MaxPreps top 50 National High School Baseball Rankings

Video: Straight steal of home leads to extra innings
Watch this daring play from the Nebraska high school baseball playoffs.

While there is still nearly five weeks of high school baseball left to be played, No. 1 Shawnee made it awful hard to choose any team other than the Wolves as the 2017 mythical national champions.

Shawnee completed a 40-0 season over the weekend by winning the Oklahoma Class 5A state championship game. The Wolves outscored opponents 36-11 in the three-game tournament. The state title is the third in a row for Shawnee and extended the Wolves' national-best win streak to 52.

The 40-0 season ranks as one of the best records in national history. Other 40-0 teams on record include Martensdale St. Mary's (Iowa) in 2011 (Summer), Madison Central (Ky.) in 1982, Edwardsville (Ill.) in 1998.

A team would have to do something extraordinary in order to unseat the Wolves. North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) comes in at No. 2 this week and could win the Georgia Class AAAAAAA state title. However, it already has two losses and won't be able to equal Shawnee's 40 wins.

Likewise, No. 3 Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) could close out the season with its seventh state title in eight years, but the Mavericks also have two losses and won't be able to get to 30 wins even with a state crown.

This week's rankings saw a number of playoff upsets resulting in 10 teams exiting the top 50. Included in that group was previous No. 4 Lamar (Houston), No. 7 Columbus (Miami), No. 9 Allatoona (Acworth, Ga.) and No. 10 George Ranch (Richmond, Texas).


1. (last week 1) Shawnee (Okla.), 40-0
Shawnee completed one of the rare 40-0 seasons in national history by sweeping the Class 5A state tournament. The Wolves beat Durant 4-1 in the first round, Carl Albert 20-3 in the semifinals and Claremore 12-7 in the championship game. Tanner Sparks struck out seven in the win over Durant, while Kade Self and Cole Payne each had three RBIs against Carl Albert. Jake Taylor had a double and a home run and was also the winning pitcher with eight strikeouts against Claremore.

2. (3) North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.), 34-2
North Gwinnett advanced to the Class AAAAAAA semifinals with a 10-0, 4-3 sweep of Hillgrove. Will Bennett and LJ Fisher each homered in the 10-0 win, while Corey Collins homered in the 4-3 win. Parker Coyne had three doubles in the two games combined.

3. (5) Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 25-2
The Mavericks advanced to the Class 6A regional semifinals with a 15-0 win over Miami Springs. Luis Tuero, Joey Thompson, Alex Toral and Joe Perez all had home runs in the win.

4. (2) Huntington Beach (Calif.), 26-4
The Oilers split their final two regular-season games, losing 17-2 to Newport Beach and then winning 13-1. Hagen Danner, Nick Pratto, Justin Cianca and Nick Lopez all hit home runs in the win with Lopez hitting a grand slam.

5. (12) Moody (Corpus Christi, Texas), 24-1-3
Moody advanced to the third round of the Class 5A state tournament with a 6-1 and 10-0 sweep of Valley View.

6. (13) Mosley (Lynn Haven, Fla.), 24-2
The Dolphins advanced to the Class 6A Region 1 regional semifinal against Gulf Breeze by defeating West Florida 9-0. Brett Robertson had a home run in the win.

7. (14) Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.), 28-1
Riverdale Baptist had a strong showing at the National Association of Christian Athletes tournament in Dayton (Tenn.), going 4-0 with wins over Eastern Tech (Baltimore) 12-7, Ezekiel Academy (Montgomery, Ala.) 17-2, Knights HomeSchool 14-1, and Knoxville Christian 15-3.

8. (15) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 27-3
Tyler Dean had a pair of home runs and six RBIs to highlight a 17-1 win and kick off a three-game sweep of Mt. Carmel (San Diego). The Broncos also won 9-0 and 7-2.

9. (6) Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), 26-3
The Bears dropped their second league game of the season with a 3-2 loss to Clovis North. Buchanan rebounded to beat Clovis North 13-2 in the second game of the series. The Bears open the defense of their Central Section Division 1 championship this week.

10. (17) West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), 24-3
West Orange moved into the Region 1 semifinals with a 6-2 win over Dr. Phillips (Orlando). West Orange takes on Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs).

