A pair of Texas teams hold the top two spots in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Baseball Rankings, but they had better watch out for the hard-charging Owasso Rams.
Both No. 1 Fort Bend Clements and No. 2 Sharyland begin bi-district play in the Texas 5A state playoffs while the Rams will head into postseason play in Oklahoma. Behind the pitching of Dylan Bundy and Phillip Wilson, the Rams have won 27 straight games.
Bundy has been one of the top pitchers in the country all season long, posting his eighth win of the season last week while striking out 14 against Union (Tulsa), the team that defeated the Rams in last year's 6A state championship game.
Both Fort Bend Clements and Sharyland will play best two-out-of-three matchups in the Texas 5A playoffs, which means that they can lose a game but still advance. A loss at this point won't drop either team too far in the rankings, as long as they keep winning. However a loss will allow Owasso the opportunity to move into the No. 1 spot if it wins the 6A state title.
With state playoff competition beginning in most of the southern states this week, the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 expands to 50 spots for the rest of the season.
MAXPREPS XCELLENT 25 NATIONAL BASEBALL RANKINGS
1. (last week 1) Fort Bend Clements (Sugar Land, Texas), 28-2
The Rangers concluded District 23-5A play undefeated at 17-0 after a 12-2 win over Fort Bend Bush in their only game last week.
Austin Bass had a home run in the win for Fort Bend Clements, which opens the postseason in bi-district play against the Alvin Yellowjackets.
2. (2) Sharyland (Mission, Texas), 28-1
The Rattlers ended District 30-5A competition undefeated at 14-0 after topping McAllen 4-2 in their lone game of the week.
Eric Gutierrez hit a home run and drove in four runs for Sharyland. He has eight home runs for the season with 58 RBIs.
3. (3) Owasso (Okla.), 31-1
The Rams defeated Union (Tulsa) 6-3, Duncan 10-0 and Collinsville 10-0 last week to secure the top seed for the Oklahoma 6A Regionals.
Drew Stiner had a pair of home runs against Duncan.
Phillip Wilson tossed a two-hitter with seven strikeouts to beat Collinsville and
Dylan Bundy struck out 14 to beat Union. Bundy is 8-0 on the season.
4. (4) Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), 13-0
The Warriors won twice over the weekend, topping Macedonia Nordonia 8-3 in the first game and 10-0 in the second.
Tim Faix got the win in the initial contest, running his scoreless inning streak to 28 in a row before finally giving up a run. He struck out five in six innings.
Nate Lundy was 3-for-3 with a double while
Jake Nogalo had a double and two RBIs. In the second game,
Graeme Frye was 4-for-4 with a double.
5. (5) Flanagan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), 20-2
The Falcons head into the state playoffs on a roll after
Michael Melendez tossed a no-hitter in an 11-0 win over West Broward in the District 12-6A championship game. Melendez also had a home run in the game. In a 14-4 win over Cooper City in the semifinals, Flanagan belted seven home runs.
Andres Sanchez and
Danny Zardon each had two while
Ricky Santiago,
Carlos Lopez, and Melendez had the others.
6. (7) Madison Central (Miss.), 26-1
The Jaguars knocked off Warren Central 15-3 and 14-1 to advance to the next round of the Mississippi Class 6A playoffs.
Zach Irwin homered in the 15-3 win while
Josh Laxer struck out 10 for the win.
Brock Hunt and
Connor Goodspeed each homered in the 14-1 win while Irwin hit a pair of bombs and drove in four runs.
7. (10) Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.), 20-2
The Chargers won a pair of Sunset League contests last week, defeating Newport Harbor 9-1 and 13-3.
Henry Owens raised his record to 10-0 on the season, giving up one run on five hits.
8. (11) Broken Arrow (Okla.), 29-2
The Tigers rebounded from last week's loss to Santa Fe with four straight wins, 6-1 over Bishop Kelley (Tulsa), 5-1 over Verdigris (Claremore), 6-3 over Bixby and 16-4 over Jenks.
Zac Mills was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple against Jenks.
Mason Hope struck out 14 against Verdigris for the win and
Archie Bradley struck out 16 against Bishop Kelley.
