MaxPreps Top 50 national high school baseball rankings

While there is still a month to go in the high school baseball season, the Barbe Buccaneers likely wrapped up the No. 1 ranking with their Class 5A state championship Saturday in Louisiana.

With a 7-1 win over Live Oak, Barbe completed the season with a 39-2 record and 27 consecutive wins. While there are a few challengers to Barbe's No. 1 ranking, including Lambert and Walsh Jesuit, the Buccaneers will be a tough team to supplant.

For one, the Barbe program has proven itself to be one of the nation's best. It has won seven state championships in school history and it was previously ranked No. 1 in the nation by Baseball America during coach Glenn Cecchini's 27-year coaching career. Barbe is also currently ranked No. 1 in the nation by Baseball America and Perfect Game, along with MaxPreps.

“This is complete happiness, this is complete contentment,’’ Cecchini told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "This was the way for them to go out. You’ve got to finish. We were relentless.’’

Lambert has a shot at finishing No. 1. The Longhorns are in the semifinals of the Class 6A state playoffs in Georgia and will take on Parkview this week.

Walsh Jesuit is currently undefeated at 25-0 and will begin postseason play this week.

A total of 15 teams joined the Xcellent 50 this week after a rash of upsets knocked out the likes of Calallen, Elk Grove and Cypress Ranch. Meanwhile, Archbishop McCarthy and Mosely also dropped significantly after losing in the Florida 5A state playoffs.


1. (Last week 1) Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), 39-2
Barbe completed the best season in school history with a 7-1 victory over Live Oak in the Class 5A state championship. The Buccaneers broke the school record for most wins and also won their 27th consecutive game. The state title is the seventh in school history and the second in three seasons. Beau Jordan was the tournament MVP after going 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored in the championship game. Adam Goree got the victory to raise his season record to 13-0.

2. (4) Lambert (Suwanee, Ga.), 32-1
The Longhorns won two straight over Luella to advance to the Class 6A semifinals against Parkview. Lambert got a 4-for-4 effort with three RBIs and two doubles from Seth Beer in an 8-1 victory. In a 10-6 win, Tucker Maxwell, Jake Chickowski and Beer all hit home runs.

3. (6) Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), 25-0
The Warriors remained undefeated with a 14-4 win over Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in the North Coast League championship game behind the play of Nate Romans. The senior shortstop batted 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a home run. Walsh Jesuit opens district play this week.

4. (8) Puyallup (Wash.), 24-0
The Vikings went 3-0 at the West Central District Tournament and remained undefeated on the year at 24-0. Puyallup escaped Gig Harbor with a 3-2, 10-inning win in the opener with Luke Heimlich going all 10 innings and striking out 11. Quinn Rawson went 3-for-3 with two home runs and eight RBIs in a 15-2 win over Beamer. In the championship game against South Kitsap, Lane Griffin gave up two hits with five strikeouts in a five-inning 10-0 victory.

5. (9) Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 25-3
Rancho Bernardo swept Poway in three games last week, winning 10-5, 6-0 and 6-2. Alex Jackson belted a home run in the 10-5 win, giving him 47 for his career to tie the San Diego Section record for home runs in a career.

6. (10) Clovis (Calif.), 31-5
The Cougars had a first-round bye in the Central Section playoffs and then edged Central (Fresno) 3-1 in the second round. Clovis will take on Clovis West in the semifinals.

7. (13) Langham Creek (Houston), 28-3
The Lobos defeated Katy Taylor 10-4 and 5-4 to reach the regional semifinals. Aaron Fletcher hit a home run in the 10-4 win while Tyler Rand also hit one out in the 5-4 win. Fletcher went seven innings for the win in the second game, striking out eight.

8. (15) Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 29-3
Hamilton advanced to the championship game of the Division I playoffs with a 3-2 win over Chaparral. Kent Hasler went the distance for the win, striking out six. Hamilton faces Mesquite in the championship game.

9. (21) Fayetteville (Ark.), 30-3
The Purple Dogs advanced to the semifinals of the Arkansas Class 7A playoffs with a 4-3 win over Greenwood and a 6-5 win over Central (Little Rock). Cody Davenport had a walkoff triple to beat Greenwood. Kyle Pate hit a home run against Central.

