Boras Classic South to feature four teams in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school baseball rankings

A team in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school baseball rankings is preparing to defend its title at the Boras South Classic in California – but that team isn't No. 1-ranked Corona (Calif.). The defending champion is No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), which went on a remarkable run in last year's tournament to take home the crown.

Mater Dei entered last year's Boras South Classic on a decided downswing with a 7-6 record that included four straight losses. But during tournament play, the Monarchs defeated San Marcos (Santa Barbara), Crespi (Encino) and La Mirada to set up a semifinal showdown with Huntington Beach.

The Oilers, No. 3 in this week's rankings, nearly knocked off the Monarchs but fell 4-3 in 11 innings. Mater Dei went on to defeat Corona, 5-3, in the championship game.

The Classic was the high point of the season for the Monarchs, who went 5-7  the rest of the way, including a 3-1 loss in eight innings to Corona in the second round of the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.



Arcadia is undefeated to start the season but will play a pair of games this week against Orange Lutheran. Meanwhile Owasso won six games on its annual run through Florida.

Game of the week: Puyallup (Wash.) def. Kennedy Catholic (Burien, Wash.), 1-0. The two teams played six scoreless innings before the Vikings scored a run in the bottom of the seventh when D.J. Ringenbach singled home Riley Sanoy with the winning run. Mason Pike kept Kennedy Catholic at bay with 13 strikeouts and just two hits.

Game to watch: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) vs. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.). Barring a matchup between Huntington Beach and Corona in the Boras Classic final, we'll go with the Ascenders and Huskies. Hewitt-Trussville has rapidly moved up the rankings to No. 8 after opening its season with 20 straight wins. IMG Academy is one spot ahead at No. 7.

Hitter of the week: Josiah Hartshorn, Orange Lutheran. The All-American candidate helped get the Lancers back into the rankings with three home runs during the week, including two in one game.

Pitcher of the week: Daniel Tartaglia, Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.). The senior fanned 13 batters and shutout Santa Fe Catholic in seven innings.

Streaks: Eaton (Colo.) crushed two opponents last week to raise its win streak to 73 straight wins. The Reds beat Brush, 13-2, and then blanked Alamosa, 24-0, to put its record at 4-0. Two more wins and Eaton ties Homer (Mich.) at No. 4 in all-time consecutive wins at 75 in a row.

Dropped out: No. 5 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), No. 10 Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), No. 25 Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)

MaxPreps Top 25 baseball rankings

1. Corona (Calif.)
Record: 7-0 | Last week: No. 1
Scores: Def. Norco, 4-0, 5-0
Pitcher/Hitter of the week: Ethin Bingaman had a double and a home run with two RBI in the 4-0 win. In the 5-0 win, Bingaman picked up this third win of the season while going five innings and striking out nine in the 5-0 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Gahr at Boras Classic

2. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 2
First game: March 29 vs. Lakota East

3. Huntington Beach (Calif.)
Record: 6-0 | Last week: No. 3
Scores: Def. Marina, 7-1, 3-1, def. Fountain Valley, 4-1; def. Marina, 4-2
Hitter of the week: Jayton Greer had two doubles and two home runs during the four-game win streak.
Pitcher of the week: Otto Espinoza struck out eight in the 4-1 win over Fountain Valley.
Next: Tuesday vs. Aquinas

4. Etowah (Woodstock, Ga.)
Record: 17-1 | Last week: No. 4
Scores: Def. North Cobb, 9-2, 16-1, 9-2
Hitter of the week: Trevor Condon had a pair of home runs during the three-game series.
Pitcher of the week: Jackson Rose struck out nine and gave up one run on two hits in the 16-1 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Walton.

5. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Record: 16-1 | Last week: No. 6
Scores: Def. Flanagan, 11-0; def. Archbishop McCarthy, 16-2; def. Santa Fe Catholic, 5-0
Hitter of the week: Drew Freeman went 5-for-5 over the Flanagan and Archbishop McCarthy wins with a double, a home run and nine RBI.
Pitcher of the week: Daniel Tartaglia tossed a shutout against Santa Fe Catholic, striking out 13.
Next: Tuesday vs. Jesuit (Tampa)

6. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Record: 8-0 | Last week: No. 7
Scores: Def. Murrieta Valley, 4-0; def. Pacifica, 7-4
Hitter of the week: Ezekiel Lara had a grand slam home run against Pacifica.
Pitcher of the week: Landon Gordon went six innings against Murrieta Valley and gave up no runs on two hits with no walks and seven strikeouts for the win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Ayala at Boras Classic

7. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 13-1 | Last week: No. 8
Scores: Def. Jesuit (Tampa), 3-1; def. Clay, 9-1
Hitter of the week: Charlie Messina had a triple and a home run against Clay.
Pitcher of the week: Chase Bentley struck out six in five and two-thirds innings against Clay.
Next: Tuesday vs. Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.)

8. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.)
Record: 20-0 | Last week: No. 9
Scores: Def. Mountain Brook, 8-7; def. Prattville, 6-1, 9-2; def. Southside, 15-2
Hitter of the week: Christian Helmers had a double against Mountain Brook and a double and a home run against Southside.
Pitcher of the week: Jacob Francis went six innings and gave up one run on one hit with nine strikeouts in a 6-1 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. IMG Academy

9. Puyallup (Wash.)
Record: 4-0 | Last week: No. 11
Scores: Def. Kennedy Catholic, 1-0; def. Edmonds-Woodway, 4-0; def. O'Dea, 10-1
Hitter of the week: Gage Thompson went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and five RBI against O'Dea.
Pitcher of the week: Mason Pike went six innings and gave up two hits with 13 strikeouts against Kennedy Catholic.
Next: Tuesday vs. South Kitsap

10. Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 5-0 | Last week: No. 14
Scores: Def. Portland Christian, 15-0, def. Manual, 13-1; def. Dixie Heights, 9-0; def. Graves County, 11-4
Hitter of the week: Joey Dudeck had four doubles during the week.
Pitcher of the week: Logan Strong went five no-hit innings against Dixie Heights, striking out eight.
Next: Wednesday vs. Niles West

11. Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City, N.J.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: No. 12
First game: March 31 vs. Washington Township

12. Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.)
Record: 1-0 | Last week: No. 13
Scores: Def. Joliet Central, 24-0
Hitter of the week: Eddie Olszta went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run and six RBI in the win.
Pitcher of the week: Declan Kane struck out six batters in two innings.
Next: Tuesday vs. St. Charles North

13. Buchholz (Gainesville, Fla.)
Record: 16-0 | Last week: No. 16
Scores: Def. Knoxville Central, 4-0; def. Knoxville Catholic, 8-4; def. Silverdale Academy, 4-0
Hitter of the week: J.J Gardner went 6-for-10 during the week with a double and a home run.
Pitcher of the week: Dion Wilburn struck out 13 and gave up no runs on four hits against Silverdale.
Next: Wednesday vs. North Marion

14. Harlem (Ga.)
Record: 18-0 | Last week: No. 20
Scores: Def. Westside, 15-0, 15-0
Hitter of the week: Domenic Titus went 3-for-3 in the second game, driving in three runs. He also threw a three-inning no-hitter.
Pitcher of the week: Will Holder threw a three-inning perfect game in the first game against Westside, striking out seven.
Next: Tuesday vs. Aquinas

15. Benton (La.)
Record: 21-1 | Last week: No. 21
Scores: def. Captain Shreve, 13-1, 10-3, def. Haughton, 12-0
Hitter of the week: Jackson Jones had a double and a triple in the 10-3 win.
Pitcher of the week: Thomas Allen got the 13-1 win, giving up one run on three hits with nine strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Haughton

16. Collierville (Tenn.)
Record: 15-0 | Last week: No. 22
Scores: Def. Munford, 6-2; def. Dyer County, 1-0; def. South Gibson, 2-1; def. Oxford, 11-1; def. Grant Community, 4-3
Hitter of the week: Preston Sumner had a pair of hits and five RBI in the 11-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Ayden Jacobs got the win over Oxford, going five innings and striking out six.
Next: Tuesday vs. Lincoln

17. Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas)
Record: 18-0 | Last week: No. 24
Scores: Def. Robstown, 12-0; def. Floresville, 9-1; def. King, 17-0
Hitter of the week: Dallin DeBellas went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and five RBI in the 17-0 win.
Pitcher of the week: Collier Carroll gave up one hit over four innings with three strikeouts against Robstown.
Next: Friday vs. Tuloso-Midway

18. La Mirada (Calif.)
Record: 7-1 | Last week: No. 17
Scores: Did not play
Next: Tuesday vs. Birmingham at Boras Classic.

19. Kingwood (Texas)
Record: 19-2 | Last week: No. 15
Scores: Def. North Shore, 6-1, lost to North Shore, 4-3
Hitter of the week: Caden Callaway went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored.
Pitcher of the week: Will Fiedler got the win against North Shore, going seven innings and giving up one run on three hits with six strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Channelview

20. Venice (Fla.)
Record: 13-2 | Last week: No. 18
Scores: Lost to Canterbury, 1-0; def. Canterbury, 2-1
Hitter of the week: Graham Houston went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the 2-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: August Backman got the win over Canterbury.
Next: Wednesday vs. Neumann

21. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)
Record: 16-1 | Last week: No. 19
Scores: Def. Seminole, 9-1; def. Clearwater Central Catholic, 5-2
Hitter of the week: Darian Collins went 5-for-9 with five runs scored in the two wins.
Pitcher of the week: Grayson Gibson went four and two-thirds innings and gave up no runs on five hits with 10 strikeouts in the 9-1 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Tampa Prep

22. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 8-1 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Palo Verde (Las Vegas), 10-4, def. Franklin (Elk Grove), 10-0; def. Basic (Henderson, Nev.), 6-1
Hitter of the week: Josiah Hartshorn went 6-for-8 during the week with three home runs, including two against Palo Verde.
Pitcher of the week: Gary Morse threw five no-hit innings against Franklin, striking out five.
Next: Tuesday vs. Arcadia 

23. Arcadia (Calif.)
Record: 15-0 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Hoover (San Diego), 20-0, 31-1; def. Tesoro, 12-6
Hitter of the week: Leo Peniche went 3-for-6 with four runs, two doubles and six RBI in 31-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Tyler Swilling struck out six in the win over Tesoro.
Next: Tuesday vs. Orange Lutheran

24. Owasso (Okla.)
Record: 13-1 | Last week: NR
Scores: Def. McKeel, 9-4, def. Santa Fe Catholic, 13-0, Sapulpa, 13-0
Hitter of the week: Eli Enzbrenner had a triple and four RBI against McKeel.
Pitcher of the week: Jaiden Gustafson tossed a one-hit shutout against Santa Fe Catholic, striking out five.
Next: Tuesday vs. Sapulpa

25. Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Record: 15-1 | Last week: No. 23
Scores: Lost to Charlotte, 8-7; def. Palmetto, 12-0; def. Sebring, 6-0
Hitter of the week: Brody Baxmann had a home run against Palmetto.
Pitcher of the week: Tyler Reeder got the win over Sebring, going four shutout innings while allowing one hit with five strikeouts.
Next: Wednesday vs. American Heritage