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Catholic High Aims for Glory: Southern High School Baseball Playoffs in Full Swing

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Catholic High Aims for Glory: Southern High School Baseball Playoffs in Full Swing

High school baseball postseason action is heating up across the Southern United States. All eyes are on Baton Rouge, where the top-ranked Catholic High School (Baton Rouge, La.) faces off against the defending state champions, Jesuit High School (New Orleans).

Catholic has maintained its position as the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 for the second consecutive week following victories over Pineville in the second round of the Select Division 1 playoffs. The Bears, riding a 16-game winning streak, move on to the quarterfinals to face Jesuit in a best-of-three series. The winner will advance to the semifinals against either Acadiana (Lafayette) or Northwood (Shreveport).

Meanwhile, in California, the Southern Section playoffs are beginning, with No. 2 Corona, No. 7 Orange Lutheran (Orange), and No. 8 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) awaiting their first-round opponents in the Division 1 bracket.

In Mississippi, No. 3 Jackson Prep (Jackson) is gearing up for the MAIS postseason. The Patriots have been unstoppable, winning 20 straight games since their last loss to Ocean Springs on March 11.

No. 4 Flower Mound in Texas kicks off its postseason with a bi-district series against Little Elm.

Teams that dropped out of the rankings include No. 19 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), No. 20 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), and No. 25 Serra (San Mateo, Calif.). Newcomers to the list are No. 18 Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), No. 24 Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.), and No. 25 Valley View (Jonesboro, Ark.).

Game of the Week: Jackson Prep narrowly defeated Jackson Academy (Jackson, Miss.), 9-8. After dominating the first two games with identical 11-1 scores, Jackson Prep needed a late rally in the sixth inning, highlighted by Tre’ Bryant’s game-winning RBI single.

Game to Watch: Barbe vs. Mandeville (La.). While the Catholic vs. Jesuit game is a marquee matchup in Division 1 Select, the Barbe vs. Mandeville clash is equally compelling. Barbe, the defending state champion and No. 1 seed in Division 1 Non-Select, faces a tough opponent in Mandeville (27-8), which has a win over the defending Division 1 Select champion Jesuit and one of Catholic’s two losses this season.

Player of the Week: Slade Caldwell, Valley View. One of the top outfielders in the nation, Caldwell had an impressive week with four doubles and a home run in four games, including a 3-0 shutout of Rogers, propelling Valley View into the MaxPreps Top 25.

Streaks: Eaton (Colo.) extended its record to 15-0, maintaining the longest active winning streak in the nation at 56 consecutive victories.

