MaxPreps Top 50 high school baseball national rankings

IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) completed its regular season with a win over Canterbury, thus making the Ascenders the first team among the Top 50 ranked teams to see their year come to an end.

Now IMG Academy, which does not play in a state playoff, must wait until for all the other state playoff series to finish before finding out if it is the 2019 MaxPreps Top 50 national champions.

Three Texas teams hold down the next three spots, followed by Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) at No. 5. Argyle (Texas), the defending national champion, comes in at No. 2 after winning its opening series in the Class 4A state playoffs.
Georgetown and Colleyville Heritage, a pair of Texas Class 5A teams are Nos. 3 and 4. Should they both continue to advance, they would not meet until the state tournament.

Orange Lutheran might have the best chance to edge IMG Academy for the No. 1 spot since it's competing in a section tournament with six other teams ranked among the top 30 in the MaxPreps national rankings. Orange Lutheran also won a tournament, the National High School Invitational, where IMG Academy participated, but did not reach the finals.

Dropped out: No. 10 Mountain View (Mesa, Ariz.), lost twice; No. 21 Malvern Prep (Malvern, Pa.), lost once.

On the Bubble: Ayala 25-5, Winder-Barrow 28-3, Tates Creek 19-4, Crest 24-0, Corpus Christi Veteran's Memorial 30-3-1, Tomball 25-1-2

Player of the Week: Payton Miller of Blanchard. Hit three home runs during the week, including two in one game, and also picked up a pitching win with 10 strikeouts. He is among the national leaders with 14 home runs.

Prospect of the Week: Brennan Malone, IMG Academy. The senior pitcher completed his senior season with an 11-0 record and a 0.27 ERA and 69 strikeouts. He had a 0.27 ERA and allowed just two earned runs all season.

Game of the Week: Harvard-Westlake 7, Valencia 1. The Wolverines were the No. 1 seed in last year's Southern Section, but were eliminated in the first round by Valencia. The two met against in the first round this year, and senior All-American candidate Sam Hlibocki struck out 12 batters to lead Harvard-Westlake to the win.

Games to Watch: Cypress vs. Capistrano Valley. The Centurions are one of the top teams in the Southern Section playoffs, but Capistrano Valley is the defending Division 1 champion. Capistrano Valley is only 19-9-2 entering the game, but was only 20-10 when it entered the playoffs last year and won the final five games for the section title.

Streaks: Page County (Shenandoah, Va.) has now won 43 games in a row after beating Stonewall Jackson 19-5 and Wilson Memorial 8-0. Trevor Williams had five hits and T.R. Williams drove in five runs against Jackson while T.R. Williams threw a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts against Wilson.

MaxPreps Top 50 national high school baseball rankings

1. (last week 1) IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 24-1
Results: Defeated St. Petersburg 10-0, Canterbury 8-02.
Stats: Kendall Williams struck out 13 on a one-hitter against St. Petersburg. Rece Hinds went 3-for-3 and added a home run while Pat Romeri had a double and a triple. Brennan Malone got the win against Canterbury, striking out nine.
This week: Regular season over.

2. (2) Argyle (Texas), 31-1-1
Results: Defeated Stephenville 7-3 and 5-1 in first round of Class 4A state playoffs.
Stats: Chad Ricker struck out 11 in six innings and Brenden Dixon had a double in the first game against Stephenville. Preston King was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in the second game.
This week: Graham on Friday and Saturday in second round of Class 4A playoffs.

3. (3) Georgetown (Texas), 32-2-1
Results: Defeated Weiss 13-0. Previously defeated Dripping Springs 5-1
Stats: Jeffrey David went 3-for-3 with two doubles against Dripping Springs. Jackson Sioson went 3-for-3 with a triple and two RBI against Weiss.
This week: College Station in second round of Class 5A state playoffs.

4. (4) Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, Texas), 30-2
Results: Defeated Ryan (Denton) 10-4 in first round of Class 5A playoffs.
Stats: Bobby Witt Jr. was 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI, while Chandler Freeman had a home run.
This week: Burleson in second round of Class 5A state playoffs.

