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Major shakeup, new look top 10 highlight second Big Bend Preps Baseball Power Rankings

liam rooney, tallahassee democrat
·5 min read

As we close the door on February and head into a busy March for baseball, area teams are hitting stride.

A handful of programs are navigating early season challenges, while others are showcasing elite potential heading into the second leg of a marathon season. With the preseason rust off the bats and the gloves broken in, let's take a look at who are the early teams to watch in the Big Bend.

Welcome to the second edition of the Big Bend Baseball Power Rankings.

Week 1: Who tops the first edition of the Big Bend Preps baseball Power Rankings poll

Stats, records and schedules are pulled from both MaxPreps and Gamechanger

1. Lincoln (2-1)

Previous Ranking: 2

Chiles baseball beat Lincoln 7-6 in thrilling early season contest at Lawton Chiles High School on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.
Chiles baseball beat Lincoln 7-6 in thrilling early season contest at Lawton Chiles High School on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.

The Trojans move up to the top spot of the rankings after a big 12-4 win over Wakulla. Lincoln has played the least amount of games in the Big Bend so far, but the Trojans have flashed the potential of what could be a special season on the diamond. A battle with Chiles resulted in its only loss, but so far the Trojans are making some noise ahead of a busy rest of March.

2. Chiles (3-1)

Previous Ranking: 1

Chiles baseball beat Lincoln 7-6 in thrilling early season contest at Lawton Chiles High School on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.
Chiles baseball beat Lincoln 7-6 in thrilling early season contest at Lawton Chiles High School on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.

The Timberwolves slide down one spot in the rankings after falling to North Florida Christian 7-5 for its first loss of the season. Chiles is as competitive as any program in the area and has shown early promise to be one of the area's top teams all season. With a strong lineup that can get on base at nearly any spot, the Timberwolves are hitting a big stretch of games against some top teams in the state.

3. North Florida Christian (3-2)

Previous Ranking: 4

NFC junior Garrett Workman throws a pitch in a game between North Florida Christian and Lincoln on April 17, 2023, at Posey Field. The Trojans won 6-1.
NFC junior Garrett Workman throws a pitch in a game between North Florida Christian and Lincoln on April 17, 2023, at Posey Field. The Trojans won 6-1.

The Eagles slide into third place, winning three in a row since the first rankings, most recently a 7-5 win over Chiles. For NFC, the season got off to a slow start, dropping its opening two games, but the team has seemingly found its stride heading into the middle of March. With a strong senior class, the Eagles are one of the most experienced teams in the area, and it will hope that experience translates into wins ahead of a month filled with competitive games.

4. Wakulla (5-1)

Previous Ranking: 3

Wakulla drops one spot from the first rankings after falling to Lincoln 12-4 for its first loss of the season. The War Eagles are poised for a good season, and with five wins on the bounce before its first loss, the program is riding high with confidence. With a strong roster and solid pitching, the War Eagles are certainly a team to keep an eye on in the 4A Classification.

5. Madison County (3-1)

Previous Ranking: 5

The Cowboys stay put, coming in ranked fifth in the second edition of the rankings. Picking up a season-first loss to Florida High, who won on a walk-off, Madison County is still one of the area's strongest teams and a team that is sure to challenge anyone in the area. Heading into a busy stretch of games to end March, the Cowboys will look to keep its strong start to the season rolling.

6. Aucilla Christian (4-1)

Previous Ranking: 7

The Warriors are up one spot in the second edition of the rankings. After dropping its first game of the season in a loss to Madison County, Aucilla Christian followed that up with a 12-2 victory over Echols County and showcased its offensive talent that has led the team to score 44 runs in five games to open the year.

7. Maclay (3-2)

Previous Ranking: 10

The Marauders are the biggest mover in the new rankings, jumping up three spots into the seventh spot. A win over St. John Paul II and a one-run loss against North Florida Christian in extra innings have Maclay in a good spot heading into a tough March for the team, playing Florida High, Chiles and NFC. Strong pitching and a good bat has the Marauders in a good spot early on.

8. Leon (3-3)

Previous Ranking: 6

Leon junior Chase Davis (4) throws a pitch in a game between Leon and Mosley on March 21, 2023, at Leon High School. The Lions won 3-2.
Leon junior Chase Davis (4) throws a pitch in a game between Leon and Mosley on March 21, 2023, at Leon High School. The Lions won 3-2.

The Lions are down two spots in the rankings, sitting at 3-3 after losses to Wakulla and Valdosta and wins over Florida High and Godby. It's been an up-and-down start to life in 2024 for Leon, but the team has the potential to do something similar to last year's squad. Heading into a rematch with Wakulla, the Lions have a tough stretch of games in March that could give the team a boost in confidence with wins.

9. Florida High (3-3)

Previous Ranking: 9

The Seminoles stay ninth, picking up wins over JPII and Madison County and falling to Leon since the last rankings. With two wins in a row, however, Florida High seems to be trending in the right direction ahead of a big month of games, and if its consistent hitting can continue throughout March, it could give the team momentum with some victories.

10. St. John Paul II

Previous Ranking: 8

North Florida Christian beat St. Jon Paul II 10-4 in a FHSAA regional quarterfinal on May 9, 2023.
North Florida Christian beat St. Jon Paul II 10-4 in a FHSAA regional quarterfinal on May 9, 2023.

Down two spots from the eighth ranking, St. John Paul II comes in ranked 10th in the new rankings. The Panthers dropped games to Florida High, Maclay and NFC but picked up a big win over Hamilton County to get to three wins on the season. A young team filled with potential, the Panthers have shown the ability to compete early in the season.

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: A new look top 10 highlight 2nd Big Bend Preps Baseball Power Rankings