MaxPreps Top 25 Baseball Rankings

  1. Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.)
    • Record: 34-2 | Last week: 1
    • Scores: Def. Pineville, 8-1, 15-2
    • Hitter of the week: Wyatt Chenevert, triple and three RBI in 15-2 win
    • Pitcher of the week: William Schmidt, 12 strikeouts, one run on four hits over seven innings in 8-1 win
    • Next: Tuesday vs. Jesuit (New Orleans)
  2. Corona (Calif.)
    • Record: 25-3 | Last week: 2
    • Scores: Def. Roosevelt (Eastvale), 18-2, 5-1, 12-6
    • Hitter of the week: Josh Springer, 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in 5-1 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Seth Hernandez, five innings, two runs on three hits, nine strikeouts in 18-2 win
    • Next: TBD
  3. Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.)
    • Record: 35-2 | Last week: 3
    • Scores: Def. Jackson Academy, 11-1, 11-1, 9-8
    • Hitter/Pitcher of the week: Konnor Griffin, 6-for-8 with six runs, nine RBI, a triple, two home runs, and a pitching win
    • Next: TBD
  4. Flower Mound (Texas)
    • Record: 30-3 | Last week: 4
    • Scores: Def. Hebron, 3-2, 3-0
    • Hitter of the week: Adrian Rodriguez, 2-for-2 with a triple in 3-0 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Cooper Harris, seven-inning no-hitter with nine strikeouts in 3-0 win
    • Next: Thursday vs. Little Elm
  5. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)
    • Record: 18-0 | Last week: 5
    • Scores: Def. St. Xavier, 7-6; def. Indian Hill, 7-6; def. St. Xavier, 6-1; def. Dixie Heights, 9-2
    • Hitter of the week: Will McCullough, 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI in 6-1 win over St. Xavier
    • Pitcher of the week: Zion Theophilus, five innings, 13 strikeouts against St. Xavier
    • Next: Monday vs. La Salle (Cincinnati)
  6. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
    • Record: 35-3 | Last week: 7
    • Scores: Def. Prattville, 3-1, 7-1
    • Hitter of the week: Landon Beaver, 2-for-3 with a double, home run, and three RBI in 3-1 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Cam Norton, 10 strikeouts in six innings in 3-1 win
    • Next: Wednesday vs. Baker
  7. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
    • Record: 22-6 | Last week: 6
    • Scores: Def. St. John Bosco, 3-2, 4-3; lost to St. John Bosco, 8-2
    • Hitter of the week: Brady Murrietta, 3-for-4 with an RBI in 4-3 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Tristan Ramos, 3-2 win, one run on two hits with three strikeouts
    • Next: TBD
  8. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
    • Record: 23-4-1 | Last week: 8
    • Scores: Def. Bishop Alemany, 4-2, 10-3
    • Hitter of the week: Duncan Marsten, 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and five RBI in 10-3 win
    • Next: TBD
  9. Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
    • Record: 26-1-1 | Last week: 9
    • Scores: Def. Dallas Christian, 11-1
    • Hitter of the week: A.J. DePaolo, 3-for-4 with three RBI in win over Dallas Christian
    • Pitcher of the week: Jack Applegate, 11-1 win with seven strikeouts
    • Next: May 7 vs. Trinity Christian Academy/Cathedral winner
  10. Tomball (Texas)
    • Record: 29-3 | Last week: 10
    • Scores: Def. Klein Cain, 13-1, 1-0
    • Hitter of the week: Cade Arrambide, 2-for-5 with two home runs and seven RBI in 13-1 win
    • Pitcher of the week: C.J. Sampson, six innings, 10 strikeouts in 13-1 win
    • Next: Thursday vs. Cy Falls
  11. Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola, Fla.)
    • Record: 24-1 | Last week: 11
    • Scores: Def. Central (Milton), 3-0; def. Pace, 12-2; def. Gulf Breeze, 15-1
    • Hitter of the week: Ben Bates, 2-for-3 with a double, home run, and four RBI in 15-1 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Colton Guillot, 5.2 innings, no runs on one hit with 10 strikeouts in 3-0 win
    • Next: Tuesday vs. Maclay/Florida State University winner
  12. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
    • Record: 27-5 | Last week: 12
    • Scores: Def. Camden County, 10-0, 13-0
    • Hitter of the week: Cade Brown, 4-for-8 with four RBI, four runs, a double, and two home runs in two wins
    • Pitcher of the week: Thorpe Musci, five innings, no runs on one hit with six strikeouts in 10-0 win
    • Next: Wednesday vs. North Paulding
  13. Lincoln-Way West (New Lenox, Ill.)
    • Record: 20-0 | Last week: 13
    • Scores: Def. Homewood-Flossmoor, 12-2; def. Downers Grove North, 5-0; def. Lemont, 18-5
    • Hitter of the week: Anthony Massa, 8-for-13 with eight RBI, a double, a triple, and two home runs in three games
    • Pitcher of the week: Conor Essenburg, 6.2 innings, 13 strikeouts, no runs on one hit in win over Downers Grove North
