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Bolles (Jacksonville) passes Providence (Jacksonville) for top spot in regional baseball poll
GAINESVILLE — For the first time in this 2018 high school baseball season, Providence (Jacksonville) is not the top-ranked baseball team in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
Bolles (Jacksonville) had a 3-0 week with two wins over then-#15 Baker County (Glen St. Mary) and another win over then-#11 University Christian (Jacksonville). The Bulldogs (18-3) are also ranked #1 for Class 5A in ThePrepZone.com state baseball poll, and have been nationally-ranked this season as well.
The ‘Dogs received five of the six first-place votes. They were tied for first with Providence in the all-classification regional poll two weeks ago.
Providence drops to 2nd this week after losing 4-3 to #4 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville). The Stallions (20-3) received the other first-place vote and are currently ranked 3rd in the state baseball poll for 4A.
Creekside (St. Johns) remains 3rd after going 3-0 last week. The Knights are 17-3 and ranked 5th in the state poll for 7A.
Trinity Christian remains 4th. The Conquerors (14-6) knocked off Providence, but were beaten 10-2 by 3A #4 North Florida Christian (Tallahassee). Trinity Christian is ranked 4th in the 4A state poll.
Rounding out the top five is Buchholz (Gainesville).
The Bobcats (17-5) have won six in a row and wrapped up the #1 seed in District 3-8A with two wins over Forest (Ocala) a week ago. Buchholz also moved into the state poll this week at 8th in 8A.
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) remains 6th as they won their only game last week 10-1 at RV Yulee.
Mandarin (Jacksonville) drops two spots to 7th after losing at #18 Fletcher (Neptune Beach), 3-1, last week.
Clay (Green Cove Springs) makes a big move, up eight spots and into the top 10 at #8. The Blue Devils (17-5) were 4-0 last week with two wins over Ponte Vedra and two more victories against then-#8 Ridgeview (Orange Park).
The biggest mover up this week is Trinity Catholic (Ocala).
The Celtics move up 11 spots from 20th and into the top 10 at #9. They had a 4-0 week, including wins over RV Williston and RV Trenton, and has won six games in a row. Trinity Catholic (14-6) also moved into the state poll for 4A this week at #10.
Rounding out the top 10 is Ridgeview (Orange Park). The Panthers dropped three games last week, two to Clay and one to #2 Providence, and fall two spots but stay in the top 10.
New to the poll this week is Hernando (Brooksville), which is tied for 16th, Fletcher (Neptune Beach) 18th, and North Marion (Citra) at #19.
Falling out from a week ago is Forest (Ocala), which was 10th last week. Also dropping out of the poll is Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) and Williston.
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 – 2018 BASEBALL POLL #5
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, record through 4/19, and total voting points)
1. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (5) (18-3) – 119
2. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (1) (20-3) – 112
3. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (17-3) – 107
4. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (14-6) – 101
5. Buchholz (Gainesville) (8A) (17-5) – 96
6. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (14-5) – 92
7. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (9A) (16-5) – 81
8. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (6A) (17-5) – 80
9. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (4A) (13-5) – 59
10. Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (16-6) – 49
11. New Smyrna Beach (7A) (16-6) – 46
12. University Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (15-9) – 42
13. Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (5A) (19-4) – 38
14. Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (6A) (19-4) – 33
15. Fernandina Beach (5A) (15-6) – 28
T-16. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (15-6) – 26
T-16. Hernando (Brooksville) (5A) (18-5) – 26
18. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (8A) (14-7) – 21
19. North Marion (Citra) (6A) (15-7) – 19
20. Dunnellon (6A) (14-5) – 17
Also receiving votes: Stanton (Jacksonville) (6A) (13-5) – 10; Trenton (1A) (15-5) – 9; Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (9A) (12-5) – 9; Yulee (5A) (16-6) – 8; Forest (Ocala) (8A) (14-7) – 7; Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (16-6) – 6; Taylor (Pierson) (5A) (14-5) – 5; Williston (1A) (15-5) – 5; South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (14-6) – 4; Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (9A) (15-7) – 3; Branford (1A) (13-4) – 2.
