Heights Meat Market presents:
1. Jesuit (4-1)
Jesuit C Brady Marshall
The Tigers kicked the ball around a few too many times, dropping a 10-8 game to fellow MaxPreps preseason Top 25 program IMG Academy, but Jesuit got things done against Lakeland Christian and Plant – and hold on to the No. 1 spot in our poll for the second-straight week. Against the Vikings, Samir Mohammed struck out eight and earned his second win on the mound, and Bryce Besece hit his first home run of the season. Against the Panthers Mohammed’s two-run home run helped seal Kaden Waechter’s win on the mound, after the senior five innings, allowed an unearned run and struck out five. Junior Brady Marshall had a week at the plate going 8-for-10, with a double, run and RBI; Jesuit has a three-game week, traveling to Northside Christian (Tues), then hosts Gainesville Buchholz (Fri) and Lake Wales (Sat).
2. Wharton (2-0)
Wharton senior RHP Connor Evans
Wildcats senior Connor Evans struck out seven across three hitless innings, while Jairius Morris and Chase Anello drove in three apiece for the Wildcats first win of the season, 11-1 over Chamberlain. Then Anello drove in three in support of pitchers Cooper Antelek and Daniel Duno as Wharton defeated Newsome, 7-3. This week Wharton travels to face King (Tues), hosts Leto (Thurs) and visits Riverview (Sat).
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3. Jefferson (4-0)
Jefferson senior AJ Cruz
Senior Sam Hyman held Alonso to one run over five innings, and Ethan Savinon pitched two, no-hit inning and drove in three in a 7-1 Dragons’ victory; the Savinon kept the offense going with a 3-for-4, two-run, three-RBI, two-double game against Chamberlain, while Manny Baez went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI, and AJ Cruz was 2-for-3 with a home run. This week Jefferson hosts Steinbrenner (Tues), then plays on the road at Northside Christian (Fri) and at Durant (Sat).
4. Tampa Catholic (5-0)
The Crusaders came out with a pair of wins over district opponents in Week 2, defeating Bishop McLaughlin, 12-8; and Berkeley Prep, 11-7. The offense was on fire for TC last week as junior Blake Brown went 4-for-5, with a home run, a double, two stolen bases and seven RBI; sophomore DJ Ford was 5-for-8, with two doubles, five runs, four RBI and four stolen bases; and sophomore Torey Thomas went 4-for-7, with two doubles, four runs, three RBI and two stolen bases. The Crusaders have three home games Thursday-Saturday, hosting Indian Rocks Christian, Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, and Brooks DeBartolo.
5. Strawberry Crest (6-0)
Freshman Ivan Sada made two scoreless appearances on the mound for the Chargers last week, allowing just one hit over 5 1/3 innings and picked up the win against last week’s No. 2-ranked Bloomingdale. Reuben Vasquez hit his first homer of the season and drove in three in a lopsided win against Brandon to start the week; senior Toby Highsmith went 5-for-8 on the week with a double and a triple; and senior Nico Cappucci drove in five runs on the week, including a 2-for-4, two run, two RBI showing in a win against Plant City. Crest goes on the road for two games this week, first at Armwood (Tues) and then at Alonso (Thurs).
6. Bloomingdale (4-1)
The Bulls took care of Spoto 12-0, early in the week as Luke Long struck out 10 in his four innings; then got a home run from Saul Aponte to spark a comeback, 5-3 win against Steinbrenner; but saw the bats go quiet against Strawberry Crest causing them to slip from the No. 2 spot in this week’s rankings. Bloomingdale welcomes Riverview (Tues) and visits Chamberlain (Thurs).
7. Gaither (4-0)
Seniors Matt Altman (Win; 5.1ip, 5 H, 2K) and Adam Smolka (Save; 1.2ip, 0 H, 1 K) combined for a shutout in last week’s 2-0 win over Plant; where Ivan Vasquez was 2-for-3 with a home run. And Gaither remained undefeated with a 14-4 win against Armwood where Vasquez added another two hits, including a triple and three RBI. Noah Lockler earned the win for the Cowboys over Armwood, with two no-hit innings and four strikeouts. Gaither has three games ahead this week, hosting Robinson (Tues), visiting Steinbrenner (Thurs) and welcoming Plant City (Sat).
8. Durant (3-1)
The Cougars picked up a pair of wins on the road last week, first 5-2 over Lennard, behind a complete-game from Zach Nero (2 unearned, 7 H, 6 K’s) and a 2-for-3, three RBI game from Caleb Lambert. Lambert would continue his hot week, as he and senior Jackson McClellan homered in an 8-3 win over Sickles. Tristan Macpherson earned the win in short-time against Sickles and has 16 strikeouts in eight innings on the mound this season. Durant hosts East Bay on Tuesday, and welcome Jefferson on Saturday.
9. Freedom (4-1)
A three-win week jumps the Patriots into our rankings for the first time in a few seasons. Freedom won decisively against Hillsborough and Riverview, then took a thrilling extra-inning win in a slugfest against Sumner. David Simpkins tossed a five-inning, two-hit shutout at Hillsborough, and was 6-for-13 on the week, with six RBI, a home run, and an extra-inning walk-off single to beat Sumner. Gaige Spano worked six innings against Riverview, struck out five and allowed one unearned run. Freedom host Brandon (Tues), visits Hillsborough (Thurs) and finishes off a three-game week hosting Leto on Saturday.
10. East Bay (4-1)
The Indians jump into the rankings this week with a 5-1 win over Newsome, led by strong pitching from JJ Groover (4ip, 1 R, 1 H, 5 K) and Knox Meier (3ip, 1 BB, 6 K); an extra-inning walk-off thriller win against Alonso won on a Jeffrey Diab RBI single; and a rally win against Braden River highlighted by a two-RBI, double game from Jackson Rana. East Bay travels to Durant on Tuesday and will host Steinbrenner on Saturday.
On the Bubble…
11. Berkeley Prep (3-3)
12. Sickles (2-2)
13. Plant (3-3)
14. Cambridge Christian (3-3)
15. Foundation Christian (4-0)
