Top 25 national baseball rankings: No. 17 Houston County (Georgia) advances in GHSA state playoffs
The Houston County High School baseball team is still alive in the Georgia Class AAAAAA playoffs.
The Bears, ranked No. 17 in the country in the latest SBLive Power 25 baseball rankings, faced elimination twice last week. They lost the opening game of the quarterfinal round in the playoffs to Blessed Trinity before bouncing back with back-to-back wins over the Titans to reach this weekend's GHSA state semifinals.
SBLive's national baseball rankings are released weekly throughout the 2023 baseball season. Find the complete breakdown of the Week 10 SBLive Power 25 below.
The Power 25 rankings are compiled by SBLive reporter Bodie DeSilva based on observations and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the country. Reach Bodie on Twitter (@SDPreps) or email him at bodie@scorebooklive.com.
(Lead photo by Alyson Boyer Rode)
SBLIVE POWER 25 NATIONAL BASEBALL RANKINGS
May 8, 2023
1. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (25-0)
IMG's perfect season is complete following a 15-5 win over Remington Christian Academy last Saturday. The Ascenders allowed 47 runs over 25 games and hit 29 home runs as a team.
Last week: 1
2. Marjory Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.) (24-0)
The Eagles were 2-0 last week, defeating Boca Raton 12-2 in the 7A District 13 championship. They'll begin the 7A Florida State Tournament this week by hosting Monarch on Wednesday night.
Last week: 2
3. Sinton (Texas) (30-1)
Sinton dominated Somerset 10-1 and 11-0 in the opening round series of the Texas 4A playoffs. Up next is a best of three series against Calallen, beginning on Thursday night.
Last week: 4
4. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.) (38-1)
Barbe made quick work of Neville in the quarterfinal round of the LHSAA Baseball State Tournament, winning 11-1 and 13-0. They'll take on No. 18 Sulphur in the semifinal round on Thursday.
Last week: 5
5. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) (28-2)
The Gaels closed out their regular season on Thursday with a 13-1 non-league win over Snow Canyon (Utah). They'll begin the NIAA 5A playoffs on Monday by hosting Coronado.
Last week: 6
6. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) (27-2)
Notre Dame needed one run to advance in the first round of the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, beating Hart 1-0. UCLA-signee Justin Lee struck out nine batters while Texas commit Levi Sterling entered to earn the save. They'll head to Bonita on Tuesday in round two.
Last week: 7
7. Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.) (36-2)
Catholic shutout John Curtis Christian on back-to-back days last ween in the Division 1 quarterfinal round of the Louisiana State Tournament. They'll Archbishop Rummell on Thursday afternoon, a 13-seed that has won all six games so far to reach the semifinal round.
Last week: 8
8. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) (23-4)
Jesuit cruised through their district tournament, winning 17-2 and 10-1 after receiving a first round bye. They'll begin the 5A Florida State Tournament on Tuesday night by hosting North Fort Myers.
Last week: 9
9. Huntington Beach (Calif.) (21-8)
Huntington Beach came from behind, scoring two runs in the seventh inning on Wednesday to beat Warren 3-2. Seniors Dean Carpentier (USC) and Aidan Espinoza (UCLA) each had two hits. They'll head to Villa Park for round two on Tuesday.
Last week: 10
10. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.) (23-4)
Calvary Christian captured their district championship, defeating Cardinal Mooney 1-0 for their fourth shutout in the past five games. They'll begin the 3A Florida State Tournament when they host Bell Creek Academy on Tuesday night.
Last week: 11
11. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) (19-9)
Rain forced JSerra to move their opening round game against Yucaipa twice last week. They'll play Monday and must be ready to take on Etiwanda on Tuesday if they can survive round one.
Last week: 12
12. Aquinas (San Bernardino, Calif.) (23-4)
Aquinas opened the Southern Section Division 2 playoffs with a 7-3 win over Moorpark. They'll head to Capistrano Valley Christian in round two on Tuesday.
Last week: 13
13. Concordia Lutheran (Tomball, Texas) (31-2)
Concordia Lutheran had a first round by in the TAPPS playoffs. They'll begin a best of three series with Bishop Lynch beginning on Monday night.
Last week: 14
14. Cypress Woods (Texas) (30-3)
The Wildcats beat Tomball Memorial 11-1 and 7-2 last week to advance in the Texas 6A playoffs. They'll begin a best of three series with Oak Ridge on Thursday.
Last week: 15
15. Westlake (Austin, Texas) (32-3)
The Chaparrals beat Vandegrift 5-3 and 5-0 in the Texas 6A playoffs. Up next will be a best of three series against Brandeis.
Last week: 16
16. St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) (20-3)
The Eaglets went 2-3 last week, dropping both games in Wednesday's doubleheader against University Liggett. Their winning streak, which had lasted for more than two seasons, ends at 85 games. They'll play six games, including doubleheaders on Wednesday and Saturday this week, looking to get back on track.
Last week: 3
17. Houston County (Warner Robins, Ga.) (32-6)
Houston County took the final two games from Blessed Trinity in the Georgia AAAAAA quarterfinal round. Their semifinal round series against Etowah begins on Friday.
Last week: 17
18. Sulphur (La.) (33-4)
Sulphur beat Central 3-1 and 11-0 this past weekend in the LHSAA State quarterfinal round. They'll take on No. 4 Barbe on Thursday night for a chance to get to the state championship game.
Last week: 18
19. Rockwall (Texas) (31-6)
Rockwall had no problems against Naaman Forest in the opening round of the Texas 6A playoffs, beating the Rangers 8-2 and 13-3. They'll begin a best of three series with Mansfield on Thursday.
Last week: 19
20. St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) (26-0-1)
The Cadets took down Paul VI in eight innings on Tuesday and began their league tournament with a shutout win against The Heights. They'll begin a best of three series with Paul VI on Monday in the semifinal round of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.
Last week: 21
21. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.) (30-6)
Parkview survived a tough three game series against Dacula in the Georgia AAAAAAA quarterfinal round, winning game three 8-7. Now in the semifinal round, they'll start a three-game series with Mill Creek on Wednesday.
Last week: 22
22. Cartersville (Ga.) (32-3)
Cartersville breezed through the first two rounds of the Georgia AAAAA State Tournament but have split two games with Greenbrier in the quarterfinal round. They'll play the deciding game of the series on Monday night.
Last week: 23
23. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) (20-3)
Moeller scored 35 runs over four games last week, including three road wins. The Crusaders will close out the regular season this week with four non-conference games.
Last week: 24
24. West Monroe (La.) (33-4)
After needing three games to advance in the regional round, West Monroe took both games from St. Amant in last week's best of three series. On Thursday night they'll take on No. 25 Sam Houston in the state semifinal round.
Last week: 25
25. Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.) (32-4)
Sam Houston beat Live Oak 5-1 and 11-6 in the LHSAA State quarterfinals last week, advancing to Thursday's semifinal round against top-seeded and No. 24 West Monroe.
Last week: NR
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