1. Berkeley Prep (12-0)
The Buccaneers remained undefeated with three late-week wins over Green Cove Springs Clay (a game we covered here), Clearwater Central Catholic and St. Johns Bartram trail – the last one coming on a walk-off home run off the bat of senior Cade Kurland – his sixth homer of the season and second of the week. The Buccaneers have eight players in double-digit runs scored this season, while freshman Rivers Kurland has made eight appearances on the mound earning two wins and a save. Berkeley gets Jesuit at home on Wednesday in the Bucs lone game this week.
2. Sickles (9-1)
The Gryphons youth finally couldn’t keep pace with its incredible offense as a trio of errors and Plant’s ability to capitalize on those errors handed Sickles its first loss of the year in Wednesday’s Saladino final – the offense however, did not as the Gryphons lead by Saladino MVP Caden McDonald pounded out 24 runs in the four-game stretch including a six run, three-homer night in the tourney final. The Gryphons topped Gaither, Steinbrenner and Jesuit to reach the championship game last week. McDonald’s .719 average sets the pace, but sophomore Thomas Bly is hitting .520 with 14 RBI, junior Hayden Yost has scored 18 times and Connor Vance has score 12.
3. Plant (8-3)
The Panthers leap into the rankings for the first time this season after a thrilling Saladino Tournament Gold Division win as the Panthers rallied twice and held on for a one-run lead to knock of Sickles from the ranks of the undefeated (click here to read our final’s coverage). Conley Strayer hit .411 in the tournament, with three doubles, four RBI and scored six times, while Thomas Bolton was 8-for-13 with a double, scored five times and drove in a pair, while also earning a win on the mound against Strawberry Crest. Plant travels this week for three games – at Jefferson (Tues), Robinson (Fri) and Alonso (Sat).
4. Lennard (9-0)
The Longhorns remain the county’s lone unbeaten public school, winning the Saladino Silver Division tournament in a thriller (click here for our coverage) against Robinson last Thursday. Lennard sophomore Matthew Counts has driven in twelve, while seniors John Smith, Sebastian Munoz and junior Alex Brazer have paced the offense with double-digit runs this year. Lennard got a test from Brandon in its Saladino opener two Saturday’s ago, and face the Eagles again on Tuesday, before a Thursday road showdown with Durant.
5. Jesuit (9-4)
Jesuit battled all the way taking the Saladino Gold third-place game on a Jake Kulikowski walk-off dinger to defeat Strawberry Crest last Wednesday. The Tigers dropped a 1-0 battle to Sickles in the semifinals, with Jamie Arnold taking the mound with 20 minutes to warm up after a pregame injury, allowing a single run on three hits in an incredibly impressive performance. The Tigers get a test at Berkeley Prep on Wednesday, and hosts Tampa Catholic on Friday.
6. Wharton (8-2)
The Wildcats shrugged off a 11-2 drubbing from Plant on Monday, and picked up wins against Durant and Hillsborough in Saladino play finishing the tourney 3-1. Senior Evan Chrest struck out 10 in a no-decision against Durant, and Billy Eich hit his first home run of the season to support Carson Mohler’s win on the mound against the Terriers. Wharton faces three winning teams this week at Armwood (Tues), at home against Hillsborough (Thurs), and at Durant (Saturday).
7. Strawberry Crest (7-4)
The Chargers came out flat against Plant and couldn’t get much going after a first-inning run in the Saladino semis, then fell via walk-off against Jesuit in the third-place game. The Chargers have dropped a pair to Jesuit on the season, but got two excellent starting pitching performances in its two wins first from Luke Richardson over Plant City, and the next from Zach Redner against Durant. The Chargers stay ahead of PC with its win in the Saladino against the Raiders, but have an interesting test with Freedom on the road on Tuesday, and will host Middleton of Thursday.
8. Plant City (7-2)
The Raiders dropped two in Saladino play against Strawberry Crest and Leto, but also earned wins over Alonso and Bloomingdale in a bit of a mixed bag. Adan Longoria dropped the game on the mound to the Chargers, but finished off the tourney with a complete-game against the Bulls, striking out six in both games and now has 35 K’s in 22 innings. In the two wins, Colin Shultz went 4-for-8, with two homers, a double, six RBI and four runs scored. The Raiders host Spoto on Tuesday, travel on the road Thursday to Sumner, and for a Friday game at Newsome.
1-On-the-Bubble
Robinson (7-3)
The Knights stretched a win streak to six games, earning a spot in the Saladino Silver Division final and dropped a tough one to Lennard – tying the game at 8-apiece in the top of the sixth. Five senior hitters have posted averages .350 or better through the Knights first 10 games. Robinson travels to Gaither on Tuesday, before a South Tampa Showdown at home against Plant on Friday.