    • Next: Monday vs. Andrew
  14. Prosper (Texas)
    • Record: 27-5 | Last week: 15
    • Scores: Def. McKinney, 12-1, 2-1
    • Hitter of the week: Luke Billings, 2-for-2 with a double, home run, and two RBI in 12-1 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Aiden White, five innings, 13 strikeouts, one run on four hits in 12-1 win
    • Next: Thursday vs. Coppell
  15. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
    • Record: 19-5 | Last week: 16
    • Scores: Def. Neumann, 7-1; def. Westminster Christian, 9-0
    • Hitter of the week: Devin Fitz-Gerald, 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBI in win over Neumann
    • Pitcher of the week: Jayden Dubanewicz, eight strikeouts, one run on two hits over six innings against Neumann
    • Next: Tuesday vs. Monarch/Coral Springs winner
  16. North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.)
    • Record: 21-3 | Last week: 17
    • Scores: Def. West Boca Raton, 4-3; def. Killian, 4-3
    • Hitter of the week: Riley Luft, 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI against West Boca Raton
    • Pitcher of the week: Filippo Baldassarri, two innings, no runs on one hit with four strikeouts against Killian
    • Next: Tuesday vs. Saint Andrew’s
  17. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)
    • Record: 23-2 | Last week: 18
    • Scores: Def. Pembroke Pines Charter, 11-6; def. JC Bermudez Doral, 9-0
    • Hitter of the week: Sebastian Berrios, 3-for-3 with four runs, a double, home run, and two RBI in 9-0 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Aaron Elissalt, seven strikeouts, no runs on two hits in three innings in shutout
    • Next: Tuesday vs. Southridge/Miami Beach winner
  18. Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
    • Record: 21-1 | Last week: 25
    • Scores: Def. University Liggett, 12-1, 13-0
    • Hitter of the week: Tristan Crane, 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in 13-0 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Blake Ilitch, 14 strikeouts, no runs on three hits in seven innings in 3-0 win
    • Next: Tuesday vs. St. Francis (Toledo)
  19. Harlem (Ga.)
    • Record: 30-1 | Last week: 21
    • Scores: Def. Dougherty, 15-1, 15-1
    • Hitter/Pitcher of the week: Amerson Guy, five hits including a three-run double, and threw five innings allowing one hit in the second game
    • Next: Monday vs. Peach County
  20. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
    • Record: 31-5 | Last week: 22
    • Scores: Def. Sulphur, 3-2, 3-0
    • Hitter of the week: Diego Corrales, two RBI in 3-0 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Lawton Littleton, seven-inning, one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts in 3-0 win
    • Next: Wednesday vs. Mandeville
  21. North Cobb Christian (Kennesaw, Ga.)
    • Record: 28-4 | Last week: 14
    • Scores: Def. Fannin County, 9-5; lost to Fannin County, 4-3; def. Fannin County, 11-1
    • Hitter of the week: Jackson Uggla, 1-for-2 with a grand slam in 11-1 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Ross Rea, 10 strikeouts, one run on three hits in five innings in 11-1 win
    • Next: Wednesday vs. Callaway
  22. Grapevine (Texas)
    • Record: 28-3 | Last week: 23
    • Scores: Def. Richland, 5-2, 5-2
    • Hitter of the week: Sammy Kelley, 3-for-3 with two doubles in the second game of the series
    • Pitcher of the week: Luke Schreyer, seven innings, two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in the first game
    • Next: Thursday vs. Mansfield Timberview
  23. Granada (Livermore, Calif.)
    • Record: 21- | Last week: 24
    • Scores: Def. Dublin, 2-0, 4-1
    • Hitter of the week: Nate Brown, 2-for-3 with two RBI in 4-1 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Jake Sekany, seven-inning shutout, two hits, eight strikeouts
    • Next: Wednesday vs. Livermore
  24. Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.)
    • Record: 30-4 | Last week: NR
    • Scores: Def. Walker, 11-0, 4-0
    • Hitter of the week: Dylan Bell, 3-for-3 with a triple in 4-0 win
    • Pitcher of the week: Nik Toups, two-hit shutout, six strikeouts, no walks in 11-0 win
    • Next: Wednesday vs. Live Oak
  25. Valley View (Jonesboro, Ark.)
    • Record: 24-2 | Last week: NR
    • Scores: Def. Rogers, 3-0; def. Fayetteville, 7-3; def. Paragould, 9-5, 17-5
    • Hitter of the week: Slade Caldwell, 8-for-13 with four doubles and a home run in four games
    • Pitcher of the week: Lance Davis, eight strikeouts, no runs on one hit in 3.2 innings in 3-0 win
    • Next: Tuesday vs. Searcy

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