5. (6) Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 26-4
Results: Defeated San Clemente 3-0 in first round of CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
Stats: Max Rajcic had a double and also picked up the pitching win while Jared Thomas had a triple.
This week: Etiwanda on Tuesday in second round of playoffs.

6. (7) New Hanover (Wilmington, N.C.), 20-1
Results: Defeated Ashley (Wilmington) 5-0 and Hoggard (Wilmington) 4-0.
Stats: Blake Walston racked up his ninth win of the season (9-0) against Ashley. Alex Sniffen picked up the win and hit a home run against Hoggard.
This week: State Playoffs.

7. (8) Cypress (Calif.), 27-3
Results: Defeated Servite (Anaheim) 5-2 in first round of CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
Stats: Brett Wozniak had a double and two RBI while Noah Carter and Mike Marsh each hit a double in the win.
This week: Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo) in second round of playoffs.

8. (9) DeSoto Central (Southaven, Miss.), 30-2
Results: Defeated Oxford 4-0 and 8-4.
Stats: Blaze Jordan was 3-for-4 with a double and a home run in the first win while Cade Smith tossed a no-hitter with six strikeouts. Jordan went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in the second game.
This week: Semifinal series against winner of Hernando/Northwest Rankin.

9. (11) Blanchard (Okla.), 36-0
Results: Defeated Elgin 11-1 and Bethany 19-2 and 16-0.
Stats: Payton Miller had two home runs while Bryce Madron and Colby Reed each had one against Elgin. Miller added a home run and Ty Vanmeter had a home run against Bethany. Miller picked up the win in the second game against Bethany, striking out 10. Tyler Henry and Madron each hit two home runs in the win.
This week: State playoffs.

10. (12) De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 23-1
Results: Defeated San Ramon Valley (Danville) 9-3, California (San Ramon) 5-0.
Stats: Charles McAdoo was 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI against San Ramon Valley. Kyle Harrison struck out 14 against California.
This week: Playoffs.

11. (13) Cypress Ranch (Houston), 26-3-1
Results: Defeated Hendrickson 3-2 and 1-0.
Stats: Matt Thompson hit a triple and also struck out 13 in a 3-2 win. J.J. Goss had 11 strikeouts in the 1-0 win.
This week: Second round of Class 6A playoffs.

12. (14) Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 33-2
Results: Defeated Heritage 9-2 in first round of playoffs.
Stats: Nick Barnes and Hudson Seigler each had a double in the win.
This week: Second round of playoffs.

13. (15) Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.), 35-4
Results: Defeated Destrehan 8-5 and 4-0.
Stats: Cameron Meeks went six innings for the win, striking out eight. He also hit a double and a home run with three RBI. Michael Harlow was 2-for-3 with two RBI in the second game.
This week: Class 5A semifinals against Parkway/Northshore winner.

14. (16) Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), 34-3
Results: Defeated Acadiana 3-2 and 3-2.
Stats: Isaac Duplechain picked up the win, striking out eight. Brody Drost, Davis Meche and Damon Fountain each hit a home run in the second game.
This week: Class 5A semifinals against Zachary/West Monroe winner.

15. (19) Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), 24-6
Results: Defeated Dos Pueblos 2-0 in first round of CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
Stats: Lucas Gordon threw a three-hit shutout with seven strikeouts. Diego Baqueiro hit a home run.
This week: Plays Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) on Tuesday.

16. (20) Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), 24-5-1
Results: Defeated Valencia 7-1 in first round of CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
Stats: Sam Hliboki struck out 12 in the win.
This week: Ayala (Chino) on May 7.

17. (22) St. Laurence (Burbank, Ill.), 24-2
Results: Defeated Providence Catholic 6-3 and 10-7 and Brother Rice 4-3.
Stats: Mark Babicz went 3-for-4 with a double in the first game. Vytas Valincius went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the second game. Matt Zahora struck out nine against Brother Rice.
This week: Loyola Academy on Tuesday and Thursday, Sandburg on Friday.

