Nebraska's Top 10 most improved high school baseball teams

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Now that the Nebraska high school baseball season has drawn to a conclusion, we have crunched the numbers to find the most improved Nebraska baseball teams as determined by the MaxPreps Nebraska Baseball Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.

This week's Top 10 is based on the number of spots a team ascended in 2016's season-ending rankings compared to where they were rated at the end of the 2015 season.

While Arlington and Lincoln North Star both improved 22 spots from a year ago, the Eagles were granted the top spot based on Rusty Hilgenkamp's club's ability to improve its 2016 record (16-4) eight games over a year ago (7-11). North Star boosted its won-loss record by seven and a half games this spring.

Lincoln Northeast enhanced its ranking 17 spots from No. 29 to 12th this spring, and Omaha Skutt Catholic and Ralston round out the Top 5 by increasing their stock 11 clicks each. Skutt Catholic and Elkhorn rode improved success into the Class B state tournament final, where Elkhorn was crowned champion with a 4-3 triumph in eight innings.

Arlington, Lincoln Northeast, Skutt Catholic, Elkhorn and Norris were the only members of the 11-team Top 10 to parlay progress into postseason runs, while Norfolk displayed the largest upgrade in its won-loss record, bettering it by nine games over 2015's 2-30 mark.

Lincoln North Star, Lincoln East and Norfolk are the only members of the Top 10 to finish the 2016 season with a sub-.500 record, while Bellevue East concluded with a 14-14 mark.


1. Arlington +22
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 50th (7-11)
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 28th (16-4)

2. North Star (Lincoln) +22
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 40th (3-20)
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 18th (11-13)

3. Lincoln Northeast +17
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 29th (9-16)
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 12th (18-11)

4. Skutt Catholic (Omaha) +11
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 16th (17-11)
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 5th (23-5)

5. Ralston +11
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 28th (13-14)
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 17th (15-9)

6. Elkhorn +10
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 13th (18-11)
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 3rd (28-6)

7. Bellevue West +10
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 19th (15-11)
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 9th (22-7)

8. Lincoln East +10
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 31st (8-21)
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 21st (9-18)

9. Norris (Firth) +8
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 18th (18-14)
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 10th (23-8)

10. Bellevue East +8
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 37th (9-16)
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 29th (14-14)

11. Norfolk +8
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 49th (2-30)
Final 2015-16 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 41st (9-19)