Video: 2015 5A State Champions
See the final out of Archbishop McCarthy's state title win last year.The top three teams in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Baseball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard stayed the same from last week, but Archbishop McCarthy made a strong case to move past them all last week.
The Mavericks remained undefeated on the season and are ranked No. 1 overall in the state of Florida by The PrepZone, which came out with its initial rankings this week. Archbishop McCarthy moved up from No. 6 to No. 4 this week, sliding past an idle Bishop Gorman team that has yet to play a game this year.
Coppell is not ready to give up the No. 1 spot just yet, as it won three more games to up its record to 14-0. Hamilton also stayed unbeaten with two wins while JSerra Catholic won three times last week.
Six teams exited the rankings, including preseason No. 1 Oxford, which lost for the second and third times this year with losses at the Perfect Game Showdown. The Chargers fell to Gulliver Prep, the tournament runner-up, and Buford.
Moving in this week are Johnson, South Caldwell, Katy, Bryant, Vestavia Hills and Cy-Fair.
Rankings include only teams that play in states where the baseball season has already begun or will begin in the next two weeks.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Baseball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Beau Orlando and Cy-Fair have moved into the Xcellent 25.
File photo by Ken Murray
The Cowboys had two big matchups called due to rain, but still managed to pick up three wins at the Highland Park Tournament. Coppell defeated Belton 11-2, Guyer (Denton) 5-2 and The Woodlands 6-0.
Austin Gross and
Myles Paschall each hit home runs against Guyer while
Holden Rupley hit one out against Belton. Coppell was scheduled to play defending Class 5A state champion Prosper and Class 6A semifinalist Dallas Jesuit last week, but the games were cancelled.
2. (2) Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 10-0
The Huskies picked up two more wins, defeating Centennial (Peoria) 10-1 and Desert Ridge (Mesa) 5-2 last week.
Nick Brueser is batting .588 (20-for-34) with 20 RBIs, seven doubles and five home runs. The Huskies will have a tough week at the Horizon Tournament as they face Horizon, Canyon del Oro and Brophy College Prep.
3. (3) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), 5-0
The Lions picked up three wins at the Newport Elks Tournament last week, including a 4-2 win over Damien (La Verne) in the second round. Other wins included a 4-0 victory over Tustin and an 8-1 win over Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita).
Davis Wendzel had two doubles and three RBIs against Tesoro. The Lions have two games this week against Huntington Beach.
4. (6) Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 11-0
The Mavericks picked up a pair of big wins last week, defeating Florida Christian (Miami) 9-3, a team that had beaten Westminster Christian, and then knocking off American Heritage (Plantation), 7-5.
5. (4) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 0-0
The Gaels' season opener is scheduled for March 15 at Centennial (Las Vegas).
6. (9) Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.), 10-1
The Eagles continue to get strong pitching despite the loss of all-American candidate Jesus Luzardo to injury. Douglas defeated Taravella 6-1 with
Brady Norris going the distance for the win. The Eagles also blanked Monarch 6-0.
7. (13) Providence (Charlotte, N.C.), 5-0
The Patriots stayed undefeated with three wins last week. Providence shut out West Mecklenburg (Charlotte) 9-0 and also beat Olympic (Charlotte) 6-5 and Alexander Central (Taylorsville) 13-2.
8. (15) Rockledge (Fla.), 11-0
Ranked No. 4 overall in the state by The Prep Zone, Rockledge won three times last week to remain undefeated. The Raiders topped Heritage (Palm Bay) 5-0, Space Coast (Cocoa) 9-4 and Merritt Island 3-2.
9. (16) Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), 9-0
The Bears won three times at the Central Valley Showcase, knocking off Granite Bay 10-1, Franklin (Elk Grove) 4-1 and Lincoln (Stockton) 6-3.
Grant Gambrell drove in two runs against both Franklin and Lincoln.
10. (22) Clovis (Calif.), 10-0
The Cougars won three times in the Central California Showcase, topping Granite Bay 7-3, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 7-3 and Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 4-1.
11. (11) Madison (Vienna, Va.), 0-0
The Warhawks' season opener is May 15 vs. Hayfield.
12. (12) Houston (Germantown, Tenn.), 0-0
The Mustangs' season opener is Monday vs. Buckhorn.
13. (5) Walton (Marietta, Ga.), 8-1
Walton suffered its first loss of the season with a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Woodstock. Walton won the rematch against Woodstock two days later, 10-4, and defeated Wheeler 2-1 to close out the week.
14. (18) Orange Lutheran (Calif.), 4-1
The Lancers posted two wins in the Newport Elks Tournament last week, beating Esperanza 1-0 and Tustin 9-6.
Chris Burica went seven innings with five strikeouts for the shutout win over Esperanza.
Jasiah Dixon homered against Tustin.
15. (19) Huntington Beach (Calif.), 2-2
The Oilers did not play last week, but they face JSerra Catholic in a pair of games this week.
16. (21) Liberty Christian (Lynchburg, Va.), 0-0
The Bulldogs' season opener is Saturday vs. Steward School.
17. (NR) Katy (Texas), 14-0
The Tigers are off to a strong start with wins over Westside (Houston), Klein Collins and Fort Bend Dulles. Seven of Katy's wins are by shutout.
18. (25) Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), 12-1
The Tigers lost their first game of the season, falling 7-6 to Countryside. Jesuit was still able to defeat Dunedin 5-3 and Spoto 23-0.
JJ Niekro,
Steven Owusu and
Michael Swenson combined for a five-inning perfect game against Spoto.
19. (8) Westminster Christian (Miami), 12-2
The Warriors dropped their second game of the season, falling 9-3 to Providence (Jacksonville). But they also defeated Bishop Verot (Fort Myers), the Class 4A runner-up last year, and Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville), the Class 4A champion, by scores of 10-3 and 9-7, respectively.
20. (14) Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), 13-2
The
Buccaneers win four times last week, defeating Elizabeth 11-1,
Hahnville 4-1, Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport) 6-2 and St.
Thomas More (Lafayette) 10-0. Barbe lost its final game of the weekend
to Jesuit (New Orleans), 4-2.
21. (NR) Johnson (San Antonio), 11-1
The Jaguars are off to an 11-1 start with the only loss coming against 2015 Class 6A semifinalist Alexander (Laredo). Johnson has a key game this week with Reagan.
22. (NR) Vestavia Hills (Ala.), 15-1
The Rebels' only blemish is a 5-4 loss to Hoover, a team they also beat 10-2. Vestavia Hills has a 9-3 win over Sparkman, which recently won the Perfect Game Showdown, and it has wins over the likes of Pelham, Oxford, Huntsville and Bob Jones.
23. (NR) South Caldwell (Hudson, N.C.), 4-0
The Spartans lost just once last year and they are off to a strong start with four straight shutouts to begin the season. Victories include 11-0 over Maiden, 15-0 over West Caldwell (Lenoir), 15-0 over Hibriten (Lenoir) and 10-0 over Patton (Morganton).
24. (NR) Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas), 11-1
The Bobcats dropped their season opener to Flower Mound, 3-1, but have won 11 straight, including wins over Klein Collins, College Park, Klein Oak and Carroll (Corpus Christi).
25. (NR) Bryant (Ark.), 3-0
The Hornets have outscored opponents 28-2 in the first three games of the season, including 10-0 wins over Arkadelphia and Lakeside (Hot Springs).
Dropped out: No. 7 Oxford (Miss.), No. 10 Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), No. 17 Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), No. 20 Westmoore (Oklahoma City), No. 23 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), No. 24 Park Vista (Lake Worth, Fla.).
