Teams that get their season off to a rough start have a difficult time finding their way into, or back into, the MaxPreps Top 25 high school baseball rankings. Often teams don't receive their due recognition until the end season if they are able to win a state championship. That's the case with teams like JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Woodstock (Ga.) and Pope (Marietta, Ga.), who joined the MaxPreps Top 25 this week.
JSerra Catholic defeated Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) to claim the Southern Section Division 1 championship. The Lions started the season 6-9 and were 1-6 in Trinity League play before winning 17 of their last 18 games. They joined the rankings at No. 18. The Lions' effort also allowed for Villa Park, Notre Dame and Orange Lutheran to all find a spot in the rankings this week as well.
Woodstock, meanwhile, was 11-6 at midseason, but went on a 22-1 run to win the Georgia Class AAAAAAA state championship. Pope, meanwhile, was 8-6 after a loss to Allatoona on March 11. However, the Greyhounds went 25-1 over the rest of the season, including back-to-back wins over Allatoona to capture the Georgia Class AAAAAA championship.
Woodstock enters the rankings at No. 22 and Pope comes in at No. 23. Other newcomers include Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas) at No. 16, Lake Travis (Westlake, Texas) at No. 24 and Silo (Okla.) at No. 25.
Dropped out: No. 6 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), No. 11 Blythewood (S.C.), No. 16 Legacy (Bloomfield, Colo.), No. 17 Pace (Fla.), No. 18 Andrean (Merrillville, Ind.), No. 19 Reno (Nev.), No. 21 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), No. 22 Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.).
Best game: JSerra Catholic (Capistrano Valley) 3, Notre Dame SO (Sherman Oaks). The Lions won the Southern Section championship for the second year in a row and earned the right to defend its Southern California championship next week with the win over Notre Dame.
Player of the Week: Jake Clemente, Stoneman Douglas. Clemente homered in the quarterfinals against Columbus and the championship game against Palm Beach Gardens to lead the Eagles to a Class 7A championship.
Games to watch: Providence vs. T.C. Roberson. The Panthers look to remain undefeated with their semifinal matchup against TC Roberson.
Streaks: St. Mary's Prep defeated Western International for its 55th straight win. The Eaglets moved within three wins of Silo (Okla.), which finished season with 58 straight wins last week.
JSerra Catholic players celebrate their Southern Section Division 1 championship over the weekend.
Photo by Gregory Fiore
1. St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)
Record: 33-0 |
Last week: 1
Results: Def. Notre Dame Prep, 10-1; def. Catholic Central (Novi), 4-0; def. Western International, 10-1
Stats: Ike Irish and
Nolan Schubart both homered against Notre Dame Prep.
Brock Porter pitched a seven-inning no-hitter with 16 strikeouts against Catholic Central.
Next: Tue. vs. Brother Rice
2. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Record: 30-2 |
Last week: 2
Results: Def. Columbus, 7-5; def. Hagerty, 4-1; def. Palm Beach Gardens, 10-0
Stats: Jake Clemente homered and drove in three runs against Columbus.
Roman Anthony doubled twice with two RBI against Hagerty.
Chris Arroyo and Clemente both homered in the Class 7A championship game against PBG.
Next: Season over, Florida 7A state champions
3. Providence (Charlotte, N.C.)
Record: 30-0 |
Last week: 3
Results: Def. South Mecklenberg, 9-1; def. West Forsyth, 4-3
Stats: Sammy Dansky had a home run against South Mecklenburg.
Jackson Warfield scored from first on an errant pick-off throw for the winning run against West Forsyth.
Next: Tue. vs. T.C. Roberson.
4. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 23-2 |
Last week: 4
Season complete
5. North Oconee (Bogart, Ga.)
Record: 39-1 |
Last week: 5
Results: Def. LaGrange, 3-2, 9-5.
Stats: Bryce Toci had a double in the 3-2 win while
Gavin Black,
Jack Fabris and
Justin Byrd all doubled in the 9-5 win.
Next: Season over. Georgia AAAA state champion
6. Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.)
Record: 27-3 |
Last week: 7
Results: Def. Lakeland Christian, 8-5
Stats: Cade Kurland,
James Hankerson and
Wyatt Ewanowski all homered against Lakeland Christian.
