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There's a new No. 1 team in the South Bend area baseball power rankings

austin hough, south bend tribune
·5 min read

Much like how the high school boys basketball season went for the South Bend area, the baseball season has featured plenty of parity so far.

Track and field: Farrell's record vault highlights Saint Joseph's team titles at South Bend city meet

With three weeks left in the regular season, neither the Northern Indiana or Northern Lakes conference races have a clear favorite, with each conference boasting five teams that can still win the title at this point. That, in turn, makes the sectional positioning even more intriguing, as several of these teams will share sectional tournaments come late May.

With a lot still left to be decided, here is the South Bend Tribune area baseball power rankings for the final week of April.

1. South Bend Adams Eagles (11-3, 4-1 NIC)

Adams junior Aidan Micinski celebrates after hitting an RBI double in the fifth inning of a baseball game against Penn Monday, April 22, 2024, at School Field in South Bend.
Adams junior Aidan Micinski celebrates after hitting an RBI double in the fifth inning of a baseball game against Penn Monday, April 22, 2024, at School Field in South Bend.

Previous ranking: 2. Last week’s results: def. Penn, 11-4; lost to Saint Joseph, 5-4; lost to Niles, 8-5. This week’s schedule: Monday vs. Elkhart, Tuesday vs. Elkhart Christian, Saturday at Concord.

The Eagles’ first conference win over Penn since 2000 was followed by a heartbreaking, walk-off loss to Saint Joe and a weekend defeat to Niles north of the state line. That victory over the Kingsmen, though, is good enough to put Adams in the top spot for this week.

'They just kept fighting.' South Bend Adams baseball picks up statement win over Penn

2. South Bend Saint Joseph Huskies (10-3, 3-2 NIC)

Saint Joseph senior Thomas Eck throws a pitch during a baseball game against Mishawaka Friday, April 12, 2024, at Ward Baker Park in Mishawaka.
Saint Joseph senior Thomas Eck throws a pitch during a baseball game against Mishawaka Friday, April 12, 2024, at Ward Baker Park in Mishawaka.

Previous ranking: 4. Last week’s results: def. Bremen, 14-8; def. Adams, 5-4. This week’s schedule: Monday at Jimtown, Wednesday at Riley, Friday vs. Marian (non-conference at Notre Dame), Saturday doubleheader at Northridge.

The aforementioned Huskies’ walk-off win against Adams leaves a three-way tie atop the NIC standings, with Penn joining those two.

3. Penn Kingsmen (11-7, 4-1 NIC)

Previous ranking: 1. Last week’s results: lost to Adams, 11-4; lost to Andrean, 7-4. This week’s schedule: Monday at Marian, Wednesday vs. Bremen.

Penn junior Emerson Cowham runs toward home plate to score a run during a baseball game against Adams Monday, April 22, 2024, at School Field in South Bend.
Penn junior Emerson Cowham runs toward home plate to score a run during a baseball game against Adams Monday, April 22, 2024, at School Field in South Bend.

The Kingsmen have hit a rough patch, losing four in a row — all to quality teams. They’re still a very talented team and have plenty of time to turn things around before the postseason begins.

4. Jimtown Jimmies (12-4, 4-2 NIC)

Previous ranking: 9. Last week’s results: def. Riley, 10-5; def. Bremen, 13-2; def. West Noble, 5-1. This week’s schedule: Monday vs. Saint Joseph, Wednesday at New Prairie, Saturday at Fairfield.

Jimtown junior Cole Dutton runs toward third base during a baseball game against Bremen Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Bremen High School.
Jimtown junior Cole Dutton runs toward third base during a baseball game against Bremen Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Bremen High School.

The Jimmies are the area’s hottest team, winners of seven in a row. The pitching depth, led by sophomore Dalton Cook and junior Ben McAlister, make Jimtown a tough team to beat.

More: Jimtown baseball is rolling. How far can they go? 'I don't think there's a ceiling'

5. Mishawaka Marian Knights (10-5, 4-1 NIC)

Previous ranking: 6. Last week’s results: def. New Prairie, 8-6; def. Riley, 17-1; lost to Bishop Dwenger, 3-2; def. Illiana Christian, 8-4. This week’s schedule: Monday vs. Penn, Wednesday vs. Elkhart, Thursday at Washington, Friday vs. Saint Joseph (non-conference at Notre Dame), Saturday vs. Wawasee.

The Knights added two more signature wins to the résumé this week with New Prairie and Illiana Christian. When Marian is firing on all cylinders, it is about as good as anyone in the area.

6. New Prairie Cougars (12-4, 2-3 NIC)

Previous ranking: 3. Last week’s results: lost to Marian, 8-6; def. Washington, 19-1; def. Culver Academies, 11-2; split doubleheader with LaPorte. This week’s schedule: Monday vs. Bremen, Tuesday vs. Washington Township, Wednesday vs. Jimtown, Thursday at Hobart, Saturday at Hanover Central.

It’s rare you see a team as good as New Prairie with a sub-.500 record in conference, but that’s where they’re at currently. It’s three NIC losses are to Marian, Elkhart and Adams, three quality opponents. Wednesday at Jimtown looms as a big game for both teams to see where they stack up amongst the Class 3A contenders in the area.

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7. Mishawaka Cavemen (7-6, 4-2 NLC)

Previous ranking: 5. Last week’s results: lost to Concord, 4-0; def. NorthWood, 8-7 (8 innings), lost to Northridge, 4-1; lost to Niles, 11-1. This week’s schedule: Monday vs. Warsaw, Wednesday at Plymouth, Friday at Wawasee, Saturday doubleheader, one game at Crown Point and the other vs. Illiana Christian.

A weird week for the Cavemen, who have ridden the roller coaster all season it seems like. If this was a “down” week for them, does that mean they go up this week?

8. NorthWood Panthers (10-4, 4-2 NLC)

Previous ranking: 8. Last week’s results: def. Warsaw, 4-2; lost to Mishawaka, 8-7 (8 innings), def. Plymouth, 12-8; def. Bremen, 18-6. This week’s schedule: Monday vs. Goshen, Wednesday at Concord, Friday at Northridge, Saturday vs. Culver Academies.

A 3-1 week for the Panthers, including handing Warsaw it’s only NLC loss so far, keeps the Panthers at eighth in these power rankings. It’s only conference losses have each been extra-inning one-run games, first to Concord two weeks ago and now Mishawaka this past week.

9. Concord Minutemen (8-5, 3-2 NLC)

Previous ranking: 7. Last week’s results: def. Mishawaka, 4-0; lost to Goshen, 4-3 (10 innings); lost to Warsaw, 5-0. This week’s schedule: Monday vs. Wawasee, Tuesday vs. Riley, Wednesday vs. NorthWood, Friday at Plymouth, Saturday vs. Adams.

A marathon loss to a sub-.500 Goshen team is a tough pill to swallow, especially with how tight the NLC race is currently. The Minutemen have some fun challenges this week, both in-conference and non-conference.

10. Fairfield Falcons (11-5, 5-0 NECC)

Previous ranking: 10. Last week’s results: def. Prairie Heights, 18-1; def. West Noble, 11-1; lost to Garrett, 3-2 (9 innings). This week’s schedule: Tuesday vs. Eastside, Thursday at Fremont, Friday at LaVille, Saturday vs. Jimtown.

The Falcons lost in the NECC Tournament semifinals to Garrett. The regular season conference title might be determined in Tuesday’s showdown with Eastside in Benton.

Honorable mention: Elkhart (10-5, 3-2 NIC)

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: There's a new No. 1 team in the South Bend area baseball power rankings