hiram

22. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 18-2 | Last week: 16
Scores: Lost to Foundation Academy (Winter Garden), 5-4; def. The Villages Charter, 12-2
Hitter of the week: Eric Correa went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, three RBI and a double in the 12-2 win.
Pitcher of the week: Oscar Hernandez gave up no runs on two hits with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings against TVC.
Next: Tuesday vs. IMG Academy

23. Friendswood (Texas)
Record: 21-3-2 | Last week: 20
Scores: Def. La Porte, 6-2; lost to La Porte, 5-4
Hitter of the week: Collin Goolsby went 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBI in the win.
Pitcher of the week: Easton Tumis struck out nine in 5.2 innings for the 6-2 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Ball (Galveston)

24. St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 17-0 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Independence (Ashburn, Va.), 11-3; def. Flint Hill (Oakton, Va.), 16-2; def. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), 6-0
Hitter of the week: Andy Francis went 2-for-2 with two home runs and five RBI against Flint Hill.
Pitcher of the week: Marcus Martin went four innings with no runs on three hits with four strikeouts against Gonzaga for the win. He also had a home run on offense.
Next: Today vs. Archbishop Carroll

25. Science Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.)
Record: 20-1 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Tennessee, 9-4; def. Easley (S.C.), 18-1; def. Greeneville, 8-5; def. Bearden, 7-4
Hitter of the week: Jake Bedard went 4-for-4 with four runs scored, three RBI, a double and a triple against Easley.
Pitcher of the week: Major Osbolt went four innings against Easley and gave up one run on three hits with three strikeouts.
Next: Today vs. West Ridge

Dropped out: No. 6 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.); No. 11 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.); No. 19 Cypress (Calif.); No. 21 The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.); No. 24 Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)