1. Steinbrenner (3-0)
1 Week Ago
1 Month Ago
2 Weeks Ago
This week: Tuesday vs. Wharton, Thursday at Freedom
Scoop: The Warriors got off to a nice start last week with three wins, including a 6-5 win over Robinson in the opener. As expected, ace C.J. Van Eyk started well with eight strikeouts and one hit in six innings against Sickles. Transfers Tyler and Jordan Lala are both hitting over .400 after three games.
2. Jesuit (1-1)
This week: Tuesday at Blake, Thursday at Spoto, Friday vs. Gainesville
Scoop: Not going to punish the Tigers for playing at state power Venice and losing 2-1. Gainesville is another tough non-district opponent this week. Only two games in, but Garrett Sheppard is off to a nice start with three hits, two doubles and five RBIs.
3. Berkeley Prep (2-0)
This week: Tuesday at Brooks DeBartolo, Friday vs. Tampa Prep, Saturday vs. Gainesville
Scoop: The Bucs needed an extra inning to defeat Lakeland McKeel 11-6 last week. Like Jesuit, they will get Gainesville this week, which should test the pitching staff. Julian Bosnic had an impressive outing against Carrollwood Day. He had 10 strikeouts in 5 ? innings.
4. East Lake (1-1)
This week: Wednesday vs. Seminole, Friday vs. Palm Harbor University
Scoop: The Eagles started the season with a blowout win over Auburndale, but that was followed with a 9-8 loss at Lakeland. No big deal. Conor Churchill threw four innings against Auburndale and struck out 10 of 12 batters. The Eagles just need to find depth behind Churchill, and there are plenty of arms to choose from.
5. Northside Christian (2-0)
This week: Monday at Canterbury, Thursday vs. St. Petersburg Catholic, Saturday at Sarasota Out-of-Door Academy
Scoop: Things started as planned for the Mustangs with two district wins last week. St. Petersburg Catholic and Out-of-Door are also district games so they could get an early jump in the district standings. Junior Corey Yawn didn’t pitch last week, but he is hitting .429.
6. Calvary Christian (3-0)
This week: Tuesday at Tampa Catholic, Friday at Clearwater Central Catholic
Scoop: Pitching wins games, and it appears the Warriors have plenty of pitching. They did not give up a run in three games last week. Sophomore Nolan Hudi, an East Lake transfer, struck out 12 in five innings against Palm Harbor University. Sophomore Braden Halladay and senior Jonathan Fisher also have shutout wins.
7. Hillsborough (2-0)
This week: Tuesday vs. Leto, Thursday vs. King
Scoop: The Terriers picked up a nice 1-0 win in nine innings over Alonso to start the season. That was followed with a 2-0 win over Gaither. Clearly, pitching has been good so far. Seniors Patrick Puentes and Jarrod Cande have both pitched seven innings and not given up a run.
8. Alonso (0-2)
This week: Tuesday at Sickles, Thursday at Chamberlain
Scoop: No time to panic for the Ravens. They have played two games, and both were extra-inning losses to very good teams in Hillsborough and Newsome. They got off to a slow start last season. They lost three straight before winning a total of 24 games. But if that’s going to happen this season, the Ravens need to pick up some wins this week.
9. Mitchell (2-0)
This week: Tuesday at Dixie Hollins, Friday at Osceola
Scoop: A nice start for new coach Joe Koehler. Dixie Hollins and Osceola are district opponents, so it will be a good gauge as to where they stand. It’s only two games, but Mitchell is hitting .360 as a team and the pitching staff of Jakob Mattos, Evan Waterbor, Kyle White and Tyler Edling have not given up an earned run.
10. King (2-0)
This week: Tuesday at Chamberlain, Thursday vs. Hillsborough, Saturday vs. Robinson
Scoop: Opening week included a 5-0 win over Plant. Luke Drummond and Jeremy Goins combined for the shutout. Brian Lee and Michael Stone round out a good pitching staff. Should King win against Chamberlain, coach Jim Macaluso could pick up career win 600 on Thursday.
11. Countryside (3-0)
This week: Tuesday at Pinellas Park, Friday vs. St. Petersburg
Scoop: New coach Shawn Brown inherited a veteran team, and the Cougars are off and running. They got a nice win over Clearwater Central Catholic to end the week. This week features two district games.
12. Land O’Lakes (1-0)
This week: Wednesday vs. Hudson, Thursday vs. Fivay
Scoop: Last Thursday’s game against Weeki Wachee got rained out, so the Gators got in only one game last week. They have an experienced team that should be able to handle this week. Last season, the Gators won 13 straight to start the season.
13. Seminole (3-0)
This week: Tuesday at Tarpon Springs, Wednesday at East Lake, Friday vs. Pinellas Park
Scoop: The Warhawks got two lopsided wins in the Georgiadis tournament and came back to defeat Inspiration Academy for the title. This week will not be easy, especially at East Lake. But if the pitching holds up the Warhawks could be off to a good start.