9. (12) Wayne County (Jesup, Ga.), 24-0
The Yellow Jackets concluded the regular season with a pair of region wins over Effingham County, 7-3, and South Effingham, 10-0.
10. (13) South County (Lorton, Va.), 15-0
The Stallions made it through a tough week unscathed as they edged Annandale 9-8 and then beat top-ranked teams Lake Braddock (Burke) 5-3 and Woodson (Fairfax) 6-0.
11. (14) Nova (Davie, Fla.), 22-2
Nova captured the District 16-5A championship with a 3-1 win over St. Thomas Aquinas.
Ronny Patella had a two-hitter and also went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Titans. In the semifinals, Nova topped Dillard 18-0.
Seth Moranda, Buchanan
Photo by Craig Morley
The Bears took two from Clovis during the week, shutting out the Cougars 3-0 on Tuesday and squeaking out a 5-4 win over Friday.
Seth Moranda won his 29th career game in the 5-4 win as the Bears took the win in the bottom of the seventh with a bases-loaded walk.
13. (16) Grand Street Campus (Brooklyn, N.Y.), 8-0
The Wolves pulled out a 5-4 win over Telecommunication Arts and Technology for their only PSAL victory last week. Grand Street Campus is ranked No. 1 in New York City by the New York Post and plays Brooklyn Technical twice this week.
14. (17) Maize (Kan.), 13-0
The Knights keep winning impressively, outscoring opponents 47-6 last week in picking up four wins. Maize took two from Hutchinson, 11-1 and 10-0, and then shut out North (Olathe), 15-0. Blue Valley (Stilwell) gave Maize some competition before falling 11-5. The win over Blue Valley avenges Maize's loss in the Class 6A state championship game.
Craig Nicks had a six-inning no-hitter in one of the wins over Hutchinson.
15. (18) Mundelein (Ill.), 18-0
The Mustangs put together three impressive wins last week, topping Central (Crystal Lake) 10-0, Antioch 9-0 and Bradford (Kenosha, Wisc.) 13-0. Billy McMahon, Austin Ozog and DJ Lewis all had a pair of hits in the win over Bradford.
16. (6) Sierra Vista (Las Vegas), 29-1
The Mountain Lions saw their win streak come to an end with a 6-3 loss to rival Bishop Gorman on Saturday.
Scott Tomassetti and
Blair Goldsack each had RBIs in the loss. Sierra Vista won earlier in the week, defeating Desert Oasis 4-3, Pahrump Valley 13-3 and Spring Valley 15-1 in conference play.
17. (8) Tupelo (Miss.), 25-2
The Golden Wave needed a seventh inning home run by
Connor Carothers to beat Grenada 6-5 and force a third game in their second game of the Class 6A Mississippi state baseball playoffs. Tupelo lost the first outing 5-4 on Friday. The rubber game was scheduled for Monday.
18. (19) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 20-2
The Dons won three times last week, beating Madison (San Diego) 13-0 and 4-2 and Point Loma (San Diego), 6-3.
Daniel Camarena had a home run and a double against Point Loma.
Nico Garbella hit one out in the 4-2 win over Madison while Camarena hit a pair of homers and had six RBIs in the shutout win.
19. (20) Spanish Fork (Utah), 17-2
The Dons continue to pile up wins, beating Springville 6-1 and 10-0 last week.
Kayden Porter struck out 10 in the 6-1 victory while
Hayden Nelson had a five hit shutout in the second game. Porter also went 3-for-3 with two doubles and a home run in the 10-0 victory.
20. (23) Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 24-3
The Mavericks topped Pembroke Pines Charter 6-3 and Fort Lauderdale 7-2. The district title is the fourth in a row for Archbishop McCarthy.
21. (24) Pace (Fla.), 23-4
The Patriots got by Escambia in the semifinals 14-4 and then shut down Milton 8-1 for the District 1-5A championship. Trent Higginbothem got the win with nine strikeouts.
22. (25) Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.), 29-3
The Bears concluded the regular season with a pair of big wins, topping Scotlandville (Baton Rouge) 14-1 and Zachary, 11-0.
