MaxPreps Baseball Xcellent 25 - A New No. 1

Bellaire falls to Westside for first loss of the season and drops from the No. 1 spot; Florida team moves to the top.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Kevin Askeland
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Mar 31, 2009, 12:00am
About the Rankings: MaxPreps already provides the most comprehensive high school sports ratings with the MaxPreps National Rankings presented by the National Guard, a computer model developed by Ned Freeman. Now, it’s time to get the human element involved.

MaxPreps Xcellent 25

1. (5) Jesuit (Tampa, Fla), 16-0
The Tigers move into the No. 1 spot after losses by Bellaire, Owasso and Mater Dei (Don Bosco Prep has not started its season yet). Jesuit has been impressive, scoring at least 11 runs in each of its last seven games. Daniel Gibson picked up his fifth win of the season in an 11-0 victory over Jefferson on Friday while Lance McCullers belted his third home run of the season. The Tigers are batting a robust .412 on the season with 24 home runs. Nick Lockwood and Greg Dupell lead the team with four round-trippers apiece.

2. (1) Bellaire (Bellaire, Texas), 13-1-1
Daniel Mengden of Westside proved too much for the previously undefeated Cardinals as he struck out 11 and allowed just two unearned runs in handing Bellaire a 5-2 loss last week. The sophomore also hit a home run. The two teams faced each other in last year’s Class 5A Region III final with Bellaire winning in three games. Earlier in the week, Bellaire crushed Chavez of Houston 27-0.

3. (2) Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 0-0
The Ironmen have played several scrimmages, including one against Malvern Prep, but don’t officially start their season until April 1 at Bloomfield.

4. (10) Moody (Corpus Christi, Texas), 18-1
The Moody Trojans scored a pair of easy wins in the wake of their victory over Calallen on March 21, defeating Ray 10-1 and Gregory-Portland 12-2 last week. Rudy Flores, Justin Meza, Michael Franco and Gerardo Gutierrez all homered in the win over Ray with Meza getting the win to lift his record to 6-0. Against Gregory Portland, Michael Franco was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Andre Cantu got the victory (5-0) striking out 11.

5. (11) Menchville (Newport News, Va.), 5-0
The Monarchs continued to roll with three wins last week including a 2-1 squeaker against Bethel, a 7-0 shutout of Heritage and an 8-4 win over Warwick. Matt Armstead got the win over Heritage, striking out five batters in three innings. Jharel Cotton was even more impressive in relief, fanning nine in three innings. Playing in the mud against Warwick, Ethan Carter picked up his third win of the season while Armstead belted a home run.

6. (3) Owasso (Owasso, Okla.), 10-1
Last year Broken Arrow ended a 24-game winning streak for the Rams. This year Owasso’s win streak reached just nine games, but the Tigers continue to have the Rams’ number. The Rams fell 4-1 and managed just five hits while making two errors. Meanwhile the usually stingy Owasso pitching gave up 10 hits to Broken Arrow. Brandon Bargas (2-1) took the loss, striking out six and walking none. Ryan Wilson was 2-for-3 while Austen Colt had a double. The Rams were back to normal on Monday, whipping Lake Gibson 11-1.

7. (4) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 9-1
The Monarchs saw nine-game win streak end with a 4-2 loss to Santa Margarita on Friday. The Monarchs are still ranked No. 1 in the latest Southern Section polls released Monday, however. Aaron Northcraft took the loss and fell to 3-1 on the season. Robert Kelly of Santa Margarita (7-3) struck out 10 while Trayce Thompson hit two home runs. Earlier in the week Mater Dei edged Servite 5-3.

8. (23) Lakeland (Fla.), 14-0
The Dreadnaughts had an impressive week at the Tournament of Champions in Jacksonville last week, knocking off three defending state champions. Lakeland beat Dunedin, the 5A champ, 14-2, Eagle’s View, the 1A winner, 6-3, and Bishop Kenny, the 4A champion, 5-2 in the championship game. Matt Jones and Eric Barber were a combined 6-for-6 with five RBI in the championship game.

9. (7) Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 12-2
The Admirals went 3-1 at the Warrior Spring Classic, falling to Collierville 5-3 on Friday to fall to 12-2 overall. Farragut managed a 14-13 win over Bartlett and crushed Webb 15-4.

10. (8) Malvern Prep (Malvern, Pa.), 1-0
Malvern Prep has concluded its preseason (The Friars’ previous 5-0 mark consisted of scrimmages) and opened the regular season with a 3-0 win over Hill of Pottstown. The regular season gets off to a tough start with games against Caravel (Delaware) and next week against St. Joseph’s and Germantown Academy.

11. (12) Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas), 18-2
The Wildcats bounced back from the loss to Moody with an 11-3 thumping of Cigarroa on Friday. A game against King, scheduled for last week, was postponed. The Wildcats continue district play this week against Tuloso-Midway and Nixon.

12. (13) Columbus (Ga.), 9-1
The Blue Devils did not play last week and still sit atop the AAA coaches poll in Georgia. A tough game against Troup County and its All-American catcher Luke Bailey looms on Wednesday.

13. (14) J. H. Rose (Greenville, N.C.), 7-0
In its only game last week, Rose hammered Havelock 11-1 in conference play. A game against Washington was postponed due to weather. Danny Deters struck out seven in the win for the Rampants while Chase McDonald and Alec Searcy each had three hits.