18. (24) The Woodlands (Texas), 26-5
Results: Defeated MacArthur 11-1 in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs.
Stats: Luke Hammond had two home runs in the win.
This week: Cypress Woods in second round of Class 6A state playoffs.

19. (25) Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.), 30-4
Results: Defeated North Forsyth 8-6 and 13-0.
Stats: Jonathan French went 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBI in the first game. French also had a home run in the second game along with Koby Ayala, Allan Del Castillo and Makenzie Pate.
This week: Plays Walton on Wednesday.

20. (NR) Mitchell (New Port Richey, Fla.), 24-0
Results: Defeated River Ridge (New Port Richey) 8-1, Anclote (Holiday) 19-0.
Stats: Mason Miller was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI against River Ridge. Chase Morris was 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI against Anclote.
This week: District tournament.

21. (NR) Kingwood (Texas), 25-5-2
Results: Defeated Sterling (Baytown) 10-0 and 10-0 in first round of Class 6A state playoffs.
Stats: Carter Amarantos had a home run in the first game and Masyn Winn threw a five-inning no-hitter.
This week: Plays Clear Falls in second round.

22. (5) Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), 28-3
Results: Defeated Smithson Valley 9-1, previously lost to Kingwood 4-3.
Stats: Brett Baty had two home runs and Jack Lopez had a grand slam against Smithson Valley. Jimmy Lewis had a double against Kingwood.
This week: Brandeis in second round of Class 6A state playoffs.

23. (NR) Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 24-6
Results: Defeated Liberty (Peoria) 1-0 and Mountain Ridge (Glendale) 3-2.
Stats: Dustin Bermudez had two RBI against Mountain Ridge. He also picked up the win against Liberty, striking out six.
This week: Red Mountain on Friday.

24. (NR) Huntington Beach (Calif.), 23-6
Results: Defeated Moorpark 1-0 in first round of Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
Stats: Blake Penso, Ken Takada and Jake Vogel each had a double in the win.
This week: Bishop Amat (La Puente) in second round of playoffs.

25. (23) St. Rita (Chicago), 22-4
Results: Defeated Marmion 11-0, St. Ignatius 10-1 and Providence Catholic 3-2. Lost 5-1 to Marist.
Stats: Al Holguin tossed a one-hitter with six strikeouts against Marmion. Bobby Atkinson, Jalen Greer and Chris McDevitt all hit home runs in the second game.
This week: Providence Catholic on Monday, Brother Rice on Tuesday.
The Next 25

26. (NR) Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.), 22-2
Results: Defeated Eagle's View (Jacksonville) 11-2 and Stanton (Jacksonville) 13-3.
This week: District playoffs.

27. (NR) Collierville (Tenn.), 29-3-1
Results: Memphis University School 2-1, Briarcrest Christian 4-2.
This week: Houston (Germantown) on Monday.

28. (NR) Yucaipa (Calif.), 25-5
Results: Defeated Edison (Huntington Beach) 4-0 in first round of Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
This week: West Ranch (Valencia) in second round on Tuesday.

29. (NR) La Mirada (Calif.), 24-6
Results: Defeated Dana Hills in Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
This week: Palm Desert on Tuesday in second round.

30. (NR) Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.), 28-6
Results: Defeated LaGrange 4-0 and 9-3.
This week: Woodward Academy (College Park) in Class 4A state quarterfinals.

31. (NR) East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), 22-2
Results: Lost to Palmetto 4-2, defeated Tarpon Springs 4-1.
This week: District playoffs.

32. (NR) American Heritage (Delray Beach, Fla.), 22-2
Results: Defeated Stoneman Douglas 4-2.
This week: District playoffs.

33. (NR) Biloxi (Miss.), 29-3
Results: Defeated Brandon 3-2 and 18-15.
This week: St. Martin (Ocean Springs) in Class 6A state semifinal.

