High school baseball rankings: Barbe emerges from pack of MaxPreps Top 25 teams to win Louisiana title

There's a reason Barbe (Lake Charles, La.) is regarded as one of the best high school baseball programs in the country and it was on full display in the top of the seventh inning of the Non-Select Division 1 state championship Saturday.

Trailing 4-1 in its final at-bat, Barbe put on a spectacular offensive showing that sent 13 players to the plate and produced nine runs on five singles, one double and a grand slam home run.

The rally gave the Buccaneers a 10-4 win and their 12th state championship since 1998. The rally also prevented West Monroe (La.) from repeating as state champions.

Donovan LaSalle was the hero of the seventh inning as he blasted a grand slam that put Barbe ahead 6-4. The Buccaneers finish the season 39-1 and likely secure no worse than a No. 3 finish in the final MaxPreps Top 25.

West Monroe, along with semifinalists Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.) and Sulphur (La.), all stayed in the rankings this week despite losing, due mainly to the competitiveness of the Non-Select Division 1 bracket this year. A fifth Louisiana team, Catholic-B.R. (Baton Rouge, La.), dropped out after falling to Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.), a 14-loss team that lost to Jesuit (New Orleans) in the championship game.

Meanwhile the Trinity League in Southern California is making a comeback. Perhaps the toughest league in the nation, the Trinity League had JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), and Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) all in the MaxPreps Top 25 at some point early in the season, only to have all three drop out.

Now those three teams are back after advancing to the Southern Section Division 1 semifinals along with Corona, which appears in the rankings for the first time after beating Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) – the top-ranked team in California – in the quarterfinals. Corona takes on JSerra Catholic while Santa Margarita meets Orange Lutheran.

Houston County (Warner Robins, Ga.) returns to the rankings as well, after reaching the final of the Class AAAAAA state tournament in Georgia.

Game of the Week: Barbe def. West Monroe, 10-4. Just two outs away from losing to West Monroe, the Buccaneers rallied for nine runs on seven hits to collect its 12th state championship in school history.

Player of the Week: Donovan La Salle of Barbe came up with the biggest hit of his career with a grand slam in the top of the seventh that gave the Buccaneers a 6-4 lead en route to a 10-4 win.

Game to watch: Santa Margarita vs. Orange Lutheran. The two Trinity League rivals meet in the semifinals of the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. The Lancers finished fourth in league play while Santa Margarita finished first. The Eagles won all three league games against Orange Lutheran.
 
Streaks: Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.) closed in on Van Meter (Iowa), which opens its season today. Stoneman Douglas has 48 wins in a row while Van Meter has 54.

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

P — Jack McGlynn, Oak Lawn (Ill.): Tossed a seven-inning no-hitter against Blue Island Eisenhower with 17 strikeouts.
C — Gunnar Duncan, Eaton (Colo.): Batted 6-for-6 with four runs, seven RBI and three doubles.
1B — Logan Baumgartner, Medford (Wis.): Went 6-for-6 with four runs, eight RBI and two home runs.
2B — Nick Moss, Montague (Mich.): Was 10-for-10 with seven runs, five RBI and two doubles.
3B — Braedon Smith, Bloomfield (N.Y.): Went 14-for-16 with 10 runs, eight RBI, four doubles and two triples.
SS — Henry Shaffer, Saegertown (Pa.): Went 10-for-11 with nine runs, 11 RBI, four doubles and a triple.
OF — Jordan Perry, Franklin Academy (Malone, N.Y.): Went 11-for-12 with seven runs, six RBI, four doubles, a triple and a home run.
OF — Luke McDonald, Linton-Stockton (Linton, Ind.): Was 7-for-8 with six RBI, six runs, two doubles and a home run.
OF — Charlie Parcell, Maine West (Des Plaines, Ill.): Was 9-for-10 with five runs, five RBI, a double and a triple. MaxPreps Top 25 baseball rankings

1. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 25-0 | Last week: 1
Season complete

2. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Record: 26-0 | Last week: 2
Scores: Def. Monarch (Coconut Creek), 14-1; def. Taravella, 13-3
Hitter of the week: Matthew Ossenfort went 3-for-3 with two home runs and six RBI in the 13-3 win.
Pitcher of the week: Christian Rodriguez got the win over Monarch, giving up one run on three hits with six strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Columbus (Miami)

3. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 39-1 | Last week: 3
Scores: Def. Sulphur, 5-1; def. West Monroe, 10-4.
Hitter of the week: Donovan LaSalle hit a go-ahead grand slam home run in the seventh inning to lead a nine-run rally in the 10-4 win over West Monroe.
Pitcher of the week: Landon Victorian got his eighth win of the season in the semifinals against Sulphur, striking out four.
Next: Season complete, Non-Select Division 1 champion

4. Sinton (Texas)
Record: 32-1 | Last week: 4
Scores: Def. Calallen, 2-1 (10), 8-2
Hitter/Pitcher of the week: Blake Mitchell struck out seven in three innings and gave up no runs on one hit in the 2-1 win. He also had the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Next: Saturday vs. Pleasanton

5. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Record: 32-2 | Last week: 7
Scores: Def. Coronado (Henderson), 9-2; def. Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas), 5-0; def. Desert Oasis (Las Vegas), 8-3, 10-3
Hitter of the week: Billy Scaldeferri went 2-for-3 with two home runs and two RBI against Faith Lutheran. He also had one homer in the 10-3 win.
Pitcher of the week: Kaden Soder gave up just two hits in seven innings in the 5-0 shutout of Faith Lutheran.He also struck out four.
Next: Thursday vs. Damonte Ranch

6. Cypress Woods (Cypress, Texas)
Record: 32-3 | Last week: 8
Scores: Def. Oak Ridge (Conroe), 7-5, 4-2
Hitter of the week: McClane Helton went 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBI in the 7-5 win.
Pitcher of the week: Mason Green struck out 11 in the 7-5 win.
Next: Saturday vs. Klein Oak (Spring)

7. West Monroe (La.)
Record: 34-4 | Last week: 15
Scores: Def. Sam Houston, 4-3; lost to Barbe, 10-4
Hitter of the week: Trey Hawsey went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI in the 4-3 win.
Pitcher of the week: Drew Ferguson went 3.1 innings and gave up no runs on one hit in the win over Sam Houston.
Next: Season complete

8. Westlake (Austin, Texas)
Record: 34-3 | Last week: 11
Scores: Def. Brandeis (San Antonio), 5-4 (12), 7-5 (8)
Hitter of the week: Isaac Beeler hit a home run in the 5-4 win.
Pitcher of the week: Nathan Duvall gave up no runs on two hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings in the 5-4 win.
Next: Saturday vs. Round Rock

9. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.)
Record: 25-4 | Last week: 14
Scores: Def. North Fort Myers, 12-2; def. Naples, 4-2
Hitter of the week: Wes Mendes went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and six RBI against North Fort Myers.
Pitcher of the week: Derek Westfall pitched 2.1 innings of relief in the win over Naples, giving up no runs on no hits with three strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Osceola (Seminole)

10. Concordia Lutheran (Tomball, Texas)
Record: 33-2 | Last week: 16
Scores: Def. Bishop Lynch, 11-1, 3-2 (8)
Hitter of the week: Michael Herndon was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in the 11-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Eoghan Collins went five innings in the 11-1 win, giving up one earned run and striking out four.
Next: Tuesday vs. Trinity Christian (Addison)

11. Lake Braddock (Burke, Va.)
Record: 20-1 | Last week: 18
Scores: Def. South County (Lorton), 12-1
Hitter of the week: Jamie Laskofski went 3-for-3 with a home run against South County.
Pitcher of the week: Henry Steene got the win over South County, giving up one run on three hits over four innings.
Next: Today vs. Fairfax

12. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
Record: 32-6 | Last week: 19
Scores: Def. Mill Creek, 10-0, 12-2
Hitter of the week: In the two Mill Creek wins, Cade Brown went 4-for-5 with four runs, seven RBI and three home runs.
Pitcher of the week: Thorpe Musci gave up no runs on four hits with five strikeouts in the 10-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Lowndes

13. Johnson (San Antonio, Texas)
Record: 29-3-2 | Last week: 21
Scores: Def. Bowie (Austin), 2-0, 12-3
Hitter of the week: Kayson Cunningham went 3-for-3 with three runs, two RBI and a double in the 12-3 win.
Pitcher of the week: Derek Maples went seven innings in the 2-0 win, giving up no runs on four hits with nine strikeouts.
Next: Saturday vs. Lake Travis

