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Two number 1’s highlights this week’s regional all-classification softball rankings
GAINESVILLE – Last week’s top-ranked team in The Prep Zone Power Poll is still the same.
But now they have some company.
Oakleaf (Orange Park), which is ranked second in the state in Class 8A by Miracle Sports, went 2-0 last week to remain No. 1. However, the defending state champion Knights (13-2) received just three of the six first-place votes.
Two of the first-place votes went to co-No. 1 Bartram Trail (St. Johns), which moves up one spot in both the regional rankings and the state rankings. They are now fourth in the Class 7A state rankings.
The Bears (13-1) beat the Knights head-to-head earlier this season, handing Oakleaf one of its two losses this season.
Columbia (Lake City) also moved up one spot from fourth to third. The Tigers (14-3), who are ranked 7th in Class 7A, has wins against #4 Gainesville, #5 Trenton, & #15 West Nassau (Callahan) this season.
GHS (13-3) was off for spring break in Alachua County, but the Hurricanes dropped one spot from third to fourth. They’re also one spot behind the Tigers at No. 8 in 7A.
The two Class 7A-District 3 rivals split their two-game series, with each team winning on the other team’s field.
The Class 1A #1 Tigers remained fifth following a 2-0 week. Trenton (14-2) has wins against #4 Gainesville & #17 Dunnellon this season.
Defending 5A state runner-up Eustis leads off the second five at No. 6. The Panthers (11-2), who went 2-0 to remain sixth, are ranked 4th in 5A
The other first-place vote went to Providence (Jacksonville), which moves up four spots from 11th to 7th this week. The Stallions (11-1) are the No. 1 team in Class 4A.
Defending 1A state champion Union County (Lake Butler) is ranked eighth, while 5A Keystone Heights and 6A Springstead (Spring Hill) complete the top 10.
The top 20 remained intact, as no teams dropped out of this week’s 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 and it is powered by Strive Fitness.
The Prep Zone Power Poll – 2018 Softball Poll #4
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 3/31, and total voting points)
1T. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (3) (13-2) – 116
1T. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (2) (12-1) – 116
3. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (14-3) – 104
4. Gainesville (7A) (13-3) – 101
5. Trenton (1A) (14-2) – 94
6. Eustis (5A) (11-2) – 84
7. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (1) (11-1) – 80
8. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (10-2) – 76
9. Keystone Heights (5A) (13-4) – 66
10. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (15-2) – 63
11. University (Orange City) (9A) (14-3) – 61
12. East Ridge (Clermont) (8A) (16-1) – 53
13. Aucilla Christian (Monticello) (2A) (6-2) – 46
14. Deltona (7A) (13-2) – 44
15. West Nassau (Callahan) (5A) (12-4) – 41
16. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (9A) (15-3) – 30
17. Dunnellon (6A) (13-3) – 28
18. Hernando (Brooksville) (5A) (13-2) – 19
19. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (12-6) – 13
20. Taylor (Pierson) (5A) (11-1) – 8
Also receiving votes: St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) (3A) (10-1) – 5; Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (11-4) – 5; Taylor County (Perry) (4A) (8-5) – 3; Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (10-5) – 2; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (11-5) – 1; Eagle’s View (Jacksonville) (2A) (11-1) – 1.
