Seedings/schedules for next week's high school baseball and softball district tournaments

Alex Martin, Naples Daily News
·8 min read

After nearly two months, the postseason is right around the corner for many teams across Southwest Florida.

There are quite a few local teams who are primed to make deep postseason runs. But, winning the district is what matters first.

More: The 10 Southwest Florida high school baseball underclassmen to watch on the diamond in 2022

And: The 20 high school baseball upperclassmen to watch on the diamond in Southwest Florida

Here are the latest rankings that determine tournament seeding from the FHSAA with analysis on each district:

Action from the baseball game, between Fort Myers and Canterbury. The games was played at Terry Park in Fort Myers, Wednesday, April 6, 2022.
Action from the baseball game, between Fort Myers and Canterbury. The games was played at Terry Park in Fort Myers, Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

Baseball

Class 5A-District 13

Island Coast is no longer in this district, which should only be beneficial to the Green Wave, who don't have a serious challenger in their quest of winning another district championship. The Red Knights have faltered as of late, winning just three of their previous 11 games.

32. Fort Myers

224. North Fort Myers

286. Ida Baker

315. Charlotte

386. Cape Coral

543. Dunbar

May 2

Cape Coral at Charlotte

Dunbar at Ida Baker

May 3

Cape Coral/Charlotte at Fort Myers

Dunbar/Ida Baker at North Fort Myers

May 5

Championship at higher seed

Roundup: Fort Myers baseball shuts out Canterbury; Naples softball stuns Fort Myers

Barron Collier High School defeats Estero, 10-1, to win the Class 6A regional quarterfinals game on Thursday, May 6, 2021.
Barron Collier High School defeats Estero, 10-1, to win the Class 6A regional quarterfinals game on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

Class 5A-District 14

The Cougars picked up the top spot over Naples a few weeks ago, and have solidified home-field advantage throughout district play. In the first meeting where Barron won 2-0, neither side showed their top arms. Expect that to change if these squads see each other in the district final.

96. Barron Collier

101. Naples

155. Estero

230. Lely

324. South Fort Myers

522. Golden Gate

567. East Lee County

May 2

South at Lely

East Lee at Naples

Golden Gate at Estero

May 3

South/Lely at Barron Collier

East Lee/Naples vs. Golden Gate/Estero

May 5

Championship at higher seed

Moments from the Class 6A-Region 3 championship baseball game between Gulf Coast High School and Bloomingdale High School from Valrico in Naples on Saturday, May 15, 2021. Gulf Coast lost 4-3.
Moments from the Class 6A-Region 3 championship baseball game between Gulf Coast High School and Bloomingdale High School from Valrico in Naples on Saturday, May 15, 2021. Gulf Coast lost 4-3.

Class 7A-District 8

In this loaded district, the Sharks are the No. 3 seed despite being one of the area's top teams down the stretch. Fortunately for Gulf Coast, even a district semifinal loss would put them into the postseason in Region 2, it would just make for a first-round game on the road.

40. Riverview

55. Sarasota

69. Gulf Coast

112. Venice

461. Lehigh

May 2

Lehigh at Venice

May 3

Lehigh/Venice at Riverview

Gulf Coast at Sarasota

May 5

Championship game at higher seed

Island Coast High School makes a pitching change during their game with Fort Myers High School in the Class 5A- District 10 championship game in Fort Myers, Friday, April 30,2021.(Photo/Chris Tilley)
Island Coast High School makes a pitching change during their game with Fort Myers High School in the Class 5A- District 10 championship game in Fort Myers, Friday, April 30,2021.(Photo/Chris Tilley)

Class 4A-District 13

The Gators have locked themselves into the top seed, despite Bonita Springs holding that spot just a week ago. Island Coast beat the Bull Sharks 9-0 with no issues getting to the team's ace Austin Black. Don't count out Port Charlotte, Lemon Bay, or Mariner though.

111. Island Coast

120. Bonita Springs

180. Port Charlotte

197. Lemon Bay

219. Mariner

403. LaBelle

411. Cypress Lake

All Games at 7 p.m.