10. (19) Alexander (Laredo, Texas), 25-2
Alexander advanced to the regional semifinals with a 1-0 win over Palmview. Alan Campero pitched the complete-game shutout with six strikeouts. Alexander faces Reagan (San Antonio) in the regional semifinals.

11. (22) St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), 25-4
The Lancers won the West Catholic Athletic League tournament with a 15-6 win over Bellarmine (San Jose). St. Francis also beat Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) 5-2 and Sacred Heart (San Francisco) 10-0. Freshman Blake Diggle was 1-for-3 with three RBIs against Bellarmine.

12. (23) Ardrey Kell (Charlotte, N.C.), 27-2
Ardrey Kell advanced to the third round of the North Carolina 4A state playoffs with a 15-1 win over A.L. Brown (Kannapolis) and a 6-0 win over North Mecklenburg (Huntersville). Sophomore Aaron Pilkington hit a home run, his 19th of the season, to lead a six-run rally in the fifth inning against North Mecklenburg.

13. (25) Carroll (Corpus Christi, Texas), 35-3
Carroll advanced to the regional semifinal with a 2-1, 7-1 win over O'Connor. Rene Pineda gave up one run on six hits with six strikeouts in the 7-1 victory, while Michael Berglund doubled home Zach Alaniz for the winning run in the bottom of the eighth for the 2-1 win.

14. (3) O'Connor (Helotes, Texas), 32-3
The Panthers were eliminated by Carroll (Corpus Christi) 2-1 and 7-1 in the third round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

15. (31) Stillwater (Okla.), 32-4
Stillwater captured the Class 6A state championship with a 6-0 win over Bishop Kelly in the championship game. Stillwater also defeated Jenks 3-2 in the semifinals and Edmond North 7-2 in the opening round. Tyler Burnett was 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs in the championship game.

16. (32) Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 30-4
The Dragons advanced to the regional semifinals with a sweep of San Angelo Central, 3-2 and 6-4. Carroll will play Flower Mound in the semifinals.

17. (34) Spanish Fort (Ala.), 40-6
Spanish Fort won its fourth Class 5A state championship in five years with 6-0 and 11-1 wins over Cullman. Jesse McCord allowed three hits and struck out 14 in the first game. Will Luft and Myles York each had two doubles in the second game.

18. (28) Sumter (S.C.), 24-2-1
Sumter won the Lower State Tournament with a 7-6 win over West Ashley. Sumter also topped Wando 2-1 in the semifinal. Sumter takes on Northwestern for the Class 4A state championship.

19. (29) Freeman (Richmond, Va.), 17-0
Freeman did not have any games last week. Contests with Patrick Henry and Walker went unreported.

20. (30) Cosby (Midlothian, Va.), 16-0
Cosby remained undefeated an 8-0 win over Manchester and a 5-2 win over L.C. Bird. Against Manchester, Ryan Hall went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Against L.C. Bird, Jake Huggins struck out 10 batters.

21. (35) Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 28-2-1
The Warriors won the Catholic High School League championship with a 7-1 win over St. Mary's. Brother Rice also topped Divine Child 7-3 in the semifinals.

22. (36) Sterling Heights Stevenson (Mich.), 25-1-1
The Titans won three times last week, beating Dakota (Macomb) 4-1, Howell 4-2 and Utica Eisenhower (Shelby Township) 9-1.

23. (37) Lee's Summit West (Mo.), 25-3
Lee's Summit West won its 17th game in a row last week by beating Park Hill South 6-0 in 11 innings and Raytown 19-9.

24. (39) Norco (Calif.), 24-2
Norco upped its win streak to 22 in a row by blanking Santiago (Corona) in a pair of games last week, 2-0 and 15-0.

25. (14) St. Rita (Chicago), 28-3
St. Rita went 1-2 during the week, falling to Brother Rice 16-5 and Mount Carmel 12-4. St. Rita also defeated Mount Carmel 12-5. St. Rita has wins over all three teams it has lost to.

Next 25

26. (40) Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield, Ill.), 29-2
Sacred Heart-Griffin won four times last week, beating Pleasant Plains 16-1, Springfield 15-0 and 1-0 and Washington 4-2.

