New #1 team at the top of the regional all-classification baseball rankings
GAINESVILLE — Two of the top three teams in the Prep Zone Baseball Power Poll met last week, and that result brought about a new #1 team in this week’s edition of the regional baseball rankings.
Providence (Jacksonville) was the unanimous top team a week ago, but had to travel to #3T Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) last Friday in a District 2-4A showdown. Trinity Christian won that game 3-1 to hand the Stallions their first loss to a Florida team in 2016.
With the loss by Providence, Bolles (Jacksonville) is now the new #1 team in this week’s poll.
The Bulldogs (15-2) defeated Illiana Christian (Illinois), LaSalle (Miami), and Our Lady of Good Counsel (Maryland) to win the Sunshine Classic at Bolles last week, and are receiving five of the eight first place votes to move up from a tie for third with Trinity Christian last week into the the top spot for the first time this season.
Trinity Christian (16-3) received two first place votes and moved up to #2 after the win over Providence and a 7-2 win over Episcopal (Jacksonville). The win against the Stallions also clinched the top seed in the district for the Conquerors and also means they will host the 2-4A tourney.
Providence (17-2) received the other first place vote but fell to third this week. The Stallions beat Interlachen in their only other game last week.
Falling two spots to #4 this week is University (Orange City). The Titans (17-2-1) split two games with district rival #7 Spruce Creek (Port Orange) last week, winning 4-3 in 10 innings at home and losing in Port Orange to the Hawks 10-6.
Rounding out the top five is Fleming Island (Orange Park). The Golden Eagles (15-3) switched spots from last week with Creekside (St. Johns) after beating the Knights on the road 5-1, and also won games at First Coast (Jacksonville) and at home against St. Joseph (St. Augustine), who is once again receiving votes in this week’s poll.
Creekside (St. Johns) leads off the second five, dropping one spot from a week ago. The Knights (15-4) followed up the loss to Fleming Island with a 13-2 win at #12 Clay (Green Cove Springs).
Spruce Creek (17-4) moved up a spot to 7th this week after the split with University and a win at Seabreeze (Daytona Beach). Rounding out the top ten is Bartram Trail (St. Johns), Terry Parker (Jacksonville) and South Sumter (Bushnell) at #10.
There wasn’t much movement up in the poll this week, with the biggest rise being three teams moving up two spots. The biggest drop belonged to Forest (Ocala), who fell five places from 11th a week ago to 16th this week. The Wildcats (13-7) dropped two one-run games at home, 5-4 to #14T Belleview and 2-1 to Bartram Trail.
The only team to move into the poll this week is Madison County (13-4), who is in a tie for 20th with Deltona.
Nature Coast (Brooksville), which was #20 a week ago, dropped out of the poll.
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 #7
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record through 4/2 and total voting points)
1. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (5) (15-2) – 155
2. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (2) (16-3) – 152
3. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (1) (17-2) – 144
4. University (Orange City) (9A) (17-2-1) – 138
5. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (8A) (15-3) – 130
6. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (15-4) – 113
7. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (9A) (17-4) – 103
8. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (14-5) – 102
9. Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (6A) (16-2) – 97
10. South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (16-3) – 83
11. North Marion (Citra) (6A) (15-4) – 81
12. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (6A) (13-5) – 64
13. Eustis (5A) (14-2) – 60
14T Belleview (6A) (18-3) – 57
14T Nease (Ponte Vedra) (7A) (16-4) – 57
16. Forest (Ocala) (8A) (13-7) – 36
17. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (4A) (15-5) – 28
18. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (16-4) – 26
19. Yulee (5A) (14-5) – 14
20T Deltona (7A) (15-5) – 10
20T Madison County (1A) (13-4) – 10
Also receiving votes: Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (11-4) – 9, Nature Coast (Brooksville) (5A) (14-3) – 6, St. Joseph’s (St. Augustine) (3A) (14-3) – 2, Chiefland (1A) (14-4) – 2, Williston (1A) (11-8) – 1.