34. (NR) Parkway (Bossier City, La.), 31-5
Results: Defeated Northshore 5-0 and 3-1.
This week: Sam Houston in Class 5A semifinals.

35. (NR) Owasso (Okla.), 34-5
Results: Defeated Collinsville 13-2, Union (Tulsa) 7-0, Sand Springs 5-0, Sand Springs 7-0.
This week: State tournament.

36. (NR) Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.), 23-4
Results: Defeated St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 5-0, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 13-3.
This week: Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) on Tuesday.

37. (NR) North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.), 29-5
Results: Defeated Forsyth Central (Cumming) 10-2 and 8-6.
This week: Plays winner of Kennesaw Mountain/Etowah matchup.

38. (NR) Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.), 24-1
Results: Defeated Garinger (Charlotte) 13-0, East Mecklenburg (Charlotte) 15-3, David W. Butler 12-2.
This week: First round of Class 4A state playoffs.

39. (NR) Desert Oasis (Las Vegas), 26-6
Results: Defeated Coronado (Henderson) 10-2 and Basic (Henderson) 11-7.
This week: Durango in first round of Desert Region Class 4A playoffs.

40. (NR) Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.), 39-8
Results: Defeated Vestavia Hills 7-0 and 4-3.
This week: Hewitt-Trussville on Friday in semifinals of Class 7A state playoffs.

41. (NR) Bryant (Ark.), 26-4
Results: Defeated North Little Rock 3-2.
This week: Greenbrier on Monday.

42. (NR) Mesquite (Gilbert, Ariz.), 27-4
Results: Defeated Estrella Foothills (Goodyear) 14-4, Seton Catholic (Chandler) 6-2.
This week: Seton Catholic on Wednesday in Class 4A state playoffs.

43. (NR) Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), 18-2
Results: Defeated Douglas County (Castle Rock) 11-0, Castle View (Castle Rock) 4-3.
This week: ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) on Tuesday, Chaparral (Parker) on Thursday.

44. (NR) St. Augustine Prep (Richland, N.J.), 15-2
Results: Def. LaSalle College 5-0, Pingry 15-5 and Bridgeton 10-0.
This week: Atlantic City on Tuesday, Trenton Catholic on Tuesday, Vineland on Wednesday, Atlantic Tech on Friday.

45. (NR) Benedictine (Richmond, Va.), 22-2
Results: Lost to Paul VI (Fairfax) 5-4, defeated Saint John Paul the Great Catholic (Dumfries) 15-0.
This week: Hanover (Mechanicsville) on Monday, Trinity Episcopal (Richmond) on Thursday, Poquoson on Saturday.

46. (NR) Andrean (Merrillville, Ind.), 17-1
Results: Defeated Crown Point 3-1, Hobard 8-3. Ranked No. 1 by Indiana Baseball Coaches Association.
This week: Highland on Monday, Hammond Morton on Wednesday.

47. (NR) Stillwater (Minn.), 12-0
Results: Defeated Roseville 4-0, White Bear Lake 6-2. Ranked No. 1 by Minnesota Baseball Hub.
This week: Century (Rochester) on Monday, Park (Cottage Grove) on Wednesday, Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul) on Friday, Moorhead on Saturday.

48. (NR) New Albany (Ohio), 20-1
Results: Defeated Franklin Heights 14-0 and 14-4, and Newark 12-1. Ranked No. 1 by Ohio Baseball Coaches Association.
This week: Groveport-Madison on Monday, Big Walnut on Tuesday, Canal Winchester on Wednesday, Franklin Heights on Friday.

49. (NR) Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), 27-3
Results: Defeated Clovis North 5-0 and 6-4.
This week: Paso Robles in first round of Central Section Division 1 playoffs.

50. (NR) St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.), 19-4
Results: Defeated DeSales (Louisville) 11-3, Trinity (Louisville) 8-2. Ranked No. 1 by Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association.
This week: Madison Central on Wednesday, North Bullitt on Thursday, Ryle on Friday, Western Hills on Saturday, Lafayette on Saturday.