High school baseball rankings: Buford takes over No. 1 spot in MaxPreps Top 25

For the third straight week, there's a different team atop the MaxPreps Top 25 high school baseball rankings. This time, undefeated Buford (Ga.) replaces Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), which lost to IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) over the weekend.

Buford continues to get strong pitching as it jumps to a 14-0 start. Along with Dylan Lesko's 12 strikeouts against Lanier, Buford also got a no-hitter from Connor Sampers against Habersham Central.

Calvary Christian Academy, which sat at No. 1 spot for one week after preseason No. 1 Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) had lost two weeks ago, was only able to get one hit off of IMG Academy's Jackson Ferris, who also struck out 10. IMG Academy handed All-America candidate Andrew Painter his first loss of the season.

Only two new teams entered the rankings this week. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), with only a loss to Stoneman Douglas marring its record, joined the rankings at No. 15, while Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.) joins at No. 22.

Dropped out: Spruce Creek (Fla.), Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas).

Game of the Week: IMG Academy 2, Calvary Christian Academy 0. The Ascenders knocked off the No. 1 team in the country with a one-hitter by Jackson Ferris. Drake Varnado and Tommy White also hit home runs in the win. Andrew Painter of Calvary Christian Academy suffered his first loss of the season.

Player of the Week: Brady House, Winder-Barrow. The All-America candidate had three doubles and two home runs in leading the Bulldogs to four wins last week.

Recruit Watch: Vito Valincius, Baylor. The first baseman got his season off to a good start with two home runs in Baylor's season-opening win over Gordon Lee.

Game to Watch:IMG Academy vs. Calvary Christian Academy. The Eagles get a rematch with the Ascenders on Friday. This time IMG Academy is No. 3 and Calvary Christian Academy is No. 5 in the country.
MaxPreps Top 25 high school baseball rankings

1. Buford (Ga.)
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 2
Results: Def. Lanier 8-0, 8-1, def. Habersham Central, 15-0.
Stats: Jax Brockett struck out 10 in the 8-0 win and Stan Zagrodnik added a double and a triple. Dylan Lesko struck out 12 in six innings for the 8-1 win. He also had a triple while Ayden Digiacomo had a home run. Connor Sampers threw a 4-inning no-hitter with 5 strikeouts against Habersham Central.
Next: Wed./Fri. vs. Habersham Central.

2. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 3
Results: Def. St. Louis Catholic, 2-1; Catholic-B.R. (Baton Rouge), 9-1, 5-3, 1-0.
Stats: Jack Walker struck out 11 in a 9-1 win over Catholic. Adam Guth struck out eight in a 5-3 win while Landon Victorian struck out 8 in the 1-0 win.
Next: Tue. vs. St. Louis Catholic (Lake Charles), Thur. vs. Zachary.

3. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 5
Results: Def. Montverde Academy, 16-0; def. Calvary Christian Academy, 2-0.
Stats: Drake Varnado had two home runs and Elijah Green and Tommy White had one each against Montverde. Varnado and White each hit home runs against Calvary Christian Academy as well. Jackson Ferris threw a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts.
Next: Fri. vs. Calvary Christian Academy

4. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 4
Next: Tue. vs. Chaparral

5. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Record: 7-1 | Last week: 1
Results: Lost to IMG Academy, 2-0
Stats: Andrew Painter took the loss, giving up two runs on two hits with four strikeouts.
Next: Tues. vs. North Broward Prep; Fri. vs. IMG Academy.

6. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.)
Record: 10-1 | Last week: 6
Results: Def. Jefferson 3-0, 7-2, def. Sarasota, 3-0, def. Sickles, 14-4; def. Wharton, 6-5.
Stats: Wes Mendes (6) and Kris Sosnowski (7) combined for 13 strikeouts in the 3-0 win over Jefferson. Mendes also had a double and a grand slam in the 7-2 win over Jefferson with Jake Kulikowski adding a home run. Dominic Castellano threw a 7-inning no-hitter with 8 strikeouts against Sarasota. 
Next: Wed. at Saladino Tournament.

7. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Record: 10-0 | Last week: 14
Results: Def. Parkview, 9-2
Stats: DeYon Cannon was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the win.
Next: Wed./Fri. vs. Parkview

8. Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 16-0 | Last week: 15
Results: Def. Rosepine, 3-2; def. Ouachita, 11-7; def. Alexandria, 10-7; def. Tioga, 4-2; def. Jena, 11-0, def. Pineville, 3-2.
Stats: Dylan Thompson had a double and home run against Alexandria. Dallas Rhodes had two doubles against Ouachita.
Next: Thur. vs. Airline.

9. Madison Central (Madison, Miss.)
Record: 10-0 | Last week: 16
Results: def. Northwest Rankin, 20-2; def. Germantown, 16-0; def. Neshoba Central, 6-0; def. Ridgeland, 8-1.
Stats: Hunter Hines had a home run against Northwest Rankin. Braden Montgomery threw three, no-hit innings with eight strikeouts against Germantown. Beau Bryans and Brendon Minor combined for a no-hitter against Neshoba Central.
Next: Wed. vs. New Hope, Thur. vs. North Pike.

10. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 10
Results: def. Dunedin, 8-2; def. Clearwater Central Catholic, 6-0; def. Berkeley Prep, 10-0, def. Seminole, 3-2.
Stats: Tyler Dietz struck out 10 against Central Catholic and Jack Cebert threw a five-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts against Berkeley Prep.
Next: Thur. vs. Clearwater Central Catholic.

11. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Record: 10-1 | Last week: 12
Results: Def. Hialeah, 5-4; def. Boca Raton, 2-0, def. Cardinal Gibbons, 11-10.
Stats: Rolando Lujo had a home run against Hialeah. Chris Arroyo struck out 6 against Boca Raton.
Next: Thur. vs. Monsignor Pace.

12. Carrollton (Ga.)
Record: 14-1 | Last week: 17
Results: Def. Bremen, 6-5. def. South Paulding, 11-5.
Stats: Colton Cosper went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI against Bremen. Cosper also struck out 10 against South Paulding.
Next: Wed. vs. South Paulding; Thur. vs. Douglas County.

13. Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
Record: 14-2-2 | Last week: 7
Results: Def. Cedar Park, 11-0; def. Vista Ridge, 4-1; Harker Heights, 10-0; tied College Station, 7-7; def. Reagan, 5-4; lost to Cedar Park, 3-1.
Next: Tue. vs. San Marcos.

14. Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.)
Record: 9-1 | Last week: 11
Results: Def. Santaluces, 12-0; def. Martin County, 2-0; def. Spanish River, 12-2, def. Boca Raton, 8-0; lost to Saint John Paul II, 4-1.
Stats: Tobin Moran threw a one-hitter with seven strikeouts against Santaluces. Dom Stagliano threw a seven-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts against Martin County.
Next: March 22 vs. Cardinal Newman.

15. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Record: 10-1 | Last week: NR
Results: Def. Northeast, 16-1; def. McArthur, 7-1; def. Cypress Bay, 4-1.
Next: Wed. vs. Pembroke Pines Charter.

16. Gregory-Portland (Portland, Texas)
Record: 17-0-1 | Last week: 19
Results: Def. Veterans Memorial, 8-2; def. Floresville, 8-2; def. John Paul II, 7-2; def. Ingleside, 13-2; def. Bishop, 10-0; def. Robstown, 8-5.
Next: Tue. vs. Flour Bluff; Fri. vs. Victoria West.

17. St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 9
Next: March 27 vs. Catholic Central.

18. Reagan (San Antonio)
Record: 17-2 | Last week: 13
Results: Def. Madison, 10-3; def. Clark, 3-0; lost to Lake Travis, 5-4; def. McNeil, 6-1; def. Vandegrift, 13-0; def. Vista Ridge, 7-2.
Next: Tue. vs. Brandeis; Fri. Johnson.

19. Tompkins (Katy, Texas)
Record: 15-1-1 | Last week: 18
Results: Def. Katy Taylor, 4-3; lost to George Ranch, 3-0; def. Magnolia, 18-5; def. Tomball, 7-0; def. Cypress Ridge, 10-0; def. Tomball Memorial, 4-2.
Next: Tue. vs. Morton Ranch; Thur. vs. Seven Lakes.

20. Auburn (Ala.)
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 20
Results: Def. Tuscaloosa County, 4-3; def. Baker, 9-4; def. Sparkman, 5-3; def. Gulf Shores, 2-0.
Stats: Jack Tullier struck out eight against Gulf Shores. Ryan Austin had a home run against Baker.
Next: Tue. vs. Benjamin Russell. Fri. vs. Harris County.

21. Owasso (Okla.)
Record: 8-0 | Last week: 21
Results: Def. Sapulpa, 10-0; def. Oktaha, 7-1; def. Enid, 4-3; def. Choctaw, 2-1.
Stats: Braden Blundell had a double and a home run against Sapulpa. Brennan Phillips struck out 16 against Choctaw.
Next: at Catoosa/Verdigris tournament.

22. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Record: 1-0 | Last week: NR
Results: .Def. Gordon Lee, 6-2.
Stats: Vito Valincius had two home runs and three RBI in Baylor's opener while Henry Godbout had a solo shot.
Next: Wed. vs. Bradley Central; Thur. vs. Soddy Daisy.

23. Winder-Barrow (Winder, Ga.)
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 25
Results: Def. Dacula, 7-2, 7-4; def, Central Gwinnett, 13-0 and 21-0.
Stats: Brady House had a double and a home run in the 7-2 win. He also had a double in the 7-4 win. Andrew Lewis struck out 11 in a 5-inning no-hitter against Central Gwinnett. House had a double and a home run in the 13-0 win. Andreaus Lewis had a home run in the 21-0 win.
Next: Wed./Fri. vs. Central Gwinnett.

24. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 22
Results: Did not play
Next: Tue. vs. Franklin

25. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 23
Next: March 16-18 Grand Slam Tournament