Who tops the first edition of the Big Bend Preps baseball Power Rankings poll
The clay is fresh and the grass is mowed, Big Bend baseball is back in action.
With the new season taking over the high school diamonds in the area, some teams are starting the year hot and others are looking to find footing as the season heads into full swing.
A handful of squads are still undefeated and others are looking to break out of an early slump as expectations grow for area programs.
With that said, let's dive into the first edition of the baseball power rankings.
Stats, records and schedules are pulled from both MaxPreps and Gamechanger
1. Chiles (3-0)
The Timberwolves top the first edition of the power rankings, starting the season 3-0, and is coming off a big 7-6 win over Lincoln. In year two under head coach Corey Pye, Chiles has flipped the script on its 0-4 start in 2023 and is looking to bring the program back into the upper echelon of the Big Bend's power rankings. With new faces on the program like Tyler Correa and returning stars like Will McDonald and Davis Avera, Chiles is off to a red-hot start and leads the way in the opening rankings.
2. Lincoln (1-1)
The Trojans come in ranked second, just behind the Timberwolves at the top spot. Starting the season 1-1, Lincoln has only played two games this year but has shown big potential. Led by Myles Bailey, Chase Fuller, Garret Harper and Lucas Cannaday, the Trojans have one of the strongest rosters in the Big Bend top-to-bottom and could be a force to be reckoned with this year.
3. Wakulla (4-0)
The War Eagles sit third after a red-hot 4-0 start to the season, picking up impressive wins over both Leon and Taylor County early in the year. Josiah Pierini, Joshua Crum and Garrett Veltkamp are leading the way offensively, with 13 RBIs, nine hits and scoring 10 runs in four games to start the season, giving the War Eagles a massive boost at the plate.
4. North Florida Christian (0-2)
Despite the 0-2 record, the Eagles are still one of the most competitive programs in the area. Playing two high-profile opening games against St Johns Country Day and Oakleaf, NFC is playing a competitive schedule as it looks to get back to the 2A regional final this season. Led by seniors Josh Schuchts, Ashton Gainer and Garret Workman, the Eagles are likely to get back on track after the 0-2 start.
5. Madison County (2-0)
The Cowboys come in ranked fifth in the opening rankings, picking up two early season wins over Rickards and Hamilton County, scoring 12 runs in each game. The play of sophomore Dalton McNutt has given Madison County a spark early on, with the versatile player hitting for a .667 average, with six RBI in three at-bats. The Cowboys are heading into a tough portion of its schedule, but the early signs show it could be a competitive year for Madison County.
6. Leon (1-2)
The Lions enter the rankings at sixth, off the back of a 1-2 start to life this season. Picking up a win against Rickards, Leon fell to both Lincoln and Wakulla in a tough early season set of games. Led by the senior trio of Jordan Nance, Jay Campbell and Philip Garcia offensively, recording five RBI on nine hits, the Lions bats are hot and should lead to wins in the future.
7. Aucilla Christian (3-0)
The Warriors come in ranked seventh in the first rankings, starting the year undefeated with wins over Jefferson County, Branford and Gadsden County, scoring 44 runs and allowing zero in that span. Ben Gamalero, Eli Conrad and Tucker Wiles have been the leading trio for Aucilla Christian, recording a combined 13 RBI and 11 hits in a combined 16 at-bats. Starting the year undefeated, the Warriors are on the right path to defending its district title.
8. St. John Paul II (2-1)
The Panthers are off to a hot start to life in 2024, winning two and losing by one to Valwood in its only loss of the year. Scoring 33 runs and only allowing eight in the opening three games, JPII has been hot at the plate, with sophomore Jason Cantella showing out in a big way. Recording seven RBI, including one homerun, on three hits, the Panthers catcher is off to a flying start.
9. Florida High (1-2)
It hasn't been the start to the season that Florida High would have wanted, beating Oakleaf 1-0 before two big losses to St Johns Country Day and Cario. With a new, younger roster, the Seminoles' early season is filled with big games as the program looks to build a foundation for the future.
10. Maclay (2-1)
The Marauders round out the top 10, posting a 2-1 record to open the season. Picking high-scoring, shutout wins over both Gadsden County and Munroe, Maclay has lost to Port St. Joe. Scoring 38 runs and allowing just five in its opening three games, Cole Lewis and Landon Barineau are leading the way with getting runs home, posting 5 RBI each to start the year.
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: Who tops the first Big Bend Preps baseball power rankings poll
