Three teams from Duval County all rank top three in the regional baseball rankings
GAINESVILLE – There’s a bit of debate over who the best baseball team in Duval County is.
According to ThePrepZone.com state baseball rankings, Providence (Jacksonville) is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A and three spots ahead of Trinity Christian (Jacksonville).
But in the Prep Zone Power Poll regional rankings, defending 4A state champion Trinity Christian is still the top-ranked team.
The Conquerors (13-1) remained No. 1 following a 2-0 week, including a 5-3 win over previous No. 11 Clay (Green Cove Springs), which dropped the Blue Devils three spots to 14th in this week’s poll.
Meanwhile, the Stallions (13-1) also went 2-0 with wins against teams from Alabama and Tennessee. They received three first-place votes, while the Conquerors received the other five.
Trinity Christian’s only loss was to nationally-ranked Westminster Christian (Miami), who Providence beat.
The debate might be settled next Friday, April 1, when Trinity Christian hosts Providence.
Another Jacksonville team, Bolles, is right behind them at No. 3. The Bulldogs (12-2) swept Suwannee (Live Oak) to secure the top seed in their upcoming 5A-District 3 tournament.
During the final week of the regular season, Bolles will host Trinity Christian (4/13) and travel to Providence (4/15).
Rounding out the top five are University (Orange City) (12-1-1) and North Marion (Citra) (12-2).
Creekside (St. Johns) is sixth, followed by Forest (Ocala), South Sumter (Bushnell), Fleming Island (Orange Park) and Bartram Trail (St. Johns) in the top 10.
Chiefland, which is ranked 2nd in the Class 1A state rankings, moves into the rankings at No. 19. The Indians (13-3) defeated 1A schools Trenton & Union County, as well as previous 2A #5 St. John Lutheran (Ocala), as part of a 3-0 week.
Eustis (10-2) moved in at #18 following a win against previous No. 19 Deltona, which dropped one spot to 20th.
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 #5
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record through 3/19 and total voting points)
1. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (5) (13-1) – 157
2. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (3) (13-1) – 155
3. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (12-2) – 143
4. University (Orange City) (9A) (12-1-1) – 129
5. North Marion (Citra) (6A) (12-2) – 128
6. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (11-3) – 122
7. Forest (Ocala) (8A) (11-3) – 110
8. South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (11-1) – 105
9. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (8A) (10-3) – 83
10. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (9-4) – 81
11. Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (6A) (11-2) – 76
12. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (9A) (12-3) – 73
13. Yulee (5A) (13-2) – 56
14. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (6A) (9-4) – 54
15. Belleview (6A) (14-2) – 48
16. Buchholz (Gainesville) (8A) (9-4) – 47
17. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (7A) (11-4) – 43
18. Eustis (5A) (10-2) – 16
19. Chiefland (1A) (13-3) – 14
20. Deltona (7A) (10-4) – 10
Also receiving votes: Mandarin (Jacksonville) (9A) (9-4) – 9; Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (12-3) – 9; Nature Coast (Brooksville) (5A) (12-2) – 7; Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (9-4) – 4; Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (4A) (12-4) – 1.
