JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4JAX Super 6 high school softball rankings will be published Thursday’s during the regular season. Records are through March 5.
News4JAX Super 6 softball rankings
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Rank, previous, team, record, classification
1. (1) Baldwin (7-0, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Mandarin, Middleburg.
Glance: The Indians are the area’s top team and they’re putting some separation between themselves and the other contenders, although No. 2 Episcopal is closing in. They beat a very good Middleburg team 6-3 on Tuesday night, handing the Broncos their first loss. They’ve got Bradford on Friday, Baker County (March 12) and Paxon (March 14) up next. This team is deep, good and young. Kendall North (.583, 2 HR), Cali Hartung (.458, 14 RBI), Madison Crews (.417), Raven Watson (.417) and Chloe Gotto (.409, 3 HR, 12 RBI) are leading the charge., Returning All-News4JAX selection Shaylen Byrd is mowing batters down. She’s got 71 Ks in 37 IP.
2. (3) Episcopal (8-1, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Fernandina Beach, Oakleaf, Providence, West Orange.
Glance: Pitcher Grace Jones remains one of the best players around, and she turned in a gem in a 1-0 loss to reigning Class 3A state champ Calvary Christian. Jones leads the Eagles at the plate (.480, 4 RBI, HR) and is a marksman in the circle. She’s 8-1 with a 0.39 ERA and 119 Ks in 54 innings. They’ve got Fletcher on Friday before Spring Break. The Eagles return March 19 against an always dangerous West Nassau.
3. (2) University Christian (4-1, Class 2A)
Notable wins: Bolles, Flagler Palm Coast.
Glance: The reigning Class 2A state champs are off to a strong start behind the area’s top player in Sophia Kardatzke. They dropped a tight 1-0 game to Class 1A power Williston. Kardatzke struck out nine and scattered four hits in that game, but the Christians were no-hit by the Red Devils. They crushed Bell (13-1) and Lake Gibson (19-0) in their other games since our last Super 6.
4. (4) Middleburg (6-1, Class 5A)
Notable wins: Baker County, Nease, Paxon, West Nassau.
Glance: The Broncos have largely kept up the steady pace, beating Trinity Christian twice (8-4, 12-0), Nease (5-2 in 8 innings) and losing to No. 1 Baldwin (6-3) since our last Super 6. Games against Ponte Vedra (Wednesday) and Bradford (Thursday) are up next. start for the 2022 5A state champs. Alyssa Prather, KK Hagan and Kerra Clarida are the big bats for the Broncos.
5. (5) Creekside (7-0, Class 7A)
Notable wins: Nease, Trinity Catholic.
Glance: The Knights continued their red-hot start, beating Nease, Trinity Catholic and Hernando since our last Super 6. The schedule hasn’t been exceptionally difficult to start, which is the reason they’re not higher in the rankings. But this schedule is built for a difficult second half with the likes of the area’s best to round out the season. P Kaylee Martineau remains the headliner, hitting a team-best .542 (13 hits, 12 RBI, 5 2Bs, all team highs). Among the regulars, IF Bella Campbell (.435) follows Martineau.
6. (T6) Baker County (3-1, Class 4A)
Notable wins: Hilliard, Yulee.
Glance: The Wildcats haven’t played since a 5-2 win over Yulee on Feb. 27. They’re back in action on Friday with a trip to face a strong 1A team in Fort White. Baleigh Shields (.462) is leading Baker County followed by Karis Richardson (.417).
Dropped out
West Nassau (3-2, Class 3A)
Others
Bartram Trail (3-3, Class 7A); Beachside (3-2, Class 3A); Fleming Island (4-1, Class 6A); Fort White (4-0, Class 1A); Hilliard (4-1, Class 1A); Keystone Heights (4-1, Class 3A); Mandarin (4-2, Class 7A); Menendez (5-1, Class 4A); Nease (3-2, Class 6A); Paxon (3-2, Class 4A); Ponte Vedra (4-2, Class 5A); West Nassau (3-2, Class 3A); Yulee (2-2, Class 4A).