Creekside (St. Johns) back on top of regional all-classification baseball rankings as season is delayed by coronavirus pandemic
GAINESVILLE — The first baseball all-classification regional baseball rankings for the 2020 season has a familiar feel to it.
That’s because Creekside (St. Johns) is still on top on The Prep Zone Power Poll.
The Knights, who advanced to the 7A state semifinals a year ago and finished as the #1 team in the final 2019 rankings, were 8-2 when the baseball season and the public school year in the state of Florida were put on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Included in Creekside’s early season run were wins over #2 Spruce Creek (Port Orange), #10 Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville), and #16T Fleming Island (Orange Park). Their only losses came to RV Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) and #18 Providence (Jacksonville).
That was enough to give Creekside five of the seven first-place votes as the Knights just edged out Spruce Creek by one total voting point for the top spot.
Spruce Creek (10-1) received the other two first-place votes as they are ranked 2nd in this first poll of the season.
The Hawks’ only loss came to Creekside 5-2 on March 13 in the final game before the season and the schools were closed down.
Episcopal (Jacksonville) is 3rd after picking up some big early season wins.
The Eagles (7-1) knocked off #4 Oakleaf (Orange Park) 6-4 and #20 Sandalwood (Jacksonville) 6-2 and also picked up a win over Paxon (Jacksonville), which was a regional finalist last season and finished 7th in the final baseball power poll in 2019.
The Eagles’ only loss to this point came against Atlantic Coast.
Oakleaf is 4th as the Knights are 6-2 with wins over #11 Clay (Green Cove Springs), RV Bolles (Jacksonville), and Fleming Island (Orange Park).
Rounding out the top five is North Marion (Citra).
The Colts (6-1) have split two games with the team right behind them in the rankings, No. 6 Buchholz (Gainesville). North Marion won the first meeting on the Bobcats’ home field in their opening game of the season 15-7 on February 20, but Buchholz picked up some revenge, 8-2, in Citra early in March for the Colts only loss to this point of the season.
North Marion also owns a win over #15 Dunnellon, which knocked the Colts out of the 6A regional semifinals last season 16-13.
After Buchholz in the second five is Fletcher (Neptune Beach), which is ranked 7th, Flagler Palm Coast at #8, Bartram Trail (St. Johns) 9th, and Atlantic Coast rounds out the top 10.
Flagler Palm Coast and Atlantic Coast weren’t ranked in the final poll a year ago, and of the four teams listed above, only Bartram Trail advanced to the regional playoffs in 2019.
Among the highlights in the second 10 is Suwannee (Live Oak), ranked 13th.
The Bulldogs are off to a 5-3 start but are coming off a trip to the 5A state semifinals last season, their first trip to the final four in 52 years.
Suwannee finished tied for fourth with Spruce Creek in the final regional poll for the 2019 baseball season.
Among those teams receiving votes is defending 1A state champion Williston.
Florida schools will remain closed until May 3 to follow the directives of the Centers for Disease Control along with Governor Ron DeSantis and Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran.
The FHSAA has not made any decisions on cancelling spring sports and postseason play at this point, and could extend the season through June 30. You can read the latest FHSAA update here.
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 – 2020 Baseball Poll #1
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, record in 2020, 2019 final record, and total voting points)
1. Creekside (St. Johns) (6A) (8-2) (5) (23-7) – 136
2. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (10-1) (2) (24-4) – 135
3. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (7-1) (17-13) – 94
4. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (7A) (6-2) (15-9) – 92
5. North Marion (Citra) (4A) (6-1) (17-12) – 83
6. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (6-2) (17-9) – 78
7. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (6A) (5-2) (20-4) – 77
8. Flagler Palm Coast (7A) (6-1) (10-16) – 62
9. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (6-3) (23-6) – 60
10. Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) (6A) (7-3) (14-14) – 58
11. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (4A) (8-3) (16-9) – 56
12. St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park (2A) (7-1) (19-8) – 51
13. Suwannee (Live Oak) (4A) (5-3) (20-10) – 42
14. Ridgeview (Orange Park) (4A) (5-3) (13-13) – 39
15. Dunnellon (4A) (7-2) (23-6) – 38
16T. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (6A) (5-3) (18-8) – 34
16T. Keystone Heights (3A) (6-2) (11-15) – 34
18. Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (7-5) (16-9) – 32
19. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (7A) (6-2) (16-10) – 29
20. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (7A) (6-2) (21-7) – 28
Also receiving votes: Bolles (Jacksonville) (3A) (4-4) (24-3) – 23; Fort White (1A) (6-1) (8-15) – 23; P.K Yonge (Gainesville) (3A) (9-1) (9-14) – 23; Palatka (4A) (8-1) (13-13) – 23; Real Life Christian Academy (Clermont) (2A) (7-1) (20-3) – 15; Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (3A) (4-5) (20-8) – 15; Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (5-4) (13-13) – 13; Williston (1A) (5-4) (20-9) – 11; Forest (Ocala) (6A) (6-3) (7-18) – 9; Hernando (Brooksville) (4A) (8-3) (18-8) – 9; Santa Fe (Alachua) (4A) (6-4) (20-7) – 9; South Lake (Groveland) (6A) (6-4) (18-9) – 9; Trinity Christian (Deltona) (2A) (6-2) (14-9) – 8; Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (4-4) (13-13) – 5; East Ridge (Clermont) (7A) (8-3) (15-9) – 5; Chiefland (1A) (3-3) (14-11) – 4; Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-2) (11-14) – 4; Lake Minneola (Minneola) (5A) (6-3) (18-10) -1.
