Providence (Jacksonville) the unanimous top-ranked team in first regional poll of the 2017 high school baseball season
GAINESVILLE — There are some familiar teams in the first edition of The Prep Zone Power Poll for the new high school baseball season.
And the #1 team is absolutely no stranger to the top spot.
Providence (Jacksonville) received all seven first-place votes and is the unanimous top-ranked team for the first poll of 2017. The Stallions (10-2), who lost in the 4A state semifinals a year ago, are the #1 team as well in ThePrepZone.com state baseball poll for 4A, and are also the top team nationally in the MaxPreps computer rankings.
They owns wins over the #21 ranked team nationally in Cartersville (Georgia), Sparkman (Alabama), which is #22 in the national rankings, and Etowah (Georgia) which is ranked 44th nationally. The Stallions also own wins over the #2 state-ranked team in 4A, Westminster Christian (Miami), and against 9A ranked Jacksonville teams in The Prep Zone Power Poll (No. 5 Sandalwood & No. 12 Mandarin).
Right behind the Stallions at #2 is Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville). The Crusaders (8-0) haven’t played an incredibly challenging schedule yet but do have a win at #10 Creekside (St. Johns), 6-4, in eight innings.
Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) is ranked 3rd. The Stingrays (7-1) are ranked #1 in 8A in the state poll, and own wins against #5 Oakleaf (Orange Park), which is ranked 2nd in the state poll for 8A, Fletcher (Neptune Beach), which is an honorable mention in 7A and #8 in The Prep Zone regional poll, and Rockledge, ranked 3rd in the state in 6A.
Next up at #4 is last year’s 5A state champion, Bolles (Jacksonville). The Bulldogs (6-2) did beat Providence 4-3 earlier in the season and also have a win against #7 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville).
Bolles is ranked 6th in the 5A state poll, with their only losses coming to Ponte Vedra and #9 University Christian (Jacksonville), which is also #2 in the 3A state poll.
Rounding out the top five is Sandalwood and Oakleaf, which are tied for fifth. The Saints (6-1) are 7th in the 9A state rankings, with their only loss 9-8 at Providence. Oakleaf (8-1) has wins against University Christian and Fletcher to this point in the season.
Rounding out the top 10 are No. 7 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), #8 Fletcher, #9 University Christian and #10 Creekside (St. Johns).
Leading off the second 10 is Suwannee (Live Oak) at #11. The Bulldogs (9-2) have posted six shutouts this season and finally suffered their first defeat, a 6-1 loss at Trinity Christian, followed by a 6-2 loss to perennial power Bishop Verot (Fort Myers) at the Providence Spring Break Tournament of Champions.
Class 2A No. 1 Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) comes in 14th, while 2A Mount Dora Christian Academy is tied for 20th along with 5A Keystone Heights.
Twelve other teams who didn’t make the top 20 received votes this week, led by 1A Taylor (Pierson) with 13.
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.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL POWER POLL – 2017 BASEBALL POLL #1
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, record thru 3/18, and total voting points.
1. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (7) (10-2) – 140
2. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (8-0) – 118
3. Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) (8A) (7-1) – 110
4. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (6-2) – 107
T-5. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (8-1) – 105
T-5. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (9A) (6-1) – 105
7. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-1) – 103
8. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (8A) (9-2) – 88
9. University Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (6-2) – 76
10. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (8-2) – 70
11. Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (9-2) – 53
12. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (9A) (6-3) – 48
13. Belleview (6A) (10-0) – 44
14. Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) (2A) (8-0) – 37
15. Trenton (1A) (9-1) – 36
16. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (4A) (7-2) – 27
17. Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (6A) (8-3) – 26
18. South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (5-0) – 24
19. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (8-2) – 20
T-20. Keystone Heights (5A) (8-2) – 15
T-20. Mount Dora Christian Academy (2A) (7-1) – 15
Also receiving votes: Taylor (Pierson) (1A) (7-1) – 13; Chiefland (1A) (4-2) – 12; Fernandina Beach (5A) (6-2) – 12; University (Orange City) (9A) (6-4) – 12; Stanton (Jacksonville) (6A) (7-1) – 11; Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (7-3) – 8; Buchholz (Gainesville) (8A) (7-3) – 7; Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville) (2A) (5-3) – 6; Gainesville (7A) (8-3) – 5; Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (6-3) – 4; The Villages (5A) (7-2) – 3; New Smyrna Beach (7A) (7-3) – 2.
