Baldwin loses first game, retains No. 1 spot
GAINESVILLE — The Baldwin softball team lost its first game of the season on Tuesday night.
However, the top-ranked Indians did plenty to hold on to the No. 1 ranking in The Prep Zone Power Poll, which ranks the top 20 teams across 26 counties in Florida.
Baldwin went 6-1 since the last regional all-classification rankings, including a 4-2 loss to No. 15 Oakleaf (Orange Park) two nights ago which snapped a 19-game winning streak to open the season.
The Indians (19-1), who dropped to No. 11 overall in the state and No. 3 in 3A in the latest FHSAA rankings, also defeated previous No. 6 University Christian (Jacksonville), 9-6, and RV Paxon (Jacksonville), 10-0, to remain on top.
They received seven of the nine first-place votes.
Eustis, which is ranked 13th overall in the FHSAA rankings, remained second after suffering its first loss this year.
The Class 4A Panthers (16-1), who received one first-place vote, defeated current No. 6 Spruce Creek (Port Orange), 6-2, as part of a 4-1 record since the last poll.
Last Friday, they lost at Lake Mary, 2-1, which snapped a 15-game winning streak to open the season.
Class 3A Episcopal (Jacksonville) (19-1), which went 6-0, picked up the other first-place vote and is still third.
However, Middleburg and Montverde Academy flip-flopped, with 5A Middleburg (18-2) moving up one spot to fourth and 3A Montverde Academy (19-4) dropping to fifth.
Spruce Creek is followed by Creekside (St. Johns), Trenton and University Christian (Jacksonville), which are tied for eighth, and Gainesville High in the top 10.
Class 1A Williston (12-10), which went 3-3, and 7A Flagler Palm Coast (8-8), which dropped its fourth straight, fell out of the rankings.
Nease (Ponte Vedra) is new to the rankings at No. 20.
The Class 6A Panthers (13-5) went 6-1, with their only loss in nine innings, 1-0, against No. 3 Episcopal (Jacksonville).
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 by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2024 SOFTBALL POLL #4
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 4/16, and total voting points)
1. Baldwin (3A) (7) (19-1) – 176
2. Eustis (4A) (1) (16-1) – 168
3. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (1) (19-1) – 166
4. Middleburg (5A) (18-2) – 147
5. Montverde Academy (3A) (19-4) – 136
6. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (15-3) – 120
7. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (16-4) – 111
8T. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (12-6) – 109
8T. Trenton (1A) (16-2) – 109
10. Gainesville (6A) (17-3) – 96
T11. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (4A) (13-5) – 85
T11. Deltona (5A) (13-4) – 85
13. Santa Fe (Alachua) (3A) (15-3) – 74
14. Fort White (1A) (10-4) – 65
15. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (14-7) – 63
16. West Nassau (Callahan) (3A) (11-7) – 51
17. East Ridge (Clermont) (7A) (15-6) – 43
18. Crystal River (3A) (15-5) – 25
19. Branford (1A) (17-6) – 23
20. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (6A) (13-5) – 10
Also receiving votes: Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (16-6) – 7; Vanguard (Ocala) (4A) (14-5) – 7; Springstead (Spring Hill) (5A) (12-4) – 7; Paxon (Jacksonville) (4A) (11-7) – 3; Newberry (1A) (15-3) – 2; Hernando Christian Academy (2A) (14-2) – 1; Suwannee (Live Oak) (3A) (11-9) – 1.
