Mike Ridaught
The final all-classification regional baseball rankings is due out tomorrow. The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 teams regardless of classification across 26 counties in Florida.
Baseball in the North Central Florida area had a pretty good year overall in 2021.
Newberry High School won the Class 1A state title, its first in school history.
The Panthers, who lost only one game all season, will definitely move up from their No. 12 spot in the regional rankings—but maybe not all the way to the top spot.
There were four state runners-up from the area—St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) in Class 2A, North Marion in Class 4A, Fleming Island (Orange Park) in Class 6A, and Spruce Creek (Port Orange) in 7A.
Plus, there were four state semifinalists, including 3A Bolles (Jacksonville), which was ranked No. 1 in the previous regional rankings.
Last Thursday, the Trenton softball team finished third in the regional rankings.
The Tigers, who finished 20-1 this season, repeated as Class 1A state champs. Trenton rallied past No. 15 Branford, 3-2, in the state semifinal, then held off Jay, 5-4, in the title game to capture their second title in the past three years.
Here’s a look at how the top 20 baseball teams ended their seasons:
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL POWERED BY ANYTIME FITNESS OF GAINESVILLE – 2021 BASEBALL POLL #5 (FINAL POLL) NOMINATIONS
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, final ranking in classification according to Max Preps, final 2021 record, and how they fared in postseason.)
1. Bolles (Jacksonville) (3A) (3) (25-5) – CLASS 3A STATE SEMIFINALIST; ranked #2 statewide in 3A and #6 in all classifications according to Max Preps; LOST to eventual 3A state champion The First Academy (Orlando) 2-1 in 3A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/24); won at Pensacola Catholic 2-0 in Region 1-3A final (5/19); d. #8 Episcopal (Jacksonville) 3-1 in Region 1-3A semifinal (5/11); d. Baldwin 8-0 in Region 1-3A quarterfinal (5/6).
2. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (1) (22-6) – ranked #6 statewide in 7A and #22 in all classifications; LOST to eventual 7A state runner-up #6 Spruce Creek (Port Orange) 1-0 in Region 1-7A quarterfinal (5/7).
3. Santa Fe (Alachua) (4A) (1) (23-3) – ranked #5 statewide in 4A; LOST to Arnold (Panama City) 6-4 in Region 1-4A quarterfinal (5/6).
4. St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) (2A) (2) (24-7) – CLASS 2A STATE RUNNER-UP; ranked #1 statewide in 2A and #7 in all classifications; LOST to Out-of-Door (Sarasota) 5-3 in 2A State Championship Game at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/20); d. RV Mount Dora Christian Academy 3-2 in 2A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/19); d. North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) 4-0 in Region 1-2A final (5/15); d. University Christian (Jacksonville) 4-2 in Region 1-2A semifinal (5/12); d. Trinity Christian Academy (Deltona) 11-3 in Region 1-2A quarterfinal (5/7).
5. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (6A) (1) (25-6) – CLASS 6A STATE RUNNER-UP; ranked #3 statewide in 6A and #14 in all classifications; LOST to Bloomingdale (Valrico) 5-1 in 6A State Championship Game at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/22); d. Viera 6-0 in 6A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/21); d. Chiles (Tallahassee) 3-2 in Region 1-6A final (5/15); d. #11 Creekside (St. Johns) 3-2 in Region 1-6A semifinal (5/12); d. Lyman (Longwood) 8-0 in Region 1-6A quarterfinal (5/7).
6. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (23-9) – CLASS 7A STATE RUNNER-UP; ranked #7 statewide in 7A and #25 in all classifications; LOST to Stoneman Douglas (Parkland) 5-1 in 7A State Championship Game at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/22); d. Durant (Plant City) 1-0 (8 innings) in 7A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/21); won at Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs) 5-1 in Region 1-7A final (5/15); won at Lake Mary 6-1 in Region 1-7A semifinal (5/12); won at #2 Bartram Trail (St. Johns) 1-0 in Region 1-7A quarterfinal (5/7).
7. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (4A) (19-5) – ranked #3 statewide in 4A and #34 in all classifications; DID NOT QUALIFY FOR STATE PLAYOFFS; LOST in District 2-4A semifinal to Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 3-1.
8. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (21-7) – ranked #9 statewide in 3A and #39 in all classifications; LOST at eventual 3A state semifinalist #1 Bolles (Jacksonville) 3-1 in Region 1-3A semifinal (5/11); won at RV Keystone Heights 5-1 in Region 1-3A quarterfinal (5/6).
9. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (7A) (20-8) – ranked #23 statewide in 7A; LOST at Lake Mary 6-2 in Region 1-7A quarterfinal (5/7).
10. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (18-7-1) – ranked #10 statewide in 6A; LOST at eventual 6A state semifinalist Pace 9-5 in Region 1-6A quarterfinal (5/7).
11. Creekside (St. Johns) (6A) (16-12) – ranked #15 statewide in 6A; LOST at eventual 6A state runner-up #5 Fleming Island (Orange Park) 3-2 in Region 1-6A semifinal (5/12); won at Winter Springs 5-2 in Region 1-6A quarterfinal (5/7).