11. (19) Fort Bend Travis (Richmond, Texas), 27-5
Fort Bend Travis advanced to the third round of the Class 6A state tournament after beating Cy Woods 11-6 and 3-1.

12. (20) Helena (Ala.), 36-5
Helena defeated defending Class 6A state champion Hillcrest (Tuscaloosa) 2-1 and 5-2 to advance to the championship game, where it faces Cullman.

13. (16) Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), 26-4-1
Lake Travis took three games to top Brandeis (San Antonio) and advance to the third round of the Class 6A state tournament. Lake Travis lost 2-0 in the first game and then won the next two, 2-1 and 7-4.

14. (18) Pope (Marietta, Ga.), 30-6
Pope advanced to the Class 6A state semifinals by dropping Dalton in three games. Pope won the first game 9-3, loss the second one 3-2 and won the final game 9-2. Pope meets River Ridge in the semifinals.

15. (22) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 30-5
The Gaels advanced to the state tournament by beating Centennial (Las Vegas) two out of three times in the Sunset Region Class 4A tournament. Bishop Gorman defeated Centennial in the semifinals 7-5, lost in the first championship game 13-2 and then won the final title game 11-8. Bishop Gorman also defeated Arbor View 14-3 and Spring Valley 10-1 during the tournament.

16. (23) Cullman (Ala.), 37-7
The Bearcats advanced to the Class 6A state championship game against Helena by topping Hueytown 8-1 and 4-3. Trent Price had a pair of doubles and three RBIs in the 8-1 win, while Wheeler Eastman had a walk-off RBI single in the 4-3 win.

17. (24) Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, Texas), 33-3-1
Bobby Witt had a triple and two RBIs in a 3-0 win over Rider (Wichita Falls), while Alex Scherff picked up the pitching win in a 6-3 win over Rider to advance Colleyville Heritage to the third round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

18. (25) Jackson (Massillon, Ohio), 23-1
The Polar Bears remain the No. 1 team in the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Division 1 rankings after beating Perry, 6-0 and 10-1, and Wooster 4-0.

19. (28) Westminster Christian (Miami), 23-5
The Warriors knocked off University (Fort Lauderdale) 7-1 and face undefeated Calvary Christian in the Class 4A regional final.

20. (29) Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.), 27-0
Calvary Christian advanced to the regional final of the Class 4A state tournament by beating Palmer Trinity 5-1. The Eagles face Westminster Christian for the right to advance to the state tournament.

21. (31) Oxford (Miss.), 30-5
The Chargers face Pearl River Central (Carriere) in the Mississippi Class 5A state championship series after sweeping New Hope (Columbus), 5-4 and 11-5. Oxford has won two straight Class 5A state championships.

22. (27) Gulfport (Miss.), 29-4
Gulfport and Oak Grove play today to see who will advance to the Class 6A state championship game. Gulfport won the first game against Oak Grove 7-3 before losing 3-2.

23. (32) Oak Grove (Hattiesburg, Miss.), 29-5
Oak Grove is battling Gulfport for a spot in the Class 6A state championship game. The two teams split their series over the weekend. The two teams play the rubber game Monday.

24. (33) Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.), 33-6
Mill Creek advanced to the Class 6A state semifinals by taking a three-game series from North Paulding. Mill Creek lost the first game 2-0 before winning the final two by identical 5-3 scores. Mill Creek faces Etowah in the semifinals.

25. (34) La Cueva (Albuquerque, N.M.), 28-1
The Bears won their fifth title in 10 seasons by knocking off Cleveland (Rio Rancho) 10-4 in the Class 6A state championship game. They beat Carlsbad 5-3 in the semifinals and Rio Rancho 1-0 in the quarterfinals. La Cueva opened the season with a loss and won its final 28 games of the season.

The Next 25

26. (35) Jefferson City (Mo.), 25-2
The Jays won their only two games last week, beating Smith Cotton 9-6 and Waynesville 11-1.

27. (36) Saline (Mich.), 25-1
Saline continued its No. 1 ranking in Michigan by winning five times last week. The Hornets defeated Bedford 4-2, 14-0 and 10-0, Sterling Heights Stevenson 6-2 and Hudsonville 11-1.

28. (38) Neuqua Valley (Naperville, Ill.), 28-1-1
Now the No. 1 team in Illinois after four wins last week. Topped Wheaton North 11-1 and 8-1 and beat Lake Park 6-0 and 6-0.

