The South Walton Showdown is
only in its third year, so it might not have the name recognition of the
National High School Invitational or the Boras Classic, but so far it's
been the most consequential tournament of the 2026 season.
With a lineup that included multiple state finalists from 2025 and the defending national champion in
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), the Showdown didn't lack for firepower. From the very first game of the tournament, a battle between previously-unranked
Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.) and
The Bennett School (Houston, Texas), the results acted like falling dominoes, each one having an effect on this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school baseball rankings.
Initially, Farragut's two wins over The Bennett School didn't seem to have a
huge impact on the rankings. The defending Tennessee 4A champions were just getting their season underway and the Texas school already had several
losses on its schedule.
Tennessee commit Trevor Condon helped Etowah of Georgia go 4-0 last week, outscoring opponents 44-2 in thos outings. (PHOTO: Mike Janes)
But that all changed Friday when The Bennett School knocked off IMG Academy 4-3, ending a 27-game win streak
by the Ascenders. The win for the Rebels meant that they now had to enter
the MaxPreps Top 25. However, the two losses to Farragut meant that the
Admirals also had to enter this week's rankings.
That's where
Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville, Fla.) comes in.
The
Cardinals had a huge week at the Showdown, knocking off a pair of
defending state champions and a state finalist in their three wins.
Along with a convincing 11-0 win over Farragut, Bishop Snyder also edged
South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) 2-1 and beat defending Alabama Class 6A champion
Hartselle 6-5.
Bishop
Snyder, Farragut and The Bennett School all jumped into the top 10. Despite
picking up its 20th win of the season,
Barbe (Lake Charles, La.) had to stay at No. 8 because its only loss of the season is to The Bennett School.
IMG
Academy doesn't drop too far as it falls to No. 9. The Ascenders
managed to avenge their only loss from last year with a win over host
South Walton 6-5 and also edged
St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park, Fla.) 8-6.
Tomball (Texas)
also made a big leap this week, going from No. 10 to No. 3 with a 6-0 record
during the week at the Gulf Coast Classic I in Gulf Shores, Ala.
Other newcomers this week include
Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) at No. 18,
North Paulding (Dallas, Ga.) at No. 23,
Waxahachie (Texas) at No. 24 and
Etowah (Woodstock, Ga.) at No. 25.
Game of the Week
The Bennett School 4, IMG Academy 3: The
defending national champions gave up three runs in the bottom of the
fifth en route to their first loss since last year's South Walton
Showdown. Karson Reeder, formerly of Tomball, got the win as he gave up three runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts.
Game to Watch
No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Today, Wednesday, Friday: Before
heading to the National High School Invitational next week, the No. 1
Braves tackle their first three-game series in Trinity League play against
the Lions. JSerra is only 5-4 on the season, but it has knocked off
some traditionally-strong programs this year.
Pitcher of the Week Nate Curcio
threw a five-inning one-hitter against Wheeler, striking out 11 and
walking one to get Etowah back into the rankings this week at No. 25.
Hitter of the Week Cole Dennis of Bishop Snyder blasted a pair of home runs in doing 3-for-3 with two RBI in the Cardinals' 11-0 win over Farragut.
