Oakleaf (Orange Park) unanimous top-ranked team in all-classification regional rankings as softball state playoffs get underway
GAINESVILLE — It’s time for the FHSAA regional playoffs for high school softball teams across the state of Florida.
And for the teams in The Prep Zone Power Poll region, that means some changes in the top 10 after the district tournaments closed last week.
But no change at the top, as Oakleaf (Orange Park) stays at the top, and once again this week the Knights are the unanimous #1 team as well.
Oakleaf (25-2) outscored its District 3-8A tournament opponents by a combined 12-0, pounding #17 Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) 8-0 in the championship game after also shutting out Fletcher (Neptune Beach) 4-0 in the semifinal.
The Knights received six of the seven first-place votes in the last poll two weeks ago, but again are a unanimous No. 1 with all eight first-place votes in this week’s poll.
Oakleaf is also ranked eighth nationally by Max Preps, and opens up in the 8A state playoffs Wednesday at home against Lincoln (Tallahassee).
Moving up three spots to 2nd is Eustis.
The Panthers (22-1) also rolled to the District 6-5A title with two shutout wins over South Sumter (Bushnell) and Tavares, outscoring those two teams by a combined 15-0.
Eustis has won 20 games in a row since their only loss to West Orange (Winter Garden), which is ranked #4 in 9A in the Miracle Sports State Softball Poll. The Panthers start regional play in 5A Wednesday against #13 Santa Fe (Alachua).
Union County (Lake Butler) remains third.
The Tigers (20-2), who are tied for first in the state softball poll in 1A with Trenton, got a walk-off hit to win the District 6-1A championship game over Baldwin. Union County begins regional play Thursday night against Madison County.
Springstead (Spring Hill) remains 4th.
The Eagles (23-4) dropped a game to #19 Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) in the final week of the regular season, but cruised past Lecanto 6-0 in the District 6-6A semifinal before slipping past Crystal River 7-6 in 9 innings in a title game thriller.
Springstead will start their road to Vero Beach in the 6A region semifinals Wednesday against South Lake (Groveland).
Dropping down three spaces this week is Gainesville.
The Purple Hurricanes (22-5) had received a first-place vote in the previous power poll, but were downed 5-2 in the District 3-7A championship game by #14 Columbia (Lake City). This will send the defending 7A state champions on the road for a tough regional quarterfinal Wednesday at #11 Bartram Trail (St. Johns).
Belleview (22-5) leads off the second 10.
The Rattlers pounded Lake Weir (Ocala) and North Marion (Citra) by a combined 18-0 to easily capture the District 5-6A title. Belleview opens up region play in 6A against Crystal River.
West Nassau (Callahan) remains 7th after crushing their competition to win the District 4-5A title.
The Warriors (20-7) pounded Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) 12-0 in the title game after romping past Raines (Jacksonville) 13-1 in the semifinals. West Nassau will start regional play in 5A Wednesday against Suwannee (Live Oak).
Trenton moves up a spot to #8.
The Tigers (21-2), who are co-No. 1s in the state softball poll in 1A along with Union County, easily clinched the District 7-1A crown with an 8-1 win at three-time defending state champion RV Chiefland. Trenton plays their 1A regional semifinal Thursday night against Fort Meade.
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) is up two spaces this week and moves into the top 10 at #9. The Conquerors (20-7) trounced their two District 2-4A opponents Episcopal (Jacksonville) and Providence (Jacksonville) by a combined 27-1, and starts 4A regional play Thursday against North Bay Haven Academy (Panama City).
Rounding out the top 10 is Baker County (Glen St. Mary).
The Wildcats (18-8) stay 10th this week as they slipped past Suwannee 7-6 to win the three-team District 3-5A. Baker County entertains Bishop Kenny in their 5A regional quarterfinal on Wednesday night.
Among the second 10, Bartram Trail, #12 Deltona, Columbia, #15 Keystone Heights, 16th-ranked Aucilla Christian (Monticello), and #20T Spruce Creek (Port Orange) and Mandarin (Jacksonville) all won district tournaments.
Mandarin and Spruce Creek are new to the poll this week replacing Creekside (St. Johns) and University (Orange City).
This is the last regional ranking for softball until after the FHSAA State Softball Championships at Dodgertown in Vero Beach on May 17-20.
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 – Softball Poll #6
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 4/28, and total voting points)
1. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (8) (25-2) – 160
2. Eustis (5A) (22-1) – 144
3. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (20-2) – 143
4. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (23-4) – 133
5. Gainesville (7A) (22-5) – 127
6. Belleview (6A) (22-5) – 124
7. West Nassau (Callahan) (5A) (20-7) – 116
8. Trenton (1A) (21-2) – 103
9. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (19-6) – 94
10. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (18-8) – 85
11. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (23-4) – 76
12. Deltona (7A) (20-5) – 61
13. Santa Fe (Alachua) (5A (22-6) – 58
14. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (16-8) – 49
15. Keystone Heights (5A) (18-9) – 44
16. Aucilla Christian (Monticello) (2A) (15-7) – 37
17. Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) (8A) (18-8) – 36
18. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (4A) (16-4) – 34
19. Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (5A) (20-7) – 16
20T. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (9A) (17-7) – 11
20T. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (9A) (17-9) – 11
Also receiving votes: Ponte Vedra (6A) (18-7) – 6; Chiefland (1A) (19-6) -3; Hernando (Brooksville) (5A) (19-9) -3; Creekside (St. Johns) (12-7) – 2; Oak Hall (Gainesville) (3A) (16-5) – 1; St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) (3A) (15-5) – 1.
