1. Plant (11-2)
Plant sophomore RHP Rhett Dixson
Last Week: Win, 8-0 v Armwood; Win, 4-0 Strawberry Crest; Win, 5-0 King
Plant makes the big leap from the No. 5 spot a week ago after pitching three shutouts last week, stretching a shutout streak to five games. The Panthers pitching staff has a combined 0.83 ERA, which includes two outings from Rhett Dixson last week (3.1ip, 4 Ks). Sophomore Jordan Olivia is on a seven-game hitting streak and leads the team with 21 RBI, followed closely by Danny Cerelli who is at 19 after driving in a pair in the Saladino opening win against King. Tonight’s Saladino pool game at Durant should be a hotly contested battle between two stingy pitching staffs, as both are riding five-game win streaks.
This Week: Saladino – at Durant (Mon, 7p); vs Newsome (at Durant, Tues, 4p); TBD (Wed)
2. Jesuit (11-3)
Jesuit senior C Vincent DeCarlo
Last Week: Win, 7-2 v Charlottesville, Va. Miller School of Albemarle; Loss, 6-0 v Gaither; Win, 8-0 v Fort Pierce John Carroll
As a whole the Tigers offense has been a bit inconsistent of late, including a two-hit shutout loss to Gaither last week. However, that hasn’t been across the board as senior Brody Smith was 6-for-11, with two doubles, accounting for five RBI in Jesuit’s win against the Virginia’s MSA, and scoring two and driving in two in the win against John Carroll to close out the week; and senior Vincent DeCarlo was 5-for-7, with three doubles and three runs scored last week. The Tigers next five games are against opponents ranked in the Top 40 in the state by MaxPreps, including Tuesday’s showdown against No. 2 Nationally Ranked IMG Academy.
This Week: at IMG (Tues); vs Green Cove Springs Clay (Thurs); vs Jacksonville Trinity Christian (Fri)
3. Wharton
Wharton senior C Chase Anello
Last Week: Win, 4-3 at Armwood; Win, 7-1 v Plant City; Win, 14-4 v Chamberlain
A three-win week moves the Wildcats up four spots this week and into the Top 3. The Wildcats pitchers didn’t allow an earned run in its three wins, Chase Anello hit four doubles on the week, Drew Cobb hit his first homer of the season, and Justis Meadows accounted for six runs (4 RBI) in the Saladino Silver win against Chamberlain. Connor Evans and Chase Andress both had eight Ks in starts on the mound. Wharton has two stern challenges in its hope for a Silver Division title, with Leto and a second show down in seven days with Plant City standing in the way of a spot in Wednesday’s championship game.
This Week: Saladino – vs Leto (at PC, Mon, 4p); at Plant City (Tues, 7p); TBD (Wed)
4. Bloomingdale (10-2)
Bloomingdale junior MIF Izzy Perez
Last Week: Loss, 3-1 at Plant City; Win, 3-1 v Robinson; Win, 12-1 v Gaither
The Bulls dropped a decision at Plant City to start the week, but bounced back with a competitive win against Robinson and a romp over Gaither in the Saladino opener. In that win over the Cowboys, junior Vaughn Osting was 3-for-3 with an RBI and struck out eight in a five-inning complete-game, and Luke Long doubled and drove in four. Against Robinson, junior Javier Navas-Hoyer had 10 strikeouts in a complete-game, and Izzy Perez homered. Bloomingdale will get a chance to avenge its season-opening 9-0 loss to Jefferson in tonight’s Saladino game in West Tampa – in a meeting of 1-0 pool teams.
This Week: Saladino – at Jefferson (Mon, 7p); vs East Bay (at Jefferson, Tues, 4p); TBD (Wed)
5. Berkeley Prep (11-3)
Berkeley Prep junior CF Josh Herrmann
Last Week: Win, 12-0 at Brooks DeBartolo; Win, 2-1 v Wesley Chapel; Win, 9-3 at Ocala Trinity Catholic
The Buccaneers jump into the Top 5 for the first time this season after a three-win week. Opening last week, Nolan Parmer delivered a five-inning no-hitter against Brooks with seven Ks; then senior lefty Rivers Kurland got the better of Wesley Chapel thanks to a two-run double from Josh Herrmann (and earned coach Richie Warren his 400th victory); and the Bucs closed out the week with homers from Parker Mitzel and Carson Binder, a three-hit/three-run game from Lucas Farrar, and five shutout out frames by senior Ben O’Brien. Berkeley heads to Key West for its Spring Break weekend.
