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Oakleaf still on top of the all-classification softball rankings
GAINESVILLE – The top team in The Prep Zone Power Poll for softball continues to reside in Clay County.
Class 8A Oakleaf (Orange Park), which is seeking back-to-back state titles, went 3-0 last week to remain first in the all-classification regional rankings.
The Knights (19-2) beat three ranked teams last week – at #20 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), 8-5; vs. #12 West Nassau (Callahan), 4-3 (8); and, at #9 Providence (Jacksonville), 9-0.
The Bears, who received all six first-place votes, are nationally-ranked and the overall No. 1 team in Florida according to Miracle Sports.
One of the Knights’ two losses was to current No. 2 Bartram Trail (St. Johns).
The Bears (18-2) also went 3-0. They won the St. Johns River Athletic Conference tournament with wins against Middleburg (10-0) & Nease (Ponte Vedra) (4-0), but Fleming Island (Orange Park) forfeited the championship game due to players choosing to go to Grad Bash.
However, Bartram Trail doesn’t count that as a win. Their other victory was a make-up game against First Coast (Jacksonville), 12-0.
Columbia (Lake City) is ranked third. They were tied with Bartram Trail for second last week but dropped one spot after playing one less game.
The Class 7A Tigers (18-3) went 2-0 with wins against previous No. 19 Baker County (Glen St. Mary), 5-3, and Class 1A No. 1 Trenton, which dropped one spot this week from fifth to sixth.
Gainesville won at rival Buchholz (Gainesville), 3-0. The Hurricanes (17-4) are currently ranked 7th in Class 7A, one spot behind Columbia.
Eustis moved up one spot to fifth. The defending 5A state runners-up went 3-0, including a 1-0 win against previous 9A #2 Apopka. That also moved Panthers (18-3) up one spot to third in Class 5A.
Trenton, Springstead (Spring Hill), University (Orange City), Providence (Jacksonville) and Deltona round out the top 10.
Class 5A Baker County (Glen St. Mary) dropped out after the Wildcats (13-7) lost to West Nassau & Columbia.
Crystal River moves in at No. 18 after a 3-0 week. The Pirates (14-2) are currently ranked 5th in 6A.
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 #6
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 4/14, and total voting points)
1. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (6) (19-2) – 120
2. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (15-2) – 113
3. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (18-3) – 109
4. Gainesville (7A) (17-4) – 101
5. Eustis (5A) (18-3) – 95
6. Trenton (1A) (19-3) – 83
7. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (19-3) – 80
8. University (Orange City) (9A) (17-4) – 74
9. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (14-2) – 72
10. Deltona (7A) (17-2) – 66
11. East Ridge (Clermont) (8A) (20-2) – 62
12. West Nassau (Callahan) (5A) (16-6) – 58
13. Keystone Heights (5A) (15-7) – 45
14. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (13-4) – 36
15. Hernando (Brooksville) (5A) (17-3) – 29
16. Aucilla Christian (Monticello) (2A) (10-4) – 23
17. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (9A) (16-4) – 20
18T. Crystal River (6A) (14-2) – 16
18T. Taylor (Pierson) (5A) (14-2) – 16
20. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (14-8) – 15
Also receiving votes: Santa Fe (Alachua) (5A) (15-8) – 9; St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) (3A) (13-1) – 7; Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (12-8) – 5; Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville) (2A) (11-1) – 3; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (13-7) – 2; Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (11-5) – 1.
