SBLive Sports Florida Power 25 baseball rankings: Fort Myers Canterbury, Hagerty fall multiple spots after district losses

Check out the latest SBLive Florida Power 25 high school baseball rankings

Break out the bats and gloves as high school baseball season is upon us across the country, especially in the Sunshine State. One of the tops when it comes to high-level baseball, Florida features several teams that appeared in our SBLive Sports’ Preseason Power 25 Rankings at the outset of the season.

Continuing at the top spot as the No. 1 team in the Sunshine State is IMG Academy, with teams like Jesuit, Doral Academy, Clearwater Calvary Christian and Stoneman Douglas all in the national conversation as well. Besides those few teams, who else is amongst the elites when it comes to high school baseball in Florida? Take a look at our latest Power 25 rankings as we give you our list after 11 weeks of play out on the diamond and head into region quarterfinals this week. 

Find the complete breakdown of the SBLive Sports Florida Baseball Power 25:

1. IMG Academy (25-0): Topping our rankings is the second-best pitching arguably in the state over in Bradenton. The Ascenders feature left-hander Cam Johnson, who is committed to LSU. Jaewoo Cho (Arkansas) and Noah Franco (Mississippi State) join Johnson to form a formidable pitching staff second to none. The Ascenders knocked off No. 3 Jesuit 10-7 in a battle of nationally ranked teams couple weeks ago. 

2. Marjory Stoneman Douglas (24-0): Coming off a Class 7A state championship last season with a 30-2 record, the Eagles bring back undoubtedly one of the state’s most talented rosters. The Eagles begin the playoffs with plenty of talent to get back to states once again and win another title. Marjory Stoneman Douglas features a pair of Florida signees Christian Rodriguez and Jacob Gomberg. The Eagles have out-scored the opposition 196-27 this season. 

3. Jesuit (23-4): Miguel Menendez’s club returns plenty of talent to the roster, especially when it comes to the Tigers’ pitching staff. Wes Mendes, who has signed already with Ole Miss, can do it on the mound or in the outfield. Also, watch out for Florida State signee John Abraham and Miami signee Jake Kulikowski. Jesuit narrowly fell to No. 1 IMG Academy for the second time in as many days a couple weeks ago. 

4. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.) (23-4): The top pitching staff in the land on the high school baseball circuit resides over Pinellas County. Calvary Christian features Landen Maroudis (NC State signee), left-gander Hunter Dietz (USF signee) and Liam Peterson, who’s headed to Florida. All three are projected to be drafted in the early rounds of the 2023 MLB Draft. The Warriors are the favorites to win Class 3A. 

5. Sickles (25-2): A run to the Final Four in Class 6A is how the Gryphons ended 2022, but this group is hungry for more this spring. Manager Eric Luksis brings back a very talented roster, which includes Florida signee Hayden Yost along with UCF signee Caden McDonald and Yost’s younger brother, Jordan (Florida commit). Sickles has won 17 straight games. 

6. Pace (242): The Patriots got to the Class 6A state championship game before falling to Hagerty. Pace went 26-4 last year and Jason McBride’s club has a couple of Division I signees back, including Jackson McKenzie (Mississippi State) and Nash Pires (Alabama). Pace is winners of eight straight games heading into the playoffs. 

7. Montverde Academy (23-3): Last year the Eagles played as an independent program, but this season will play in Class 3A, District 9. Montverde Academy, coming off an 18-7 campaign in 2022, is led by a stout pitching staff that consists of USF signee Logan Bevis and Stetson signee Matthew Heyl. Eagles are currently on a 5-game winning streak. 

8. Doral Academy (21-6): The defending Class 6A state champions are loaded across the board and much of that starts behind the left arm of Florida signee Frank Menendez. He’s joined by Miami signee Adrian Santana and outfielder/pitcher Michael Torres, who is also a future Hurricane. The Firebirds have won five straight games. 

9. Archbishop McCarthy (22-5): The Mavericks weren’t a team on our initial radar when it came to the rankings, but they’ve certainly caught our attention. Archbishop McCarthy have got back on track by winning the Class 5A, District 15 championship. 

10. North Broward Prep (23-4): The Eagles have one of the top lineups in Broward County and despite graduating multiple key seniors, they bring back plenty. North Broward Prep returns junior Riley Luft, who batted .337 last season and committed to Appalachian State. The Eagles head into the postseason having won 14 straight. 

