American Heritage kept its eye on the ball, and it paid off in a blowout for the Florida 5A title.
Photo by Alyson Boyer Rode
Spruce Creek pulled off its second upset in two weeks as it downed Columbus (Miami) 7-1 to claim the 8A championship. Meanwhile, American Heritage pulled off a stunning 3-0 victory over Jesuit to advance to the 5A state finals. There, it downed Ponte Verda to win the state crown.
Another Florida team, Archbishop McCarthy, also moved into the Xcellent 25 this week. After struggling early in the season, the Mavericks were unbeatable down the stretch in winning their third-straight state championship, this time at the 6A level.
Meanwhile in Nevada, some things never change. Bishop Gorman beat Coronado (Las Vegas) 11-1 to capture its seventh-straight state championship. The seven titles is a state record in Nevada.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Baseball Rankings
1. (1) Orange Lutheran (Calif.), 22-4
Orange Lutheran opened the Southern Section Division I playoffs with a 3-0 triumph over Moorpark. The Lancers scored a run in the second on a sacrifice fly by
Josh Morgan that scored
Jason Martin.
Cody Nulph scored in the same manner in the fourth on
Tommy Bell's sacrifice fly. In the sixth, Morgan singled home Martin, who had reached on an error.
Art Moran-Vidrio went five-plus innings for the win. Orange Lutheran meets Vista Murrieta today in the second round.
Cody Nulph, Orange Lutheran
Photo by Rob Carmell
Ty Moore racked up his 10th win of the season, going seven innings with one earned run and 14 strikeouts in a 3-1 win over Rio Mesa in the first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs. The Monarchs meet Temecula Valley in the second round today.
3. (3) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 40-3
The Gaels had little trouble capturing their state-record seventh-straight state championship, beating Coronado (Las Vegas) 11-1 in the championship game Saturday.
Jerrell Latham had a double and three RBIs,
Michael Blasko was 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and No. 9 hitter Tyler Baker was 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Cody Roper got the win, striking out six and walking four while giving up one run on five hits.
4. (4) Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas), 33-1
The Wildcats swept Ray 6-0 and 4-1.
Wyatt Mathisen picked up the win in the shutout, going the distance and allowing only four hits. He also had a double at the plate, while
Christian Cantu had two RBIs.
Armando Arrevelo upped his season record to 10-0 in the 4-1 victory. Mathisen was 2-for-3 with an RBI in the win.
5. (7) Columbus (Ga.), 29-3
The Blue Devils beat Cartersville 14-4 and 3-1 to advance to the Georgia AAA semifinals.
J.t. Phillips was 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and five RBIs in the first game while
Josh Lester,
Spencer Draws and
Hunter Swilling all had one home run each.
Kyle Carter picked up the win. In the second game, Phillips earned the win and also had a two-run homer.
6. (8) Martin (Arlington, Texas), 34-3-1
Martin swept Coronado (Lubbock) 9-3 and 5-1 in the Texas 5A state playoffs to advance to the regional semifinals.
Matt Waller had a double in the win while
Colin Day had a double and a triple. In the second game,
Tyler Kendrick had a double for Martin's best hit.
7. (5) Carroll (Corpus Christi, Texas), 28-4
Johnson (San Antonio) knocked off Carroll 3-2 in the first game, but the Tigers came back to win the next two outings 3-1 and 1-0 to advance to the next round of the Texas 5A state playoffs.
Rene Pineda got the win in the second game while
Courtney Hawkins earned the save.
Chris Cano scored the only run in the win while
Josh Cruz had the RBIs. In the 3-1 victory,
Michael Cantu got the win and Cano, Hawkins and
Jason Franco each knocked in a run. Carroll will meet Sharyland (31-3) in the region semifinals.
8. (10) Spruce Creek (Port Orange, Fla.), 28-4
Spruce Creek defeated Timber Creek 8-0 and then defeated Columbus 7-1 for the Florida 8A state championship.