Next: Tue. vs. The Villages Charter
7. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)
Record: 26-2 |
Last week: 8
Season over.
8. Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)
Record: 32-2 |
Last week: 9
Results: Did not play
Next: 6A championship vs. DeSoto Central
9. Sumrall (Miss.)
Record: 33-1 |
Last week: 12
Results: Did not play
Next: Tue. vs. Pontotoc in 4A state championship
10. West Monroe (La.)
Record: 33-4 |
Last week: 13
5A state champions, season complete
11. Rockwall-Heath (Rockwall, Texas)
Record: 31-5 |
Last week: 14
Results: Def. Naaman Forest, 5-1
Stats: Johnny Lowe struck out 14 in the 5-1 win.
Next: Sat. vs. Oak Ridge
12. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)
Record: 25-2 |
Last week: 15
Results: Def. Colerain, 3-1; def. Indian Hill, 7-0
Stats: Nathan Manley homered against Colerain while
Nate Earley had two home runs and
C.J. Richard had one against Indian Hill.
Next: Tue. vs. Princeton
13. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 29-4 |
Last week: 20
Results: Def. Chandler, 11-1
Stats: Gavin Turley had a home run and went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Next: Season over, Arizona 6A state champion
14. Hartselle (Ala.)
Record: 39-4 |
Last week: 23
Results: Def. Pelham, 5-1, 10-2
Stats: Jo Williamson went 3-for-3 with two RBI in the 5-1 win.
Elliott Bray struck out eight in the 10-2 win and also had a double.
Next: Season over. Alabama 6A state champion
15. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 27-4 |
Last week: 25
Results: Def. Live Oak, 5-4
Stats: Luke DeVine had a double in the win over Live Oak.
Next: Wed. vs. Bellarmine College Prep
16. Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas)
Record: 31-4 |
Last week: NR
Results: Def. Tompkins, 2-1, 9-7
Stats: Carter Groen went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in the 9-7 win.
Travis Vlasek went 2-for-3 in the 2-1 win.
Next: Sat. vs. Pearland
17. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Record: 23-10 |
Last week: NR
Results: Def. Villa Park 4-1, def. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 3-1.
Stats: Jonathan Mendez went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI against Villa Park.
Andrew Lamb had an RBI triple in the 3-1 win.
Next: Southern California Tournament, TBA
18. Villa Park (Calif.)
Record: 27-5 |
Last week: 24
Results: Lost to JSerra Catholic, 4-1
Next: Season over
19. Notre Dame (SO) (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)
Record: 24-8-1 |
Last week: NR
Results: Lost to JSerra Catholic, 3-1 in Southern Section Division 1 championship game.
Next: Southern California Tournament TBA
20. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 25-5 |
Last week: NR
Next: Season over
21. Charlotte Christian (Charlotte, N.C.)
Record: 30-3 |
Last week: NR
Results: Def. Metrolina Academy, 7-3, 7-3
Stats: Judd Utermark and
Tanner McCammon both homered in the first game and McCammon and
Everette Harris homered in the second game.
Season over, NCISAA Division 1 champion
22. Woodstock (Ga.)
Record: 33-7 |
Last week: NR
Results: Def. Etowah, 5-0, 4-0
Stats: Michael Preiser went 2-for-2 with a triple and three RBI in the 5-0 win.
Kevin Maurer struck out eight in the 4-0 win.
Next: Season over. Georgia AAAAAAA state champion
23. Pope (Marietta, Ga.)
Record: 33-7 |
Last week: NR
Results: Def. Allatoona, 10-0, 9-2
Stats: Carson Kerce went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple in the 10-0 win.
Kent Schmidt also had a double and a triple in the 9-2 win.
Next: Season over. Georgia AAAAAA state champion
24. Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
Record: 31-5-2 |
Last week: NR
Results: Def. Clark, 5-1, 7-0
Stats: Ethan Calder struck out eight in the 5-1 win.
Next: Sat. vs. La Joya
25. Silo (Okla.)
Record: 30-0 |
Last week: NR
Season over, Oklahoma 2A state champion
