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Oakleaf a unanimous No. 1 in the all-classification regional softball rankings
GAINESVILLE – Last week there was a tie for first in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
This week there’s a tie for second.
But there is no denying who is playing the best softball right now and that’s a reason why they are No. 1 in the all-classification regional softball rankings.
Defending 8A state champion Oakleaf (Orange Park) received all six first-place votes.
The Knights (16-2) went 4-0 to win the Kissimmee Klassic, including a win against 8A #6 Bartow, 7-3, in the championship game. They also defeated 9A HM Stoneman Douglas (Parkland), 17-1; #6 Eustis, 2-1; and, 9A HM Timber Creek (Orlando), 4-1.
Oakleaf is also the top-ranked team in the all-classification state rankings by MaxPreps. They are also ranked 23rd nationally in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25.
Bartram Trail (St. Johns) and Columbia (Lake City) are tied for 2nd.
The Class 7A Bears (15-2), who handed the Knights one of their two losses, dropped one spot to second after a 2-1 week. They defeated previous No. #16 Mandarin (Jacksonville), 12-0, and Paxon (Jacksonville), 13-3, but lost to Middleburg, 9-3.
The Tigers (16-3) moved up one spot to second following a 10-3 win against Vanguard (Ocala) and a 5-2 win in 10 innings against current #13 West Nassau (Callahan).
GHS remained fourth.
The Hurricanes (16-4) went 3-1 at the Kissimmee Klassic. They posted wins against 9A HM Stoneman Douglas (Parkland), 4-3; 8A #9 Winter Springs, 3-1; and, 7A #1 Pembroke Pines Charter, 1-0. But an 11-0 loss to 8A #6 Bartow prevented them from reaching the championship game against Oakleaf.
Class 1A No. 1 Trenton rounds out the top five.
The Tigers (17-2) remained fifth following a 3-0 week. They defeated 1A #7 Chiefland, 10-0 (6); 1A HM Lafayette (Mayo), 2-1; and, 6A #7 Dunnellon, 8-1.
Eustis and Providence (Jacksonville) are tied for sixth.
The defending 5A state runner-up Panthers (14-3) went 3-1 at the Kissimmee Klassic, highlighted by a win against 8A #3 St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale). They also lost by just one, 2-1, to top-ranked Oakleaf.
Meanwhile the Stallions (13-1), the top-ranked team in 4A, went 2-0 with wins against 9A Sandalwood (Jacksonville) and 4A Interlachen.
Class 8A East Ridge (Clermont), which moved up four spots, is eighth, followed by 9A University (Orange City) and 6A Springstead (Spring Hill) in the top 10.
Baker County (Glen St. Mary) enters the rankings at No. 19. The Class 5A Wildcats (13-5) won at Montverde Academy, 6-4, and had an upset win at 9A #2 Apopka, 2-1.
Previous No. 17 Dunnellon dropped out. The Class 6A Tigers (13-5) went 0-2 with losses to #10 Springstead (Spring Hill), 8-0, and at #5 Trenton, 8-1.
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 #5
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 4/7, and total voting points)
1. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (6) (16-2) – 120
2T. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (15-2) – 110
2T. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (16-3) – 110
4. Gainesville (7A) (16-4) – 99
5. Trenton (1A) (17-2) – 96
6T. Eustis (5A) (14-3) – 89
6T. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (13-1) – 89
8. East Ridge (Clermont) (8A) (19-1) – 76
9. University (Orange City) (9A) (16-4) – 62
10. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (17-3) – 58
11T. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (12-3) – 55
11T. Deltona (7A) (15-2) – 55
13. West Nassau (Callahan) (5A) (14-5) – 50
14. Keystone Heights (5A) (14-7) – 42
15. Hernando (Brooksville) (5A) (15-2) – 27
16. Taylor (Pierson) (5A) (13-1) – 25
17T. Aucilla Christian (Monticello) (2A) (8-5) – 23
17T. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (13-7) – 23
19. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (13-5) – 19
20. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (9A) (16-4) – 16
Also receiving votes: Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (11-4) – 9, Crystal River (6A) (10-2) – 4, St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) (3A) (11-1) – 3.