Streaks Record: 4-0 |
Last week: 1
Scores: Def. Los Osos 13-1, def. Damien (Laverne) 11-0
Next: Tuesday vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)
2. Venice (Fla.)Record: 12-0 |
Last week: 2
Scores: Def. Palm Harbor University 5-0, def. Jesuit (Tampa) 6-3, def. Riverview Sarasota 6-5
Next: Tuesday vs. Tampa Prep
3. Tomball (Texas)Record: 18-0-1 |
Last week: 10
Scores: Def. Orange Beach 12-1, def. Lipscomb Academy 10-5, def. Gulf Shores 11-7, def. Summit 9-1, def. Green Hill 11-0
Next: Friday vs. Magnolia West
4. Corona (Calif.)Record: 5-0 |
Last week: 6
Scores: Def. King (Riverside) 3-0
Next: Wednesday vs. King (Riverside)
5. Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Record: 12-1 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.) 11-0, def. South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) 2-1, def. Hartselle (Ala.) 6-5
Next: Wednesday vs. West Broward
6. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Record: 5-1 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. The Bennett School 8-4, 8-5, def. Providence School 5-2, lost to Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville, Fla) 11-0
Next: Tuesday vs. Bearden
7. The Bennett School (Houston, Texas)
Record: 15-4 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Lost
to Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.) 8-4, def. Lewisburg (Miss.) 11-6, lost
to Farragut 8-5, def. St. Johns Country Day 16-0, def. IMG Academy
(Bradenton, Fla.) 4-3
Next: Thursday vs. Memphis University
8. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 20-1 |
Last week: 8
Scores: Def. Carencro 10-0, 14-0, def. New Iberia 6-1
Next: Tuesday vs. New Iberia
9. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)Record: 12-1 |
Last week: 3
Scores: Def. South Walton 5-4, def. St. Johns Country Day 8-6, lost to The Bennett School 4-3
Next: Tuesday vs. Jesuit (Tampa)
10. Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas)Record: 16-2 |
Last week: 9
Scores: Def. United (Laredo) 4-0, def. Sinton 4-0
Next: Tuesday vs. Ingleside
11. Merritt Island (Fla.)
Record: 14-0 |
Last week: 22
Scores: Def. Satellite 6-5, def. Rockledge 7-0
Next: Tuesday vs. Space Coast
12. Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 14-0 |
Last week: 25
Scores: Def. Forest 15-0, def. Edgewater 12-3, def. Mount Dora 7-6
Next: Tuesday vs. East Hamilton
13. South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.)Record: 12-3 |
Last week: 5
Scores: Lost to IMG Academy 5-4, def. Trinity Christian Academy 7-3, lost to Bishop Snyder 2-1
Next: Wednesday vs. Florida State University
14. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 14
Next: Opens Tuesday vs. Waggener
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 15
Next: Opens March 17 vs. Maine South
16. Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City, N.J.)Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 16
Next: Opens March 25 at National High School Invitational
17. Brother Rice (Chicago, Ill.)Record: 1-0 |
Last week: 17
Scores: Def. Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas) 6-1
Next: Tuesday vs. Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.)
18. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
Record: 7-1 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Sierra Canyon 5-4, 6-0
Next: Tuesday vs. Bishop Alemany (Mission Hills)
19. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)Record: 2-1 |
Last week: 12
Scores: Did not play
Next: Wednesday vs. Damien (La Verne)
20. Pleasant Grove (Texarkana, Texas)Record: 16-2 |
Last week: 20
Scores: Def. Paris 6-0, def. Melissa 6-1
Next: Friday vs. Sulphur Springs
21. Magnolia Heights (Senatobia, Miss.)Record: 11-2-1 |
Last week: 19
Scores: Def. Hewitt-Trussville 7-0, lost to Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville) 4-3, def. Winter Park 16-1
Next: Tuesday vs. Memphis University
22. Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.)Record: 17-2 |
Last week: 4
Scores: Def. Terrebonne 6-3, lost to Mandeville 12-5, def. Mandeville 7-1, lost to Mandeville 8-6
Next: Tuesday vs. Belle Chasse
23. North Paulding (Dallas, Ga.)
Record: 13-2 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Lovett 8-3
Next: Tuesday vs. Marietta
24. Waxahachie (Texas)
Record: 17-1 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Duncanville 15-1, 13-1
Next: Tuesday vs. DeSoto
25. Etowah (Woodstock, Ga.)
Record: 13-3 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. St. Pius X Catholic 10-0, def. Wheeler 8-0, 14-0, 12-2
Next: Thursday vs. North Cobb
Dropped out: No. 7
Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.), No. 11
Basic (Henderson, Nev.), No. 13
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), No. 18
Columbus (Miami, Fla.), No. 21
Mater Academy Charter (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.), No. 23
Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.), No. 24
Buford (Ga.)