14. St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 30-1-1 | Last week: 13
Scores: Def. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.), 4-1, 11-0; lost to Paul VI, 4-3; def. Gonzaga (Washington), 12-4, 6-1
Hitter of the week: Andy Francis had a double, triple and home run with five RBI in the 12-4 win.
Pitcher of the week: Ren Devereux went five innings and  gave up no runs on three hits with five strikeouts in the 11-0 win.
Next: Season complete

15. Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 31-5 | Last week: 12
Scores: Lost to West Monroe, 4-3
Hitter of the week: Garrett Courvelle was 2-for-3 with an RBI in the loss.
Pitcher of the week: Cole Flanagan gave up no runs on two hits in 3.1 innings in the loss.
Next: Season complete

16. Sulphur (La.)
Record: 33-5 | Last week: 9
Scores: Lost to Barbe, 5-1
Hitter of the week: Cooper Devall had an RBI in the 5-1 loss.
Pitcher of the week: Jake Brown struck out eight in the loss to Barbe.
Next: Season complete

17. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
Record: 25-6 | Last week: 22
Scores: Def. Millikan (Long Beach), 8-0; def. La Mirada, 9-4
Hitter of the week: Luke Lavin went 5-for-7 with three RBI and two doubles in the two playoff wins.
Pitcher of the week: Samuel Cova went six innings and gave up no runs on one hit with seven strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Orange Lutheran

18. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 25-5 | Last week: 23
Scores: Def. O'Connor, 12-3
Hitter of the week: Liam Wilson went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in the win.
Pitcher of the week: Josh Tiedemann went 6.1 innings and struck out nine for the win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Queen Creek

19. St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)
Record: 26-3 | Last week: 24
Scores: Def. Western International, 11-6; def. De La Salle Collegiate (Warren), 5-4, 2-0; def. Saline, 2-1; def. St. Clair, 9-0, 12-3
Hitter of the week: Jasen Oliver went 6-for-12 for the week with six RBI, a double, a triple and a home run.
Pitcher of the week: Parker Brzustewicz gave up no runs on three hits with 11 strikeouts in six innings of a 2-0 win.
Next: Today vs. Detroit Country Day

20. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Record: 22-9 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Etiwanda, 6-1; def. Sierra Canyon, 6-3
Hitter of the week: Ryusei Fujiwara went 2-for-3 with a double and five RBI against Sierra Canyon.
Pitcher of the week: Benjamin Reimers struck out seven and gave up one run on four hits in 6.1 innings in the Etiwanda victory.
Next: Tuesday vs. Corona

21. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 20-10-1 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Harvard-Westlake, 1-0; def. Villa Park, 6-1
Hitter of the week: Nic Peterson gave up no runs on one hit with six strikeouts in three innings in the 6-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Brady Murrieta went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI against Villa Park.
Next: Tuesday vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita).

22. Corona (Calif.)
Record: 22-9 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. San Dimas, 6-5 (9); def. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 2-1 (10)
Hitter of the week: Anthony Murphy went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI against San Dimas.
Pitcher of the week: Ethan Schiefelbein struck out seven in six innings,  giving up one earned run on five hits.
Next: Tuesday vs JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)

23. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)
Record: 28-2 | Last week: 6
Scores: Def. Bonita, 5-3; lost to Corona, 2-1 (10)
Hitter of the week: Levi Sterling went 4-for-4 with two doubles against Bonita.
Pitcher of the week: Erik Puodziunas had three strikeouts and did not allow a run or hit in two innings against Bonita.
Next: Season complete

24. Houston County (Warner Robins, Ga.)
Record: 34-6 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Etowah, 6-5, 4-1
Hitter of the week: Drew Burress went 1-for-3 with a double in the 6-5 win.
Pitcher of the week: Andrew Dunfod went six innings in the 4-1 win and gave up no earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
Next: Thursday vs. Pope

25. Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 26-3 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Archbishop Riordan, 9-2; def. Archbishop Mitty, 4-3
Pitcher/Hitter of the week: Michael Castaneda picked up the win over Mitty, going seven innings and allowing two runs with four strikeouts. He went 2-for-3 with a home run against Riordan.
Next: TBD

Dropped out: No. 5 Catholic-B.R. (Baton Rouge, La.); No. 10 Huntington Beach (Calif.); No. 17 Cartersville (Ga.); No. 20 Pace (Fla.); No. 25 Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.)