Ashland County Baseball Power Rankings: Ashland end regular season in top spot

This will be the last edition of the baseball power rankings for the 2024 regular season, as sectional semifinal and final games will start this week. Here's how the final poll played out.

Note: The Power Rankings reflect performances from May 6-May 11.

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9. New London (5-15-1)

After having a rough start, the Wildcats have picked up some wins in the last two weeks, that included them sweeping Monroeville in a two-game set last week. They will play at home against Mansfield Christian on Tuesday in a Division IV sectional semifinal.

8. Northwestern (7-12)

Northwestern is currently on a six-game skid as they head into a Division III sectional semifinal against Beachwood at home on Monday.

7. Crestview (9-10)

Crestview haven't been able to replicate the 20-5 season (Firelands Conference winners) they had last year but they will have a chance to go on a playoff run starting at home on Wednesday against Colonel Crawford in a Division III sectional semifinal.

6. Loudonville (10-11)

Loudonville have won four of their last six games, and will take that into a Division IV sectional final home game next Thursday against the Leetonia-Windham winner.

5. Mapleton (10-7)

Mapleton split two games with South Central last week and will meet two-time Division III state champions Waynedale on Monday, before playing a sectional final game at home on Thursday. If the Mounties win, then a possible matchup with Hillsdale could come about in the district semifinal next week.

4. Hillsdale (14-9)

Before beating Lexington on Saturday, the Falcons had dropped four in a row. Hillsdale's game with Ashland on Monday should be a fun nonconference game and help prepare them for the postseason. The Falcons will be at home in their sectional final game on Thursday, with the possibility of facing local team Mapleton in the district semifinal.

3. South Central (13-8)

South Central find themselves in second place in the Firelands Conference behind St. Paul, with one more league game to play (Monroeville on Wednesday). There's a chance the Trojans could win the league title outright or maybe be co-league champions. We'll see. The Trojans are the No. 2 seed in their district tournament and are in good position to win a district title.

2. Black River (15-7)

Black River have won eight of their last 11 ballgames and clinched a share of the Lorain County Conference title (12-2 league record) with Columbia. A No. 4 seed in their district tournament, the Pirates could see that very same Columbia team (split 1-1 in regular season) in the district semifinal. Get past them, and challenges like Triway or Waynedale could await them in a district final.

1. Ashland (16-6)

The Arrows closeout the season in the top spot. No they didn't win their conference (That would be Mount Vernon in the Ohio Cardinal Conference!) but they've been pretty consistent throughout. They are 11-3 in their last 14 games and head into Monday facing a big test in Hillsdale at home. The Arrows will have a demanding road in their district tournament (No. 7 seed) but anything can happen come postseason time.

jsimpson@gannett.com

Twitter/X:@JamesSimpsonII

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland Baseball Rankings: Arrows closeout regular season at No.1