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Defending 8A state champions climb to the top spot
GAINESVILLE – There’s a new No. 1 in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
In a head-to-head match-up of the top two teams, the Oakleaf Knights (11-2) knocked off visiting top-ranked Gainesville, 1-0, scoring a run in the bottom of the 7th inning to take over the No. 1 ranking.
Oakleaf (Orange Park), the defending 8A state champions, also defeated previous No. 4 Keystone Heights, 9-2, as part of a 2-0 week.
They received four of the six first-place votes in the all-classification regional rankings.
The loss dropped the Hurricanes (13-3) to third. GHS also lost to Columbia (Lake City), which moved up 10 spots after also winning at previous No. 6 Trenton, 5-2, on Monday night.
Bartram Trail (St. Johns), which defeated Oakleaf 8-4 on March 2, moved up one spot to second.
The Bears (12-1) also moved up one spot to fifth in the Miracle Sports Class 7A state rankings. They received the other two first-place votes.
Despite the loss to the Tigers from Lake City, Trenton (12-2) actually moved up one spot to fifth. They are also remained No. 1 in the Class 1A state rankings.
Defending 5A state runner-up Eustis is ranked sixth, followed by Keystone Heights, defending 1A state champion Union County (Lake Butler), defending 2A state runner-up Aucilla Christian (Monticello) and University (Orange City) in the top 10.
The Class 9A Titans (12-2) made one of the biggest jumps, going from unranked to 10th following a 5-0 week that included winning the Battle at the Beach at Spruce Creek. They had wins last week against previous RV Mandarin (Jacksonville), 1-0, in the championship game, and #13 Deltona, and #19 Taylor (Pierson). They have won seven in a row.
Class 9A Mandarin also moves into the rankings at No. 17 following a 3-1 record at the Battle at the Beach which included wins against previous RV DeLand and Spruce Creek (Port Orange).
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 and it is powered by Strive Fitness.
The Prep Zone Power Poll – 2018 Softball Poll #3
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 3/26, and total voting points)
1. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (4) (11-2) – 118
2. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (2) (12-1) – 116
3. Gainesville (7A) (13-3) – 103
4. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (13-3) – 94
5. Trenton (1A) (1) (12-2) – 88
6. Eustis (5A) (9-2) – 84
7. Keystone Heights (5A) (12-3) – 77
8. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (8-2) – 73
9. Aucilla Christian (Monticello) (2A) (5-1) – 71
10. University (Orange City) (9A) (12-2) – 60
11. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (10-1) – 55
12. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (12-2) – 51
13. Deltona (7A) (10-2) – 47
14. East Ridge (Clermont) (8A) (13-1) – 38
15. Dunnellon (6A) (10-2) – 37
16. West Nassau (Callahan) (5A) (10-4) – 35
17. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (9A) (13-3) – 29
18. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (12-4) – 22
19. Taylor (Pierson) (5A) (10-1) – 18
20. Hernando (Brooksville) (5A) (10-2) – 12
Also receiving votes: Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (10-5) – 8, St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) (3A) (10-1) – 8, Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (9-3) – 7, Chiefland (1A) (12-2) – 5, Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (10-4) – 3, DeLand (9A) (8-5) – 1.
