Gainesville – Reigning Class 8A state champion Spruce Creek (Port Orange) begins the season where it left off last year – on top of the baseball Prep Zone Power Poll.
The Hawks (9-2), who return most of last year’s squad, are currently ranked No. 7 in the Baseball America national poll. Their pitching rotation of Griffin Fuller, Gage Hutchinson, Kyle Marsh and Chris Hopkins are averaging 12 strikeouts per game and have yet to surrender more than two runs in a game.
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) is ranked second. The Crusaders (9-1) return several players from last year’s 24-5 team, including ace RHP Cameron Paley and catcher K.K. Daniel (Florida Gulf Coast signee).
The Blue Devils of Clay (Green Cove Springs), a final four team last year in 5A, have the potential to be one of North Florida’s best and are ranked third in the poll. Dane Dunning (Florida signee) and Hunter Alexander (Florida commit) both throw in the 90s and the Blue Devils (8-1) are solid one through nine in the line-up.
Traditional power Bolles (Jacksonville) is ranked fourth. The Bulldogs’ (11-1) only loss was to Bishop Kenny and the ‘Dogs already have wins over defending 3A champion Providence (Jacksonville), ranked 12th, and 5A state runners-up Ponte Vedra.
Rounding out the top five is New Smyrna Beach. The Barracudas (7-1) were a Class 7A state semifinalist last season.
Forest (Ocala) (8-1) is ranked sixth, followed by unbeaten Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (11-0), Buchholz (Gainesville) (6-3), Nease (Ponte Vedra) (8-1) and Creekside (St. Johns) (8-1) to round out the top 10.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, basketball, baseball and softball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters.
PREP ZONE POWER POLL – BASEBALL POLL #1
(School, followed by classification, record through March 12, first-place votes and total voting points)
1. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (8A) (9-2) (7) – 140
2. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (9-1) – 127
3. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (8-1) – 125
4. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (11-1) – 124
5. New Smyrna Beach (7A) (7-1) – 86
6. Forest (Ocala) (7A) (8-1) – 83
7. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (11-0) – 74
8. Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (6-3) – 71
9. Nease (Neptune Beach) (5A) (8-1) – 68
10. Creekside (St. Johns) (5A) (8-1) – 65
11. Fort White (4A) (9-1) – 61
12. Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (7-5) – 52
13. Trenton (1A) (10-0) – 46
14. First Coast (Jacksonville) (7A) (8-3) – 40
15. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (8-1) – 39
16. Santa Fe (Alachua) (4A) (7-2) – 34
17. Williston (4A) (8-3) – 32
18. Taylor (Pierson) (1A) (8-4) – 27
19. Eustis (5A) (8-2) – 21
20T Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (7-3) – 19
20T Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (6-5) – 19
Also receiving votes: South Lake (Groveland) (6A) (6-1) – 18; Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (6-3) – 18; Trinity Christian (Deltona) (2A) (6-3-1) – 13; Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (7-1) – 13; Episcopal (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-4) – 12; Aucilla Christian (Monticello) (2A) (6-2) – 11; University Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (7-4) – 9; Parker (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-4) – 6; Ponte Vedra (5A) (4-6) – 5; Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (4A) (6-2) – 5; South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (6-2) – 4; Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (7-4) – 2; Newberry (1A) (8-3) – 1.