11. Lake Mary (22-1): Lake Mary entered the season as one of the top teams out of Seminole County and overall in Central Florida. This Rams club have won 22 straight games and won Class 7A, District 2 championship. 

12. Viera (20-5): Getting past the region semifinal round will be a checkmark the Hawks want to make sure happens this spring. The Hawks went 21-8 under Brock Doty last year and will be a contender in Class 6A, one of the state’s strongest classifications. Viera are winners of six in a row. 

13. Oakleaf (19-6): The Knights have rolled through the competition in Northeast Florida so far with an undefeated start. Oakleaf has defeated teams like FSU High, Bolles, Orange Park and Episcopal School this season. The Knights lost to Fleming Island 8-4 in the Class 6A, District 3 tournament. 

14. Trinity Christian Academy (22-4): When it comes to the northeast end of Florida, the Conquerors have come on strong and especially to yielding runs. The Conquerors, winners of five straight, have some good wins under their belt, including defeating previously ranked Clay 5-0 on the road. 

15. South Walton (23-3): Out-scoring teams by a score opponents by an impressive 23-3 through 26 games. The Seahawks have been a team on the rise in the panhandle, winners of 11 in a row behind freshman sensation Coleman Borthwick. 

16. Canterbury (Fort Myers, Fla.) (24-4): The Cougars have played some of the best baseball among any Southwest Florida team so far. One of Canterbury’s most impressive wins was over Naples during the season. They’ve out-scored opponents 229-64 through 28 games, but lost to Neumann 7-6 in the Class 2A, District 12 championship game. 

17. Benjamin (23-2): Benjamin made its debut into our Power 25 rankings recently and own a Power 25 victory over North Broward Prep back in March. Two losses on the season came against John Carroll Catholic back on March 2nd and Dwyer last week. Buccaneers won Class 3A, District 11 tournament. 

18. Columbus (22-4): The Explorers are not only one of the hottest teams in South Florida right now, but in the Sunshine State. Columbus has reeled off 14 straight victories and has out-scored teams 182-49 this spring. 

19. Hagerty (19-7): Though the Huskies fell short of winning it all last year in Class 6A, this season became a little bit more of a disappointment. Luis Rivero batted .330 last year and is a Saint Leo signee. Right-hander Garrett Baumann (UCF signee) will be Hagerty’s top pitcher on the mound. Huskies fell to Winter Springs in the Class 6A, District 4 tournament. 

20. Dunedin (18-7): Last year’s Class 4A state semifinalists started off on the outside looking in when it came to our preseason rankings. The Falcons notched nice victories throughout the season and won the Class 4A, District 11 tournament. 

21. Park Vista (20-3-1): The Cobras have recorded seven shutout victories so far this season and their three losses have been to Majory Stoneman Douglas, Dwyer and Palm Beach Central. Park Vista won the Class 7A, District 12 championship. 

22. Providence School (22-4): One of the hottest teams heading into district play this week is the Stallions as they’ve nabbed eight straight victories. Providence School is 8-0 on the road. 

23. Key West (20-5): The Conchs finished off the final 13 games winning 12 of the contests, which included multiple victories over a talented Berkeley Prep bunch. 

24. North Marion (22-5): Of the five losses the Colts have had this season, two of them have come against Buchholz. North Marion shutout The Villages 12-0 to win the Class 4A, District 5 title. 

25. Westminster Christian (17-7-1): It’s hard to ignore how well the Warriors have been playing as of late. Westminster Christian took home the Class 3A, District 15 title by defeating Gulliver Prep 6-5. 

On the bubble: Belen Jesuit, Berkeley Prep, Bishop McLaughlin, Bishop Verot, Chiles, Cooper City, Eau Gallie, Fletcher, Hernando, Jensen Beach, Lake Brantley, Lakeland Christian, Lake Nona, Lake Wales, Lennard, Leon, Naples, Plantation American Heritage, Rockledge, Sarasota, Spruce Creek, St. Johns Country Day, St. Thomas Aquinas, Suwannee, Taravella, Trinity Christian Academy, Venice, Western, Winter Park, Wiregrass Ranch. 

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.