Unbeaten Creekside a unanimous selection, followed by defending state champion Williston
GAINESVILLE – There was no doubt about the top high school baseball team in the area.
Class 6A Creekside (St. Johns), which advanced to the state semifinals last year and is currently ranked 4th in the state baseball poll, was a unanimous selection as the top overall baseball team in the Prep Zone Power Poll. The Knights (9-0) have beaten district rival Bartram Trail (St. Johns) twice, along with Bolles (Jacksonville), both of whom are in the top 10 of the first regional rankings of the season.
Creekside is one of only a dozen undefeated teams around the state. Unbeaten St. Joseph (St. Augustine) (9-0), the only other unbeaten team in the regional rankings, is tied for 11th with Hernando (Brooksville)
Defending 1A state champion Williston is next at No. 2.
The Red Devils (8-1), ranked No. 1 in the 1A state rankings, will play defending 3A state champion North Florida Christian (Tallahassee), defending 4A state champion Trinity Catholic (Ocala), 5A region finalist North Marion (Citra), 6A Gainesville, and more this season. Their only loss was on February 26 by one run in extra innings to 4A Santa Fe (Alachua), which is ranked 10th.
University Christian (Jacksonville) is ranked third. The Fighting Christians (10-2), ranked 2nd in the 3A state poll, have wins over Trinity Christian and Bolles, who are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
Trinity Christian (10-3) is actually ranked behind Bolles in the 4A state rankings. The Conquerors (10-3) are 7th while the Bulldogs (10-3), who missed the state playoffs last year for the first time since 1993, are fourth in Class 4A.
Buchholz (Gainesville) (8-2), which started 7-0 and was as high as 4th in the 7A state poll, is ranked sixth, followed by Bartram Trail (8-2), Providence (Jacksonville) (6-3), Forest (Ocala) (8-1) and Santa Fe (9-2) in the top 10.
PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2015 BASEBALL POLL #1
(School, followed by classification, overall record through 3/10)
1. Creekside (St. Johns) (6A) (9-0) – 140
2. Williston (1A) (8-1) – 113
3. University Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (10-2) – 109
4. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (10-3) – 107
5. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (10-3) – 104
6. Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (8-2) – 101
7. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (8-2) – 87
8. Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (6-3) – 71
9. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (8-1) 70
10. Santa Fe (Alachua) (4A) (9-2) – 62
11T Hernando (Brooksville) (5A) (9-2) – 60
11T St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine) (3A) (9-0) – 60
13. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-3) – 50
14. Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (9-1) – 49
15. Umatilla (5A) (9-1) – 48
16. Stanton (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-1) – 38
17. South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (6-1) – 28
18. Trinity Christian (Deltona) (2A) (7-3) – 26
19. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (6-3) – 25
20. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (6-3) – 19
Also receiving votes: Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (8-4) – 18; Palatka (5A) (8-2) – 14; Keystone Heights (4A) (5-2) – 14; Gainesville (6A) (9-5) – 13 Eustis (5A) (7-2) – 12; Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (6-4) – 9; Parker (Jacksonville) (5A) (8-3) – 9; Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) (4A) (8-2) – 5; Chiefland (1A) (7-3) – 3; St. John Lutheran (Ocala) (2A) (9-4) – 2; Baldwin (1A) (8-3) – 2; Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (4A) (5-6) – 1; University (Orange City) (8A) (6-3) – 1.