29. (39) Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.), 31-3
Blessed Trinity advanced to the Class 4A semifinals with a 6-1, 6-1 sweep of West Laurens.

30. (41) Canterbury (Fort Myers, Fla.), 24-5
Canterbury advanced in the Florida Class 3A playoffs with a 10-0 win over Northside Christian.

31. (42) Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), 22-4-2
The Wolverines won their tune-up prior to the start of the Southern Section playoffs, beating Dos Pueblos 6-2.

32. (43) Wakeland (Frisco, Texas), 30-3-1
Wakeland advanced to the third round by shutting out Sulphur Springs in two games, 6-0 and 10-0.

33. (44) William Penn Charter (Philadelphia), 20-1
William Penn Charter remained the top team in Philadelphia with a 1-0 win over Malvern Prep and 9-0 win over Germantown Academy.

34. (45) Westminster Christian (St. Louis), 29-1
Westminster Christian remained the top 5A team in Missouri with a 3-2 win over Lutheran South and a 2-1 win over Marquette.

35. (47) Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.), 28-4
Northwestern won the South Carolina Class 5A upper state championship beating Boiling Springs 4-2. Also defeated Westside 10-0 in the semifinals.

36. (49) Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), 24-1
Wesleyan Christian Academy advanced to the second round of the NCISAA Class 3A playoffs with a 4-0 win over Covenant Day.

37. (50) Webster Schroeder (Webster, N.Y.), 19-0
Webster Schroeder remained the top AA school in New York with an 8-4 win over Irondequoit, a 10-1 win over Rush Henrietta and a 4-1 win over Hilton.

38. (21) St. Laurence (Burbank, Ill.), 26-4
St. Laurence suffered three losses during the week as it split two games with St. Francis, winning 11-0 and losing 6-2, split two games with Brother Rice, winning 5-4 and losing 6-1, and lost to St. Rita 10-5.

39. (NR) J.H. Rose (Greenville, N.C.), 22-3
The top seed coming out of the East in the Class 4A playoffs, the Rampants advanced to the third round with a 4-1 win over South View (Hope Mills) and a 13-3 win over Scotland (Laurinburg).

40. (NR) T.C. Roberson (Asheville, N.C.), 25-3
The Rams advanced to the third round of the Class 4A state playoffs with a 5-4 win over Grimsley (Greensboro) and a 7-1 win over Alexander Central (Taylorsville).

41. (NR) Carmel (Ind.), 16-1
Ranked No. 1 in the state Class 4A rankings by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.

42. (NR) Cathedral (Indianapolis), 20-0
Ranked No. 2 in the state Class 4A rankings by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.

43. (NR) O'Fallon (Ill.), 25-4
Split its two games last week, beating Granite City 17-2 and losing to Edwardsville 9-4.

44. (NR) Butler (Vandalia, Ohio), 24-4
Ranked No. 2 in the state Division 1 rankings by the Ohio Baseball Coaches Association.

45. (NR) Rockwall (Texas), 31-5
The Yellowjackets advanced to the third round of the Class 6A state playoffs with an 11-1, 9-3 sweep of Rowlett.

46. (NR) Eastlake (Chula Vista, Calif.), 25-3
The Titans have won 11 straight games and end the regular season with two games against Hilltop (Chula Vista).

47. (NR) Mustang (Okla.), 28-12
Won the Class 6A state playoffs with a 10-4 win over Westmoore.

48. (11) Owasso (Okla.), 31-4
Lost to Mustang 3-0 in the first round of the Oklahoma Class 6A state playoffs. Season over.

49. (NR) Central (Baton Rouge, La.), 32-13
Defeated West Monroe 4-2 to win the Louisiana Class 5A state championship.

50. (8) West Monroe (La.), 38-3
Lost to Central (Baton Rouge) 4-2 in the championship game of the Class 5A state playoffs. Season over.

Dropped Out: No. 4 Lamar (Houston), No. 7 Columbus (Miami), No. 9 Allatoona (Acworth, Ga.), No. 10 George Ranch (Richmond, Texas), No. 26 Sandalwood (Jacksonville, Fla.), No. 30 Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.), No. 37 Spring Hill (Columbia, Tenn.), No. 40 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), No. 46 Deer Creek (Edmond, Okla.), No. 48 Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.).