12. Newberry (1A) (25-1) – CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPION; ranked #1 statewide in 1A; d. Chipley 7-5 in 1A State Championship Game at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/20); d. RV Hamilton County (Jasper) 3-2 in 1A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/19); d. Williston 12-6 in Region 4-1A final (5/11); d. Crescent City 7-1 in Region 4-1A semifinal (5/7).
13. Hernando (Brooksville) (4A) (23-4) – ranked #10 statewide in 4A; LOST at Rockledge 1-0 in Region 2-4A quarterfinal (5/6).
14. North Marion (Citra) (4A) (21-9) – CLASS 4A STATE RUNNER-UP; ranked #4 statewide in 4A and #45 in all classifications; LOST to North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek) 8-4 in 4A State Championship Game at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/25); d. #16 Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) 4-1 in 4A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/24); d. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 6-0 in Region 1-4A final (5/19); d. RV Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) 2-0 in Region 1-4A semifinal (5/11); d. West Nassau (Callahan) 11-1 in Region 1-4A quarterfinal (5/5).
15. Suwannee (Live Oak) (4A) (19-6) – ranked #6 statewide in 4A; DID NOT QUALIFY FOR STATE PLAYOFFS; LOST 2-0 to #3 Santa Fe (Alachua) in District 2-4A semifinal.
16. Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (4A) (24-5) – CLASS 4A STATE SEMIFINALIST; ranked #8 statewide in 4A; LOST to eventual 4A state runner-up #14 North Marion (Citra) 4-1 in 4A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/24); d. Bishop Moore (Orlando) 6-1 in Region 2-4A final (5/19); won at Rockledge 3-2 in Region 2-4A semifinal (5/11); d. Satellite (Satellite Beach) 8-6 in Region 2-4A quarterfinal (5/6).
17. University (Orange City) (7A) (19-5) – ranked #18 statewide in 7A; DID NOT QUALIFY FOR STATE PLAYOFFS; LOST to Lake Mary 6-0 in District 2-7A semifinal.
18. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (21-5) – ranked #3 statewide in 1A; LOST at RV Hamilton County (Jasper) 6-3 in Region 3-1A final (5/11); won at Liberty County (Bristol) 19-2 in Region 3-1A semifinal (5/7).
19. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (18-10) – ranked #23 statewide in 3A; LOST at eventual 3A state champion The First Academy (Orlando) 12-11 in Region 2-3A semifinal (5/11); d. Trinity Prep (Winter Park) 9-0 in Region 2-3A quarterfinal (5/6).
20. Lake Minneola (Minneola) (5A) (17-7) – ranked #24 statewide in 5A; LOST to Land O’Lakes 10-0 in Region 2-5A quarterfinal (5/6).
Also receiving votes:
Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (7A) (17-5) – ranked #29 statewide in 7A; DID NOT QUALIFY FOR STATE PLAYOFFS; LOST to #9 Mandarin (Jacksonville) 5-4 in District 1-7A semifinal.
Hamilton County (Jasper) (1A) (18-9) – CLASS 1A STATE SEMIFINALIST; ranked #5 statewide in 1A; LOST to eventual 1A state champion #12 Newberry 3-2 in 1A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/19); d. #18 Union County (Lake Butler) 6-3 in Region 3-1A final (5/11); d. Blountstown 9-0 in Region 3-1A semifinal (5/7).
Citrus (Inverness) (4A) (16-10) – ranked #27 statewide in 4A; LOST to Eustis 4-3 in Region 2-4A quarterfinal (5/6).
Mount Dora Christian Academy (2A) (22-7) – CLASS 2A STATE SEMIFINALIST; ranked #8 statewide in 2A; LOST to eventual 2A state runner-up #4 St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) 3-2 in 2A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (5/19); d. Seffner Christian 5-4 in Region 2-2A final (5/15); won at Orangewood Christian (Maitland) 10-0 in Region 2-2A semifinal (5/12); d. Geneva 15-0 in Region 2-2A quarterfinal (5/7).
Keystone Heights (3A) (15-13) – ranked #32 statewide in 3A; LOST to #8 Episcopal (Jacksonville) 5-1 in Region 1-3A quarterfinal (5/6).
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (15-11) – ranked #14 statewide in 3A; DID NOT QUALIFY FOR STATE PLAYOFFS; LOST to Baldwin 3-1 in District 3-3A semifinal.
Vanguard (Ocala) (5A) (16-11) – ranked #31 statewide in 5A; LOST to Land O’Lakes 3-0 in Region 2-5A semifinal (5/11); won at River Ridge (New Port Richey) 5-2 in Region 2-5A quarterfinal (5/6).
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (15-14) – ranked #11 statewide in 4A; LOST 2-0 at eventual 4A state runner-up #14 North Marion (Citra) in Region 1-4A semifinal (5/11); d. Atlantic (Port Orange) 4-3 in Region 1-4A quarterfinal (5/6).
First Coast (Jacksonville) (6A) (21-5) – ranked #25 statewide in 6A; DID NOT QUALIFY FOR STATE PLAYOFFS; LOST 5-1 to #11 Creekside (St. Johns) in District 3-6A semifinal.