High School Baseball This week’s Top 25 Rankings

Catholic remains at the No. 1 spot in the Top 25 for its second week, following victories over Pineville in the second round of the Select Division 1 playoffs. With a 16-game winning streak, the Bears advance to the quarterfinals and will face Jesuit in a best-of-three series to compete for a spot in the semifinals against either Acadiana (Lafayette) or Northwood (Shreveport).

The Southern Section playoffs in California are starting this week, and teams like No. 2 Corona, No. 7 Orange Lutheran, and No. 8 Harvard-Westlake are all gearing up for their first-round matchups in the Division 1 bracket.

No. 3 Jackson Prep (Jackson) in Mississippi is eagerly anticipating the start of the MAIS postseason. The Patriots have an impressive 20-game winning streak since their loss to Ocean Springs on March 11.

Dropped out: No. 19 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), No. 20 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), No. 25 Serra (San Mateo, Calif.)

Newcomers: No. 18 Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.); No. 24 Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.); No. 25 Valley View (Jonesboro, Ark.)

The featured game this week was between Jackson Prep and Jackson Academy in Jackson, Mississippi. Jackson Prep won the game 9-8 after a close match. Despite winning the first two games by large margins, Jackson Prep had to rally in the sixth inning to secure their victory. Tre’ Bryant’s single brought in the game-winning run, earning Jackson Prep the win.

A game worth watching is the matchup between Barbe and Mandeville in Louisiana. While the Catholic vs. Jesuit matchup is also exciting, Barbe is the defending state champion and the No. 1 seed in Division 1 Non-Select, and Mandeville has proven to be a strong opponent with notable wins over top teams.

Valley View’s Slade Caldwell has been named Player of the Week. He is considered one of the best outfielders in the nation and last week he had an impressive performance with four doubles and a home run in four wins. His standout play helped Valley View secure a spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 this week, including a 3-0 shutout of Rogers.

High School Baseball Top 25 rankings

1. Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.)
Record: 34-2 | Last week: 1
Scores: Def. Pineville, 8-1, 15-2

2. Corona (Calif.)
Record: 25-3 | Last week: 2
Scores: Def. Roosevelt (Eastvale), 18-2, 5-1, 12-6

3. Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.)
Record: 35-2 | Last week: 3
Scores: Def. Jackson Academy, 11-1, 11-1, 9-8

4. Flower Mound (Texas)
Record: 30-3 | Last week: 4
Scores: Def. Hebron, 3-2, 3-0

5. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 18-0 | Last week: 5
Scores: Def. St. Xavier, 7-6; def. Indian Hill, 7-6, def. St. Xavier, 6-1; def. Dixie Heights, 9-2

6. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
Record: 35-3 | Last week: 7
Scores: Def. Prattville, 3-1, 7-1

7. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 22-6 | Last week: 6
Scores: Def. St. John Bosco, 3-2, 4-3, lost to St. John Bosco, 8-2

8. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
Record: 23-4-1 | Last week: 8
Scores: Def. Bishop Alemany, 4-2, 10-3

9. Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
Record: 26-1-1 | Last week: 9
Scores: Def. Dallas Christian, 11-1

10. Tomball (Texas)
Record: 29-3 | Last week: 10
Scores: Def. Klein Cain, 13-1; 1-0

11. Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola, Fla.)
Record: 24-1 | Last week: 11
Scores: Def. Central (Milton), 3-0; def. Pace, 12-2; def. Gulf Breeze, 15-1

12. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
Record: 27-5 | Last week: 12
Scores: Def. Camden County, 10-0, 13-0

13. Lincoln-Way West (New Lenox, Ill.)
Record: 20-0 | Last week: 13
Scores: Def. Homewood-Flossmoor, 12-2; def. Downers Grove North, 5-0; def. Lemont, 18-5

14. Prosper (Texas)
Record: 27-5 | Last week: 15
Scores: Def. McKinney, 12-1; 2-1

15. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Record: 19-5 | Last week: 16
Scores: Def. Neumann, 7-1; def. Westminster Christian, 9-0

16. North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.)
Record: 21-3 | Last week: 17
Scores: Def. West Boca Raton, 4-3; def. Killian, 4-3

17. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)
Record: 23-2 | Last week: 18
Scores: Def. Pembroke Pines Charter, 11-6; def. JC Bermudez Doral, 9-0

18. Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
Record: 21-1 | Last week: 25
Scores: Def. University Liggett, 12-1, 13-0

19. Harlem (Ga.)
Record: 30-1 | Last week: 21
Scores: Def. Dougherty, 15-1, 15-1

20. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 31-5 | Last week: 22
Scores: Def. Sulphur, 3-2, 3-0

21. North Cobb Christian (Kennesaw, Ga.)
Record: 28-4 | Last week: 14
Scores: Def. Fannin County, 9-5; lost to Fannin County, 4-3; def. Fannin County, 11-1