Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.) took a huge step toward solidifying its hold on No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school baseball rankings over the weekend. But the winner of the Southern Section Division 1 championship this week out in California will also have a say in determining the national champion.
The Bears defeated
John Curtis Christian (River Ridge) 5-0 in Louisiana's Select Division 1 championship game Saturday, marking the fourth straight shutout for Catholic to conclude the state playoffs.
William Schmidt picked up the win in the title game, striking out nine while allowing only one hit.
Catholic finished the season with 20 straight wins, including three over Non-Select Division 1 state champion
West Monroe.
While Catholic has a firm grip on the top spot, the four teams competing for the Southern Section Division 1 championship this week will also make their case for the national title. No. 2
Corona (Calif.) has the best argument for the No. 1 spot, especially if it can get past No. 24
Huntington Beach in the semifinals and either No. 6
Orange Lutheran (Orange) or No. 7
Harvard-Westlake (Studio City).
Flower Mound (Texas) also cannot be counted out. The No. 3 Jaguars take on No. 14 Prosper in the regional quarterfinals and would need to win six games to capture their second straight Class 6A state championship. If that were to happen, the Dallas-area school would have 28 straight wins and a strong case for No. 1.
Newcomers: No. 21
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), No. 23
Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), No. 24 Huntington Beach, No. 25
Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)Game of the Week: Corona def.
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 3-1. The Panthers advanced to the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs with a two-run homer by
Anthony Murphy in the top of the eighth inning.
Game to Watch: Orange Lutheran vs. Harvard-Westlake. The two teams have played three times this year with Orange Lutheran winning twice. All three games have been decided by one run. The winner advances to the Southern Section Division 1 championship game against either Corona or Huntington Beach.
Player of the Week: William Schmidt of Catholic was named Select Division
1 tournament MVP after tossing a 5-0 shutout against John Curtis
Christian with nine strikeouts.
Streaks: Eaton (Colo.) broke its own state record for consecutive wins by upping its current active streak to 62 games in a row. The streak ranks No. 14 all-time in high school history. Several long streaks came to an end last week as Archbishop Moeller's streak of 41 straight wins ended with a loss to
Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio).
Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City, N.J.) had its 28-game win streak end as well. The next longest win streak in the nation is 32 by
Collinsville (Texas) and 31 in a row by
Gunter (Texas).
Shown here celebrating during a win over Pineville in April, the good times continued for Catholic of Baton Rouge over the weekend as it won a state title in Louisiana. The Bears could become the second Bayou State team to be crowned national champion by MaxPreps, joining Barbe. (Photo: Josh Ankeny)
1. Catholic-B.R. (Baton Rouge, La.)
Record: 38-2 |
Last week: 1
Scores: Def. Acadiana (Lafayette), 10-0, def. John Curtis Christian, 5-0
Hitter of the week: Andrew Hodges hit a three-run home run against Acadiana.
Pitcher of the week: William Schmidt struck out nine and allowed one hit in a 5-0 shutout against John Curtis Christian.
Next: Season complete. Select Division 1 state champion.
2. Corona (Calif.)
Record: 28-3 |
Last week: 2
Scores: Def. Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 3-1; def. Aquinas (San Bernardino), 6-4
Hitter of the week: Anthony Murphy hit a game-winning, two-run home run in the top of the eighth against Mater Dei.
Pitcher of the week: Seth Hernandez got the win against Mater Dei with seven strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Huntington Beach
3. Flower Mound (Texas)
Record: 34-3 |
Last week: 4
Scores: Def. Dallas Jesuit, 3-1, 10-0
Hitter of the week: Sam Distel went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in 10-0 win.
Pitcher of the week: Zack James tossed a one-hit shutout with four strikeouts in 10-0 win.
Next: Saturday vs. Prosper
4. Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.)
Record: 37-3 |
Last week: 3
Scores: Def. Madison-Ridgeland Academy, 2-1; lost to MRA, 7-6; def. MRA, 11-1
Hitter of the week: Tre' Bryant had a home run and two RBI in 11-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Sophomore
Kevin Roberts struck out five and gave up one run on one hit in 11-1 win.
Next: TBD
5. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
Record: 39-3 |
Last week: 6
Scores: Def. Auburn, 11-6, 10-1
Hitter of the week: Sam Brown hit a home run with three RBI in 10-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Hunter Wippert gave up one run on four hits with 11 strikeouts in 10-1 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Bob Jones
6. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 25-6 |
Last week: 7
Scores: Def. Vista Murrieta, 17-6; def. La Mirada, 9-4
Hitter of the week: Nate Savoie went 3-for-4 with two home runs, four runs scored and three RBI in 17-6 win.
Pitcher of the week: Ross Clark struck out three and gave up one run on two hits in 9-4 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Harvard-Westlake
7. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
Record: 26-4-1 |
Last week: 8
Scores: Def. Bonita, 3-2; def. San Dimas, 5-4
Hitter of the week: Bryce Rainer went 2-for-3 with two runs in win over San Dimas.
Pitcher of the week: Duncan Marsten threw a complete game with five strikeouts in 5-4 win.
Next: Tuesday vs. Orange Lutheran
8. Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
Record: 27-1-1 |
Last week: 9
Scores: Def. Trinity Christian Academy (Addison), 7-4
Hitter of the week: A.J. DePaolo went 2-for-3 with three RBI in win.
Pitcher of the week: Xavier Mitchell struck out three in three innings against TCA.
Next: Tuesday vs. Concordia Lutheran (Tomball)
9. Tomball (Texas)
Record: 33-3 |
Last week: 10
Scores: Def. Grand Oaks, 11-0, 2-0
Hitter of the week: Coleman Ryan went 3-for-3 with four RBI in 11-0 win.