This Week: [All games in Key West at Rex Weech Field] vs Fort Pierce John Carroll Catholic (Thurs); vs Miami Dade Christian (Fri); vs Key West (Sat)
6. Sickles (10-3)
Last Week: Win, 12-2 at Jefferson; Win, 8-4 v Steinbrenner; Win, 13-12 at Tampa Catholic
The Gryphons won a 25-run battle to start the Saladino against Tampa Catholic, closing out a week where the offense slugged out 36 hits (8 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 4 HR). Senior Jordan Yost was 5-for-6 with a homer, double, six runs and six RBI; JJ Nazar hit his third home run and added seven of his team-leading 20 RBI; and Braden Ross scored five times.
This Week: Saladino – vs Armwood (at TC, Mon, 4p); vs Carrollwood Day (at TC, Tues, 4p); TBD (Wed)
7. Durant (8-3)
Last Week: Win, 11-0 v Spoto; Win, 1-0 at Alonso; Win, v 11-1 Newsome
The Cougars leap up from the No. 12 spot a week ago, with three wins in Week 5. Durant bookended mercy-rule wins against Spoto and Newsome (Saladino) with a thrilling 1-0 victory at Alonso where Tristan Macpherson struck out 10 across five scoreless innings, and Jack Brooks slammed closed the door with two hitless frames of relief. During its current five-game streak, the Cougars staff has allowed just three runs. Sophomore Brady Kelley was 4-for-7 with a double, triple, four runs and four RBI).
This Week: Saladino – vs Plant (Mon, 7p); vs King (Tues, 7p); TBD (Wed)
8. Strawberry Crest (9-3)
Last Week: Win, 10-3 v King; Loss, 4-0 at Plant; Win, 17-7 v Sumner
The Chargers couldn’t find much luck against Plant’s strong pitching and defense, but in its other two games of the week, Crest’s bats were alive and well. Brisen Tweedy was 6-for-9, and was a homer away from a cycle with three RBI and two runs in a win over King; Matt Hall went 7-for-9, with two runs and two RBI; and Chase Conti was 3-for-3 with a homer and five RBI against Sumner.
This Week: Saladino – v Alonso (at Lennard, Mon, 4p); at Lennard (Tues, 7p); TBD (Wed)
9. Tampa Catholic (11-3)
Last Week: Loss, 3-2 at Tampa Prep; Win, 11-0 v Bishop McLaughlin; Loss, 13-12 v Sickles
The Crusaders tumble down six spots after a two-loss week, but picked up a decisive win against Bishop McLaughlin. Senior Dominic Woodward added three home runs last week (including two in the extra-inning Saladino loss to Sickles) and leads the county with five. Lucas Cinnante went 5-for-7 at the plate, and tossed four shutout innings with six strikeouts in the win against the Hurricanes. TC will host CDS tonight after the two teams had a hotly contested game in the season opener, where the Crusaders came out 3-2 victors.
This Week: Saladino – vs Carrollwood Day (Mon, 7p); vs Armwood (Tues, 7p); TBD (Wed)
10. Newsome (10-3)
Last Week: Win, 5-3 at Sumner; Win, 6-0 v Leto; Loss, 11-1 at Durant
Newsome won with strong pitching against Sumner and Leto – highlighted by Isaiah Sanchez (3.1ip, 7 Ks) & Aiden Dolan (6 Ks) in the win against the Stingrays; and five scoreless with five Ks from JP Glassford against the Falcons. Alec Chin kept up his hot bat going 4-for-9 with two RBI (adding to his team-leading 15). An ugly loss to start the Saladino against Durant, but the Wolves have a game against King today, before a chance to avenge a 9-0 season-opening loss to Plant to close out pool play.
This Week: Saladino – vs King (at Durant, Mon, 4p); v Plant (at Durant, Tues, 4p); TBD (Wed)