Aaron Nola was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs against Zachary.
23. (NR) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) 26-4
The Gaels move back into the rankings this week with their 12th straight win, a 6-3 victory over previously unbeaten Sierra Vista. Bishop Gorman also has a 41-5 win over Western (Las Vegas) that saw the Gaels hit 11 home runs, three by
T.J. White and two each by
Joey Gallo and
Johnny Sewald.
24. (NR) A&M Consolidated (College Station, Texas) 25-4
The Tigers move up to the No. 3 spot in the Texas Baseball Coaches Association 5A state rankings. Went 13-1 in District 12-5A play.
25. (NR) Mesquite (Gilbert, Ariz.), 26-3
The top-ranked Class 5A team in the state of Arizona, the Wildcats won three times last week with victories over Basha, 14-1, Dobson, 9-4, and North Canyon, 8-4.
The Next 25
26. (NR) Lakeland (Fla.), 23-4
Lost to Owasso early in the season. Looks to make some noise in the Class 6A state playoffs.
27. (NR) Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City, N.J.), 13-1
Only loss is to Bishop Gorman. Ranked No. 1 in the state of New Jersey.
28. (NR) Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 13-0
Right behind Gloucester Catholic in the New Jersey state rankings.
29. (NR) Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 30-3
Top team in the Class 4A rankings in Arizona.
30. (NR) Brenham (Texas), 27-4
Ranked No. 1 in the Texas Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A rankings.
31. (NR) Orangewood Christian (Maitland, Fla.), 28-1
The top Class 2A team in the state of Florida.
32. (NR) Gulliver Prep (Miami), 26-5
Still one of the top teams in South Florida.
33. (NR) Palm Desert (Calif.), 19-4
Moved back into the No. 1 spot ahead of Bishop Amat in the Southern Section Division 4 rankings. Has a win over Mater Dei.
34. (NR) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 18-5
Moved up to No. 2 in the Southern Section Division 1 coaches rankings despite a split with JSerra last week.
35. (NR) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), 19-4
Ranked No. 3 in Southern Section Division 1 coaches rankings.
36. (NR) Parkway South (Manchester, Mo.), 17-0
Will likely move into the top spot in the next Missouri Baseball Coaches Association rankings.
37. (NR) Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 26-6
The Admirals can't wait to get injured pitcher
Philip Pfeifer back on the mound.
38. (NR) (9) Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.), 21-4
After winning 21 games in a row, including a championship at the National Classic tournament in Fullerton, the Lancers suffered two straight losses, falling to Bonita 2-1 in a charity event on Monday and 14-9 to Torrance in the finals of the Redondo Tournament on Saturday. Torrance scored five runs in the top of the eighth to knock off Bishop Amat.
39. (NR) Plainfield North (Ill.), 18-0
Ranked second in the state by the Chicago Sun Times.
40. (NR) Steubenville (Ohio), 13-0
Ranked No. 1 in the Division III state rankings by the Ohio Baseball Coaches Association.
41. (NR) Providence (Charlotte, N.C.), 20-2
Moved to No. 1 in the Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 rankings.
42. (NR) Westlake (Austin, Texas), 32-5
No. 4 in the Texas Baseball Coaches Association 5A rankings.
43. (NR) South Dade (Homestead, Fla.), 21-5
Ranked among the top teams in South Florida.
44. (NR) Santa Fe (Edmond, Okla.), 31-5
Ranked No. 3 in the state behind Owasso and Broken Arrow.
45. (NR) Trabuco Hills (Mission Viejo, Calif.), 20-2
Ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section Division 2 rankings.
46. (NR) Lafayette (La.), 23-4
Ranked No. 2 in the state 5A coaches poll.
47. (NR) Madison Central (Richmond, Ky.), 18-0
No. 1 team in the Kentucky coaches association rankings.
48. (NR) Sherwood (Sandy Spring, Md.), 15-0
Ranked second behind South County in the Washington Post All-Metro rankings.
49. (NR) Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.), 20-6
Top team in the Georgia 5A rankings.
50. (NR) Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola, Fla.), 23-4
Two of its losses are to Pace.
