Trenton still undefeated, and still No. 1 in regional all-classification softball rankings
GAINESVILLE – The FHSAA Softball state playoffs begin tonight for Classes 5A-9A, but the top-ranked team in The Prep Zone Power Poll resides in Class 1A.
Despite participating in the smallest class in Florida, Trenton has some of the biggest wins.
The Tigers (23-0) are also still unbeaten.
Last year’s Class 1A state runners-up have earned their top billing.
They have wins at #2 Oakleaf (Orange Park), at #11 Santa Fe (Alachua), against #7 Gainesville (twice), #18 Columbia (twice), and they beat Bell, which was previously ranked 20th, three times, including a 10-0 win in the 1A-District 7 championship game.
Trenton, which will open up the 1A playoffs at home against Fort Meade, received five of the six first-place votes.
Oakleaf, which will host Lincoln (Tallahassee) in the first round of the 8A state playoffs, remained second.
The nationally-ranked Knights (22-4) won the 8A-District 2 title with a 13-4 win against Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) in the district championship game. They received the other first-place vote.
Eustis is still third.
The Class 5A-District 6 champion Panthers (25-1) will host Palatka in the regional quarterfinals. Their only loss was by one run (4-3) against nationally-ranked Winter Springs.
Mandarin (Jacksonville) stays locked in at No. 4.
One of the Mustangs’ (23-2) losses was in extra innings at Oakleaf. Mandarin will host University (Orange City) in the first round of the 9A state playoffs.
Previous No. 5 Creekside (St. Johns) dropped to No. 10 following a 4-0 loss to previous No. 8 Bartram Trail (St. Johns) in the 7A-District 4 championship game. The Bears (22-4) moved up to No. 6 in this week’s all-classification regional rankings.
Class 9A Spruce Creek (Port Orange) moved up one spot from sixth to fifth. The Lady Hawks (23-4) won the 9A-District 2 title with a 6-3 win against University in the district championship game.
Class 7A-District 3 champion Gainesville is seventh, followed by Matanzas (Palm Coast), Baker County (Glen St. Mary), and Creekside, in the top 10.
Clay (Green Cove Springs), which was previously ranked 14th, and previous No. 19 Dunnellon, who both lost in the district semifinals, fell out of the rankings.
Bell also dropped out of the rankings following the 10-0 loss to No. 1 Trenton, but the previous No. 20 Bulldogs (20-5) are still receiving votes.
District champions Belleview, West Nassau (Callahan) and Crystal River crack this week’s all-classification regional top 20 at Nos. 17, 19 & 20, respectively.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, basketball, baseball & 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, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is fueled by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
The Prep Zone Power Poll – 2019 Softball Poll #6
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record, and total voting points)
1. Trenton (1A) (5) (23-0) – 119
2. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (1) (22-4) – 114
3. Eustis (5A) (25-1) – 109
4. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (9A) (23-2) – 102
5. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (9A) (23-4) – 93
6. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (21-4) – 91
7. Gainesville (7A) (19-7) – 80
8. Matanzas (Palm Coast) (21-4) – 71
9. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (29-6) – 68
10. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (21-3) – 65
11. Santa Fe (Alachua) (5A) (20-6) – 61
12. Ridgeview (Orange Park) (19-8) – 42
13T. Hernando (Brooksville) (5A) (24-3) – 41
13T. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (4A) (15-6) – 41
15. East Ridge (Clermont) (8A) (18-7) – 40
16. Madison County (1A) (19-4) – 24
17. Belleview (6A) (21-6) – 22
18. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (15-9) – 18
19. West Nassau (Callahan) (5A) (16-11) – 11
20. Crystal River (6A) (16-6) – 9
Also receiving votes: Mount Dora Christian Academy (2A) (23-4) – 8; Bell (1A) (20-5) – 8; Middleburg (7A) (9-12) – 6; South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (18-9) – 4; Montverde Academy (4A) (15-9) – 4; St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) (3A) (12-5) – 3; Palatka (5A) (16-10) – 2; Ponte Vedra (6A) (14-12) – 2; Dunnellon (6A) (18-7) – 1; Clay (Green Cove Springs) (6A) (16-10) – 1.
