TAMPA BASEBALL TOP 10
1. TAMPA JESUIT (23-1) – The Tigers took a misstep in their final regular season game, falling to Sarasota but are still the team to beat in the area heading into the Class 5A, District 10 tournament. 1B Greg Dupell is hitting .514 with six homers and a Hillsborough County-best 39 RBI.
2. TAMPA ALONSO (23-2) – The Saladino Tournament-winning Ravens have won 13 games in a row heading into the Class 6A-7 tournament as the top seed. LHP Thomas Dorminy has been dominant with an 8-0 mark and a county-high 81 strikeouts.
3. NEW PORT RICHEY MITCHELL (22-3) – Everyone knows about Patrick Schuster’s four straight no-hitters but the Mustangs also enter the 6A-7 tournament with an offense that averages eight runs a game and has five players batting at least .375.
4. DUNEDIN (18-6) – The Falcons have won seven games in a row and boast the top tandem of arms in Pinellas County in Ryan Reedy (1.72 ERA) and Alex Norris (1.82 ERA). The top seed in 5A-9, Todd Haskell (.443 BA) and Casey Turgeon (.435) have provided the big bats.
5. SEFFNER ARMWOOD (19-5) – The Hawks struggled a bit towards the close of the regular season but remain the No. 2 team heading into the Class 5A, District 8 event. If Armwood advances to final, a tough Brandon team likely awaits.
6. TAMPA GAITHER (18-6) – The Cowboys may be the No. 3 seed in Class 6A-7 but it would not be a shocker if Coach Frank Permuy’s squad advanced to the district finals. Junior OF Drew Doty led county with nine regular season home runs.
7. SEMINOLE OSCEOLA (18-6) – The Warhawks lost their last three games, although none were in 5A-11, where they remain the top seed heading into district tournament play. Will rely on arms of Taylor Layner and Winston Rivas.
8. BRANDON (17-5) – The injury-plagued Eagles got good news with the return of 1B Roderick Shoulders. Still managed to split season series with Armwood and take top seed for 5A-8 tournament.
9. TAMPA PLANT (17-7) – Panthers and MLB prospect Mychal Givens remain the best challenge to No. 1 Jesuit in 5A-10 event. Givens went 6-1 with a 1.10 ERA this season and was a mainstay on offense.
10. TAMPA CATHOLIC (18-6) – After a 1-4 start, the Crusaders finished strong, winning 17 of 19 (including 13 in a row during one stretch) to earn the top seed for the 3A-11 tournament. Tampa Catholic is pursuing its first district crown since 2001.