Zach Spivey and
Austin Hays each drove in two runs apiece for the Hawks, who won the first state title in school history.
9. (11) Olympia (Orlando, Fla.), 29-1
Season over.
10. (14) American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 27-4
After defeating Jesuit 3-0 on an eighth-inning three-run homer by
Brandon Diaz, the Patriots easily defeated Ponte Verda 9-0 in the Florida 5A state championship game Friday.
Zack Collins had a grand slam to highlight a five-run third inning.
Alex Seibold went six innings and struck out five while walking two in the win.
11. (6) Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), 28-2
Jesuit lost to American Heritage 3-0 on an eighth-inning three-run homer in the Florida 5A state semifinals. Season over.
12. (12) Montwood (El Paso, Texas), 34-2
Montwood advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time in school history with a 4-1, 10-3 sweep of Americas.
Saul Avila struck out eight in the 10-3 victory. Montwood advances to play Southlake Carroll.
13. (9) Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.), 28-6
Parkview bounced back from a 6-3 loss to Hillgrove in the first game of the Georgia AAAAA quarterfinals to claim the second two games 4-1 and 8-5 and advance to the semifinals Monday against Mill Creek. In the clinching game,
Matt Olson was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs,
Josh Hart was 3-for-3 and Edwin Arias was 2-for-4. Parkview also opened the semifinals with a 5-4 win over Mill Creek on Monday.
14. (16) Ashley Ridge (Summerville, S.C.), 31-2
Ashley Ridge split two games with Byrnes, losing 2-0 in the opener and winning 6-5 in the second game. They captured the South Carolina 4A state championship game Monday, after several rain postponements, by a score of 4-3.
15. (18) Lake Braddock (Burke, Va.), 19-2
Lake Braddock knocked off West Potomac 7-3 in its only game last week to remain ranked No. 1 in the metro area by the Washington Post.
16. (19) Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), 24-4-1
The Wolverines opened the Southern Section Division II playoffs with a 3-0 win over Ventura.
Max Fried (8-2) struck out 10 in the win while
Tyler Urbach had a double and an RBI single to lead the offense.
17. (20) St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), 26-4-1
The Lancers advanced to the Central Section Division I semifinals with a pair of wins over the weekend. After a 10-2 win over Carlmont in the opener, St. Francis edged Serra, a team it lost to in the West Catholic Athletic League playoffs, 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
Andrew Eggers had a pair of hits, including a double, with an RBI against Serra, while
Trevor Bettencourt (9-1) got the win, striking out six.
18. (15) Columbus (Miami), 28-5
The Explorers advanced to the Class 8A state championship game against Spruce Creek with a 7-4 victory over Palm Beach Gardens on Saturday. Mike Vinson (9-0) got the win and also had a two-run double. Columbus lost in the state final to Spruce Creek, 7-1.
19. (22) Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.), 28-2
Did not play last week. Will meet Monsignor Pace on Wednesday in the Florida 4A state semifinals.
20. (25) Liberty (Mo.), 25-3
Liberty beat Oak Park 7-6 and Staley 3-2 to win the District 16 championship. It opens the state tournament today against Winnetonka.
21. (26) Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.), 25-6
The new No. 1 team in Illinois won its only game of the week, blanking Joliet West 10-0 behind Ryan Koziol's home run and four RBIs.
22. (38) Oak Grove (Hattiesburg, Miss.), 34-3
The Warriors topped Madison Central 5-1 and 4-0 to capture the Mississippi 6A state championship. The title is the 10th for Oak Grove.
23. (40) Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 27-4-1
McCarthy defeated Lakewood Ranch 6-4 in the semifinals and Pace 4-3 in the finals of the Florida Class 6A state playoffs. The title is the third in a row for the Mavericks.
Andre Martinez got the win in the championship game. He finished his career with a 36-6 record.
