Editor’s Note: Four years of Top 10 and five bubble teams each week was great and all (actually in Week 6 or so, finding bubble team’s No. 11-15 was a bit of a slog), but we felt it was time for a change – time to make these ranking unique – give it a truly “813” feel.

So, we hope you like our new format as we present to you THE 8-1-3 List for the very first time. 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 will make our first regular-season Top 8? Find out … now!

THE Top 8 – Week 1

1. Jesuit (3-0)

Four runs a game seemed to do the trick for the Tigers in a trio of Week 1 wins while hosting the inaugural 813Preps Bay Bash. Jesuit opened the year with a 4-1 win against Bloomingdale, followed by rallying back for a 4-3, walk-off win against Plant, and wrapped the week as Wes Mendes keyed a 4-0 win over Strawberry Crest with a home run and 10 K’s on the mound. The Tigers travel to LaGrange, Ga. this weekend to take on three out-of-state opponents, including Friday afternoon’s showdown with fellow nationally Top 10-ranked team (according to MaxPreps.com No. 3) Buford (Ga.).

2. Berkeley Prep (3-0)

The Buccaneers capped off a three-win week with a drubbing of Lakeland behind a pair of home runs from Cade Kurland and an additional dinger by Drew Canody (click here to read coverage of this one), while Owen McElfatrick homered twice and drove in eight on the week. Lakewood Ranch, Brooks DeBartolo and Clearwater Central Catholic on the slate for the Bucs this week.

3. Wharton (2-0)

The pitching tandem of Ryan Fry and Evan Chrest did exactly what was expected for the Wildcats this season – dominated. Fry got the win in the opener against Gaither with a dozen strikeouts, and Chrest picked up the save by striking out the side in Game1, then tossed a complete game, 10K gem against Steinbrenner. Home against Tampa Bay Tech and a road game at Alonso on deck for Wharton this week.

4. Bloomingdale (2-1)

Bloomingdale slips from its preseason perch atop this list after dropping Game1 to Jesuit 4-1, but picked up two wins on the week against Pinellas County’s Northeast and Seminole. Dawson Harman was 5-for-10 at the plate, with two doubles and three RBI – including leading the way in the Bulls win against the Warriors (click here to read about it). Bloomingdale travels to Plant City on Tuesday, and hosts Brandon on Thursday.

5. Durant (2-0)

Sophomore Devin Suero was 5-for-7 in two wins for the Cougars last week. Suero doubled and drove in a pair in Durant’s win against Hillsborough (click here to read about that one), and scored three times and added another double in the Cougs win against Sumner. Brandon this evening and a trip to Freedom on Thursday scheduled this week for Durant.

6. Sickles (2-0)

The Gryphons used a pair of big innings to end things early on opening night against Riverview, and then escaped with an 8-6 win over Alonso. Caden McDonald was 5-for-6, homered and drove in four, and picked up a win on the mound for the Gryphons last week. Monday at Steinbrenner and a home defense against East Bay for Sickles this week.

7. Plant City (2-0)

The Raiders offense and pitching led to a pair of decisive wins over Middleton and Newsome last week – the latter sparked by home runs from Colin Shultz and Jackson VanDerZee. Adan Longoria struck out 16 in a no-hitter against the Tigers and had four hits (three doubles) offensively on the week. Ahead: Plant City hosts Bloomingdale on Tuesday, and goes to Tampa Bay Tech on Thursday.

8. Strawberry Crest (2-1)

The Chargers smashed out nine extra-base hits in the first week (four doubles, five triples) taking down Northeast and Osceola, before running up against Jesuit’s Wes Mendes on Friday night. Crest is being paced so far by junior Eli Vickers, who is 5-for-8 on the year with a double, triple, four stolen bases, three runs scored and an RBI from the leadoff position. On the road at Armwood tomorrow, and hosting Chamberlain on Thursday ahead for the Chargers.

1-On-the-Bubble

Leto (2-0)

Anthony Arteaga started the Falcons season off with a 15-strikeout, no-hitter against Spoto, and Bryan Rivera struck out 14 against Jefferson in Game2, sparked offensively by a bases-clearing triple from Coltin Pizzio on Thursday. The Falcons start a four-game road swing at Gaither on Tuesday, and travel to Newsome on Thursday this week.

3-(Grab-)Bagger

1. Nice start for Russo’s Crusaders: Why create a new format, without immediately second-guessing yourself? If we had stuck with the old and ranked 10 teams and five bubble teams – we’d be hard-pressed to keep out Tampa Catholic after an impressive opening week. The Crusaders opened the season and head coaching tenure of alum Paul Russo Jr. with a trio of one-run victories, including a no-hit performance from Michael Richards in the opener against IMG Academy White.

2. You get a no-no, and you get a no-no, everyone gets a no-no: Speaking of no-hitters, area pitchers were ready for Game 1. We mentioned Michael Richards for TC, who struck out a dozen in the Crusaders opening no-no at IMG against its Silver team. However, that was just one of SIX opening-night hitless gems delivered by Hillsborough County pitchers. Plant City’s Adan Longoria struck out 16, and doubled twice at the plate while the Raiders no-hit Middleton in each team’s opener; Leto’s Anthony Arteaga struck out 15 in his bid against Spoto; junior Andre Rameau (5ip, five K’s) and sophomore Logan Babb combined to hold Brooks DeBartolo hitless; Seffner Christian’s Ethan Duncan got a four-inning no-no, walking one and striking out five in a 15-0 win over Cambridge Christian; and three Foundation Christian hurlers – William Nebold (win, 3ip, four K’s), Hayden Porter (six K’s), and Drew Golden combined in a no-hit win against Sports & Leadership Tampa.

3. Sawmiller returns to field for Gryphons: And finally, a huge “welcome back” to Sickles senior AJ Sawmiller! If you were following out site last fall, you may remember us sharing a Go-FundMe link about Sawmiller. While playing in a game at Saint Leo University, Sawmiller collided at full-speed with the outfield wall, suffering head trauma, multiple broken bones in his face and leg and looked like he may be in for a long and difficult recovery. So, how pleased were we when we saw “Sawmiller” show up in the box score as a courtesy runner for the Gryphons, taking a base on a passed ball against Riverview.

“It’s amazing to see AJ Sawmiller back in the dugout in full uniform with his teammates,” Gryphons coach Eric Luksis said. “What he has overcome has been spectacular and a true testament to perseverance, positive mindset and hard work. He is ready and available to compete and help us win ball games this season. AJ has brought this team closer together than I could ever imagine.”