Heights Meat Market presents:

 

T1. Tampa Catholic (11-1) and Gaither (13-1)

Tampa Catholic started the week with a 4-1 loss to IMG Royal to start the week, but the Crusaders won a 3-2 decision over last week’s No. 5 team Wharton and we’ve decided to let the Saladino shake out the top of our rankings as the race between TC and Gaither. The Cowboys remain red-hot winning against Jefferson and twice against East Bay stretching its streak to seven-straight dubs. Sophomore Torey Thomas was 2-for-4 in Tampa Catholic’s two games with a run scored against IMG Royal and an RBI single and RBI sac fly against Wharton. Gaither’s Albert Antinori had two homers and six RBI in the Saladino win over East Bay. Both teams have double-headers in Saladino Gold play on Tuesday with the Crusaders facing host Plant City at 1p and Strawberry Crest at 4p; while Gaither plays Plant at 10am and host Jefferson a 7p.

3. Bloomingdale (10-2)

The Bulls won three last week sandwiching two wins against Durant around a win against Brandon. Luke Long struck out eight against the Cougars in a no-decision; then he and Trey Baker drove in two runs apiece against the Eagles; Izzy Perez picked up a win in relief and homered on the week; and Vaughn Osting won on the mound and hit a home run in Saturday’s Saladino win over Durant. Bloomingdale plays Newsome at 10a and host Lennard at 7p on Tuesday.

4. Jefferson (10-2)

Jefferson sophomore Elijah Benton

The Dragons dropped a tough one to Gaither 4-3 to start the week, but defeated Freedom and Plant to stay in our Top 5. Bobby Edwards went three scoreless with four scoreless in a winning effort as the Dragons topped Freedom, while Elijah Benton plated three runs; Ethan Savinon won his fourth decision of the year with five innings against the Panthers. Jefferson hosts East Bay at 1p and Gaither at 7p on Tuesday.

5. Jesuit (10-3)

Jesuit won a thriller comeback game against Virginia’s Miller School scoring five runs in the seventh as Jay Kirchner drove in a pair and Griffin Boesen walked it off with an RBI single. The Tigers dropped a 6-3 decision to state-ranked No. 1 Venice, but regrouped on Saturday with a 10-0 win at Orlando’s First Academy where Boesen homered twice and drove in six.

6. Berkeley Prep (11-4)

Make it seven-straight for the Buccaneers winning three in Week 5 topping Lakeland McKeel, Tampa Prep and Lakeland High. LJ Ulmer and Parker Mitzel homered and each drove in five on the week; Nolan Parmer got a seven-inning win (five strikeouts) at McKeel; and Own Schmitt got a save against Tampa Prep and the win on the mound against the Dreadnaughts. Berkeley Prep travels to Las Vegas this week to compete in the Bishop Gorman Invitational starting off this afternoon with Cerritos (Calif.) Gahr.

7. Freedom (10-2)

Freedom pitcher Gaige Spano

The Patriots win streak stopped at nine as Jefferson shut them out to start the week, but Gaige Spano went six innings, allowed one run and struck out four as Freedom got back in the win column with an 11-1 Saladino Silver win over Carrollwood Day. Freedom returns to CDS on Tuesday and will take on Leto at 10a and Riverview at 4p.

8. Cambridge Christian (10-3-1)

The Lancers took down Seffner Christian twice last week, then rallied for a 6-4 win over Steinbrenner in the opening game of the Saladino Gold led by a three-run homer by Braiden Price. CCS returns to Sickles tomorrow for two games – a 10a game against Alonso and face the host Gryphons at 7p.

9. Plant City (10-4)

The Raiders have ripped off six-in-a-row with wins against Spoto, Wharton and a revenge win over Strawberry Crest. Alex Rodriguez went 7-for-10 on the week with three doubles and three homers; while Keegan Wilkerson drove in five on the week, and picked up the win over the Chargers with 6 2/3 innings of work. Plant City hosts a split double-header tomorrow facing Tampa Catholic at 1p and Wharton at 7p.

10. Wharton (8-3)

Wharton took care of Hillsborough to start the week, but dropped its next two against Plant City and a tough 3-2 defeat from Tampa Catholic, despite a strong effort from Cooper Antalek (5ip, 1 ER, 2 H, 4 K). Chris Stroud drove in three against the Terriers. The Wildcats travel to Plant City for two on Tuesday, facing Strawberry Crest at 10a and the host Raiders at 7p.