Undefeated Trenton stays on top of regional all-classification rankings as nationally ranked University (Orange City) makes big move
GAINESVILLE — As the high school softball season heads towards the halfway point of the regular season and many teams head toward their spring breaks, we are starting to see some teams continue to dominate and move up the rankings while some are falling off.
And the team at the top of The Prep Zone Power Poll for softball just continues to win.
Trenton has started the 2021 season at 6-0. They defeated #15 Dixie County (Cross City) last week 3-1, which to this point is the Bears’ (9-1) only loss of the season.
The Tigers also have two wins over Williston, a win at RV Lafayette (Mayo), and a victory over Union County (Lake Butler), running the winning streak for the 2019 1A state champs to 43 games in a row. Trenton received four of the eight first-place votes this week, which was enough to stay No. 1 once again in the all-classification regional rankings.
Trenton edged University (Orange City), which received the other four first-place votes.
The Titans (8-0) made a big move into the poll and all the way up to No. 2, as they have opened the season with wins at Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs), Hagerty (Oviedo), and Spruce Creek (Port Orange).
University is ranked 2nd statewide in 7A by Max Preps. They are 3rd overall in Florida and 10th in the nation this week by the website.
Tied for third are Clay County rivals Oakleaf (Orange Park) and Ridgeview (Orange Park).
The Knights, ranked No. 3 statewide by Max Preps in 7A, suffered their only loss at Ridgeview 7-6 in 9 innings on March 12. But Oakleaf also handed the Panthers, who are ranked third in the state in 4A, their only loss so far in 2021 by a score of 3-1 back on February 18.
Ridgeview has a 4-3 win at No. 6 West Nassau (Callahan) already this season, while Oakleaf picked up a 16-4 victory at #13T Creekside (St. Johns).
Rounding out the top five is East Ridge (Clermont).
The Knights (7-2) dropped two spots from the preseason poll, with their only losses 4-3 to Windermere and 9-4 to Lake Brantley.
West Nassau leads off the second five. The Warriors (5-1) haven’t played the toughest of schedules yet with their only loss coming against Ridgeview.
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) is 7th. The 2019 4A state champion Conquerors, now down to 2A, are off to a 7-2 start with the only losses to 7A nationally ranked Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton) and 3-2 at No. 12 Baker County (Glen St. Mary).
Unbeaten Hernando (9-0) is ranked eighth. The Leopards are currently ranked 1st statewide in 4A by Max Preps, with the highlight of their early season an 8-4 win over No. 11 Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville).
Rounding out the top 10 is No. 9 Gainesville and 10th-ranked Eustis.
Eustis (7-1) moves up nine spots from the previous poll and into the top 10 and is currently ranked 2nd in 4A by Max Preps, right behind Hernando.
The Panthers’ only loss to this point has come to 6A Winter Springs.
Taylor (Pierson), which is ranked No. 16, No. 17 West Port (Ocala), No. 18 Baldwin, and No. 20 Forest (Ocala) all move into the rankings this week.
Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville), Bartram Trail (St. Johns), Mount Dora Christian, Crystal River, and Columbia (Lake City) drop out from the previous poll.
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 powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2020 SOFTBALL POLL #2
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 3/13, and total voting points)
1. Trenton (1A) (4) (6-0) – 154
2. University (Orange City) (7A) (4) (8-0) – 149
3T. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (7A) (5-1) – 139
3T. Ridgeview (Orange Park) (4A) (9-1) – 139
5. East Ridge (Clermont) (7A) (7-2) – 128
6. West Nassau (Callahan) (3A) (5-1) – 123
7. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (7-2) – 106
8. Hernando (Brooksville) (4A) (9-0) – 102
9. Gainesville (5A) (7-2) – 83
10. Eustis (4A) (7-1) – 72
11. Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (4A) (8-1) – 62
12. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (4A) (6-2) – 56
13T. Belleview (4A) (10-3) – 55
13T. Creekside (St. Johns) (6A) (6-2) – 55
15. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (9-1) – 48
16. Taylor (Pierson) (3A) (9-0) – 45
17. West Port (Ocala) (7A) (10-1) – 41
18. Baldwin (3A) (7-0) – 30
19. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (7A) (4-1) – 22
20. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (7-2) – 19
Also receiving votes: Lecanto (5A) (7-1) – 9; Santa Fe (Alachua) (3A) (6-4) – 7; South Lake (Groveland) (4A) (8-2) – 6; South Sumter (Bushnell) (3A) (5-2) – 5; Branford (1A) (4-1) – 3; Clay (Green Cove Springs) (4A) (5-1) – 3; Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (4-3) – 2; Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (3-2) – 2; Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (6-2) – 2; Fort White (1A) (6-3) – 1; Keystone Heights (3A) (5-4) – 1; Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (5A) (8-1) – 1; Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) (2A) (7-1) – 1.
