Providence (Jacksonville) still on top of regional baseball poll, but No. 2 Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) picks up a first-place vote
GAINESVILLE – The city of Jacksonville continues to dominate the regional baseball rankings as six of the teams in the top 10 are from Duval County.
The top-ranked team in The Prep Zone Power Poll is still Providence (Jacksonville).
The Stallions, ranked second in ThePrepZone.com state baseball Class 4A rankings and 10th in the all-classification state rankings, went 4-1 last week to remain No. 1. Providence (19-4), which lost to nationally-ranked Blessed Trinity (Roswell, GA) but defeated No. 8 Bolles (Jacksonville) received seven of the eight first-place votes.
But the other first-place vote went to another Jacksonville school, Bishop Kenny. The Class 5A Crusaders (16-1) were a unanimous No. 2 following a 3-0 week and are ranked second in their classification.
Sandalwood (Jacksonville) moved up one spot to third.
The Saints (17-2) won at previous #14 Mandarin (Jacksonville), 4-2, on Tuesday, followed by wins against #11 Fletcher (Neptune Beach), #10 Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) and #19 Stanton (Jacksonville) en route to winning the Gateway Conference Tournament.
Suwannee (Live Oak) moved up two spots to fourth. The Bulldogs (17-2), who went 4-0 last week, also moved up to #3 in the 5A state rankings.
Rounding out the top five is Oakleaf (Orange Park).
The Knights (15-3), who are ranked second in Class 8A, went 2-1 last week and dropped two spots to fifth. They lost to #7 Creekside (St. Johns), 7-3, but also won at Middleburg and at West Nassau (Callahan) to remain in the top five.
Other teams to rank in the top 10 include No. 6 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), and No. 9 Springstead (Spring Hill).
Gainesville High made the biggest jump.
The Class 7A Hurricanes (16-4), who were receiving votes in last week’s poll, moved into the top 20 for the first time this season at No. 14. GHS has won seven in a row and 12 of its last 13.
Class 6A Stanton (Jacksonville) also moved into the rankings at No. 19. The Blue Devils (16-4) went 4-1 and finished as Gateway Conference Runners-up following the loss to No. 3 Sandalwood in the championship game.
Class 5A schools South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (14-2) and Keystone Heights (14-4) each went 2-2 and dropped out of the rankings.
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 – 2017 BASEBALL POLL #4
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, record thru 4/11, and total voting points)
1. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (7) (19-4) – 159
2. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (1) (16-1) – 152
3. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (9A) (17-2) – 145
4. Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (17-2) – 133
5. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (15-3) – 130
6. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (13-7) – 117
7. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (14-4) – 108
8. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (12-7) – 103
9. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (17-2) – 99
10. Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) (8A) (13-6) – 82
11. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (8A) (14-5) – 77
12. University Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (13-6) – 75
13. Trenton (1A) (15-1) – 64
14. Gainesville (7A) (16-4) – 35
15. Belleview (6A) (15-3) – 33
16. Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) (2A) (13-1-1) – 31
17. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (4A) (13-4) – 29
18. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (9A) (11-7) – 21
19. Stanton (Jacksonville) (6A) (16-4) – 20
20. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (15-5) – 16
Also receiving votes: South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (14-2) – 12; University (Orange City) (9A) (13-5) – 12; Keystone Heights (5A) (14-4) – 7; Taylor (Pierson) (1A) (16-1) – 7; Fernandina Beach (5A) (12-5) – 6; Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (13-3) – 3; Ponte Vedra (6A) (13-6) – 2; Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (6A) (14-6) – 1; New Smyrna Beach (7A) (12-5) – 1.
