Providence (Jacksonville) remains No. 1 in all-classification regional rankings, but by a narrow margin
GAINESVILLE – The top-ranked baseball team in The Prep Zone Power Poll is still Providence (Jacksonville).
But No. 2 Sandalwood (Jacksonville) is gaining.
The second-ranked Saints (18-3), who are 3rd in the state in Class 9A, moved up one spot from third and collected two of the six first-place votes.
The other four first-place votes went to the Class 4A #2 Stallions (17-5).
In the season opener, on February 20, Providence edged Sandalwood, 9-8. Today, the Stallions hold a 118-116 edge in total voting points.
The top-ranked team in Class 5A is now Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville). The Crusaders (18-2) are also ranked third in the all-classification regional rankings.
Rounding out the top five are 7A Creekside (St. Johns) and 4A Trinity Christian (Jacksonville).
Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) is ranked sixth, followed by Suwannee (Live Oak), Fletcher (Neptune Beach), Bolles (Jacksonville) and Oakleaf (Orange Park) round out the top 10.
Class 1A Union County (Lake Butler) (16-6), 2A Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) (15-3) and 9A Mandarin (Jacksonville) (12-7) dropped out of the rankings, while 5A schools Keystone Heights (17-5) and South Sumter (Bushnell) (16-2), along with 9A University (Orange City) (16-5) all moved in.
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 #5
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, record thru 4/18, and total voting points).
1. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (4) (17-5) – 118
2. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (9A) (2) (18-3) – 116
3. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (18-2) – 105
4. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (15-5) – 91
5. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (14-7) – 90
6. Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) (8A) (15-6) – 87
7. Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (18-4) – 86
8. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (8A) (17-5) – 78
9. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (13-8) – 76
10. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (16-4) – 72
11T. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (19-3) – 47
11T. Trenton (1A) (18-1) – 47
13T. Gainesville (7A) (17-5) – 40
13T. Belleview (6A) (18-3) – 40
15. University Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (15-7) – 36
16. University (Orange City) (9A) (16-5) – 28
17T. Stanton (Jacksonville) (6A) (18-5) – 16
17T. Keystone Heights (5A) (17-5) – 16
19. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (4A) (14-5) – 13
20. South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (16-2) – 12
Also receiving votes: Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) (2A) (15-3) – 9; Christ’s Church (Jacksonville) (2A) (14-5) – 8; Mandarin (Jacksonville) (9A) (12-7) – 7; Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (16-4) – 6; St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) (3A) (12-8) – 5; Clay (Green Cove Springs) (6A) (11-9) – 2; North Marion (Citra) (6A) (13-7) – 1; Ponte Vedra (6A) (13-7) – 1.
