Baseball, softball, flag football: Spring sports power polls for April 3
BASEBALL
The Times-Union highlights the top teams across high school baseball for teams in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida through April 2 in the 2023 FHSAA season.
1. Creekside
15-1, Class 7A
Previous: 2.
Last week: Won 8-7 vs. Bartram Trail, won 2-0 at Bartram Trail.
This week: Tuesday at Clay, Thursday at North Marion.
Glance: Rally from four-run hole and Matthew Bysheim one-hitter display winning spirit of Knights, who have won 14 straight.
2. St. Johns Country Day
12-3, Class 2A
Previous: 4.
Last week: Won 3-1 at Providence, won 11-1 vs. Fleming Island.
This week: Tuesday vs. Atlantic Coast, Thursday at Clay.
Glance: Superb wins send Spartans rocketing toward the top.
3. Trinity Christian
11-3, Class 3A
Previous: 5 (tie).
Last week: Won 5-0 at Clay, won 7-0 vs. Mandarin, won 9-2 vs. Tallahassee Chiles.
This week: Tuesday vs. Creekside, Thursday at Viera, Friday vs. Nease.
Glance: Homer, triple highlighted big week from freshman Brady Harris on a young lineup that keeps getting better.
4. Providence
13-3, Class 3A
Previous: 1.
Last week: Lost 3-1 vs. St. Johns Country Day, won 5-2 vs. Bishop Snyder.
This week: Tuesday vs. Englewood, Thursday vs. Bartram Trail.
Glance: Homers from Liam O'Neil and Waz Rollings, complete game from Kyle Powers helped Stallions bounce back.
5 (tie). Columbia
14-2, Class 5A
Previous: Not ranked.
Last week: Won 7-1 at Ocala Forest, won 9-8 at Tallahassee NFC.
This week: Tuesday vs. Gainesville Buchholz, Friday at Gainesville Buchholz.
Glance: Camdon Frier's power surge (three homers in eight days) makes red-hot Tigers even more deadly.
5 (tie). Sandalwood
11-3, Class 7A
Previous: 5 (tie).
Last week: Won 10-1 vs. Parker.
This week: Tuesday vs. Riverside, Wednesday vs. Bolles, Thursday vs. Fernandina Beach.
Glance: Pitching staff continues to shine for Saints.
On the bubble: Baker County (11-4, 5A), Clay (13-3, 5A), Fernandina Beach (12-3, 4A), Fleming Island (11-4, 6A), Keystone Heights (9-3, 3A), Oakleaf (13-2, 6A), Ridgeview (10-5, 5A), Union County (9-4, 1A).
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SOFTBALL
The Times-Union highlights the top teams across high school softball for teams in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida through April 2 in the 2023 FHSAA season
1. Baldwin
11-1, Class 3A
Previous: 1.
Last week: Won 10-2 at Paxon.
This week: Tuesday vs. Clay, Wednesday vs. Middleburg, Thursday at Fort White.
Glance: Heart of the order with Chloe Gotto, Jazmine Ramos-Merced and Kendall North means big trouble for opposing pitchers.
2. Episcopal
12-1, Class 3A
Previous: 2.
Last week: Won 15-0 vs. Wolfson, won 11-1 vs. Mandarin, won 7-0 vs. Bolles.
This week: Tuesday at Bishop Kenny, Wednesday vs. Nease.
Glance: Grace Jones (.622, 14 XBH, 1.851 OPS, 0.43 ERA, 186 K) simply isn't slowing down.
3. University Christian
9-2, Class 2A
Previous: 3.
Last week: Won 2-0 vs. First Coast.
This week: Tuesday vs. Palatka, Thursday at Baker County.
Glance: Sophia Kardatzke struck out 15 batters, went 3 for 3 last time out.
4. Providence
10-2, Class 2A
Previous: 5.
Last week: Won 13-0 at Ponte Vedra.
This week: Tuesday at Middleburg, Wednesday at Creekside, Thursday at Hilliard.
Glance: Power surge for Stallions, who got four homers against Ponte Vedra (two from Daci Sarver) to accompany Joey Trawick's shutout.
5. Clay
9-4, Class 5A
Previous: Not ranked.
Last week: Won 4-2 at Fleming Island.
This week: Monday at White, Tuesday at Baldwin, Thursday at Orange Park.
Glance: Senior Gabrielle Ellis is among Northeast Florida's top double threats as pitcher and batter.
On the bubble: Baker County (9-4, 4A), Bartram Trail (7-4, 7A), Clay (9-4, 5A), Creekside (11-4, 7A), Middleburg (8-5, 5A), Paxon (9-3, 4A), Ponte Vedra (9-2, 6A), West Nassau (8-5, 3A).
FLAG FOOTBALL
The Times-Union highlights the top teams across high school flag football for teams in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida through April 2 in the 2023 FHSAA season.
1. Fleming Island
6-0, Class 2A
Previous: 1.
Last week: Won 35-0 vs. Oakleaf.
This week: Tuesday at Riverside, Thursday vs. Middleburg.
Glance: Golden Eagles haven't yet allowed a point this season.
2. Bradford
9-0, Class 1A
Previous: 4.
Last week: Won 52-0 at Keystone Heights, won 38-0 vs. Florida High.
This week: Monday at Florida Deaf, Thursday vs. Keystone Heights.
Glance: Tornadoes on course for undefeated season behind Arnayshia Griffin and Nichelle Brown on awesome offense.
3. Paxon
8-0, Class 1A
Previous: 3.
Last week: Won 9-0 at Middleburg.
This week: Tuesday at Stanton, Thursday vs. Ridgeview.
Glance: Golden Eagles continue winning ways ahead of rivalry against Stanton.
4. White
8-1, Class 1A
Previous: Not ranked.
Last week: Won 25-13 vs. Stanton.
This week: Tuesday vs. Westside, Wednesday vs. Yulee, Thursday vs. Atlantic Coast.
Glance: Elyhana Perez-Stevenson helped key Commanders' big win against Stanton.
5. Stanton
8-1, Class 1A
Previous: 2.
Last week: Won 47-0 at Parker, lost 25-13 at White.
This week: Tuesday vs. Paxon, Thursday vs. Baldwin.
Glance: Blue Devils must rebound quickly for Paxon clash.
On the bubble: Florida Deaf (6-1, 1A), Fletcher (5-2, 2A), Jackson (4-2, 1A), Keystone Heights (5-1, 1A), Ridgeview (4-1-1, 1A), St. Augustine (4-1, 1A)
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Northeast Florida high school baseball & softball power poll, April 3
