Editor’s Note: Each week of the regular season we will bring you our traditional rankings with THE Top 8, followed by 1-On-the-Bubble team, and finally our 3-(Grab)-Bagger – a collection of three stories from the previous week we felt deserved some attention. Who is our New No. 1? Find out … now!

1. Berkeley Prep (6-0)

Being No. 1 seems like a curse so far, sooooo, I guess sorry Bucs ?. Berkeley Prep has been outstanding to start the season, and last week JT Quinn and three relievers held Lakewood Ranch scoreless and Cade Kurland homered as the Bucs kicked off a three-win week with a 2-0 victory against the Mustangs. Owen McElfatrick has already hit the double-digit RBI mark on the year and also has a win and 10 K’s on the mound this season. Away games against Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic and St. Pete Lakewood sandwich a home hosting of Bishop McLaughlin for Berkeley Prep this week.

2. Jesuit (4-3)

We can hear you all: “Wait, so Jesuit went 1-3 last week and they didn’t drop lower than No. 2???” Umm, yeah. None of y’all beat them. Jesuit traveled to LaGrange, Ga for four games in two days, including dropping a game to Top 5 national team Buford, Ga. in extra innings. Tigers hitters Jack Martinez (.429 avg, seven runs, seven RBI) and Wes Mendes (.545, seven RBI and five runs) are setting a torrid pace at the plate. And good news (I guess) to everyone on this list – you’ll each get a crack to knock the Tigers down this list in the next 15 days.

3. Durant (4-0)

The Cougars weathered a pair of tests earning wins against Brandon and Freedom last week. Gavin Florio had two hits, two RBI and earned the win against the Eagles, while Aiden Welsh had two hits and an RBI in each of the two wins. Durant goes on the road against Bloomingdale and Jefferson this week, before hosting Saladino play against Leto on Saturday.

4. Sickles (4-0)

The offense is clicking for the Gryphons, as Sickles posted double-digit run totals in wins against Steinbrenner and East Bay last week. Caden McDonald and Carter Christy lead the way against the Warriors last Monday (click here to read about it), and Thomas Bly homered and earned the win on the mound against EBHS. The Gryphons play Gaither twice this week – including Saturday’s Gold Division opener of the Saladino, and will take on Plant at home on Thursday.

5. Plant City (4-0)

Plant City and Bloomingdale traded runs for errors, with the Raiders edging out its opponents with the miscues coming late for the Bulls. Preston Rogers provided steady relief against the Bulls, facing just one over the minimum as the Raiders rewarded him with a win. PC took care of Tampa Bay Tech behind a near-perfect outing on the mound from Chase Mobley, who struck out 14 before allowing a seventh-inning hit. Saturday’s matchup of the Raiders at Strawberry Crest could be the gem of the opening games of this year’s Saladino Tournament gold division bracket, but first The City has to turn away a scuffling Riverview squad looking to get going on Wednesday.

6. Wharton (3-1)

The Wildcats handled Tampa Bay Tech on Tuesday, but fell to Alonso on Thursday for Wharton’s first loss of the season. Across the two games, senior David Limbach was 5-for-6, with four RBI, four runs, a double and triple. The Wildcats host Chamberlain and Leto this week, and open Saladino play against Jefferson on Saturday.

7. Strawberry Crest (4-1)

The Chargers managed to pile on late to take an extra-inning win from Armwood last week, scoring six runs in the top of the 8th. And defeated Chamberlain via mercy-rule on Thursday. Ray Allen Vasquez is hitting .429 to start the year, with four runs & RBI each, while stealing six bags on the year. Business picks up considerably this week as the Chargers face Hillsborough and Alonso, before hosting with Plant City on Saturday at 7pm to start Saladino play.

8. Bloomingdale (3-2)

The Bulls hang on in the Top 8 by a thread after errors cost them against Plant City to start the week, but did finish it off with a decisive win against Brandon, where Bobby Rossi doubled and drove in a pair for his team. Tephen Montgomery has been a solid addition on the mound, posting a 2-0 record so far, with 18 K’s and no earned runs in nine innings of work. Bloomy hosts rival Durant (4-0) on Tuesday in a battle of Top 8 teams, travels to Gaither on Thursday, and hosts Steinbrenner on Saturday in Saladino play.

1-On-the-Bubble

Lennard (4-0)

Okay Longhorns, okay. Lennard has taken care of business in the first two weeks against teams currently looking at losing records. An upstart Sumner (3-1) squad will be the next test for the Longhorns facing former skipper Kennedy Duran on Tuesday, and LHS will host Middleton on Thursday, before a game against Brandon in the Saladino silver division on Saturday. Lennard pitching has allowed just one earned run on the season and has 37 combined strikeouts in 22 innings – led by 19 from sophomore Zack Bird.

3-(Grab-)Bagger

1. Alonso’s 5-4 victory against Wharton last year snapped an eight-game losing skid to the Wildcats dating back to 2017, AND including an 0-4 stretch just last year. The Ravens off to a 2-2 start, open district play on Tuesday at Palm Harbor, try to topple another Top 8 team in Strawberry Crest on Thursday, and then may have the dark-horse game of the day on tap for Saturday as Alonso faces Plant to open its Saladino Tournament. Read all about how Angel Camargo keyed the Ravens win against Wharton by clicking here.

2. Freedom senior Raul Olivera set a new personal best with five stolen bases in the Patriots win against King on Tuesday. The Pats leadoff hitter is hitting .500, with six runs scored and now has a county-leading 10 swiped bags for the 3-1 Freedom squad.

3. We see you Justin Corns! The Armwood senior has made a pair of starts on the mound this season, striking out eight in both starts – including a 6 2/3 inning, no-decision against Strawberry Crest last week allowing just one earned on three hits. At the plate he is 3-for-10 with three RBI, but has drawn five walks for the Hawks (3-1). The Hawks pitching staff (also getting solid work from Jacob Johns – 2-0, with 17 K in 11 innings) struggled issuing walks last season with a 108/95 K/BB ratio in 2021. We look forward to seeing how this week plays out with games against Brandon and East Bay on the docket.