JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4JAX Super 6 high school softball rankings will be published Thursday’s during the regular season. Records are through April 24.
News4JAX Super 6 softball rankings
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Rank, previous, team, record, classification
1. (2) Baldwin (22-1, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Baker County, Keystone Heights, Mandarin, Middleburg, Paxon (twice), University Christian.
Glance: The Indians are back at the top spot after a one-week absence. They routed Hilliard (15-0), Bradford (21-8) and Keystone Heights (15-0) since our last Super 6 and face Creekside in the regular season finale before Bolles in the District 4-3A opener. Shaylen Byrd fired a three-inning perfect game against Hilliard with six Ks. They’re on a collision course with Episcopal in the district tournament. Kendall North (.478, 3 HR, 31 RBI), Amiyah Jones (.459, 26 RBI), Raven Watson (.431, 2 HR, 18 RBI), Chloe Gotto (.419, 4 HR, 23 RBI) and Cali Hartung (.411, 8 HR, 42 RBI) are the regulars hitting above .400.
2. (1) Episcopal (21-2, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Baker County, Bishop Kenny, Fernandina Beach, Fletcher, Glenwood (Alabama), Nease, Oakleaf, Paxon, Ponte Vedra, Providence, West Nassau, West Orange, Yulee.
Glance: The Eagles went 2-1 since our last Super 6, drilling Clay (10-0) and Bishop Kenny (12-4) and losing to Creekside (6-3). They wrap up the regular season on Thursday night against Mandarin. Episcopal is seeded No. 1 for the loaded District 4-3A tournament where it will likely face Baldwin or West Nassau in the final. It’s a shame three of the state’s best teams are in the same region, meaning an Episcopal or Baldwin team with final four talent won’t get there. Grace Jones is an absolute terror. She’s up to .600 on the season (9 HR, 18 RBI) and has whiffed 273 in 136.1 innings.
3. (3) Middleburg (19-3, Class 5A)
Notable wins: Baker County, Branford, Creekside, Mandarin, Nease, Oakleaf, Paxon, West Nassau.
Glance: The Broncos belted Tocoi Creek (10-0) and lost to Baker County (6-3) since our last Super 6. They have their regular season finale on Thursday against Bartram Trail. They’re seeded No. 1 for the District 2-5A tournament and will likely draw Gainesville in the final. Alyssa Prather (.500, 25 RBI, 6 HR), Kerra Clarida (.478, 36 RBI, 12 HR) and Kaelyn Hagan (.457, 27 RBI, 6 HR) have been arguably the most wicked trio in the area all season.
4. (5) West Nassau (14-7, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Baker County (twice), Creekside, Fernandina Beach, Hilliard, Keystone Heights, Oakleaf, University Christian, Yulee.
Glance: Four straight wins for the Warriors, who beat Keystone Heights (7-2), Yulee (3-2) and Palatka (9-2) since our last Super 6. They wrap up the regular season against Ponte Vedra on Thursday night and then get Wolfson in the opening round of the District 4-3A tournament. The Warriors are a No. 3 seed in a district that includes Super 6 No. 1 Baldwin and No. 2 Episcopal.
T5. (T6) Baker County (16-5, Class 4A)
Notable wins: Fort White (twice), Keystone Heights, Middleburg, Paxon, University Christian, Yulee.
Glance: The Wildcats beat Bartram Trail (9-2) and No. 3 Middleburg (6-3) since our last Super 6 and have won six straight. They’re a No. 1 seed for the District 2-4A tournament and will likely see Paxon in the final. Baleigh Shields (.444, 3 HR, 15 RBI) and Haley Marker (.373, 3 HR, 10 RBI) lead the Baker County attack.
T5. (T6) Creekside (18-4, Class 7A)
Notable wins: Bartram Trail (twice), Columbia, Episcopal, Fleming Island, Mandarin, Merritt Island, Nease, Ponte Vedra, Providence, Trinity Catholic, University Christian.
Glance: The Knights bounced back from a big loss to West Nassau with a 14-3 romp over a stellar UC, then proceeded to become the first area team to beat No. 1 Episcopal this season with a 6-3 win. The schedule was backloaded with tough games and they round out the regular season with No. 1 Baldwin on Thursday. Creekside is seeded No. 1 for the District 1-7A tournament and will likely face Mandarin in the final. Bella Campbell (.408, 22 RBI), Kaylee Martineau (.400, 15 RBI) and Hailey Cunningham (.400, 17 RBI) have been Creekside’s big three this season.
6. (4) Oakleaf (15-8, Class 6A)
Notable wins: Baldwin, Creekside, Fleming Island, Jensen Beach, Keystone Heights (twice), Nease, Ponte Vedra, University Christian.
Glance: The Knights went 1-1 since our last Super 6, losing to Columbia (5-4) and beating Nease (3-2). The Knights do have a Super 6-high eight losses which is a concern, but they have played the area’s mot difficult schedule. They are the No. 1 seed for the District 3-6A tournament and will likely see Nease or First Coast in the final. Jaydyn Beall (.415), Charley Maddox (.413), Meshayla Pettaway (.405, 17 RBI) and Ava Tolbert (.400), lead the Knights at the plate. Maddox (10-3, 87 Ks, 1.35 ERA) also leads Oakleaf in the circle.
Others
Bishop Kenny (14-7, Class 4A); Columbia (12-10, Class 5A); Fernandina Beach (12-7, Class 3A); Fleming Island (17-7, Class 6A); Fort White (10-4, Class 1A); Mandarin (14-6, Class 7A); Matanzas (16-3, Class 5A); Menendez (14-5, Class 4A); Nease (13-7, Class 6A); Orange Park (13-9, Class 5A); Paxon (13-8, Class 4A); Ponte Vedra (12-9, Class 5A); Suwannee (14-9, Class 3A); University Christian (13-7, Class 2A); Yulee (14-6, Class 4A).