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. The Bucs retain No. 1, but we’ve got some other shakeups middle-down. Who ended up where after week three? Find out … now!

1. Berkeley Prep (9-0)

Bishop McLaughlin gave the Buccaneers a test last Thursday, but Berkeley Prep senior Anthony Castillo’s third hit of the night – a two-run single walked-off a win at home 3-2. BPS added big wins over Lakeland Santa Fe and Lakewood on the week. Senior and FSU signee Gunnett Carlson had a big week with two doubles, a triple and seven RBI, joining Cade Kurland and Owen McElfatrick in a three-way team lead with 13 RBI. A back-loaded schedule for the Buccaneers this week hosting Green Gove Springs Clay on Thursday, and away games against CCC and St. Johns Bartram Trail (Saturday).

2. Jesuit (7-3)

The Tigers took two off of Venice last week, including a 2-0 win on Thursday behind a complete-game, shutout effort from Jamie Arnold, who struck out eight, allowed three hits and walked a pair. Jesuit turned away Tampa Catholic in Saturday’s Saladino game, 8-2, as junior Brooks Chamberlin picked up his third save of the season and now has 17 K’s in 10-plus innings of relief. Jesuit hosts Hillsborough tonight at 7pm for Saladino Gold Division play.

3. Sickles (7-0)

Sickles stopped a four-game streak of double-digit run totals with a mere 7-1 takedown of Gaither on Saturday – the Gryphons bats are flat-out ablaze right now. A double-digit defeat of the Cowboys began the week and another against Plant prior to Saturday’s Saladino Gold win as the Gryphons had 31 hits in the three wins. Nice week for sophomore Thomas Bly, who was 5-for six with a homer, three runs and three RBI AND picked up the win on the mound against Plant. Kyle Timko spun 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the second win over Gaither earning Sickles a tourney winner’s bracket game against Steinbrenner this afternoon at Jefferson, 4pm.

4. Wharton (6-1)

Wharton took care of business against Chamberlain and Leto last week – both double-digit victories – and then ended things on a play at the plate taking down Jefferson 2-1 in Saladino play on Saturday. Senior Quentin Meadows’ four doubles and .579 average pace the offense, while senior pitching tandem Evan Chrest (2-0) and Ryan Fry (2-1) both have 20-plus punchouts on the season. Wharton takes on Plant from Jesuit this afternoon at 4pm.

5. Lennard (6-0)

Lennard got its first scare of the season stopping a comeback attempt from Brandon in Saturday’s Saladino Silver Division opener, narrowly nipping the Eagles 8-7. The Longhorns also won a budding-rivalry game against former Lennard head coach Kennedy Duran’s Sumner squad, 3-0 last week where Jack Mueller struck out eight in five shutout innings to earn the win. The Longhorns are climbing this list but today’s Silver bracket pool-play game against Armwood (today at home, 7pm) could be a HUGE test to the Longhorns “for-realness;” followed up with East Bay (Tuesday, home – 7pm) and Lennard NEEDs to keep winning as competitive business certainly picks up in the second half of the regular-season schedule.

6. Strawberry Crest (6-2)

The Chargers got to quickly shake off its 6-4 loss to Hillsborough last Tuesday as Alonso pushed Crest to the limit with an extra-inning dogfight SCHS won 14-13. Saturday night’s 3-1 tilt against Plant City saw junior Luke Richardson control the Raiders with eight strikeouts and just one run allowed. Senior Ethan Pues was 6-for-10 with two homers, two doubles, seven RBI and scored three times last week, while Eli Vickers’ third triple of the season cleared the bases to give the Chargers the edge against the Raiders.

7. Plant City (5-1)

Plant City left 14 on base against Strawberry Crest on Saturday taking its first loss of the season. A disappointing result in the tournament setting, but the Raiders have very little to hang their heads about as Plant City has held opponents to just eight runs in the first six games. The Raiders fall two spots on this list this week, but can get right back in gear when the face former district opponent Leto at Durant this afternoon. Senior Colin Shultz leads the offense with eight RBI and two homers, while Chase Mobley has been a key contributor at the plate (.389 avg) and on the mound (3-0, 32K’s in 15ip).

8. Durant (5-2)

Durant took a pair of lumps in close losses to Bloomingdale and Jefferson to start the week, but finished things off with a 10-0 thumping of Leto in its Saladino Gold opener. Dylan LaPointe had a pair of triples and drove in three in the 2021 All-813Preps first-teamer’s first multi-hit game of the season, while Gehrig Graham pitched four shutout innings for the Cougars. Durant will host Strawberry Crest in the second round of the Saladino today at 7pm. Last season’s extra-inning thriller win for the Cougars in the Saladino semifinal was Durant’s ninth-straight victory against Crest dating back to 2015.

1-On-the-Bubble

Hillsborough (6-1)

Wins last week against Strawberry Crest and Newsome (in extra-innings of Saturday’s Saladino Gold division play) give the Terriers the edge here for our “bubble” spot with Freedom and Armwood right on their heels for this placement. Remaining here would mean continuing to chalk wins up – no easy challenge with tonight’s Saladino Rd 2 game at (and against) Jesuit. Sal Urso, Jr. has four doubles and seven RBI for the Terriers, while Cam Mallo (seven runs) and Adrian Arroyo (six runs) are providing top-of-the-order sparks on offense.

3-(Grab-)Bagger

Though the Gold Division of the Saladino certainly features the more historically-marquee programs of Hillsborough County’s recent history, today’s Silver bracket has ALL the intrigue any tournament could ask for. Day 2’s winner’s bracket showdowns between Lennard and Armwood, as well as Robinson v Freedom will likely decide who the two squads earning that extra fourth game – and silver championship final spot on Wednesday. We gave you a bit on the Longhorns above, now we dedicate our “3-Bagger” to the remaining 1-0 teams.

1. Armwood (5-1) has won three-straight defeating Spoto, Brandon and East Bay leading up to tonight’s game at Lennard (7pm). The Hawks won out in a 16-14 slugfest with the Indians on Saturday to advance to tonight’s game. A could mix of juniors at the plate and senior leadership on the mound has meshed nicely for the Seffner squad, with senior Jacob Johns driving in nine at the plate and going 2-0 on the mound for the Hawks.

2. Good things, Freedom (6-1). Good. Things. Similar to our write-up on Lennard, the upcoming middle of the Patriots schedule is a bit more competitive, so we’re very interested to see how it plays out. That starts … well in about an hour as the Patriots take on Robinson at 1pm from Strawberry Crest. Junior catcher Gio Mendoza’s 10 hits and six RBI, coupled with 10 runs from Raul Olivera and eight runs from Lucas Richardson have supported a very solid pitching staff. The opening night win against Alonso was very, very good – but the Pats have to be eyeing a return the Saladino Silver final – and a win this go-round would be a great way to launch into our Top 8.

3. Robinson, though, will have something to say about that above final last sentence. How about the 5-2 Knights? We really liked what we saw in small glimpses last season from Robinson’s Lamont Akins III, but we are LOVING what the now-senior is putting together SOG. Currently hitting .524 with a homer, four doubles and eight RBI, while also making two appearances on the mound and posting a 1-0 record. Robinson head coach Alex Barron said he is thrilled to see his senior putting what have been good pieces throughout his career, all together for his final season with the Knights.

“It’s been awesome to see Lamont’s personality and leadership qualities match his athletic talents as the results on the field have blended together nicely,” Barron said. “He was always a bunch of different pieces of what could be, and now to see him blend it all together has been remarkable.”