14. (15) Northshore (Slidell, La.), 19-0
The Panthers made it 19 in a row to start the season with an 8-0 win over Byrd and a 10-2 pasting of Ponchatoula. Chad Gough-Fortenberry was 4-for-4 with a double against Byrd while Ryan Eades sturck out nine in six innings for the win. Against Ponchatoula, Chase Compton and Breck Kline each had a home run with Compton driving in four. Sean Kennel went five innings and struck out eight for the victory.
Danny Tyson of Cathedral Catholic.
Danny Tyson of Cathedral Catholic.
Photo by Ken Cavanah

15. (9) Cathedral (San Diego, Calif.), 8-1
Scripps Ranch handed Cathedral its first loss of the season with a 3-2 defeat last week. Casey Husband and Geoff Rocha each had a double in the loss while Tommy Cheek was 2-for-3. Ryan Wilkins gave up all three earned run to absorb the loss. The Dons ripped San Diego 12-1 in their next outing with Wilkins, Cheek and Daniel Camarena each bashing two hits with Camarena knocking a pair of doubles and Wilkins getting one. Danny Tyson picked up the win.

16. (6) Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), 12-1
The Aztecs dropped a 9-4 decision to Mountain View, but they are still ranked No. 1 in the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association 5A Div. 1 poll. Ryan Moore had a home run in the loss. Corona Del Sol will be tested this week with a Wednesday game at Brophy College Prep and a Friday outing at home against Horizon.

17. (17) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), 8-3
The Gaels have been making up for the lost weekend at the Big League Dugout Invitational with four straight shutouts and a pair of huge wins. Bishop Gorman routed Clark 29-3 and Durango 20-1. The Gaels also smacked Western and Pahrump Valley 14-0 and beat Spring Valley 10-0 and Sierra Vista 8-0, handing the latter team its first loss in 11 games. The Gaels have raised their team batting average to .437 with 15 home runs, including four by Jeff Malm.

18. (20) Sylvan Hills (Sherwood, Ark.), 17-1
The Bears whipped Conway 16-4 last week and stayed atop the 5A rankings in Arkansas. DJ Baxendale and Nathan Eller are both 5-0 on the season with Eller sporting a 0.88 ERA and Baxendale hovering around 0.44.

19. (21) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 11-1
The Monarchs bounced back from a loss to Bellarmine in West Catholic Athletic League play to win three in a row, including a 5-2 win over Valley Christian, a 13-4 thumping of St. Ignatius and a 7-3 win over Serra. Brett Fuller had a huge game for Mitty in the win over Serra, going 4-for-4 with a double, a home run and five RBI. Tyler Davis went five innings for the win. Against St. Ignatius, Fuller was 3-for-3 with three RBI while Mitch Haniger had a home run. In Mitty’s last four wins, Fuller, a sophomore, is batting 9-for-14.
Andrew Susac of Jesuit (Calif.).
Andrew Susac of Jesuit (Calif.).
Photo by Anthony Brunsman

20. (22) Jesuit (Carmichael, Calif.), 8-1
The Mauraders swept three games from Pleasant Grove last week, winning 3-0, 7-4 and 11-1. Brock Simon tossed a one-hitter in the 3-0 complete-game victory. Sal Pinelli homered in the 7-4 win while Simon hit one out in Friday’s outing. Alex Plog threw a two-hitter to get the win.

21. (24) Notre Dame Prep (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 10-0
The Saints stayed unbeaten with a narrow 3-2 win over Flagstaff last week. The Saints rallied for two runs in the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie and then held off a Flagstaff rally in the sixth.

22. (25) Wando (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.), 11-1
The Warriors upped their win streak to 11 in a row with three wins last week over West Ashley (9-6), Berekeley (4-0) and Stratford (6-0). Drew Cisco was the catalyst for the Warriors against a Stratford team that was 10-1 entering the game. Besides picking up the win while striking out 12, Cisco had three hits at the plate.

23. (NR) Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola, Fla.), 11-0
The Crusaders have barely been challenged in racking up 11 wins to start the season. Seven of Pensacola Catholic’s 11 wins have been by 10 runs or more. Pine Forest gave the Crusaders their toughest test in a 2-0 ballgame last week. Austen Farrell has been a force at the plate, batting .421 with 21 RBI and six home runs. Austin Smith is batting .545 with 15 RBI while Alex Bast is hitting .394 with four home runs.

24. (NR) Clovis (Calif.), 11-2
The quality of baseball in the town of Clovis is tremendous with Buchanan and Clovis West also capable of cracking the top 25. Clovis West pitchers have thrown at least three no-hitters so far this year while Buchanan’s Sal Moranda pitched a perfect game against Madera. Clovis, however, has beaten both Clovis West and Buchanan (while also absorbing a loss to the Bears) including the first win over Clovis West pitcher JD Salles in two years. Zach Coy has been the sparkplug for Clovis, posting a 5-0 record including wins over both Clovis West and Buchanan.

25. (NR) La Cueva (Albuquerque, NM.), 11-1
Since losing its opener to Rio Grande, the Bears have won 11 in a row, including a 12-11 win over Rio Grande in the finals of the All-Metro Tournament. Nate Ross came up big in the rematch as he had a double and two home runs. Ross has five home runs, 20 RBI and 20 hits in the 11-game winning streak.

Dropped Out – El Toro (Lake Forest, Calif.), 8-2; Flower Mound (Texas), 11-4; 19. Florida Christian (Miami, Fla.), 12-3.

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