24. (21) St. Laurence (Burbank, Ill.), 28-4-1
St. Laurence dropped to No. 2 in the state behind Providence, but picked up a 6-1 win over Oak Park last week with
Kevin Smith going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and
Zach Lewis striking out seven for the win.
25. (42) Oxford (Ala.), 39-13
Oxford won the Alabama 6A state championship series with a 2-0, 3-5, 12-7 win over Fairhope.
Jackson Stephens had a home run in the final game while
Will Davis had three RBIs. Stephens (14-1) lost his first game of the season on the mound in the second game despite striking out nine.
Trent Simpson had a home run in the first game and
Tucker Simpson (9-3) got the win, striking out 12.
The Next 2526. (27) Edmond North (Okla.), 24-15
Oklahoma 6A state champions.
27. (28) Broken Arrow (Okla.), 35-5
Season over.
28. (29) Owasso (Okla.), 29-5
Season over.
29. (30) Carl Albert (Midwest City, Okla.), 39-3
Oklahoma 5A state champions.
30. (31) JW North (Riverside, Calif.), 25-5
JW North opened the Southern Section Division I playoffs with an 11-2 victory over Edison (Huntington Beach).
Jack Johnson had a double and a home run and also picked up the pitching win on a four-hitter.
31. (34) Mount Juliet (Tenn.), 38-4
Mount Juliet defeated Northwest 12-2, Rossview 9-1 and North Overton 9-0 in regional play to advance to the 3A state tournament. Mount Juliet opens the state tournament against Farragut.
32. (35) Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 34-7
The Admirals stumbled in the second round of the regional tournament, falling to Bearden 10-7. However a 2-1 win over Dobyns Bennett advanced Farragut to this week's state tournament. Farragut meets Mt. Juliet in the first round.
Tyger Talley, Chaparral
Photo by James Conrad
Arizona Division 1 state champions.
34. (37) Maize (Kan.), 21-1
The Eagles won twice last week, beating Southeast (Wichita) 11-1 and Dodge City 3-2. Maize opens the Class 6A state tournament on Friday against Blue Valley North.
35. (46) Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), 32-6
Louisiana 5A state champions.
36. (47) Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.), 21-4
Byrnes split the first two games of the South Carolina 4A state championship series with Ashley Ridge, winning the first game 2-0 but losing the second 6-5. After several rain postponements, Byrnes lost the third game 4-3.
37. (23) Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.), 21-3
Beat P. Creek 7-6 in eight innings and then lost to Legend 3-2 in the second round. Won a loser's bracket game and will play Highland Ranch for the chance to play in the championship game against either Regis Jesuit or Legend.
38. (24) Fairhope (Ala.), 36-8
Fairhope lost to Oxford 0-2, 5-3, 7-12 in the Alabama 6A state championship series.
39. (NR) Gainesville (Ga.), 31-0
Gainesville advanced to the Georgia AAA state semifinals.
40. (17) Lexington (S.C.), 27-4
Season over.
41. (41) Estero (Fla.), 27-3
Season over.
42. (43) Spain Park (Hoover, Ala.), 35-17
Season over.
43. (44) Pelham (Ala.), 36-5
Season over.
44. (NR) Sharyland (Mission, Texas), 31-3
Sharyland will play Carroll in the regional semifinals.
45. (NR) Pensacola Catholic (Fla.), 25-3
Advanced to the Florida 4A state semifinals.
46. (NR) Spanish Fort (Ala.), 37-8
Alabama 5A state champions.
47. (NR) Lake Central (St. John, Ind.), 25-1
Ranked No. 1 in the state of Indiana.
48. (NR) Grove City (Ohio), 24-2
Ranked No. 1 in the state of Ohio.
49. (NR) Malvern Prep (Pa.), 26-5
Ranked No. 1 in Southern Pennsylvania.
50. (NR) Roseburg (Ore.), 21-2
Ranked No. 1 in the state of Oregon.
Dropped Out: No. 13 Clovis West, No. 32 Grandview, No. 33 Collierville.