May 2

Mariner at Lemon Bay

LaBelle at Port Charlotte

Cypress Lake at Bonita Springs

May 3

Mariner/Lemon Bay winner at Island Coast

LaBelle/Port Charlotte vs. Cypress Lake/Bonita Springs at higher seed

May 5

Championship at higher seed

Bishop Verot's Aidan Knaak (19) pitches during the Bishop Verot and Community School of Naples baseball game on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 at Barron Collier High School in Naples, Fla.
Bishop Verot's Aidan Knaak (19) pitches during the Bishop Verot and Community School of Naples baseball game on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 at Barron Collier High School in Naples, Fla.

Class 3A-District 8

Let's just say Verot is the clear favorite here. The Vikings don't have much of a test in districts, which could prompt them to rest their top two arms in Aidan Knaak and Josiah Velazquez. Verot is a much better team than the 13-9 record — eight of their nine losses have been by two runs or fewer, with five coming by one run or less.

119. Bishop Verot

237. Cardinal Mooney

244. Gateway Charter

402. CSN

443. Oasis

May 2

Oasis at CSN

May 3

Oasis/CSN at Bishop Verot

Gateway Charter at Cardinal Mooney

May 5

Championship at higher seed

Seacrest's Justin Jackson, right, heads to the mound to pitch against Trinity Christian Academy in the 2A regional quarterfinal game, Friday, May 7, 2021, at Seacrest Country Day School.
Seacrest's Justin Jackson, right, heads to the mound to pitch against Trinity Christian Academy in the 2A regional quarterfinal game, Friday, May 7, 2021, at Seacrest Country Day School.

Class 2A-District 12

Could the district title streak come to an end for Canterbury? Frank Turco has yet to go a season without winning a district championship for the Cougars, but this could be his toughest test yet. The Stingrays are having a solid season under first-year head coach Ridge Dulitz. Canterbury beat Seacrest 10-0 the first time around at home, but that was without USF signee Justin Jackson (4-0, 0.70 ERA) on the mound. The Stingrays are lacking a reliable No. 2 arm behind Jackson, who has a sub-1.00 ERA.

62. Seacrest Country Day

144. Canterbury

176. Neumann

274. SFCA

421. Marco Island Academy

464. First Baptist

473. ECS

545. Moore Haven

May 2

Moore Haven at Seacrest, 4:30

Marco at SFCA

ECS at Canterbury

FBA at Neumann, 4

May 3

Moore Haven/Seacrest vs. Marco/SFCA

ECS/Canterbury vs. FBA/Neumann

May 5

Championship at higher seed

Class 6A-District 8

It'll be a tough lift for any Southwest Florida teams to get out of this district. All of them share one thing in common: they must win the district to go to the postseason.

182. Palmetto

213. Manatee

245. Riverdale

257. Palmetto Ridge

436. North Port

494. Immokalee

May 2

North Port at Palmetto Ridge

Immoklalee at Riverdale

May 3

North Port/Palmetto Ridge at Palmetto

Immoklalee/Riverdale at Manatee

May 5

Championship at higher seed, 7 p.m.

Julia Knowler, Fort Myers, celebrates after hitting a double. Lakewood Ranch scored big against Fort Myers to win 13-0 in the fifth, during their Monday night matchup.
Julia Knowler, Fort Myers, celebrates after hitting a double. Lakewood Ranch scored big against Fort Myers to win 13-0 in the fifth, during their Monday night matchup.

Class 5A-District 13

The Green Wave are slight favorites, but don't count out the Red Knights or the Tarpons. Charlotte beat Fort Myers, while the Red Knights have been dominant against local opponents. Whoever the Green Wave may face, it'll be interesting to see if walking Julia Knowler is in the cards this time around. Knowler is hitting .662 with 25 extra-base hits, 8 home runs, and 40 RBI.

36. Fort Myers

43. North Fort Myers

90. Charlotte

209. Ida Baker

418. Cape Coral

513. Dunbar

All games at 7 p.m.

May 2

Cape Coral at Ida Baker

Dunbar at Charlotte

May 3

Cape Coral/Ida Baker winner at Fort Myers

Dunbar/Charlotte winner at North Fort Myers

May 5

Championship at higher seed

2022 softball report: Southwest Florida's top hitters, pitchers, teams and MVP

Previously: Here are 25 returning Southwest Florida high school softball players to watch in 2022

Naples' Macy Miles (22) pitches the ball during the Barron Collier and Naples softball game on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 at Barron Collier High School in Naples, Fla.
Naples' Macy Miles (22) pitches the ball during the Barron Collier and Naples softball game on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 at Barron Collier High School in Naples, Fla.