27. (41) Bishop Eustace Prep (Pennsauken, N.J.), 25-1
Bishop Eustace won five times last week, topping Timber Creek 8-6, Paul VI 2-1, Shawnee 4-1, Cherry Hill East 12-11 and Hammonton 12-3.

28. (16) Pearland (Texas), 34-5
The Oilers won their series with Clear Creek, winning the first game 8-7 in nine innings, losing the second game 8-3 and winning the third game decisively, 14-4.

29. (NR) American (Hialeah, Fla.), 27-6
American won the Florida Class 7A state title with a 5-2 win over East Lake.

30. (NR) South Dade (Homestead, Fla.), 22-7
South Dade captured the Florida Class 8A state championship with a 3-1 win over Bloomingdale.

31. (17) Flanagan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), 23-2
Season over.

32. (NR) Rockledge (Fla.), 25-5
Rockledge knocked off Archbishop McCarthy 2-1 and will play Clay in the state semifinals.

33. (2) Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 28-3
The Mavericks had their season come to an end with a 2-1 loss to Rockledge in the regional finals, ending their run of four straight state championships.

34. (NR) Clay (Green Cove Springs, Fla.), 22-7
Clay defeated Mosley in the regional finals, 8-3, and will face Rockledge in the state semifinals.

35. (NR) Flora (Columbia, S.C.), 25-4
Flora advanced to the Class 3A state championship after winning the Upper State Tournament in South Carolina.

36. (NR) North Florida Christian (Tallahassee, Fla.), 26-4
NFC won the Class 3A state championship with a 6-3 win over Orangewood Christian.

37. (47) Great Oak (Temecula, Calif.), 21-6
Great Oak completed the regular season with a pair of wins over Murrieta Mesa, 10-0 and 4-1.

38. (5) Mosley (Lynn Haven, Fla.), 26-4
Mosley lost to Clay 8-3 in the Class 5A regional finals.

39. (27) Olympia (Orlando, Fla.), 25-3
Season over.

40. (NR) Carl Albert (Midwest City, Okla.), 38-4
Carl Albert won the Class 5A state championship in Oklahoma.

41. (44) Christian Brothers (Memphis, Tenn.), 32-6
Christian Brothers took two from Father Ryan in the Division II-AA Sub-State playoffs, winning 10-6 and 5-1.

42. (46) Cleburne (Texas), 29-4-1
Cleburne reached the regional semifinals by beating Byron Nelson in three games, 10-2, 7-17 and 3-0.

43. (NR) Medina Valley (Castroville, Texas), 27-6-1
Medina Valley defeated Calallen twice to advance to the Class 4A state regional finals.

44. (NR) Greenway (Phoenix), 28-4
Greenway advanced to the Arizona Division II state final.

45. (NR) Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.), 28-5
Parkview will meet Lambert in the Georgia Class 6A state semifinals.

46. (NR) New Hope (Columbus, Miss.), 30-3
New Hope reached the Class 5A state championship game in Mississippi.

47. (NR) Indianapolis Cathedral, 20-3
Cathedral won the city championship on a no-hitter by Ashe Brenton-russell in a 10-0 win over Bishop Chatard.

48. (NR) St. Laurence (Burbank, Ill.), 26-4
St. Laurence has a win over St. Rita.

49. (NR) St. John's Jesuit (Toledo, Ohio), 18-2
SJJ is the No. 2 team in Ohio in the JJHuddle state rankings behind Walsh Jesuit.

50. (NR) Rockwall-Heath (Rockwall, Texas), 31-6
Rockwall-Heath advanced to the regional semifinals with 13-1 and 3-2 wins over Allen.

Dropped Out: No. 7 Calallen, No. 11 Cypress Ranch, No. 12 Elk Grove, No. 18 Lake Travis, No. 20 Broken Arrow, No. 24 Moody, No. 26 Horizon, No. 33 Park Vista, No. 38 Regis Jesuit, No. 42 Chaparral, No. 43 Orangewood Christian, No. 45 Woodside, No. 48 Liberty North, No. 49 Chiles, No. 50 Coral Springs Christian.