JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4JAX Super 6 high school softball rankings will be published Thursday’s during the regular season. Records are through Feb. 28.
News4JAX Super 6 softball rankings
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Rank, team, record, classification
1. Baldwin (4-0, Class 3A)
Notable win: Mandarin
Glance: The Indians start the season at the top in what should be another excellent year. Returning All-News4JAX selection Shaylen Byrd had a pristine game on Tuesday, firing a perfect game with 14 Ks. It’s early, but Baldwin has one of the better teams in coach Jennifer Shields’ tenure. They’ve reached back-to-back state semifinals and lost to Calvary Christian each trip. Byrd said at high school media day earlier this month that Baldwin has toughened up mentally from last year. If the head game comes together and Byrd can keep at it in the circle, Baldwin could be poised to take the next step. They’ve got wins over Clay, Palatka and Fleming Island, too.
2. University Christian (2-0, Class 2A)
Notable wins: Bolles, Flagler Palm Coast
Glance: The reigning Class 2A state champs return the area’s top player in Sophia Kardatzke, a menace in the circle or at the plate. She’s been playing varsity at UC since the sixth grade and posted the best offensive season of her career in 2023 (.662, .721 on-base percentage, 50 RBI, just 2 Ks). In the pitching circle, she was 22-1.
3. Episcopal (4-0, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Fernandina Beach, Providence.
Glance: Pitcher Grace Jones, a Mercer signee and returning All-News4JAX selection, fired a perfect game Wednesday night, whiffing 17 in a 5-0 win over Fernandina Beach. Jones would have likely been our player of the year in 2023 if not for the outrageous season by UC’s Kardatzke. Episcopal is in tournament action beginning Thursday.
4. Middleburg (4-0, Class 5A)
Notable wins: Baker County, Paxon, West Nassau.
Glance: Quality start for the 2022 5A state champs. Alyssa Prather (.583), KK Hagan (.467, 2 HR, 6 RBI) and Kerra Clarida (.364, 3 HR, 5 RBI) have been swinging the bats well. And how about this stat for Clarida, a returning All-News4JAX selection — four hits and three of those are long balls.
5. Creekside (5-0, Class 7A)
Notable win: Nease.
Glance: The Knights have been hot to start. Their schedule hasn’t been the most difficult to start, but things begin to pick up this week. P Kaylee Martineau is off to a great start at the plate (.562, 5 RBI) and in the circle (3-0, 1.11 ERA, 25 Ks, 19 IP).
T6. Baker County (3-1, Class 4A)
Notable win: Hilliard.
Glance: Solid start for the Wildcats, who have Ws over Trinity Christian, Hilliard and Yulee. The loss is to No. 4 Middleburg in a close game (2-0). Baleigh Shields (.462) is leading Baker County followed by Karis Richardson (.417). In the circle, Chloe Woods is the main arm for Baker County and averaging nearly two Ks per inning.
T6. West Nassau (3-1, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Fernandina Beach, Oakleaf, Providence.
Glance: The Warriors are mainstays in the Super 6 and they’re off to a solid open. They’ve got a 10-0 of Providence to go along with two-run wins over Fernandina Beach (7-5) and Oakleaf (4-2).
Others
Beachside (3-1, Class 3A); Hilliard (3-1, Class 1A); Keystone Heights (3-1, Class 3A); Mandarin (3-1, Class 7A); Nease (2-1, Class 6A); Oakleaf (2-1, Class 6A); Paxon (2-2, Class 4A); Ponte Vedra (3-1, Class 5A).