Class 5A-District 14

Could we be in line for another thriller between Naples and Immokalee. It sure is possible, with the Golden Eagles escaping with a 2-1 win in the ninth inning on March 1. Naples didn't close the season like they wanted, losing four of their last six contests. Fortunately for them, they're still the top seed in the district.

125. Naples

179. Immokalee

231. Barron Collier

367. Lely

379. South Fort Myers

439. East Lee County

510. Golden Gate

All games at 7 p.m.

May 2

South Fort Myers at Lely

Golden Gate at Immokalee

East Lee at Barron Collier

May 3

Lely/South winner at Naples

Golden Gate/Immokalee vs. East Lee/Barron Collier at higher seed

May 5

Championship at higher seed

Class 6A-District 8

Riverdale is a very talented team, but this district could see their season end in the district semifinals. The Raiders sit 11th in Region 2, nearly 70 spots off the current eighth seed Palmetto. Losing nine of their last 12 games definitely stung a bit, as eight of them were by three runs or fewer.

32. Sarasota

103. North Port

180. Riverdale

281. Lehigh

364. Palmetto Ridge

All games at 7 p.m.

May 2

Lehigh at Palmetto Ridge

May 3

Riverdale at North Port

Lehigh/Palmetto Ridge winner at Sarasota

May 5

Championship game at higher seed

Scenes from a softball game between Fort Myers High School and LaBelle High School at Fort Myers High on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
Scenes from a softball game between Fort Myers High School and LaBelle High School at Fort Myers High on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

Class 4A-District 13

Sneaking ahead at the last minute was LaBelle, who owns the top seed over Cypress Lake by just two spots. The Cowgirls were ranked 185 in the state, while the Panthers are 187. Both teams should be able to advance to the postseason, but that's if Mariner doesn't disrupt those ideas.

185. LaBelle

187. Cypress Lake

240. Mariner

288. Estero

321. Bonita Springs

506. Island Coast

(All games at 7 p.m.)

May 2

Bonita at Estero

Island Coast at Mariner

May 3

Estero/Bonita winner at LaBelle

Island Coast/Mariner winner at Cypress Lake

May 5

Championship game at higher seed

Victoria Ash of Bishop Verot pitches against Naples in a softball matchup on Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Fort Myers.
Victoria Ash of Bishop Verot pitches against Naples in a softball matchup on Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Fort Myers.

Class 3A-District 12

Verot enters district play as the favorite, with every team well behind in the strength of schedule category. Chris Gatewood's squad should be able to pull away from Lemon Bay this time around, who the Vikings only beat 3-2 on Feb. 24.

144. Bishop Verot

203. Lemon Bay

258. DeSoto County

267. Gateway Charter

294. Oasis

All Games at 6 p.m.

May 2

Oasis at Gateway Charter

May 3

DeSoto at Lemon Bay

Oasis/Gateway Charter winner at Bishop Verot

May 5

Championship at higher seed

Evangelical Christian School plays St. Petersburg Canterbury in the Class 2A regional softball final at ECS on Friday, May 14, 2021, in Fort Myers.
Evangelical Christian School plays St. Petersburg Canterbury in the Class 2A regional softball final at ECS on Friday, May 14, 2021, in Fort Myers.

Class 2A-District 12

If you want to debate which team has it the easiest headed into the districts (and regionals, too), it's without question ECS. The Sentinels, ranked 80th statewide, have two teams ranked in the 300s, one in the 400s, and two in the 500s. That should tell you all you need to know about the Sentinels' chances of locking up a district crown under first-year coach Johnny Manetta.

80. ECS

322. Seacrest Country Day

392. Everglades City

474. St. John Neumann

505. CSN

511. SFCA

All Games at 6 p..m unless noted

May 2

CSN at St. John Neumann

Everglades City at SFCA, 5:30 p.m.

May 3

CSN/St. John Neumann winner at ECS

Everglades City/SFCA winner at Seacrest

May 5

Championship at higher seed

Follow Southwest Florida Sports Writer Alex Martin on Twitter: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: SWFL high school baseball, softball district tournament rankings