14. Newsome (2-0)
This week: Tuesday at Plant, Thursday at East Bay, Saturday at Strawberry Crest
Scoop: A nice start for the Wolves, which included a 2-1, eight inning win over Alonso. They only got three hits in that game but it turned out to be enough. Pitcher Beau Nichols only allowed three hits in six innings, and reliever Trey Cruz got the save.
15. Durant (1-0)
This week: Tuesday vs. Riverview, Friday at Bloomingdale, Saturday at Lennard
Scoop: The Cougars played one game last week, but it was a beauty, a 4-3, nine inning win over Plant City. This week features three more potentially tough games. Jonah Scolaro was predictably solid in his first start, five innings, three hits, nine strikeouts.
16. Brandon (2-0)
This week: Tuesday at Tampa Bay Tech, Thursday vs. Armwood
Scoop: It’s early, but Kamren Gittens is off to a nice start at the plate. He’s hitting .429 with three RBIs. Cody Wagner has pitched six innings and allowed only one hit in his first start. The Eagles have five pitchers who have thrown at least an inning, so there is depth on the mound.
17. Springstead (2-0)
This week: Tuesday at Lecanto, Thursday vs. Central, Friday vs. Crystal River
Scoop: The season started with an impressive win over Bishop McLaughlin. Clearly, the Eagles will be tough in the North Suncoast. Pitcher Joey DelGatto has thrown 4 ? innings and not allowed a hit. Three games this week will test the depth.
18. Nature Coast (1-1)
This week: Tuesday at Ridgewood, Friday at Hudson
Scoop: The Sharks didn’t hit very well last week (.184 as a team) so that needs to improve. Junior pitcher Jonathan Gates was dominant in his first start: four innings, no hits, 10 strikeouts. Fellow junior Kyle Mandes also pitched well, 4 ? innings, four hits, seven strikeouts.
19. Bishop McLaughlin (1-1)
This week: Tuesday at Winter Haven All Saints’, Friday vs. Bell Creek Academy
Scoop: The Hurricanes bounced back from a season-opening loss to Springstead with a 4-0 win over Cambridge Christian. They will be tested at All Saints’.
20. Plant (2-1)
This week: Tuesday vs. Newsome, Thursday at Sickles, Saturday vs. Freedom
Scoop: The Panthers started by winning their first two games, both 6-0 shutouts of Sarasota and Plant City. The lone loss is a 5-0 shutout against King. Junior Connor Scott is off to a hot start. He’s hitting .545 with eight RBIs in three games. Senior A.J. Hubbard is also hitting .545. Senior Ethan Richards has thrown five shutout innings and has nine strikeouts.
21. Osceola (2-1)
This week: Tuesday at Sunlake, Wednesday at Boca Ciega, Friday vs. Mitchell
Scoop: The Warriors ran into a tough pitcher against Inspiration Academy in the first game of the Georgiadis tournament. But that was followed by wins over Lakewood and Clearwater. Jeremy Adams is leading the way after going 7-for-12 in the tournament.
22. Riverview (1-1)
This week: Tuesday at Durant, Friday vs. Plant City
Scoop: The lone loss was to Brandon, and that was 6-5 in 10 innings. The Sharks have a tough stretch, including the two games this week and Bloomingdale and King the week after.
23. Hernando (2-0)
This week: Tuesday at Fivay, Friday at Ridgewood, Saturday at Palatka
Scoop: The Leopards are a pleasant surprise so far, with wins over Weeki Wachee and Nature Coast. Starters Carson Lashley and Jackson Short have looked good so far. The team batting average of .204 needs to get better.
24. Dunedin (2-1)
This week: Tuesday vs. St. Petersburg, Wednesday at Palm Harbor University, Friday vs. Boca Ciega, Saturday at IMG Academy
Scoop: Four games in a week will challenge the Falcons’ pitching staff. They are coming off a 2-1 record at the Georgiadis tournament, which included an extra innings win over Boca Ciega to clinch third place. Falcons also needed 11 innings to beat Indian Rocks Christian in the opener of the tournament. Eight pitchers have thrown at least an inning so far. Josh Collett leads the way with seven innings and no earned runs allowed.
25. Gaither (1-1)
This week: Tuesday vs. Freedom, Thursday at Leto
Scoop: The Cowboys first loss was 2-0 to Hillsborough. A.J. Drisdom is off to a good start at the plate (6-for-10, four RBI). Julian Lopez has thrown 7 ? innings and allowed only one hit.
On the bubble: Bloomingdale, St. Petersburg, Plant City, Clearwater Central Catholic, Sunlake, Boca Ciega, St. Petersburg Catholic, Northeast, Indian Rocks Christian
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