Pitcher of the week: Karson Reeder gave up no runs on two hits with four strikeouts and no walks in seven innings of 2-0 win.
Next: Friday vs. Willis
10. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Record: 23-5 |
Last week: 13
Scores: Def. South Dade, 5-1; def. Boca Raton, 14-1
Hitter of the week: Bennett Gary went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and three RBI in 14-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Jayden Dubanewicz struck out eight and gave up one run on one hit in 5-1 win.
Next: Monday vs. West Broward
11. North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.)
Record: 25-3 |
Last week: 14
Scores: Def. Melbourne Central Catholic, 5-0; def. Coral Springs Charter, 6-3
Hitter/Pitcher of the week:
Mateo Gray went seven innings and gave up no runs on one hit with three
strikeouts against MCC. He also had a home run and two RBI against
Coral Springs Charter.
Next: Tuesday vs. St. John Paul II Academy
12. Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
Record: 30-1 |
Last week: 15
Scores: Def. University of Detroit Jesuit, 7-2; def. St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake), 3-0
Hitter of the week: Chase VanAmeyde hit a home run in semifinal win over Detroit Jesuit.
Pitcher of the week: Cole Duhaime tossed a seven-inning shutout with nine strikeouts.
Next: Tuesday vs. Detroit Edison
13. Harlem (Ga.)
Record: 36-1 |
Last week: 16
Scores: Def. Pickens, 2-1, 12-0; def. Oconee County, 6-1, 5-3
Hitter of the week: Caden Coile went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI in 6-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Amerson Guy gave up one run on three hits in seven innings of a 6-1 win.
Next: Thursday vs. Calvary Day
14. Prosper (Texas)
Record: 31-6 |
Last week: 17
Scores: Def. South Grand Prairie, 3-2, 5-3
Pitcher of the week: Micah Mellott went seven innings and struck out six in 5-3 win.
Next: Friday vs. Flower Mound
15. North Cobb Christian (Kennesaw, Ga.)
Record: 34-4 |
Last week: 18
Scores: Def. Jeff Davis, 7-2, 2-1; def. Rockmart, 11-1, 3-2
Hitter/Pitcher of the week: Asher Sabom went six innings and gave up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts in 11-1 win. He also went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI.
Next: Wednesday vs. Appling County/Mt. Paran Christian winner
16. Granada (Livermore, Calif.)
Record: 25-1 |
Last week: 20
Scores: Def. Monte Vista (Danville), 9-0; def. San Ramon Valley (Danville), 6-4
Hitter of the week: Quinn Boyd went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI against Monte Vista.
Pitcher of the week: Jake Sekany struck out 14 in 6-4 win over San Ramon Valley.
Next: Tuesday vs. Dublin
17. Valley View (Jonesboro, Ark.)
Record: 30-2 |
Last week: 23
Scores: Def. Beebe, 12-2; def. Russellville, 11-1; def. Van Buren, 10-0
Hitter of the week: Hudson Hosman homered with two RBI in 11-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Eli Crecelius gave up no runs on three hits with four strikeouts in win over Van Buren.
Next: Friday vs. Maumelle
18. West Monroe (La.)
Record: 31-8 |
Last week: 25
Scores: Def. Sam Houston (Lake Charles), 7-1; def. Barbe (Lake Charles), 5-1
Hitter of the week: John Pearson homered in the win over Barbe.
Pitcher of the week: Drew Ferguson gave up one run on four hits with 10 strikeouts against Sam Houston.
Next: Season complete. Non-Select Division 1 state champion.
19. Grapevine (Texas)
Record: 32-4 |
Last week: 19
Scores: Def. Northwest, 7-2; lost to Northwest, 5-3; def. Northwest, 10-2
Hitter of the week: Sammy Kelley went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple in 7-2 win.
Pitcher of the week: Dasan Hill struck out 10 in 4.1 innings in 10-2 win.
Next: Thursday vs. Rider
20. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 24-2 |
Last week: 5
Scores: Def. Centerville, 6-2; def. Chaminade Julienne Catholic, 10-0; lost to Cincinnati Hills Christian, 4-6; lost to Butler, 0-1
Hitter of the week: Conner Cuozzo had two doubles and an RBI against Chaminade.
Pitcher of the week: Zion Theophilus gave up three hits in a 10-0 shutout win, striking out eight.
Next: TBD
21. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 19-6 |
Last week: NR
Season complete.
22. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 34-7 |
Last week: 21
Scores: Def. Benton, 4-1; lost to West Monroe, 5-1
Hitter of the week: Owen Galt had a home run and two RBI in 4-1 win.
Pitcher of the week: Diego Corrales gave up one run on six hits with six strikeouts in 4-1 win.
Next: Season complete.
23. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Record: 29-5 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Maryville, 11-0; def. Knoxville Central, 20-0; def. Oak Grove, 21-2
Hitter of the week: Eli Evans went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and five RBI in 21-2 win.
Pitcher of the week: Cade O'Leary struck out seven in win over Oak Grove.
Next: Wednesday vs. Science Hill
24. Huntington Beach (Calif.)
Record: 23-8 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Villa Park, 5-3; def. Santa Margarita, 3-2
Hitter of the week: Trent Grindlinger went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and two RBI against Villa Park.
Pitcher of the week: Nathan Aceves gave up one run on two hits with nine strikeouts against Santa Margarita.
Next: Tuesday vs. Corona
25. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Record: 23-6 |
Last week: NR
Scores: Def. Trinity Catholic, 4-3; def. Bolles, 6-4
Hitter of the week: Brady Harris went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI against Bolles. He also went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI against Trinity Catholic.
Pitcher of the week: Brayden Harris struck out nine in 4.1 innings against Trinity Catholic.
Next: Tuesday vs. Bishop Snyder
