Bolles (Jacksonville) & University (Orange City) are ranked first and second, respectively, in the new regional baseball rankings
GAINESVILLE – Entering the second round of the FHSAA baseball playoffs, the top two teams in the Prep Zone Power Poll remained the same, but there was a slight change.
Bolles (Jacksonville), the District 3-5A champion, remained on top of the regional rankings.
However, after an 11-1 win over Yulee in the regional quarterfinals, coupled with No. 2 University’s (Orange City) dominating 10-0 win against Mandarin (Jacksonville) in Class 9A, the ‘Dogs are no longer a unanimous selection, although they are still the No. 1 team.
The ‘Dogs (24-3) received seven of the eight first-place votes, while the Titans (23-3-1), state runners-up last season, received the other first-place vote.
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), which lost to Bolles, 6-3 on April 13, is ranked third. The Conquerors (23-5) moved up one spot to third following an 8-1 win over Taylor County (Perry) in the Class 4A playoffs.
Previous No. 3 Creekside (St. Johns) dropped one spot to fourth following a 10-0 win against Middleburg in a Class 7A regional quarterfinal. The Knights (23-5), who lost at Bolles, 2-1 on April 8, have posted four consecutive shutout victories since the loss to the top-ranked ‘Dogs.
Rounding out the top five is 9A Spruce Creek (Port Orange). The Hawks (23-5) remained fifth following a 6-4 win at RV Sandalwood (Jacksonville).
Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (24-3) remained sixth, while Providence (Jacksonville) (22-6), Forest (Ocala) (20-8), Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) (21-7) and Chiefland (22-4) round out this week’s top 10.
Belleview re-enters the poll at No. 12. The Rattlers (22-6) won at RV Springstead (Spring Hill), 4-3, in the 6A regional quarterfinals.
Newcomers from last week include #16 Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (20-8), No. 17 Ridgeview (Orange Park) (20-7), #19 Columbia (Lake City) (17-11) and No. 20 Lafayette (Mayo) (18-6).
This is the last ranking until the final rankings are released following the FHSAA Baseball Finals (May 11-21). 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.
PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2016 BASEBALL POLL #10
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record through 4/29 and total voting points)
1. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (7) (24-3) – 159
2. University (Orange City) (9A) (1) (23-3-1) – 153
3. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (23-5) – 140
4. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (23-5) – 137
5. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (9A) (23-5) – 131
6. Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (6A) (24-3) – 119
7. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (22-6) – 113
8. Forest (Ocala) (8A) (20-8) – 100
9. Atlantic Coast (Jacksonvile) (8A) (21-7) – 92
10. Chiefland (1A) (22-4) – 81
11. North Marion (Citra) (6A) (20-8) – 77
12. Belleview (6A) (22-6) – 53
13. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (7A) (22-6) – 34
14. The Villages (5A) (21-8) – 38
15. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (4A) (20-8) – 37
16. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (6A) (20-8) – 34
17. Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (20-7) – 31
18. Nature Coast (Brooksville) (6A) (20-5) – 29
19. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (17-11) – 27
20. Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (18-6) – 24
Also receiving votes: Fleming Island (Orange Park) (8A) (18-6) – 16; Newberry (1A) (17-8) – 13; Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A (14-10) – 8; St. John Lutheran (Ocala) (2A) (19-6) – 7; Christ’s Church (Jacksonville) (2A) (24-3) – 7; Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (17-8) – 5; South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (21-5) – 4; Palatka (5A) (18-10) – 4; Trenton (1A) (14-6) – 1.
